Fourth-grade girls with the Junior girls who run their weekly, lunch-time Girls' Room groups

No Surprises

Proud members of the robotics club showing
off their creation.

As much as it is important to remember that the big picture is for us to prepare our children to be flexible, resilient and capable of responding positively to novel situations, we also have to be clear that certain regular events, like bedtimes, are not novel, and increased flexibility should not be the desired outcome. Making transitions for children such as turning off the TV, starting homework, beginning the dishes or cleaning a bedroom can require a great deal of parental energy and still be met with regular resistance, arguments or both.

More robotic engineers!

As I went straight from college to teaching in the New York public schools with little formal training in pedagogical techniques (I entered the profession through an alternate certification route originally designed for returning Peace Corps volunteers), I had to discover for myself, often painfully, things that worked and things that did not. It was a slow and frustrating process, for which I, in hindsight, apologize to my former students. One of the most obvious techniques—but, to me, a powerful and startling revelation—was what a difference it makes to give students a five-minute warning before making a transition. Simply telling them that now was the time that they had to do something different meant I had to spend far too much of my energy “muscling” the shift into focus. As any successful teacher knows, regular routines and lead-ups to transitions are essential. These have to be standard operating procedure for working with groups of children.  

Preschool engineers!

However, this is not always so obvious to parents who are dealing with only one or two of their own children. In fact, as I know only too well myself, just because one is effective in dealing with other peoples’ children does not automatically lead to success with one’s own! It is as if most, or all, experience and good judgment seem to fly out the window when it passes through the emotional filter of parenthood. Teachers who are also parents have to explicitly relearn these skills in the parent context. Everything often seems so much less clear when clouded by parental hopes and expectations.

I remember when I first relearned the importance of the five minute warning as a new parent. It occurred around the bedtime struggle and was almost as startling a revelation as it had been in the classroom years before. A predictable warning before the transition to the bedtime routine made all the difference. Clean up, baths and a story changed from a regular struggle to a normal routine. Most of the change had to do with the fact that there were no surprises. Add to this the anticipation of the next chapter of a book or, even better, a new adventure of the characters in a made-up story, and a former struggle can be further transformed into a cherished ritual.

Announcing the Launch of the Lower School's New Book Review Site

Kiki, Jessie and Kiki

Three fourth graders, Kiki, Kiki and Jessie have been working hard to create an on-line site for Lower School students and teachers to post reviews of their favorite books. There are now reviews from all grade levels. Click Ki+Ki Book Reviews to view.

 Hi!My name is Max, and I am a public relationsofficer.  Today  I am going to tell you about the stage manager. I interviewed Ella to find out what she has been doing. Ella told me that the job is about making sure the performers practice the right lines. Ella said that they are working on memorizing act three. The thing’s  Ella has accomplished are act one and two with the performers. The thing Ella likes the most about her job is she likes to work with the different performers. This was Ella’s first choice because she watched the show last year, and she was inspired by that stage manager so she wanted to try it. Thank you for reading about the stage manager. There will be many more jobs to come.There is a new Preschool 4 Blog post!

Join us for family fun at "A Night at the Races" at the Meadowlands "Pegasus" Restaurant on Friday, May 3, 2013 and support Dwight-Englewood's financial aid fund.  There will be trips to the paddocks to meet the horses and face painting.