Week 8 Kim Kusturin 13 & Mooney

I have to say that Erikson remains my favorite theorist.  He has easy to understand theories and stages, at least for me.  There are many theories from many professionals and they all make sense but you have consider more then one when teaching children.  Not all children learn the same way.  A theory that works for one may not work for some.  Either way they all have theories n how children think.  How they act and process things.  When reading the Mooney book, I didn't realize that some of the theorists were born in late 1800's/early1900's.  My grandmother was born in 1912 and I am interested in how these theorists thought of how children of her age were growing and learning.  There are so many theories by so many influential theorists many are similar or parts of each other and some are so different.

Montessori specialized in working with impoverished children.  Her care centers were designed in part to keep kids off the streets and in turn she found that they were interested in learning.  I like her ideas of child size furniture and real tools.  It is so common play now but back then that was radical way of thinking.  I just recently went on a life skills field trip and we went to Oak Lawn Children's Museum.  They have everything cold size.  The work/tool room had all the safety necessities and real hammers and nails and even saws.  That made me very nervous.  

Piaget wants teachers to give children large blocks of time t just play.  Have as many real world experience as they can and use open ended activities and questions to get them thinking.  In our district's preschool program, that is a requirement.  This supports development in children on many levels.  This way children will learn through inquiry and experiences.  These were the theorists that jumped out at me and the ones I feel I use on a day to day basis.  Their ideas d actually help me understand my students better.  Or at least try to.  

Chapter 13 was kind of about all the of the different theories on lifespan development and how they can be used in everyday life.  Physical, social, cognitive and emotional development impact our lives in small ways and in large ways. They are essential to growing children into productive and good lives.   
It is important as parents, future parents and as educators to know some of these theories and know how children think, learn and grow.  Many theories are are easily applied and understood.  Many use each others work and build on it with their own ideas, sometimes improving it or sometimes changing it completely.  

The times may have changed from when these theorists came up with their ideas and studies but children have not.  Children still need the basic fundamentals provided in most of these theories and it is our responsibility to implement them the bestsellers way we can.

Week 7 Kim Kusturin ~The End

Death.  That is a subject I do no not like to talk about or think about.  I didn't like to even read about it either.  I was interested in the, or at least, I found it interesting the Four Types of Death (pg. 281).  I have heard of the first two, clinical and brain death but not the last two, biological or social deaths.  I didn't even know that those were a thing.  Like many people I have had my share of deaths in my life.  By my older daughter's age, I had already lost my father (at age 4), two grandparents, a friend, and several other family members.  I am glad they have not had to deal with that kind of loss early in life.  

Grief pg. 284-86) is a journey.  It is something you may need to do alone but at the same time you will need a support system.  My mother-in-law passed away in September of 2016.  My younger daughter still cries about her when she thinks about her.  My husband and older daughter on the other hand do not.  I know they think about her but they do not want to talk about her at all.  Everyone has their own ways to deal with loss and grief. I do my best to be there for them.  My older one was the first grandchild and was the unspoken favorite.  This is her first loss of a close person.  She would not, until the last minute pay her last respects and has not since that day gone to her grave side.  I offer her comfort when I see she needs it.  It hurts to see your kids hurting.  As for my husband, he cried a bit at the hospital and that was it that I know of.  

Just recently, I  realized that this will be the last century alive.  It ends in the year 2100.  I know I will not live that long and I am OK with that.  But then it hit me that this is it. I thought about all the stuff I will miss and great grand kids, great great grand kid and so on.  So, I thought it would be cool to be different.  I'd love to think I'd come back and be a living memorial.  There is these things called Burial Pods.  So, since I hate funerals, I said to my family I want to be a tree.  They looked at me and walked away.  Seriously though, It is an interesting idea.  Have a simple memorial service and be done with all the sadness.  Plant me and let me be a tree. Funerals (pg. 286) have always cheeped me out.  If my family really do not want to plant me, I at the very least, want no plants, just some wild flowers, balloons, may favorite music playing and all of my Snap Chat photos.  Celebrate!  Celebrate me, what I left behind and all those who are there because of me.  That's what would make me happy.  And as much as I do not want to think of it, maybe in a few years i will begin to plan this for my children.  It was horrible having to do this for my mother-in-law.  I do not want my children to go through that.  Kubler-Ross's stages of Grief (pg. 288) make a lot of sense.  I can see myself going through these.  I also helped, or at least I hope I did, my mother-in-law, in her final days.

