JA N2020
SAFE TRAVELS
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COLLIERVILLE PROGRAM TEACHES YOUTH CODING.
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J A N UA RY 2020
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Unconventional. Impactful.
Freedom Prep.
JA N UA R Y
2020
Education
16 C O V E R S TO R Y
CODE NINJAS
Collierville program teaches youth coding.
OUR COVER KID: Eli (6) gets a tutorial from a Code Ninjas sensei
by Julia Baker
Mr. Black teaches African-American History at Freedom Prep High School. He is awakening something in ALL students that they didn’t even know existed. He is making an impact that will last a lifetime. And he loves being a teacher at Freedom Prep.
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Plan ahead and be prepared for a safe family trip.
901 Fun Events to kick off the new year Page 6
YOUR PRETEEN’S SEXUAL HEALTH
Dear Teacher How can I help a poor speller? Page 8
Discussing dating, sexting, and online predators with your kids.
APPLY TODAY!
by Tonya Thompson
freedomprep.org/work-at-freedom-prep
Choose the Best. Choose Freedom Prep.
SAFE TRAVELS
by Jamie Lober
Be like Mr. Black. Freedom Prep, one of the highest-performing K-12 charter schools in TN, is hiring certified teachers in K-2, P.E., Algebra I, ESL, MS Science and HS Special Education (SPED).
D E PA R TM E N T S
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GIRL POWER
Nonprofit encourages girls to seek STEM opportunities.
by Julia Baker
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NO MORE HOMEWORK HASSLES
Seven simple ways to raise conscientious students.
by Christina Katz
FEBRUARY 2020
28
Outstanding Teacher Celebrating unsung heroes Page 18 Dad Libs Plan for spring break now Page 20 Calendar and Events Family-friendly fun all month long Page 24
THE PLAY’S THE THING Creative ways students can get involved in school theater.
By Christina Katz
FJ E A BN RU UA ARRYY 22002200
OUR STAFF Art Director Bryan Rollins Advertising Art Director Christopher Myers Graphic Designer Rachel Li Advertising Manager Sheryl Butler Account Executive Michelle Musolf
DON’T MISS OUR FEBRUARY ISSUE!
FEATURING OVERNIGHT CAMPS, DENTAL HEALTH, PET GUIDE, NEW YOU
SPACE DEADLINE
January 7, 2020 MATERIALS DEADLINE
January 15, 2020
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Memphis Parent is published by Contemporary Media, Inc.
Editor Shara Clark
To advertise or for more information, Call Your Sales Rep at
901.521.9000
or email Margie Neal at margie@memphisparent.com
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Memphis Parent strives to provide information of value to all who are invested in our children’s future.
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visit us at memphisparent.com memphisparent
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N OT E
with Shara Clark
IN THE KNOW
Welcome back to reality, everyone! The holidays may have gone by in a full-bellied, twinkle-light blur, but we hope you were able to fit in some fun family time and plenty of relaxation. Now that the back-and-forth travels, extra spending, and indulgent feasts are in our rearview, it’s back to our regularly scheduled programming. School’s in session and routines return. In our January edition — the Education Issue — we talk about the trials and tribulations surrounding homework. Don’t fret, parents — it doesn’t have to be so bad, and we’ve compiled some tips to, hopefully, make it easier. We also introduce you to a local educator who recently won the “Oscar of Teaching”: Erica Stephens, a fourth grade math teacher at John P. Freeman Optional School. Way to go, Ms. Stephens! The following pages are also filled with inspiring stories on local organizations helping our youth gain much-needed skills for their futures. This month’s cover story is about Code Ninjas, a Collierville coding school that teaches children ages 7 to 14 how to apply programming and coding to electronic applications — to transition them from consumers to producers by learning, among other skills, how to build video games. Pretty cool! We also hear from two teens who founded STEM4Fem, a local nonprofit dedicated to encouraging middle and high school girls to get into the maledominated field of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) via collaborative projects, workshops, and competitions. Go, girls! Our Education Issue is as much about your child’s education as it is about educating you, the parent. And we’ve got a heavy one for you this month. In “Your Preteen’s Sexual Health,” Jessica Shea Frey, licensed clinical social worker and owner of Memphis-based Forward Counseling, weighs in on what parents should know about dating, sexting, and online predators in an age where kids are glued to their devices. We’re also looking ahead! In this month’s installment of Dad Libs, writer Jeff Hulett helps us get excited about spring break. Start your planning now and shake those winter blues. And we cover, in “Safe Travels,” some tips on and preparedness for those journeying outside of Memphis. We’re anticipating a great new year, one in which we grow, blossom, and thrive alongside all of you. Shara Clark Editor
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School
FAI H FILLED LEARNING
See for yourself the difference a Catholic education can make for your child at our OPEN HOUSE on Tuesday, January 28th at 9 am.
Grades PreK–8, Part-time program ages 2–4
Call 901-388-7321 for more information or visit sfawolves.org
Threshold
Montessori School 581 Ellsworth Memphis, TN 38111
901-327-4980
Volunteer with your entire family—no matter your child’s age! Track your volunteer hours on your profile so you can easily verify your child’s hours for school. Go to www.volunteerodyssey.com to get started today. Questions? Email Ariana at ariana@volunteerodyssey.com
“Building the Joy of Learning” Opening time 7 a.m. Children 2 yrs.- PRE-K Close to U of M, Midtown and East Memphis.
Visit us at ThresholdMontessori.com
M M EE M M PP H H II SS PP A AR R EE N N TT .. C CO OM M
E D I TO R ’ S
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#901 F U N
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Fun events to kick off the new year.
SATURDAY
CHUCALISSA FAMILY DAY
Each Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., C.H. Nash Museum at Chucalissa hosts family day. Family programs and craft activities change weekly. Jan. 4th: stone tools/pottery. Jan. 11th: mystery box/ beading. Jan. 18th: music/coloring. Jan. 25th: trash talks/snake painting. Activities include museum tour, throwing darts with an atlatl, scavenger hunt, the hands-on-lab tour, an educational program, and creating a keepsake craft to take home. $6/adult. $4/child ages 4-11. Free for children 3 and under. Call 785-3160 for further details.
TUESDAY 14
Preparing Boys and Girls
Your golden ticket to the wonderful world of Willy Wonka — at The Orpheum, January 14th through 19th. Performances Tuesday through Friday at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m.; and Sunday at 1 & 6:30 p.m. Features songs from the original film including “Pure Imagination,” “The Candy Man,” and “I’ve Got a Golden Ticket,” alongside a new score from the songwriters of Hairspray. $25-$125. Call 525-3000 for tickets.
to Become Creative Problem Solvers, Confident Lifelong Learners, and Responsible Citizens in their Communities and the World
FJ EA BNRUUAARRYY 22002200
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PRESCHOOL
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LOWER SCHOOL
Senior Kindergarten-4th Grade
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ROALD DAHL’S CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY
SATURDAY
THE BIRDS & THE SEEDS WINTER WORKSHOP & SEED SWAP
Visit Lichterman Nature Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for this event. Highlights include hearing from gardening and bird-watching experts, beginner bird-watching seminars, cooking demos, children’s activities, seed swap, and seed giveaways. Free admission. Fees for tool sharpening, plant purchases, and owl pellet dissection. 636-2221.
FRIDAY
16TH ANNUAL REELFOOT LAKE EAGLE FESTIVAL
This festival at Reelfoot Lake State Park in Tiptonville, Tennessee, runs January 31st through February 2nd. Festivities include art and photo contests, guided eagle and waterfowl tours, children’s activities, Live Birds of Prey programs, sunrise photo/bus tours, and vendors. Free admission. $14 for eagle and waterfowl tours. Call 731-253-9652 for tour reservations.
We’re building better Men for Tomorrow. Wait until you see what the Brotherhood can do for you.
Men for Tomorrow, Brothers for Life. 5900 Walnut Grove Road Memphis, Tennessee 38120 Learn more at CBHS.org/admissions
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SERVING CHILDREN 2K THROUGH 8TH GRADE Come be a part of out family and let us be a part of yours.
