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August 31, 2007
Exploring
The other evening i was talking with a friend. She was telling me about a visit with her six year old nephew. He and his mom were visiting from the beach in Southern California. Most Southern California residents are a bit surprised over what's in the North State, but I hadn't considered what it might be like for a six-year-old. Adults are sort of used to the countryside being different and can adjust. A child who has never been around tall trees, creeks running through parks, and rock outcroppings could be a bit thrown. Sounds like this little guy was.
His aunt suggested he go play, but he seemed reluctant to do so. That's when she took matters into her own hands. "Let's go exporing," she said.
"What's that," asked her nephew.
"It's when you go out looking for new adventures. Let's explore these rocks," she said as she jumped from one rock to the other.
At first he was a bit unsure. As he got more used to the idea, he wanted to be in charge. "Let's go this way," he said.
"You can go that way, but I'm going this way," said his aunt choosing her direction a little differently but reaching the same spot. The boy now had a choice. He could insist they go his way, but knew he wasn't going to convince his aunt to do it his way, he could go his own way, or he could follow her. The first choice would have been an argument and he could see it. The last two meant he wouldn't have his way, but he could make a choice. This time he chose to follow her. Exploring was okay, but he'd give over to a guide. Next time he might try it on his own.
It wasn't long before he was sure about where he wanted to go. He was watching his feet as he jumped from rock to rock. Again, he wanted to go his way. His aunt then provided a new exploring skill-looking ahead. She pointed out that if he took the direction he was going, he would shortly come to a deadend-no more rocks. If he looked ahead and around he might find another way without hitting a deadend. A little careful planning and, sure enough, there was another way. Eureka, I found it.
His aunt admitted to me that she really wasn't all that keen on climbing around on rocks all afternoon, but, hey, look what good it could do. By the next day, it was obvious that the challenge to explore something new had worked. First thing in the morning, what did this six-year-old want to do? Explore more of course.
Sometimes just a little bit of time, energy, and creativity can light up a whole new world for a child.
Posted by Dr Joni at 09:34 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 22, 2007
The Younger Set
Today, I had a wonderful opportunity to visit Burney Falls and to watch learning in action for a pair of young ladies from Kansas. I had just wandered down the trail to the Falls, taken tons of pictures, enjoyed myself completely, and was on my way back to my car when I realized it was 2:00 and I hadn't eaten lunch. The only thing that qualified for food other than snack chips was hot dogs so a hot dog it would be. I doctored mine just right, and headed for the tables outside the General Store.
The tables were large family sized. One was occupied while the rest were empty. I didn't want to sit at a huge table by myself, so I asked the family at the occupied table if I could join them. They graciously agreed, and I had a great time getting to know them, especially Hailey and Annie, while they enjoyed their afternoon ice cream cones.
The girls, three and a half and eighteen months, were there with Mom and Dad visiting Grandma in Susanville. It was rather a long way from Kansas, Toto, but it seems Mom had grown up in Susanville so it was family visit.
As I sat down, Hailey, counted the number of people at the table, "One, two, three, four, five." I made six.
My first comment was, "She's getting ready for school."
"In just a couple of years," was Mom's response.
As we talked and watched other things going on around us, I heard Mom say to Annie, "Dog, cup, spoon," as she pointed out the objects. Her Grandmother told me Annie was just about ready to talk, but hadn't quite made the connection. She understood what was being said quite well, however, because when Grandma mentioned putting their feet in the lake, little Annie lit up with excitement.
I usually stop to watch children in schools and airports, so this was a nice treat to enjoy children out playing in nature. We sometimes don't realize how much learning children take in when they are little. Annie, at 18 months, may not specifically remember the Falls, but her brain is processing everything that goes on around her, sights, smells, sounds, words. She also sensing emotions and tones from those she's with. It's possilbe Hailey might remember some, but, again she is building learning as she takes in and sifts through words and experiences.
What fun to see a family enjoying themselves, each other, and the world around them. I talk a great deal about how important it is for preschool age children to have lots of experiences to build on to form words and concepts. It makes a huge difference when they start to read and take in concepts from print.
These girls have a great headstart on learning just by spending time talking, learning words, and vacationing.
As we were leaving I thanked them for letting me join them. Hailey's response-"You're welcome." Hailey, it was truly my pleasure.
Posted by Dr Joni at 05:44 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 21, 2007
Children's Self-Esteem
Usually I write about ideas I've discovered or things I've tried or seen others try. Today, I'm just going to give you a website. As I was glancing through some of the news on the Internet, I found this article. It's a good one and a message I try to give as I'm talking to parent groups. Your child's self-esteem is a key factor in how well they do in school and in life. You can play a very large part in how that self-esteem develops. A positive outlook about yourself and the world around you overcomes a huge number of obsticles.
Try this site for today: http://health.msn.com/pregnancykids/kidshealth/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100151116
Posted by Dr Joni at 09:00 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 16, 2007
Workshop for Parents
I mentioned earier this week I was doing a Back to School workshop for parents. It's definitely the time of year for teachers and administrators to tell parents about their programs and get everyone off to a good start. This school was no exception.
The turnout was great. About 150 parents and a few children showed up to see what was going on at the school. It was fun as we checked people in to see how many new parents with first time kindergarteners were there. They were so excited for their children. Then there were the old-timers with sixth graders who knew about how things worked. Well, they mostly knew, but this was their child's last year at this school, and who knew ANYTHING about Middle School.
