Heart-centered Teaching

This article comes from ExchangeEveryDay and was so wonderful we wanted to share! Please read below:

Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself.
-Chinese ProverbIt would be hard to trust gardening advice from someone whose own garden was an overgrown weed patch," observes Nancy Rosenow in the opening of the newest book in the Exchange Store, Heart-Centered Teaching Inspired by Nature. Rosenow continues...

"I suspect it's also hard for children to believe that learning is exciting and worthwhile unless the adults in their lives actually value and enjoy learning themselves. Years ago, studying to be an educator, I had no idea that the most impressive lessons I'd be delivering would come from the way I lived my own life. But that turned out to be the case. Children know authenticity when they see it, and they know pretense. They undoubtedly saw some of both in me.

"Over the years I've come to believe that those of us who work with or for children have a responsibility to nurture themselves as tenderly as we nurture the children in our care. Children deserve to be taught by people who delight in the wonders of the world and are eager to share them. Children deserve to be taught by people who teach through positive example.

"Consider: How can we help children see the world is a place of goodness and unlimited possibilities if we experience it as dreary and stifling? How can children trust us about the benefits of healthy eating and exercise if they don't choose to practice what we preach? How will we help children learn the difficult art of conflict resolution if bitter conflicts in our own relationships remain unresolved? How can we help children discover nature's gifts of joy and wonder if we rarely delight in those gifts ourselves? And perhaps the hardest question of all: How will we help children experience themselves as unconditionally loved and loving beings if we don't feel unconditionally loving toward ourselves?"


So, are you taking the time to nurture yourself? You deserve it, and so do your sweet children!

Living Love and Logic Tip #50

Chores at Home = More Success at School
Weekly Tip from the Love and Logic^® Experts

 

Is it difficult to get your kids to help around the house? Do you have to pay them to do the dishes, clean their room, etc? This week, Dr. Charles Fay provides some easy to use techniques to get your kids to do their chores without paying, begging, or bribing them.

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Ask any veteran educator, and they'll agree:

Kids who are used to doing chores at home…without reminders, without pay, and without arguing…are far more respectful and motivated at school.

So…how's a parent actually get stubborn kids to do their fair share without resorting to begging, bribery, or full-scale warfare?

Click HERE some brief tips:

Pinatas! What FUN!

The kids have been having a blast with one of our latest projects! We love to play with gooey and messy things, so of course creating with paper mache was fun! Students learned this art process over 3 days and worked hard at properly layering the many sheets of newspaper over their balloon. This was great for patience as students had to wait each day for it to dry before applying the next layer. We couldn't wait to see what happened when the balloon inside was popped and removed!

Students used their imaginations to brainstorm different things to make out of their paper mache creations. Many decided to make colorful hats and some decided to make bowls! What great ideas they have and what incredible paper mache hats they made!

A very special Thank You to Sharline, a HO4K's mom who spent 3 mornings patiently working with our students on their paper mache projects! She was awesome! We are so lucky to have so many great parents who are always willing to help out.

Gradutaion Update!

Parents,
Don't forget that this Friday, August, 17th is graduation day at HO4K! There will be 6 children graduating this year and we will be celebrating them and all the students at HO4K. Students will have a music and movement performance with Ms Jenny and we will have a graduation ceremony with a video highlighting the graduating students and their time at HO4K. There will be refreshments and time for pictures following the celebration. Please let Mrs. JoAnn know ASAP how many family members will be attending so that we can assure plenty of seating! The ceremony will start at 7 pm and should last about an hour. We cant wait to see you and reflect on another great year with incredible students!

Living Love and Logic Tip #49

The Problem Goes Back to the Rightful Owner
Weekly Tip from the Love and Logic^® Experts

 

Nineteen-year-old Blake was in for a surprise. While he was away for his first semester of college, his dad listened to the audio CD, Hormones and Wheels, and was ready to make some changes in his parenting style.

