Critical #TeacherFriends Twitter Chat: "Over the Top" Kids

"Over the Top" Kids

recap by Debbie Clement

This past Tuesday we had an incredibly insightful Twitter Chat!

Actually EVERY Tuesday is an amazing Twitter Chat! 

This one just resonated with me. Personally. 

Our #GuestEduCelebrity was Wendy Young. 

She is co-author of the forthcoming book, "BLOOM." 

I'm going to screen shot several of Wendy's tweets from our chat. 

She is a wealth of information, insight and support. 

My hope is to support you as you support children who have challenges.

At the same time I'd like lure you into our weekly Twitter chat!

WE HAVE PRIZES EVERY WEEK! 

I know. I know. You don't even have a Twitter account. 

Or you started one ages ago and then just couldn't see the benefit. 

Let me tell you. Honestly. Twitter is an acquired taste. 

You just have to find some tweeps that resonate with you and your experience. 

THEN you can have professional development 24/7! 

IN YOUR JAMMIES! 

I'm @Kweezlequeen on Twitter: long story, just follow me! 

Let me see if I can capture just a little bit of what you missed. 

I am the moderator of our Tuesday night chat. 

I ask our guests five questions over the course of an hour. 

Everyone that 'attends' also answers the question. 

For Tuesday, the first question I asked was: 

"TeacherFriends What's your favorite suggestion 

for helping angry, 'Over the Top' Kids?" 

Now here come some of Wendy's answers............

*****These are screen shots....

Just click on the images below 

to go directly to the article quoted.

We are working diligently to get the entire chat into an organized, archived format. 

Several tech gliches have kept us from having that ready at this time. 

I will add it here, just as soon as it is captured. 

In the meantime, come wading in the Twitter pool with me! 

Can you believe that the month of May has arrived? 

I think May and I think Mother's Day. 

A while back I created this 'subway' art of my mothering thoughts. 

I titled it, "Things I Learned in Mom School." 

Download and print: VOILA! 

Give it to your favorite mom.... or better still? 

Give it to your favorite GRANDMOM!

If we've arrived at May, then it is seriously time to  get your End-of-the-Year Program together. 

I have two songs that I've written and recorded that are each perfect for this time of year. 

They are each in digital format, with Mp3s included in the zip file. 

Start today and I *PROMISE* you will be performance ready in time. 

They are each THAT simple! 

Depending on the focus of your program, 

you can either go with the three tissue self-esteem anthem,

"You're Wonderful" 

or go patriotic and use 

"Red, White and Blue" 

which has also been known to incite tears. 

They are each available at our Early Education Emporium. 

Or perhaps you are more familiar with TeachersPayTeachers.

I've had a couple of AMAZING school visits since last month, 

to some of your favorite cyber-friend/bloggers. 

I just visited Mr. Greg in Nashville..... read all about it on my blog here or on Greg's blog there! 

I absolutely ADORE this picture of their preparation for my arrival! 

They are making quilt square art in response to my first picture book! 

Greg is going with the "no table" approach to his kindergarten classroom this year. 

Give the room a whole new feel. 

Opens it up and allows for my kinder-sprawl! 

Can you find my book? 

RIGHT THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL OF THE ACTION!

Be still my heart!!!

AUTHENTIC ART IN THE MAKING!

As if that wasn't enough.... two days ago I visited with Cheryl of "Primary Grafitti" fame.  

Here's the tweet that she sent out right in the middle of #TeacherFriends chat. 

The mature students are 'freezing funny faces' in response to my song, "Jumpin' Jiminy.' 

If you EVER wanted to take a peek at an 'organized' classroom, 

come look over my shoulder as I mozy around the perimeter of her room! 

Prepare to be amazed! 

{Click pic below}

Here's one more FREEBIE for you for your End-of-Year gift. 

You can download it in pdf format over at our Early Education Emporium! 

I'll sign off with a HUGE sense of gratitude for yet another of my blogging friends. 

Mary, over at "Sharing Kindergarten" has embraced the Wobble Seats that we distribute. 

I don't have to put words in her mouth, as she's written at length about her excitement over our seating alternative. 

She started with a set of four WobbleSeats and then got a dozen MORE! 

When you order a dozen we can have them shipped for free. 

Creating a Safe Zone For Kids

Hi! I'm Ayn and I am a Ga. Pre-K teacher, serving 4 and 5 year olds in an inclusive setting. I share my classroom adventures on my blog, little illuminations. 

Childhood is a magical time. It can also be very frustrating! Learning to navigate our own feelings and emotions and dealing with others' as well can be a slippery slope. Much of the time that children are acting out, they are actually struggling with managing their emotions. 

One of the ways I help children in my classroom learn to deal with emotions is by providing a "safe zone" for them to get away. Not so long ago, "time out" was the suggested way to deal with difficult behavior. A safe zone is NOT a "naughty chair/spot" or a time out area in the traditional sense. It does provide the child with an area to go for a "time out", but not as a punishment. The safe zone is a place where children can go to release emotions and take a few moments to regain composure. There may be a few times that I might suggest a child go to the safe zone to collect themselves, but most of the time the area is self-selected by the student without any adult prompting. Again, this is NOT a "time out" or punishment area!

