May 2015
Fr e e
KNOXVILLE
May 2015 Volume IV • Issue IV Adam and Samantha Kalwas, Publishers Advisory Board
Contributing Writers
Sr. Mary Marta Abbott, RSM The Diocese of Knoxville
Jeff Comas Knoxville Zoo Tracey Matthews Jim McIntyre Erin Nguyen Mike O’Hern Kathryn Rea Smith, Ph.D. Michael K. Smith, Ph.D YMCA Camp Ocoee
Marie Alcorn United Way of Greater Knoxville Mike Bailey Small Business Representative Paul Parson East Tennessee Children’s Hospital
Photos YMCA Camp Ocoee
Tracey Matthews Knox County Schools Family and Community Engagement Elizabeth Pooley Marketing Professional Lee Tramel Knox County Sheriff ’s Department Liza Zenni The Arts and Culture Alliance of Greater Knoxville
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In This Issue... Moving On From An Injury “That injury changed my perspective on life and has made me continually thankful for what movements I can now do.”
PAGE 4
What’s Love Got To Do With It “Given the many positive outcomes associated with parental warmth, it is well worth striving to do so.” PAGE 5
Fun Ways to Keep Physically Active During Vacation “With summer vacation just around the corner for many students and families, let’s figure out some “fun” ways to “Get Active” during vacation. ” PAGE 9
Contents 4 Moving On From An Injury
9 Fun Ways to Keep Physically Active During
Vacation
10-11 Learn, Grow, And Thrive At Camp Ocoee
5 What’s Love Got To Do WIth It 6 Who Put Letters In Math
12 Getting The Most Out Of Practice
7 Gorillas Expecting Babies
14 10 Terrific Books: Making Good Decisions
8 Dear Knox County Schools’ Families
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Knoxville Parent • May 2015
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Knoxville Parent • May 2015
Moving On From An Injury by Michael K. Smith, Ph.D.
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was really looking forward to Tuesday evening, December 31. I was turning fifty. My family and I had planned a big birthday party with catered food, drinks, and invitations out to lots of our friends. On Monday morning, however, I awoke with an excruciating pain shooting from my lower back down the right side of my leg. I could not even stand up. What had happened? What was I going to do about my gigantic celebration? A few days later, an MRI revealed that I had somehow compressed the L4/L5 vertebrae causing pinched nerves and the subsequent pain. What I had done to cause this injury was not clear? Had it been my running on street pavement? Was it lifting a heavy new television set up some stairs two weeks earlier? Was I just getting old? Pain pills temporarily relieved the symptoms but they dulled my senses. I was proscribed a course of physical therapy to help correct the compressed vertebrae. In all my fifty years, this was my first time dealing with injury. The physical therapist said that it would take several weeks of treatment followed by subsequent changes in eating and exercise to fully relieve all the pain. I was certainly not happy to hear that there was no miracle
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“That injury changed my perspective on life and has made me continually thankful for what movements I can now do.” cure. The physical therapy treatments and exercises worked slowly to ease the pain, but it hurt to walk and even sit in a chair for weeks. As a psychologist, I was fully aware of the research literature on the five stages of grief that people endure after an injury or personal loss. I had even taught these stages in introductory psychology classes. However, it was hard to recognize these stages in myself. Denial was the first stage; the belief that pain would suddenly go away and I would be back to normal. Anger came next; the rage that accompanies thoughts of “How could this happen to me?” or “How did I do this?” Bargaining then took over as I thought that I could do some physical therapy and some changes in lifestyle and then return to my old habits. Depression set in after bargaining failed, and I realized that there would be no quick fix to my problem. Finally, though, with continued work, Acceptance of my injury and the long path needed to recover became part of my life. With acceptance, also came the realization that I may never be the same again. Certain aspects of what I did and who I am have been altered permanently. The first few weeks of physical therapy relieved the pain. I was told that I really needed to lose weight, develop a routine of stretching and exercise, and to not run again, especially on pavement. I tried to bargain some of these suggestions away; when I could not I got depressed. However, after the pain returned and I had to return to physical therapy, I finally came to accept the fact that I had to change. It took a lot of effort. Over several months, I lost about 40 pounds, worked with a personal trainer to develop back strength and flexibility, and watched what I lifted and what sports I played. I have lived with these changes to my lifestyle for over ten years. I have changed and the pain has never returned. What happened at my 50th birthday party? Well, my family suggested that we have the party, and they worked hard to prepare for it. I was on the living room floor the entire party, reaching up to shake hands with my friends (and enduring endless rounds of joking). However, that injury changed my perspective on life and has made me continually thankful for what movements I can now do. Michael K. Smith, Ph.D., is owner of TESTPREP EXPERTS (www.testprepexperts.com ) which prepares students for standardized tests such as the ACT and SAT. He is also a consultant to Discovery Education Assessment. He can reached at mike@testprepexperts.com.
