How to Help
« Previous EntriesHelp your kids make the most of summer time
By Tobi Kibel Piatek | Tuesday, July 14th, 2009
Help your teen salvage the summer and pick up useful skills - this is the headline for an article in the Oregon this morning. The information is directed at parents, and contains lots of good ideas about ways to that parents can help use the rest of the summer season constructively. Tips include how to get kids motivated, how to help them network, ideas for using their entrepreneurial talents, and of course, lots of ideas for ways that kids can volunteer their time.
Of course, these are also great ideas for how MENTORS can encourage their kids to get involved, learn something new and benefit themselves and the community.
How do you motivate YOUR kids to make the most of their summer time? Tell us.
Topics: Creating a Positive, Family Involvement, How to Help, Quality Time | 1 Comment »
Responsibilities Give Kids a Sense of Meaning and Importance
By Tobi Kibel Piatek | Wednesday, May 20th, 2009
One of the course assignments is about creating a list of jobs for kids. There are many great ideas generated here because my students, and the kids they work with, are so diverse. In addition to sharing their ideas though, students all describe the advantages of giving kids jobs.
For example:
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Describing a kid recovering from surgery, “jobs help him feel like he is participating even if he cannot do any of the games the other kids.”
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In a description of a very active kid: “Having a job gives her a purpose and makes her feel special without acting out. I give her little jobs to make her feel responsible.”
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Working with students in the garden, I … “create jobs for them to do together. I try to give a few instructions, and assign initial jobs, then step back and watch as they work together to accomplish a task. …working together to solve a problem, kids learn a transferable skill they will need in the future.”
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“It is always interesting to see the social dynamics at work when kids set upon a task, and how they modify their actions to best do the work.
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“Jobs can be exciting, and get kids moving around, getting some of that energy out in constructive ways. Kids with jobs feel like they have a responsibility which is important I think for them. This then makes them feel motivated, and gives them a feeling of wanting to please.”
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Lately, I have been reading about what it was like growing up during the Great Depression. One of the things that strike me about descriptions of these very hard times is that because families and the community depended on all their members, people felt a sense of purpose and connection. Each of them was important for the good of the whole. My students’ comments this week reinforce this idea. Give kids responsibilities; help them find ways to help others, in the classroom, at home and in the community. It makes a positive difference (in these very difficult times too) – and, as I like to say, everybody benefits.
What are the jobs that you assign in your classrooms or programs? How do you involve the kids you work with in the community, classroom and program? What jobs work? What did you like to do that made you feel important, or capable or happy?
Submit your comments below. Thanks
Topics: How to Help, Questions, Relationship Strategy | No Comments »
Get Involved: How Parents and Community can Help Teachers and Mentors
By Tobi Kibel Piatek | Wednesday, May 13th, 2009
Teachers need all the help they can get. The other day I posted some ways that teachers can involve parents in their classrooms to enrich the environment for everyone. Today, some ideas for how parents and volunteers can help teachers and the mentors too, who work with and support their kids.
Parents and Community Volunteers Can:
· Teach what you know. Offer a workshop on personal finance, watercolor painting, organic gardening or Russian folktales. Your perspective and knowledge can enrich any lesson or project. Design a presentation, or some activities and materials around your area of expertise so that even when you have left the building, your knowledge stays behind.
· Volunteer in after-school workshops, classroom enrichment, or tutoring to small groups of interested participants
· Teach the teacher or mentor. Are you an educator, a technology professional, a therapist? In what ways can your professional skills be used to help the people who work one on one with your kids? Be creative, be willing to help. Do not push!
· Spend some money, (if you can). Sponsor a class or building membership in an organization (such as one for gifted learners.) Sponsor an Artist in the School, or provide art supplies, educational software, books (used can be great) or a subscription to a publication that either kids or teachers can use and enjoy.
· Spend your time. Assist teachers by making or locating materials they need for special (and regular) activities. Update the website, edit a parent newsletter, ask … how can I help? Ask again. Even one hour a month can make a difference.
· Connect with the community. Help busy teachers by taking the time to locate mentors for kids with special needs, resources for families, and other community people who have skills and knowledge that will enrich the classroom and fill the needs you see.
· Communicate with other parents and community members. (See update the website above). Encourage them to participate in parent groups, classroom and building activities, and to chose from the items on this list so that they too can help to enrich the school environment. Translate information, or be willing to communicate with families in whatever way is needed.
