Knoxville Parent Magazine October 2015 by Knoxville Parent

October 2015

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Knoxville Parent â&#x20AC;˘ October 2015

KNOXVILLE

In This Issue... An Event You Can Count On “The thing is, young kids can recite the tens (ten, twenty, thirty, forty, etc.), but still not connect that to actual counting.”

October 2015 Volume IV • Issue X Adam and Samantha Kalwas, Publishers Advisory Board

Contributing Writers

Sr. Mary Marta Abbott, RSM The Diocese of Knoxville

Monica Brown Dr. Lisa Chassy Jeff Comas Jim McIntyre, Ph.D. Tracey Matthews Erin Nguyen Mike O’Hern Kathryn Rea Smith, Ph.D. Michael K. Smith, Ph.D.

Marie Alcorn United Way of Greater Knoxville Mike Bailey Small Business Representative Paul Parson East Tennessee Children’s Hospital Tracey Matthews Knox County Schools Family and Community Engagement

PAGE 4

Teaching Children To Serve Others “Doing volunteer work provides opportunities for perspective. When working with people who struggle to meet basic needs, one’s own problems appear less dire.” PAGE 5

Contributing Photos By

Reading Knoxville: Delta Fragments “White and black parents who fail to allow their children to go to school together are ill-equipping them to become citizens in a world that is becoming increasingly global and diverse.”

Jeff Comas Kathryn Rea Smith, Ph.D. Young-Williams Animal Center

Elizabeth Pooley Marketing Professional Lee Tramel Knox County Sheriff ’s Department Liza Zenni The Arts and Culture Alliance of Greater Knoxville

Parent publications are GREAT places to advertise! For more information, please call: (865) 622-9680. Contact Info: Phone: 865.622.9680 Fax: 888.457.9602 E-mail: KnoxvilleParent@gmail.com KnoxvilleParent.com

PAGE 6-7

Contents 4 An Event You Can Count On

10 Getting The Most Out Of Practice: Part 5

5 The Value Of Serving Others

12 Dear Knox County Schools’ Families 13 Teaching Children To Listen Mindfully

6-7 Reading Knoxville: Delta Fragments

14 10 Terrific Books: Hot Topics In Education!

8 Conversing With John Hodges 9 Educate Don’t Discriminate: What The Pit Bull

Can Teach Us

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Knoxville Parent • October 2015

An Event You Can Count On by Mike O’Hern, Center Director of Mathnasium of West Knoxville

used to travel quite a bit for business but always tried to be home for holidays, and Halloween was one that I never wanted to miss. I loved walking my kids around the neighborhood to build a candy stash that was mountainous. I will also have to admit to having levied what I called a “dad tax”. I got to loot the stash with impunity for having provided protective service on the T-or-T route. The candy lends itself to more uses, however, than just the accelerated need for a dentist. You can count it, sure, but why not learn a little math? Have your little princess or pirate lay them out in groups of ten with one final group of ones when you don’t have a final group of ten. If she has five groups of ten and four left over, you can show that the five tens is fifty, and when you write the number the five comes first because it shows how many tens there were, and

“The thing is, young kids can recite the tens (ten, twenty, thirty, forty, etc.), but still not connect that to actual counting.” it’s followed by the four extras – 54. The thing is, young kids can recite the tens (ten, twenty, thirty, forty, etc.), but still not connect that to actual counting. So a simple exercise like this helps cement that concept. For your older kids we’ll amp up the math, though. How about divisibility rules? Let’s start with the same amount of 54 pieces. Now 54 is divisible by 2 because it’s an even number, and it’s divisible by 3 because the digits add up to 9 which is divisible by 3. But it’s not divisible by 4 because 52 is, and 4 only goes into every other even number. So tell your child she can eat only enough pieces to get to the next lower multiple of 4. She gets two pieces! Now she has 52, and you tell her she can eat as many pieces as needed to get down to the next multiple of 3 – she gets 1 piece because 51 is divisible by 3 (5+1=6 and 6 is a multiple of 3). We don’t have a fancy trick to determine multiples of 7 but we’re at a manageable number, so she can eat enough to get down to the next multiple of 7, which is 49. Fives are easy, right, since it’s a multiple of 5 if it ends with a 5 or a 0, so this time she gets 4 pieces and loves you for that one. So now you’re at 45. Next let’s do a multiple of 6. A number is divisible by 6 if it divisible by both 2 and 3, so 45 is not (not divisible by 2), but go down to the next multiple of 3 – 42 – and we find a number divisible by both 2 and 3, so it’s divisible by 6. Now if you can think of a more fun way to learn and practice math than eating candy, you should be in the teaching business! As owner and director at Mathnasium (a math learning center in West Knoxville (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.