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Knoxville Parent • May 2015
What’s Love Got To Do With It by Kathryn Rea Smith, Ph.D.
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n psychological research, “parental warmth” is an important concept related to the quality of a parent-child relationship. Studies have shown that the presence of parental warmth is associated with a variety of positive outcomes including improved selfesteem, lower rates of teen pregnancy and underage drinking, lower delinquency rates, better parent-child communication, and greater college adjustment. Parental warmth seems to be a good thing. So what is it? And why should we try to get more of it into our relationships with our children? When psychological researchers talk about parental warmth, they are referring to a specific set of parent behaviors towards their children. So, for instance, when parents are “warm” they say nice things to their children, offer praise and approval, are physically affectionate, and do special things together with their children. In studies of parental warmth, the researchers typically also assess the “opposite” of warmth: hostility. When parents are hostile towards their children, they yell, shout, argue, criticize, and belittle. When warmth is high and hostility is low, “parental warmth” is thought to be a salient feature of the parent-child relationship. As with many types of psychological research, identifying the presence of parental warmth is complicated in that the degree of “warmth” in the relationship depends upon whom you ask—the parent or the child. To get at this complexity, parental warmth and hostility are measured by asking parents to rate themselves, by asking the children to rate the parents, and by having trained observers rate the interactions between a parent and child in the home. Examples of items that assess the child’s perception of parental warmth are “how often does your father tell you he loves you?” or “how often does your mother hug you?” Examples of items that assess the child’s perception of hostility are “how often does your father scream at you?” and “how often does your mother criticize you?” Parents are asked to rate themselves on similar items. In some families, there is high congruence between the parent and child ratings, but in other families, there is discordance. For instance, the children may rate the parents as less warm and more hostile than what the parents’ self-ratings indicated. When the scores are analyzed along with other variables of interest (e.g. delinquency), the presence of parental warmth is related to favorable outcomes for children and adolescents. On the one hand, it may seem silly for psychologists to spend time and money studying what most of us who are parents know to be true. We are well aware that it is good to tell our children we love them, hug them, praise them, and offer support and approval, and many of us do a pretty good job with these things. On the other hand, maintaining parental warmth when faced with the inevitable challenges of parenting can be difficult. In the course of a typical week, we may encounter such problematic child behaviors as sibling squabbles, poor test grades, messy rooms, dishonesty, disrespectful speech, rule-violations, or outright defiance. During these moments in which we don our disciplinarian hat, we may reflexively become stern and angry, raise our voice, and pile on the criticism. When warmth becomes hostility, though, the parent-child relationship takes a hit.
“Given the many positive outcomes associated with parental warmth, it is well worth striving to do so.” Even though it can be challenging to discipline without resorting to yelling, shouting, or belittling, it is possible to eschew a hostile approach in favor of a firm, warm connection with our children during the times we must correct them. Given the many positive outcomes associated with parental warmth, it is well worth striving to do so. We can find ways to communicate and set limits without yelling. We can show understanding about such lapses as poor grades and help our child figure out how to do better the next time. We can emphasize to our child that, although we find a particular behavior unacceptable, our love and support are nonnegotiable. Kathryn Rea Smith, Ph.D. is a private practice psychologist specializing in psychological assessment and parenting consultation. Dr. Smith can be reached at kerea@aol.com.
