Page 13 – Playful Learning

Protractor Art: Window Transparencies

By Mariah Bruehl, 12th December 2014

So much can be learned when making art, so today I have a project that will not only brighten your winter windows but will show your child how to use a math protractor to make beautiful artwork.

Note: This project can be adapted for those under 12 by doing the calculations to make the template ahead of time. Working on a light table that shines through the papers makes this a visual delight!

Materials to make a star transparency:

2 sheets of black cardstock 8.5″x12″
A variety of colors of kite paper* including white (found here)
Drawing compass with pencil
Protractor
White pen
Scissors
White glue/toothpick
Optional: Light table

*Tissue paper may be used but may tear easily. Iron tissue flat before using.

– Draw a 7 3/4″ circle with your compass on a piece of scrap cardstock.

– Draw a 5″ circle in the center of the first circle.

– Cut out the circles to create a donut shaped template.

– Trace the pattern onto the black cardstock and holding two sheets together, cut out two identical frames.

– Mark the following points onto the black frame with a white pen: 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180. Turn the frame 180 degrees and repeat so that you have marks all around the circle every 30 degrees. (the marks should resemble a clock)

– Using a toothpick, dab a few tiny dots of glue onto the frame and attach the sheet of white kite paper. Trim the edges.

– Cut 2 sheets of kite paper into thirds.

– Thinking of the frame as a clock, glue one strip of paper across each of the following points: 12:00 to 5:00, 5:00 to 10:00, 10:00 to 2:00, 2:00 to 7:00 and finally 7:00 to 12:00. Trim the edges.

– Place your work on a light box or hold up to the window to experiment with blending colors using different colors of kite paper. See how adding another color can change the effect.

– Once you have your transparency to your liking, glue the second black frame to the back to conceal the raw edges.

Take it further:

Experiment with different shaped frames, calculate the angles for a 5, 6, or 8 point star, use different angles or adhere other shapes and patterns behind the kite paper. Here I have tucked a paper doily and a paper cut out behind the frame.

Mandalas:

Fold a kite paper circle into sixteenths and cut a “snowflake”. Iron flat and glue to the frame. Layer with other colored sheets or trim papers to fit behind the cut out spaces creating a multicolored mandala.

Books:

The Christmas Craft Book – Thomas Berger
Rose Windows and how to make them: coloured tissue paper crafts – Helga Meyerbroeker

Enjoy the holiday season with your children by making something special together!

Visual Writing Prompts: Cultivating Curiosity + Creativity

By Mariah Bruehl, 10th December 2014

“Why is the snail on a skateboard?” “Is that Abraham Lincoln in a jetpack?” These are the types of questions raised by students in my fourth grade classroom everyday after lunch. Laughs, chuckles, and gasps ensue as they enter the room and see the day’s visual writing prompt projected on the board. These engaging images are used to get kids thinking and writing for extended periods of time. Initially, my reason for incorporating this type of activity into our day was due to the implementation of the Common Core State Standards. The Range of Writing anchor, beginning in grade three and ending in grade twelve, calls for students to be able to write routinely over extended periods of time. However, besides just hitting the standards, there have been some very happy side effects along the way. Here are some of them.

(image one/image two)

CREATIVITY

At times as an educator, you can’t help but feel that with all the deadlines, homework, mandates and testing you are squelching kids’ natural curiosity and erasing any outlet for creativity they may have. Presenting one image to 28 little minds that have the freedom to imagine is a powerfully liberating experience for both student and teacher. Children who enter the room at the beginning of the year with doubts about their creative abilities leave the room in June feeling confident. How kids tackle each image is also a creative process. Some choose to work on skill application; such as using literary devices we have been working on in English language arts. I can’t count the number of stories that open with an onomatopoeia right now! Others challenge themselves by linking each new image to the previous images from the days before. It’s been a hilarious progression to watch Abe Lincoln move from building jet packs all the way to adopting a pet sea horse. The imagining, organization and craft of the various stories have given all students the proof they need to believe that they are creative problem solvers.

(image one/image two)

CHANCE

The range of ability and background knowledge within any given classroom is truly staggering. What visual writing prompts give a teacher (and her students) is the invitation for unanimous participation and success. Developing a lesson where this can happen takes an almost intuitive understanding of each student’s individual needs, learning styles accounted for, hours of research compiled, careful design and a whole lot of luck. These prompts give each child the chance to shine…every day.

