Teach On

In my final semester of college I did student teaching in Montgomery and Fayette Counties. I loved time spent with my Kindergarten students in Mt. Sterling, Kentucky.  The children were wonderful, the teachers were helpful, and my time there was memorable. It seemed way too soon when the time came to leave those children, but I was assigned to head to Lexington, Kentucky, to a second grade classroom.  I arrived bright and early on my first day at the new elementary school.  I went to the office and checked in.  I was then directed to my classroom to meet my supervising teacher.  I was a nervous wreck. My heart was pounding and my pulse was racing. 

This school was a lot bigger than the little four room school house I had just come from.  I made my way down the long hallways with the other teachers who were arriving for work and finally located the room where I would spend 6-8 weeks.  The door was closed; I knocked tentatively.   “Come in, come in!” I heard a friendly voice say.  I opened the door to a classroom of thirty little empty desks, long windows looking into a courtyard and a teacher with the biggest smile ever.  She was very dressed up.  She wore a nice suit, high heeled shoes, a beautiful pin, and earrings.  I wondered if she was that dressed up for me, but I later realized that she looked that nice every single day.  What a great role model!

We began to chat and she asked me all kinds of questions about myself as she busily wrote the work for the day on the blackboard. Soon the bell rang and children began noisily filtering into the room.  One by one they came, until all the desks were filled. Wow! Thirty little faces staring at me.  I was a stranger to them. I took a seat in the back of the room, eager to watch the class and the teacher perform their daily classroom routines.  I could hardly wait to see how she handled each lesson and the transition times.  Would she be a strict disciplinarian? Would she be laid back?  Would there be a standard daily class schedule? Would she just “play it by ear”?   So many questions, so many things to learn, so many things to observe.  I decided to sit quietly and listen.

The morning announcements were read over the loud speaker.  Everyone listened to what the principal had to say, then rose to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.  When they finished, they settled back into their seats.  The teacher started by passing out paper and pencils.  She had a writing assignment and some busy work on the blackboard that had to do with October and fall.

So far: so good.  I settled in and relaxed just a little bit. My heart stopped racing and my pulse was back to normal.  I thought that everything would to be all right. No need to be nervous.  The teacher would probably let me help her today and give me something more specific to do tomorrow.  It was getting easier.

After introducing me to the class, the bomb dropped.  She told the children that I would be taking over the class.  And she meant THAT MINUTE…NOW!!  Really??  Seriously??

I had nothing planned…Why hadn’t anyone warned me about something like this happening? What was she thinking? How could she do this to someone she did not even know?   It was only 8:30 in the morning!  Was it a prank on the new, unsuspecting, student teacher?  Nope… She went over and sat down at her desk and wrote in her planner.   I managed to walk to the middle of the classroom.  I asked the class, “So, it is fall and this month is October.  What kinds of things happen in October?”  As children began to answer we built a conversation on those responses. Everything clicked!

I ended by asking them to look at the blackboard and, in their best handwriting, copy the paragraph that the teacher had so nicely printed that morning.  I walked around and complimented each one on their fine writing skills and helped the ones who were having a little trouble.

The rest of the day went smoothly, and at the end of the day the teacher handed me her plan book. This was the most remarkable book that I had ever seen because it was so well planned.  It was written in pencil, with every detail in place!

The teacher told me that she would take the little reading group that was having some difficulty and work with them daily, but basically, the class was mine. Go for it!  I was astounded by the trust that she showed me that day and I wanted to excel because of it. Our relationship grew so strong.  She was one of the best role models that I have ever had.  She helped me when I asked, was never judgmental, and we developed a mutual respect for one another.

One day in the school cafeteria, one of the other teachers took me aside and told me that my teacher had said that I was the best student teacher she had ever seen. That comment made me feel wonderful because I wanted to do well for her and the children. My teacher, however, was not the type to tell me that personally.

I was glad that the other teacher had told me about that comment… but, for a completely different reason.  My teacher had been absent from school a few times during those eight weeks.  She never said why, but she had a nagging cough that she couldn’t shake. I hated when she was out. The substitutes took over, but I felt like it was MY classroom, not theirs! Of course, they were only doing their jobs. 

