FALL/2010
JOURNAL The Official Journal of Aikido Instructors Organization
HOW CHILDREN LEARN Florida Aikikai’s
Penny Bernath
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Professional Bio: Penny Bernath, M.S. makes a difference for early childhood educators. She is the Education Producer for KidVisionVPK.org. A FREE online program where VPK teachers earn valuable annual in-service hours and continuing education units (CEU) while learning to teach the VPK Education Standards. Penny knows the subject of VPK Education Standards. She is a State of Florida Department of Education Office of Early Learning certified VPK Standards trainer and a certified VPK Literacy trainer. She is a Florida Kindergarten Readiness Screener (FLKRS) administer. Her master’s degree is in prek/primary education; she has a bachelor’s in elementary education, and a State of Florida Professional Teaching Certificate for age 3 through grade 6. Ms. Bernath currently serves on the 2010 Florida Department of Education Office of Early Learning VPK Curriculum Approval Panel. Penny has served the Florida Department of Children and Families as a reviewer for mandated childcare competency exams. She is a Florida Department of Children and Families Childcare Trainer and currently serves on the committee reviewing the Developmentally Appropriate Practices for Young Children in Preschool (3 to 5 year olds) training course. Penny Bernath knows the teachers she is serving. She began her career as a preschool teacher, earning her Child Development Associate (CDA) credential in 1989. After continuing her education and earning a master’s degree Penny taught CDA and Director’s Credential courses at Nova Southeastern University (NSU). She herself holds an Advanced Florida VPK Director’s Credential. At NSU’s Mailman Segal Institute for Early Childhood Studies (MSI) Penny served as the VPK Director and Preschool and Infant/Toddler Associate Director and Education Coordinator. She continued her career at NSU in the outreach and professional development departments mentoring teachers and directors in ‘at risk’ preschools from 2008-2010.
Aikido Bio: 6th dan, Shidoin Florida Aikikai Penny Bernath began Aikido training in 1973. At that time she wanted to learn how to defend herself without having to turn into a bad guy herself. She saw an Aikido demonstration in a park and knew it was what she was looking for, safety without conflict, big beautiful movements, and happy people. Penny organized the first Florida Winter Seminar in 1979 under the direction of Yamada Sensei and in 1980 Yamada Sensei sent Peter Bernath to work with Penny to open Florida Aikikai. The Winter Seminar has grown into a major Aikido annual event and Florida Aikikai has grown steadily in numbers and strength; with membership over 100 and 2nd and 3rd degree black belts in most classes. And Penny married Peter and they have two wonderful children.
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How To Teach Children
AIO: Thank you, Penny for agreeing to speak with us regarding your experiences in Aikido and extensive knowledge on how children learn. To help our readers get to know you better, can you tell us a little about your aikido background?
Penny: I started Aikido when I was 20 years old to learn how to defend myself. I had seen a television show that interviewed women whom had been brutally raped. They all agreed that they wished they had
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fought, they had no skills, they felt completely helpless, depending on others to help them that were not there. It impressed me. I decided to take responsibility for myself. In search of a martial art I saw an Aikido demonstration in a park. I was struck, I loved the art, the movement; the happy and empowered feeling I walked away with. That amazing feeling has never left me.
AIO: I think that many women, including myself, began Aikido to learn self-defense.
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An Interview with Penny Bernath
“I mean it to be an information piece for dojos to use to introduce the benefits of aikido to possible parents and also for children to watch so they understand the expectations Currently, I am working on a doctorate degree in education, Instructional Leadership. I began my career in early childhood as a parent with a high school education, then ‘worked up the ladder’. My children went to a University preschool so by working there I was able to get tuition waivers to attend the University. I earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s in prek-primary education. As I went through school I worked as a teacher’s aide, then qualified to be a preschool teacher, then went on to teach preschool teachers at a University level, and finally mentored preschool teachers and directors at their various school sites. Now I aspire to be an Instructional Leader helping teachers teach young children on a lager scale. For example, my dissertation is an online professional development for preschool teachers, http://www.KidVisionVPK.org. This year the program won two national awards, one from PBS and one from CPS for innovative approaches and digital media excellence that serve the educational needs of the community.
