In September, my class decided to be adventurous and plant a garden. Keep in mind, I do not have a green thumb whatsoever. The students researched vegetation that was safe to plant in September, including lettuce, collard greens, spring mix, and white carrots. We voted as a class and decided that we should try lettuce, collard greens and carrots. The students placed an order on Amazon and patiently awaited their arrival to our classroom (thank goodness for prime shipping). After our seeds arrived, the students walked out to the garden where we were in charge of caring for a garden bed. The bed had weeds in it so the students independently needed to weed and rake out the bed and prep it for our seeds. The students prepped the area, dug little holes, poured the seeds in and covered them up with soil. The students marked the seeds using popsicle sticks and watered the seeds. We waited and waited and checked on the garden. After 3 weeks, no signs of life were showing and I told the students we tried our best, but it was unsuccessful for our first attempt so we will try again in the spring. We kept positive and a few days later, it was brought to my attention that there was some greenery growing in our garden.
In amazement, our class went outside and did indeed observe some growth in our garden! Since that day, we have been working hard to maintain our garden. Our class has been taking turns watering the garden and raking out the leaves and weeds. The class has gone outside and collected lettuce leaves and white carrots, brought them into the classroom where we learned and discussed how to clean them, and sent them home to share with their families. My class and students love to work in the garden, and it can be a hands-on and fun way to teach concepts from early literacy to math. All of the details that have been put into our growing garden have been a success in our classroom community! -Jamie Klimek, Teacher, Celebrate the Children
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As we embrace the cooler weather and prepare for the season, this article, "Gratitude Wheel" Art Project by Betsy Hanger published in Mindful Schools, resonated with us. SFSS is eager to weave in mindfulness in our daily school life for both the staff and students, and we thought this would be a perfect November activity. Betsy Hanger guides with the following instructions of putting in a center circle filled with the words "I am grateful for...". Next, divide the wheel with spokes making pie sections. Record what you are grateful for. Finally, Betsy Hanger encourages reflection of self by taking notice of our feelings by the following: "After a few minutes of work, encourage your students to slow down and notice if they feel their gratitude growing as they make the wheel." So our challenge and hope is to provide opportunities of mindfulness for our students but also their families. As we will be doing, we ask you to make your gratitude wheel. Reflect. Make one for yourself and then make one with the whole family. I know I will be incorporating this into my Thanksgiving festivities for myself and my family. However, no holiday is needed; just a few moments in a day, any day. In the end, Betsy Hanger concludes, "to end, send three kind wishes to someone on your wheel." So in closing, SFSS wishes you and your family:
SFSS would like to express our gratitude for the support, ideas and materials provided by Mindful Schools. Thank you for being our reference in this article and for the inspiration. We would also like to thank our students and families who enrich our lives daily and allow us to be part of their special journey. Warmest regards, Student & Family Support Services, Celebrate the Children Reference: Hanger, Betsy (2017, October 28) Retrieved from:http://www.mindfulschools.org/inspiration/gratitude-wheel/) Photo credit: Mindful Schools The “W” sit is a position that is normally used as a transition in children during activities of play. Transitioning in and out of this position is ok, but the issue comes when children get “fixed” or stay in that position during seated activities on the floor. The W-sit position allows the child to have their trunk and hips “fixed” so that playing only happens in the front of their body, therefore avoiding trunk rotation and weight shifting. Trunk rotation and weight shifting are important for appropriate bone and muscular development, core strength, balance control, and crossing midline that all help ensure that both sides of the brain are communicating effectively for proper development. Positions like crisscross ankle sit, ring sit, side sit or laying on their stomach or side are all better positions for play! -Physical Therapy Department, Celebrate the Children
The Trees are starting to change color, the weather is starting to get crisper in the morning and the smells outside are changing. Every year I enter this new season with expectations of how to spend my free time, or things I want to do. Having a 2 year old little girl makes me want to go out and experience things with her, to stop and take a step back and see it through her eyes.