(image one/image two)

CLIMATE

Another accidental byproduct has been the overall effect on the classroom environment. Surely, any year at school has to be started with clear expectations and the establishment of routines. However, the predictability and almost sacred protection of this time has had a profound effect on the culture of the classroom. The students all eagerly get out their personalized writer’s notebooks right before lunch and hustle up the stairs after to see the picture on the board. And then the laughs, comments and questions begin. After a minute or two, they all settle in and a quiet industrious calm hums along in the room. Pencils feverishly scratch along paper and the occasional self-induced chuckle surfaces. I call, “pencils down” after a half hour of sustained writing…always accompanied by disappointed sighs and pleas of, “just one more sentence!”

We then do either a whole class read or partner read. Once again, all of the students have reached a point of wanting to share. How often does this occur in the life of a teacher? I keep waiting for the day when the students drag their feet up the stairs and slam open their notebooks in frustration. With almost two years and two different classes doing this, it still hasn’t happened. There is a constant mountain of writer’s notebooks stacked precariously on my desk by students who want me to read their creations. It is comforting to know that in a profession where you are bound to experience daily fails (like the time I attempted to have them melt crayons in an effort to teach the rock cycle) and constant reflection (dissection) on your practice, there is a dedicated time for success. Most importantly, however, is the motivation and fearless attitude my students have developed. They all want to write, to share, to improve and to support one another in process. They ARE writers.

(image source)

Although I’ve only used visual writing prompts in a formal education setting, I imagine that it would be equally powerful in an after school/ homeschool setting. Included throughout this post is a collection of some of our favorite images. Doing a search online for “visual writing prompts” will also yield a good crop of prompts (after some careful editing, of course). So, grab a notebook, make it your own and start story telling with the help of the young writer(s) in your life!

5 Great Reasons to Read Graphic Novels

By Mariah Bruehl, 9th December 2014

One of the biggest concerns many parents have (this can be an issue for boys in particular) is how to encourage reading in their kids. No matter how many great novels you throw their way, some kids just don’t love it. Enter graphic novels. Graphic novels are not glorified comic books; they are novels using images as well as words to tell a story. Graphic novels have many advantages:

The images give an overview of the story, which encourages the child to read the whole thing. By looking at the images they can get a sense immediately of what is happening, particularly good for kids who are really turned off books.

They are fast paced. For high energy, boisterous kids (like my two boys) slowing down can sometimes be a problem. But graphic novels move quickly, the plots are exciting and there is often a good dose of action along the way. This makes the exciting to read, again circumnavigating the ‘I hate reading’ problem.

The images reinforce not replace the language. At first it may seem that this is just a glorified picture book but with a really good graphic novel a full understanding is only really reached when the words and illustrations work together. A kid may begin by skimming, but they’ll soon be turning back to re-read when to gain a better understanding of what is happening.

The language is high quality. A really good graphic novel has to pair great illustrations with clear dialogue, the language and the images work together to create the story. With so little space for words they are chosen with a great deal of care for maximum impact and can seriously add to your child’s vocabulary. They also deal with complex themes that will challenge them beyond their reading level.

They can be read over and over…and over. Graphic novels are often a quick read, but I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen my son returning to the same book. He seems to read in different ways each time and I’m amazed by how much he picks up in such a short space of time. Like anyone returning to an old favorite, he reads more slowly and absorbs both the language, plot and characters in much more depth. Letting them read something that is familiar and fun (alongside work that is supportive and challenging) will reaffirm that they are a good reader and that books are fun.

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7

If you’re looking for a good starting place with graphic novels, or looking to add to your collection, here are a five of our favorite series. As always, check any books to make sure that they are appropriate for your family.

The Amulet Series: When my son began showing an interest in graphic novels at the library, I was really unhappy with the content he was finding on the shelves. Amulet was a great find and made us both very happy. Written by the great Kazu Kibuishi, the story revolves around a brother and sister ….