Knoxville Parent • October 2015

The Value Of Serving Others By Kathryn Rea Smith, Ph.D.

he theme for this month’s edition of Knoxville Parent is “Educating the Whole Child.” Since most parents would like to raise children who are caring and helpful towards the needy, the focus of this article is teaching children to volunteer their time and talent and instilling in them a lifelong desire to help others. I will describe how a group of seventh grade boys is making a difference in our community and learning about the joys of serving others in the process. Volunteer work that benefits the needy is valuable for all involved. The recipients benefit directly by receiving something they need such as food, medical care, shelter, clothing, counseling, companionship, or comforting. The volunteers benefit in less tangible, but no less important ways. Doing volunteer work provides opportunities for perspective. When working with people who struggle to meet basic needs, one’s own problems appear less dire. And helping to fulfill a genuine need for someone who is less fortunate can be immensely satisfying. For the past year, my son and his friends have participated in a monthly service project at Samaritan Place, a Catholic Charities’ facility providing emergency, transitional, and long-term supportive housing for very-low income seniors. The boys, all of whom attend Sacred Heart Cathedral School, are encouraged to spend at least four hours per academic quarter doing volunteer work in the community. This project was the brainchild of DeeDee Quinones, mother of one of the boys. DeeDee wanted to arrange an ongoing service opportunity for the boys to obtain their service hours and begin to develop a sense of “social responsibility”. She decided Samaritan Place would be perfect. The Samaritan Place residents would benefit from having regular contact with the polite, friendly, funny, and well-behaved boys, and the boys would benefit from getting to know and serve a group of very special older adults. The boys started the project in sixth grade and now are in the seventh grade. For the monthly projects, they host a two-hour party for the residents, usually centered on a holiday theme (this month they had a Halloween bash). They serve the residents snacks and sodas, then play games like Bingo and hand out prizes and party favors. They also engage in friendly, lighthearted conversation with the residents. As a parent, the thing I like most about the Samaritan Place project is that the boys are learning to offer the gift of “presence”. They are learning that they can brighten the day of the seniors who live at the shelter through the simple act of spending time with them. The boys are discovering the positive feelings generated from providing service and developing confidence in their ability to do good works. They are increasing their awareness and understanding of situations of those who are more vulnerable than they are.

“Doing volunteer work provides opportunities for perspective. When working with people who struggle to meet basic needs, one’s own problems appear less dire.” There are many ways children can be taught to help those who are in need. They learn by observing parents and teachers who donate time, talent, and money, especially when adults talk to them about the personal benefits of doing volunteer work. Children also learn by direct involvement in volunteer activities. For instance, they can collect canned goods for food drives, ask for donations for charity instead of birthday gifts, help out in the church nursery, or participate in school-based, scouts, or youth group mission projects. And although I am not aware of any outcome data regarding individuals who are taught the joys of giving during childhood, it seems intuitive that such children will become adults who are inclined to serve others in the community. 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.

Knoxville Parent • October 2015

Reading Knoxville: Delta Fragments Book by John Hodges, Reviewed by Michael K. Smith, Ph.D.

“T

aken as a whole…these fragments are my best effort to lay bare the soul

and emotions of a community coming to selfunderstanding, even as I take that journey along with them.” John Hodges grew up in the Mississippi Delta, in the town of Greenwood, Mississippi, in the 1940s and 1950s. Mississippi counties at that time had large proportions

“His family thought he might become a preacher and Hodges did have great respect for the black church: “Indeed, it was the one institution that gave me the courage, motivation, and confidence to tackle any issue large or small.”

of African-Americans who suffered from high poverty levels and almost no political representation. “It is amazing, furthermore, that a place with such high illiteracy should also be the home of some of the greatest writers in the world.” The Mississippi Delta was home to writers like Richard Wright and William Faulkner and such blues artists as Robert Johnson and B. B. King. In Delta Fragments: The

