Passing Notes

Notes from a Parent/Teacher to Parents and Teachers

Jul
15

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Practice Safe Water Play this summer

Category: Teachable Moments @ Home Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment

Welcome back Ms Whitworth, our lovely guest blogger!  Not only is she a great classroom teacher, she also knows a thing or two about water safety.  She has been teaching swimming for about 6 years now with a private swimming company and  has qualifications for both teaching swimming and teaching water safety/life saving with the Red Cross organization.  She’s a perfect fit for you because she’s worked with all types of swimmers from very young to very old, terrified to too-comfortable-for-their-own-good, and everything in between.  Without further ado…

 

I have been witness to how just a fraction of a second can make a difference between a teaching opportunity and a lost cause. Now, we all have enjoyed time at the beach somewhere or another and I’ve seen often enough in my time teaching and my own personal life, that there are times when parents get this anxious look on their faces and go into overprotective mode, and they have every right to. I would like to toss out some simple tips for how to talk to your child and use the family beach trip as a learning opportunity for water safety issues that are surprisingly common.

During the hot days of summer we all like to cool down with a nice refreshing dip in the lake, pond, pool, or whatever source of water we have near us! Many of us spend time at the waterfront or the many public pools that are now open for use. Being safe and knowing a few things about how to help prepare your kids for fun and fantastic times in the water is crucial, more so during the summer when we are all more likely to be around water. I am going to give you a few tips for things to watch out for, things you should make sure your kids know, and what precautions you can take to ensure the safest summer yet!

 

The number one cause of death in children is drowning. This can happen in just a few centimetres of water, but generally tends to happen in deeper waters like a pool, lake, or ocean as a result of any number of factors. As a parent, talking to your children about things such as the buddy system or making sure there is always a responsible adult watching when you swim is sometimes even more crucial than taking swimming lessons or being in the water with your child. I will offer a few tips and try to explain them as best I can about how to talk to your child, what steps to take as precautions, and how to have fun in the water!

 

Communication is always such a good tool and starting as young as possible in the water- even if it is just the bath tub- is a great idea!  Let’s start with talking. As soon as your child can understand you, the parent should start explaining simple concepts such as make sure you have a responsible adult watching you. Communicating to your child that no matter how amazing a swimmer is, we all get tired or injured sometimes even though we take all necessary steps to prevent that from happening. As a swim instructor myself there are still times I get cramps in my side after swimming for extended periods of time! Things to ingrain in your child’s mentality about being around water are as follows:

1) it is FUN!,

(2) there are many things you need to do to stay safe, and

(3) even the best swimmers need to take certain precautions.

Water is fun and developing that sense of playfulness in your child is a great thing, but do it with care and show them how to have fun and not take uncalculated risks at the same time.

 

Swimming lessons are great at helping develop the skills needed to be a safe, strong swimmer, as well as teaching safety lessons, but not everyone can afford them or is around water enough that they feel it necessary to have their children go to lessons. This is not by any means a plea to invoke my beliefs about swimming on anyone; I am merely trying to provide information to help make this summer great!

 

The use of the buddy system is a great way to stay safe in the summer when you are around water. It is a simple concept that basically entails that you are never alone around water, you always have a friend with you to watch you, help you, call for help if it is needed, and you do the same for that friend. Even now, after my years of experience — and probably because of it! — I still use the buddy system when swimming at my cottage. It is just another way to make sure that if something does happen, even though you’ve been as safe as you can, that you get help sooner rather than later! Rather than making this a long and tedious article on the statistics and technical ways of water safety I am going to give you the most important precautions, steps, ideas for you to make use of yourself however you see fit.

Top 15 tips to be safer in the water this summer:

1. Make sure to use the buddy system

2. Make sure you know your limits as a swimmer and don`t go past them on your own

3. As a parent, ensure that you, or someone who is responsible and qualified, is ALWAYS watching your children when they are in the water

4. Take swimming lessons (there are a variety of kinds, prices, and locations to suit a multitude of needs)

5. Make use of bath time to teach simple ideas such as how to breathe under water

6. Know the body of water you are swimming in. For example, is it really shallow, really rocky, does it have a strong current that could cause problems for weaker or tired swimmers?