When doing a workshop for parents, I avoid talking about data and statistics and boring stuff, but I do point out one study that was done a few years ago. The study looked at 66 different studies involving parents helping their children with learning. The result was that everyone of the 66 studies showed that when parents were involved with their child's learning, the child did better in school. It didn't matter what the education level of the parent was, the ethnicity, or the income. What mattered is that they spent time with their child on learning activities.
Yes! Thank you. I have four children and I worked full time while my kids were growing up, but I know when I spent time with them, reading a story or doing a science experiment, they did better in school than when I was too busy to help.
The study went on to say the two most important things a parent can do is to:
1) Have a positive attidude about education and learning
2) Believe and have confidence that their child can learn
Well, that puts it in a nutshell. One of the most fun classes one of my kids took was a literature secion of her English class. After their first reading she came to me saying she didn't get it and no one in her class got it. We sat down and reread the story by Edgar Allen Poe. Then we went back and talked about what he might be trying to say. The next day she went to class knowing she "got it." She was the only one who did. She came back every night with a new reading until the whole section was complete. We both enjoyed it. Not only did we enjoy the reading, we enjoyed the time together. Oh, and she enjoyed the success!
Sometimes they brought me stuff I didn't like or know much about. If it was in their dad's areas of expertise, I could pass them off, but sometimes neither one of us was that great at what ever the project. Then it was a bit more challenging to help, but if, as the study showed, what it took was to be positive about learning and confident they could get it, no problem. That I can do.
Positive and confident are two things you can do for your child this year. Make this the best year ever.
Posted by Dr Joni at 01:58 PM
August 13, 2007
Getting Started for a New School Year
It's definitely time to go back to school. There are sales in every store I'm in. Ads everywhere tell me to buy things for school. It seems every aisle has notebooks and pencils convieniently placed for your purusal. I love it. It's fun to watch the kids picking out their backpacks and lunch boxes and chatting with their friends about what the teachers will be like. I find it interesting that they spend more time on what the teacher will be like and who's going to be in their room than what they will be learning, but, we are afterall, very social beings.
I'm doing a back to school workshop for a group of parents tomorrow, and I was just going over the material I will be talking about. Maybe you'd like a sneak preview. You won't even have to get out of your easy chair for it.
I'm talking about the importance of getting invovled in your child's learning. Now I can hear some of you right now saying, "Yeah, but I don't know how to do geometry or chemistry. I can't help."
I'm sure there will be parents tomorrow saying the same thing. I'm going to tell you what I will tell them. There are a whole bunch of studies out there (66 that I know of) that show that every time a parent gets inolved in their child learning, the child does better in school. Not one of the studies show that a child does worse. In addition the studies show that it doesn't matter your level of education or your job or your race or the amount of money you have. All that matters is that you do two things: have a positive attitude about your child's education and show confidence that your child will succeed.
Two items only that can make a difference. I know when I did those two things, my children did well in school. When I got frustrated and told one of my children he wasn't doing well in his Spanish class and he was going to fail,he almost did! They will live up to what you tell them.
There is more I will be talking about tomorrow, and I will share it with you later this week. For now, as school begins, if you will talk about this year as being the best one ever, support your children in their learning, and tell them how well you know they'll do, you'll all enjoy a great start to a new school year.
Posted by Dr Joni at 05:02 PM
August 01, 2007
Almost School
It's August first and the days of summer vacation are winding down. My youngest goes back to college tomorrow. She won't start classes for a couple weeks, but she has a job interview and needs to move into a new place. Her fiends are all showing up to help. I remember those days.
I mentioned to someone yesterday that this will be the first year since I was six years old that I haven't started school. Every year of my school life and then every year of my work life I got ready for the first day of school. Either I got the cigar box and filled it with pencils, scissors, and paste then waited for the bus to take me to my new classroom, or I put up the bulletin boards, put the name tags on the desk, and waited for the children to arrive, or I met with the teachers, created the schedule, checked the budget, and visited classrooms the first month of school. It's been a ritual for as long as I can remember.
This year is different. I'm helping my daughter get off to college, paying for the other daughter's tuition, and, as I wandered through a used book store this week, wondering if there were books that might help my children's library as they plan their careers. I'm finishing up my newest book. The preschool standards are set to be released in September so I can have that version ready to go right away. I'm planning workshops and developing new ideas.
It's all good stuff and I enjoy it, but there is nothing like the excitement of watching children on the very first day of school. Whether it's me going to school with my cigar box, my own children getting on the school bus with their backpacks, or watching the children tumble into the classroom I've decorated and readied for them, the first day of school holds a thrill for us educator types like no other.
It's like the first day of baseball spring training or the first football practice. The season has begun. You know it. You feel it. The exctiement and training and love you have for the game is right on the surface. There isn't anything you can't do, won't try, and aren't ready for. It's what you live for every year. That's what it feel like. That's the way it is.
So this year if you find me lurking on a school campus somewhere breathing in chalk dust and counting noses, just smile and nod in understanding. The moment will pass and it will be October before we know it. The seasom will have moved into full swing and the ups and downs of reality will have set it. But the first day, the very first day holds such promise and exctiement for each and everyone who's involved.
Enjoy someone's first day of school. Whether it's you, your child, your grandchild, a neighbor's child or a classroom full of children, there's someone who's excitment you can share. Make it the best start you and a child has ever had.
Posted by Dr Joni at 07:36 AM