Recollections of a Sharecropper’s Son, Hodges shares his journey from the strife of civil rights struggles in the 1950s to his eventual position as a Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Tennessee. Hodges did not know his father growing up, but his stepfather and mother wanted him to have an education. He attended a one-room schoolhouse for his early grades, often having to walk three miles to school. His stepfather unintentionally fanned his reading interests: “I remember the many newspapers you got from the white folks’

“ did you know that those walls would help improve my reading c skills.” His family thought he might become a preacher and t Hodges did have great respect for the black church: “Indeed, it i was the one institution that gave me the courage, motivation, house which you used to plaster the bare wooden walls. Little

and confidence to tackle any issue large or small.” Hodges, however, decided to participate in the growing civil rights movement and later to attend college. While President of the Student Body of Greenwood High School, Hodges was arrested while helping to distribute pamphlets encouraging blacks to register to vote. In 1962, six Mississippi counties had 4% of blacks registered to vote Educate Your Kids on the Truth About Drugs. Youth need factual information about drugs so they can make informed decisions and live drug free. Learn more, order free educational materials or request a speaker for your group or event at drugfreesouth.org. Drug-Free South is a chapter of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World. The logo above is its trademark.

and 72% of whites. There were many obstacles to black registration including a poll tax of two dollars (a large sum at the time) and a literacy test of 20 questions. Question 18 had applicants copy a section of the state constitution. Question 19 had them write a reasonable interpretation of this section. Question 20 had the applicant write “a statement setting forth your understanding of the duties and obligations of

Knoxville Parent • October 2015

citizenship under a constitutional form of government.” The white registrar was able to subjectively judge the “correct” answer to these questions. Furthermore, names of blacks who tried to register were published in local newspapers, leading to

t harassment by whites in the community. Hodges was released t but this experience led to more involvement with the civil rights movement in the 1960s. e The second half of Delta Fragments reflects on various issues o such as the origin of the blues, the characteristics of folk

sermons, and the reality of the color line in the South. (“In the Delta, as in other places in the South, the color line decreed that blacks use the back door.”) Hodges particularly criticizes the rise of private academies, mostly for whites, in the South and the lack of funding for public schools that are primarily African-American. “White and black parents who fail to allow their children to go to school together are ill-equipping them to become citizens in a world that is becoming increasingly global and diverse. In college and the workplace, they won’t be so isolated. Learning to appreciate and deal with difference is an important lesson in life that should be learned as early as possible.”

“White and black parents who fail to allow their children to go to school together are ill-equipping them to become citizens in a world that is becoming increasingly global and diverse.” Hodges attended a reunion in Greenwood in 2011 for those who had left in the 1960s and 1970s. “The matter of where I’m from strikes at the very core of who I am as an individual and as a member of a particular community. Although education, family, work, and other circumstances have taken me to other places, I still see Greenwood and the Delta as home.” Delta Fragments is a rewarding read that shows how far Hodges has come, but yet how much home remains with him. 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.

Knoxville Parent • October 2015

Conversing With John Hodges By Michael K. Smith, Ph.D.

met John Hodges for lunch on a pleasant fall afternoon at Sitar Indian restaurant. John retired from the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Tennessee—Knoxville in 2010 after teaching for 28 years. We have both shared our delight of Indian food in previous lunches. Today, I wanted to talk to him about the reception of his book, Delta Fragments: The Recollections of a Sharecropper’s Son. John said that he had been doing many personal appearances and talks about his book since it was published by the University of Tennessee Press in 2014. He indicated that the book had actually been a bestseller for UT Press. I asked him how the book had been received in his hometown of Greenwood, Mississippi. He noted that he had given a talk at the local bookstore in 2013; however, only AfricanAmerican residents attended the presentation. He wondered how much attitudes had changed in his hometown even after all these decades. How African-Americans have overcome the obstacles of racial tension, poverty, and illiteracy is the theme of his book, and it also reflects the