D E A R
T E AC H E R
HOW TO HELP A POOR SPELLER
by Marge Eberts & Peggy Gisler
HOLY ROSARY CATHOLIC SCHOOL 4841 Park Avenue Memphis, TN 38117 Phone (901) 685-1231 www.holyrosarymemphis.org
My third grader is not consistently what I would call a good speller. She will get a word right on a spelling test and then misspell it a few days later on an assignment. Is there any way to improve her spelling?
Your first step is to determine the severity of your child’s spelling problems. It may not be as serious as you believe. Talk to the child’s teacher and find out if she is spelling most words correctly or not and if the teacher believes the child has a spelling problem. Of course, a spelling problem could be serious and caused by a learning disability. In that case, testing would need to be done. Nevertheless, whether it is a learning disability or the child simply has not learned a satisfactory way to spell words, here is a good way for children to tackle the challenge and remember how to spell the words on spelling lists. When your child brings home the weekly list, you should have her write the words on the list as you call them out. Then she should correct what she has written against the spelling list and write down any words that she misspelled opposite the misspelling. Afterward, immediately quiz her again using only the words that she has misspelled — limiting this number to no more than 10 words. If she misspells any words this time, the correct spelling is written again. Repeat these steps until all misspelled words are spelled correctly. Next, for a few weeks, add to her new spelling lists a few of the words that she has frequently misspelled. What you have done is repeatedly have her spell the words, so she should remember them. Parents should send questions and comments to dearteacher@dearteacher.com or to the Dear Teacher website. ©Compass Syndicate Corporation, 2019
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2020
– For Improvement
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Love. Think. Live.
No INdoor Voices Allowed
Love. Think. Live. These three words are
the heart of our mission at Harding Academy. We teach students to love others as Christ loves them, to think creatively and learn with open minds, and
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to live courageously to the glory of God. Schedule a tour today to see that mission in action.
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T R AV E L
SAFE TRAVELS Plan ahead and be prepared to ensure a safe family trip.
by Jamie Lober
Whether you are planning a weekend road trip or a spring break getaway, health and safety should always be top priorities when it comes to traveling near or far. Both land and air travel come with their own set of precautions. Take the time to educate yourself and then move on to the fun part — figuring out what sights and sounds you want to explore upon arrival.
PACK PROPERLY It may surprise you that you should be carrying the same essentials whether you are going away for a night or getting ready to jet around the world. “Always take your health insurance card and documents; a contact card with the street addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of a family member or close contact; your health-care provider’s contact information; a car seat or booster seat as a carry-on; and your own play yard or porta-crib,” says Joan Carr, public information officer at the Shelby County Health Department. While the hotel may have a play yard or crib, you do not know if it is up to the latest safety standards, so it is better to have your own that can be trusted. Once you have gathered all your papers, consider any medications you might want to have on hand and be sure you have enough to last through the trip.
“Carry an EpiPen if you or your child has severe allergies; diarrhea medicine; antacid; antihistamine; motion sickness medicine; cough drops, cough suppressant, or expectorant; decongestant; and pain and fever medicine like acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen,” says Carr. If you are going overseas, it’s a good idea to tell your doctor and find out if there are any recommended vaccinations for your destination. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is another excellent resource. FIRST AID Making a first aid kit can be a family affair. Carr says, “It should contain hand sanitizer, 1% hydrocortisone cream, antibacterial or antifungal ointments, a digital thermometer, oral rehydration salts, antiseptic wound cleaner, aloe gel for sunburns, insect bite anti-itch gel or cream, bandages, disposable gloves, cotton swabs, tweezers, and eye drops.” PLAN AHEAD “Carry an emergency kit with a flashlight, extra batteries, warning devices such as flares or reflective triangles, jumper cables, a first-aid kit, and extra water,” says Lowry. Having the right tools can make a huge difference. Keep an eye on the gas to be sure it does not get below one-quarter of a tank and familiarize yourself with the route you are taking in advance. You can look at a map on the internet. If you will need a hotel, make a reservation ahead of time so your room is waiting. Be sure to lock doors and keep valuables out of sight.
POSITION FOR SUCCESS Do not overlook basics like adjusting your seat. “Never sit less than 10 inches from the steering wheel, as the airbag can cause injury, and always point the steering wheel at your torso and not your head and neck,” Lowry says. You want to hit the airbag rather than have it hit you. It’s equally important to adjust mirrors. Be sure you can see everything going on around you and put your phone away. “Even a phone conversation reduces your awareness by over 50 percent,” says Lowry. IN THE KNOW If you make an itinerary for your trip, share it with a friend or neighbor so someone knows where you are. You may even want to find restaurants in advance to make things easier. When you are away from home, there are precautionary measures to take for food safety. The obvious is to make sure everyone in your family washes their hands before eating. “In areas where tap water may be unsafe, drink only commercially bottled water or other beverages,” says Carr. Try to learn about the area. “Where hygiene and sanitation are inadequate or unknown, travelers should avoid consuming salads, uncooked vegetables, raw, unpeeled fruits, and unpasteurized milk or fruit juices,” Carr says. Thoroughly cooked foods served hot are the safest. With a little preparation, you can mark your calendar for your family’s next fun vacation.
Jamie Lober, author of Pink Power (getpinkpower.com), is dedicated to providing information on women’s and pediatric health topics. 10
I L L U S T R AT I O N © V I K TO R I A L U K O N I N A - D R E A M S T I M E . C O M
JJ A A N A R N U UA R YY 22 00 22 00
INSPECT YOUR RIDE Before you put your foot to the gas pedal, have an automotive technician take a look at your car and make sure it is road ready. “Check the tires regularly for uneven or excessive tread wear and make sure all tires, including the spare, are inflated properly,” says Gary Lowry, field manager at AAA Memphis. Do this at least once before hitting the road. “With the engine off, check the coolant level and condition, making certain the proper 50/50 mixture of water and coolant is present; check the level and condition of the engine oil; and look for worn, cracked, blistered, or soft belts or hoses.”
W H AT ’ S I N S I D E D E F I N E S
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H E A LT H
M AT T E R S
YOUR PRETEEN’S SEXUAL HEALTH
What parents should know about dating, sexting, and online predators.
by Tonya Thompson
In the new normal of unlimited information access, most middle schoolers have engaged in some form of online sexual behavior and have likely seen pornography by age 11.
Jessica Shea Frey, Forward Counseling
JANUARY 20 J A N UA R Y 2 20 0 2 0
photo by Ziggy Mack
That’s the reality Jessica Shea Frey, licensed clinical social worker and owner of Memphis-based Forward Counseling, wants parents to understand. She has coached hundreds of families through the emotional ups and downs of puberty and adolescent development and is aware of how important it is for parents to know the unfiltered truth about their child’s daily experience and exposure. “There is a huge information gap between what parents think their child is up to, and what kids are actually up to and being exposed to online,” she says. “On average, kids are beginning to engage in sexting as early as middle school, and sexual predators are some of your kids’ best online ‘friends.’” In this context, parents are increasingly concerned about the right age to allow their teen to date. According to Frey, the average age parents are giving permission to go on dates is 16, but some kids are dating much younger than that, and others are postponing dating until college. “The trend seems to be that group dating is okay for middle school-age kids, but car dates are usually started around age 16. For teens, going on group dates is the most popular, as well as the least risky.”