7. Use common knowledge and common sense. For example, if there is a thunderstorm outside, don’t go near the water until the weather is clear or don’t swim in a place known to have strong currents and undertows

8. Know the basic signs of drowning and the four types of swimmers. They are: tired (they usually are out of breath and moving slowly), injured (either with a muscle cramp or as a result of an unsafe choice made such as jumping into unknown waters), unconscious (they are usually face down in the water not really moving), and non swimmer (usually they display the ‘typical’ drowning look with hands flailing and yelling for help). Knowing the types of swimmers will help you stay away from unsafe swimmers as well as get them help if you notice they need it.

9. Make sure your child (ren) know how to get help from responsible and safe adults (moms, police officers, lifeguards, etc.) in the community when they are around water

10. Teach your child about water safety. You can find information on the Red Cross’s website at www.redcross.ca under the tab ‘how we help’

11. Teach your child that listening is just as important, if not MORE IMPORTANT, in the water than anywhere else!

12. Use beaches and pools where lifeguards are present and on duty

13. Teach kids how to tread water (this is where they stay above water by moving their hands in a figure 8 motion, and kick their legs as if they were riding a bike) so that they can stay above water if they happen to fall into a pool or lake

14. Talk to your child about why it is necessary to stay alert and know everything you can about the water you are in before swimming and give them some of the simple statistics which may help older children understand the gravity of water safety issues.

15. Do not ever let your child dive into unknown waters — no matter how well they can swim! Always go feet first; your feet will heal a lot easier than your brain if there is something dangerous about the water (as cynical as that sounds)!

 

 

Have any questions?  Ask away!

 

Ms Whitworth

 

 

May
28

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Strategies for the learning disabled child: The home-school connection

Category: Tackling Tough Issues Tags: , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment

Last week, Ms Whitworth,- guest blogger, – graced us with her presence and wrote  about some strategies on the topic of children with learning disabilities.  Today, she’s sharing with you some ways to keep good flow and communication between your home and your child’s school

HOMEwork 

Homework is often a source of debate for parents, students, and educators. How much should my child have? How much is too much? What is the purpose of this? Why do I have to do this? How much should I help my child?  These are questions that are often asked by many a parent. Whatever the situation, here are some ways to help ease the distress of nightly homework:

  • if possible, remain with them while they do homework
  • model for them that sometimes you have to bring work home with you for your job
  • it sounds obvious, but I can’t stress the importance of this one:  read with them
  • encourage them to build up great organizational skills which will aid in consistently remembering to complete homework
  •  break down the homework session into shorter periods to increase attention span
  • provide all the supplies needed for the homework
  • maintain open communication with your child’s teacher about homework and policies

Perseverance 

Teaching your child to continue through struggles is one of the best things a parent can do. Life is not always easy, there are sometimes rules to follow that are less than pleasant, and difficulties and stresses often occur when you really don’t need them. A child who learns that even though there are difficulties, they can still reach a goal, is one who will have an easier time of things as they get older. The decision to baby or indulge a child’s every whim doesn’t help them become mature, responsible adults, and is especially disastrous in the case of a learning disabled child. Because learning is often difficult for the child who has a learning disability, they will experience more struggles than most children. Helping coach your child to persevere in the face of difficulty, to try new strategies, to take a break and come back to it with fresh eyes, and to ask for help when needed, are all very important in aiding your child to grow up to become a successful, independent, and confident adult.

 

Help Wanted: Apply Within

Working to maintain good communication is an important part of any healthy relationship. If your schedule allows it, volunteering in your child’s classroom will allow you to provide some much needed help in the classroom, and show your child that his or her education is important to you so as to foster that same value in your child. Teachers these days are often very limited in the amount of one-on-one time they get to spend with each student and any additional help you can provide will better your relationship with your child’s school. In addition, learning what the routines and experiences are at school will also provide the opportunity for you to talk with your child at home and discuss things that were misunderstood, difficult, or just not heard in a relaxed environment.

Hoping to share my ideas with you in the near future,

Ms Whitworth

 

Note:

Last week’s post included a list of websites and resources from dependable and knowledgeable sources on  learning disabilities.  They’ve been posted again for your convenience.

May
25

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Tusk, Tusk: A must read for children of all ages

Category: Must Reads Tags: , , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment

This deceptively simple book by David McKee, chronicles, – through simple text and illustrations, – a fictional war between a herd of black elephants and a herd of white elephants.  Tusk, Tusk breaks down the idea of war into simple fragments, which makes it easier for children to see the stupid reasons that atrocities are committed in wars.  Throughout, issues of hatred and racism are explored in addition to exploring the idea of violence, but it is done in a non-threatening way for kids. Tusk, Tusk also reminds us of the old adage, that we are doomed to repeat our historical mistakes if we ignore what history has to teach humanity.    The story lends itself to all age groups including adults, and I highly recommend it for parents of younger children who are curious about war.