· Who do you know? Do you someone with an interesting career? Someone whose experiences would be of interest and value to kids? Is there someone who can bring music, or art, or culture into the classroom? Arrange for guest speakers. TIP: Also, ask people with special knowledge or expertise to recommend (or provide) resources, websites, books or magazines so that kids will be able to continue their learning.
· Collaborate with teachers, other parents and students to coordinate and participate in special events. You might: Invite an author for a literary evening, a story teller, direct a play, publish and distribute a collections of resources, run a Family Math or Science Night, design and plant a garden, host a dinner, organize a cultural fair.
· Show YOUR love of learning. Support what you believe in. Model the behaviors you value. Get involved.
Topics: Creating a Positive, How to Help, Things to do | 1 Comment »
How Teachers, Parents and Community Members Can Work Together to Enrich our Classrooms
By Tobi Kibel Piatek | Monday, May 11th, 2009
In these tough times, parents and community can help … in fact, they must help. And this is a good thing, because the benefits they can bring to our kids are limited only by time, imagination and our willingness to work together.
School/family/community collaborations can take endless forms. Here are some suggestions (suited perfectly to Lesson 6) for ways that schools and community can combine talents and energy so that everybody benefits. This is the list for teachers. Tomorrow I will post a list of ways that parents and community can get involved.
Teachers can:
· Get to know parents and community members. Interview or survey them about their interests, activities, cultural background, languages, careers, skills and accomplishments.
· Enlist parents/community members to work with kids to develop volunteer, mentor and/or community resource files or databases. Make sure to include talents, skills, occupations, etc as categories.
· Schedule regular times for ‘mini-seminars,’ demonstrations or activities run by parents or community volunteers. These can be designed to offer kids a taste of new subjects, cultures or activities. Try to include many interest areas and learning styles. Ideas include: a poetry workshop, gardening, a day of math challenges related to real life, computer graphics demonstrations, a day devoted to a language and culture, an invention convention, a day of service.
· Look to your classroom for talents and skills. Brainstorm ways to provide in-depth and/or one-on-one study opportunities for kids who demonstrate special interests (we sometimes forget that kids with special needs and risks may have intense interests too.) Consider ways in which all the talents, knowledge, resources and abilities in your classroom and community can be used to enrich all its members.
· Organize a career day. Invite parents and community members to meet with students and discuss their work, their methods, their tools, and their challenges. Of course, the more diverse the jobs and the people who do them, the more interesting the day.
· Work with parents, colleagues, after-school programs, senior centers, community volunteers etc., to establish before or after-school clubs, Saturday enrichment opportunities, language programs, computer workshops, gardening clinics, sports clinics, art studios, bands, etc.
· Encourage parents and community members to help you organize internships, mentorships, and other opportunities for students to spend time working with businesses, artisans, craftspeople or professionals, in their special interest areas. Involve parents as liaisons, transporters, supporters and networkers.
Please post you ideas and success stories here … what works for you?
Topics: Community Service, Creating a Positive, How to Help | 1 Comment »
Lend a Hand: 2009 Comcast/Hands On Greater Portland Cares Day
By Tobi Kibel Piatek | Tuesday, April 21st, 2009
Volunteering, especially participating in volunteer projects with kids is a perfect opportunity for teachers and mentors and parents to involve kids in community service. It’s a way to spend time with kids, provide opportunities for you and the kids you work with to learn about your community and at the same time, help to meet some of the critical needs within our city.
So, get ready for April 25th - “one of the biggest days of service in the Pacific Northwest” when Hands On Greater Portland teams up with Comcast to connect more than 1,600 volunteers to critical community needs. There is still time to sign up to volunteer your time and energy.
According to the Hands On Greater Portland website, more than 1,600 people across Portland are expected to volunteer with nonprofit agencies in their communities. They will “participate in projects that include beautifying schools, revitalizing natural areas, and supporting programs for low-income and homeless families.”
To find out how you can take part in this project, and to register, visit the website
Click here to see a list of project planned for this day.
As I always like to say, when we work together, everybody benefits. Tell us how. Please, share your experience: If you take part in this event, please tell us about your day, on this blog.
Topics: Community Service, How to Help, Quality Time, Things to do | No Comments »
Mentoring Programs Change Lives
By Tobi Kibel Piatek | Monday, March 16th, 2009
Mentoring was in the news this weekend, or at least, in the Parade magazine tucked into my Sunday Oregonian. With so many people losing jobs (and gaining extra time) I thought this article was a timely and upbeat reminder of how making a difference in one life, can create positive outcomes in unexpected ways.
