Extra-Curricular Activities since Irma; Why They Are Needed

Extra-Curricular Activities since Irma; Why They Are Needed

As a community our territory has been through a tremendous ordeal. Two category five hurricanes have made life as we knew it impossible to return to as almost everything has changed. With change comes the good and the bad as we all know; the good part is that we get to rebuild. It is a chance for change, to learn from our countless mistakes, to push forward, and a time for atonement. The bad part is the restoration phase and the inconveniences that we all have to suffer in order to make our futures brighter. One such inconvenience is the lack of extra curricula activities and adequate after school enrichment programs to sustain the new half day of school that we have adopted to ensure the needs of all are met.

 These half days of school are very strenuous on families and make it hard for parents, as well as students to actively participate in various ways. Yes, parents are allotted two hours a month to check in with their child’s teachers and schools, but many parents have more than one child and two hours may not be enough. Transportation and number of children should be taken into account as well as the needs of the child or children in question. Parents of students with delays or disabilities need to actively participate to learn routines and techniques to attribute to their child’s development. This too is true of students who exhibit challenging behavior due to emotional trauma/stress, parents need to be involved to ensure resilience is built upon with a support system; in this case the home and school community.

Every child on this island or in the territory at the times of hurricanes Irma and Maria have suffered a traumatic experience that WILL stay with them throughout their lives. When you really think of the ordeal we have faced as a community it must have been extra hard on the children. They did not have prior knowledge and experience that came with past hurricanes to mentally prepare for the storm (I got my experience with Marilyn and those after and still was in shock and dismay).

Every outlet for recreation that still exists has been ‘modified’ somehow leaving nothing much to help the youths cope. This is the time when we need those “Big Brother” enrichment programs to detour youths and adolescents from participating and engaging in self destructive behavior which can become the beginning of the path to becoming the next degenerate on the street corner.

The views expressed within this blog are solely those of Ms. Child Advocate and does not reflect on any of her affiliations. For more on the youths of the U. S Virgin Islands visit https://www.usviearlychildhoodlearning.blogspot.com . For more on the U.S Virgin Islands youths read Curriculum Choices, Learning Environment & Strategies, My Beliefs on Language Acquisition,  Respect Goes Both Ways: Teacher and Student, V. I Character, and Curricula Standards & Benchmarks

Life Long Lessons: St. Croix

Life Long Lessons: St. Croix

    In a season that usually celebrates promotional exercises and vacations I have grown fond of watching the endless pictures of graduations from preschool to college. I can't speak for everyone else but it makes me reminisce on adolescent memories, lost opportunities and life-long lessons! As I scroll through my news feeds and read the paper during this season I sometimes feel a sense of pride recognizing my career choice does matter ( even though I get horrible hours, make minimum wage, and am constantly ridiculed). Today I was stripped of such after reading Facebook posts about adolescent twin boys ( from St. Croix) that will not be able to participate in their graduation. While this was completely their own faults and choice according to reports by the associated press I'm shocked at the stance many have taken with regards to the consequences set forth by the U.S Virgin Islands Department of Education.

     Parents and teachers alike spent time coaching, training, and teaching adolescents to become responsible citizens that can contribute to our society beginning from the early years. We have become a society that makes excuses for our children rather than letting them learn.

    While it is sincerely terrible that these young men, the epitome of many of our young men, will be deprived of this epic opportunity they were given a choice and they had to choose what was best for their futures. It was all their choices from beginning to end.

    Just like the world we live in today everyone has to face the consequences of their actions. While the circumstances are unfortunate these young men have just received a life lesson they will never forget.