“How African-Americans have overcome the obstacles of racial tension, poverty, and illiteracy is the theme of his book, and it also reflects the journey of his life.” journey of his life. After graduating from Greenwood High School, he attended Morehouse College in Atlanta in 1963. He went on to earn a Master’s in English from Atlanta University, and then a Master’s and Ph.D. at the University of Chicago, majoring in both religion and literature. His dissertation topic reflected an early interest in self-reflection of African-Americans: “The Quest for Selfhood in the Autobiographies of W. E. B. DuBois, Richard Wright, and Malcolm X”. He had various college administrative positions before coming to UTK. I asked John his favorite courses to teach. He felt that his AfricanAmerican Religions and Black Literature Survey courses were heavily attended over his three decades at UTK. However, he particularly enjoyed a course he taught in American Studies on Dissent in American Culture. This course let students explore how effective criticisms of American society led to significant changes from the abolition of slavery to women suffrage to the civil rights movement. Had he noticed more acceptance of African-Americans on college campuses? John said there was more integration of minorities into college life since he started teaching. He felt, however, that there was lots of progress that could be made. He noticed that students often clustered together by ethnic group for certain activities. In the broader community, he commented that different races often live in close contact but never seem to come together except around episodes of violence. His observations certainly parallel the racial tensions that have been prominent in American society in the past few years. Delta Fragments took many years to write. John said that this experience not only let him explore his past and even reconnect with friends and acquaintances in Greenwood, but also allowed him to reflect on important civil rights issues that had defined him as a person. As we parted, I wished him the best in retirement and suggested that we try this Indian buffet again soon. 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.

Knoxville Parent • October 2015

Educate Don’t Discriminate: What The Pit Bull Can Teach Us by Dr. Lisa Chassy, Director, Young-Williams Animal Center Spay/Neuter Solutions. Photo by Young-Williams Animal Center

“Y

“In fact, the breed was once recognized as the perfect “nanny dog” for children because of its friendly nature, loyalty and stability.”

ou shouldn’t judge a book by its cover” is a common phrase used to teach children not to prejudge or discriminate against a person because of their looks. The lesson applies to many things, including dog breeds like pit bulls. Because of the numerous misconceptions about pit bulls, people unfamiliar with the breed fall prey to stereotypes that are as unfair and untrue as racial stereotypes. Since the 1980s, pit bulls have been reported to be inherently more dangerous than other strong comedies and Buster Brown. breeds of dog, but there is no scientific evidence Pit bulls make wonderful family pets, and by to support these claims. Pit bulls can make loving, Marjorie, a pit bull mix, is one of Shyla’s “best nature are smart, eager to learn, and trainable. trustworthy, and gentle friends. Our community and friends.” Shyla and the Kitts-Lane family adopted Educating your children is an essential step toward Marjorie from Young-Williams Animal Center in animal welfare advocates need to work together to achieving a community that provides compassionate March of this year. increase public understanding of the breed and to care of all animals, including the pit bull breed mix. dispel the many myths surrounding it. Teaching children that certain breeds of dogs are mean and others are Lisa Chassy, DVM, MS, is director of Young-Williams Animal Center’s friendly is inaccurate and potentially dangerous for the child. Any dog can public spay/neuter programs. Since 2007, Young-Williams has performed be aggressive, especially one that feels threatened, such as a mother with more than 47,500 spay/neuter surgeries, preventing hundreds and hundreds puppies, or a dog chained to a post with no way to flee or hide. Under a of unplanned litters that create thousands of homeless pets each year. stressful situation, any dog may bite. Pegging a breed of dog, such as saying that a German shepherd is more likely to bite than a Poodle, creates a false sense of security. Children should be taught how to act around any dog, especially unfamiliar ones— regardless of the breed. In addition, learning how dogs communicate their intentions to us goes a long way to preventing injury. Another reason to dispel the myths surrounding these breeds is to decrease the number of homeless and stray pit bulls and pit bulls mixes. Because pit bulls are so misunderstood, it’s tougher to find them homes. There are so many of them in the community that they often end up at the shelter where they are often passed over and overlooked. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) conducted a review of dog bite studies in North America and elsewhere and concluded that separate regulation of “pit bull” dogs is not a basis for dog bite prevention. The study also said that creating and enforcing nondiscriminatory responsible pet ownership laws is the most effective path to building safe, humane communities. Over the last 10 years, both the City of Knoxville and Knox County have revised Dangerous Dog and animal care ordinances that allow our Animal Control agencies to do just that. Despite this and other studies, pit bulls continue to be unfairly labeled as aggressive because of isolated, sensationalized incidents. The media hype has encouraged some people to want a “tough-looking” dog, which in turn encourages irresponsible breeders and reckless pet owners. Regardless of the breed, spaying and neutering your dog helps reduce the chances of aggression and helps decrease the number of homeless pets in our community. Fewer homeless pets means a safer community for us all. The good news is that by and large the majority of pit bull dog owners are responsible, everyday people. In fact, the breed was once recognized as the perfect “nanny dog” for children because of its friendly nature, loyalty and stability. On the silver screen, the pit bull was a constant companion to the adorable kids in both the Little Rascals/Our Gang

