School Readiness- Helping all children and children with Additional Needs.

Additional Needs.

School readiness.

Implications for practice:  Intentional teaching practices: (Background)

Emotionally supportive.

Fosters social, emotional and regulatory skills.

Promotes early literacy and maths skills. (Rethinking school Readiness.  www.rch.org.au/ccch/policybriefs.cfm 2008).

‘The key factor in promoting children’s school readiness in all environments… is the nature of the relationships they experience’. 

Intentional Teaching Practices.

. encouraging children’s participation in group games and experiences.

.talking positively to children about starting school.

.encouraging independence in all areas of self care.

. helping children to use pencils, crayons, textas, scissors and glue unassisted.

 

 

 

Additional Needs Further support:

Sensory integration activities:

Managing reactions to emotional overload: “The behavioural outbursts that result when children are overwhelmed by sensory input are an educational issue, not a behavioural one.”

Therefore: Punishment won’t work.

What could work:

Calming activities: jumping activities, possibly over a rope back and forth on the ground or on a small trampoline.  Giving deep pressure massage.  Perform heavy work tasks like sweeping or wheeling a wheelbarrow.  Placing a wheat bag on their laps  during quiet activities; or using headphones for those who over react to auditory input .  Continue to use “fidget toys”; a favourite small toy or sensory object.

Sit child to outer edge of group so they are not jostled by others.

If the child becomes overwhelmed then they need permission to withdraw to calm themselves.

These are useful activities are for children overwhelmed by sensory input.

 

For those that underreact to sensory input:

Extra exposure to a range of physical and tactile experiences so they learn to discriminate different sensations.  Identifying unseen objects in a Feely bag.  Massage, messy play, swinging by their arms. 

For those who overreact to sensory input, eg touch.  Finger-painting or paint in a zip lock bag, clay work and covering with plastic wrap until child becomes used to it.

 

(Porter L. (Third ed.) Young Children’s Behaviour. Practical Approaches for Caregivers and Teachers.)

 

 

. reading with children.

. ICT skills. 

(www.ncac.gov.au Australian Government, 2008).

Kidscreative.

6 ways to encourage creativity in young children.

1.  Be open to new ideas and suggestions relating to play.  Be supportive of the children and their unique way of looking at the world.  This will also assist you to identify children's preference for learning styles.

2. Let the children have enough time and space to finish what they have started or leave it to continue on with the next day or take a photo of what they have achieved.  Imagine if you were in your kitchen and you had laid out the ingredients to make a cake and poured in the dry ingredients then someone said, "stop, it's time to pack up", and you had to put it all away until tomorrow.  Would you try again tomorrow? or would you be disheartened and unsupported and not try.  We want engaged learners who feel supported.

3. Choose materials that are open ended and easy to access.  Some creative materials may be boxes of all shapes and sizes, plain shirts and dresses, ties, hats etc that can be dressed up to become anything they choose.  Tins of all shapes and sizes, tubing, paints to mix and natural materials.  Scarfs and pieces of material.

4.  Never discourage daydreaming in early childhood.  It's a time when your mind can be free for problem-solving and relaxation.  Lay down and look up at the clouds with the children, follow an ant on its path through the garden.

5.  Encourage 'wondering' in children.  Ask them questions like, "I wonder what is making the wind so strong today?" Listen to their questions and 'wonder' about the answers together.  As a teacher you don't need to know all the answers, just how to encourage looking for them and where the answers might be found to start the process.

6.  Deep learning from inquiry based learning only comes from narrowing down the creative play experiences offered by adults and being supportive of those of most interest to them.  A
assisting children to build on those ideas by providing open ended questioning and props.

Kidscreative.

06/10/13 next entry diary of a soldier's wife

24/02/02
I'm getting spooked every night by cars racing up and down our winding street from a main road.  They stop out the front a few houses up and rev up and back, rolling back and between yard next door and front of our yard.  Then take off loudly around the corner.  I took note of the type of car and colour.
25/02/02
10:30pm and 10:35 two cars went up and down the street loudly again.  Will I ever sleep!

Its two days later and the nose of cars keep happening between 10pm and 1pm.  I spoke to my neighbour across the road and she thinks house next door might be selling drugs.  When we bought here a year after we married and settled in Queensland, Simon told me this was a good area, but I suppose this can happen anywhere.  I just don't like being in house alone with my son with all this going on outside and not really having anyone to call.  But I have made friends with lady across road so that is making me feel better.

( Six months later we found out that one of the 'Bali nine" drug traffickers lived around the corner, no wonder all the action every night.  We had television crews parked out the front near our house for months.)

12/03/02
Mitchell and I fought this morning.  I could not understand what he was asking for and I ascertained it was something about not wanting to take his pill at a certain time at school.  I wrote him a note for Monday and he screamed at me that it wasn't right.  I called him an idiot under my breathe and he came at me with fists. I held him and told him to calm down.  I banned him from tv for a week.  Later he apologised and so did I.

