Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Freedom Riders
Most of my posts lately have related to the anti-bullying and disabilities sections for It's OK to be Different because of my current involvement with these programs this year. However, I am always interested in keeping current with issues that relate to the other two programs, Celebrating Cultures and Courage to Care. One in particular is the 50th anniversary of the historic Freedom Rides.
The Freedom Riders were Civil Rights activists who rode interstate buses into the segregated South to challenge the laws. In addition to the excellent PBS special that aired this week in honor of the anniversary, there is a childrens' book I highly recommend, Freedom Riders by Ann Bausum. It tells the story of John Lewis and Jim Zwerg, 2 young men who believed in a cause. Their idealism and courage brought them together. They were badly beaten because they sat next to one another on the bus. John was black. Jim was white.
Our children need to know about these heroes who believed in justice for all.
The Freedom Riders were Civil Rights activists who rode interstate buses into the segregated South to challenge the laws. In addition to the excellent PBS special that aired this week in honor of the anniversary, there is a childrens' book I highly recommend, Freedom Riders by Ann Bausum. It tells the story of John Lewis and Jim Zwerg, 2 young men who believed in a cause. Their idealism and courage brought them together. They were badly beaten because they sat next to one another on the bus. John was black. Jim was white.
Our children need to know about these heroes who believed in justice for all.
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.
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