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Knoxville Parent • October 2015

Getting The Most Out Of Practice Chapter 3: Part 5 (Dynamics and Timbre) by Jeff Comas

f readers have been playing close attention, you might have noticed that last time I said “Next time we’ll talk dynamics.” Well, it’s that time, but I decided to add the subject of timbre to this article. Lets again review that reading music is an activity in four dimensions:

quite the same, nor do any two guitars, and every human voice has it’s own distinct sound quality. Going one step further, many instruments can vary their tone individually. Take string instruments for example. If one plucks or bows a note on a string close to the bridge (the secured end), it sounds different than it does plucked or bowed near the middle.

1. Pitch (highness or lowness of the sound), 2. Rhythm (when notes are played & how long they last), 3. Dynamics (the volume of the music played), 4. Timbre (sound quality- this is often dictated by instrument indicated but many instruments can vary their own tone). Dynamics are pretty easy to understand. This word relates to the relative loudness (or quietness) of music. Timbre (pronounced tam-ber) is a little more complex. So, before we go further let me elaborate a little on the meaning of timbre. A flute, a trumpet, a piano, a xylophone, a synthisier, and the human voice can all produce the same note, yet each instrument has a distinct tone color or “timbre” that differentiates it from the others. Beyond that, there is often variation among the instruments themselves. For example, no two pianos sound

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“When we practice, it is very beneficial to do so with all the elements.”

Okay, so what do timbre & dynamics have to do with Getting The Most Out of Practice? Well, composers and musicians use timbre and dynamics to create more expressive music. Advancing musicians (students of music) can get a two-fer (twofor one) value bringing the use of dynamic & timbre control into their practice. First off, pitch, rhythm, timbre, and dynamics are the four elements of music. All musicians need to learn to control all four elements. In lessons, students tend to focus on pitch, and teachers often struggle to get students to also pay attention to rhythm. While this is going on, often dynamics and timbre are pushed into the background. However, when students (and teachers) bring dynamics and timbre into practice, the picture becomes more complete. When we practice, it is very beneficial to do so with all the elements. This way, when it is time to perform expressive elements will feel natural and normal. Now, here is where the two for one comes in. This method of incorporating dynamic and timbre chances into practice is particularly helpful for beginning students with little repertoire under their belts. You see, becoming a proficient musician requires a substantial amount of repetition & redundancy in practice. This can become tedious and even downright boring for music students. So, if we use different dynamic levels and timbres when we repeat a musical passage for practice, it becomes more interesting. When we remember to bring expressive elements into our practice we make practice more effective and more enjoyable to boot. Music performed with expressive elements in place is certainly more enjoyable for the listener. Written music often, but not always, uses words and/or symbols to indicate dynamics and timbre. It is beyond the scope of this article to review those symbols here. If you are not already familiar, ask your music instructor about dynamics & timbre. If your music has dynamic and/or timbre markings, pay attention and follow the directions. If it does not, consider writing in your own or ask your teacher to help out. Either way, including expressive elements will help you get the most out of practice.

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Jeff Comas 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.

Knoxville Parent • October 2015

Dear Knox County Schools’ Families

e are fortunate to have teachers in our organization who work enthusiastically to make learning engaging and exciting for our students in the Knox County Schools. We recently concluded Thank A Teacher Week (Sept. 28 – Oct. 2, 2015), a time set aside in the Knox County Schools to thank our valued teachers for what they do every day and the enormous difference they make in the lives of children. We are seeing the fruits of our labor in terms of increased student learning and success! Just recently, ACT results were released and the composite score for Knox County Schools students improved from 20.4 in 2014 to 20.7 in 2015. Additionally, our school system was recently recognized by the State of Tennessee as an Exemplary School District, the first large urban school district to ever earn this honor. We could not enjoy this success without our teachers and their collective talents, passions, and persistence toward excellence. Special thanks to the Great Schools Partnership, the Knox County Education Association, the Knox County Council PTA, Knoxville Chamber, and other community organizations that helped our community say “thank you” to our educators in so many meaningful ways. For the fourth consecutive year, these great community organizations have partnered together with us to celebrate the important role teachers play in our students’ lives.