This Fall I've created a Bucket List and I challenge you to do the same
Make a bucket list, and use it to enjoy time with your family and friends. We get so wrapped up in the day to day and forget to stop, and just take it all in.... -Tiffany Martino, Teacher, Celebrate the Children Photo Credit: Pixabay You’ve got a knot in the pit of your stomach and no matter how hard you try, you can’t seem to hide the fact that your palms are sweating. Does this sound familiar? Anxiety affects 1 in 8 children just like you, so rest assured that how you are feeling isn’t abnormal. What is it exactly that you are experiencing? How can you feel better? Keep reading to understand your body’s reaction and learn some tips to calm it down. Why Do I Feel Like This? Believe it or not, the anxiety you are experiencing has a specific purpose: protection. Unfortunately, this survival mechanism can sometimes go a little too far. When you are in danger, your body triggers an alarm to alert you to the situation. This is why you might feel uneasy walking home from a friend’s house when it is getting dark. Sometimes the alarm goes haywire, and you feel anxious when there isn’t any immediate danger. Something as small as a thought, such as worrying about your math test or having to present a project in front of the class, can trip the anxiety alarm. When there isn’t anything to fight or run away from (think the fight-or-flight response), you are left with physical symptoms such as sweating, fast breathing, shaking, queasiness, racing thoughts, and an overall feeling of panic. Anxiety isn’t a fun experience, but thankfully there are several ways you can calm your stress and keep your anxiety at bay. Relax Your Mind and Body There are several ways to combat anxiety, but the best place to start is with the culprit – your mind. You probably have several TV shows that you love to watch as you lounge on the couch or a favorite video game, but all the action and stimulation could be making you more tense. All that screen time can leave you feeling revved up rather than relaxed. You don’t have to completely unplug from the world of electronics, but on those days when your anxiety is taking its toll, opt for relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or yoga. You might feel a little silly, but deep breathing relaxes one of the major nerves that run from your diaphragm to your brain, giving your body the message that it needs to loosen up and relax. Take Care of Yourself While it’s important to take care of your brain, don’t forget about the rest of your body. Make sure you are getting enough sleep, nourishment, and exercise. There will be times when you feel anxious, so the key is make sure you are strong enough to face your anxieties head on. Try to get 8 – 11 hours of sleep each night, and limit your screen time right before bed to help you wind down. Although bedtimes aren’t fun, do your best to go to sleep, or at least be in your room, at the same time each night to get your mind and body on a sleep cycle. Pair a good night’s rest with healthy foods and exercise. Tap into your favorite activities to get your heart pumping such as sports, playing with your pet, or fun games like tag or hide-and-seek. Reach Out Don’t forget to spend time with friends and family, as doing things with people you are close to not only strengthens those bonds, but also makes you feel supported and safe. Whenever you are feeling anxious, talk to someone you trust who can listen and help you cope. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. If your anxiety is stemming from test anxiety or a hard time understanding certain concepts, talk with your parents about the possibility of hiring a tutor. Perhaps the anxiety you feel before a big sports game leaves you feeling unable to participate. Talk with your coach about how you are feeling, and ask for some pointers. They are there to not only support you, but also help you be the best athlete and person you can be. If you feel like you can’t manage your anxiety on your own, talk to your school guidance counselor as well as your parents about how you are feeling. They will be able to put you on the right path to the treatment you need. In the meantime, continue using coping techniques to calm your anxiety and tone down that anxiety alarm. This blog post was written by Noah Smith. Noah loves sharing his travel advice on WellnessVoyager.com. He tries to take one big trip each year. He’s currently saving up to backpack through Europe. Good news! It seems as though lawmakers in Trenton have added a budget resolution to delay implementation of the new fiscal code directly impacting special education private schools until July 2018.