Dumping his bags on the floor, Blake announced, "Dad, like this trooper gave me a ticket and it's not fair. He comes up and gets like all belligerent, telling me he ought to arrest me because I was going 30 miles over the limit. I told him, 'Like lighten up, dude. There's no one else on the road and it's like what's the big deal? I know it's a work zone, but it's after hours, man.' And then he like cops a real attitude on me. So, Dad, will you just take care of the ticket and not make a big deal out of it? How am I supposed to have a good vacation if I have to go to court and mess with this?"

In the past, Dad reacted to these situations with anger, but had always bailed Blake out. No wonder Blake thought this latest brush with the law was just another minor irritation.

What a shock! Dad didn't get mad.

 

Click HERE to read the rest of this story and to see how dad reacted.

 

Friendships At HO4K

Wow! I can see friendships helping in our class:
"Establishing and sustaining friends over a lifetime is essential for individual well-being, and for emotional and social support over the life trajectory," writes Susan Danby from Australia's Queensland University of Technology in the Bernard van Leer Foundation publication, Developing Positive Identities: Diversity and Young Children.
"Friendships are important for children because friends help each other understand the world in which they live. It is known that the quality of children's friendships affects their development of a personal and social identity.... Children with friends, even one friend, have better social skills and fewer adjustment problems. Friends provide social support and can protect against the difficulties of starting school, the birth of a sibling, family conflict and different family settings, behavior troubles, victimization and bullying. Children starting school seem to like school better and adjust better if they have formed friendships."
I have two previous students who became "best friends" in my class and still are having just graduated from high school. Back then, I didn't think much of the "little friendship" but the families felt it and with support it truly did as this article says....help in many ways. Parents must always be their child's best advocate!
(Now that I think back....my dearest friendships began in my 3 year old church class, and many of us are still friends! )
Keep up the great parenting and thanks for sharing your children with me! (I always hope my students stay in touch and families continue to be my friends!)
Truly,
JoAnn

Living Love and Logic Tip #48

Parenting Through Divorce:
Are You a Rock … or Are You a Leaf?
Weekly Tip from the Love and Logic^® Experts

 

The other night we had a ferocious storm. Rain fell in sheets, lightning lit the sky, and the sound of thunder drove our dog under the bed. The trees bent in the wind, and just about everything not tied down took flight.

I watched leaves fluttering around the driveway, driven in circles by the wind. In stark contrast was a huge rock decorating our garden. That chunk of granite did not move!

Do children need leaves blown in the wind

or the security of rock-solid love?

Divorce can uproot even the most secure parents, leaving them unable to provide the type of limits, accountability, and consistency essential for raising respectful, responsible, and happy kids. Oftentimes, people are so overwhelmed by grief, loss, and other stress that they find it incredibly difficult to be the solid leaders their children need. When combined with dramatically different parenting between homes, we have a recipe for failure.

So … what can you do to give your kids the stability they need?

Keep your focus rock solid and simple:

Limits, Accountability, and Love

To learn how to keep a rock solid focus click HERE!

Snapping Beans!

There are lifelong benefits to teaching our children that it is their responsibility to keep their bodies healthy. At HO4K students continually learn about appropriate eating habits and physical activities to promote a healthy lifestyle. 

In the above picture, students are properly preparing their vegetable to be served with lunch. The have learned how to wash the beans and then "snap" off the ends so that it can be cooked in time to eat! What a great lesson! Not only is it yummy and healthy, but they are learning a life skill! Next time you are making dinner, don't be afraid to have your little one help out!

Some of the Nevada State Preschool Standards addressed are:

Science
L.PK.5 Identify the basic need for air, water and food.

Physical Development
1.PK.3 Identify healthy foods.
1.PK.8 Identify the basic need for air, water, and food.

Living Love and Logic Tip #47

Losing your Lunch
Weekly Tip from the Love and Logic^® Experts

Christopher lost 3.5 lunchboxes per year.

By third grade, he had come to believe that the price of a nice new lunchbox was listening to a few minutes of frustrated lecture from Mom or Dad. These lectures usually included funny parts about money not growing on trees and parents having to eat dirt for lunch when they were kids.

And then…they'd buy him a new lunchbox complete with a reminder: "You better not lose this one! I mean it!"