Frey notes that culture, religion, family values, and the maturity level of each individual child should all help define the “right” time for dating. Ultimately, open, honest, calm communication with your kids about dating, sex, and relationships is essential and should be ideally started long before puberty because this is when they are more likely to believe you. For parents who aren’t sure where to start, she offers some of the following topics for discussion with your preteen or teen: personal and sexual safety, consent, treating yourself and others with respect, and handling rejection. “Consent is a very important topic for parents to discuss nowadays,” Frey adds. “This goes for both male and female children. Both need to know how to state what they are comfortable with and what they are not willing to sacrifice for dating or a relationship. All adolescents need to know how to ask for consent and how to say no, as well as how to accept rejection.” It is also important to educate your children about abusive behavior, grooming behavior, and sexual assault, and assure your child that they do not deserve abuse or assault under any cir-
ULTIMATELY, OPEN, HONEST, CALM COMMUNICATION WITH YOUR KIDS ABOUT DATING, SEX, AND REL ATIONSHIPS IS ESSENTIAL AND SHOULD BE IDEALLY STARTED LONG BEFORE PUBERT Y.
cumstances. “This may be tricky if you are in an abusive relationship and have modeled putting up with abusive behavior,” says Frey, but resources are available to help you navigate these topics with your kids. As a final note of caution, Frey advises that parents learn from Shakespeare about the excitement of forbidden love for adolescents. “While I do believe that parents should be in charge of the home, I think by the time adolescents are in high school, their personality and values should factor into the consideration of their peer choices. Avoid criticizing your child’s friends or dating choices. After puberty, kids get their self-esteem and
acceptance from their peers and take friendships seriously. Being critical of your child’s peer choices will feel like betrayal to your child and will fracture trust.” Local resources for abuse victims include: • The Family Safety Center of Memphis and Shelby County: 901-222-4400 or familysafetycenter.org • The Athena Project at U of M: 901-678-3973.
A Middle Tennessee native, Tonya Thompson (deltacreatives.com) now lives in Southaven, Mississippi, with her three kids. 12
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sgis.org
We believe that children are capable, competent, and full of potential. Infant Care – Jr. Kindergarten (Infant Care begins at 6 weeks)
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Join us for “Walk in Wednesdays” in January at 8:30 a.m. at our Memphis, Germantown, and Collierville campuses. No RSVP required. Visit sgis.org/come-visit-us for details!
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SWIMMING LESSONS
At St. George’s, the way we weave it all together is what sets your child apart.
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F E AT U R E
R E W O IG R L P Local teens start nonprofit to encourage girls to seek STEM opportunities. by Julia Baker
J A N UA RY
2020
Jie Wang and Nithya Achanta, two high school seniors in Memphis, saw that there were very few STEM opportunities for middle and high school girls in the South. So, in 2017, they founded STEM4fem, a nonprofit organization dedicated to encouraging middle and high school females to get into STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math).
The two realized their passions for STEM while collaborating on projects together at White Station Middle School. “Before that, neither of us were really interested in going into STEM-related fields,” says Achanta. “But through those projects, we realized we could have a great impact on the community because a lot of our projects involve trying to come up with solutions to problems in our community.” The idea of STEM4fem originally came to them during a competition in Washington, D.C., in eighth grade. “We met this girl named Pooja, who started a similar organization to this that we participated in,” says Achanta. “She brought together girls from all over the country to work on supercomputer science projects. And we hoped to do the same with our own program.” It was after their ninth grade year when Wang and Achanta realized they needed to bring their idea of STEM4fem into fruition. While they were out of town for another competition, they realized that there was a huge gender gap between men and women. “Another thing we realized,” says Achanta, “is when we met students from California, they were exposed to a lot more STEM opportunities earlier on than we saw in the South and in Memphis. So we really wanted to address those issues.” Thus, shortly thereafter, STEM4fem was born. Through the STEM4fem platform, Wang and Achanta are able to connect girls in the community to STEM with workshops and competitions. STEM4fem holds workshops with other organizations like Girls Inc., Bridge Builders, and Greater Memphis Chinese
School, helping girls work on mini STEM projects and bringing in guest speakers from the community, like professors and graduate and undergrad students from local universities, to talk about their experiences, answer any questions, and help with projects. “Through these workshops, we’ve reached over 200 girls in the past two years,” says Wang. “And that has made them a lot more interested, in the same way that we have, because of its impact on the community.” STEM4fem hosts annual competitions for girls in the community. Girls are asked to register online as coders (apps and programs), engineers (robots or devices), or researchers (experiments), select a problem or issue, find a solution to it, and present their findings at a live competition. This year, five teams presented their projects at Benjamin L. Hooks library to a panel of five judges. “It went great,” says Achanta. “A group of six girls won the competition with their marine biotechnology device that helped with pollution in the oceans.” Achanta and Wang’s long-term vision is to reach thousands of girls around the country, but for now, they’re setting yearly goals. “In the upcoming year, we hope to reach 500 girls,” says Wang. “We want to do that through providing more opportunities for high schoolers to obtain leadership positions in our organizations and hold their own workshops. Hopefully they could help spread the word and reach more girls.” According to Achanta and Wang, the need for STEM professionals is becoming more important than ever before. “We live in an increasingly technology-
WE REALIZED WE COULD HAVE A GREAT IMPACT BECAUSE A LOT OF OUR PROJECTS INVOLVE TRYING TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS IN OUR COMMUNIT Y.
—N I T H YA ACH A N TA
dependent world, so STEM is a field that has many job opportunities,” says Achanta. “Diversity is also extremely important because it provides different perspectives on how to solve STEM issues.” To help Achanta and Wang carry along their mission, they’re always looking for sponsors, partners, mentors, and judges. For more information about the organization and how to help out, visit their website at stem4fem.com.
Julia Baker, a second-generation journalist, is a staff writer for Memphis Parent magazine and a University of Memphis junior. 14
Help your child see clearer in 2020!
901-722-3250 eyecentermemphis.com
REAL PEOPLE REAL PEOPLE REAL NEEDS REAL NEEDS REAL SOLUTIONS REAL SOLUTIONS
Visit mifa.org to volunteer.
Visit mifa.org to volunteer.
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1225 Madison Ave., in the Midtown Medical District
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2020 J A N UA RY
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COV E R
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S TO R Y
Collierville program teaches youth coding. by Julia Baker
Code Ninjas, a fun and unique coding school designed to teach children ages 7-14 how to apply programming and coding to electronic applications, opened its doors to kids in Collierville last May.
Entrepreneur Brandon Aycock was inspired to open a location under the national franchise while he was living in Massachusetts. While driving to work one day, he saw another, similar program for kids, and he quickly googled it. Code Ninjas was the first result that popped up. “That wasn’t even what I was searching for,” says Aycock. “But I started researching it, and I got in touch with the person
director was a sponsor of robotics teams and taught math, and then our assistant director taught computers in high school.” A team of 15 senseis, who are high school or college-aged kids who understand programming and/or robotics, walk around the dojo to guide students through the curriculum as needed. “We typically try to keep our senseistudent ratio at 5:1,” says Aycock. Because the program is self-paced, children can walk in any two days of the week to fit their hour-long lessons into busy and unpredictable schedules. “We designed our hours to be flexible for the parents,” Aycock says. “Also, children are over-programmed these days with so many different options and extracurriculars.” Aycock says he sees tremendous growth with his students, not only logically and technically, but socially and personally, as well. “To me, the greatest success is seeing kids come out of their shells and really learning and engaging in ways that they haven’t before,” says Aycock. “We’ve had parents in other Code Ninjas centers that have been open for a while talking about how a lot of times their kids may not be the best at interacting with others. And they really have opened up in there, and it’s given them something to be proud of, where they really are able to be a leader in the class and help others.” Anyone interested in becoming involved with Code Ninjas can visit codeninjas.com or call 901-910-6510.