When my time was over in that classroom, I was very sad. It was mid December and I wanted to stay until the Christmas break, which just wasn’t allowed. But, I was invited back to the class holiday party two weeks later.  When I arrived the children jumped up and ran to meet me.  I was greeted with hugs all around …and my teacher’s smiling face. 

We exchanged presents.  I gave her a beautiful, vintage pin and matching earrings.  She gave me my first planner book.  It was such a sweet day that I cried on the way home. I would really miss them, but I also looked forward to what would happen next.  Where would I get a job?  In January??  As happens in life, I got busy job searching and we did not stay in touch.

I was hired as a substitute teacher. Before long, it was late summer and I had landed a job as a first grade teacher.  By chance that fall, I learned that my teacher had passed away from cancer, earlier that year. She had not said a word to me about her illness. I was stunned and saddened.

When I got my own classroom, I used many of the techniques that I had learned from my teacher. I just wished that I could tell her.  Maybe she knew; maybe she was right there still guiding me because one thing I had learned from her was always with me. There was nothing more important than a detailed monthly planner (written in pencil) to keep your classroom operating on schedule. Even when it had to be adjusted…it was essential. 

My first planner was always open on my desk. It was detailed, precise, and completed 6-8 weeks in advance.  It was my guiding light, just like my teacher had been! 

BA @ Kids Matter

The Benefits of Early Childhood Education

“Let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope and dream which, fulfilled, can be translated into benefit for everyone and greater strength for our nation.” – John F. Kennedy

We all know the earlier our children begin learning the better. Whether it’s listening to music in the womb, reading to your child before you tuck them in at night, or enrolling your child in preschool, the benefits of early childhood education are endless. But what are these benefits? Can you name them? When you hear of funding being cut, teachers losing jobs, school buildings being outdated, and resources being scarce, does it ever really hit home? Do you ever stop to think about the long term consequences of living in a society that does not place the highest importance on educating its population?

Evidence shows that early childhood education may reduce delinquency rates, dependence on welfare, and even arrest rates. Sure, it can be a costly investment initially, but the return on that investment can yield countless benefits. Evidence also shows that early childhood education improves a child’s social skills early on. These same kids also go on to do better in school and are more likely to pursue higher education. The United States Department of Labor reported that, in 2012, a person with a bachelor’s degree, on average, earned $1,066 per week. However, a worker with only a high school degree earned $652 per week. Furthermore, the unemployment rate for a person with a bachelor’s degree, in 2012, was 4.5% compared to 8.3% for a high school graduate (link). These statistics highlight the link between education and higher wages, but the benefits of early childhood education reach far beyond one’s own bank account. With drops in delinquency and arrest rates, we see prisons, often funded with tax payer money, become less crowded. And with a drop in welfare dependence, we may finally see a break in the cycle of poverty for families who have struggled for generations.

The consequences of an uneducated workforce can not only weaken our economy, but it can also diminish our role on the global stage as other countries produce educated workers qualified to do the jobs of the future. It all begins with access to early childhood education, so the next time you hear of decreased funding, call or write your state representatives and make your voice heard. It is only when people like you and I make education a priority that our government and society will do the same. 

Lynnsey @ Kids Matter

May to August Educational Bridge

“Woo-hoo, schools out!” A time for cheer and adventure, but also a time for “what they don’t know won’t hurt them”. Sneaking in a little learning won’t hurt them. Learning should not stop just because the school doors close for a few months. A child’s mind needs constant “food” to grow. As parents, we need to figure out ways to keep the child learning without making it seem as if they were swooped from one school into another. Sometimes, when faced with a task such as this, parents become unnerved and don’t know where to start. The task becomes work when it should not. The main thing we need to remember is keep it simple and fun.

·         Read a favorite childhood book – My son had a “very favorite book in the whole wide world.” It was Fox and the Hound. I have discovered while reading this book to his son that I can interject stories of my reading it to his Dad. He loves knowing he is doing something that his Daddy loves and it brings excitement to an already fun-filled book.

