Whoa!

It's been on my heart so to speak to start blogging again... So here I am, with a month and a half left in 2015 and a goal! 

So I am a big reader. I love to read and try to read every day. I live in a fairly small community so professional development is very limited unless I want to travel. So I read a lot of books about child development and best practices in Early Childhood. I wanted to share a few with you. I'm not being paid in any way shape or form for this... these are 100% my opinions. As I finish books, I will add to this. 

First up is: Use Your Words: How Teacher Talk Helps Children Learn by Carol Garhart Mooney.

There is no doubt that as Early Childhood Educators we talk A LOT. This book gives a lot of practical, sound advice for how we use our words to make the most of it in the following areas: giving directions and instructions, correcting behavior, developing skills and concepts, and conversations, discussions, and stories. This book is an easy read at 118 pages with skills you can use the next day. I highly recommend. 

"The ideas presented here are not new. As you read this book, I'm sure you will find yourself saying, "I know that." A trip through most preschools, however, shows us that we all need to remind ourselves to use our words more carefully!"

If you believe that Early Childhood Education is all about Relationships, then you need to add this next book to your professional library ASAP: The Dance of Interaction A Guide to Managing Children's Challenging Behavior by Jeanine Fitzgerald.  My copy of this book is almost unreadable. It's highlighted, marked, written in, notes sticking out of it. I have read this book over the holiday break two years in a row because it's such a good reminder about how relationships are the most important factor in what we do. She examines relationships from all aspects and gives you solid information and strategies to use. The book is broken into three sections: The Anatomy of the Dance, Understanding Your Dance Partner, and Learning the Steps. Don't expect a magic pill to correct challenging behavior, but expect to do a lot of reflecting on yourself, the child, and how your interactions can benefit the child or encourage those pesky behaviors.

"My purpose for writing this book is simple- to share some child development theory and many experiences that will empower you to become an unforgettable, positive influence in the life of every child you touch, even those whose behaviors you find disturbing, frustrating, or challenging." 

I am currently reading: Beyond Behavior Management- The Six Life Skills Children Need by Jenna Bilmes. So far I'm loving this book as well. I'm only two chapters in right now but will update this when I'm done. 


What good books have you read lately? Please comment and let me know! I am always looking for the next book to read. 

Have a great week! 

What Do I Do When My Kiddos Are Stressed Out?

Have you ever had one of those weeks? They usually occur when you are preoccupied by something else (either work-related or personal) and you manage to get by, but then once it's over and done, your kiddos get stressed out? Well, I just had one of those weeks.

We had a big "inspection" of sorts for a major source of our funding for the organization we are a part of. I mean "your job depends on the outcome of this inspection so you better have your stuff together" type things. We prepared basically all summer for it, and then had a whirlwind of a week before putting in long hours both at work and at home. This past Monday they came, they loved us, and they left. And then we were left with what I like to call stress hangovers.

So, what do you do when your kids are stressed out?

First, throw your lesson plans out the window. Just do it, you'll thank me later. When preschoolers are emotionally out of it, they aren't going to learn a thing! (Except how maybe you handle your own strong emotions and handle theirs!)

Second, if you can, take them away from the classroom. My assistant and I were lucky enough to be able to take them to our gym for 20 minutes and let them run some of their pent up emotions out. Take them outside, for a quick walk outside or even around your building, anywhere! If you can- sneak back to the classroom to set up some stress-busting activities.

Lastly, set up a stress busting environment in your room. Hopefully you can do this while your kids and assistant/co-teacher are out of the room-- tidy any leftover messes, put on some music that is soft and mellow, and put out activities that you know your children will engage in. My favorite stress busting activities are:

1. Play-doh: there is just something about play-doh that melts away frustrations and stress. Add something different to it to keep their attention longer. Try scissors, plastic knives (supervise!!!), googly eyes, tangram blocks, cookie cutters, legos... anything!

2. Water in the Sensory Table: Unless you've had water in your sensory table every day for the last month, kids are drawn to water and it also helps relieve stress. We have had dry materials in the sensory table for a bit so I knew that my kids would engage and mellow out with water. I added some rocks, plastic frogs, eye-droppers, and bowls. This wasn't on the lesson plan of course, but like I said, throw them out!

3. Stringing Beads: Messy art can add stress sometimes, so I threw out our messy painting activity and got out the pipe cleaners and beads. The concentration that this requires almost always "tricks" kids into not remembering why they were so cranky five minutes ago.

4. Chill Time: Grab some new books and let them get their blankets off their cots and have "chill" time (this is especially helpful if they are tired!). We have quite a few stuffed animals in our reading area that my kids love to snuggle and read with when they are tired.

My last bit of advice: fake it until you make it to nap time! When I went to rejoin my kiddos I was composed and calm and ready to play and engage with them despite the crazy morning I walked into and the hangover from the last few weeks. When we got back to the room and they started to act out, I calmly redirected. Once they were down for nap, I took a huge sigh of relief, got a candy bar and a huge soda and regrouped for the afternoon. Needless to say my kids woke up rested and happier and hopefully (fingers crossed) back to normal.

Now that said inspection is over, I hope to be blogging regularly!
Until Next Time--