Mum rang and said she had left her job because she hated it., she will meet us in Sydney after all at my brother's at Easter.  Mum also said someone ran into her open car door on the street and ripped it off almost.  It was actually her boyfriend's car and he wasn't impressed.  I think he drinks too much but I'm not sure. 

Jarrod and my anniversary in a few weeks and it isn't easy to organise a babysitter.

01/04/02
My pa would have been a 100yrs old today so my mum tells me.  He died 27 yrs ago when I was 3.
I tried to call Jarrod again as was feeling lonely with no family around.  It was the third time since Wednesday and it is now Sunday.  I can never speak to him when I need to, it's so frustrating. That's why I usually don't try and put him out of my mind to cope.  I just wanted to tell him that Mitchell scored a goal at soccer on Saturday and that they won. I took Mitchell to psychologist last Monday and she told me his aggression and social problems are part of his ADD ( no news to me!)  She said it could be under maturation of his brain.  So she suggested we see her five to six more times and we will devise strategies to try and help him. 
Mitchell would not go with Jarrod's mum Saturday night so I could go to a party with work friends.
He had a big outburst because it was a change of plans.  I actually took him as he was hysterical but I said he was not going to his friend's house today.

Mitch and I had a good day today although I was grumpy to start and Mitch picked up on my feelings and became grouchy too.  He asked what was wrong and I said honestly that I missed Jarrod.  He was then better as he seemed to understand.  He is sleeping in my bed tonight.  I don't mind, he's still only 8yrs old, nine next month.  I hope he doesn't move around a lot like last night and our dog doesn't bark half the night.  He's fidgety now.  We have an early start tomorrow as I'm on early shift at work ad he has to go to before school care. 

13/02/02
Mitch was bored today and I felt a bit sick.  Combination of too much of one thing probably.  I had noodles for lunch and dinner, not good.  I should start looking after myself.  I threw up too.  I finished a book in a week and that's a record for me.  It was about a bored woman at home who has an affair.  I think it just brings a bit of passion into my lonely life at the moment.  No call from Jarrod and I haven't replied to his last email yet.  I feel bad, but I have nothing to say.  I must be up to the 'anger' stage of when men in the forces go away, especially when he volunteered, we really didn't need the money, but he loves it.  Next stage is meant to be 'resolution' and I think, "the courageous acceptance of life".

next entry of diary of a soldiers wife

04/02/01
Jarrod is back now.  Over weekend Mitch had many angry outbursts.  At me, Jarrod and his friend who he wanted to come over.  We ended up taking the friend home after an hour.  Mitch seems to like the stimulation of an argument.  We are seeing a paediatrician on Friday.  Jarrod can't wait.  We will see psychologist shortly.  I feel depressed today and run-down and did not do a lot.  Jarrod was really helpful.  I'm glad he is back from his week away.  Hope to feel better this coming week.  Mitch has a chipped tooth.  I spoke to principal and Mitch had started a fight.  He is having capped tomorrow.

14/02/01
Jarrod left for overseas work assignment a few days ago.
I'm so tired from work that I am in bed at 8pm.  Mitch hasn't showered yet, so I'll be up again to remind him.  It was good to work though as it stops the boredom.  One young mum at work said it was good for her to work as she didn't 'just feel like someone's mum' and has another identity at work too.  I feel that way too at the moment, although a balance is hard to find.  Mitch came with me today and was a good helper.  The last two hours he got bored though and smart towards other children.  Paediatrician suggested one tablet in  the mornings and half at lunch, which wears off after four hours, sometimes you can tell.  I don't like the thought of medication but we were really at breaking point and wanted to help him as well as the family.  May for the short term until we get more help.

18/02/01
A few emails ago to Jarrod, I complained about being lonely.  He replied he could not put his words down in writing so he would call.  He called later and as a man, he did not speak of feelings, just solutions to problems.  He thinks I should go to Adelaide at Easter to spend 2 weeks with mum as she is not going to my brother's now.  Mitch and I were asked to dinner at Jarrod's parent's place, which was odd, but good as I was feeling lonely.

Mitchell makes me laugh.  On the way home today he was in one of his chatty moods and he commented on how he would like to have cake and fireworks on the day before his birthday to celebrate 'Appendix Day'.  He meant 'Independence Day', on the fourth of July which is the day before his birthday.  He added, then he could have another birthday on the fifth of July!  Mitch has behaved fairly well lately, except one angry outburst at Nicky and husband as they helped me move some furniture in and scratched it a bit.  I sent him to his room.  I warned him to behave for his grandparents tonight.  I read somewhere that you shouldn't really warn children to behave, but it's hard not too sometimes.  At least tonight he didn't reply, "Don't you expect me to behave?" in a harsh tone.  Which may be fair as I am probably sending him the wrong messages, that I don't trust him to behave.  Tonight though I gave a few examples and he was quiet then.