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trical engineer when she grows up. Her mother, Marci, has seen much progress in her daughter. “I think she’s doing really well,” says Marci. “And I think Code Ninjas does it in a way that keeps the kids engaged. From the very beginning, she’s always looking forward to going. I think that helps with making steady progress.” Another student, Jorge Camarena Jr., a 13-year-old 7th grader at Houston Middle School, is also a yellow belt and enjoys Code Ninjas. “It’s wonderful,” he says. “I’ve had a really good experience with it. And if you just give it a lot of focus and you don’t play around, you could get things done and learn how to code easily.” Camarena likes robotics, and his favorite project has been flying drones. He hopes to be a coder for Microsoft, Google, or Apple when he grows up. His father, Jorge Camarena Sr., has seen a drastic improvement in his son’s abilities and says he thinks he made the right choice with Code Ninjas. “Once he joined, I felt he was more focused on what he wants to do,” he says. “Getting to college, right now kids don’t know what they want to do. And anything you want to do these days involves a small portion of coding. So I feel like it’s an investment, and I see it as a way to the future.” Children like Savov and Camarena work independently while they are in the dojo, but directors and senseis are there to help them along the way. “Our director and assistant director are both former teachers,” says Aycock. “Our
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who’s over the franchises in the United States.” He approached a former business partner, Marty Morgan, who he’d worked with at Memphis-based specialty pharmacy Accredo Health. They agreed that opening a Code Ninjas location in Collierville would be a great idea. “What really appealed to us is the fact that Code Ninjas focuses on teaching coding, which we both thought is important [knowledge] for kids to have,” says Aycock. “And they teach it in an engaging way.” Considering that, according to information published on code.org, an estimated 5,000 computing jobs are currently available in Tennessee, but there are only 700 computer science graduates to fill those jobs, Aycock knew that opening a program like this in Memphis was imperative. “We’re trying to take kids from being consumers to being producers,” Aycock says. “The goal is to prepare them for the job market of tomorrow in a fun and engaging way.” The program is designed so that students come into the karate-themed classroom, or “dojo,” to learn how to build video games, meanwhile learning coding, mathematics, logic, and problem-solving skills at their own pace. Kids start off in the program with a white “belt,” or wristband, and as they learn, they continue to progress through each colored belt until they earn their black belt. When kids start out in the program as a white belt, they begin learning block coding. Then, they’ll move up through the yellow, orange, and green belts to learn about Javascript. Once a child earns the blue belt, they’ll learn Lua to design games like Roblox. Beyond that, students progress through purple, brown, and red belts to learn C#. Finally, to earn the black belt, students will build games for Android or Apple apps. As students progress through each new belt, they’ll mark the occasion of their new ranking during a ceremony by chopping a rebreakable karate board and moving a magnet with their name on it up to the next level on a magnetic totem. One student, Noel Savov, a 12-year-old 7th grade student at Mid-South Gifted Academy, has her yellow belt and is learning how to work with Java. “My favorite project was when I had to make a turtle on the screen catch raindrops,” she says. “Before I started Code Ninjas, I was interested in robots, but I wasn’t really interested in coding. But I’m really glad I did it.” Noel says she hopes to earn her black belt in the program and that she wants to be an elec-
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O U T S TA N D I N G
T E AC H E R
by Julia Baker
ERICA STEPHENS
J A N UA RR AY R Y2 02 20 01 9
Last fall, Erica Stephens, a fourth grade math teacher at John P. Freeman Optional School, was attending what she thought was a school assembly.
She had been told that the assembly was going to be held in honor of the school’s recognition as a reward school. But when she saw Lowell Milken, chairman of the Milken Family Foundation, walk out onto the gymnasium floor, she knew someone was about to get a Milken Educator Award. “I was really taken aback,” she says. “I knew that the Milken Award was a teacher award because I recalled watching someone in the Texas area winning the same award on TV. So I started trying to record the teacher who was getting this award.” This prestigious accolade, often referred to as the “Oscar of Teaching,” is awarded to up to 40 teachers throughout the country each year to thank them for their outstanding work as unsung heroes. Milken began listing the qualities of the teacher who was about to win the award, and her students knew exactly who the award recipient was going to be: her. “They kept saying, ‘Oh, that’s you, Ms. Stephens,’” she says. “I kept telling them, ‘Be quiet! I’m trying to record this for somebody!’” Lo and behold, her name was called, and she couldn’t believe it. “I was overjoyed, I was in disbelief, and I was thankful,” says Stephens. “As a teacher, we know the work we
do is important, but it’s a thankless profession, and we don’t always get that pat on the back, saying, ‘Hey, you’re doing a great job.’” The award also came with a check for $25,000, which meant she would be able to take her family on vacation to spend some much-needed time with them. “I wanted to be sure that I used that opportunity to totally focus on my family and on spending time together,” she says. “If my family were not understanding of me being a teacher and the time that I put in to teach, I wouldn’t have been recognized as the Milken educator. My children know that they are very important to me, but they also know that they share me with my students.” In the classroom, Stephens considers her teaching method to be flexible, saying she tries to meet her students where they are in order to best teach them skills and concepts in math. “I’m really kind of reflective,” says Stephens. “I’m very into what the students want to learn. I present the lesson, and then I lean into the students to ask how they would like to learn. I’ll ask them, ‘Would you like to work with a partner? Or would you prefer to work on your own?’” Stephens is always coming up with fun and engaging lesson plans and
activities for students, like having them write math problems in highlighter under a blacklight or compete against each other using board games they or other students have created. “Anything I can think of, I will try it with my students to get them engaged,” she says. “And we’re teaching them healthy competition because we want our students to be globally competitive.” Stephens, who also works with the STEM club, loves seeing students joining clubs and becoming interested in new things like how robots work. “Our students are very different,” she says. “They are interesting.
They have their own intrinsic value. They want to learn, and they want to be the best that they can be.” Stephens is a true believer in the growth mindset and has learned that everyone — including her students, colleagues, and herself — always has room for growth. “I feel like that’s what we should be doing every day,” she says. “It’s not about where you start, it’s about where you end.” In her 17 years of teaching, Stephens has acquired three good rules of thumb that she’d like to share with other teachers. “Be flexible,” she says. “Don’t be afraid to ask others for help. And try to stay positive.”
We want to shine a light on your child’s teacher, or even a teacher who made a difference in your life. Submit your nomination today by emailing teacher@memphisparent.com. 18
Woodland grows the potential of each child through differentiated instruction, small class sizes, and a challenging, yet supportive educational curriculum. Call 901-685-0976 to schedule a tour, or email admissions@woodlandschool.org.
A co-ed, 2-year-old – 8th grade independent school in the heart of East Memphis. | woodlandschool.org Š2019 Woodland Presbyterian School. All rights reserved.
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19
DA D
L I B S
with Jeff Hulett
DREAMING OF SPRING BREAK Plan ahead and shake the winter blues.
J A N UA RY
2020
I know, I know. It’s January, and it’s cold and barren outside, and it feels like there’s nothing to look forward to or get excited about.
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Sure, your football team might still be in the playoff hunt, or perhaps you are one of the smart ones who booked a postholiday cruise. Even then, this time of year can be tough on the soul. But, I promise, there’s hope, and it comes in the form of planning for spring break. It’s hard to believe, but we are only a couple of months away. That’s right, as we sit today, we’re about 10 weeks out from the highly coveted spring break season. Spring break means different things to different people, so I’ve put together a list of questions for you to be thinking about as you begin to make your getaway plans. The dreary months of January and February won’t be so rough if you start posing these questions now. Where haven’t you been? Where do you want to get back to? How much time do you have? What’s your budget? As spring break planning takes center stage, I encourage you to think outside of the box. That could even include planning an enriching and creative staycation. God knows, there’s no shortage of cool things to do in Memphis. Try one of our new hotels Downtown or head to Harbor Town for a riverside outing.
While Downtown can be fun and lively, you might want to take it easy somewhere less raucous. With an array of local options, there’s something for everyone and every budget. My wife is a teacher, so spring break has always been a thing for us, but ever since I started my own business a few years ago, I would now officially call us spring-breakers. Whether we stay close or fly to a faraway land, the mid-March reprieve we know as spring break is a big part of our year. Last year, our family flew to Denver. The year before that, we flew to Seattle. While these big trips are incredible, they can definitely break the bank and wear you out. And traveling with small children has its challenges. This year we are planning something a little more proximate to Memphis. Has anyone been to Eureka Springs? We hear it’s artsy and dreamy and full of good food and great music. We also have Crystal Bridges in Bentonville, Arkansas, on our radar. What we’ve realized these past couple of years as our kids have been getting older is that they love being a part of the planning process. Seeing museums and
hot spots in other towns across the country energizes them, and helping choose stops makes them feel like a part of the process. The research and crowdsourcing with friends and family via social media adds to the excitement, too. Lists can prove handy, but they can also become a hindrance if you are a habitual listchecker — meaning you like to cross everything off. Remember, vacation is meant to be fun and exciting, and, above all, relaxing and rejuvenating. Wherever you choose, the key is to create enough space and time to truly dive in and get the most out of your visit. After all, you only have a few days to take it all in.
