Empowering Bystanders

Another great book for every household and classroom is say something written by Peggy Moss. I have said for a long time that bullying is often enabled by the bystander so we need to teach kids that they can help one another. As a adult it is difficult to stand by and hear a racial joke or listen to someone use the R word, but we must "say something" and we need to help kids do the same. say something will help start the dialogue.

Brian, It's OK ambassador

I love to relate the story of Brian, a kindergarten student who last year spread the message of respect, easily. As part of the Understanding Disabilities segment of It's OK, we had been part of Arc's campaign to eliminate the "R" word (retard) from our vocabulary. When he heard his grandmother using the word, he politely explained, "We don't use that word anymore because it may hurt someone's feelings." His grandmother's gracious response was, "Thank you and tell me more so that I can let my friends know." This is one more illustration of how young children can be the ones who help promote understanding. Thank you Brian.

It's OK Ambassador

Operation Respect

Recently, I had the priviledge of hearing Peter Yarrow (Peter, Paul and Mary) speak and perform. It was not only wonderful to hear him sing but I was also moved by his passion to teach children respect. I have used materials from his program, "Operation Respect," and highly recommend his song and accompanying video, "Don't Laugh at Me." Also, one of the points that Peter Yarrow repeatedly made was that we need to empower the bystanders. We have to teach children to have the courage to speak out or step in to protect their friends. I am constantly expressing this message and will continue to make this a part of It's OK to be Different.

Understanding Disabilities - Visually Impaired

Yesterday was our first "Hands-On" Day for the kindergarten class at Tower Hill. The kids went to 3 different stations where they experienced what it might be like, while blindfolded, to eat using a clock face to tell them where to find the food, reach into a bag to grab an object and try and guess what it was, and thirdly, walk down the hall using a walking stick as well as be a guide for the student who couldn't see. As always, the children loved the different activities. My favorite response when I asked them what they liked the most and why, was a girl who said she liked being the guide because she could tell the boy she was guiding, what to do! I love how the kids feel comfortable letting you know exactly how they feel.

Anti-Bullying: It only takes ONE

In a previous entry I mentioned the powerful book, One. With the recent and tragic news of bullying, I wanted to emphasize the importance of this book by Kathryn Otashi. It is written for young students, but I believe it should be in every home and classroom and read by people of all ages. One addresses not only how to stand up to a bully, but how to be an active bystander and yes, even how to befriend the bully. Please read this important book.

Anti-Bullying: it only takes One

Teaching Tolerance magazine

One of the best resources I have had for It's OK to be Different is Teaching Tolerance, published by The Southern Poverty Law Center. There are lessons suggested by teachers of all grade levels, articles about current issues in education, resource lists of new literature promoting respect for differences in your classroom and, the magazine is FREE! It is published 4 times a year and I devour every issue for information and ideas. From the latest magazine, I took this quote from Alice Walker:
"I think we have to own the fears that we have for each other, and then, in some practical way, some daily way, figure out how to see people differently than the way we were brought up to."

It's OK to...

Today I started delivering the It's OK program in 2 classes at Tower Hill School. We talked about how we are all alike in many ways but we are also different and we can celebrate those differences. After reading a book about the topic, the kids drew pictures of what they thought it was OK to be or do. Then I helped them complete the phrase, It's OK to... Some of the responses were: It's OK to go to bed (not a 9:30 AM), It's OK to have a funny daddy, It's OK that Mrs. Gaunt wears glasses and It's OK to play with a friend who is in a wheelchair. We're on our way! Thanks kids.

Dedicated Teacher

Today I was fortunate to run into a colleague whom I worked with years ago, Maureen Costello Dupree. She and I did collaborative teaching before anyone thought that might be a good idea. She became interested in the Understanding Disabilities program immediately and together we started this section of It's OK to be Different at NutSwamp School in Middletown. I am thrilled to know that after so many years (at least 30), Maureen is still actively presenting the program to students and parents in her 2nd grade classes.
Maureen has always been interested in promoting respect and understanding for people with disabilities. Her passion for teaching is what I always and still admre. Thanks, Maureen, for not giving up! I look forward to ideas and experiences coming from your classroom.

Back to School
Next week I will be teaching the Understanding Disabilities segment of It's OK to a kindergarten class and the Be a Buddy - Not a Bully program to one pre-K class and two 4 year old classes. I look forward to bringing my experiences with the children to this blog with the hope that it will assist parents and teachers with issues that may arise and be an opportunity to share information and ideas.
Last week I read that over 160,000 children nationwide missed school because they were afraid of bullying. An educator mentioned that the key way to stop bullying is to implement measures that improve the entire school community. I concur. All of the It's OK programs promote understanding and respect and that is reflected throughout the school.

