Today my class went to Africa. Via a speaker who has been to the continent 28 times on goodwill missions to bring schools, safe drinking water, and other supplies to people in several countries. He has visited Kenya, Sierra Leone, Ghana, and others, and shares his experiences with schoolchildren of all ages to help raise awareness of the issues being faced by the people who live there.
The presentation started out with a slideshow that showed the children how large Africa is (China, the U.S. and several other countries can fit inside its boundaries with room to spare), the various countries, different tribal groups, animals, and some of the challenges the children face (malnutrition, inadequate diet, poor healthcare, and very limited access to schooling and education).
We had quite a discussion about how the lives of American children are different from most African children and the things people in more developed countries take for granted (like running water, electricity, and having more than one or two outfits to wear).
The second part of the presentation was a hands-on exploration. Our guest brought along items from his travels, including a sleeping mat and wooden neck holder that several students tried out, musical instruments made from seed pods and shells, jewelry made of bone and wood, toys made from tin cans, grass mats, and wooden sculpture. Some of the children modeled the things that could be worn while others made an impromptu band. It was noisy, but fun! Once the pictures are downloaded, I'll post a few.
I think it's important for children to realize that there are others less fortunate than themselves. We read for organizations like Scholastic cares, and donate items through our school's many drives for the needy. I'm always trying to set an example of goodwill toward others because we never know when we may be on the receiving end of someone else's goodwill. With programs like the one we had today, we can also raise awareness of world need.
Like our visitor said today, "Someone in this room may the person who cures malaria or thinks of ways to help end hunger."
We can only plant the seeds.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Day 37: Red Ribbon Week
Next week is Red Ribbon Week. For those of you unaware of what this is, it is a week set aside each year to honor a fallen DEA agent in his quest to rid our country of drugs and drug violence. Sadly, the agent was killed during this quest and the week has sprouted out of his efforts to keep our children drug-free and safe in their own neighborhoods.
In my school, we do a theme week. Each day the students are to wear a specific color or item of clothing to signify that they will aim to live drug-free lives. Monday is "Red"-y to Be Drug Free. All students are to wear red. Tuesday is picture day, so it's I "Look My Best" When I Am Drug Free. Wednesday is crazy sock day, you know, "Sock" It to Drugs. (Got my candy corn socks all ready!) Thursday is the day we are to wear our favorite T-shirts--I Am Drug Free and I Feel "T-riffic." Friday is School Spirit Day and the day of Halloween parties and costume parades.
In addition to the theme days, we have a Red Ribbon Packet we go through during Social Studies time. I use the packet to show my students other things they can do, and the difference between "good" drugs (like allergy medicine or antibiotics to kill germs), and ''bad" drugs like alcohol, nicotine, and street drugs. I'm also sure to tell them that they should never take anything without an adult, be careful of things they see lying around since so many pills look like candy, and other safety precautions. I know my kiddos are only second graders, but I think it's important to get them thinking about things like this. The packets we have are grade-level appropriate and the children seem to enjoy them a lot.
If you want extra activities or are interested in sharing this information with your class (if you are not participating already), check out the link above or any of the following:
http://www.redribbonweek.com/, http://www.imdrugfree.com/, or http://www.drugsrdumb.com/.
In my school, we do a theme week. Each day the students are to wear a specific color or item of clothing to signify that they will aim to live drug-free lives. Monday is "Red"-y to Be Drug Free. All students are to wear red. Tuesday is picture day, so it's I "Look My Best" When I Am Drug Free. Wednesday is crazy sock day, you know, "Sock" It to Drugs. (Got my candy corn socks all ready!) Thursday is the day we are to wear our favorite T-shirts--I Am Drug Free and I Feel "T-riffic." Friday is School Spirit Day and the day of Halloween parties and costume parades.
In addition to the theme days, we have a Red Ribbon Packet we go through during Social Studies time. I use the packet to show my students other things they can do, and the difference between "good" drugs (like allergy medicine or antibiotics to kill germs), and ''bad" drugs like alcohol, nicotine, and street drugs. I'm also sure to tell them that they should never take anything without an adult, be careful of things they see lying around since so many pills look like candy, and other safety precautions. I know my kiddos are only second graders, but I think it's important to get them thinking about things like this. The packets we have are grade-level appropriate and the children seem to enjoy them a lot.
If you want extra activities or are interested in sharing this information with your class (if you are not participating already), check out the link above or any of the following:
http://www.redribbonweek.com/, http://www.imdrugfree.com/, or http://www.drugsrdumb.com/.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Day 36: Listening
Oh my goodness. Can I just say that sometimes little children make me want to scream? Am I allowed to admit that? As a parent and a teacher, sometimes I wonder about the hearing ability of the children I come into contact with on a daily basis.