One of the big conversations we have at the beginning of the year centers on talking about our safe zone. We discuss the reasons we have it, how to use it properly and the items that are available in the safe zone. I emphasize that it is not a punishment and that it is to be used only for a few minutes. 

Some of the items in our safe zone:

***soft toys to cuddle

***puppets to help act out frustrations and feelings

***a "squeeze" toy to release anger

(This one is just a stocking with a few rags stuffed inside and a face drawn on. )

***calming toys (I sometimes have a pinwheel in my box.)

***sensory bottles

***a writing box so children may write or draw about their problem

***picture chart of emotions

***books about emotions or anger

(I change the book titles out regularly. See below for some other great titles to add to your safe zone.)

***cushions, pillows, rocking chair (soft seating of some sort)

If a student has a particular item like a doll, blanket, book or other item that is soothing, they may bring it into the safe zone, as well.

I also have a few "portable" safe areas that can be used if the safe zone is in use, or the child prefers a different setting.

Some of the other "safe zones" in classrooms around our center:

One of the things I keep an eye out for is making sure that shy students are not using the area to withdraw from socialization. While this does happen, I have found that with guidance, the children most likely to withdraw can use this space as a place to "warm up" to the idea of interacting. After a few minutes, most children are ready to join a friend and begin playing.

I have also found that this is a great place for children with separation anxiety to transition to for a few minutes until they are ready to join the group. It is much less traumatic to sit in the quiet zone for a few minutes than to break down in the middle of the class. 

The sensory bottle pictured above is sweeping the blogosphere as a "time out" bottle. It is so easy to make and is so soothing to watch. I wish I could capture the beauty of the glitter in pictures, but photos just don't do them justice. All you need is a clear bottle and some glitter glue. I used about a half bottle of glitter glue and some warm water to dissolve the glue. I glued the top on to the bottle to secure it.

If you are looking for more sensory bottle ideas, I've devoted an entire post to sensory and discovery bottles here on PreK+K Sharing. You can find it here.

I hope you'll consider offering a "safe zone" in your home or classroom for the children in your care. It is one of the easiest ways to to help children self-regulate their emotions. I've found that the more ways I help children learn how to mange their emotions and frustrations, the less conflict and behavior problems I have to help them handle. 

Stop by and visit me anytime at littleilluminations.blogspot.com or visit the little illuminations fanpage on facebook! And be sure to check out PreK+K Sharing EEE!

 

Start the year with some simple movements that are scientifically proven to lift your spirits!

Hello and Happy New Year,

I was pondering ideas for an interesting topic for my January blog post, when I received an email from Zak Morgan, a friend who is a Grammy-nominated musician and songwriter, with several albums and DVD's for children.  Zak and I have done many workshops together over the years, at NAEYC, OAEYC, and also the Keynote at the Bowling Green University Early Childhood conference.  

Connie and Zak at the Bowling Green Early Childhood Conference, 2009

Zak's email included a link to a recent talk at the TEDxJaffa conference, which he knew I would find very interesting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljm0ldxgkcE 

The talk is only about 15 minutes long, and if you have a chance, please listen to the link itself. Dr. Tal Shafir, a dance therapist, did research to find out which movements and movement qualities help us to feel better, and which ones make us feel unhappy, fearful, and tense.  I will sum up the gist of her findings here, so that you, and the children in your care, can start out the new year with some simple movement ideas to uplift your spirits.

One of my favorite dance quotes is from Vicki Baum:  There are shortcuts to happiness, and for me dancing is one of them.  Well, Dr. Shafir's talk at TEDxJaffa shows us how that quote can be backed up with scientific research!  She alludes briefly to what movements make us feel afraid, tense, and unhappy. They include crouched, closed-in postures and moving heavily, so we want to try to avoid those as much as possible.  

Dr. Shafir outlined four movements from her research that do the opposite; they make us feel happy.  And the best news of all is that they are simple, and are easily incorporated into our daily lives:

• Lightness.  Try to tread softly and with a buoyancy and weightless quality as you move throughout your day.
• Expanding the body in the horizontal and vertical.  Stretch when you first wake up; try to do it several more times throughout the day.  Sit up straight, elongate your torso, open your chest, lengthen your neck.
• Upward movement, which includes jumping, hopping, skipping, and raising the arms.
• Repetitive rhythmic movements, which is what comprises most dances.  An interesting recent study in Germany that Dr. Shafir cited showed that doing the Israeli folk dance called the Hava Nagila was more effective in reducing depression than riding an exercise bike!

Dr. Shafir closed her talk by referring to the Nike quote Just Do It, and said what she likes to say is Just Dance It.  And I will close my usual way, by saying,

Keep on dancin'!

MOVING IS LEARNING!

Happy 2014,

Connie

www.movingislearning.com