 

Some ideas to try out with the young folk:

  • Before the story ends, ask your child how they think story resolves itself, then check in with them to see if they are surprised, puzzled or if they expected it to end that way.
  • Have your child come up with an alternate ending and illustrate it.
  • Talk about current events with your child.  This may sound a bit depressing and I’m not suggesting that they need to know all details about all wars but depending on their age, they may already be exposed to much more than you realize and they are formulating their own ideas anyways.  Conversing allows for you to see where they are at and what it is that may need to know more about.
  • Encourage children to make a “statue” with their bodies to show the opposite of war (peace, harmony, love, community).  Then you can do the same.  Come up with ways of making statues together, as often as possible relying on symbolism if the kids are old enough.  Have someone photograph you!
  • Have your child outline a large image of an elephant on mural paper (or even chalk outside).  They can draw and write on the inside of the silhouette all of the things that they think the elephants felt in the story.  On the outside, they can label all the things that worked against the elephants in the story (feelings, ideas, events).  This should lead to a good conversation and is good for developing empathy.
  • Ask your child to take the side of either of the elephant groups and have them role play with puppets if they’re younger.  You or another sibling can play the other puppet.  Observe how your child “resolves” conflict, deals with fairness or comes up with as a solution.  This may bring up memories of times they themselves have dealt with prejudice or violence, in the playground for example.  Again, it’s a good starting point for informal discussions.

 

Or simply enjoy the book!  It’s a great read and just as relevant today as it was when written in 1978.  Maybe even more so…

Peace,

Daniela

May
23

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At-home strategies for learning disabled children

Category: Tackling Tough Issues Tags: , , , , , , Leave a Comment

(Please welcome Ms Whitworth back for her third guest blog appearance!)

It’s always a challenge to figure out the perfect balance between friend and foe when it comes to raising children. Children, in general, need routine and consistency in their lives to maintain good social and emotional development. It becomes even harder to decide what to do when parenting is complicated by other factors such as learning disabilities or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) – 2 commonly diagnosed things today.

In the early stages of cognitive development, children are concrete thinkers who benefit from tangible solutions to problems, so keeping tangible incentives, rewards, and routinely enforcing expected behaviours concretely is a must for any child. Below you will find tips for sticking to routines which will benefit your child (ren).

 Concretely lay out all the expectations

When starting any new routine with a child, whether this is at school, home, or daycare, explaining all parts of an expectation is crucial. I suggest having some sort of chart, which outlines the expectation (washing dishes for example every Monday night) and also has a spot to include the incentives that could help your child stay motivated to actually do these chores. If you tell your child to wash the dishes when you don’t feel like it one night, and then it’s another 3 weeks before you ask them to do it again, this does not set up the expectation that washing dishes is part of normal routine and something that must get done. Explaining why things are important is also something which helps children understand the reason behind the belief. If you can give them a real-world reason why they need to learn this it also helps them to remain motivated in their tasks.

Consistency is key

This brings me to my next point, when outlining expectations, be sure to remain consistent. If your rule is that there is no junk food during the week then maintain that even when you go to a party in the summer. Help your child make healthier choices at the party so that they cancel that craving, but also understand that a rule is a rule. Maintaining and consistently enforcing a rule that you have established as a family will be crucial in maximizing the lessons to be learned and getting the behaviour you want.

If there are siblings, there are likely to be conflicts – every family has them! My brother and I fight all the time, but usually it is resolved through good problem solving skills, (and occasionally my mother still has to lay down the law!) Because children with learning disabilities often find academic activities more challenging and need more one-on-one help with homework, there is often an increased need for parental support.  This may be where most conflicts will arise. Balancing the time, as best you can, so that you spend it with each child engaging in meaningful conversation or activities. This extra time will reduce the conflict between siblings and also between parents. However, WHEN quarrels arise (and you can quote me on this: they will!), make sure that your learning disabled child is given the same consequences, conditions, room to grow, and security as your other children. I think this book (“The Complete Learning Disabilities Handbook”) says it exceptionally,  the “child with learning disabilities should not be coddled or overprotected. With rare exceptions, that child needs the same parameters the other siblings are given and similar consequences when guidelines are violated”. Remaining consistent will help your child to learn that there are certain rules in society that they have to follow no matter what.

