Things to do
« Previous EntriesGet 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 »
Art and Culture: A Natural Connection that Builds Understanding
By Tobi Kibel Piatek | Monday, May 4th, 2009
This week students are turning their focus to Cultural Competence. What better way to learn about and appreciate the values, skills and practices of another culture than to look at the art produced by its people? So, I am reposting this blog to make it easy to find these great resources.
Art has always played an important role in shaping and recording cultural history and lifestyles. Art also plays an important role in making kids happy and comfortable in school. I know that for lots of kids, the opportunity to create art can help engage him or her in school, and open a door to learning across disciplines.
Recent visits to some schools in Portland make it clear that art is happening in the schools, but for some kids (kids like I used to be) there is never enough art in a day.
Here are some ideas for strategies that teachers and mentors (especially in after school programs) can use to stimulate interest in other cultures, while also providing opportunities for students to see and experience many forms of art.
Bring samples of art into your space. Bring objects, slides, photos, posters, fabrics. You get the idea. For example, a unit on African art might include masks, wood carvings, beadwork, jewelry, fabrics and more. Any of these can become a starting point to open a conversation about both the art, and its uses in its culture.
Talk about what you see, ask:
- What are these things used for?
- What materials are they made of? Where do these materials come from?
- Are they part of every day life or are they meant to be displayed in a museum or a temple?
Teachers may want to pose some questions as research. Invite kids to visit the library, explore books and art sites on the internet, and talk to family and community members to find out what they know about African art. Then, encourage them to share what they’ve learned - in words, or by creating a piece of art.
Mentors (and of course, teachers too) may want to take advantage of parents or other community members to take part in the conversation, and share some of their favorite art as well. :
In the course of a conversation about African art, kids may learn that in most African cultures art is used to express religious beliefs, to teach behavior, to communicate history and to proclaim an individual’s status in the community. What about art in other cultures?
RESOURCES
There are so many wonderful resources to help you bring Art and Culture into your classroom or program; you may find your biggest challenge deciding where to begin. Here are two reall good ones:
Global & Multicultural Resource Center
The centerpiece of the World Affairs Council’s statewide K-12 program is the Global & Multicultural Resource Center. Housed at Portland State University, the Center enhances international and multicultural education in both schools and the community. Our resources and programs are available to teachers, students, parents and organizations in both Oregon and SW Washington.
Be sure to check out the Culture Boxes provided by this program http://www.worldoregon.org/more/education/resources.php
“Our Culture Boxes on over 90 countries are brimming with maps, lessons, and hands-on treasures from musical instruments and traditional clothes to toys, games and easily transportable props. A typical box or set of boxes contains:
Books, lesson plans, maps, audio/video tapes, posters, CultureGrams, files, newspaper clippings, AND hands on items in the following categories: food, shelter, daily life, arts & crafts, dress, beliefs, toys & games, music & dance, language, and more…”
For more information on our Culture Boxes, Reference Library and programs, please see our website: www.worldoregon.org/more/education/index.php
Donations to the boxes from your travels are more than welcome!
Multicultural Lesson Plans
Art based lesson plans written by teachers. These are great recipes for success.
TELL US:
What do you do in your classroom or program? Share your ideas for projects and resources on this blog?
Topics: Culturally Competent, Resources for Mentor, Resources for Teacher, Things to do | 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 »
Save the Date REMINDER: National Association for Multicultural Education Conference
By Tobi Kibel Piatek | Tuesday, March 10th, 2009
There is still time to register for The 2009 Oregon Chapter of NAME (National Association for Multicultural Education) Conference on May 1, 2009, at Western Oregon University in Monmouth.
For those who are not familiar with this wonderful resource for information AND inspiration, this organization describes itself as Advocates for Educational Equity and Social Justice.
The title of this year’s conference is Lies & Truths in Our History: Teaching What Happened — And What We Can Do About It Now. The conference will feature James Loewen as Keynoter, author of Lies My Teacher Told Me and Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism.