The views expressed within the blog are solely those of Ms. Child Advocate and does not reflect on any of her affiliations. For more on the U.S Virgin Islands youths read Curriculum Choices, Learning Environment & Strategies, My Beliefs on Language Acquisition,  Respect Goes Both Ways: Teacher and Student, V. I Character, and Curricula Standards & Benchmarks

Back to School U. S Virgin Islands

Back to School U. S Virgin Islands

It’s that time of year again, back to school for all the students in the territory. Many will be attending new schools while a few may be attending school for the first time. If so, there are some things that should be done to ensure that policies are met and students are fully equip/ prepared to begin the new 2016-2017 school year. School does begin this year on September 8, 2016, but orientation for a number of school like Jane E. Tuitt Elementary School, Charlotte Amalie High School, and St. Croix Central High School are preparing for school through orientation, insurance, and I. D card issuances. For a listing of which schools in the U. S. Virgin Islands are commencing with orientation and other back to school necessities you can visit the U. S Virgin Islands Department of Education or contact the respective school ( a listing of the district’s schools and accompanying websites can be found on VIDE’s Edline page) of concern as most administrative personnel are still at work while others will be returning within the next week. During orientation many things will be discussed that can shape the school year for your child and family, this is why participation is necessary and equally important.

For all new students to the territory’s public school system, there are immunization requirements to be met as there are in most school districts at home and abroad (if not all). Some families or students may need to opt out for medical or religious purposes and that’s fine too, but they to need to submit formal notice of such prior to the beginning of school and prepare for lab work for the kids.

Other than the major requirements here are a few friendly reminders to help ease the transition from summer break back to school;

·         Summer assignments- Many schools have them, most require the completion of these summer assignment the first two to three weeks of school (if not sooner). You don’t want to wait until school begins to start a summer reading assignment with three books and essays to accompany each, when you should be focusing on the upcoming school year and what it has to offer.

o   The Governor’s Reading Challenge- All schools were invited to participate in the Governor’s Reading Challenge and many elected to use the challenge as a summer assignment as well. Books were provided to students at the end of the school year along with a listing of other books included in the challenge, a track sheet to keep track of the books read, and a questions/ writing prompt to aid in the comprehension of the required books.

·         All schools have a dress code, and while many of the territory’s public schools dress codes are similar you should still check with each institution to ensure accuracy

o   Shoes should be black or white (or both)

o   Skirts should be at knee length

o   Earrings should be no bigger than the size of a quarter

·         Bringing Your Own Device (BYOD)- This is a sincerely controversial issue in every state on the mainland, and in many schools public and private right here at home. The only way to ensure that you or your child are abiding by the school’s rules are to become familiar with them. Orientation is great help; it is an overview of what one needs to know of the upcoming school year as a parent. Orientation also attributes to the familiarity that many have with the rules, policies, and procedures that occur within a school; checking with each school and becoming familiar with their policies on BYOD is the only way to ensure that you and your child are adhering to the schools’ policies and prevent and repercussions (like having your device confiscated).  

The views expressed within the blog are solely those of Ms. Child Advocate and does not reflect on any of her affiliations. For more on the U.S Virgin Islands youths read PTA, Parent Committee, & Volunteering: Get Involved , Simple Classroom Management Tips, Ethical Leaders Anyone? and Respect Goes Both Ways: Teacher and Student

Congresswoman’s Daughter Was Victimized; Not Considered in Hacker's Actions

Congresswoman’s Daughter Was Victimized; Not Considered in Hacker's Actions

Normally I try not to blog about things that I feel personally about unless it is pertinent, like issues regarding education and educators within the U. S Virgin Islands and since it is summer I thought I would give myself a much needed break from the dual work that I have chosen to engage in to actually take the time to smell the roses (so to speak) but instead I cannot stop thinking about this ordeal about our delegate to congress and how her private family moments where hacked. I am also too sure that most of the reason why myself, along with others, cannot seem to ignore or let this atrocity die is because every major news outlet in the territory feels the need to update and rewrite articles already published to continually feed the masses. Well here is my major concern that I am sure no one else cares about (or at least seemingly) how do you all think that the child feels?