Hospice is not all it is cracked up to be in my experience.  My mother-in-law had no help what so ever with the hospice (pg.290) group we picked.  They came once, never gave her her last rights and we had to make sure the meds were being given.  We called in the middle of the night to make sure her doses were on time.  We complained but nothing changed.  It was a long hard couple weeks. The video this week was interesting and I wish everyone gets a caring nurse like her.  Like I said, I do not like death or talking about death.  Below is a link to the Burial Pods.

http://www.naturalburialcompany.com/

Week 6: Kim Kusturin Young and Middle Age

Early adulthood is definitely a transition time.  It is a time many, like myself, thought I knew more than I did and I thought I’d be young for a lot longer than I was.  I blinked and now I have a child who is entering her early adulthood.  As the book states, there are many rites of passages (208).  I participated in a few of these myself like Confirmation and graduation, I had a sweet sixteen party, voted, got my license and a new car at 16.  I also got a job, had a baby and got married.  I did go to community college but stopped when I had my first child.  Only now am I able to continue where I started.  Thank God, I took classes here and there while I was raising my children.  I’d hate to be “just” starting right now.  One thing I found interesting was organ reserve.  I had no idea that that was even a thing.  

My daughter and I are currently going through a period of lifestyle health (211).  My daughter is becoming a big health nut.  Don’t get me wrong, I have no problem with this at all.  My problem is that she works two jobs and no bills, is off this semester from nursing school and she wants ME to buy all her Trader Joe’s, Mariano’s, Whole Foods and organic foods.  If it is tempting to her she asks (or insists) that we do not buy it.  Now I love my daughter, but I have my limits.  Diet and nutrition is essential during this time in one’s life.  Being fit is a plus as well as a young adult and for those in middle adulthood (234-235).  Once again, I love my daughter, but if she tries to guilt me into going to the gym with her one more time, so help me.  She is young and has time.  I have only really been watching my health and fitness seriously the past few years.  It is important and I do fit it in what I can.  Working full time and school full time does not give me much free time.  I was a typical youth, I guess.  I drank, I smoked.  Both of which I do not do anymore.  My daughter, who is almost 20 has also drank but says she will never smoke.  There is so much out there for all to see the negative effects of alcohol, smoking and drugs are for your health. 

At this stage, young adults not only grow physically but cognitively as well.  Theoretically, young adults process knowledge and life experiences more than when they were adolescents.  Piaget says that over time (215) we develop successful strategies in planning and testing ideas.  Gender also begins to play a role in the development of a young adult.  Things are different from when I was this age as was it for my mother and grandmothers and so on.  Gender roles and identity have become religious and political issues more than ever.  It’s everywhere.  Gone are the days of Ricky and Lucy sleeping in separate beds on their TV show even though they were married and expecting their first child. 

As the semester goes on and the more I read about Erikson’s theories, the more id have to say he is my favorite one.  I mostly agree with his theories and his stages of development are easily defined and understood.  His theory on intimacy I find very interesting (219-220).  It is not just physical intimacy.  It is about bonds created and the sacrifices one makes to keep those bonds with people or to end them.  At the same time, I found the Love Stories by Robert Sternberg (220) interesting and odd at the same time. I can totally see the first two “stories” to be a normal take on love but as well as the business story but I am not at all on board with the horror or the pornography stories. 

Marriage and Family.  I totally agree with the book that in the early years’ marriage and family was thought upon differently than it is today.  Then we had The Brady Bunch and now we have the Kardashians.  I was a little surprised to see that there are still 95% of people who will marry at some point in their lives.  In today’s world, I would have thought that percent to be much lower.  I would have thought there would be more cohabitation as the book states versus marriages.  To me, too many people do not respect marriage and its importance.  That too can be blamed on family dynamic, Hollywood and/or lack of religion.  

As we get older our bodies change.  Some will go to extensive lengths, mostly woman (Joan Rivers, Meg Ryan) to slow that process down.  But you get the occasional man like John Travolta.  This definitely doesn’t give me anything to look forward to.  I have a feeling the rest of this book will be quite depressing for me.  Chapter 10 seems to start out with the doom and gloom of middle adulthood.  And I am very aware of thigs that happen in late adulthood and beyond.  I found Erikson’s theory of Generativity and Stagnation (244) to be true.  I agree that there are many people do not contribute to society as many others do.  I have strong views on this and in my eyes, there are more stagnant people versus generative.  I feel that had much to do with family, the economy, politics and laws.  For some religion may also be a factor.  But that is just my opinion on Erikson’s theory. 

