Megan Buys a Present
Today I spoke with the teacher about how part of my time spent at La Casa was to learn from other teaching styles. (There has been a feeling amongst the cohort that we were being overly depended on to teach.) I said that I would be available to teach a one hour lesson from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. She seemed a bit disappointed, but she understood. I only have one more financial lesson to go after today's lesson, and then there will be a few trips. Also, I will begin to focus on the summer picture book set up with some of the kids.
The day began as normal. Kids had breakfast, and while they ate I was helping the teacher by working to get a computer up and running. I soon became surrounded by a cluster of kids, and it was funny. I loved the interest that that the kids were finding in my computer repair work.
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| Dance moves for exercise as part of the morning routine. |
Soon the children gather for morning circle. There are some things that are consistent with the morning circle. There is a name song, "My name is __________ (3x) What's your name?" Then the teacher will explain something to the kids like how to prepare for an upcoming trip. After the morning circle the I was asked to read a book about differences and similarities in people. It was a great way to acknowledge what kids already notice about people and their color, clothes, abilities/impairments, and such.
I enjoyed reading the book. Some kids said they had already had it read to them the previous day, and for others, it was the first time hearing it. I told them as good readers, it is important to reread stories because there are new things that we will notice.
After the read aloud I played my flute for the children. They liked the way that it looked, and they enjoyed hearing it. Then they did some video dance lessons for exercise. Some kids really get into practicing the moves, but it's funny because the teen helpers and adults stand around. Some kids feel awkward and want to sit down, and it's tough to tell them to dance when the adults aren't dancing. So, I took one student by the hand and told him that I needed someone to help me dance. So we did some move together for a while. It was fun to have him engage a little more.
When dancing finished, I transitioned to another read aloud. Megan Buys a Present. Before beginning the story, I asked the kids if they remembered any of the characters from the otherstories I read. I brought out Moomi, the toy cow I used in the first story as a promt, and they enjoyed hearing me talk in a cow voice. They all helped each other to remember all of the other main characters. I also have gotten into the habit of asking the kids who is the person who writes the book, and what is the title of a person who creates the pictures. This series has many different forms of illustration, and that was fun to point out to the kids as well.
The read aloud went well. I didn't set the stage like with the first story, but I did pause and ask questions to keep the kids engaged. After the story, I presented the worksheets we would work on, and I did one of the questions as an example of what to do. I also showed them a bank they would all get to save money like Megan did in the story.
Having already learned the chaos that can ensue without clear directions, I told the students that the
quietest students would get their worksheet first and could go to their seats. I also prompted the helpers to get pencils ready for them. Here is an example of what one student was learning:
After they finished their worksheets, I gave them their cardboard banks, and they were really happy to get them. They were even happier when I gave them all a quarter to begin their savings. Unfortunately, they love to hear the sound of the quarter rattling in the box, and the boxes weren't so secure. Consequently, there was soon the jingling sound of quarters hitting the floor. All of the quarters that fell were recovered except one. See if you can find that student in the picture.
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| Banks in hand and (mostly) happy. |
Now I have one more lesson to do connected to the financial piece. Initially I was more critical of the work and stories, but I actually think that they provide a great foundation to build other lessons upon.
As a side note, I needed to add this short clip of what I witnessed when I entered the classroom next door to mine during playtime. This girl has got some skills. It was great to see more students
join her afterwards.
Octavio,
ReplyDeleteAs I am reading your post, I am brought back to Dr Lalvanis class when we discussed the socialization of people to think and believe certain thiings about individual differences. I am in no way shape or form arguing against the process of introducing students to variation in human form, especially in the earlier grades. IN fact, I am in favor. But when I read through the piece in your post when you said that "It was a great way to acknowledge what kids already notice about people and their color, clothes, abilities/impairments, and such.", it almost saddened me for some reason....the socialization process begins. And while I am sure that it began long before they stepped foot in La Casa, I wonder when exactly children understand that different is "different". Sure, as kids we SEE, FEEL, HEAR, SMELL and TASTE differences, but when does it become aparent that differences are worth noting? That differences are something that people write books about and feel the need to talk about?
I loved the pictures and videos! The girl busting a move in the video is Destiny, and she has earned the nickname "Tiny Dancer" from me and the other teachers. You should have seen her face when I started singing Elton John...she had no idea what I was singing or who Elton John was. Are we that old and uncool?
:-)
I'm not sure I totally understand your sadness, Deb. I think differences are noticed before kids can talk, and the understanding is sought as their language emerges with questions of a comparison between themselves and the world.
ReplyDeleteI think it's very healthy to broach differences, and to even bring them up because so many children think about them. It allows for a further exploration that can make something less taboo or shameful...especially when the differences are so obvious.
What I liked about the book is that it spoke of our similarities and differences, and there wasn't a judgment of good or bad, better or worse. The kids didn't pose any insulting remarks either, and that was really refreshing.
On the trip to Camel Beach a young girl was looking at another girls nose and noted, "She has such a tiny nose." I said, "Yes, isn't interesting how all of our noses have different shapes."
Deb,
ReplyDeleteAs you probably know, my Early Childhood Development paper, addressed the concerns you raise in your blog. Researchers have concluded that children as young as three, develop a multifaceted understanding of the way in which society constructs racial categories; three year olds were significantly more likely to select "race" as the dominant identifying factor in any given scenario and unfortunatley, the three year old demographic is the period during which most children begin to attach negative labels and feelings to racial differences. Therefore, at this time, ample dialogue surrounding the issues of race and racism are crucial.
Researchers further garnered that from five to eight years old, children develope personal prejudices and often begin to resort to racist name-calling and other distasteful actions, with the "intent" to hurt.
Although it is unpleasant to face reality, we must, if we are to eradicate racism, ableism, etc. from our world. Naturally, the process begins with parenting, but as educators, we may be faced with the arduous task of helping our children view differences as "beautiful"; and this cannot be accomplished until we accept the fact that kids notice differences and if we don't assist in their developing a positive view of those differences, negative views will, more than likely, develop.
I know your girls are fortunate to have parents such as you and Tommy...open-minded and compassionate. Unfortunately, other children may not have that luxury!!!