U. S Virgin Islands Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett and her husband

The child that became a political pawn because she was having fun with her parents, something that many children within our territory do not have the comfort of and many of whom will never have those same luxuries; how do you think their child feels. How would you as a child feel after being used in your most vulnerable moments, exploited at such a young age, or do we think that because she is young she will get over it and may not fully understand the implications made? That is possible, but highly implausible as she is completely aware of her surrounding and developmentally progressing appropriately. So I ask again, why do we as a society, as a community, as Pulitzer prize winning newspapers, and editors in chief continually fan this fire and feed it? The negativity that looms over because of this cloud is a little heart wrenching to me because this could have been worse for all concerned including the child had it been deemed that the video was inappropriate and that she needed to be removed from her home, this too could be misconstrued by children as the school year is set to begin soon and we all know how children can be. This is my plea to everyone that has since obtained this video or any of the pictures leaked, delete them and denounce the nonsense that is taking over in our communities. This is not the first straw, I have heard many stories countless other women victimized in the same manner some were as young as teens and if we do not denounce it now it will continually grow. Let’s not wait until this come in the form of a suicide of a teen or young adult that couldn’t bear the pressure from sinister jokes; let us as a community not sit by and watch children become victims for their parent’s cause if we do can you truly say that you and your children will be safe in the next wave of attacks?

The views expressed within the blog are solely those of Ms. Child Advocate and does not reflect on any of her affiliations. For more on the U.S Virgin Islands youths read PTA, Parent Committee, & Volunteering: Get Involved , Too Much Violence: USVI Shootings Near Preschools, USVI Shootings Near Preschool's 2, and Respect Goes Both Ways: Teacher and Student 

Ethical Leaders Anyone?

Ethical Leadership Anyone?

U. S Virgin Islands Governor K. Mapp

Ethical leadership involves acting with moral purpose and integrity to do what is right, just, and fair in service of common good; they are genuine with themselves and others, they remain true to who they are and what they stand for (Weiss, 2011). The main characteristics of ethical leadership are authenticity and integrity. Authentic leaders have genuine desires to serve, they know themselves and lead from their values; they understand their purpose, have strong values about doing the right thing in work and in their lives and are passionate about their mission (George with Sims, 2007). Ethical leaders with integrity often illustrates an 'alignment between what one does and what one says; doing and saying should belong to the same whole' (Brown, 2005). Acting with integrity is the same as acting ethically or morally (DeGeorge, 1993). Notable examples of ethical leaders include but aren't limited to the Dalai Lama, Dr. Martin Luther King, Maya Angelou, Nelson Mandela, Mohandas Gandhi, and Erykah Badu (a notable activist for youth engagement and development through the arts). As I mentioned in discussions, the most influential leader in our territory, the governor, is continuing to lose the confidence of the people and even the Senate committee due to unethical actions continuously arising since he took office in January. His actions have caused many of the nominees selected as commissioners and chairpersons resigning every month as a new scandal of some sort is making headlines again because of the governor lack of ethics. His lack of ethics and those who held the office before him set the precedence for every other aspiring politician within our territory including those who are the most impressionable, the youths.

Outside of our own governor and that he has recently become notable for, many of his cabinet/ administration's members are also under much needed scrutiny for their actions during the short tenure this administration has had. My main concerns are with all being discussed and the spotlights being 'lit' what exactly are these politicians and their aids doing to better serve the needs of the territories educational institutions? I have heard of the many strides made for UVI's medical program and think it great as nursing has become such a common occupation within the territory, but early childhood education is still not being addressed. Too many have to wait until they are of school age (five years old) to attend public school because Head Start programs have waiting lists by years and not enough facilities. 

 This sort of leadership has caused discord among our governments officials, the community at large and has even stopped initiatives and legislations from being practiced due to hardball being played between too much people with power. 

Ethics is generally defined as motivations or actions that are based on ideas of what is      right and wrong, but it also encompasses the values and morals that an individual, society, or       institution deems acceptable and desirable (Weiss, 2011). Leaders who do not encompass the values and morals of the society cannot effectively and authentically lead any majority without first being motivated to do so by similar causes. I think ethical leadership is important because it teaches integrity and culture to followers in turn empowering the masses.  