A two-page spread, Mentoring Programs Change Lives, by Kevin Sessums , illustrates perfectly one of the key reasons for offering this course and resources to support mentors and potential mentors. As the article subtitle states, when one person mentors, two lives are changed. But it is not always easy.
Sessums’ article is his story, about his relationship with one (lucky) boy, but it is also the story of how his time with his mentor has enriched his life. And, it is an open invitation for YOU to get involved in a relationship which has so much potential for so much benefit.
You Can Mentor A Child
Millions of young people want or need mentors, and mentoring groups encourage people to donate time according to their own comfort level. Many programs are flexible about scheduling and offer support to mentors in the early stages.
“I think for a lot of people there is a bit of trepidation—even fear—in establishing a mentor relationship,” says Judith N. Vredenburgh, president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, the nation’s largest mentoring organization. “It’s not a natural one at first. It usually takes three to six months for trust to develop. That’s what we are here for—to offer structured support for these relationships in the early days—with the safety of the child our most important concern.”
Big Brothers Big Sisters serves 255,000 children through its 394 affiliates across America. Its successful Mentoring Brothers campaign enlists African-American men in its programs. Though 35% of the boys who are mentored are African-Americans, only 15% of mentors are.
In this and many other mentoring programs, children are matched with adult volunteers—after background checks and a careful interview process—based on location and common interests. Many matches develop into lasting friendships.
How to Give of Yourself
Mentoring a child can have a powerful impact. It doesn’t require a financial commitment but rather a willingness to give your time and share your experiences. Here are some organizations to consider.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America bbbs.org
The oldest mentoring organization, with more than a century of service, it serves children 6 to 18.
Foster Grandparent Program seniorcorps.gov
Works with Americans ages 60 and older who are able to mentor a child for up to 40 hours a week.
Mentoring Children of Prisoners: Caregiver’s Choice (mentoring.org/caregiverschoice
Brings together mentors and children whose parents are incarcerated.
For other mentoring opportunities in your area, go to mentoring.org
Topics: How to Help, Mentor Stories, Resources for Mentor | 1 Comment »
How to Reach Out to Kids from Military Families
By Tobi Kibel Piatek | Tuesday, January 20th, 2009
Thank you to Rosanne Parry, author of the wonderful book, Heart of a Shepherd, for this article. Her ideas are a perfect way to start off our new administration - simple ways that we can be of help to those who are in service to our country.
Heart of a Shepherd will be available in bookstores everywhere on January 27th in hard cover, audio book, downloadable audio, and ebook formats.
“As the spouse of a Desert Storm veteran and a one-time teacher in a military accommodation school I have been concerned about the isolation of military families from mainstream society. Most people, although they support the troops, have no idea what a deployment costs a family on the level every day’s quiet needs. It is one reason why I chose a reservist’s family with a deployed parent for my first novel, Heart of a Shepherd. My story is set on a ranch in eastern Oregon and covers one boy’s journey of his father’s deployment. I hope it offers an honest look at what it means to send someone you love to a war. And I hope, as teachers (and mentors), we can find a way to creatively shepherd the children of soldiers through their parent’s deployments and beyond.” Rosanne Parry
To learn more about Rosanne, and her books, visit her website
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This December saw the return of one of the largest deployments of Oregon soldiers we have seen in the last six years of deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Military families have seen unprecedented stresses and one of the things that has made the last six years unique is that we have deployed reservists more than ever before and deployed them multiple times. The children of these reservists are not in military accommodation schools on army bases surrounded by a cohort of classmates who are in the same boat. Reservists’ children are in your schools, sometimes the only child in their class with a soldier parent.
Fortunately, there are many things a teacher or mentor can do to support a student during a parent’s deployment. Just the daily structure of the school day and the consistency of working with the same teacher (mentor or even friend) is helpful. Here are some more ideas for helping a child cope with a military deployment.
- Acknowledge the soldier’s absence and encourage communication. A simple note or email to the family as soon as you learn of a deployment expressing your support and willingness to help sets you up for success over the coming months.