Jeff Hulett is a freelance writer, musician, and PR consultant in Memphis. He lives in the Vollintine Evergreen neighborhood with his wife Annie, two girls Ella and Beatrice, and two dogs Chalupa and Princess Freckles.
WHETHER WE STAY CLOSE OR FLY TO A FARAWAY L AND, THE MIDMARCH REPRIEVE WE KNOW AS SPRING BREAK IS A BIG PART OF OUR YEAR.
Our balanced approach to education encourages students to look deeper and dream bigger to find their God-given purpose. SCHOOLWIDE OPEN HOUSE Jan. 26 | 2:00pm
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MAKE THE MOST OF PLAYTIME LAUNCH RIGHT IN WITH . . .
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Scissors
Markers or paint
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Glue
5. Glue your cut tube on top of the cardboard in the shape of a spacecraft, and let it dry.
4. Trace the bottom of a toilet paper tube on top of another. Then cut out the round shape.
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can also decorate it with stickers. Place a small toy inside and go for a ride. Tell a story about where you’re going!
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21
F E AT U R E
NO MORE HOMEWORK HASSLES
Seven simple ways to raise conscientious students.
J A N UA RR AY R Y2 02 20 01 9 22
Homework serves many helpful purposes. Students learn how to follow through on lessons taught in the classroom. Homework tests a student’s comprehension of material that has already been covered in class so that learning gaps can be caught early. Finally, homework teaches kids how to focus in locations outside of school. Being able to settle down and get to work on a project is a skill that serves students not only in school but throughout the rest of their lives.
Like it or not, parents, homework is an important part of school and learning. Over an academic career, the amount of work your child brings home will gradually increase as a student progresses through the grades. Homework will also become more challenging and complex as the years go by. Many parents are surprised when they can no longer confidently answer their child’s homework questions, especially in math, but don’t let this throw you. Of course, you are not the person who needs to complete your child’s homework. You are the person who can help create a space at home where your student can apply focused concentration in the completion of assigned tasks. If you want the transition from school to homework to go as smoothly as possible, be forewarned, you are going to need to monitor your behavior as much as your child’s. If you follow these simple tips, you can help your children avoid homework hassles.
I L L U S T R AT I O N © M I C R O V O N E - D R E A M S T I M E . C O M
by Christina Katz
1. Be pro-homework. Whatever you do, parents, do not get down on the idea of homework. If you do, you might implicitly grant your student permission to dismiss it, too. If your child cannot handle the load that is considered typical for each grade, discuss your child’s challenges with the teacher. However a generally negative or critical attitude toward learning, teachers, or school will only undermine your child’s ability to prioritize homework. Addressing any concerns swiftly and giving teachers and administrators the benefit of the doubt will serve your student’s highest good, inside and outside the classroom.
DON’T FORGET CLASS PARTICIPATION
to work together to help your student overcome unproductive habits. Don’t get down on your child. Instead, brainstorm with the teacher about ways to inspire improved academic performance. Teachers always have plenty of experience in this department. 6. Check grades regularly. At some point, your child’s grades will be posted online with the expectation that students and parents will keep up with academic progress. When this happens, you won’t likely hear from teachers beyond parent-teacher conferences and report cards. The onus falls on parents to help students monitor progress in classes and address any discrepancies in grading. Don’t merely check your child’s quiz and test scores. Students are expected to turn in homework in a timely manner and to participate in class, in addition to working hard on quizzes, tests, and projects. Don’t let a few misplaced homework assignments bring your child’s grades down. 7. Use tutors as needed. Despite your best intentions and your child’s best efforts, you may find yourself in need of a tutor during the school year, the summer, or even throughout the year. One of the best things we ever did for our daughter was to say yes to suggestions from teachers to enlist extra help beyond the school day. Academic challenges often show up during the elementary school years, and when they are met with helpfulness instead of judgment, academic frustration can be addressed and improved swiftly, especially when parents and teachers work together. Remember that you are not your child and seek the type of help most likely to remedy the situation. If you find yourself taking your child’s disappointments too personally, working with a tutor is your opportunity to demonstrate detachment and humility for your child. Life presents challenges to us all. How we meet them determines how successful we will be in school and in life.
Another way parents can really help students succeed in school is by encouraging them to participate in class. Teachers can’t stress enough how important it is for children to be involved in class discussions and debates. The key is to start early. Start the pep talks as early as kindergarten and keep bringing up ways to participate all through elementary school. When asking about the school day, ask about ways your child participated in class. If your child is shy, encourage baby steps that will help them become more involved. If you remember to do this frequently throughout elementary school, the habit will be ingrained by the time kids start middle school. This way, your child will learn from experience that students who participate do better academically and enjoy school more overall.
3. Participate, but don’t take over. Sometimes you will be invited to participate in homework, but more often, your child needs to see what can be accomplished alone. Even when you are invited to pitch in, let students lead the collaboration process. Make sure you are the helper, not the boss. Once you take over your child’s homework, it’s difficult to get them to reclaim responsibility. After all, you can get it done so much faster and more accurately than they can. So be mindful about not taking over in the first place. If your child is lost or confused about homework instructions, seek out teacher input to help get your student back on track. 4. Encourage routine. Use the first few weeks of
pleted on Fridays or Sundays, according to what works best for your student and family. 5. Take advantage of student-teacher interaction. Some children are more shy than others. Other children may have trouble listening carefully to homework instructions in class. Others may forget to write down assignments or leave needed materials behind at school. Try to see all of these homework pitfalls as opportunities for your child’s growth. Don’t interfere unless you have to. Conspire with your child’s teacher
Author, journalist, and writing coach Christina Katz actually enjoyed doing homework when she was growing up.
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2. Make space for each student. If you have more than one student doing homework, try to create a separate space for each of them to work. The goal of homework is to take students out of a group environment and teach them to work independently. If others are always nearby creating distractions or trying to help, students won’t get a chance to see what they can accomplish on their own steam. Of course, some homework is meant to be collaborative. Look to your student for invitations to participate. Otherwise, try to give each student space where they can spread out and concentrate uninterrupted for the appropriate amounts of time recommended for their grade. Declare quiet time in the house until every student has had time to complete work.
school to establish a set routine for getting homework done throughout the year. Your child might be crabby or tired during the first weeks as they adjust to new schedules and juggling more responsibilities than they did during the summer or winter break. But resist the urge to make exceptions to the expected homework routine, as these habits set the tone for the entire school year. You will likely find yourself going through a homework adjustment period after each school vacation throughout the year. Stand firm that homework is the first priority when students return home each weekday. Homework for Mondays can be com-
23
JA N UA RY
C A L E N DA R
with Meena Viswanathan
Peanut Butter & Jam:
Middle Eastern Music and Dance
Germantown Performing Arts Center (GPAC)
SATURDAY, JANUARY 18 9:30 & 10:30 A.M. Experience an array of folk dance styles with Jasmine’s Jewels and Jonatan Derbaq as they share their love of Middle Eastern music and dance. At the end, families join in a dabke line dance! $8/child. Includes up to two adults. 751-7500. AGES 8 AND UNDER
1 ∙ WEDNESDAY
January FilmFest. CTI Giant Screen Theater @ Pink Palace Museum. Swim with a whale, walk on the moon, and go on safari with popular documentaries Journey to the South Pacific, Apollo 11, Wild Africa and more! Go to memphismuseums.org for complete details.