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“My sincere thanks to our fantastic educators for their hard work and for helping to ensure every child has the opportunity to successfully reach their greatest potential.” I would encourage us to build upon this week of gratitude and find ways to thank teachers throughout the school year – handwritten notes, emails, and cards are wonderful ways to show appreciation for the important job teachers do to enrich our children’s lives. As a school system, we are preparing to transition to TNReady, Tennessee’s new and improved TCAP test for English language arts and math in grades 3-11. The new TNReady is designed to assess true student understanding and not just basic memorization and test-taking skills. It will provide more and better information about our students’ progress, and it will measure student understanding of our current Tennessee state standards in math and English language arts. To learn more about TNReady, including helpful resource information for parents, please visit our website at knoxschools.org. My sincere thanks to our fantastic educators for their hard work and for helping to ensure every child has the opportunity to successfully reach their greatest potential. Together, we will achieve our ambitious goal of Excellence for Every Child. As a reminder, Fall Break for Knox County Schools’ students is Monday, Oct. 12 and Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015. I hope everyone has an enjoyable and restful break.

Sincerely,

Jim McIntyre Superintendent

Knoxville Parent • October 2015

Teaching Children To Listen Mindfully By Tracey Matthews Wynter, Supervisor of the Knox County Schools Family and Community Engagement Department

“N

ext to physical survival, the greatest need of a human being is psychological survival--to be understood, to be affirmed, to be validated, to be appreciated.” – Stephen Covey

Whew! That’s a lot to swallow, so let’s zoom our lens on the importance of teaching our children how to truly and sincerely listen. It is extremely important to first learn how to listen so that we can then affirm, validate, and show appreciation of others. We’re obviously not talking about traditional “listening”. Meaningful listening is more than “hearing”. It demonstrates care, compassion, and concern. Listening is a skill not often deliberately “taught” to children, yet it’s an extremely valuable attribute that is essential in family, other personal, and school relationships. It will prove invaluable later in life in your child’s relationships at work and as adults in general. Read below to find a few strategies that we, along with our children, might consider in practicing the skill of meaningful listening. STEP 1: Change Our Purpose for Listening… “Most people don’t listen with the intent to understand. Most people listen with the intent to reply.” -Stephen Covey Sometimes I find myself enthusiastically waiting for the other person to finish what they are saying so that I can respond with my bit of wisdom and advice. What about you? We sometimes even decide prematurely in our minds what the other person means before they even finish sharing their thoughts! Stephen Covey says we often listen autobiographically, which involves us selectively focusing on what is being said and then interpreting it only from our own personal experiences, biases, and other personal frames of reference.1 Instead, we should clear our minds in order to listen to hear and understand to get a better picture of what they are thinking and feeling. We might even repeat to the person what was heard to confirm understanding as well as reassure the person they’ve been heard. STEP 2: Stop, Look and Listen! “When you listen with empathy to another person, you give that person ‘psychological air’. And after that vital need is met, you can then focus on influencing or problem solving.” -Stephen Covey The next tier of meaningful listening is known as “emphatic” listening. This involves not only hearing, reflecting, and intellectually understanding the words (about 10 percent of our communication) that are said, but also paying attention to sounds or the inflection in words/voice (30 percent) and observing body language (60 percent). So, in essence, it means using both sides of our brains and listening emotionally with our ears, eyes, and most importantly our heart. STEP 3: Practice When Our Children Argue or Strongly Disagree…”You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view--until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” –To Kill A Mockingbird Play this version of Win, Lose, or Draw! which involves role switching when your children argue. For just a few minutes, ask your children to stop,

switch bodies, and speak from their opponent’s point of view as clearly and fairly as possible.3 The first person who makes a new point to support their opponent’s position wins! If the other person can communicate their understanding the other person’s position before the judge bangs his/her gavel, it’s a tie. In the end when they come up with a fair solution, there will not be any losers. Variation: Conduct a mini court. Casually let each person state their case and then offer them a more mature perspective considering both of their positions. Then, let them try to decide the verdict. If they cannot compromise and come up with a fair and reasonable solution, YOU be the judge! Clearly explain why you made your final decision in order to turn this argument into a great learning opportunity. Most importantly, communicate how you listened with ears, eyes, heart, and how that influenced your final verdict. Fun Twist: Deduct court costs from their allowance if you had to serve as the judge.