·         Have a book themed event – Let’s say you want to pull out the old classic, Cinderella. Oh, what a wonderful theme for a day that could be and how exciting for the child. Have the child pick a character from the book that they would like to be. Don’t automatically assume the child will pick Cinderella. The mice in the story add a lot of enthusiasm and adventure. Now the fun begins: you can play dress-up, create masks, eat cheese, grow a pumpkin, or even do chores like Cinderella. Your book themed day is only limited by your imagination, so think fun and exciting.

·         On the road word search – Learning is not only limited to a brick and mortar foundation, but also can be a traveling school on wheels. Take your education to the road on that trip to the grocery store. Choose a word to search for on the way. How about the word “sale” for starters. This activity inspires the child to read every day words they see in the community. The child will be reading signs all over town in order to find the word “sale”. You make the rules of the game. One possibility would be to see how many times the word could be found and the winner gets a small prize. Another possibility could be to choose another word after “sale” has been found. The trick is to keep them reading.

What tricks do you have for keeping your child learning and bridging the gap from May to August?

Belinda @ Kids Matter

Making The Most Of Your Time With Your Child

Children, aged toddler to eight, typically spend six to eight hours a day in school or daycare and 10-12 hours a day sleeping. That leaves, at minimum, four hours a day for eating, playing, sports, homework, and family time. It’s here that we are faced with dilemma. Four hours is very little time. After working all day then tending to the daily chores we are often too tired to make any great attempt to entertain or educate our children. Perhaps this is why some feel that the education part should be left all up to the daycare and/or school.

As a parent, I feel that the parent should be the child’s greatest teacher. I don’t want to take anything away from those who do it as a profession. I hold teachers to the highest of honor. A child’s first teacher is the parent and according to Dr. Laura J Martin, WebMD, babies begin to learn in the last trimester of pregnancy. The mother is laying the foundation for the child’s language development. A mother talking to her baby bump, is not only building a bond but also teaching the child. According to BRAIN FACTS it is that mothers continuous talking to the child after birth that boosts the child’s vocabulary. As Brain Facts points out, children whose mothers talk to them, learn on average 300 more words by age two. Now, you may think 300 words is not much, but it’s the difference between talking to a child pointing to a glass of milk and grunting rather than stating, “May I have milk?” With a vocabulary of greater than 300 words a child is able to string words together to form short sentences.

My granddaughter, at the age of two told me, “Nana, I love to talk”. She has always had a great vocabulary. I’m often surprised by things she says and her ability to understand conversations. At the age of three, during a battle between her brother and cousin, she became disgusted by the arguing and bluntly exclaimed to them that they needed to learn to compromise. She then proceeded to explain exactly what compromise meant. At the age of four, after a walk through the woods with her grandpa and brother, she came home to tell the story of how her brother wasn't allowed to go on the walks anymore because he was too loud and the nocturnal animals did not appreciate that.

Now, while you are trying to decide how to best utilize those four meager hours a day consider this… talk to your child. Teach your child words to build their vocabulary. Tell them stories from your childhood, about your parents, about life and about anything that comes to your mind. Listen to their reaction; listen to the words they choose to tell their stories. Have conversations with them where you interact with each other. A child’s simple story about how she followed a butterfly through the yard can be just the door to open to teach her about the cocoon from which it came.

Belinda @ Kids Matter

Water Safety

Since we are in the heat of summer and pools are open for business, I thought this would be a good time to go over some basic water safety rules.

1) The most important rule for a child to know around water is that they cannot get in the water without permission from an adult. When my son started swimming lessons, the beginning of every lesson started with him looking me in the eye and saying, “May I get in the water?” He had to look me in the eye for my answer of yes or no.

2) All toys are to be removed from the pool and pool area when the child is not in the pool. If toys are near a pool, they can be very tempting for a child.

3) Be sure that all pools have barriers around them that are gated with a self-latching lock and at least 4 feet tall.

4) Set ground rules for pool limits based on each person’s ability. Enforce those rules without fail.