FJ E A BN RU UA ARRYY 22002200
2 ∙ THURSDAY
#TBT Film Series: “Throwback Thursdays.” Studio on the Square. Thursdays at 7 p.m. Malco presents this Thursday Night Series highlighting throwback flicks from the ’80s and ’90s, plus a few surprises thrown in the mix. The January line-up includes Back to the Future, Gladiator (Russell Crowe), E.T. The Extraterrestrial, Some Like It Hot (1959), and North by Northwest (1959). $6/film. Go to malco.com to purchase advance tickets.
3 ∙ FRIDAY
Firepit Fridays. River Garden. 4:306:30 p.m. Join in on the fun at the River Garden for free s’mores from
4 22 4
the 4th Cup and more. Weather cancellations posted by 1 p.m. Parking available in the Tennessee Welcome Center. Free. Visit Facebook for more information.
ages 4-11. Free for children 3 and under. 785-3160.
5 ∙ SUNDAY
Free Sunday at Chucalissa. C.H. Nash Museum at Chucalissa. Sundays, 1-5 p.m. Enjoy a family-friendly film with a Native American theme at 2 p.m. Take a self-guided tour of the museum and grounds. Free. 785-3160.
Fab Fridays Laser Music Shows & Giant Screen Movies. Pink Palace Museum. Fridays, 6-9 p.m. Laser music shows at the AutoZone Dome Planetarium and classic movies at the CTI Giant Screen Theater every Friday at the Pink Palace. For complete details , visit memphismuseums.org.
4 ∙ SATURDAY
Chucalissa Family Day. C.H. Nash Museum at Chucalissa. Saturdays at 10 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. Family programs and craft activities change weekly. Jan. 4 – Stone Tools/Pottery. Jan. 11 – Mystery Box/Beading. Jan. 18 – Music/Coloring. Jan. 25 – Trash Talks/ Snake Painting. Family Day activities include museum tour, throwing darts with an atlatl, scavenger hunt, the hands-on-lab tour, an educational program, and creating a keepsake craft to take home. $6/adult. $4/child
classes taught by Playhouse staff and teaching artists. $10. Reservations required. 937-6475.
Art to Grow Turns 20! Dixon Gallery and Gardens. 10 a.m. until noon. The Dixon’s outreach program, Art to Grow, celebrates its 20th birthday with cake, live music, art-making, and camaraderie. Free. 761-5250.
Theatre School Open House. Playhouse on the Square (POTS). 2-5 p.m. Playhouse on the Square’s Department of Theatre Education invites students to sample theatre school classes. Students rotate between acting, voice, and dance
8 ∙ WEDNESDAY
Toddler Time. Universal Parenting Place (UPP) @ Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women. Meets Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. until noon. Play group for parents and toddlers. Free. 227-9558.
14 ∙ TUESDAY
Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The Orpheum. January 14-19. Tuesday through Friday at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at 2 & 8 p.m.; Sunday at 1 & 6:30 p.m. Grab your golden ticket to experience the wonders of Willy Wonka.
Features songs from the original film including “Pure Imagination,” “The Candy Man,” and “I’ve Got a Golden Ticket,” alongside a new score from the songwriters of Hairspray. $25-$125. Call 525-3000 for tickets.
31 ∙ FRIDAY
18 ∙ SATURDAY
Peanut Butter & Jam: Middle Eastern Music and Dance. Germantown Performing Arts Center (GPAC). 9:30 & 10:30 a.m. Ages 8 and under. Experience an array of folk dance styles with Jasmine’s Jewels and Jonatan Derbaq as they share their love of Middle Eastern music and dance. At the end, families join in a dabke line dance! $8/child. Includes up to two adults. 751-7500.
Family Volunteer Day. Memphis Zoo. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Families spend the day at the zoo volunteering. Free. 333-6500. MLK Arts Unite. New Ballet Ensemble and School. 2-4 p.m. This special program features arts workshops in dance, theater, spoken word and music, and collaborative professional performance from local arts organizations. Volunteer mentor information session also offered during the event. Participants under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Free. Visit newballet.org for details.
23 ∙ THURSDAY
Popovich Comedy Pet Theater. Buckman Arts Center at St. Mary’s. Two shows, at 5 & 7 p.m. This modern-day Dr. Doolittle performance combines theatrics of Moscow-born Gregory Popovich with the talents of his four-legged stars. Features European-style clowning, juggling, and balancing acts. $36/adult. $31/child. 537-1483.
16th Annual Reelfoot Lake Eagle Festival. Reelfoot Lake State Park in Tiptonville, TN. Through February 2. Festivities include art and photo contests, guided eagle and waterfowl tours, children’s activities, Live Birds of Prey programs, sunrise photo/bus tour, and vendors. Free admission. $14 for eagle and waterfowl tours. Call 731-253-9652 for tour reservations.
LOOKING AHEAD
FEBRUARY
1 ∙ SATURDAY
Crosstown 10K and 5K. Crosstown Concourse. Registration at 7:30 a.m. Celebrate and support good health at the second annual Crosstown 10K, benefiting Church Health. Join for 10K or 5K race followed by afterparty in the west atrium of Crosstown. $20-$45. Visit churchhealth.org or call 701-2303 for information.
at the 2020 Mid-South American Heart Association
HEART & STROCK BALL Saturday, February 22, 2020 The Peabody Hotel Tickets available at MidSouthHeartBall.Heart.org For more information please contact Nichole Epson at 901-248-7968 or Nichole.Epson@Heart.org
The Birds & the Seeds Winter Workshop & Seed Swap. Lichterman Nature Center. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Gardening and bird-watching experts, beginner bird-watching seminars, cooking demos, children’s activities, seed swap, and seed giveaways. Free admission. Fees for tool sharpening, plant purchases, and owl pellet dissection. 636-2221.
MEEM MPPHHIISSPPAARREEN NTT. .CCO OM M M
25 ∙ SATURDAY
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O N G O I N G
E V E N T S Family Metalsmithing: Embossed Time Capsules. Metal Museum. Sunday, January 5, 2-4 p.m. Families learn how to use embossing method to create elements for their time capsule. $30/family. Reservations required. 774-6380.
CLASSICAL GRIT AND GRIND: CELEBRATING MEMPHIS
Mini Metalsmiths: Gilded Pinch Pots. Metal Museum. Wednesday, January 8, 3:45-4:45 p.m. Ages 3-6 years. Inspired by the raising process and “Master Metalsmith: Sarah Perkins,” children use clay to create a vessel and then decorate it with gold leaf and stamps. $10. Reservations required. 774-6380.
GPAC. Saturday, January 25, 7:30-10 p.m. IRIS looks into the past, present, and future in this concert. Pianist Conrad Tao composes an IRIS-commissioned piece, “Spoonfuls,” exploring Memphis’ unique musical heritage in honor of our city’s bicentennial. $45-$70. Call 751-7669 for tickets.
Museums and Exhibits
Graceland Exhibition Center. Expedition: Dinosaur Exhibit. Through January 20. Journey to Space Exhibit. Through January 5. $16/adult. $8/ child ages 13-17. $5/child ages 3-12. Family four packs, special discounts, and group rates available. 332-3322.
A BN RU UA ARRYY 22002200 FJ E
The Pink Palace Museum. City of Hope: Resurrection City and the 1968 Poor People’s Campaign poster exhibition. Through June 21. Sun, Earth, Universe. In collaboration with NASA, the National Informal STEM Education Network (NISE Net) presents this interactive exhibit about Earth and space. 636-2362.
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CTI 3D Giant Theater. Giant Screen Film Festival. Now showing. January line-up includes Wild Africa 3D, Journey to the South Pacific 3D, Apollo 11 (2D), and more. 636-2362. AutoZone Dome at the Sharpe Planetarium. The Sun, Our Living Star. Opens January 2. Discover the secrets of our star and experience never-before-seen images of the sun’s violent surface in immersive fulldome format. Seasonal Stargazing. Now showing. One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure. Until further notice. 636-2362.