AIO: You have had a unique opportunity to
aikido career in producing and staring in a PBS Kid Vision video about Aikido and children. Can you talk to us about this video?
Penny: KidVision VPK is produced by WPBT2, Miami’s local PBS station. It is an educational website for pre-kindergarten teachers, children and parents. As the Education Content Producer for KidVisionVPK. org program I am responsible to choose interesting and meaningful field trips, write scripts, create lesson plans, student assessments, and thoughtfully think of quiz questions so teachers can earn continuing education units (CEUs). I thought a field trip to the Aikido dojo would be a perfect opportunity to both inform the early childhood community about something new and interesting, Aikido, and at the same time inform Aikido dojos about what goes on during our children’s class. I hoped the program would serve as a good promotional tool for all concerned.
blend your professional career with your
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How To Teach Children
“....following a clear dojo and class structure that includes routines and rituals, planning varied activities within the structure.” AIO: Is this video available to others, such as dojocho, to help market their own children’s aikido program? If so, how would instructors get ahold of this video?
Penny: I carefully scripted the Aikido field trip to say everything that I ever wanted adults to know about our children’s program. Then I made it available on you-tube so that it is easy for all to access. I mean it to be an information piece for dojos to use to introduce the benefits of aikido to possible parents and also for children to watch so they understand the expectations and goals of Aikido. Two videos are part of the overall program, the field trip itself, and an introduction that explains the education standards taught during the field trip. They are located at http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=ePHsNHt3RcE
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzXt3DYe_Q I hope that dojos link these videos to their web pages and use them to promote their children’s programs. Clear expectations of what the Aikido children’s class is going to be like and what children will be learning are a key for success.
AIO: In your opinion what is one of the largest obstacles that instructors have when teaching children of all ages an activity like aikido? Do you have any recommendations for overcoming this obstacle?
Penny: I see the largest obstacle for any teacher, teaching any class of children, is classroom management. How to keep the class on track, controlled and moving, children learning and engaged? I recommend being proactive by setting up a clean and safe environment (fresh flowers in the kamiza) that children want to be in, having a welcome and respectful attitude, having clear behavioral expectations written for the child and the parents, following a clear dojo and class structure that includes routines and rituals, planning varied activities within the structure. Having clear learning goals of the day, the week, the month, and a plan of how children are going to attain them.
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An Interview with Penny Bernath
“I looked at him directly and stated that he had a choice, he could either leave the mat or continue practicing appropriately. He did not want to leave the mat. He changed immediately and continued practicing with his friend.” AIO: And do you have any recommendations on how to help students follow the class rules?
Penny: Children’s class is challenging. I think to begin with you need routines and rituals set up for every part of the process, from the moment kids enter the dojo, for example they sign in, to the moment they leave, bowing at the door. The structure of the class and rituals are consistent. This is easy to do in a dojo where rituals are part of the life of a dojo. Within the strict structure, learning can take place. When children
break the rules, the commonly known structure, then they can be asked what has done incorrectly, and asked how they are going to correct the problem? Let them correct themselves.
AIO: Interesting! So you have the students reflect on their own actions and make the changes needed to remain in class. Can you give us a scenario that where this has worked in changing a student’s behavior from a poor choice to a positive one?
Penny: Yes. Just yesterday at summer camp a child had a melt down on the mat. He has been there all summer so I have es-
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How To Teach Children tablished a relationship with him. I looked at him directly and stated that he had a choice, he could either leave the mat or continue practicing appropriately. He did not want to leave the mat. He changed immediately and continued practicing with his friend. I think you have to be kind but firm. The mat has to be interesting enough for children to want to stay there.