My own children seem to have "selective hearing" at times. You know, like when they are in the middle of a game or playing and you want them to do something else? I swear you can call them 50 times and you will still get no response. Then other times, you call them and they are right where you want them to be.
The same is true for my students. By nature, I am not a loud person. I am fairly soft spoken. However, I am not so soft spoken that my directions cannot be heard. On at least three occasions today I gave directions to my class, only to have a handful actually follow through on what I asked them to do. Then when I ask, "What was my direction?", they look around at each other for the answers. This has been going on just about all week and it's driving me crazy! I swear it's getting worse the closer we get to Halloween. It's like they all have candy on the brain. Can it be so hard to have everyone LISTEN and follow directions?!?
I hate repeating myself. ABSOLUTELY. HATE. REPEATING. MYSELF. I give directions twice for things. After that, they have to figure it out or ask a neighbor. Simply put, I cannot repeat myself 19 times for every assignment. We are going to have to go back to repeating the directions before moving on for the next few days. Otherwise I might crack. Or blow my top. Or whatever colorful euphemism you'd like to insert. You get my drift.
My own children seem to have "selective hearing" at times. You know, like when they are in the middle of a game or playing and you want them to do something else? I swear you can call them 50 times and you will still get no response. Then other times, you call them and they are right where you want them to be.
The same is true for my students. By nature, I am not a loud person. I am fairly soft spoken. However, I am not so soft spoken that my directions cannot be heard. On at least three occasions today I gave directions to my class, only to have a handful actually follow through on what I asked them to do. Then when I ask, "What was my direction?", they look around at each other for the answers. This has been going on just about all week and it's driving me crazy! I swear it's getting worse the closer we get to Halloween. It's like they all have candy on the brain. Can it be so hard to have everyone LISTEN and follow directions?!?
I hate repeating myself. ABSOLUTELY. HATE. REPEATING. MYSELF. I give directions twice for things. After that, they have to figure it out or ask a neighbor. Simply put, I cannot repeat myself 19 times for every assignment. We are going to have to go back to repeating the directions before moving on for the next few days. Otherwise I might crack. Or blow my top. Or whatever colorful euphemism you'd like to insert. You get my drift.
Day 35: Paperwork!
I know sometimes it may get a little frustrating when you are searching 180 Days for a new post and it's not there. And you're bummed. Then you look a day (or sometimes two) later and, viola!, there's news and the world is all right again. Okay, so maybe I'm going (WAAAAYYY) overboard in my thinking, but you get my drift. I really do appreciate the fact that you are reading about my days, my gripes, and my triumphs. Dare I say that you understand what I'm talking about and don't think I'm some crazy loon? All the same, thanks for reading.
That said, the truth behind my less-than-timely posts (on several occasions) is the bane of...paperwork. Is it just me, or has the level of required paperwork grown over the last several years? I swear I spend more time doing paperwork and administrative things than I actually spend teaching. At least, that's how it feels.
Like right now. I should be finishing up some grading and the last bits of my planning for next week, but I felt like I needed to drop a quick post to let you all know I haven't dropped off the face of the earth.
So anyway, I just wanted to let you know that I have nearly fallen to my nemesis again, but I am fighting back and sally forth to vanquish my foe! (Or at least put up a good fight!)
That said, the truth behind my less-than-timely posts (on several occasions) is the bane of...paperwork. Is it just me, or has the level of required paperwork grown over the last several years? I swear I spend more time doing paperwork and administrative things than I actually spend teaching. At least, that's how it feels.
Like right now. I should be finishing up some grading and the last bits of my planning for next week, but I felt like I needed to drop a quick post to let you all know I haven't dropped off the face of the earth.
So anyway, I just wanted to let you know that I have nearly fallen to my nemesis again, but I am fighting back and sally forth to vanquish my foe! (Or at least put up a good fight!)
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Day 34: CPR and First Aid for Teachers?
I've been thinking about this since yesterday. It's not something I experienced in my class, but something my daughter was a witness to in her class. The whole incident got me thinking about CPR and first aid training for teachers and other school staff.
Here's the thing: My daughter was in class yesterday morning doing a review for an upcoming quiz. A classmate began acting strangely, as if he were falling asleep (and moving as if in slow motion). All of a sudden, he went rigid, then began to shake and convulse at his desk. (You guessed it: seizure.) The teacher sent a student to the nurse's office because she wasn't sure of what to do. (FYI: You don't move a person having a seizure unless you are trying to get them onto the ground to lessen the risk of injury from a fall, don't put anything in the person's mouth, move all surrounding furniture and objects away from the person, put something under the person's head to lessen injury, don't try to hold them still, and be sure to time the length of the episode.) In the meantime, before the nurse got to the room, the seizure passed and the student came out of it. He didn't know what happened and couldn't understand why everyone was looking so worried. The teacher put a student in charge and walked the affected student down to the nurse as a precaution; they actually met the nurse in the hallway. When the teacher returned, she told the class what happened, as some of them hadn't figured it out. She also told the students the child was going home and to use tact if they spoke about it.