Other Programs
2nd Annual 10-Minute Play Slam Competition. POTS. All entries must be submitted online or postmarked by January 17. This year’s themes are “Take a Stand” for middle school division and “The World Today” for high school division. Five finalists and one winner chosen to present in the Play Slam! Festival scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 2. Contact Jason Gerhard at 937-6475 for details. Breakfast with the Birds. Lichterman Nature Center. January 25 & 26, 7:30-9:30 a.m. Bird-watchers enjoy breakfast overlooking Mertie’s Lake. Ornithologists present birding basics and take you on a guided walk through lake, meadow, and forest trails. $25/person. Call 636-2221 for reservations.
Classes & Workshops
Breastfeeding Class. Baptist Women’s Hospital. Thursday, January 2, 6:308:30 p.m. Class covers information on getting started with breastfeeding, how to be successful, and resources. $30. Call 226-5764 to register. Saturday Childbirth Class. Baptist Women’s Hospital. Saturday (Jan. 4 & 18), 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Class covers information on labor/delivery, childbirth, and infant and new mom care. $75. Call 226-5764 to register.
Hand Stitching Workshop with Christine Ruby. Dixon Gallery and Gardens. Thursday, January 9, 6-8 p.m. Ages 15 and up. Dixon’s new Hobby Kick-Start classes introduce participants to a new skill each month. January class focuses on a brief overview of traditional and decorative hand stitches. $25. Reservations required. 761-5250. Guy Talk. Methodist Le Bonheur Germantown Hospital. Friday, January 10, 6-8 p.m. for parents only. Saturday, January 11, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. for parent and son. Guy Talk: an educational program to enhance open communication between parents and sons ages 9-12 years. An opportunity to equip your son with the knowledge he needs for his journey into manhood. $60 for parent and child. $40/additional child. Call 516-6645 to register. A Day of Tasters. Metal Museum. Saturday, January 11, multiple times throughout the day. Ages 15 and up. The tasters’ 90-minute workshops include blacksmithing, welding, casting, and fold forming. $50/session. Reservations required. 774-6380. Sibling Class. Baptist Women’s Hospital. Saturday, January 11, from 10 a.m. until noon. Big brother/ big sister class prepares sibling for the arrival of baby and includes information for parents. $20. Call 226-5764 to register. Junior Artisans: Copper Cars. Metal Museum. Saturday, January 11, from 10:30 a.m. until noon. Ages 7-10
years. Students design a kinetic car out of copper. $15. Reservations required. 774-6380. Dynamic Dads Workshop. Baptist Women’s Hospital. Saturday, January 11, 12:30-4 p.m. Class for expectant dads. Free. Call 227-9873 to register. Young Coppersmiths: Forged Foil Birds. Metal Museum. Saturday, January 11, 2:30-4 p.m. Ages 11-13 years. Inspired by the nature that surrounds the museum grounds, students create forged birds using aluminum foil, copper sheet, and copper wire. $15. Reservations required. 774-6380. Silly Pots. Memphis Botanic Garden (MBG). Sunday, January 12, 1:303:30 p.m. Becky Zee teaches the basics of pinch pot construction in this ceramics class. Add eyes, teeth, horns, hair, or legs to your little critter and finish him up with colorful clay paints, all in one sitting. All skill levels welcome. Children ages 10 and up welcome with parent. All creations given a waterproof clear glaze and fired off-site. Finished pots ready for pick up at MBG two weeks after class. $50. Class fee includes all materials. Tools provided. Wear play clothes. Call 636-4128 to register by Jan. 8. Planned Cesarean Class. Methodist Le Bonheur Germantown Hospital. Saturday, January 18, 9-11 a.m. This two-hour class provides information and emotional support to help prepare parents for a surgical delivery. The goal is to help understand postpartum period, lessen anxieties, and make the experience a positive one. Free when taken with Prepared Childbirth Class, $30/couple when taken alone. Call 516-6645 to register. School’s Out! Day Camp. POTS. Monday, January 20, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. (+ aftercare). Children K-5th grade play theater games, create new characters, and recreate stories based on popular children’s books and characters. Bring your favorite storybook. For extended fun, join a movie slumber party afterward. $50. Reservations required. Go to playhouseonthesquare.org to register online or call 937-6475 for details.
Elvis Tribute Concert. Graceland. Friday, January 10, 7:30 p.m. Terry Mike Jeffrey and his band join Memphis Symphony Orchestra to play the classic songs for Elvis’ 85th birthday celebration. $35-$65. Each ticket includes free admission to Elvis Presley’s Memphis Exhibit and Entertainment Complex after 3 p.m. the day of the show. For more information, go to graceland.com.
AN EVENING WITH POP SUPERSTAR AMY GRANT Cannon Center for the Performing Arts. Saturday, January 25, 7:3010 p.m. Memphis Symphony Orchestra welcomes multiGrammy winner Amy Grant to the Cannon Center. Tickets start at $17. Visit memphisymphony.org for details.
Dyslexia Success Series: SoundSymbol Correspondence - Beginning Phonics Instruction. Middle Tennessee State University. Saturday, January 25, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The focus of this series is on Building Strong Foundations: K–1 Literacy Screening, Instruction, and Intervention. The content is geared toward education professionals; parents are also welcome to attend. $25. Certificates of attendance given to support professional development credit (three hours per session). Visit mtsu.edu/dyslexia and click on Calendar of Events for more info and registration details. Make Your Own: Copper Rose. Metal Museum. Saturday. January 25. Two sessions offered, from 10 a.m. until noon and 2:30-4:30 p.m. Families use 36-gauge copper to make a single copper rose. $15. Reservations required. 774-6380.
Home School Classes
Home School Day: Memphis Zoo Arctic Exploration. Memphis Zoo. Thursday, January 23, 9:30-11:30 a.m. & 1-3 p.m. Ages 2-11. Students participate in hands-on experiments to explore how arctic animals thrive in colder climates. $21/student. 333-6500. Fractured Fairy Tales Home School Classes. Germantown Community Theatre. January 29 through April 15. Wednesdays – Class 1: “A Grimm
An Evening with Gabey Moreno. Buckman Arts Center at St. Mary’s. Friday, January 17, 8 p.m. Guatemalan singer-songwriterguitarist Gabey Moreno is known for bringing a blend of jazz, blues, soul, and ’60s R&B. $35/adult. $30/child. 537-1483. Mess,” 1-2:15 p.m. Class 2: “Musical Mashup,” 2:15-3:30 p.m. Theater classes for homeschool students focus on fairy tales, with a non-conventional approach. $90/student for 12-week session. Call 453-7449 to register.
Fund-raisers
Lessons of Humanity: What My Grandfather Taught Me. Halloran Center @ The Orpheum. Saturday, January 18, 10 a.m. A former refugee from Uganda, Samite shares stories based upon his work with refugees and survivors of wars. Drawing inspiration from his grandfather’s wisdom, he presents the tales accompanied by African instruments. $25-$125. Call 525-3000 for tickets.
Valentine’s Day Cards. MBG. The garden staff is planting thousands of bulbs in preparation for its spring flower display. Support the garden’s labor of love with donations in honor of your Valentine. $20 sends one Valentine card, $50 sends three Valentines, and $100 sends eight. Make donations by February 7. Order online at memphisbotanicgarden.com/ valentines or call 636-4100 to order by phone.
An Evening with Pop Superstar Amy Grant. Cannon Center for the Performing Arts. Saturday, January 25, 7:30-10 p.m. Memphis Symphony Orchestra welcomes multi-Grammy winner Amy Grant to the Cannon Center. Tickets start at $17. For details, visit memphisymphony.org.
The Art of Dinner: Healthy Soul Food. Church Health Nutrition Hub. Friday, January 3, 6-9 p.m. Church Health presents this interactive cooking class in the teaching kitchen, and Chef Joshua House guides you through a four-course menu. $65. Benefits community nutrition programming at the Church Health. Go to churchhealth.org for tickets.
Classical Grit and Grind: Celebrating Memphis. GPAC. Saturday, January 25, 7:30-10 p.m. IRIS looks into the past, present, and future in this concert. Pianist Conrad Tao composes an IRIS-commissioned piece, “Spoonfuls,” exploring Memphis’ unique musical heritage in honor of our city’s bicentennial. $45-$70. Call 751-7669 for tickets.