Concurrent sessions throughout the day will focus on what works in preK-20 classrooms and the community. I attended last year’s conference. It was a full day opportunity to learn from people who are passionate about their work with kids and schools, about how to enrich our relationships, and strengthen our communities. In addition, the resources I collected have greatly enhanced my library. Many of the handouts and lots of great information from last year’s conference is available on their website at http://oregonname.org/2008handouts.htm
This conference is also an opportunity to share what YOU know, and what works in your classroom, program or community. A request for proposals will be forthcoming, and will also be posted on the website: http://oregonname.org.
“We are especially interested in proposals from educators that work with diverse populations who would like to showcase their successful strategies.”
Topics: Recommended Resources, Things to do, Upcoming Events | No Comments »
One way to integrate culturally competent learning activities into your environment
By Tobi Kibel Piatek | Wednesday, February 18th, 2009
We often plan events for the college (where I work with International students) to create opportunities for American students, faculty and staff to meet international students and have exposure to new and different cultures.
In addition, we have started a new initiative to not only expose our students to Americans, faculty and staff, but also to expose international students to each other. Often when they arrive from their home countries they try and find a comfy place and seek out others from their host culture. This especially happens with our Asian students because we have so many living here as residents and attending our colleges. This not only keeps them from making friends outside their host culture, but also hinders their learning of English.
An activity that we just started:
We hold an open house day at each of our campuses to focus on two cultures (in the same room). The last one we had focused on bringing together two groups - Asian (Taiwanese, Japanese) and Middle Eastern (Saudi Arabia and Qatar).
All of these students had tables and could bring food, music, videos, clothing, art work, etc. and offer this to others as a learning tool. This event was held in a huge room and the results were fantastic! Our students and college community raved about this and what a wonderful opportunity it was to visit 4 different countries and their cultures within an hour and a half.
This event even spurred some of our students to talk to each other, when they may have never done so before. It was so rewarding to see a quiet Japanese girl talking to an Arabic male. In most situations, without this type of welcoming environment, that interaction would have never happened.
Topics: Culturally Competent, Relationship Strategy, Things to do | 2 Comments »
What Do You Know?
By Tobi Kibel Piatek | Thursday, February 5th, 2009
In lesson four of the course the assignments include making and using KWL charts. These charts are essentially a useful instructional technique that teachers and mentors can use to find out what kids already know about a topic (prior knowledge) and help them consider what they want to know about the topic, and finally, to record and consider what they learned.
KWL charts are visual organizers, useful for a variety of learning styles. However, there were some concerns in the course discussions this week that the assigned activity was not appropriate to certain groups and certain students. So, I had an idea, and I think that addressing this problem resulted in a solution that anyone can use to make the most of what they are learning – in this course, and in any other.
KWL YOURSELF. Take some time to review the many resources on this blog, and (if you have access) in the course Resource Listings. Chose a topic that interests you and find a resource on that subject.
Create a chart – in the first column list what you already know about this topic. Then, in the middle column, consider what you want to know, what you hope to get from reading this article or resource. After you read, list what you learned.
When you are done, identify your resource (it doesn’t have to be on this site, a book, article or talk will do just fine.) Add a link if available. Tell us: Why were you interested? Was the resource worthwhile? Share at least three things you learned.
Please post it all to this blog. And keep in mind - this is a great activity to do with older kids as well - share your experiences using this with kids as well.
Topics: How To's, RESOURCES, Things to do, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Be the Change: Sign Up to Volunteer Soon
By Tobi Kibel Piatek | Tuesday, December 30th, 2008
Hands On Greater Portland and United Way of the Columbia-Willamette are organizing a Weekend of Service January 17 – 19 in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.
There will 33 ways to volunteer over the course of three days. Thirty three service projects to better our community. (And, if you believe as I do, that encouraging kids at risk to do something for someone else, 33 ways to spend time doing something meaningful with and for the kids you care about.)
Projects that you can participate in include being a Big Brother or Big Sister for a day, building new bicycles from donated parts, sprucing up the children’s section of the Hillsboro Public Library, and creating greeting cards for sick children, stock the pantry at the Oregon Food Bank, and much more
For more information, to see the list of projects, and to sign up, visit the website
Topics: Quality Time, Things to do, Upcoming Events | 1 Comment »
At least one answer to the question, What Should I Do Now?