Table 10.4 (250) Proactive Stress Reduction is by Dr. John Dacey.  I read up about him after reading this section of the book. 

All his books are based on the four-step method he originated to teach children to reduce anxiety, which goes by the acronym COPE: calm the nervous system, originate creative plans to relieve anxiety, persist in the face of obstacles and failure, and evaluate success to adjust the plan accordingly. The UU World website states that Dacey has dealt with anxiety his whole life. In 1957, a fire destroyed his family home taking the lives of his mother, two brothers, and two sisters.  He was 20 and the oldest of nine children, and was in Rhode Island in the Navy at the time of their deaths.  He was filled grief and guilt.  He wrote many books about anxiety, that I may have to read.  Both my younger daughter and myself have been diagnosed with anxiety.  The web site goes on to say “All of his books are based on the four-step method he originated to teach children to reduce anxiety, which goes by the acronym COPE: calm the nervous system, originate creative plans to relieve anxiety, persist in the face of obstacles and failure, and evaluate success to adjust the plan accordingly. He offers practical exercises for children and families to do together that combine physical, mental, and spiritual antidotes to anxiety.”

Week 5: Kim Kusturin Adolescence

Adolescence, as defined on Wikipadia, is a transitional stage of physical and psychological development that generally occurs during the period from puberty to adulthood.   I was lucky enough to make it my whole life till last month when I had to escort the 5^th grade boys to the Robert Crown Center for Health Education.  I got a firsthand look at “The Michael Program that provides a unique “boys-only” format for puberty education. It compares female and male reproductive anatomy (as seen in our book pg. 188) and introduces the physiological changes that occur during adolescence.”   Educators address secondary physical changes such as voice change, increased production of sweat and oil, acne, and the growth of body hair, as well nocturnal emissions and spontaneous erections.  I have two girls, so this was a very strange field trip for me.  On their website, they say their mission is “to positively impact the physical and mental health of youth through innovative education programs in partnership with parents, schools and communities.”  In how I saw the educator interact with these boys and make himself seem cool to them, he was able to get into the “uncomfort zone” as I like to call it.  It was very well done and I sort of know what my daughters went through in 5^th grade and why they really didn’t want to go on this field trip.  But I must say it was very well done and they offer many other programs like Science Behind Drugs, Sex Education and Social Emotional Health as well as SPED versions upon request.  Puberty is continuous and occurs between ages 11 and 12 (pg. 187).  I was surprised that the start of puberty has decreased over the years, and here in the US, it has decreased from age 17 to age 12 (pg. 189).  It appears there are many factors for this change like childhood obesity and family dynamics.

As for myself, I had the fortunate opportunity to grow up in part of the 80’s and unfortunately there are many photos to prove that.  I went to a small all-girls Catholic school and I can tell you that we never went on a field trip like that.  In fact, we got no education on this subject, not even in Health class.  It is no surprise to me that girls tend to have a rougher time when going through puberty because of their self- confidence and peer pressure.  We had uniforms but even then, you could always see a competition between the girls from makeup, boys, hiking your skirt up (which to this day, I don’t get that one).  Looking back, I totally agree with Erik Erikson’s 5^th stage of development (pg. 194).  It deals with identity and identity confusion.  I did not realize it was Erikson who came up with the term “identity crisis.”  It reminds me of the movie 13 Going on 30 with Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo.  This movie totally touches upon the awkwardness and pressures of the adolescent years.  My daughter is a sophomore in a public high school.  I can honestly say that the opportunities she has compared to what I had are 100% different.  They have sessions on mental health (pg199).  They have sessions on drugs, stress and suicide as well (pg. 199-200). 

The family role is very important.  As the book points out (pg. 195) mothers spend more time working than at home in today’s society.  Although my mother never worked while I was at home, she did drink (a lot).  My father was dead, she remarried, she drank, we moved around a lot so, tack that on to going through your adolescence and you get one tough time.  I couldn’t wait to leave.  It was my peers, my friends, my aunt and myself who got me through my adolescent years.  My mother and I are talking now but we did have a period of 10 years where we didn’t talk at all.  That in turn messed up my sister when she was just nearing this period in her life and I have to wonder if it is part of the reasons she has so many problems now in life.  I got out and away, she was stuck. 