BuffaGLO Run. Shelby Farms Park. Saturday, January 4, 6-8 p.m. Experience the park after dark in this untimed 4K Fun Run through the lights of Starry Nights. Benefits Shelby Farms Park and Greenline. Go to shelbyfarmspark.org for registration details.
IRIS at the Brooks. Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. Sunday, January 26, 3-5 p.m. Pianist and composer Conrad Tao performs pieces by Beethoven and others alongside IRIS musicians at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art Hohenberg Auditorium. $40. Call 751-7669 for tickets. Swedish Jam Factory. Buckman Arts Center at St. Mary’s. Friday, January 31, 8 p.m. Thomas Bergstig and Isaac Middleton, who met in Memphis at the Playhouse on the Square and got famous on Sweden’s Got Talent, come to entertain at the Buckman. $28/adult. $23/child. 537-1483.
Story Time at Area Bookstores and Museums
Barnes & Noble Booksellers The Avenue Carriage Crossing Mall, 853-3264 Saturdays at 11 a.m. Ages 1-6. Barnes & Noble Booksellers 2774 N. Germantown Pkwy., 386-2468 Tuesdays and Saturdays at 11 a.m. Ages 2-8. Baby & Me Story Time. Sundays, 11-11:30 a.m. Ages 2 and under. Escape this Bookstore. Saturday, January 11, 2-2:30 p.m. Ages 7-13. This young reader event features the Escape This Book series. Free. Novel. 387 Perkins Ext., 922-5526 Story Time with Marjorie Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11 a.m. Ages 3 and under. Author Event and Book Signing with Nic Stone. Thursday, January 9, 6 p.m. Ages 8-12. Join Nic Stone as he signs and discusses his book Clean Getaway. Free. Author Event and Book Signing with Alice Faye Duncan. Tuesday, January 14, 6 p.m. Ages 4-8. Join Alice Faye Duncan as she signs and presents her book Just Like A Mama. Free.
MEEM MPPHHIISSPPAARREENNTT. .CCO OM M M
Theatre Performances
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F E AT U R E
THE PLAY’S THE THING
Ways students can get involved in school theater.
J A N UA RY
2020
by Christina Katz
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When most parents think of school theater programs, they may think of their child on stage in the spotlight. But theater programs offer many more opportunities than what an audience sees up on stage. While dramatically inclined kids can certainly benefit from acting from a young age, students entering high school can find many ways to contribute to a school production beyond acting, even without prior theater experience. Over the course of four years, kids can crisscross back and forth as they explore a variety of ways to contribute to theatrical productions. And maybe all this theatrical experience and know-how will help your child prepare to stand confidently in a spotlight of her very own some day. Long story short: Most directors frown on kids who act like the spotlight has been reserved for them and them alone. Theater is a complex art, and it takes a village to mount a show. So why not count all the ways your child might become involved? There are likely more opportunities than you even realize, including ways to spend time volunteering with your student.
1. Audition for a part. Actors may seem to have the most glamorous jobs in any show, but acting is a big-time commitment and tons of work, especially for the show’s leads. If this is your child’s first theater experience, aim for supporting or chorus roles, which are less pressure and more fun when a student is joining a production for the first time. 2. Assist the director. Sometimes an actor does not land the role they wanted. Instead of leaving a show altogether, why not ask the director if you can assist? The student director can learn an awful lot about theater from the director’s vantage point, and these insights will likely help an actor on the next audition. 3. Be the dramaturge. Research-lovers will enjoy the role of dramaturge. This person researches the historic and cultural aspects of the show, as well as the play’s setting.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARENT VOLUNTEERS:
• Supplying snacks for the cast and crew
• Hosting the postproduction party
• Sewing costumes
• Contributing to the program
• Picking up costumes, props, lights, microphones, and makeup kits
• Filming and editing the show for memento DVDs
• Shuttling kids around to find gifts and cards
• Building and painting sets
P H OTO © K O L OT Y P E | D R E A M S T I M E . C O M
4. Light the show. During dress rehearsals and performances, the light board needs to be operated and spotlights may need to be run. With training from the technical director or the lighting designer, students can manage these jobs just fine.
• Selling tickets in the box office
or quick changes are involved. Maybe your fashion-conscious child is willing to work in the dressing room during dress rehearsals and performances.
• Helping tear down set, store items used, and clean dressing rooms
Ushers stand at the doors of the theater, take tickets, hand out programs, and help attendees find their seats. 19. Manage the house. House manager prepares the house before the show and trains the ushers. This person is the liaison between the box office and the stage manager, communicating when the audience is ready to begin the show.
5. Run the sound. Full productions often involve the use of microphones, music, and sound effects. Typically one student is trained by the sound director or technical director to run the sound board.
12. Shoot photographs. Publicity shots are often needed to promote a show several weeks in advance. Headshots are typically used to promote a run in-house. A shot of the entire cast and crew makes a nice memento. If your student loves photography, volunteer to be a show photographer.
6. Dress in black. Those folks who dress in all black and scurry around the stage between scenes have a name: set crew. Their job is to reset the stage during dress rehearsals and performances for the coming scene with sets and props.
13. Design the poster or T-shirts. A contest is sometimes held among students to come up with a winning design for the poster or cast and crew T-shirt. Even if there’s no contest, encourage your talented artist to offer services to help the director create these items.
20. Become spirit leader. One of the incredible things about kids is that they have enough energy to participate in a full theater production and still have energy left over for dress-up theme days on show days. The person who leads this activity is called the spirit leader. This person also sets up other fun cast and crew activities like secret buddies.
7. Aspire to be stage manager. The stage manager “calls the show,” meaning oversees all tech positions (set crew, light crew, and sound crew). In fact, the stage manager coordinates the timing of the show from backstage, communicating the timing of technical aspects for the actors.
14. Publicize the show. Along with photos, press releases need to be sent to regional media. Posters need to be hung up within driving distance. Email announcements need to be composed and sent out to the theater’s email list. Students and parents can help with this job together.
21. Help with the program. The director’s note needs to be included. Bios need to be gathered from the cast. Sponsors may submit ads. All the contents of the program must go through layout and design and get printed before each show. Another good job for a student and parent team.
8. Build and paint sets. Is your student handy with a hammer and a paintbrush? Then they can help bring the world of the play to life. Set builds often take place in the evening or on weekends in spurts of several hours at a time.
15. Reach out to the community. Can your student drop by a local assisted-living residence with a group invitation? What about getting in touch with other theater programs and organizations nearby? Kids may benefit from parent help with this job.
22. Film the show. Several camera operators are usually needed to film a show in one or two takes. This team is typically led by an adult professional or volunteer, but students with an interest in filming or film editing can also volunteer.
16. Accompany the singers in rehearsal. Is your child an accomplished pianist? If so, most musical productions need a rehearsal accompanist. The accompanist typically joins the band to play during performances.
23. Organize thank-you gifts. As you can imagine, once a show’s run is complete, there are a lot of folks to thank. If your student is thoughtful and likes to shop, maybe you could work together to line up gifts from the cast and crew for those in professional and leadership roles in the production.
9. Gather or make props. Remember that everything on the stage must register from the audience. If your child has a knack for decorating or crafting, making props might be the perfect job. Props can be bought, borrowed, embellished, or built from scratch. 10. Sew costumes. If your student enjoys sewing, most theater departments can always use as many nimble fingers as they can recruit. On large productions, even a person with basic skills may be able to contribute quite a bit. 11. Assist with hair and makeup. When the pressure is on, actors usually need help getting hair and makeup done in time, especially if wigs
17. Play in the pit. Does your student play in the school band? Can they play an unusual instrument or multiple instruments that might add drama and entertainment to the musical score? For rock-centric shows, even an electric guitar is sometimes needed. 18. Volunteer to usher. A great way for students to see the show for free is to usher.
Christina Katz is an author, journalist, and writing coach whose husband has been a high school theater teacher for over a decade. She has seen more high school plays and musicals than she can count and always enjoys them thoroughly.
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