The Percy Jackson graphic novels: We were already Percy Jackson fans when these graphic novels were released, and they were a great way to keep the series alive for my son. The novels were a bit too much of a reading challenge at that time, he’d adored the stories on audio book and kept wanting to listen over and over; but I wanted him to read. These books were perfect and are very high quality, they render the main plot and characters of the story really well and even serve as an example of how to summarize a story without losing the most important elements

Artemis Fowl: This is another novel series turned graphic novel, we had enjoyed these in audio form but still wanted more! The story revolves around 12 year old millionaire Artemis Fowl, an Irish schoolboy turned arch criminal who discovers a hidden underworld of fairy folk unlike any you’ve ever met. These stories are truly wonderful with a strong core of humanity running through them as characters have to make tough decisions in a world that often seems pitted against them.

The Lunch Lady series: My son read about 5 of these in one mammoth session and continued to re-read them until the library demanded their return! He would laugh uproariously at the antics of the central character as she “serves out justice along with lunch”. Fast paced and fun these would tempt even the most reluctant reader, and I admit I adore that the central character is a middle aged woman taking down cyborgs, ninja style.

Moby Dick: While this book isn’t part of a series it is part of a concept, there are many wonderful graphic novel adaptations of classic novels out there. We’ve also loved this adaptation of Black Beauty and I plan to include many more in the future. Like an abridged version, the graphic novel provides the key elements of the story and hopefully negates some of the negativity often associated with reading ‘difficult’ classic stories. Many well known novels have been adapted and are a great way to give a child access to the key ideas, even when the novel itself is a bit too much. There are also wonderful adaptations of Shakespeare’s plays that really support and reinforce learning at any age.

If you are looking for even more inspiration the list on The Mighty Girl website has many fabulous suggestions that we can’t wait to try. This list is focused more on female characters, but there is no reason why boys won’t enjoy them just as much!

* This post contains affiliate links.

Gifts That Inspire Writing

By Mariah Bruehl, 5th December 2014

Holidays, birthdays, and other gift-giving occasions are a wonderful time to reflect on the types of investments we want to make as parents. I do see gifts for children as investments. Not only are they investments of money, but investments of our time and in our children. What do we want to encourage? What do we hold valuable? How do we want our children to spend their time? What types of experiences do we want to share with our children?

I have received a lot of requests to recommend some gift ideas that will inspire the young writers in their lives.

Because everyone’s a writer, it’s just a matter of helping them find and bring forth their voice and share it with the world…

Starting a Writer’s Notebook

Keeping a writer’s notebook is where it all begins… Talking to children about their favorite authors and how they capture ideas for writing is a wonderful way to inspire budding young writers. Did you know that almost all authors keep their own writer’s notebooks? Writing does not need to be an overwhelming process, it can be fun, light, and all about capturing the magical moments in our lives.

If you are enrolled in the Family Writer’s Club and would like to put together a fun gift to complement the experience, I recommend starting with the materials below. In this workshop you will begin your writing journey by starting your own writer’s notebooks!

1. Post-it Arrow Flags – Add a fun dimension to capturing memories and writing down thoughts.

2. Japanese Washi Masking Tape – Fun tapes are a wonderful way to add mementos and for the decorating of your cover or pages.

3. Glassine Wax Paper Bags – These are great for taping into your notebook to inspire writing about found treasures.

4. Jumbo Paper Clips – Another great way to capture and save different memories.

5. Sticky Tab Markers – These come in handy if you want to create different sections in your notebook.

6. Blank Recycled Notebooks – We love using these blank notebooks. They offer a clean slate, so that children can make them their own.

7. Photo Corners – Wonderful for adding and writing about family memories and special events.

Create it and they will come… It’s almost like magic! If you would like to see your children writing for pleasure in their free time, then create an inviting space with engaging materials. Here are our tried and true favorites for creating a captivating writing center. What I love about these items is that they become household staples. We purchased many of the items on this list when the girls were young and we are still using and loving them!

8. Wall Organizer – This fabric magazine organizer is perfect for displaying a variety of interesting writing papers. We provide lots of interesting options in the workshop. You can also find a nice selection in the printables section of our book.

9. Acrylic Tote – I am a huge fan of creating caddies stocked with inviting supplies like pens, pencils, stamps, stickers, etc. They are easy to move from room to room and are great for taking your writing adventures outside.

