What New Law of 2019 will affect New York State Teachers and Students?
While New York State teachers are mentally preparing their curriculums this summer for the upcoming school year one thing New York teachers may want to include in the curriculum is age-appropriate sexual abuse prevention training for students. As of June 20th, 2019 after an eight-year battle with a vote of 143-1 New York became the 37th state to pass the Erin’s Law, a bill sponsored by Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz. The bill passed both houses of the state Legislature and is waiting on the signature of Governor Cuomo. Continue reading “What New Law of 2019 will affect New York State Teachers and Students?”
Top 10 Things Teachers should do this Summer!
The long along-awaited school year has come to an end for some teachers while others are counting down the days in anticipation. You can almost hear the sounds of beach water splashing, children joyously riding bikes and screams of cheerful laughter around the corner. The smell of barbecuing seems a lot closer than you can think or imagine. The heat from the sun’s rays on your skin is a constant reminder that summer is rapidly approaching. Any day now you will be saying tearful goodbyes to your kids, or tears of joy as the freedom of summer gently calls your name. The freedom to wake up at whatever time you want, go where you want and to do what you want. However, just the thought of that brings guilt for some myself included. Continue reading “Top 10 Things Teachers should do this Summer!”
5 Body Safety Rules Every Kid Should Know By 5
It seems like the list of things you have to teach your kid is endless and the list keeps getting longer. However, one thing that should be prioritized is teaching your kid the 5 Body Safety Rules before they turn 5. You may question the urgency of such a topic but here’s why. Continue reading “5 Body Safety Rules Every Kid Should Know By 5”
BE THE CHANGE THAT YOU WANT TO SEE!
A Letter to Teachers of Challenging Kids!
Dear Teachers,
That challenging kid/s in your class they never asked to be there but considering that destiny caused you two to meet its best you greet them with the intentions to teach them.
Their job is to grow as a student and your job is to help them grow knowing that all children learn differently even if the learning style between the way and others in their class learn are visible distinctly.
That kid/s is struggling behaviorally for a reason but you were put in their life during this season on purpose to be a visible display of what unconditional love looks like. Continue reading “A Letter to Teachers of Challenging Kids!”
Should the Educational System support Dr. Seuss Books knowing he was Racist?
There are subtle forms of racism but then there are outright blatant and disrespectful forms of racism however racism is still racism right? Upon hearing from a friend as well as an advocate that Dr. Seuss was racist I was in a state of disbelief. No way! His books were some of my childhood favorites. I remember my childhood days sitting criss-cross applesauce on the carpet anxiously waiting for my teacher to read The Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham. However, not desiring to go by hearsay I began researching in hopes that there was some type of mistake. Sadly that was not the case Dr. Seuss being Racist was proven to be true. Considering I am in the educational field I walked away from my research with more questions than answers. Continue reading “Should the Educational System support Dr. Seuss Books knowing he was Racist?”
Children’s Dreams are not meant to be Doubted but to be Believed!
Tuesday, February 12th, 2019 approximately 9:35 am in the children’s brightly colored library at the preschool I work for, the children sat row by row on the carpet in anticipation of what book the librarian would read to them this week. My heart leaped with joy as I realized that the book she chose to read in honor of Black History Month was an autobiography based on a true story of an African American girl named Mae Jemison.The book was entitled Mae Among The Stars by Roda Ahmed. A child instantaneously made the connection by looking at the cover that the book would be about an astronaut. The children silently and curiously listened intently to the story. Out of all the stories read in that library this one resonated with me the most as it triggered a painful memory that I remember vividly to this day as if it happened yesterday. Continue reading “Children’s Dreams are not meant to be Doubted but to be Believed!”
Are we proactively teaching Children to love and embrace Their Race as well as Others?
Rarely people take pleasure in talking about the “Elephant” in the room, especially if that elephant is race. Because it is such a difficult topic to address we much rather prefer to choose a colorblind approach to race acting as if we can not see it and it does not exist at times. We are guilty of wanting to sweep the issue underneath the rug as opposed to educating ourselves around it and collaboratively coming together as educators,parents or caretakers with the best strategies on how to address it effectively. The fact still remains that it is not an issue that is going to go away so why not confront it as opposed to avoiding to talk about it? Continue reading “Are we proactively teaching Children to love and embrace Their Race as well as Others?”
I was ashamed of being Black
I hated black history month as a child. In February as I sat in my brightly colored classroom in an elementary school that was filled with pictures of historical black figures it was not a joyous occasion for me. When my teachers began talking about Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King Jr, Rosa Parks and other black historical legends I was ashamed and embarrassed. I desperately wanted to sink my brown self down in my chair till I can no longer be seen I wanted to run out of the classroom, and even scream to the top of my lightly pink colored lungs for my teachers to stop talking about black history. With myself being one of the very few black children in my class it was uncomfortable. I could recall children’s eyes nervously taking glances at me throughout the lessons considering I was the minority. Continue reading “I was ashamed of being Black”
Do Children suffer in silence when Schools fail to educate on Personal Body Safety?