Weiss, J. W. (2011). An introduction to leadership. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

The views expressed within the blog are solely those of Ms. Child Advocate and does not reflect on any of her affiliations. For more on the U.S Virgin Islands youths read PTA, Parent Committee, & Volunteering: Get Involved , Too Much Violence: USVI Shootings Near Preschools, USVI Shootings Near Preschool's 2, and Respect Goes Both Ways: Teacher and Student 

Quick & Simple Classroom Management Tips

I'm sure we've all heard of the old saying 'you live and you learn'; well I've certainly learned a lot in the past six months and I thought it wise to pay it forward as I know I still have much more learning to do. I would also like to quickly touch on a topic that I think is usually taken for granted and that is mentoring. While I think it pertinent to find ways to incorporate mentoring and apprenticeships within our educational institutions, I also think that there is an important aspect being ignored which is the mentorship of new teachers. Having mentors ensure that we are continually able to pass our cultural traditions on through educational lessons as well as bridge the old with the new. While there are many new practices in early childhood and education in a whole over the last few decades they have all come with a great deal of good and they were all also build on the backs of the previous generation. Encourage others you know to mentor new professionals entering their field. It does not mean that they have 'vouched' for them but rather taken time out to share some of the experiences they have learned within the classroom. For new professionals adopt a mentor, tell them how much you value their professionalism and would like to learn more about their journey through professional development in a hopes to find peace within your own niche.  

Now that we've gotten through how I got my idea for this blog post let's actually get to the post. Within the last six months I've had the opportunity to work with some amazing individuals, all with a vast variety of techniques and methods for classroom management. Being the inquisitive individual I am I decided to try a few of these classroom management tips or 'diffusers' and I found five to be effective hands down with different age groups. As I mentioned before I decided to share them in the hopes of continually 'paying it forward' and I hope that others will too share their ideas and experiences as well. So without further adieu, these are my quick simple classroom management tips! 

  

Quick & Simple Classroom Management Tips 

1. Give clear and concise directions 

• Post classroom rules and expectations within eye level and sight range. Use teachable moments to reinforce the need for rules and consequences if necessary 

2. Engaging work alternatives for students who finish earlier 

• Use learning areas/ stations with engaging manipulatives as resources to aid in lessons 

3. Engaging energetic activities 

• Play student oriented music during transitions and encourage them to dance and re-energize themselves. I've personally become partial to the Jammin Minute videos that are engaging ways to exercise while having fun. As school across the nation participate there are many video to different songs that can be found via YouTube and incorporated into any routine; you can even add your own! 

4. Rearranging furniture  

• Redecorating can have powerful positive effects on the environment and may possibly changing the tone in your classroom; restructuring/ rotating learning areas and tools or even student partners can also attribute to a positive environment for learning 

5. Humor 

• Reading age appropriate comic strips or even using spontaneous moments to encourage laughter in the classroom. The classroom should be viewed as neutral place where they can have fun and learn, usually giving students the opportunity to laugh at the teacher is usually ideal and always calls for response. 

  

Regardless of your teaching style, culture, or the environment in which you live I'm sure you can agree that an engaging activity can usually set a positive tone within the atmosphere. With that being said I believe the greatest tool to classroom management is to model and display a mutual sense of respect within reasonable bounds. It is understandable that a line must be drawn between teacher and student to many great reasons but role modeling a mutual sense of respect for all regardless of everything is a lesson that students can take with them throughout their lives and one in this day and age that many would say they need.  

  

The views expressed within the blog are solely those of Ms. Child Advocate and does not reflect on any of her affiliations. For more on the U.S Virgin Islands youths read PTA, Parent Committee, & Volunteering: Get Involved , Too Much Violence: USVI Shootings Near Preschools, USVI Shootings Near Preschool's 2, and Respect Goes Both Ways: Teacher and Student