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Knoxville Parent • May 2015
Who Put Letters In Math
by Mike O’Hern, Center Director of Mathnasium of West Knoxville ’m not one much for the “beauty” of math, per se. Sure, I can certainly see where that idea comes from, but my mind is more like an engineer’s than a mathematician’s, so I’m more about the “utility” of math. Which is why my mind was absolutely blown when I took calculus in college. I was so excited because I could immediately see what a powerful tool it is for figuring out how things work and such. You can build an airplane without it, but if you use it, you can optimize that airplane without a bunch of trial and error. And while trial is fun, error isn’t so great with airplanes. As it turns out you can’t do calculus without algebra. And, as expected in this space, we’d have to say that pre-algebra is where we pick up the tools with which we can do the algebra. Pre-algebra is where we learn about various properties in math, and it’s also where we start all that nonsense about adding letters to our equations. Who in the world would put letters in math? Well, if you think engineers know everything then you might be onto something with that question. But if you think there may occasionally be something that an engineer doesn’t know, then you’ll need some way to express “the unknown” in your math. We’ll get to the unknowns eventually, but for the moment let’s just start with one of those properties I mentioned. This one is called the Distributive Property because in math all is fair, and distributing equally seems fair enough. (This is math, not economics, after all.) Here’s the essential idea: 5 x 23 = 5 x (20 + 3) = 5 x 20 + 5 x 3 = 100 + 15 = 115. You can try this with any pair of numbers and you’ll see that it works. But that doesn’t really help you understand why it works, right? Let’s see if we can clear that up a bit. Now the first and last steps seem fairly clear, but the middle steps are tricky, right? But if you simply look at your pencil bag in your binder you can see what’s happening
here. See it has 20 pencils (P) and 3 erasers (E). Now if you had five of those bags, and we represent the bag like this, (), then we have 5 x (20P + 3E) = 100P + 15E. Yes, five bags would mean a grand total of 100 pencils and 15 erasers. So if you’re multiplying stuff inside parentheses, you have to multiply each thing in there individually. The Jones’ garage has two cars, one lawn mower, five bicycles and a floor mat. Six of their neighbors are keeping up with the Jones’, so they have the identical things in their garages. How many of each is on the block? That’s seven (including the Jones’), so 7 x (2C + 1L + 5B + 1M) = 14 cars, 7 mowers, 35 bikes, and 7 mats. Now we have but one more step to finish this thing off. And it’s in a grocery bag. Dad and his three brothers have identical lists and end up with two apples, one jar of peanut butter and three packages of sliced cheese. So altogether they have 4 x (2A + 1P + 3C) for eight apples, four jars, and 12 packs of cheese. And there’s the rub. How many slices of cheese do they have? AH! The unknown! How many slices are there in each package? 16? 24? So the C can represent the number of packages, and we call it a variable because the number of slices can vary depending upon the value of C – the number of slices per package. So there’s a little introduction to pre-algebra. Sure, there’s more to take on, but hopefully you can see you have nothing to fear if that’s where you’re headed next year! As owner and director at Mathnasium (a math learning center with locations in West Knoxville and Chattanooga (www.mathnasium.com/westknoxville) for the past five years, Mike has extensive experience teaching children and young adults the foundations of math concepts that are crucial to building their confidence and engagement with math throughout life.