Please show your support once again and contact Gov. Christie TODAY to support this resolution. He has the power to veto this and we can't let that happen. A phone call, tweet, or email showing your support for the delay is critical. He has until JUNE 30 to sign it so we need your support today! The information on contacting Gov. Christie is below. Thank you once again for your support of Celebrate the Children! CONTACT THE GOVERNOR TODAY TO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR BUDGET RESOLUTION 1163 WHEN: NOW!! Not later than Friday, June 30 HOW: 1) call: 609-292-6000 2) E-mail: use this form: http://www.nj.gov/governor/contact/ STEP 1 – TOPIC: Education STEP 2- SubTopic – Special Education SUBJECT LINE: Support Budget Resolution 1163 3) Tweet: @govchristie #support1163 #specialeducation Support budget res 1163 to delay fiscal code for private special education schools. WHAT TO WRITE/SAY: (you can copy and paste this message) Dear Governor Christie: I am the parent of a child with severe disabilities who is placed by my school district at a state approved private special education school. I am writing to you to urge you to support Budget Resolution 1163, which delays for one year the implementation of new fiscal code designed to reduce funding for more than 150 state-approved private special education schools.This month, the State Board of Education adopted 82 pages of complex fiscal code for special education schools that serve roughly 10,000 children with disabilities so severe and complex that public schools cannot provide an appropriate education to them. The implementation date of this code is slated for July 1. This gave schools just 17 business days to review the new rules and make necessary changes to come into compliance. Governor, my child’s school needs more time for a careful transition. I urge you to support budget resolution 1163 calling for a one-year delay in the implementation of the fiscal code affecting state approved private special education schools for students with disabilities. Dear Senator Pennacchio,
I am your constituent living in Montville, NJ. My developmentally disabled daughter, Rose, is only 17 years-old and therefore unable to vote, but she too is your constituent. It is the highest calling of your responsibility as an elected official to take care of our society’s most vulnerable, and this includes developmentally children. Sadly, while Montville Township can rightfully boast of the quality of the education provided by its school system – it cannot provide for the extraordinary needs of my daughter. I look to the positive and recognize what a great leap it is for our society, and humanity as a whole, that we now see the potential waiting to be unlocked in children like my beloved daughter. Our efforts to educate them elevate all of us as a society. I’m grateful to live in a community like Montville where education is so highly valued. Montville Township pays for my daughter to attend an exemplary school for children with neuro-cognitive disorders, Celebrate the Children in nearby Denville, NJ. At this time I must reach out to ask you to help my daughter, and all the vulnerable children in her private special education school. The children, and we their families, are alarmed that the new fiscal codes implemented for private special education schools will effectively force them to close their doors forever. These codes, (N.J.A.C. 6A:23A-18) will negatively affect the quality of the services my child must have in order to learn and become a productive citizen in the longterm. As a community we can’t lose sight of this imperative longterm goal of education. Further, these code were adopted just this June 8 – with the demand that the schools see they are implemented by July 1st. This is patently unfair. Just 17 days, in one of the busiest school months of the year, to implement more than 80 pages of changes - is simply impossible. Dozens of organizations opposed these new codes. Scores of parents drove to Trenton to testify; more than 800 individuals wrote to the Board to express their concern, and more than 2,000 signed a petition for the implementation of the rules to be postponed. Given that we are all not just parents, but caregivers as well, this an extraordinary amount of time and effort. As your constituent, and the voice of my daughter Rose – I implore you Senator Pennacchio to demand more time to see these codes implemented. I join thousands of other advocates across New Jersey in asking you and all your colleagues for more time. Please support the budget resolution calling for a delay in implementation. This will give schools time to make necessary changes, and prevent avoidable disruptions. Please understand, “disruptions” for children like my daughter Rosie are major issues for them and therefore, us, the families. In advance, I send my profound thanks, Most sincerely, Jeannie M McGuire Montville, NJ 07045 Printed with permission. Please feel free to share or copy, paste, and personalize for your Senator. I've had a problem with my hip for the past year. I tried everything alternative to surgery that I could think of: physical therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic, and deep tissue massage. While all of this was wonderful and may have delayed surgery for a while, it came to the point this past summer where the pain and lack of mobility was getting to be too much. The pain increasingly got worse and I finally gave in and decided to get hip replacement surgery - something I was terrified of.
