ERIC ED427878: Offspring, 1998.

66 Pages·1998·1.8 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
PS 027 377
ED 427 878
Crombez, Mary Margaret, Ed.; Mangigian, Lisa, Ed.
AUTHOR
Offspring, 1998.
TITLE
Michigan Council of Cooperative Nursery Schools, Jerome.
INSTITUTION
ISSN-0472-6340
ISSN
1998-00-00
PUB DATE
65p.; Published twice a year. Photographs may not reproduce
NOTE
well. For earlier editions, see ED 390 559, ED 408 050, and
ED 414 068.
MCCN/Offspring, 1650 Rhonda, St. Joseph, MI 49085 (1-year
AVAILABLE FROM
subscription, $6; 2-year subscription, $10).
Collected Works
Serials (022)
PUB TYPE
Offspring; v40 n1-2 Spr-Fall 1998
JOURNAL CIT
MF01/PC03 Plus Postage.
EDRS PRICE
Child Rearing; Childrens Writing; Dance; Disabilities; Early
DESCRIPTORS
Intervention; Lead Poisoning; Nursery Rhymes; Parent Child
Relationship; Parent Participation; Parent Teacher
Cooperation; Parenting Skills; Periodicals; *Preschool
Education; Preschool Teachers; Student Journals
*Cooperative Preschools
IDENTIFIERS
ABSTRACT
This document is comprised of the two 1998 issues of a
magazine for parents, teachers, and others involved in cooperative nursery
schools. The magazine is designed to provide a forum for views on dealing
with young children, express a variety of ideas, promote the cooperative
philosophy, and to enhance the relationships of those involved in cooperative
nursery schools. The Spring 1998 issue contains the following articles:
(1)
"Adventures in Learning: An Interview with Nancy Weber" (Lisa Mangigian);
(2)
"When You Are
"If I Were To Start My Family Over Again" (John Drescher);
(3)
Concerned about a Child's Development: Ideas for Parents and Children" (Mary
"Remember Your Mother...Goose" (Lee Ann Teagan); and (5)
"One
Donegan);
(4)
Step Ahead: A Review of Readable Resources for Parents and Teachers"
(Gretchen Geverdt). The Fall 1998 issue contains the following articles:
(1)
"Welcome to Co-op: Sharing Learning with the Whole Family" (Marjorie Kunz);
"Me at Home, Me at School: Using Journals with Preschoolers" (Sharon
(2)
"Becoming a Writer Naturally:
Elliott, John Nosowad, Phyllis Samuels);
(3)
Supporting Children's Writing Efforts" (Laurie Van Wormer);
"Dance
(4)
Classes for Young Children...Much More Than a Pink Tutu" (Susan Filipiak);
"Building
"Lead Poisoning: The Silent Threat" (Debra Harvey); and (6)
(5)
Firm Foundations: Financing Your Child's Future" (Mary Crombez).
(KB)
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A Publication of the
1
Michigan Council of Cooperative Nursery Schools
Spring, 1998 No. 1
BEST COPY AVAILABLE
2
Editorial Board
Detroit Public Schools Psychologist and Psychotherapist
John Bernardo, M.A.
Elementary School Teacher, Birmingham Public Schools
Sally L. Fee, M.A.
Child Day Care Licensing Consultant
Carole Grates
Early Childhood Coordinator, Mott Community College
Dan Hodgins, M.A.
Michigan State University
Donna Howe, M.A.
Marjorie M. Kunz, M.A.
MCCN Advisor
University of Michigan-Dearborn
Ginny McCaig, M.A.
Jacquelyn Thompson, Ph.D.
Early Childhood Consultant, Michigan Department ofEducation
Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
Susan Wainwright, M.D.
Cynthia Dopp
President, MCCN
Founding Editor
Marilynn Rosenthal, Ph.D.
Karen Ensminger
Editorial Advisor
Editorial Staff
Editor
Mary Margaret Crombez, M.Ed.
Coordinator
Becky Clarke Foster, M.A.
Layout Coordinator
Amy Hockey
Editor
Lisa Mangigian
Offspring is written for parents, teachers and others:
To provide a forum for views on dealing with young children;
To express a variety of ideas;
To promote the co-op philosophy;
To enhance our relationships with children and each other.
Copyright © 1998 by the Michigan Council of Cooperative Nursery Schools. All rights reserved.