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Knoxville Parent • May 2015
Gorillas Expecting Babies by Knoxville Zoo
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noxville Zoo made an exciting announcement with the news that two of the zoo’s critically endangered Western lowland gorillas are expecting babies in the late spring. Hope and Machi, the expectant mothers, came to Knoxville to be a part of the zoo’s first family group of gorillas which also includes another female, Kowali, and first-time father Bantu. Hope is expected to give birth in late Kowali May, with Machi following soon after in early Western lowland June. Hope, Machi and Kowali were introduced to Bantu last summer on the recommendation of the Western Lowland Gorilla Species Survival Plan (SSP) when it became apparent that there was no chemistry between them and the zoo’s other silverback male, Wanto. The match was an instant success, and zoo staff confirmed both pregnancies a few weeks later. Both females are being carefully monitored by zoo staff and veterinarians from the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine (UTCVM). Hope and Machi are currently being trained to allow ultrasound images to be taken so zoo vets and staff can keep a close eye on the health of the babies. “This is a first for Knoxville Zoo and very important for the conservation of Western lowland gorillas”, said Lisa New, executive director of Knoxville Zoo. “There hasn’t been a gorilla Bantu born in Tennessee in quite a few years, and never Western lowland before in Knoxville. We are extremely excited and hope everyone shares in our anticipation of the births.” Western lowland gorillas are native to the rainforests of equatorial Africa. While the decline in their numbers can be attributed to habitat loss, commercial hunting and outbreaks of the Ebola virus have been having significant impact on the population since the early 1980’s. Western lowland gorillas are classified as a Critically Endangered species by the ICUN Redlist of Endangered Species, which is widely recognized as the most comprehensive, objective global approach for evaluating the conservation status of plant and animal species. Knoxville Zoo works with other zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) as part of the conservation efforts of the Western Lowland Gorilla Species Survival Plan (SSP), which manages Hope the breeding and social placement of all gorillas in the U.S. Western lowland Knoxville Zoo is Knoxville’s largest year-round attraction. Located off exit 392 from Interstate 40, the zoo is open every day except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Knoxville Zoo is nationally accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and is committed to the highest standards in animal care and well-being, ethics, conservation, and education. Currently, the zoo is open daily from 10:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Admission and ticket sales stop one-hour before the zoo closes. Next-day admission is free after 3 p.m. For more information, please call 865.637.5331 ext. 300 or visit knoxvillezoo.org.
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Knoxville Parent • May 2015
Dear Knox County Schools’ Families
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his month, our high schools celebrate commencements. Proud parents, grandparents, siblings and friends join principals and teachers— and your superintendent—get to witness graduating seniors cross the stage and move toward bright and promising futures. Of all of the events I participate in throughout the school year, commencement makes me perhaps the proudest. As I watch students cross that stage, I think about their pathway through our schools. Many of these students started in the Knox County Schools as kindergartners just 13 short years ago. I feel proud of the educational enrichment we’ve provided. Today, would they say they feel prepared for their futures? Did they learn realworld skills? Do they feel ready for what lies ahead? I believe the answers are a resounding “yes.” Yes, they are ready. Yes, they were challenged. Yes, our graduating students are prepared to succeed. This resounding “yes” is thanks in a big way to the hard work our teachers do in the classrooms every day, and National Teacher Appreciation Week, May 4-8, is the perfect time to tell your child’s teacher how much she or he means to you and your student, particularly if your student is a graduating senior. Take this time to say “Yes, you are important, and we thank you.” May is also the month when the Knox County Mayor and Knox County Commission take up the budget. On April 13, the Knox County Board of Education approved the 2015-2016 general fund budget ($441.5 million), capital improvement plan budget ($20.7 million) and school nutrition budget ($28 million), which completes the third step in the budgeting process. The diagram in this letter helps to illustrate the process the school system’s budget goes through before an appropriation is approved by County Commission. For details about the budget process, visit knoxschools. org. We look forward to working with our county partners in support of a 2015-2016 budget that will best meet the needs and continue the success of the students, teachers, and staff of the Knox County Schools. This month, we continue to explore the concept of a balanced calendar. Since early February, we have solicited the community’s input about this potential restructuring of the school calendar. Parents, students, staff, and community members have had opportunities to attend dozens of school-based community
“Of all of the events I participate in throughout the school year, commencement makes me perhaps the proudest. ” information/feedback sessions, participate in a community-wide survey, peruse thorough information on our website, and share thoughts via our balancedcalendar@knoxschools.org e-mail address. Our goal in this process was simple: Listen to the community. I thank you for engaging in this productive dialogue. We will spend the next few weeks developing a recommendation to the Board of Education based on this input. If a balanced calendar is desired by the community and approved by the Board of Education, the soonest it could be implemented would be in the 2016-2017 school year. I anticipate making a recommendation to the Board of Education by early summer. One other important event takes place in May: The end of school! May 21 is the last day for students, and it is a half day. As we look toward to that day, we also might look back on the 20142015 school year and celebrate the many successes we have enjoyed. I hope you see this school year as a successful one for your student, and I want to thank you for your support of our collective goal of Excellence for Every Child.