Jarrod sent me flowers.  I emailed and thanked him.  He does try to understand, but it's hard to be nice when I am hurting inside so much.  At least it's peace time where he is and he is unlikely to be in any danger, I hope.  I especially get lonely on the weekends when my diary is blank and Mitch gets up and gets dressed and follows me around looking glum and waiting for me to come up with ideas to free him from his boredom also.

 

creative play. Let the children decide.

Here one child decided the cellophane, that was available in a tray at the collage table, would look good in this bowl shaped trough with the sea creatures.  Later the children wanted to take it outside and a few children decided it would be fun to see the world through the cellophane!  They are so clever.  If you have the tools available for creative play it can often just happen without the teacher's interference.

The 'bubble wrap' was also chosen as the river.  Lots of fun to pop and uses fine motor skills, strengthening fingers.

 

Last photo is of children helping in the garden to clear leaves.  You don't need a great garden to get the children involved.  Just a clean up with sand equipment can be fun!

next entries for diary of a soldier's wife

26/01/01
Feeling a bit tired today.  Went out with Nicky last night, movies and out to a few clubs.  I did not drink as I was driving.  Today I have snapped at Jarrod a bit.  We all went to Australia Day celebrations at South Bank today.  Mitchell wanted to buy everything he saw!  I bought him one snake puppet.  Sometimes he couldn't sit still during performances and would wonder off.  During fire works we said he could move a bit closer where we could see him.  He moved from where we said to stand and Jarrod and I couldn't see him for the rest of the fireworks display.  When it had finished Mitchell emerged from the crowd and I wasn't pleased.  Jarrod and I started to argue over the incident.  Jarrod said that I didn't seem to listen sometimes.  I said, "yes probably, ADD maybe, must be hereditary!" I was half being sarcastic and half truthful.  I feel I too can't keep my attention on what people are saying, particularly lately. 

28/01/01

Jarrod went away with Army yesterday.  Will be away a few days before going overseas for six months.  I spent the day at home, then took Mitchell to Little Athletics.  Later we swam in the pool and played cricket and I worked around the house.  Went to Jarrod's parent's place to say goodbye as they are leaving tomorrow for a two month holiday.  Jarrod rang tonight and all is well and staying in the barracks.  Mitchell back at school tomorrow.  He has mixed feelings about it, but mostly positive.  Jarrod couldn't get to sleep tonight and complained about the heat as it was 35 degrees.  I went out later to check on him and he was asleep on the kitchen floor!  I read two books today about children with ADHD.  Both advocated for different ways to deal with 'my kind' of child.  One against taking medication to treat it and one for, now I am really confused!  One book I read said it could also be referred to as 'DDD' in some cases: 'dad deficient disorder'.  This could be true too as Mitchell seems used to his step dad going away, but maybe not.

29/01/01
Work was good today and I even remembered messages I needed to pass on by putting elastic bands around my wrist to remind me of them.  I'm very tired again.  Mitch's day sounded good.  I met the teacher and told her he had been diagnosed with ADHD.  She sounded like she wasn't very happy and signed, then said, "Oh, I've had one of those before, he couldn't sit still".  Silly women, how dare she lump my child in with all other children, maybe I shouldn't have said anything because now he wears the label.  Jarrod rang and said my brother said we could stay at his place at Easter in Sydney.

The connection between creativity and resilience.

Creativity and Resilience.

 

I’ve recently had some time on holidays and whilst children were playing, I was thinking about the connection between creativity and resilience.  There definitely has to be a connection between encouraging creativity in young children and at the same time encouraging resilience.  Children are very influenced by feedback given to them by adults, everyone should know this. So if being creative means thinking outside the box and being able to look at options from all angles and problem solving, then this must also affect a child’s ability to face challenges in life with a stronger ability to not crumble under tough times, to think about the pros and cons of options and decide to resolve to follow a path that is difficult, but must be taken in order to achieve the desired outcome.  I’m sure all the inventors of this world were in-tune with this idea, they wouldn’t have given up when they didn’t first find the answer. This shows their ability to never give up in the face of failure, but to continue for the greater good of all and to feel a sense of achievement for themselves.  Therefore, I feel the best way to create more resilient children in our unpredictable environment, whether man-made or natural disasters or more personal crises, then we have to encourage creative thinking in the early years and value children’s effort and ability to solve their own problems with our guidance, but not to take over.  Allow their natural ability to problem-solve evolve by giving them time to think, experiment and come up with their own conclusions with our open-ended questioning to encourage confident, courageous adults.  With adults and children looking at failure  as a setback, but not an end to a dream.

KidscreativeAshdown