Cape Gazette Winter 2008-2009

Stressed Out Children

12-5-08

The weeks between the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays can be a difficult time for children and learning. Teachers often notice that children at this time of year are tired, cranky and sometimes sick. The holidays can bring unhealthy changes to their lives and the result is that classroom attentiveness and learning decline because children are like sponges; they absorb large doses of the environment in which they live and often this can be toxic.

Children depend on their parents to provide structure, stability and predictability. Now more than ever they need adults to adhere to routines that assure they get plenty of sleep and eat healthy meals regularly especially during the school week. It is easy to get distracted by increased holiday projects such as baking, shopping and decorating, but all of this can quickly spin out of control if their basic needs are not met. A visit to Santa is fine but hours of shopping, long rides in the car, and no down time are just not healthy. Stressed out children pick on each other. A family outing to pick out the perfect Christmas tree could become painful for everyone if children are overtired.

During the holidays children can also experience loss or sadness due to separation. Some parents are away on military duty, or on extended business trips and the holidays are times of great longing for connection. Regular phone calls and communication are important. Telling children what events are coming up also gives them a chance to mentally prepare.

The economy is uncertain and as businesses slow down, many parents have lost income and sometimes jobs. Children can be insulated from a great deal of these concerns if parents limit the information and reassure children that they will be fine even if they cannot purchase large scale items this year.

This is a time to revisit the basic family values that can define the holidays: caring about others, small acts of kindness and spending time together.

Here are some additional tips from the American Psychiatric Association to help children cope with holiday stress. :

Discuss holiday plans well in advance, and include your children in the planning process. Kids need some degree of control and predictability. Prolonged uncertainty, constantly changing plans or last minute decisions can all increase stress.
Make sure kids get plenty of rest. While it may be exciting to stay up late, lack of sleep often leads to increased irritability.
Limit the amount of time kids spend alone watching TV or playing video games. Encourage physical activity and interaction with peers.
Don’t promise things you can’t produce. For example, don’t promise a parent will be home in time for the holidays if the decision is really out of your control.
Don’t try and compensate for an absent family member with lots of gifts. What most kids really want is your time and attention.
Uphold and maintain family traditions even if a parent is absent. Kids count on certain traditions. They can have an important grounding effect by letting kids know that even though some things have changed, other things have remained the same.
As the adult, take care of yourself. Try to avoid getting overloaded with obligations. If you feel stressed, it increases the pressure and tension on your children.

Families can enjoy the holidays even while dealing with family transitions or loss. However, preparation, patience and honesty can help prevent conflict, reduce stress, and enhance the holiday season for the whole family.

Milton Poetry Festival and Dedication of Statue

12-12-08

Happy 400^th Birthday John Milton! In your honor we have celebrated with poems, and poetry. You would have been proud to see the children on the stage of the Milton Theater reciting poetry and enjoying the power of words. Your life was an inspiration to them. After all, it is not often that you find a person who has the intelligence, insight and resolve to write about Paradise Lost and Regained. Your words and ideas had a profound effect on our Founding Fathers and were a strong influence in the ideas presented in the U.S. Constitution.

Hailee Gooch and Christina Piper were the first place winners of the John Milton Poetry Festival from Mariner Middle School. Carissa Roy, Michelle Clark, Sydney Montgomery and Marlaina Prater won first place in the elementary division.

In the small town of Milton, folks gathered on Sunday for two very distinct events. The first was the actual poetry readings and awards. Students from Milton Elementary and Brittingham Elementary timidly took the stage and read their poems about the town. Then, the Poet Pirate, Capt’ Cable entertained with his poems of White Beard and his tunes on the ukulele. The crowd was enthralled.

Next the crowd donned coats, hats and mittens and followed a bagpiper across Governor’s walk to the park near the pond where a tent held a crowd of dignitaries, press and towns folk all ready for the Dedication Ceremony.

The pond reflected the clear blue winter sky as the little procession wound around toward the tent. Even though the wind pushed and tugged at the tent and caused many of the people to stomp feet and pull their coats closer, the crowd waited anxiously to see the guest of honor, John Milton himself in bronze.

This was a shining moment in Milton history. The mayor Don Post, the Milton Foundation President, Charles Fleetwood and a host of state and local officials converged to celebrate a great literary philosopher in a great small town in Sussex County Delaware.

The speeches were short and full of good wishes. Most memorable were the words from the Honorable Oliver St. Clair Franklin, an honorary British Consul from Great Britain. At a dinner in Buckingham Palace he had spoken to Prince Andrew of his upcoming trip to Milton, Delaware to dedicate a statue of John Milton. The Prince thought it interesting that a little town faraway would be so involved with a British writer and philosopher. He sent us his greetings and good wishes from across the Big Pond.