ISSN: 0472-6340
Michigan Council of Cooperative Nursery Schools
is a member of Parent Cooperative Preschools International.
Offspring Magazine is published twice yearly. Articles reflect opinions of the authors and not
necessarily the editorial board and staff. Manuscripts are accepted for consideration. Subscription
of this magazine is through membership in the Michigan Council of Cooperative Nursery
Schools or through individual subscriptions. For subscription information, see inside back cover.
MCCN does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin.
Offspring Table of Contents
Adventures in Learning:
Lisa Mangigian
An Interview with Nancy Weber
2
John Drescher
6
If I Were to Start My Family Over Again
When You Are Concerned About a
Child's Development:
Ideas for Parents and Children
Mary A. Donegan, Ph.D.
12
20
Lee Ann Teagan
Remember Your Mother...Goose
One Step Ahead:
A Review of Readable Resources
Gretchen Geverdt
for Parents and Teachers
26
Vol. )00a, No. 1
4
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7-3
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Nancy Weber is a former classroom teacher with twenty years of
experience and adventures in education and parenting. She has a
Master's degree in early childhood education and is working on a
-4-)
second Master's degree in clinical counseling. Nancy resides in Bay
City, MI with her two teenagers and has been presenting motiva-
tional keynote speeches and workshops for educators, parents, and
students since 1987. MCCN is excited to have Nancy give the keynote
t)
presentation at this year's MCCN Conference to be held April 17 and 18 at
the Kellogg Center on the campus of Michigan State University.
r-c;
Lisa Mangigian has been an editor for Offspring since 1993. When
she's not studying for her Master's degree in guidance and
counseling from Eastern Michigan University she can' be found at
home in Dexter, MI with her husband and three children.
5
By
Lisa Mangigian
2
For young children, the parents and
teachers ARE the learning experiences.
learning experiences. It was the
Offspring: Tell us about
emotional connection to them
your early adventures in learn-
that remains in my memory and
ing.
gives meaning to learning and
Offspring: What did you
Weber: Well, I'll never
to school. For young children,
learn/are you learning from
forget that Mrs. Logan never
the parents and teachers ARE
your own experience ofraising
told anyone when I pooped my
the learning experiences. And
children?
pants in nursery school!
I owe
it was teachers that later influ-
I have learned a
Weber:
her a great debt for that. Miss
enced me to pursue a career in
lot from raising my own kids. I
Marian was beautiful and moth-
education.
wish I could start over!
I always
erly. She ran a tight ship but
tell parent groups that despite
was very kind. I thought of her
Offspring: What else has
my educational background
as a fairy princess. Her kinder-
influenced your career?
and experiences, I am rio expert
garten was stimulating and very
Weber: My learning has
on raising kids. I am a parent
playful. The only thing missing
influenced my teaching. I had a
who has had many experiences
was the literacy infusion that
lot of trouble in school after the
that I can share. I try to offer
we look for today. I remember
elementary years, because my
parents the benefit of my
hind-
watching my first grade teacher,
learning style dictates that I
sight.
Mrs. Curtis, read a note from
learn by doing and in a context
my mom. Her blue eyes were
that makes sense to me. I do
Offspring: What's your
endlessly fascinating to me;
not memorize well and do not
philosophy of parenting?
mine are brown. I watched
learn facts well in isolation. If I
Weber: My particular
them move back and forth as
am not personally interested in
philosophy is that parents need
they swept the page and re-
something, it is very hard for
to be firmer and nicer. Parental
member thinking, "So that's
me to understand. I did not
guilt from divorce and working
how grown-ups read so fast!"
realize any of this until I was
are causing parents to be oyer-
From then on I practiced like
nearly thirty, so I interpreted
indulgent and crabby: We peed
crazy. My second grade teacher,
my struggles as if I were dumb.
to switch that around and be
Mrs. House, lived near me. I
I know that when children are
really kind to our children while
saw her walking her dog and
taught in developmentally
working in her yard in shorts
retaining healthy, firm authority.
appropriate ways and in line
and a t-shirt! This humanized
with their own learning styles,
her. It reduced the mysticism of
children do not have to feel
all teachers a little for me. All
inferior. They can love learning.
of these early teachers were my
3
Offspring: Tell us about
some of your parenting adven-
tures.