- Be patient with a student’s mood swings. It is extraordinarily stressful to have a parent in combat, and some children feel ambushed by sad and angry feelings that crop up with little warning. Establish ahead of time a secret sign and a place your student can go if he or she needs to scream, cry, tear up all the newspapers in the recycling bin, or just sit quietly and collect their thoughts.
- Be sensitive about news coverage. Some families stop reading and watching the news altogether because it is too upsetting. If current events are a part of the curriculum, consider alternate assignments.
- Display the flag respectfully in your classroom. It’s a small gesture that means a lot to military families.
- Avoid harshly partisan political discussions if you can. Although they are among the strongest supporters of free speech, many military families avoid expressing their political views while their loved ones are serving in a war zone. Political conversations can be quite painful.
- Watch for economic distress. There are many unanticipated expenses which go along with deployment: unexpected travel, phone bills, medical bills, and the loss of a reservist’s income. Discretely help the family take advantage of food stamps, WIC, reduced lunch, scholarships and clothes closets.
- Adjust the homework load. This student will have many extra chores and less oversight from the remaining parent, so consider shortening the homework, offering tutoring and time to complete work at school or adjusting due dates.
- Communicate good news with the deployed parent. Take pictures at school when the student is in the play or spelling bee or science fair. Email a copy of an outstanding essay, a high scoring math test or a work of art. Describe in loving detail a smart, kind or funny thing this student did at school. It means the world to a soldier far from home.
- Honor holidays, especially Veterans’ Day and Memorial Day. Invite a veteran from a local veterans organization to address you class. Remind the class why we celebrate these holidays.
- Pray. Most military families are people of faith. If you are too, tell you students that you are praying every day for their soldier’s safe return.
One More Idea: Children can be very kind and compassionate, especially if they have a little encouragement. On the kids page of my website there are some ideas for what a child can do to support a friend with a deployed parent.
Topics: Creating a Positive, How to Help, Relationship Strategy | No Comments »
Many Hands Make Light Work
By Tobi Kibel Piatek | Tuesday, January 6th, 2009
When I was in the fourth grade (in the Bronx), our class got a ‘special’ assignment. We were to make stuffed felt toys to give to ‘sick kids.’ I remember choosing the royal blue pony shape that had been pre-cut by adult hands, the colored yarn to work with, and needles for stitching. I remember being taught to create an edge stitch, and how to stuff and turn and finish. I embroidered eyes, added a mane and tail from yarn, and for the first time, allowed my creativity to take over. What I remember most of all, is that my pony turned out beautiful, to my nine year old eyes, a work of art.
The pony was a gift I was proud to give. I imagined the delight of the anonymous sick child, I imagined a girl, when she received this little stuffed toy. I have no idea if anyone else saw what I saw in my pony, but that project turned out to be a great gift to me. My previously unknown ability to turn felt and yarn into something beautiful opened the door to a sense of confidence in myself, and became the gateway to a lifetime passion for crafts, and the arts. For many years, I earned my living with the skills I discovered at that time.
Now, members of the Portland community have lots of opportunities to turn their skills and talents into gifts for others too, and of course, in the process, learn new things about themselves and their abilities. Every week now, on page two of the main section of the Oregonian, a feature called Your Source| 5 ways to plug into your community, has been added. Each week, this column presents 5 things that you (and the kids you work with as teachers, mentors and parents) can do to benefit the community.
This week the suggestions include something for everyone. Here are a few examples:
Knit for Newborns (for details go to www.handsonportland.org or www.virginiagarcia.org
Find out about college financial aid www.collegedgoaloregon.org and
Adopt the Community Warehouse for a week – www.communitywarehouse.org for more information.
Do you have an organization that can use help? Please feel free to post a request on this blog.
Topics: Community Service, How to Help | 1 Comment »
Help get at-risk kids on track for college
By Tobi Kibel Piatek | Tuesday, December 9th, 2008
The goal of this course, and all the ideas on this blog is to find ways to help at risk kids stay in school. But a frequent question from students in the course is, WHAT NEXT? What happens to these kids after high school? For some, even those who are successful in high school, the idea of college is outside of their zone of comfort and familiarity.
With this question in mind, I found this article about a special life skills workshop being run by business school students in Tennessee (love that Google). College students are helping kids to learn about college, what it takes to get there, and what it can mean for the future. Its an inspiring idea - well worth sharing. Does anyone know about similar programs for Oregon kids?
