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!