Sincerely, Jim McIntyre Superintendent
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Knoxville Parent • May 2015
Fun Ways to Keep Physically Active During Vacation By Tracey Matthews Wynter, Supervisor of the Knox County Schools Family and Community Engagement Department Contributing Researcher: Valencia Guein
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ith summer vacation just around the corner for many students and families, let’s figure out some “fun” ways to “Get Active” during vacation. There can be healthy benefits of vacationing, so let’s call them “exercations”! Water Parks Many kids love getting wet, swimming, and chasing (in the water only—safety first)! While swimming is an excellent form of exercise, young people also do some very active play at water parks. Splashing takes energy; trying to catch a friend or sibling against resisting water takes some exertion as well. Running through spraying water exercises both the legs and the heart, and many water parks include stairs children have to climb in order to slide down into the water. To learn how to play Sea Monster, Throw, Dive, Retrieve, and other fun games visit wikihow.com/Have-Fun-in-the-Pool, and visit kidspot.com.au/kids-activities-and-games/pool-water+8htm to learn age-appropriate water games and activities. Walking Tours Walking tours introduce you to new people, places, and traditions. There are usually a number of walking tours in just about any city you visit. Many walking tours are guided to provide information, so it’s a great opportunity to learn and exercise. Walking for fitness is a good way to get your muscles moving and exercising your heart. Walking tours provide a very low impact way of exercising your heart, not to mention the benefits of breathing in fresh air and getting a dose of Vitamin D from the sun! Or simply walk instead of catching local transportation. If you want to save a few pennies and “exercation” locally, visit knoxvillewalkingtours.com for the many opportunities available right here in Knoxville. Beaches Fun and active games on the beach include volleyball, sandcastle building, surfing, Marco Polo, shell hunting, sand soccer, and sand art/drawing. Here are a few more active games that may be new to you and your family: Water Relay 1. Two opposing players sit on the beach next to each other. 2. Each player holds a large cup on their heads. 3. Each player’s partner runs to the ocean, fills a small cup with water, and runs back to dump it into the larger cup their partner is holding. 4. The first team to fill the large cup wins! Resource: mom.me/play-and-learn/7916-have-blast-beach/ Hot Beach Ball This game is fun for kids, adults and large groups. It is played like the classic hot potato. 1. Have family members stand in a circle. 2. Give one person an inflated beach ball and begin playing some fun “beachy” music. 3. As the music plays, each person tosses the ball to the person next to him/her. 4. The person holding the ball when the music stops is “out.” 5. Keep playing until only one person is left in what remains of the circle. Resource: party.lovetoknow.com/Beach_Party_Games Other “exercation” ideas include these: • Visit the Zoos: You have to walk to the animals! • Hiking: Try to hike a trail that includes a little uphill terrain. • Aquariums and Museums: Both include walking and learning at the same time.
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Amusement Parks: Lots of walking is required to make sure you enjoy all of the rides and attractions.