By Tobi Kibel Piatek | Friday, December 19th, 2008
When I first considered writing this recommendation for a website, I worried that it was not a good idea because not all kids have access to computers. However, after a week of snow and cold, and plenty of time to think back to my days as a parent with young snow bound kids at home, I decided that ANYTHING I can do to make the time at home more fun, less BOOOOORING, and more educational is worth the blog space. And, once the kids are back in school and once again in after school programs and mentor relationships, this site will still be worth knowing about.
PBS Kids Go is a lively and kid appropriate website filled with fun, educational and holiday things to do - for kids, with kids, about kids. Each game or activity on the site is related to PBS characters such as Arthur, Maya and Miguel, and the Cyberchase kids.
The site has really well designed things to do. In this season of cold and winter breaks away from school, after-school activities and mentor programs, (not to mention a full week of snow days so far), the games on this site are a wonderful way to keep kids involved and learning. I think many of them artfully combine learning (science, cooking, culture, mysteries, even economics) and fun. Kids can save their scores and login to continue a game they enjoy.
The site also has lots of holiday music and videos, eCards that let kids send greetings and keep in touch with friends, Speak Out (an opportunity for kids to share their ideas), resources for teachers and parents, videos in English and Spanish, TV schedules and lots more. Basically, it contains the answer to the age old question - what should I do now?
PBS Kids Go is part of PBS Kids – which offers an even broader array of activities, music, games and more, related to PBS children’s programming. This site and the related PBS Parents and PBS Teachers is definitely a resource that mentors, teachers and parents should be aware of.
Do you have any favorite resources to recommend to help kids make the most of time away from school? Tell us … use the comment feature below. Thanks
Topics: Recommended Resources, Resources for Mentor, Resources for Teacher, Things to do | No Comments »
Photo of the Year Contest: An Opportunity for YOUR Kids to Show Their World
By jqwaller | Friday, November 14th, 2008
The 7th Annual Photo of the Year amateur photography contest is underway. Photo of the Year is a benefit for the MESD Outdoor School Program, which has been providing natural science education to sixth grade students in Portland for the past 42 years. Visit our website for all details and to enter the contest.Participants in Photo of the Year are supporting photography, education, and an appreciation for the natural environment all at the same time. While the contest is open to all demographics around the world, we have made special effort to allow young photographers and classrooms of students to participate as well through our Youth Category.
Have a Photo Contest in Your Classroom or After School program.
Photographs can enhance your classroom in many ways. Photos expose places, faces and things that your students may never have seen or imagined. They can bring color and beauty into a grey day; they can help express and share ideas—especially for visual learners. They hold the past and capture the present. They are fun to take and fun to look at. And, when entered into the Photo of the Year contest, they are a way to support an Oregon school program.
Whether you choose to submit photos or not, a class photo contest is a great way to encourage students to think critically about photography. As both photographers and judges, students have a chance to learn about the elements of a photograph, and to establish their own criteria for what makes a “good” photo.
To start the contest, invite students to bring in photographs they have taken and display them around the room. Then, the group can collectively choose the five best photos and submit them in digital format to the Photo of the Year Contest along with the $15 donation fee.
In doing so, your class becomes eligible to win “Photo of the Year” and a $500 grand prize. And the entire time everyone involved is supporting the MESD Outdoor School Program.
For ideas and information about how to take great photos, check out this blog entry - Get to Know the World Through Someone Else’s Eyes
Topics: Inspiration, Quality Time, Things to do | No Comments »
Mark Your Calendar: World Animal Festival
By Tobi Kibel Piatek | Thursday, September 4th, 2008
Well, I was at the zoo yesterday to see the new baby elephant. You must have gone over the long weekend because, the crowds were smaller yesterday, and I heard it was packed Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The new baby is a wonder, and standing on line was an opportunity to hear kids of all ages, and their adults talking about all things elephant, where they live, how they live, and how mothers and babies interact. It was quite educational, and a great reminder of informal learning.
Another thing I learned yesterday is of a great event coming up soon:
World Animal Festival:
September 27 - October 5 (details on the site)
This is an “exciting showcase of how various cultures around the world revere and celebrate animals. Local cultural groups will present animal folklore to zoo guests in a variety of ways, including performance art, hands-on crafts, educational activities and art exhibits.”
Topics: Culturally Competent, Quality Time, Things to do | 1 Comment »
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