I enjoyed traveling
Weber:
across Michigan and even the
country when my daughter was
Early learning experiences
showing horses. When my son
was in kindergarten he wrote a
for children are dependent
movie script, designed and
made costumes and filmed a
on the people with whom
video starring his mother. I still
enjoy watching that. The whole
they interact.
neighborhood was involved. He
even hired my secretary to
scribe for him. One unusual
adventure is that I held my son
in my arms during his circumci-
sion. I guess my favorite
memory of parenting is nursing
my babies.
Offspring: Nancy, you
have so much to say to parents
of young children, what other
advice would you like to share
Offspring: What do you
the learning process. Schools
with our readers?
remember most about your
pay lip service to the notion
Weber: Be home with your
experiences as a teacher of
that they want parents, but
children. Take a hard look at
preschoolers?
don't always back it up with
your fmances, because it is
Weber: All of my key
action. Parents need to spend
likely that with a life-style
experiences as a classroom
more time with their children,
change a parent can be the
teacher have to do with having
and cooperative nursery schools
main caregiver. Be firm and
a loose plan and allowing the
help make this possible. Early
loving. Dare to be in authority.
children to follow their own
learning experiences for chil-
Don't be afraid to say no. Be
interests and desires while I
dren are dependent on the
vigilant, because they need
interacted and followed, not led.
people with whom they interact.
protection from cultural influ-
Parents are experts on their
ences. Turn off the television.
Offspring: Can you com-
children. Teachers are experts
Get off the telephone!
ment on the role of cooperative
on education. Strategies can be
nursery schools and parent
modeled and knowledge shared
involvement?
in a cooperative environment of
Weber: Co-ops put their
trust and friendship. Nothing
money where their mouths are
...parents need
could be better!
because they let parents know
that they are integral parts of
to be firmer
and nicer.
4
I__Qt Ike
Let the children wear summer in their hair,
petals, rainwater, saltwater, lake water, hose
spray,
stray weeds, insects, smoke of roasting marshmallows;
schedule them if you must
in the fall, winter, spring
hut let them dig their toes in sand, mud,
grass,
sleep late, create libraries under trees,
porches when shade beckons,
on
stick their hands in cookie dough, make
messes,
stretch out under the stars,
pull the TV plug to make their
dramas,
own
willy nilly silliness, plant seeds,
bite info tomatoes whole, juice running clown,
discover clouds, play ball,
change the rules by their
own votes,
the park,
take them to the
zoo,
protect them from harm,
encircle them, their laughter
your
are grown
with
when they
love,
so
they might
with the poet,
say
'urn backward, 0 time in thy flight
child again just for tonight."
and make
me a
Let them sing!
Elizabeth Burgard in The Baltimore Sun, 8/ 22/ 95
Reprinted with permission
5
Occasionally we like to print an article of timeless value. While the
world changes, we realize that certain aspects of childhood never
change. As much as we want to keep you abreast of new develop-
ments in early childhood, we do not want to lose touch with our
history.
If I Could Raise my Family Again was written for a different
audience than today; however its message remains relevant.
John Drescher originally offered this article as a supplement to a
presentation he gave for the parents involved in the Sparkey
Program (Wayne-Westland Community Schools). It was brought
to our attention by one of our editorial board members.
John Drescher
6
"What have you learned
from your own experience and
through counseling parents?
What should I have done differ-
ently? I have young children.
If your children were small
again what would you do?"
These words burst from
the burning heart of a father
sitting across from me. He was
my children
I would love the mother of
more. That is, I would be freer to let my
children see that I love her.
would love the mother of my
suffering the empty, deathlike
children more. That is, I would
feeling a father senses when his
be freer to let my children see
son has strayed. He felt he had
that I love her. It is so easy for
failed as a father.
parents to assume love, to take
And this father's words stay
each other for granted, and so
with me. Although they came to
to let a dullness creep in which
me in a direct and blunt way
can dampen the deepest love.
that day, they are not the words
After I spoke on relation-
of a lone father. In them are the
ships to a large group of fathers
questions which are uppermost
and mothers, a father ap-
in the minds of many parents, if
proached me and said, "If I
they take parenthood seriously.
understand you this evening
What has experience in
you said the greatest thing I can
counseling taught me? Where
do for my child is to love his
would I put the emphasis if my
mother? Is that correct?"
children were small again? I've
"That is correct," I an-
pondered these questions and
swered.
some things have surfaced.
When a child's parents love
Love of Child's Mother. If
each other, there is a security,
I were starting my family again, I
stability, and sacredness about
7
10