Thanks to their Becoming a Love and Logic Parent class, Christopher's parents learned some new ideas for handling this lunchbox problem. It sounded like this:

Christopher: "Mom! Somebody stole my lunchbox again!"

Mom: "Honey, that's awful. You loved that lunchbox. What do you think you're going to do?"

Christopher: "I need a new one."

To see how Christopher's mom handled the rest of the situation click HERE!

Energy Drain!

Often children have a hard time not arguing, talking back and/or listening the first time they are asked to do something. Of course, we struggle with this from time to time, even at HO4K. As teachers noticed this becoming a problem they quickly came up with a plan! Students conferenced with teachers about things they love to do! Playing in the wading pool with bubbles was easily the popular answer. Deciding on something we all love to do was not the difficult part. Next, we came up with ideas to make sure that Ms Mary and Ms JoAnn would have enough energy to plan this activity. Students agreed that they needed to work on listening and obeying the first time, so a goal was set! We were going to all do our best!

It took 2 weeks, but WE DID IT!!!! Wow, we have learned how to be better listeners and got to have a fun day full of bubbly fun!

Living Love and Logic tip #46

Our Kids Should Have Some Junk
Weekly Tip from the Love and Logic^® Experts

Our kids should have some junk? Before you click "unsubscribe" at the bottom of the page, consider for a moment the lessons our children can learn from rusty bicycles with loose chains and/or flat tires.

Earlier this week an amazing little bicycle caught my eye: shiny red with multiple gears, hand brakes and gleaming chrome wheels. It screamed, "Buy me! Your kid will love me! He will love you for buying me! I'm so much better than the one he has! If you are a good dad who loves his boy, you will buy me!"

Fortunately, I escaped from the bike shop without the bike being peddled to me!

Something about that wonderful bike reminded me of something even better: Growing up in a home where I was given the privilege of having to make do with things that don't work very well. As a young boy, I could either figure out how to fix my bike or miss out on the fun of riding it. As a teen, I frequently encountered three options: (1) Find a way to fix my car, (2) walk where I wanted to go, or (3) stay at home and pretend that I was mobile.

When everything our children have is brand new and flawless, they miss out on endless opportunities to learn. They fail to learn delayed gratification and patience. They fail to learn humility. They fail to learn the creativity and problem-solving skills that enabled earlier generations to build the United States of America into a world economic powerhouse.  To see other recommendations and how to help develop these character attrbutes in your child, click HERE!

Playing in the RAIN!!

What kid doesn't love playing in the rain? The kids at HO4K's aren't any different and are SO lucky to have teachers who allow them to play, explore and just get wet when its raining! How fun!

 The above student designed his very own umbrella! Yes that is a plunger!

 Don't worry...the plunger is only for children to play with, it's never been used in a Toilet! (and Ms  JoAnn said it never can be!)

Ooooooh....that's what a water spout is for! What a great way for students to better understand things around them, then to be able to explore! We loved watching the water come out of the spout! It tickled our feet as it rushed onto the ground!

Perfectly Pretending!

Let's have a picnic! These two initiated having lunch together complete with a tablecloth, food and drinks! They enjoyed each others company as they sat and talked about their day. They took turns dishing up food, sharing entrees, and finally cleaning up. What great experiences they must have to be able to recreate this dramatic play scene.

 Milkshakes! Milkshakes! Who wants a milkshake? Students created a milkshake stand full of flavorful yummy shakes! Brainstorming together they decided to sell their shakes for $65.00. Apparently it was a little steep for some and sales were low! After a quick meeting, they changed their price to $FREE$ and they became a best selling milkshake store!!! The students used several props and water to recreate the scene of an ice cream store. Working together they took turns being  the store operator, cashier, scooper and customer. What fun they had using their imaginations together. Many wished that they could really go to a milk shake store and buy whatever they want!

As explored in previous posts, dramatic play is crucial in child development. It helps students socially and academically. It allows for open play and for students to have the opportunity to learn to work together, validating each others ideas and actions. Students explore their imagination while recreating situations and relationships either already experienced or created by the child. Below is a list of a few of the Nevada State Preschool Standards addressed in dramatic play! Never underestimate this wonderful play time!