I never had major surgery in a hospital in my life. I had three children but I did so as natural as I could - never even had an epidural - even though I had them in the hospital. I had to surrender and trust this doctor and hospital basically with my life. I had to trust that this would be the best decision I could make for myself and that was really hard for me. The world would tell me every horror story possible about why this could possibly not be a good choice - and I had to stay focused and not be swayed by what I heard or read or saw. Time passed and the time for surgery came - I had to surrender and trust. I woke up from the surgery feeling amazing - my experience in the hospital was amazing. Everyone was kind, efficient, and really cared about helping me get better. I was up walking that night with hardly any pain - certainly much less than I had before the surgery. I learned to go up stairs, get in and out of my car, and go from a walker to a cane within a day. I was home the day after surgery. There was recovery of course, learning my limitations, and learning to let my body heal and just slow down. I had to let others take care of me (boy was that hard!!!!). Many times I had to look at things and tell myself - "not yet". I also had to take things much slower and give myself extra time and figure out how to support myself through difficult movements. Physical Therapy was so hard and painful, but my body was responding, and I was able to SLOWLY move easier. This whole experience made me a better teacher at Celebrate the Children. I looked at my student's through different eyes. I knew how it felt when my body wouldn't work the way I wanted it to. I now understood what it was like to have to look at a location and figure out how I could get there and how long it would take or if my body could do that yet. I understood how hard physical therapy was and making my body move the way it didn't want to move and the processing time involved. I understood the frustration, the fear, and foreboding of certain situations and movements. My body heals and gets stronger every day and many movements are much easier than even before the surgery. I am thankful and grateful for the whole experience and feel so much more connected to our students and how they often feel. Now I can let them know I understand. Paula Paglione, Teacher, Celebrate the Children Fine motor skills help students develop and strengthen the small muscles in their hands, fingers, and thumbs to complete tasks such as writing, cutting, buttoning, zippering, and many life skills. The development of fine motor skills are important for completing tasks throughout our daily lives. It is very important for students to have the opportunity to work on these skills every day. Each morning students unpack and walk over to the fine motor station to choose from a variety activities based on classroom themes and season. These activities are a great way to regulate and engage students as well as strengthen some of these skills. They are also highly motivating and can be done individually, with a peer, or small group. It is also a great way to spend down time in the classroom.
5 Fun Springtime Fine Motor Activities 1.Spring Flowers https://www.pinterest.com/pin/499125571183559971/ 2. Easter Egg Sorting https://www.pinterest.com/pin/185843922103739123/ 3. Yarn Wrapped Tulips https://www.pinterest.com/pin/1618549845484513/ 4. Egg Counting Hole Punch Activity https://www.pinterest.com/pin/234539093073252323/ 5. Rainbow Patterning https://www.pinterest.com/pin/45458277468809440/ Sam Losurdo, Teacher, Celebrate the Children Watching the Oscars, we saw many talented actors recognized for their great work. It got us thinking... Although daily life does not dole out awards, it is important to recognize the accomplishments from small gains to major milestones in our children/students to even ourselves! Celebrate the Children's core value is to "celebrate" the child. But how do we do that on a daily basis? How do we empower our children by building their self-esteem? How do we do this for ourselves as caregivers? How do we keep a positive outlook with our glasses half-full or better yet knowing we will have the opportunity to refill it?
It is important to nurture our children but also ourselves during this journey. From the Nurtured Heart Approach by Howard Glasser, here are a few ways we can give recognition to our children: 1. Active Recognition also described as "Kodak moments" - providing a verbal snapshot of what you observed. (i.e., "I see you...”). Catch them in the moment! 2. Experimental Recognition also described as "Polaroid Moments" - providing verbal feedback of what you see and what it says about the person. (i.e., "I see you... and what that shows me is that you are ...") 3. Proactive Recognition also described as "Cannon moments" - recognizes the rules not broken. (i.e., "I am impressed that you ... instead of ..... That really takes control to make a choice like that!"). 4. Creative Recognition- creating success by building the environment for the child to start succeeding! This sets a culture of building and supporting the process while the child learns to get to the end goal. Start with simple doable tasks (i.e., "I need you to do...." then recognize). We thank the Nurtured Heart Approach in broadening our positive self-esteem toolbox which builds a person's "inner wealth". We are thankful for our dedicated parents who collaborate and advocate for their child's needs. We would like to challenge all the caregivers, staff and parents including ourselves, to nurture a child's heart as well as their own heart! For our nurturing caregivers who model advocacy on a lifelong mission of supporting their child with the goal of empowering their child and believing in them, we hope these tools become an everyday resource. Each day, practice the above tools of recognition on your child and self. As we reflect, although the Oscars are a great accomplishment, the inner wealth gained from our supportive community that we have had the pleasure to work for has enriched us so much more! Resource: Nutured Heart Approach- Howard Glasser- www.ChildrenSuccessFoundation.com -Student and Family Support Services, Celebrate the Children |
AuthorsContributions to this blog are made by Celebrate the Children's highly talented, interdisciplinary team and wonderful families. Archives
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