My daughter was still quite upset about it once she got home and was retelling us (my husband and me) about what happened. After she recounted the events and we calmed her a bit, I kept wondering to myself about the teacher's response that she didn't know what to do. Could it have been a momentary spasm of panic? Or did she truly not know what to do? Which got me thinking: Why aren't teachers trained in CPR and First Aid?
Think about it. We oversee many students in a day's time: in class, on the playground, on field trips, during field day. Not to mention all of the evening events for parents. I know most schools have a nurse; some have a nurse practitioner. And I dare say there are a few schools that have no medical personnel. That one nurse or other medical professional (if you have one) is on call for all students in the building. What happens if that person is tending to another crisis? Or out of the building (with no sub)? Or your building has no such person? Shouldn't we as other school staff be trained so we know what to do in these instances?
Most schools do give the Epipen training, as well as what to look for if you have a diabetic or asthmatic student, or a student with severe allergies. But what about those students who are under the radar and don't know they have a particular medical condition or have a medical emergency happen to them for the first time (as in the case of the student in my daughter's class)? As a parent of a child with asthma and a child with severe allergies, that concerns me.
I know most districts are cash-strapped and cannot pay for their entire school staff to be trained. But there are some facilities that offer the course over a weekend. Check your local fire department, nursing school, hospital, or local branch of the American Heart Association. Certification lasts for two years.
I actually had my CPR and first aid training as part of the employment requirement to work in the student home for underprivileged children. (For those of you that aren't aware, it's a part-time job I have outside of teaching. Check the post "I'm So Ashamed" on my other blog.) Since it is a live-in position for the weekends I am there, I am the first point of emergency contact for those children, much like being the first point of contact for an injured student.
What do you think? Should teachers and other school staff be trained in CPR and first aid? Does your district offer any incentives for staff that have been trained? Does your school keep a list of people on staff who have been trained?
Here's the thing: My daughter was in class yesterday morning doing a review for an upcoming quiz. A classmate began acting strangely, as if he were falling asleep (and moving as if in slow motion). All of a sudden, he went rigid, then began to shake and convulse at his desk. (You guessed it: seizure.) The teacher sent a student to the nurse's office because she wasn't sure of what to do. (FYI: You don't move a person having a seizure unless you are trying to get them onto the ground to lessen the risk of injury from a fall, don't put anything in the person's mouth, move all surrounding furniture and objects away from the person, put something under the person's head to lessen injury, don't try to hold them still, and be sure to time the length of the episode.) In the meantime, before the nurse got to the room, the seizure passed and the student came out of it. He didn't know what happened and couldn't understand why everyone was looking so worried. The teacher put a student in charge and walked the affected student down to the nurse as a precaution; they actually met the nurse in the hallway. When the teacher returned, she told the class what happened, as some of them hadn't figured it out. She also told the students the child was going home and to use tact if they spoke about it.
My daughter was still quite upset about it once she got home and was retelling us (my husband and me) about what happened. After she recounted the events and we calmed her a bit, I kept wondering to myself about the teacher's response that she didn't know what to do. Could it have been a momentary spasm of panic? Or did she truly not know what to do? Which got me thinking: Why aren't teachers trained in CPR and First Aid?
Think about it. We oversee many students in a day's time: in class, on the playground, on field trips, during field day. Not to mention all of the evening events for parents. I know most schools have a nurse; some have a nurse practitioner. And I dare say there are a few schools that have no medical personnel. That one nurse or other medical professional (if you have one) is on call for all students in the building. What happens if that person is tending to another crisis? Or out of the building (with no sub)? Or your building has no such person? Shouldn't we as other school staff be trained so we know what to do in these instances?
Most schools do give the Epipen training, as well as what to look for if you have a diabetic or asthmatic student, or a student with severe allergies. But what about those students who are under the radar and don't know they have a particular medical condition or have a medical emergency happen to them for the first time (as in the case of the student in my daughter's class)? As a parent of a child with asthma and a child with severe allergies, that concerns me.
I know most districts are cash-strapped and cannot pay for their entire school staff to be trained. But there are some facilities that offer the course over a weekend. Check your local fire department, nursing school, hospital, or local branch of the American Heart Association. Certification lasts for two years.
I actually had my CPR and first aid training as part of the employment requirement to work in the student home for underprivileged children. (For those of you that aren't aware, it's a part-time job I have outside of teaching. Check the post "I'm So Ashamed" on my other blog.) Since it is a live-in position for the weekends I am there, I am the first point of emergency contact for those children, much like being the first point of contact for an injured student.
What do you think? Should teachers and other school staff be trained in CPR and first aid? Does your district offer any incentives for staff that have been trained? Does your school keep a list of people on staff who have been trained?
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