Intensive Behavourial Interventions

Knowledge is power, as the old saying goes. When you have a child diagnosed with learning disabilities or any other special need, learn all you can about it. If you know strategies to help your child you will be more likely to have a good working relationship with your child. The library, both public and the one at your child’s school, is a good place to look as they will often have many resources. In some extreme cases, intensive behavioural intervention strategies are needed to help your child function properly on a daily basis. Gain information, ask questions, seek support, and advocate for your child. As a parent, you are the one and only person who will always be there when support is needed; use that role to better your child’s life. There are also many good websites and association pages online these days; check out some listed at the end of this piece.

Have “The Talk” with your child

No, I am not talking about choices surrounding sexuality and safe sex here; instead what I mean is talking about every day things: values, goals, expectations, dreams, and any concerns or stresses that the family or individuals in the family are experiencing. Talking with your child is one of the most important things you can do to help foster a great relationship with your kids. Many parenting experts believe that having quality time with your child and taking the time to learn about that unique person your child is, especially as they grow older and develop more into their own person, will help you notice any difficulties your child is having -whether those be academic, social, behavioural, or otherwise. This will allow you to develop and nurture your role as:  provider, support system, role-model and friend, and seek help and support sooner to help your child reach their maximum potential.

Finally, remember that just because your child has been diagnosed with a learning disability does NOT mean that he or she cannot learn, just that there may be different strategies required and more hands-on and involved educating involved. Learning Disability does not have to mean Learning Dysfunctional.

Join me next time for practical home-school strategies for families with children with Learning Disabilities.

Till then,

Ms Whitworth

A list of resources for learning disabilities:

May
4

By

Strategies to use when you don’t like the Teacher

Category: Tackling Tough Issues Tags: , , 1 Comment

I don’t mean the “like” that we’d find on Twitter, Facebook or Pinterest.  I mean you actually dislike the Teacher.   Maybe you’re finding that you’re at odds with him or her about a particular area of your child’s education or you don’t like their demeaner.  Or maybe it’s your kid who would prefer hands down to clean their room than keep company at school.  While this can certainly be an uncomfortable situation, there are a few strategies that parents can try to get past the awkwardness and move along to a happier place with the person your child spends a great deal of time with everyday.

 

1.  Remember first and foremost that you are both in this together.  While it may not feel like it all the time, your teacher has his best interest for his students.  Just like you do as their parent.  True, they are different roles that happen in different contexts, but the bottom line is that it takes a village to raise a child and you and that teacher, – while not equally important in the life of your kids, – are both individuals who will have much input into their values and knowledge.

 

2. Ask yourself what exactly it is that you don’t like about the teacher.  When you take an in-depth look, you may find that there are truly legitimate reasons, or that it’s a personality thing.  The first of these, means that you need to address the issues, especially if you feel they impact on your child.  You should probably discuss this is with your teacher first in order to problem-solve.  If it’s the latter, and it’s a conflict of personalities, then you really just need to get over it.  Sorry, but if their ways are not actually harmful to your child, just annoying to you, well…just ride the wave till June.

 

3.  Get to know the teacher better.  It may sound counter-intuitive, but if you have the time to volunteer for a period or two a week or go on class trips, you may find that your teacher will grow on you.  Or not. But it’s worth a try.

 

4. Help them to know you and your child more.  Especially if you feel that their are real issues that need to be dealt with.  Are you unhappy because the teacher doesn’t understand your need not to have homework scheduled every night?  Are you frustrated about the lack or over-abundance of communication via newsletters going home?  Was something not explained fully to you and were you left wondering?  Did the teacher say something that you believe is inaccurate or disparaging about your child?  Start off with one issue to prioritize, bring it to the teacher’s attention, set a common goal and go from there.

You can offer information in many forms:  a chat, a note…any form of explanation or question will do.  It helps to give the teacher a heads up and ask for an appointment.  This gives them time to prepare information that they may need to show you and gives them time to reflect upon you concerns.  It also gives you time to plan ideas for how you want the problems to be solved.  Most times, this will be a great remedy.  As is the case often in any relationship, putting your heads together to find a solution reaps many rewards other than just solving what you perceive as the problem.

 

5.  Finally, remember not to say negative comments within earshot of your children.  They ARE listening.  They WILL repeat, often with incorrect paraphrasing, which can be not so funny.  Plus you want your kid to see you modelling problem-solving behaviour too right?

 

Do you have any strategies that have worked?

Signed,

Your VERY likable teacher, Daniela