Introduce Yourself!

Welcome to the Early Childhood Book Discussion Group hosted by BAEYC, Old Colony Chapter.  We will start the discussion here. Begin by posting to the "Introduce Yourself" prompt.  In your reply to this subject heading, briefly describe your background, current position, how long you've been in the field, and anything else you want us to know about yourself.


NOTE: To post comments: if you look at the bottom of this paragraph, you will notice the word "comments" with a number next to it.  If you click on that word, a comment box will open and you will see the comments other people have made.  You will also have the ability to comment yourself. In the bottom of the comment box is an option for "choosing your identity". If you click the Name/URL option and type your FULL name in the provided box (shows after you select), your name will show at the top of your comment so that you may receive credit for your post. If you do not, you will show up as "anonymous" and will need to contact Eileen at lestudante@bridgew.edu so that your name can be added.  You can also let her know if you publish something by mistake and need to have it taken off of the blog.  We strongly suggest that you compose your thoughts in a word processing program such as Microsoft Word, and then copy (not cut!) and paste them into the comment box.  This will ensure that if something were to go wrong within the blog comment box by accident, your work is not lost.  If you are unsure how to do this, then please contact Eileen for help.  Each new discussion thread will have its own title, listed on the right side of the screen.  Click on that title, and you can see a complete listing of all the posted comments to date on that discussion topic, in chronological order.  If you wish to view a previous years discussion to better understand what the blog will look like as the dicussion proceeds, please follow this link:  http://baeycbookgroup2010.blogspot.com/ .

Skill 6

(new suggested topic from Nancy Ohlen) I would like to see some discussion of Skill 6.  The foundational attitudes toward dealing with stress and life's challenges are established, I believe (and have seen borne out in the lives of adults I knew well as very young children) during the very early years of life.

Skill 7

(new suggested topic from Nancy Ohlen)  I would also like to see some discussion of Skill 7.  I do not believe we can start too early to employ the information and suggestions Galinsky presents in encouraging children to become self-directed, engaged life-long learners.  What we say, how we look, how we respond when interacting with children is so very important.

Ah Hah! Moments

Any good book brings some new information to light or puts a new perspective on things – something that suddenly excites you or takes your thinking in a new direction.  Share here your “Wow!” moments as you worked your way through Galinsky’s book.  What was it about those ideas, results, or examples that struck such a chord?

Cases from our Own Classrooms

Part of the power of Galinsky’s work is sharing real-life examples of children exhibiting these essential skills (or lack of these skills).  Share here children you have known that came to mind as you read Galinsky’s examples.  Did your way of thinking about that child change as you read Galinksy’s words?

Lemonade Stands

This term resonated with the group.  Share some of the passions you have seen children evidence, and describe how their lemonade stands have served to focus and enhance their development ( and feel free to use yourself as an example!).

Classroom Applications

Galinsky shares many techniques from the research labs for tapping into children’s hidden potential, as well as making many suggestions to parents of things they can do at home to encourage children’s emerging skills.  Discuss here what you are thinking about adding to the curriculum in your own program (or have done so already) to better support Galinsky’s seven essential skills

Focus/Self Control and Perspective-Taking/Empathy

In our initial discussion, these two life skills seemed to resonate as pivotal skills.  Do you see these in particular as key to helping young children succeed?  What happens when they are lacking?  How do the environments we work in pull them forward or hold them back?

Staff Professional Development

We discussed that a program’s readiness to support the essential skills hinges on staff understanding of such concepts as intentional teaching, teachable moments, cognitively engaging talk, and appropriate activity design.  Neither unstructured play nor teacher-directed instruction seem to be the answer.  How should we respond to children’s efforts, failures, misbehaviors, errors of fact, and requests for assistance?  When do we lead, and when do we follow?  When do we step in, and when do we hold back?  What has your program not been emphasizing enough?  What has it been doing too much?  Have state policy initiatives impacted your program practices in positive or negative ways?  What specifically has to change for the adults in your program to better support children’s essential skills?

Family Issues

Galinsky’s book was directed at parents, and certainly our programs are only part of the puzzle in supporting children’s development of the seven essential skills.  What are some effective ways to make these perspectives and practices available to the families of children in your program?  What are things you have done (or are contemplating doing) that make a difference beyond the four walls of your program?

Resources

What are some of the books, trainings, web links, commercial curriculum, etc. you have run across that have deepened or broadened your understanding of the life skills Galinsky talks about or have helped you put the theory into practice?  Share the resource and what you have found valuable about it.

Final Reflection

[A response is required to receive training credits. The final reflection is in addition to the required 8 posts for training credit. All posts and final reflections should be completed by Sunday, March 4th].
For your final reflection, talk about new learnings, if any, that have come from this book and this discussion. New perspectives? New information? New connections? New priorities? Can you identify any one idea that came from the book or from the discussion as having had the greatest impact on your thinking?

In addition, talk about specific changes in your practices you contemplate making as a result of this experience. Do you anticipate changing the way you plan and implement curriculum? The way you interact with children? The way you orient and train staff? The way you communicate with parents? Who do you feel the urge to talk to about these issues, and what do you intend to tell them?

And, of course, feel free to share any other final thoughts you deem important. Use the above questions as ways to kick-start your thinking – don’t feel compelled to answer each and every one of the prompts! Your final reflection should be at least the equivalent of a one-page, double-spaced paper.