Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Ingrid and Sarah - fighting Rett Stdrome
April is Autism Awareness Month and Rett Syndrome is the most severe form of autism. It is a debilitating neurological disorder that primarily affects girls.
Ingrid Love Harding, whose beautiful daughter, Sarah, suffers from Rett syndrome, founded an organization to promote awareness and raise money for research called, Girl Power2 Cure, Inc. So impressed by the warmth and understanding Sarah received from the girls in her kindergarten class the first day of school, Ingrid realized that it would be this powerful generation of girls that would help her raise awareness and find a cure, thus Girl Power 2 Cure was begun.
I admire Ingrid's strength and tenacity as she devotes her time and energy to bring about awareness and foster positive change. She is a role model for other parents who have a child with a disability, but she is also a leader in promoting and creating programs to find a cure.
Please visit the website and learn more about Rett Syndrome and discover ways you can help as a individual or a group. We will be planting a Garden of Hope at Tower Hill School. Hopefully you can do the same. Visit:www.girlpower2cure.org
Ingrid Love Harding, whose beautiful daughter, Sarah, suffers from Rett syndrome, founded an organization to promote awareness and raise money for research called, Girl Power2 Cure, Inc. So impressed by the warmth and understanding Sarah received from the girls in her kindergarten class the first day of school, Ingrid realized that it would be this powerful generation of girls that would help her raise awareness and find a cure, thus Girl Power 2 Cure was begun.
I admire Ingrid's strength and tenacity as she devotes her time and energy to bring about awareness and foster positive change. She is a role model for other parents who have a child with a disability, but she is also a leader in promoting and creating programs to find a cure.
Please visit the website and learn more about Rett Syndrome and discover ways you can help as a individual or a group. We will be planting a Garden of Hope at Tower Hill School. Hopefully you can do the same. Visit:www.girlpower2cure.org
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Bully Busters
As I have said many times before, children need to learn at an early age that it's okay to let others know that they need help when confronted with a bully. They also need to learn skills to stand up to the bully and how to become active bystanders.
At Tower Hill School the children are learning this by being Bully Busters. Thanks to some of my favorite resources, Teaching Tolerance magazine from the Southern Poverty Law Center and Peter Yarrow's Don't Laugh At Me, as well as some great literature, the kids are learning some important tools to hopefully help them defuse situations they may encounter.
This week after reading the book, Bullies Never Win by Margery Ceyler, we created a "bully buster" machine. This involved 2 lines and someone had to role play the bully and go through the middle of our machine. Another student had to be the bully buster by saying something to stop the bully. It was inspiring to me to see how comfortable these young kids were with the role playing but also that they seemed to really care about defending their friends.
I will continue to post resources and the responses from the kids as we progress, but I am very excited that these young children are showing us that it is not too early to teach these necessary skills. Hopefully they will help us break this current cycle of aggressive behaviors.
At Tower Hill School the children are learning this by being Bully Busters. Thanks to some of my favorite resources, Teaching Tolerance magazine from the Southern Poverty Law Center and Peter Yarrow's Don't Laugh At Me, as well as some great literature, the kids are learning some important tools to hopefully help them defuse situations they may encounter.
This week after reading the book, Bullies Never Win by Margery Ceyler, we created a "bully buster" machine. This involved 2 lines and someone had to role play the bully and go through the middle of our machine. Another student had to be the bully buster by saying something to stop the bully. It was inspiring to me to see how comfortable these young kids were with the role playing but also that they seemed to really care about defending their friends.
I will continue to post resources and the responses from the kids as we progress, but I am very excited that these young children are showing us that it is not too early to teach these necessary skills. Hopefully they will help us break this current cycle of aggressive behaviors.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Children Will Listen
Children Will Listen
Careful the things you say,
Children will listen.
Careful the things you do,
Children will see.
And learn.
Children may not obey,
But children will listen.
Children will look to you
For which way to turn,
To learn what to be.
Careful before you say,
"Listen to me."
Children will listen.
Careful the wish you make,
Wishes are children.
Careful the path they take-
Wishes come true,
Not free.
Careful the spell you cast,
Not just on children.
Sometimes the spell may last
Past what you can see
And turn against you...
Careful the tale you tell,
That is the spell.
Children will listen.
"Children Will Listen" was written by Stephen Sondheim for the Broadway play, "Into the Woods." It speaks to the message that as teachers and parents, our words and actions are always noted. We can me models of tolerance and understanding.
Careful the things you say,
Children will listen.
Careful the things you do,
Children will see.
And learn.
Children may not obey,
But children will listen.
Children will look to you
For which way to turn,
To learn what to be.
Careful before you say,
"Listen to me."
Children will listen.
Careful the wish you make,
Wishes are children.
Careful the path they take-
Wishes come true,
Not free.
Careful the spell you cast,
Not just on children.
Sometimes the spell may last
Past what you can see
And turn against you...
Careful the tale you tell,
That is the spell.
Children will listen.
"Children Will Listen" was written by Stephen Sondheim for the Broadway play, "Into the Woods." It speaks to the message that as teachers and parents, our words and actions are always noted. We can me models of tolerance and understanding.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Perfect Duo, William's Doll and My Princess Boy
As part of the anti-bulling program, Be a Buddy, not a Bully, we read two books to the students, William's Doll by Charlotte Zolotow and My Princess Boy by Cheryl Kilodavis. Each book is about a child's choice of a toy or what to wear. Interestingly, William's Doll was written over 30 years ago and My Princess Boy was published recently. However, the message is the same: toys and clothes do not need to be gender specific and it is the child's choice. Our message to the students was that we all like to play with different toys or dress up in different clothing, but if someone chooses something different, it is important not to tease or make fun. We followed the reading with a game, "What's in the bag?" Each student reached in the bag without looking and picked a toy or something to wear. They told us whether or not they would wear it or play with the item. One little boy picked a hard hat and announced he did NOT like to build things! Once again, the children seemed to recognize the repeated message of It's OK to be Different, respect for differences.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Proud Grandmother
The dedication page of the curriculum for It's OK to be Different is for my five grandchildren with the hope that they will grow up with understanding, empathy and tolerance. This special drawing was given to me by my oldest grandson, Sawyer. I am not only proud of his creative talents but I am very pleased that he knows how much this means to me. Although neither my children nor my grandchildren have had the program, I believe they emulate the philosophy.
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