Sexual abuse is a worldwide epidemic that affects children of all ages, ethnicities, races and gender. All over this world children are suffering in silence. Whether we as educators want to believe it or not there are children in our classrooms, schools or even children we pass by on the streets and wave a friendly hello to that are are being sexually abused. However they do not have the knowledge, skills or the courage to speak up about the abuse because of lack of training, fear, or even lack of understanding as to what it is they are experiencing. More importantly how do they speak up if they never even had the training that enabled them to do such a thing? Such is the case with Jada Pierce. Continue reading “Do Children suffer in silence when Schools fail to educate on Personal Body Safety?”
What is the alphabet and why is learning it so crucial for children?
What is the alphabet and why is learning it so crucial for children? The alphabet is a collection of letters, with each letter representing a sound or in some cases more than one sound. The alphabet is literally the foundation for children being able to achieve literacy also known as learning to read and write. Nonetheless learning the alphabet should not be a chore but should be fun for both you and children. The Letter of the Day is a fun as well as engaging way to teach children the alphabet. Learning with Li Li a YouTube series does just that. Continue reading “What is the alphabet and why is learning it so crucial for children?”
January 2019 came quicker than we all anticipated. And with a new year comes New Year’s Resolutions. It is time to put into action the changes in life choices that we desired to make year long. However we held off until January, subtly known as procrastination which were all guilty of. Some educators are going back to school with the mindset of marking down the days until the school year ends. Nonetheless on the contrary some are looking forward to change and a fresh start. Wherever, you are on your journey here are some resolutions that you can add on to your list that is sure to leave you revived, reinvigorated and recharged for the duration of the school year.
PBS Kids!
9 out of 10 times if a fire was to break out a child as early as 3 or 4 years old would immediately know what to do. If it was to transpire in school children’s young ears would either be startled by the bell or amused and some maybe even a combination of the two. Regardless of either response children would then immediately seek out a Teacher/s that will in return lead them to safety which would be the nearest EXIT. Similarly if a fire was to break out in the home younger children would immediately seek out a parent or caretaker to lead them to safety. How is it that children this young know what to do if they are ever put in that predicament? Fire prevention is the answer that you are looking for. Continue reading “PBS Kids!”
Back to School Checklist
Is 2 years old too young to learn about Personal Body Safety?
As we begin to recognize more and more that there is a NEED to discuss Personal Body Safety with children as early as possible, the question then comes into play how early is too early? What is an appropriate age to begin this discussion with our children and students?
I was thinking about an idea for my next blog post when I came across an instagram post of mine that was re shared. Continue reading “Is 2 years old too young to learn about Personal Body Safety?”
Three sexually abused Women SURVIVORS that changed the Educational system for the better!
What do you get when you have 3 courageous women + 3 powerful stories? The results = countless children’s lives changed!
You have these three different women from three different walks of life. Jenna Quinn, Erin Merryn and Lauren Book.However they all have one thing in common. Unfortunately they were sexually abused but refused to be victims but instead CHOSE to be victors and CHOSE to turn their pain into purpose. Their stories look a little something like this……. Continue reading “Three sexually abused Women SURVIVORS that changed the Educational system for the better!”
Child Sexual Abuse is a crime. Is it the Parents or Educators job to Teach Prevention?
As an Early Childhood Educator and one who genuinely loves children, just the mere thought of an innocent but yet vulnerable child becoming the target of an older individual’s sexual sick and perverse fantasies is enough to make my stomach turn. As I began conversing with Educators on the topic of Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse, I kept hearing a similar but yet alarmingly shocking response that sounded along the lines of this “It’s the parent’s job to do that.” My heart sank deeper than the ocean as I immediately began to think about those children in the foster care system who don’t even have parents. Whose job is it to reach those in the system that are silently being violated behind closed doors? Continue reading “Child Sexual Abuse is a crime. Is it the Parents or Educators job to Teach Prevention?”
5 Tips for Teaching Challenging Children
Working with children can be rewarding but it can also be challenging especially if you add challenging children to the equation, children that are struggling behaviorally in particular. Let’s admit, it is hard and to be honest, sometimes you can feel depleted, drained, frustrated, exhausted and at your wit’s end and those are valid feelings as a human being you have every right to feel. Good news! Below are five tips that would help you teach that challenging child. Notice how I emphasized teach. As teachers, we are not called to just deal with challenging children but we are called to teach them effectively despite their challenging behavior. Continue reading “5 Tips for Teaching Challenging Children”