AIO: Are there any strategies that you use to provide simple and easy to use positive reinforcement on the mat?
Penny: The trick is caring and attention. Establish positive relationships. Be kind but firm. Teach and model mutual respect. Help kids learn from where they are and appreciate their accomplishments. It is the biggest trick and the most rewarding.
AIO: Establishing mutual respect! That is so true. Something as simple as giving a “high five” can do wonders for establishing a positive relationship of respect.
AIO: Are any of these items something that could be used or altered for an Aikido children’s program?
AIO: Along the same question topic, do you
“Common mistakes are overbearing attitudes of personal control over small children, barking, yelling, degrading, punishing. It doesn’t work for an activity of choice.” 9
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An Interview with Penny Bernath ever use negative consequences for difficult behavior, and if so, when do you feel it is appropriate?
Penny: Common mistakes are overbearing attitudes of personal control over small children, barking, yelling, degrading, punishing. It doesn’t work for an activity of choice. Sometimes Aikido and the child might not be a good fit and that is OK. Honesty is the best policy. If the child does not benefit from the program and/or the child is hindering the program it is OK to ask the parent to find another activity that might be more suited. Aikido programs do not have to solve all ills.
AIO: So, get them with kindness is your philosophy. I see it.
AIO: It has always been the philosophy of AIO that the way to keep life long students is for the student/parent to see results outside the dojo. Do you have any advice on different ways to bring the messages and lessons that we teach on the mat into the home so that mom and dad can see all the great benefits of aikido training more clearly?
Penny: Make learning visible! Post pictures and announcements on a children’s bulletin board, where children sign in and out. Now with face book and websites you can also post comments about what happened in class that day. A comment could include; stating the technique or learning goal of the day (for example kotegaeshi and describe it), show pictures or video of how the children learned it (movement practice/like irimi or tenkan), and how the
children demonstrated competency (child doing the technique). Additionally, post pictures and videos of all the kids in meaningful activities, like helping each other, cleaning the dojo, folding their gis, eating Japanese food…. We also host a parent day once every couple of months. Parents are invited to wear comfortable clothing and join their kids on the mat. We have a typical class. We always encourage parents to join at the kid’s class level, learn while your children are learning. We have been successful. We have quite a few families that are equally all members of Florida Aikikai. All the parents that joined at the kid’s class level have moved on to the adult classes. We also participate in community affairs and events. For example we collected items for Haiti. Recently our children went to the local children’s theater to teach them how to do aikido for a fight scene. Then some of our children participated in their play. Look for meaningful activities outside the dojo to do. We do demonstrations, take pictures and post them, for example you could organize a demonstration for anti-bulling at one of the kid’s schools. We also have bushido challenge cards, a business like card with motivating print and challenge of the month on it. The challenge is a character building activity. For example, the challenge might be ‘compassion’. The challenge is explained to
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How To Teach Children lenging learning environment where children can progress into confident and productive individuals.
AIO: I know that your time is limited today because of travel plans, and we really appreciate you scheduling this interview. I would also like to share with our AIO readers that you will be writing a series of articles on how to become a better teacher for each specific age group: preschool, elementary and high school aged children. I think it is a wonderful approach to teaching Aikido. First, learn how to teach and the different strategies that work with each age group, and then apply those teaching skills to teaching Aikido! It is a fabulous and unique approach to the topic of teaching children and I know that our readers will benefit greatly from your teaching experience. Thank you for that and have a safe trip!
Penny: Thank you and I will talk to all of you again when I get back! children in class and there is a group discussion about how ‘compassion’ might be demonstrated. Children bring the card home, perform the challenge, the child or parent writes the example performed, the parent signs it, and children bring it back to the dojo and share with others, it is part of their testing requirements. Completed Bushido cards can be posted on the children’s bulletin board. If not done at home, bushido challenges can be done at the dojo. Children are brought into our dojos by parents, but it is their choice to participate. It is our responsibility as Aikido teachers to present a secure, interesting and chal-
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