SOCIAL STUDIES/SOCIAL EMOTIONAL STANDARDS

5.PK.1a Play independently.

5.PK.1b Play in pairs and small groups.

5.PK.1c Engage in dramatic play.

5.PK.1d Initiate play, or enter into play with a group of children already playing.

5.PK.2a Participate in cooperative groups to complete a task.

5.PK.2b Take turns with teacher support.

5.PK.2c Share some of the time.



CREATIVE EXPRESSION STANDARDS


1.PK.1 Act out a role observed in his/her life experiences; for instance, mother, baby, doctor.

1.PK.2a Make up new roles from experiences and familiar stories.

1.PK.2b Direct peers and/or follow directions from peers in creating dramatic play scenarios

1.PK.3 Act out roles that involve another child(ren) in related role; for instance, mother and baby, grocer and shopper.

1.PK.6 Use available materials as either realistic or symbolic props as part of dramatic play.

1.PK.7 Use dress-up clothes or costumes and other props in dramatic play.

2.PK.1 Distinguish between persons, animals, and objects by identifying characteristics (e.g., the sounds animals make).

2.PK.2 Imitate roles observed in child’s life experiences.

2.PK.3 Assume the role of a familiar person or thing and talk in the language/tone appropriate for that person or thing.

Living Love and Logic Tip #45

Neutralizing Arguments
Weekly Tip from the Love and Logic^® Experts

 

We've all been there: You're talking to a friend or mate and suddenly, almost without warning, you feel it. The twinge. The quickened heartbeat. The feeling of exasperation, defensiveness, and the intense desire to strike out.

Intimacy - or "into me see" is dangerous business, not for the faint of heart. Allowing another person to see the real you takes courage. The risks are having your feelings hurt. The rewards are having someone close to you.

One of the many challenges of relating is the dreaded argument. We've all been there, done that. Can you remember the last time you were having a cordial conversation with a friend, colleague, or mate, and suddenly, almost without warning, tempers flared and harsh words were spoken? You didn't plan it. It just happened!

What if there was a tool you had ready to use in such a situation? Would you use it? I'll bet you would. The next time you're in a situation where you feel attacked and want to lash out, I want you to try this experiment:

1. Stop! Yes, I know this sounds simple, but I want you to practice it. Stop! Rather than say anything, or do anything, I want you to simply stop.
   
2. Look. Take a moment to look around you. Notice where you are and what is happening.

To learn the last 3 steps to this experiment click HERE! Good luck next time you are in this kind of situation!

Happy 4th of July!

We hope you all enjoyed a safe and happy 4th of July! The children have loved getting to know more about our country and the freedoms we enjoy because of the sacrifice of others. It is a great thing to witness when children get excited to display their patriotism! Bless the U.S.A!

Making Colors

Recently we have been learning more about colors. Talking about how to make colors, change the shade of colors, what happens when we mix certain colors together. Students were surveyed and predicted which color when mixed with red would make orange! It was a great peer teachign moment as one student used previous knowledge of primary colors to help students learn that red and yellow make orange!

Of course we had to test it ourselves and conducted our very own experiement of mixing colors. Wow what a fun and messy way to learn about the color wheel!

Some Nevada preschool standards addressed in the above activity include:

SCIENCE

N.PK.3
Use tools safely to observe and explore different objects/environments.

N.PK1.a
Observe their world.

N.PK1.b
Ask questions about their world.

N.PK.3
Use tools safely to observe and explore different objects/environments.

N.PK.5
Students work in small groups and shareideas with others regarding to science related activities.

ART
2.PK.4
Identify color, shape, and texture through art experiences.

Reading at HO4K

"There is no simple answer to helping children to read and write.... Young children need lots of exposure to oral language and print material. They need to have the self-confidence to explore new ideas and feel the pleasure and excitement of listening and telling stories, the intimacy of sharing, the joy of learning."

This is the advice from Joan Lombardi in her Exchange article, "Promoting Language, Literacy, and a Love of Learning Makes a Difference."