10. Prismacolor Colored Pencils – Our all-time favorite colored pencils!

11. Highlighters – An inviting way to make writing fun.

12. Pencils – We are big fans of these triangular pencils, which help with encouraging proper pencil grip.

13. Alphabet Stickers – Fun no matter what age you are!

14. Sentiment Stamps – We love giving handmade cards for every occasion. Having these stamps handy has been very helpful throughout the years.

15. Paper Tray – Another wonderful way for organizing interesting writing papers.

16. Blank Books – The more of these you leave in your writing center, the more books you will see popping up around your house. Try it!

17. Watercolors – It is wonderful to combine art and writing and we love these watercolor paints. These are also perfect for combing with the post cards below.

18. Watercolor Postcards – Embrace the handwritten tradition of corresponding with loved ones with these lovely blank watercolor postcards.

Now that you have the basics in place, make sure that you keep the inspiration flowing…

19. Books about Writing – We have put together a list of our favorite books for inspiring young authors, here.

20. Writer’s Club Family Workshop – Set some time aside as a family to learn about and develop the craft of writing. Connect and learn together as you explore fun writing prompts and learn about helpful techniques.

21. Play Story Cubes – A fun family game that helps get the story-telling going.

22. Q&A A Day For Kids – This journal offers a great way for children to easily capture their day-to-day thoughts and memories.

23. Letters to My Future Self – Writing letters to your past, future, or present day selves can be a powerful writing experience. This creative book makes the process fun and easy.

24. Play Haikubes – A fun game that teaches the art of Haiku. If you enjoy haiku, you should also checkout or great lesson, here.

25. Magnetic Poetry Kit – Another fun way to explore poetry and work on using interesting language in your writing.

26. Rip the Page! Adventures in Creative Writing – This book is full of inspiring writing prompts for the whole family!

* This post contains affiliate links.

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Mindful Gifts for Children

By Mariah Bruehl, 3rd December 2014

As the girls get older and confront many new situations, I am finding that one of the most important things I can teach them, is how to find a sense of peace within themselves.

Whether it is a situation with peers, pressure from school, or scary things they hear about in the news, we want our children to know that they can handle and process anything that comes their way.

When our children were younger, we were able to be present with them more often, and could help them navigate these situations in the moment. Yet, as they grow and spend longer hours in school, outside activities, and with friends, it becomes imperative that they know they can depend on themselves to navigate any situation.

As an adult, I have turned to many of these techniques myself as a way of dealing with difficult situations. It does take practice… I often find that my initial reaction to life’s bigger challenges (sadness, anxiety, anger, critical inner voices) often lead to more upset, creating a cycle that is hard to break.

When families talk openly about how to process different life circumstances, and share in techniques that help us through, it creates a peaceful home environment and models essential life skills. Peace truly does begin at home.

In an effort to help our daughters, we have found that teaching (and practicing) simple techniques that they can use to: come back to the present moment, find peace within, and to accept rather than resist what is happening, has helped tremendously to lesson anxiety and empower them to know that they are capable of dealing with life’s ups and downs.

It is for this reason that we developed the Be a Peacemaker family workshop, to bring families together to explore these concepts and share experiences along the way. I thought it would be helpful to share some gift ideas that can help reinforce the important lessons we explore in the workshop. Many of the items below are meant to be enjoyed as a family. I love giving gifts that inherently include a meaningful experience and time well spent together…

1. Is Nothing Something? by Thich Nhat Hanh – A lovely book, filled with life’s big questions, answered from a mindful perspective. This book offers a wonderful way to start important family conversations.

2. Sitting Still Like a Frog by Eline Snel – This book is full of fun and simple techniques that help children handle emotions and come back to the present moment. My oldest daughter (who tends to worry) was flipping trough this book recently and said, “Mom, I want to do every activity in this book, they would be good for me.”

3. Take the Time by Maud Roegiers – A picture book that walks you through simple things children can do when they need help coming back to the present moment.

4. Silence by Lemniscates – A wonderful book that reminds us of the beauty we can discover within ourselves and the world when we quiet our minds.

5. A Handful of Quiet by Thich Nhat Hanh – Walks you through a few simple experiences that can be shared as a family.

6. Sun Art Paper – Taking time to appreciate the little things, like the veins on a leaf, helps us to clear our mind. Creating art that captures these moments can act as a reminder to us when we need it most.