Children who are purposefully taught to meaningfully listen, consider another person’s point of view, and how someone else sees or thinks about something are more likely to grow up to be considerate and caring adults. Taking the time to teach and demonstrate these skills is critical to their current and future success.

Please share your success stories, related tips, and/or topic suggestions for future articles by contacting Mrs. Tracey Matthews Wynter, Knox County Schools Family and Community Engagement Department Supervisor, 865594-9525, tracey.matthews@knoxchools.org. For more information and resources available to Knox County Schools’ students and families, please visit us online at knoxschools.org/fce.

FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER’S RESOURCE OF THE MONTH: Knoxville Mentoring Programs Mentoring programs provide children opportunities to listen, as well as to be meaningfully listened to. Please visit the Knox County Schools Family Resource Center website at knoxschools.org/frc and select “Local Mentoring Programs” to see the variety of mentoring resources and opportunities available to families in Knox County. For additional local resources, contact Mrs. Tamekia Jackson, Knox County Schools Family Resource Center Director, at tamekia.jackson@knoxschools.org, 865-594-1192. Happy fall, y’all!

Knoxville Parent • October 2015

10 Terrific Books: Hot Topics In Education! Compiled by Erin Nguyen

Children’s Department, Knox County Public Library

102 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum: Choosing the Right Curriculum and Approach for Each Child’s Learning Style by Cathy Duffy Homeschooling expert Duffy guides readers through the wide array of options available as they select the curriculum that will best fit their own families’ educational needs.

Beyond Intelligence: Secrets for Raising Happily Productive Kids by Dona Matthews and Joanne Foster This guide offers parents suggestions and strategies for raising successful, well-rounded children by encouraging their unique talents and providing unconditional support.

More Than a Score: The New Uprising Against High-Stakes Testing edited by Jesse Hagopian This collection brings together voices from four different groups – students, teachers, parents, and administrators – to discuss the antitesting movement and the need for a new direction in education.

The Everything Parent’s Guide to Special Education: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide to Advocating for Your Child with Special Needs by Amanda Morin Tips and strategies for parents working to secure the best education for their children with special needs are provided in this valuable resource.

Squandering America’s Future: Why ECE Policy Matters for Equality, Our Economy, and Our Children by Susan Ochshorn Education advocate and former journalist Ochshorn takes on the hot button topic of early childhood education policy in the U.S.

The Smartest Kids in the World: The Gift of Failure: How the And How They Got That Way Best Parents Learn to Let Go So by Amanda Ripley Their Children Can Succeed In this fascinating book, journalist by Jessica Lahey Author and parent Lahey Ripley compares the U.S. education encourages parents to system to that of three other help their children develop countries (South Korea, Finland, independence by resisting their and Poland) that routinely own urges to overprotect and score higher in global shield them from negative education rankings. situations.

For library information in your area visit: www.knoxlib.org/

How to Raise a Wild Child: The Art and Science of Falling in Love with Nature by Scott D. Sampson Paleontologist and Dinosaur Train host Sampson makes the case for connecting children with nature because of the positive benefits for their physical and emotional well-being.

The Game Believes in You: How Digital Play Can Make Our Kids Smarter by Greg Toppo USA Today education contributor Toppo explores the ways innovative educators are incorporating video games into successful new approaches to teaching.

In Defense of Liberal Education by Fareed Zakaria As the nation embraces the movement for increased STEM education, author Zakaria warns Americans not to abandon liberal education, but rather focus on developing a well-rounded course of study.

THEY’RE SMART. LET’S MAKE THEM EVEN SMARTER.

STEM Scouts puts boys and girls, grades 3–12, in labs led by volunteers and mentored by STEM professionals for fun, hands-on experiments. Kids will learn, play and lead, and they’ll do it in an environment that fosters teamwork and creativity.

START LEARNING:

STEMSCOUTS.ORG 865-243-8057

Knoxville Parent â&#x20AC;˘ October 2015