ADA -20 years

Thanks to the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, 20 years ago, we have made great strides in the areas of employment, public entities and accessibility for people with disabilities. There is still a need to help children with disabilities have more participation in daily activities with their peers. Allowing children to participate more can prevent feeling of isolation and also teach all children valuable skills for employment and social activities. Participation in sports is a wonderful opportunity to help build confidence. Two organizations that are particularly helpful are the Special Olympics organization(www.specialolympics.org) and the National Disability Sports Alliance (www.blazesports.org).

Children's Literature

Teaching peace, compassion and respect ensure that we are all able to work with others and respect differences and create change. We can promote this at home and in school by reading some of the excellent children's literature that is available. One author who captures the human spirit is Patricia Polacco. As a teacher and as the director of It's OK, I have read many of Polacco's books. One of my favorite's is Chicken Sunday. This story is about friendship that crosses cultures, religion and age. It emphasizes the importance of trust, love and acceptance. I highly recommend all of Patricia Polacco's books.

Foster Understanding with Good Books

Teaching peace, compassion and respect ensures that we are able to work with others, understand and respect differences and create change. We can promote this at home and in school by reading some of the exceptional children's literature that is available. An author who captures the human spirit is Patricia Polacco.

Just Say Something!

The New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities has a new blog to help make positive changes in the community. They encourage people to write about what they think is Right and what they think is Wrong. The council has also had an active campaign to eliminate the R word, as I wrote in a previous blog entry. I encourage everyone to check out the council's blog:http:www.facebook.com/JustSaySomething and also to stop using the words "retard" and "retarded." Thank you.

Beep baseball

Can you imagine playing baseball when you are visually impaired? Our friend and Speaker for It's OK, Sherlock Washington, plays Beep baseball. A 16oz. softball with a speaker in it is used to help fielders locate the ball. Sherlock has organized a team that plays in Matawan, NJ. Check out the schedule at http:www.facebook.compages/New-Jersey-Lightning-Beep-Baseball/122422584434827?ref=mf. Sherlock, you continue to inspire us to pursue our dreams no matter what the obstacles.

Summertime

School is out! I plan to use the time to change the purpose of this blog. It will be a teacher to teacher blog, providing information on new childrens literature, news releases, music, etc. that are relevant to the It's OK program. As it continues during the school year, I hope it will be an information board for teachers participating in the program. A website of general information is also being developed and the program is now on Facebook. I welcome your comments and suggestions as I continue to promote teaching tolerance to very young children.

The Pledge - end the "R" word

Last week a gentleman from the NJ Council for Developmental Disabilities visited the kindergarten class. He told the kids about a campaign to get rid of the "R" words - "retard" and "retarded." He asked them to take a pledge to not use the words and to ask others not to use the words. We are working on this campaign already and the children have decided that because we used to refer to Respect as the R word, we now have the good R and the bad R. For more information go to www.njcdd.org. Please make the pledge to eliminate these hurtful words from our language.

Another special video

Noelle McNeill has been a speaker for the It's OK to be Different segment on Understanding Disabilities. She inspired the children to never give up no matter what obstacles they may encounter. Noelle's experiences were reported on NJN Public Television this week. Please view the video and see and hear her remarkable story: http://www.njn.net/news/healthreports/

Check out the book

I recently had the pleasure of reading in my grandson Hadden's first grade class. He chose the book from a hefty pile of my favorites but I was so pleased when he choose One by Kathryn Otashi. The author/illustrator is able to give the message of how to handle a bully in a beautiful and simple way that captures the attention of most young children. Hadden's class and his teacher loved the book and when I subsequently gave him the book for his birthday, he clutched it to his chest in appreciation. I recommend One to all parents and teachers because it not only addresses the problems children encounter with bullying, it reminds readers we have to think about the bully, too.

Check out the video

I am very excited to see that Middletown Township has posted a video of It's OK on their website. If you go to www.middletownk12.org/ytys/ytys.html and scroll to OK2BDifferent, you will see the program in action and hear comments from administrators, teachers and parents.

from the speaker...

During a recent Understanding Disabilities segment, John, a 7th grade student, spoke to the Kindergarten class about all the tools he uses to help him read and write because he is dyslexic. The kids were impressed that he is performing in 2 plays and is now learning all his lines at once. Way to go, John!

from the founder...

With all the concerns regarding bullying in the news lately, I would like to emphasize the importance of starting with very young children with anti-bullying programs. As educators and parents, we have to think of providing preventative programs - not reactionary. In our Be a Buddy- not a Bully program, we teach the skills to stand up to the bully, but we also include teaching them how to be empowered bystanders.

from the kids...

Last week during a session for the anti-bullying segment of It's OK, a pre-Kindergarten student used the word compromise to settle an argument with a friend. He described compromise as when your sister wants the car window all the way down and you want the window up, then a compromise is putting the window half way down. The kids get it!