"During the infant and toddler years, children need relationships with caring adults who engage in many one-on-one, face-to-face interactions with them to support their oral language development and lay the foundation for later literacy. During the preschool years, young children need a wide range of developmentally appropriate experiences to support literacy, including — but not limited to — positive, nurturing relationships with adults who engage in responsive conversations with individual children. Child care providers need to model reading and writing behavior and foster children's interest in and enjoyment of reading and writing through exposure to a print-rich environment and daily adult reading of high-quality books."

You can tell by the interest and expressions, that the children are mesmorized by the content of the book being shared. This is a great opportunity to introduce students to fluency. Fluency is defined as the ability to read a text accurately, quickly, and with expression. Fluency is important because it provides a bridge between word recognition and comprehension.  Little ears can easily tell when a reader has good fluency during shared reading. Dont miss the great learning opportunity to read aloud to your children daily! They learn so much from this special time together!

Living Love and Logic Tip #44

Is It Okay to Have a Parenting Pet Peeve?
Weekly Tip from the Love and Logic^® Experts

 

If you're like about 99% of us, you have at least one thing that you feel so strongly about that you can't bear to see your kids do it. I'm not talking about huge things like sex, drugs, or gangs. It's our job to take a stand on these issues. What I'm talking about here is much smaller stuff, such as kids making popping sounds with their gum, wearing their hats inside, rolling their eyes, saying "like" a lot, wanting long hair, letting their rooms resemble the local landfill, etc.

There's nothing wrong with having a parenting pet peeve or two. That is, as long as you aren't attempting to micromanage or control your kids over every issue.

Click HERE to read the entire article and to find out the advice given!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Special Talents!!!

It is so important for children to recognize their special talents and gifts. It is also important for them to have confidence and feel pride while sharing these with others! We were so lucky to have some visitors with us last week who shared with us their special gift of dance!

Our first visitor is a 9 year old who did her own choreography for her school talent show and came to demo her hoola hoop skills for us. We were amazed at all the cool tricks and amazing moves she has with that hoop!

 
The other talent shared was by a recent HS graduate....clogging. We asked the children what they knew about clogging. Some said "I have no idea". One said "It's when something gets into something and stops the water " another added, "Clogging a toilet. I clogged a toilet before. It's how you make floods."
We learned clogging originated in Ireland and Netherlands with wooden shoes. First people used to wear wooden shoes to work in factories. Then they noticed when they tapped their toes to music it made cool rhythms. They stated dancing....it's evolved into metal taps on shoes. One student was able to figure it all out as they excitgedly shouted "There are little metal things on the bottom of her shoes. It makes a noise!"  Another added, "it sounds like bells because there's stuff on the bottom of her shoes." What great observers they are!

 After our special visitors, we read the book "The Talent Show" by Jo Hodgkinson. Each of the children decided to participate in their very own talent show.  We have challenged the kids to think about their special talents and cant wait for them to share them with us.

Come see our annual program "Hands-On-4-Kids Preschool Talent Show!" You will not want to miss it!  This year it will be held on Friday, August 17th, at 7pm. All students will be participating and we will have 6 kids graduating so it will be a wonderful event!

The Meaning of Marks!

In her Exchange article, "The Meaning of Marks: Understanding and Nurturing Young Children's Writing Development," Rachel Robertson says the following about young writers:

"Writing development is a component of literacy development that has received much less attention than reading. A novice might assume that a child learns to write in preschool or kindergarten by picking up a writing instrument and practicing, possibly copying dotted letters in a workbook or using a stencil as a guide. However, the foundation for writing begins much earlier. From the first grasping efforts a young infant makes to the attention a toddler gives to story time, the foundational skills needed to write successfully are practiced. Teachers and parents can and should use this captive and enthusiastic audience to extend and enrich the natural progression of writing development."

At HO4K's students practice using different writing tools and start at an early age with different forms of writing. The early development of fine motor skills and hand eye coordination along with exploration are imperative to future writing skills. As parents we serve as examples when we write lists, letters, create cards, leave messages, etc. Our little ones are constantly observing our behaviors and habits. The more we include them in such daily tasks, the more exposure they have which quickly develops into their own desire to write.