7. KidSafe Calming the Child Essential Oil – We have found that empowering children to use (with parent guidance) safe, natural remedies, helps them to monitor their health, moods, and feelings. We love using essential oils for different situations that arise. This calming oil is the perfect way to nurture oneself when needed.

8. Hoberman Expanding Mini Sphere Toy – This intriguing toy is a wonderful way to practice mindful breathing.

9. DIY Mindfulness Boxes – I love the idea of having these mindful reminders around the house!

10. Yoga Pretzels Yoga Cards – These yoga cards have been a family favorite for years. They are a wonderful way to encourage children to tune into their bodies and discover the connection between self-care and having peace of mind.

11. The Yoga Garden Game – This game is a wonderful way to introduce young children to the calming affects of yoga.

12. Original Buddha Board – This is one of the most beloved toys I have purchased over the years. We love to practice writing Chinese characters. It can also be used to practice writing letters, numbers, or calming words and images. Using the water to create words and images, is a soothing activity that can be brought out when some quiet time is needed.

13. Zenergy Chime – Having physical cues that help bring us back to the present moment are helpful during charged situations. I love the idea of using a beautiful sound as a reminder to take a deep breath and get back to center. Just be ready for your kids to chime the bell for you at times!

14. Mindfulness Matters (AKA Be a Peacemaker) Family Workshop by Playful Learning – Come together with families around the world to learn specific techniques for finding peace within and making peace in the world. This workshop is wonderful for opening up dialogue as a family while developing a shared language that can be used for years to come.

15. Deluxe Zen Garden – Relaxing activities are helpful easing anxiety or other charged emotions. We love to add our own nature treasures to our constantly evolving Zen Garden. It’s a great addition to a nature table!

16. Boom Boom Cards Family Deck – I have found over the years that empowering children to help others, when they are feeling concerned about something, gives them the opportunity to learn firsthand about the power of our global community. This deck of cards offers inspiring suggestions for spreading kindness. You can track other people who are spreading the same acts on their website—fun!

*This post contains Amazon Affiliate Links.

Mindful Holidays: The Gift of Time

By Mariah Bruehl, 20th November 2014

“We are always getting ready to live but never living.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

On a cloudy afternoon recently, I had an experience that ended up having a huge impact on my attitude as I approach the upcoming holiday season. My young daughter was playing nearby, as she often does, and for some reason, I decided to get down on the floor and play. I mean really play with her and do nothing else. I put the phone away, no TV on to keep us company, just her and I. After an hour or so, she looked at me and said, “Mama? I’m really having fun with you. But, why are you playing with me for so long? I really like it.”

Ouch! If you asked me how often I play with my children, I would say “everyday.” But in this technology driven age, with an abundance of distractions, literally at my fingertips, the honest truth it that I don’t really play with them (sans distractions) as much as I would like to. I have been guilty of saying “no,” when I should have said, “yes” (and I can still picture the disappointed faces). To multitasking when I should have focused. To missing out on special moments, because I simply didn’t see them.

The holiday season seems like the hardest time to start to be more present with the ones we love, with its overflowing to-do lists, and overbooked calendar, but I can almost guarantee that children will be far more impressed with our presence this year than the presents under the tree. With breaks from school and forced time indoors, this season can be the perfect opportunity to form a few habits that will hopefully result in more fulfilling relationships and shared moments in our homes as we start a new year.

Be Intentional

Make a plan for how you will spend meaningful time with your family this winter…

Limit phone and device time. Turn off your phone or put it in the other room for a planned portion of each day. Ask older kids and teens to also put away their devices during this time.
Fill a jar with ideas of shared activities that are easy to do. Encourage children to add their own to the jar. Pull out an idea at least once a day and do it! Some ideas are: look at family photos, read together, play a board game, build a fort, play outside, dance to music, make some art, or play on the floor together.
Plan a one-on-one date with each of your children at least once during the holiday season. This doesn’t need to be fancy or expensive. Maybe a quick date to sip hot chocolate or a visit to the book store. The only rule: no distractions.
Pick one night a week to spend together as a family and commit to it.