The first place award winning poets had the privilege of unveiling the statue along with the sculptor, Paul Rendel and his granddaughter. When the plastic was removed there were murmurs of approval and appreciation for this grand bronze statue. There at last, was John Milton, in person, seated on a park bench with his arm outstretched looking as if he were contemplating the day. Jamie and Joanie Brown had given new life to the town with their untiring efforts to bring John Milton to Milton for all to enjoy just in time for his 400^th birthday!

The statue will stand as a tribute to the man who believed in the ideals of democracy and personal freedom. The statue will stand as a tribute to the good people of Milton who created an opportunity for us to understand the past in a very real way.

Twas the Night Before Christmas

12-19-08

This time of year is just ripe for a poem or two! For children, poetry has the ability to sooth and to inspire. For teachers, poetry can be a source of humor and levity. The following offerings are meant to be read aloud and enjoyed by families throughout our Cape region just before Santa makes his final preparations for flight.

Twas the Night before Christmas

Clement Clark Moore

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

“Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”

Twas the Night Before Christmas for Teachers

By Joyce Luke

‘Twas the week before Christmas and all through the school
Not a pupil was silent, no matter what rule.
The children were busy with paper and paste;
The mess that they made with it couldn’t be faced.

The teacher half frantic and almost in tears,
Had just settled down to work with her dears,
When out in the hall there arose such a clatter
up sprang the kids to see what was the matter!

Away to the door they all flew like a flash;
The one who was leading went down with a crash.
Then what to their wondering eyes did appear
But a green Christmas tree! (To decorate I fear!)

When the teacher saw this, she almost grew sick.
She knew in a moment it must be Old Nick!
She ran to the door (all her efforts were vain)
But she shouted, and stamped, and she called them by name;

“Now Tommy! Now Sandy, Now Judy and Harry!
Stop Billy! Stop Robert! Stop Donny and Sherry!
Now get to your places get away from the hall
Now get away! Get away! Get away all!

As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly
The pupils, pell mell, started scurrying by.
They ran to the blackboard and skipped down the aisle;
Their faces were shining and each had a smile.

First came a basket of popcorn to string
Then came the Christmas tree (menacing thing).
As the tree was brought in there arose a great shout;
The pupils were merrily romping about.

The state they were in could lead to a riot;
The teacher was sure, if allowed, they would try it.
Her nerves how they jangled! Her temples were throbbing!
The rush of her breath sounded almost like sobbing!

The lines of her face were as fixed as a mask;
It was plain that she didn’t feel up to her task.
The look in her eye would have tamed a wild steer,
But the children ignored it; they did every year.

A tear from her eye and a shake of her head
Soon led me to think that she wished she were dead.
She spoke not a word but went straight to her work,
Strung all the popcorn which broke with a jerk.

But at last it was finished and placed on the tree;
Then came the bell and the children were free.
Their shrill little voices soon faded away
And peace was restored at the end of the day.

As she looked at the Christmas tree glistening and tall,
She smiled as she whispered,

“Merry Christmas to All”

Warm and Fun Places to Visit

12-26-08

Families who are looking for things to do together over the holiday break can venture out to visit three places that will be enjoyed by all ages even if the weather is cold and mostly dark.

Longwood Gardens is a just up north in Pennsylvania and provides a lavish holiday feast for the senses. The Gardens began in 1906 when “ Pierre S. du Pont purchased the Peirce Arboretum to save its trees from being cut for lumber. Over the next nearly half century, Mr. du Pont developed Longwood Gardens into what it is today, a magnificent horticultural showplace.”

Holiday events include ice skating shows, concerts, extensive lighting of the spectacular gardens and water fountains that dance to holiday music. Seeing Longwood at night is especially awe inspiring. Longwood Gardens now encompasses 1,050 acres of gardens, woodlands, and meadows. They boost over 11,000 types of plants and more fountains than any other garden in the US.

Keep warm and get blown away in Baltimore! The National Aquarium in Baltimore is offering a special screening of the favorite holiday movie, The Polar Express with a special twist. The Aquarium’s new Immersion Theater promises to bring the sights, sounds, and smells of the action right to the viewer with the use of 4D capabilities, which combine the high-definition drama of a 3D film with special sensory effects such as mist and wind. This is one attraction that will appeal to the entire family and there is no better time to get going than over the holiday break.

