THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG
Improving Schools: “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten”
Many have written and spoken about the key lessons taught in kindergarten and during preschool years. There are articles, lists, hints, and videos with much of it coming from Robert Fulghum's book All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, a collection of essays on the subject. What do these lists, articles, and books say? That we should share, look both ways, wash hands, play fair, say
OCT 24
Motivation, Attention, Memory, Cognition, and Action
Human beings are born to learn. During the last few decades, developmental science has exploded with discoveries of how, specifically, learning happens. This provides us with an unprecedented window into children's minds: how and when they begin to think, perceive, understand, and apply knowledge. Author, Whole Child Podcast guest, and Whole Child Virtual Conference presenter Wendy Ostroff builds
OCT 23
The Tools for a Successful Young Learner
Education begins in preschool and kindergarten for a reason. These are important formative years where students build skills and develop behaviors to carry them through many years of learning. As a kindergarten teacher, I make it my goal for students to leave my classroom at the end of the year as capable, confident learners. In order for younger students to learn in a new environment, certain pr
OCT 22
ED Pulse Poll Results: What Are the Benefits of Community Schools?
ASCD continually seeks to provide solutions to the challenges that face educators of all levels. Recently the ASCD SmartBrief ED Pulse poll sought out the opinion of its readers on the idea of community schools. Over the past year, there has been an increase in attention paid to the idea of community schools, from the media showing the results being produced at community schools to U.S. Secretary
OCT 21
Stand Up for Others
According to current statistics, more than 30 percent of our school-age young people—approximately 5.7 million children—are bullied in schools, on playgrounds, and in recreational facilities each year. Research shows that these numbers can be reduced by nearly half through the use of effective bullying prevention programs. During the month of October, in observance of National Bullying Preventio
OCT 18
Pet Pals: Teaching Resilience With Man’s Best Friend
Dogs are amazing creatures! They provide unconditional love, do not discriminate, judge, laugh, or criticize, and they are excellent and attentive listeners. They encourage relaxation, lower blood pressure, and brighten affect. These characteristics help to make pet-assisted therapy a natural fit for children and adolescents, and students in North Carolina's Orange County Schools will happily agr
The Science of Early Childhood Development
"The healthy development of young children in the early years of life literally does provide a foundation for just about all of the challenging social problems that our society and other societies face," says Jack P. Shonkoff, professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. This video from the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University looks at the brain science behind e