Less Presents, More Presence

Our children will most likely not remember all of the gifts they were given throughout the years, but they will remember the time spent together…

Make the focus of at least a portion of your gift giving be on shared activities or experiences. Plan a road trip for later in the year and let your children help you plan it. Sign up for a class together for the coming year, or purchase tickets to a concert or event. Buy a new game that everyone can enjoy together.
Encourage Grandparents and other gift givers to do the same. A toy is nice, but an afternoon alone with Grandma at the zoo will become a cherished memory.
Create simple traditions your family will remember. Make brunch together on Christmas morning, read the same books every year, look at Christmas lights, whatever your family likes to do together.

Let it Become a Lifestyle

The truth is, you can’t predict when your best memories will be made, but focusing on being present will give you eyes to see those moments coming…

Incorporate time with your children into the day. We are busy people with things to do-involve your children in your activities, chores and errands instead of waiting to spend time with them when your list is all crossed off (because when does that actually happen?).
Be willing to be spontaneous. Some of my best memories are of times when my parents shirked their normal pattern/responsibilities to spend time with me. Of course, this isn’t always possible, but be open to the chance. The laundry and emails will still be there when you get back.
Try to say “yes” to their requests for attention and time as often as you can.
Build habits that naturally lead to more quality time: controlled screen time for everyone, regular weeknight dinners at home together, finding hobbies to enjoy together, etc.
Say “no” to over commitment as a family.
Say “no” to the ideals of perfection as a parent. You really can’t do it all, but you can choose what you will focus on and prioritize everyday.

Raising Compassionate Kids

By Mariah Bruehl, 19th November 2014

Raising a compassionate child begins at home. Learning compassion is no different from learning other social skills; children learn to be compassionate through experience, guidance, and observing compassion in those around them.

Many teachers like to say that they have a “culture of kindness” or a “culture of caring” in their classrooms. Likewise, cultivating a “culture of compassion” at home is an important fundamental way to instill compassion in your kids.

To learn compassion, kids must see compassion in action. How can you create a “culture of compassion” in your home?

Treat your child with respect.

Most adults expect others – especially children – to act respectfully. It’s a good expectation to have, but does that street go both ways in your home? Treating a child with respect simply means to think of him or her as an individual with wants, needs, and feelings – something parents are very good at anyways!

Say “please” and “thank you” to your children; hug and cuddle them when they are sad; actively listen to them talk about their day; apologize if you’ve made a mistake that affects them; ask for their opinions on decisions at home. Not only do these simple actions show your children that they matter, you are modeling to them how to treat others with respect.

Correct rude and unkind behavior.

Whether your child makes an offhand comment about a stranger, or your child is saying something mean to a friend (including name-calling), it’s okay to point it out and correct that behavior. You can tell your child that their words are unkind, and that’s not how we act toward one another. For younger children especially, ask them how they would feel if their friend treated them as they had just acted, or if someone said something similar to them. Would they feel sad? Hurt? Angry? Let your children know that how they treat others matters greatly.

Recognize kind and compassionate behavior.

Focus on positive reinforcement – when you see or hear your child acting in a compassionate way toward others, or when your child makes kind statements about others, acknowledge it! Point it out, and even tell your child how proud you are to see those kinds of actions and words. Take it a step further, and point out kind behavior in others. When a friend gives you a present, or a family member gives a compliment, mention those kind actions, too.

Practice gratitude.

Take the time to thank others – and not just your child. Express your gratitude for what you and your family have, and acknowledge the part that others have played in your blessings. You can mention your gratitude for the farmer who grew the vegetables on the dinner table, or your gratitude for your child’s enthusiastic teacher. Help your child vocalize what he or she is thankful for.

Teaching compassion can be directed and playful, as well. There are many activities and projects that children can take part in which will help them develop and strengthen their kindness muscles.

The holiday season in particular is a fantastic time to engage in hands-on activities with your child, while you also discuss what it means to be compassionate and why it is important to treat others with kindness.

Volunteer with your child.

Most volunteer opportunities will allow children over the age of 5 or so to participate, depending on the project. By high-school age, there will be a plethora of opportunities available for eager volunteers. With younger children, you can find a simple project to volunteer on, and you can discuss how your actions have a positive impact. With older children and teens, you can involve them more in choosing a meaningful project – what is your child passionate about, and how does that translate to service? Some ideas might be local animal shelters, soup kitchens, or nursing homes.

