Preparing Teacher Candidates to Support Military-‐Connected Learners
Dr. Vicki Sherbert Dr. Lori Levin
Welcome! Introductions
Link to Today’s Presentation
https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=EqvHKJvEWtU#t=38
Understanding the Needs of Military-‐ Connected Learners • Phases of Deployment Cycle • Impact on Learners – Attendance – Behavior – Curriculum
http://www.tcpress.com/militaryfamiliesoffer.html
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/military-connected-students/id742204249?mt=11
Benefits & Hardships of Military Life/ Culture • • • • • •
+ Enriching experiences -‐ Frequent moving + Resiliency -‐ Stress + Developing Responsibility -‐ Ambiguous loss
Challenges Faced by Students in the Classroom • • • • • •
frequent moving deployment or re-‐deployment of a loved-‐one loss of a loved-‐one anxiety the injury or disability of a loved-‐one feelings of ambiguous loss
Biography-‐Driven Learning Activities • Military Culture as a part of diversity • Classroom activities focused on life experiences of all students in the classroom – Writing – Communication – Social Studies – Reading
Bibliotherapy • the use of literature to teach about the issues one faces by identifying with a character and to help children cope with difficult issues and challenges • military-‐connected children are seeking connections to others who are in similar life situations and they feel more at ease when they learn that they are not the only ones experiencing this particular circumstance • we compiled a book list educators can use to help students identify with a character facing the same challenges, acknowledge and release their emotions, and gain new insight in order to better cope with the demands of school and learning in the face of adversity.
• Primary Grade Titles – Andrews, B. (2012). Why are you so scared?: A child’s book about parents with PTSD. Washington D.C.: Magination Press. – Beaty, D. (2013). Knock Knock: My dad’s dream for me. New York: Little, Brown & Co. – Blabley, A. (2009). Sunday chutney. Honesdale, Pa.: Front – Brisson, P. (2010). Sometimes we were brave. Honesdale, Pa.: Boyds Mills – Kraulis, J. (2013). Whimsy’s heavy things. Toronto: Tundra – Lunde, S.E. (2012). My father’s arms are a boat. New York: Enchanted Lion Books.
Literature Selections
• Middle Grade/Young Adult Titles – Anderson, L. H. (2014). The impossible knife of memory. New York: Viking. – Cooney, C. B. (1992). Operation: Homefront. New York: Bantam Books. – DeFelice, C. (2011). Wild Life. New York: Scholastic. – Holmes, S. L. (2009). Operation Yes. New York: Arthur A. Levine Books. – Parry, R. (2009). Heart of a Shepherd. New York: Yearling. – Williams, S. M. (2009). Bull Rider. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books.
Literature Selections
Resources for Teacher Candidates •
K-‐State College of Education Military Initiatives page: https://www.coe.ksu.edu/about/military/ index.html
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Teachers College Press: Free guides to support military students and their families http:// www.tcpress.com/militaryfamiliesoffer.html
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Livebinder of Resources (Sandy Risberg): http://www.livebinders.com/play/play?id=860177
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Military Child Coalition: http://www.militarychild.org
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Resources for Military Child & Teens: https://www.coe.ksu.edu/about/documents/ Military_Children_Teens_Resources.pdf
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The Advocate Fall 2014-‐Winter 2015: http://www.atekan.org/wp/wp-‐content/uploads/2014/12/ Fall2014-‐FINAL.pdf
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Michigan Dept. of Ed.: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/ Web_Resources_for_Teachers_and_School_Administrators_352413_7.pdf
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American Sociological Association: Teaching active duty military students http://www.asanet.org/ footnotes/marchapril13/military_0313.html
Contact  Information
Dr. Vicki Sherbert sherbev@k-state.edu
Dr. Lori Levin llevin@k-state.edu