Dude ranches, rafting, ropes courses, ziplining, cycling, geocaching, and visiting state and national parks are but a few more of the many fun places and activities that mix physical activity with fun. On behalf of the Knox County Schools Family and Community Engagement Department, thank you for continuing to read our monthly articles this year. For more information on the resources available to Knox County Schools’ students and families, visit us online at knoxschools.org/fce or contact Mrs. Tracey Matthews Wynter, Knox County Schools Family and Community Engagement Supervisor tracey.matthews@knoxschools.org 865-594-9525 FAMILY RESOURCE OF THE MONTH: The Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee (CAC) Summer Food Service Program This program provides meals (breakfast, lunch, and snacks) to children at a variety of sites within Knox County to include recreation programs, summer schools, Boys and Girls Clubs, and other community youth groups. For locations and more information, call 865-546-3500, or contact Mrs. Tamekia Jackson, KCS Family Resource Center Director tamekia.jackson@knoxschools.org. 865-594-1192
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Knoxville Parent • May 2015
Learn, Grow, And Thrive At Camp Ocoee By YMCA Camp Ocoee. Photos By YMCA Camp Ocoee
ince 1923, the spirit of YMCA Camp Ocoee has been more than just a summer camp experience. The Christian values learned and the confidence gained by the campers becomes a way of life. Generations of families now have fond memories of their time at YMCA Camp Ocoee. Operated by the YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga, YMCA Camp Ocoee’s mission is to provide experiences under a strong Christian emphasis that will strengthen the spirit, mind and body of all its guests. Summer is the ideal time for kids to get up, get out, and explore. Yet, for some kids summer means no access to recreational and educational activities to help them learn, grow, and thrive during out-of-school time. As a
result, some kids can experience learning loss and gain weight twice as fast than during the school year. Attending YMCA Camp Ocoee is a wonderful opportunity for kids to keep their minds and bodies active. “YMCA summer camp supports the social-emotional, cognitive development, and physical wellbeing of kids,” says B.J. Davis, Executive Director, YMCA Camp Ocoee. “In our camp, kids are in a welcoming environment where they can belong, build relationships, develop character and achieve – discovering their potential. We really encourage parents to give their kids the gift of camp so that every child can benefit from the experience.” B.J. Davis says there are five reasons why children and teens should attend summer camp: 1. ADVENTURE: Summer camp is all about a wide variety of fun adventures and new experiences, especially exploring the outdoors. YMCA camps have a new adventure for every child and teen. Visit campocoee.com for details. 2. HEALTHY FUN: YMCA camps offer fun, stimulating activities that engage the body and mind. They also help children and teens learn the importance of nutrition to help improve their healthy eating habits. 3. PERSONAL GROWTH: While being away from the routine back home, youth have a chance to learn new skills, develop confidence, and experience independence by taking on new responsibilities and challenges. Camps offer cognitive learning and social-emotional development opportunities for achievement. 4. NEW FRIENDSHIPS: Amidst the fun of camp games, songs, swimming, canoeing, and talent shows,
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Knoxville Parent • May 2015
campers meet new friends and strengthen existing friendships. The relationships formed at camp are important and lasting for many youth. 5. MEMORIES: Summer camp is an unforgettable experience that will give each camper memories (and camp traditions) that will last a lifetime. Youth return to school with plenty of camp stories to share! YMCA Camp Ocoee offers: one week sessions for boys and girls ages 7- Rising 10th grade. And, to ensure that all youth have the chance to experience camp, YMCA Camp Ocoee offers financial assistance to those in need. The YMCA Camp Ocoee Retreat Center is the perfect location to hold your next group event, family reunion, church retreat, family vacation, or company team building. Located on the edge of Lake Ocoee in Ocoee, Tennessee, Camp Ocoee is ideally situated to get away from the city and relax. Visit campocoee.com for more information. A leading nonprofit committed to nurturing the potential of youth, the Y has been a leader in providing summer camp for nearly 130 years. YMCA Camp Ocoee continues to give youth an enriching, safe experience with caring staff and volunteers who model positive values that help build their kids’ character. For more information, visit campocoee.com or call us at 423-338-5588.