Involve your child in giving to charity.

Together, you can collect cans for a food drive, gather old clothing for a shelter, or give what you can to the Salvation Army bell ringer. Don’t forget to follow these acts up with a conversation (even a very brief one) about why you give to others, and why your actions make a difference. The holiday season is also a great time for children to pick a few old toys to give away, or to go to a toy store with the sole purpose of buying something new for a toy drive.

Read about it.

Books can be great conversation starters on acting compassionately. Here are some suggestions.

For younger children:

A Chair for My Mother by Vera Williams
How to Heal a Broken Wing by Bob Graham
Hooway for Wodney Wat by Helen Lester
Stone Soup (various re-tellings).

For older children:

The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes
Loser by Jerry Spinelli
Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Reflect.

Download this helpful printable. Working together, help your child brainstorm the ways in which he or she shows compassion day to day. Then ask your child to write and/or draw those ideas in the boxes. Older children may be able to offer ideas right away, while younger children may need specific instances pointed out to them, and labeled as compassion in action.

Writing a Japanese Lantern Poem

By Mariah Bruehl, 18th November 2014

A lantern poem is a type of descriptive poetry that originates from Japan. Another is the Haiku poem. A lantern poem is quite similar in format to a Haiku poem. Both types of poetry are short and rely on a syllable structure where the poet uses a limited number of syllables in each line. The Haiku poem uses a syllable structure of five, seven, five syllables for a total of three lines. The Lantern poem uses five lines with a syllable structure of one, two, three, four and one syllables per line. The lantern poem is also a considered a shape poem where the final shape emerges as a lantern when the words are centered to middle.

Lantern Poem Format:

line one: one syllable

line two: two syllables

line three: three syllables

line four: four syllables

line five: one syllable (synonym of or related to the first line)

Example:

Black Bear

eats

meat, plants

omnivore

grubs and berries

food

One of the beauties of the Lantern poem is the length. The length is short and requires few words to complete. Therefore, children of all ages may have great success in composing a lantern poem. In addition, the lantern poem can be used as a means to briefly explain a topic. So, instead of having students use a traditional narrative format, if using a lantern poem, they will have to be extra thoughtful about word choice. This can end up being a great lesson on how to use impactful words that show depth in meaning instead of writing for length.

I tried out this poem type with my students who range in age from seven through nine years old. We focused on North American forest animals, which has been a research focus for our class. I asked them to focus in on one part of their research such as what their animal eats or the habitat because of the limited words. Many of my students adored the quick, expressive format. After completing their assigned topic, many students went on to write additional lantern poems using their favorite topics to write about such as: family members, friends, and hobbies.

More topic ideas: rocks, fossils, animals, plants, fall leaves, winter snowflakes and since it’s very close to Thanksgiving how about: I’m thankful for …

Want to write a Japanese Lantern Poem yourself? Download and print an easy template here.

Lantern Poem Resources:

Books:

If It Rains Pancakes: Haiku and Lantern Poems By Brian P Cleary

Websites:

Author Focus: Mo Willems

By Mariah Bruehl, 13th November 2014

My daughters, aged 4 and 6, love Mo Willems. My second and third graders at school love Mo Willems. I think everyone under the age of 10 loves Mo Willems. Ok, let’s be honest – parents of kids under the age of 10 love Mo Willems.

What’s not to love? He’s written over 40 books since 2004. You don’t need to be a mathematician to figure out how many books, on average, Mo publishes per year. He truly understands children (he left a career in television animation to be a stay-at-home dad). He is ridiculously talented (he won 6 Emmys for his writing on Sesame Street, and his picture books have won 3 Caldecott Honors, 2 Geisel Medals, 4 Geisel Honors, and 2 Carnegie Medals). He has simple goals (the bio on his blog, the short version, says Mo Willems makes funny drawings that hopefully will make you laugh). He creates characters that are easy for children to copy (as a kid he used to draw Snoopy and Charlie Brown, so he actually wants his readers to imitate his work and gets joy when we “infringe on his copyrights”).