Page 196 talks about sexual identity and behavior.  I can tell you, I did not get that in high school but my daughters have.  It goes well with the film for this week, The Education of Shelby Knox.  I am not naive enough to know it doesn’t happen at this age but I was struck at how causally and unconcerned some of those teens were when asked about it.  At the same time, I was somewhat surprised the lengths some teens go to promote abstinence.  Good for them.  They were not afraid, both boys and girls, to put themselves out there to show awareness.  In this day and age, it is well known the dangers/consequences of this sort of behaviors. So why is it still a problem?

Week 4: Kim Kusturin The Magic Years

Can I have a redo? I’d love to, not go back to my childhood, but that of my two beautiful young ladies.  My childhood was tough.  I guess I do not want to go back to mine because my dad died at 29 years old when I was 4 years old.  I do not remember those dark days in my childhood and I do not want to relive or remember them.  It is my kid’s childhood I want again. I so miss those days.  I love the young adults they are becoming and I cannot wait to see what their future holds.  But I’d love, just for a little while, to relive their childhood (my memories) again.  Plus, I wouldn’t mind being younger again, even if for just a little bit too. 

The book spoke about “The Magic Years”.  Kind of the years of make believe and dress up.  Those are the small moments that I’d like to relive.  The Loonette the Clown, Barney, Bear and the Big Blue House, Blues Clues, Dora the Explorer, Hannah Montana days.  I can go on and on.  My kids loved to pretend in their magical years (pg. 130).  The book, on page 133 talks about biopsychosocial influences.  I total agree.  I see it, sadly, every day with some of my students.  One boy had cancer and now has a growing brain tumor.  Mom is so into his nutrition health that it is causing an issue.  She come every day to make sure he eats.  I totally get her as a mother, but it causes a problem with our schedule. 

According to Piaget, children learn through representation.  Piaget’s best known theory on cognitive development talks about how children start using symbols for objects and events and memories.  It kind reminds me that if a baby cries and you pick them up they will begin to associate crying with getting picked up.  I have one student with Autism who, although she’s in 5^th grade got out of gym the first few months of school because she would have a meltdown and we’d have to take her out of gym.  We eventually caught on that she hates gym and realized that if she throws a fit she gets out of gym.  Even though she is older it is similar. 

Vygotsky stresses social interaction (pg. 136).  Both he and Piaget believe learning is an ongoing process.  I myself am still learning.  That brings us to my favorite ages, early childhood.  I actually worked in a Montessori day care for a few months when I was in high school.   I remember thinking it was kind of weird but the kids loved the whole program.  I have also volunteered a few times in a Head Start school in Justice.  There were many children who most definitely benefited from early intervention.  I didn’t realize that it began in the 60’s under President Johnson.  The book states that funding for the Head Start programs were around 8 billion dollars.  That is a lot.  I am also wondering how that funding will be under the Trump/DeVos administration.  I actually wonder much more.  They seem to want to make a lot of changes to the early intervention, public and special education programs around the country. 

Now I do not pretend to be a great mother, But I think I did an excellent job with my children.  They have stayed in the same house and schools their whole lives. When I look at my cousin’s daughter’s child, who is now in 8^th grade, she has had such a terrible early childhood.  Her dad took off till she was 6, her mother moved with her from boyfriend to boyfriend and she is now in her 6^th school.  During a bad battle between her parents, she wound up with her dad and has become somewhat stable.  This is after failing classes, running away and a couple weeks spent in Riverside Mental health center.  She is doing much better in a somewhat stable home and will be attending Marist next year.  So, parenting is key to a child’s future.  That is why some of these inner-city kids go the way of gangs, parenting and that’s all they know.  You need a license to fish and drive a car but not to be a parent.

In school aged children, 6% to 10% have a learning disabilities such as ADHD or ADD or a combination of both (pg. 160).  That, sadly, I can relate to.  I work with children on a daily basis that struggle with this.  On in particular has ADHD but cannot be medicated because he’s been battling kidney failure since he was a baby.  He struggles every day.  But he’s a smart little guy, if only we can get him to slow down and focus.  The roles of schools these days have change tremendously since I was in school and even since my girls have been in elementary school.  On page 175, the book talks about this and how funding and testing has become a big part of education.  We have been getting ready for the past few weeks to take the required PARCC tests. Many of my kids cannot even read at a 2nd grade level and they are required, WITHOUT OUR HELP, to read a 4^th and 5^th grade level test.  Last year we were in tears along with two of our students.  One begged us to help him, He asked why we didn’t like him anymore?  So heartbreaking and so unnecessary.  But we can only do what we can.  And that is give our very best.  These kids deserve nothing less!!