Get outside during the break with a train ride on the Wilmington and Western Railroad. Since 1867, the Wilmington & Western has served the communities along the Red Clay Creek, first as a for-profit transportation route for freight and passengers, and now as a non-profit, historic tourist railroad.

They offer a 45 minute evening ride aboard a historic 1929 doodlebug railcar. Many of the trackside neighbors decorate their homes for these festive evenings so the ride is enjoyable. Passengers are invited to take part in a decorating contest by voting for their favorite holiday light display.

Another light-filled event is the Ocean City, Maryland’s Winterfest of Lights located just down Route one at Northside Park, 127th and the Bay. Thousands of dazzling lights will brighten winter nights and make the family holiday experience special.

The Winterfest Village has a festive, heated tent where visitors can enjoy hot chocolate, browse the Yukon Cornelius Gift Shop and Tent and have a photo taken with Santa! While riding on the Winterfest Express, everyone is invited to sing Christmas carols as they glide past spectacular lighted displays including the Twelve Days of Christmas, favorite Fairy Tales, Jurassic Park and many other themes. This year they are offering new displays including Dorothy, Toto and friends from the Wizard of Oz.

The admission to ride the train is $4.00 for those 12 years and older and free for children under 11 years. You may also check out the Tunnel of Lights at the Inlet Parking Lot featuring lights that have a nautical theme and the Avenue of Trees on 15th – 32nd Streets. So stay warm and enjoy all of the family holiday offerings this season.

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Rethinking Homework

1-2-09

Teachers hear parents complain that their children have either too much homework or not enough homework. Striking a balance and making homework valuable is a tricky thing but there are a few guidelines.

Primarily, homework expectations should be defined early in the year. Since this is a new year, it may be wise to lay out the expectations again. Teachers should try to convey the message that homework is important and has meaning. Completing the work should have consequences which may involve lower grades, less understanding of the material and possible retention.

High standards are important because students make academic gains when teachers go for the gold. Parents need to understand that the homework policy is constructed out of an understanding for student achievement. This is not busy work and the support and encouragement of parents is necessary for success.

Teachers can communicate this information in many ways. Some teachers write notes home laying out their expectations, which parents or caregivers are asked to read, initial, and return. Some talk with parents about homework at back-to-school night. Some telephone parents and caregivers. Special efforts should be made to communicate with bi-lingual parents.

Any homework is not better than no homework at all. The quality of an assignment makes a huge difference in whether it gets done. Busywork is no good. To be valuable, homework must serve a purpose.

Teachers should ask themselves, what do they want the homework to accomplish? Are we asking students to contribute to the class by preparing for something, finishing something or polishing something?

The major academic purposes of homework are to help children review and practice what they have learned, get ready for the next day’s class, learn to use resources such as libraries and reference materials and explore subjects using extra time than permitted in class.

Homework changes as students progress through the grades. In early elementary school homework should allow students to develop good works habits . Attitude is everything so if the students know that they are expected to do work on their own, then this lays the groundwork for lengthier assignments later on.

Later on in middle and high school, students need to learn how to work independently and meet deadlines. Some project assignments may include a series of tasks that require time management. If students are involved in extra-curricular events, then they must manage to take care of schoolwork as well as get in practice and games. This is good practice for college and life.

Homework should not be used as a punishment. Work that is meaningful is work that can be approached with a positive attitude.

Homework assignments should demand that the student think! For the New Year teachers may want try some of these interesting assignments:

· Open a junk drawer and list 22 nouns for things you find there.

· Read the chapter on letter-writing. Then write a letter that breaks every single rule you know. Write a paragraph about your crazy Aunt Melba or Uncle Albert that breaks 10 rules of capitalization. The next day students present their paragraphs to see if their peers can figure out which rules were broken and correct them.

· Sit outside for 5 minutes and listen. Spend the next 5 minutes listing all the sounds you hear. Circle your favorite five. Write a poem about one.

· Write a 30-second radio spot using George Washington to sell deodorant soap. Work in four facts about his role as a general.

· Generate 10 new classes for the school curriculum. Write a letter to school board members persuading them to implement one.

· Here is an answer: 54. Now generate 10 different questions, problems, or situations that can be answered with that number.

Keep them thinking and keep learning as the centerpiece of this New Year.

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One Response to “Cape Gazette Winter 2008-2009”

bad credit personal loans Says:
September 23rd, 2009 at 6:23 pm
Merry Christmas to everyone!!!

Diane Albanese’s Musings

Cape Gazette Winter 2008-2009

One Response to “Cape Gazette Winter 2008-2009”

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