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Knoxville Parent • May 2015
Getting The Most Out Of Practice By Jeff Comas
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ummer is almost here and many kids are going to have a lot of extra time on their hands. It is a good time to play more music, and many parents at our music academy double up on lessons during the summer. With more time available for music, I thought it would be a good time to start sharing a series of articles I’m working on. They are about getting the most out of practice time, learning to improve faster, and getting more enjoyment from playing music. This article is related to practicing musical instruments. However, the principles can easily be applied to other activities. Most of us have had the experience of hearing/seeing a fantastic musician perform and thinking that he or she made it look easy. Chances are that it actually was fairly easy for the performer. Why was it easy? Because the performer had great clarity and a well developed muscle memory. Almost everyone has the ability to make complex tasks seem easy. Let me give you an example of a complex task that most of us think of as easy: tying your shoes. Most of us can do this task with great ease without even looking and probably without even thinking about it much. It’s easy, right? Well...if you really think about it, the process as a whole is pretty tricky. Imagine trying to explain tying shoelaces in a bow to someone who has never done the procedure. Not so easy. Remember when you first learned? It probably took you months or even years to master. But, over time, you repeated it enough that it became almost completely automatic. You can probably shut your eyes right now and completely imagine the process. However, what if you tried starting to tie your laces starting with the hand opposite of the one you usually start with. Not so
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“Almost everyone has the ability to make complex tasks seem easy.” easy. (For the record, I just tried it, and while I could do it, it took me much longer than normal, was a bit sloppy, and I had to really think about it.) The repetitions are not there and so neither is the muscle memory, nor a clear image. But, what if instead of trying to do the complete process we start with just the first step; grab each end of the lace, one in each hand. Simple right? Repeat this part until it is mastered. Then take step two; cross one side of the lace over the other and hold, with the thumb, the lace against the index finger. Pretty simple, right? Repeat steps one and two until they are easy. Continue like this until the whole process is complete. In this manner clarity and muscle memory is developed. The point here is that music can be learned the same way. In fact this is by far the easiest way to learn music. However, it is often not the way it’s done. The student wants to play the whole piece, so they try to plow through the whole thing at once. The problem with this method is that clarity is not developed because too much information is presented; the muscle memory also is slow to develop in this way because the motions are probably not consistent, and there are too many different motions to learn quickly. So, students (younger students need help from their parents) can typically make big improvements in their learning pace by breaking learning into smaller, easier steps. Repeat the smaller easier steps, and then put the pieces of the puzzle together. I urge you all to try this. I promise it works. On a side note, I have an interest in Haiku; I love to use them to take larger ideas and whittle them down. Here’s one I wrote to summarize this article. At First Learn Small Parts Then Put The Parts Together Let It Be Easy Hope you have a great summer! Jeff Comas started playing music at 5 years of age. He is the owner of Allied Music Instructors. He has been a music educator since 1989, and has given over 40,000 music lessons.
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Knoxville Parent • May 2015
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Knoxville Parent • May 2015
10 Terrific Books: Get Moving! Compiled by Erin Nguyen
Children’s Department, Knox County Public Library
Betty Bunny Wants a Goal by Michael B. Kaplan PreK-2nd When her first game doesn’t go well, Betty Bunny is ready to give up soccer for good, but then her family convinces her to keep trying.
Dino-Boarding by Lisa Wheeler PreK-2nd Dinosaurs compete in a variety of board sports, including surfing and skateboarding, in this fun picture book.
A Pet Named Sneaker by Joan Heilbroner 1st-3rd Most people aren’t very happy when Pete brings his pet snake Sneaker to the public swimming pool - until he turns out to be a hero.
Pow!: A Peanuts Collection by Charles M. Schulz 2nd-6th The Peanuts gang is ready to play ball in this collection of baseballthemed comics.
Girls Play to Win Swimming & Diving by Paul Hoblin 3rd-6th This informative book covers the history, rules, and stars of women’s swimming and diving.
Goal! by Sean Taylor 3rd-6th Filled with fun facts and amazing photos, this book celebrates the popularity of soccer around the world.
The Only Game by Mike Lupica 4th-7th When star shortstop Jake quits baseball just as his team seems to be headed to the Little League World Series, new friend Cassie, star pitcher of the softball team, helps him find his way back.
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Rush for the Gold: Mystery at the Olympics by John Feinstein 7th-10th As she competes in swimming at the Summer Olympics, teenager Susan Carol and her sportsjournalist boyfriend Stevie find themselves in the middle of a high-stakes mystery.
Game Seven by Paul Volponi 7th-10th Sixteen-year-old Julio dreams of playing baseball for Cuba’s national team, but he now faces the difficult choice of leaving his family behind or defecting to the US to play professionally like his father.
Breathe, Annie, Breathe by Miranda Kenneally 9th-12th To honor the death of her track star boyfriend, recent high school graduate Annie trains to run in the Music City Marathon, and along the way, she learns how to live and love again.