Lipscomb students get at-risk kids on track for college
By JAIME SARRIO • November 10, 2008
Deon Brown is only 12, but he already has a pretty good idea of what he wants to do when he grows up. “I want to go to MTSU and be a third-grade teacher at Carter-Lawrence,” he said.
Deon, a sixth-grader at Rose Park Middle, has a long way to go before he gets into college, but thanks to some students at Lipscomb University, he’s getting a clearer picture of what it is going to take to get there.
Deon is one of about 25 Nashville students taking part in a special life skills workshop put on by Lipscomb’s business school students. The youth are learning how to apply to and finance college, how to pick a school and how to dress for interviews and other parts of college life. “The focus was on how to be prepared for college,” Deon said. “It’s a lot of work, and you’ve got to have good grades.”
Deon and others were picked to take part in the seminar because they attend Youth Life Learning Center, a faith-based after-school program for urban students. Lipscomb partnered with the organization to satisfy a new university-wide initiative that requires students to complete community service before they graduate.
Students work to better lives
Through the seminars, which took place during the last few weeks of October, Lipscomb students worked in teams to prepare four workshops. The Lipscomb students played charades with the students and conducted personality surveys to get a real feel for where they wanted to go in life.
“Having a group communicate with each other and work together, that was probably the biggest experience,” said Reid Mayo, a junior majoring in marketing and oral communication. “It wasn’t easy, but I enjoyed it and I think the kids enjoyed it, too.”
The sessions will wrap up with a final workshop Tuesday on dining etiquette and a fashion show featuring appropriate clothes for college and business life.
Many of the students that attend Youth Life come from poor neighborhoods and don’t have a lot of support at home. Though the organization is for kindergartners through 12th-graders, lead teacher Thomas Howard said middle and high school students participated in the Lipscomb workshop.
“A lot of their parents didn’t have the opportunity to go to college; they don’t know what it takes to get into college,” he said. “A lot of time the students say they want to do what their parents have done.”
Marquis Newhouse, 11, said he walked away from the seminar believing he should follow his dreams. He wants to animate cartoons, and now he knows his future might include stops at Nashville School of the Arts and Austin Peay State University.
“I learned to trust my instincts and always believe in what you can do,” Marquis said. “If you say you want to go to college, you should believe that.”
Contact Jaime Sarrio at 615-726-5964 or jsarrio@tennessean.com.
Topics: Getting kids to college, How to Help | 1 Comment »
Talking to Kids: How to Create Shared Meaning about Education
By Tobi Kibel Piatek | Friday, December 5th, 2008
One thing for sure, it takes a lot of caring and energy to build strong relationships with kids. One of the key elements is simply talking to them. Make the most of the conversations you have by talking about education - but talk to kids in a way that is meaningful to them, and connects to their world view. Try some of these tips:
- Encourage kids to talk about their experiences, what they value, and what motivates them.
- Teachers: give students assignments that provide opportunities for them to talk or write about their values and what motivates them.
- Mentors: help students connect their classroom assignments to what is happening in their lives.
- Once you know what a kid values and is motivated by, talk about how education can help him or her to reach that goal. Provide real life examples.
- Tell kids what education meant to you and your family when you were growing up; ask what it means to them and their families.
- Reflect on the concepts you use with in the classroom and in conversations. Take the time to define terms in multiple ways with an emphasis on creating explanations that motivate kids and reflect their worldview.
- Ask kids what a word or concept mean to them, how they would use them, and how they would help a family member understand the word or concept.
- Establish a climate where young people feel comfortable asking questions for clarification.
- Teachers: an effective way to do this is to ask students to submit questions anonymously. Then take the time to answer each question.
- Mentors: talk to students about the struggles you had learning something and share how asking questions helped you to learn concepts and advance your education.
- Teachers and mentors: ask kids to paraphrase what was said to see if there is shared meaning.
- Regard students’ ways of speaking and thinking as resources, not problems. Involve kids in the construction of their own knowledge—help them discover their learning style and needs, provide ways to help them take responsibility for learning experiences, and plan together to set and meet educational goals.
- Create opportunities for kids to discuss their goals and aspirations, share what they want to learn about, and find ways the school can help them.
- Listen to kids as they discuss ideas together.
- Promote candid discussion about topics relevant to kids’ lives, and challenge them to solve real-life problems—stretch students beyond the familiar.
- Develop a large “bag of tricks” to get to know your students and families well.
Topics: How to Help, Quality Time, Relationship Strategy | 1 Comment »
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