Last year, my second and third graders studied Mo Willems as part of a beginning of the year author study. I’m embarrassed to say this, but I actually thought twice about choosing Mr. Willems as our intended subject. After all, most of my students had undoubtedly read all of the Elephant and Piggie books, and the Pigeon series, in kindergarten (and probably even in preschool). I wondered if Mo’s work would be too young, too simple, or not have enough substance for my higher achieving readers. Boy was I wrong. My students devoured every single book I read. They pleaded me to share old favorites. Every time a new book by Mo was published that year, they begged me to get it for the classroom (and of course I gladly obliged). Students brought in their own copies of his books and checked them out at the library. They read and re-read. They analyzed the text (his use of speech bubbles, font size, shape, and color), the characters (their body language, facial expressions, and emotions) and the unique way Mo shows movement and action in his illustrations. They spent days just observing the way Mo draws Gerald and Piggie’s facial features (it’s amazing how we can understand what his characters are feeling and thinking just by looking at the way Mo has drawn their eyes or added an extra line in a furrowed brow). And of course, my students doodled their hearts out and practiced drawing every single one of his characters.

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I think what I love most about Mo Willems is that his books speak to children not at them. I think this is why his books appeal to such a broad range of ages (from toddlers to 10 year olds to adults). He thinks about his audience but not for his audience. Mo’s books explore themes (like friendship, perseverance, empathy, compassion, jealousy, acceptance, and yes, even patience), which allow even the youngest reader to think deeply and ask questions about the world around them. Mo openly admits to not having all of the answers to these questions. I don’t know about you, but as a parent and educator I find that confession quite refreshing!

Above are a few of my favorite Mo Willems’ books including his latest, and much anticipated, Waiting is Not Easy! (which by the way I’ve been patiently waiting for since I pre-ordered it several months ago – and it was not easy – case in point). Have fun browsing these titles and be sure to do a little doodling of your own!

Elephant & Piggie series:

Waiting is Not Easy! (NEW – November 4, 2014)
We Are in a Book!
My New Friend Is So Fun!
I Will Surprise My Friend!
I Am Invited to a Party!
I’m a Frog!

The Pigeon series:

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
The Pigeon Wants a Puppy!
The Pigeon Needs a Bath!

Others:

And be sure to check out these links:

http://www.mowillems.com – The official Mo Willems website

http://www.pigeonpresents.com/activities/pigeon_draw01.pdf – How to draw The Pigeon! By Mo Willems

Note: As I was sitting here finishing up this post, my 6 year old curiously eyes my stack of Mo Willems’ books sitting next to the computer. She immediately asks, “Are you using these? I want to use this one (We Are in a Book!) to help me write my own book.” Isn’t that fitting? So I created a simple draft of this printable for her, and with a little bit of magic from Randi– voila! My daughter and I hope you enjoy it. Click on the photos below to download printables…

Raising Natural + Confident Girls: Self (Esteem) Portraits

By Mariah Bruehl, 12th November 2014

As my daughter prepared to begin middle school this fall, I knew that she would face moments of uncertainty in which her confidence and self image would be put to the test. I remember those moments from my own middle school years all too well.

I also know that her friends will become more and more important and that she will rely on me less and less. That’s okay. She has a wonderful group of friends whom I adore and I couldn’t be happier knowing that these girls are the type of people that she chooses to surround herself with.

They get together once in a while and explore topics that are important to them: skin care, healthy after-school snacks, etc. During one such gathering they talked about their sense of identity, shared what they think their own and each others strengths are, and what makes them good friends. They used this self-image “primer” to get them thinking. Then they painted self portraits. This wasn’t so much an exercise in art techniques but an activity to further explore self-image. With messages of strength, friendship, and encouragement added from their friends, they became wonderful keepsakes and reminders about what makes each of them unique and that they each have special people to cherish and turn to for support and reassurance in those moments of uncertainty.

The girls loved this project and as a parent I gained much insight by being witness to their process and finished portraits.

Would you like more inspiration for self-esteem portraits and related activities? These links might provide just what you are looking for:

We took our inspiration and printable “I am” statements from here.
Find some lovely activities and journal prompts in this post.
Here’s an interesting version of self-esteem portraits.
I love this collage.
This website has an extensive list of books about brave and confident girls.