5) It is never okay to leave a child unattended around water. It may seem overly strict, but it only takes a very small amount of water for a child to drown. Better to play it safe!

6) Put away the cell phone or any other distractions around water. Your child deserves 100% of your attention.

7) Buddy up! Be sure that your child always has a buddy when she is in the water.

8) Never dive into shallow or unknown depths of water. If you are unsure, always go in feet first for safety.

9) Be sure there is always someone nearby who is certified in CPR.

Be safe around the water and enjoy the summer.

Angie @ Kids Matter

When I was in college I was an Elementary Education and Early Childhood Development major.  I couldn't wait to graduate and have my own classroom, however, before I could actually do that I had to practice and be graded by doing my student teaching. This adventure would happen under the watchful eye of a classroom teacher and my Fundamentals professor.  After filling out and turning in the required paperwork, I anxiously awaited the letter that announced where I had been placed.  Would it be a new school? Would it be an old school? Who else would be placed in the same school and who would my supervising teacher be?

 

When the placement letter arrived I was happy to find out that I had been assigned in Mt. Sterling for Kindergarten and Lexington to a 2^nd grade classroom.  I couldn't wait to get started and was thrilled to be going to the Kindergarten classroom first.

The Kindergarten was actually located in a four room, former school annex located behind the high school.  It had a central hallway, tall ceilings, big rooms with windows and hardwood floors.  There were two teachers who did “team teaching” and the children would change classrooms for different academic activities.  A small playground with a huge shade tree could be seen from two of the rooms.  There was a morning class and an afternoon class with about twenty five children in each session.  

I remember that the children were adorable and so smart. As the weeks went by, I was allowed to plan all types of activities for them to do.  There was literacy, math, science, and my favorite, art.  I became close to my supervising teacher and studied her every move so that I could perform to her satisfaction which was very important.  The biggest test of all would be an observation visit from my college professor to see how I could handle the classroom.  When she came you were required to handle the class all by yourself!! 

Oh, the planning that went on before that day!  And oh, the stress of thinking about her sitting in the room and watching every little thing that I did and listen to every single word that I said. During her observation visit she would bring an evaluation form, and fill it out in front of you, to let you know your progress.  Thank goodness she was only coming one time to Kindergarten!

The day arrived for the observation and I was a nervous wreck.  My mind raced with all of the things I planned to do.  My professor arrived and said hello and went in to talk with my supervising teacher.  The children started to arrive.  Where was she?  More children arrived.  They were still talking!  OK, all the children were there. Should I wait? Should I start?  If I didn't start soon things might get out of control so I called everyone for “morning circle time”.  Let’s get this show on the road!

Everyone gathered on the rug and we began our morning ritual. We sang our morning welcome song, did our roll call, talked about the weather and filled out the weather chart.  When they heard we had started my professor came in and took a seat in the corner of the room.  She was carrying her trusty clipboard and evaluation form!  We began to talk about which day of the week it was and what activities we would do that day.  

Suddenly, one of the little boys, who arrived late, burst through the door and headed straight for the circle of children to find his place.  He settled in just as I asked if anyone had anything that they wanted to share with the group.  (We did this every morning and most of the time children shared stories about pets, a new toy, and birthdays, all of the things that are important when you are 5 years old).  So, the little boy who was late raises his hand, waving it excitedly to get my attention. I called on him to share. 

He stood up in the middle of the circle, put his hands on his hips, opened his eyes wide and exclaimed,   “My Daddy got drunk and threw up all over the T.V.  My Mommy had to clean it up and she was really, really mad!”    He looked at me for some sort of validation.  Oh, dear, what to say?

“Well,” I said, “sometimes those things happen.”  He shook his head in agreement; none of the other children said a word or seemed to think anything about what he had just said so we continued on with the lesson. I have no idea what anyone else had to share that day!

In the corner, my professor was quietly cracking up and writing a lot on that clipboard…… and, by the way, I got a great evaluation and a story to tell many years later.  Whew!

Kids. You gotta love ‘em! 

BA @ Kids Matter