Thanksgiving...

...or, "Why my class will not be making feathered headdresses this week."

As a teacher, I made a commitment early in my graduate studies to teach "nothing that is wrong." This particularly applies to history, as most of what my generation was raised to believe as historical "fact" is nothing more than Anglo-Saxon/Christian/male tainted accounts of what actually occurred. Rarely are children taught the "real" version of history, or even that there ARE diverse accounts of our nation's (and the world's) historical events. This is never more true than in the case of Thanksgiving.

As a child, I grew up hearing the traditional account of the "pilgrims'" first harvest feast, complete with sweet Squanto, abundant food, and peaceful relations between the new settlers and the Native Americans. We made "Indian" vests out of paper bags, paraded in headdresses, and acted out the pleasure of the indigenous people as they were invited to share in the pilgrim's bounty.

Ha. Ha. Hahahahahahaha.

All this was well-intentioned, I am sure. Sometimes, if the teacher was REAL liberal, we even read a Native American poem or two about the earth. This was a more well-rounded, balanced approach to teaching about Thanksgiving, you see.

Well, times have changed. This Thanksgiving, in my school, we are not celebrating the European's encroachment onto the Wampanoag's land. We are not celebrating the 95% of all Native's who were wiped out by smallpox and other forms of European biological warfare. We are not celebrating the fact that those in power have altered these peoples' story and that millions of children grew up with a skewed and dangerous view of history.

Instead, in my class, we are talking about Stone Soup. We are talking about how alone, we have little, but together, we can feed us all. We are talking about distribution of resources, sharing, and how to confront selfishness and greed. We are talking about bread, and families, and how each culture has something to offer one another. And yes, we are thinking about what we are Thankful for, with no mention of "Indians" and pilgrims.

If you are a teacher, or a parent, please read the resources below before your next Thanksgiving re-telling. Question what and how you are celebrating. We have much to be thankful for, but how are we introducing that concept to our children? Are we using an archaic, false and skewed tale at the expense of real history? Who is hurt by this perpetuating myth? Is there a way you can introduce Thanksgiving (the true story) and encourage children to have a reflective, grateful heart without glorifying what was essentially the beginning of genocide?

1. Oyate.org – Deconstructing the Myths of Thanksgiving: http://www.oyate.org/resources.html

2. Resource to find out about the indigenous people that lived here before colonization: http://www.native-languages.org/states.htm

3. Kids FAQ about Native Americans: http://www.native-languages.org/kidfaq.htm#1

4. A great list of children’s books (organized by age) : http://www.native-languages.org/children-books.htm

5. Rethinking Our Schools: Myths and Misgivings: http://www.rethinkingschools.org/archive/24_01/24_01_thanksgiving.shtml

6. Webquest on the first Thanksgiving (this gives a more accurate, balanced approach without highlighting the violence between the Wampanoag's and Europeans. http://www.plimoth.org/education/olc/index_js2.html#

Hiatus

I am full time teaching now, taking over for the preschool class at my school. A bit stressful, to say the least! I have started a new blog for the class. You can find it here at The Daily Dolphin.

Until I get back on my feet and into a routine, I am afraid Medical Miracle will have to be suspended for a while. Not long, maybe a few weeks, maybe even less. Just wanted to let all y'all know that though I am gone, I am not a blogger slacker! Keep up with my class at The Daily Dolphin! They are so cute!

Raising Readers and Writers!

As a teacher, I am pretty much obsessed with literacy and books!

I always tell everyone who asks that the MOST important thing you can do for their child is read to him or her all day, every day. I'm not talking about restraining your child in a chair with picture books for hours on end, but instead making the most of authentic opportunities to talk to your child about print, how words are used to convey meaning, and the various ways people use print to communicate with one another.


Discuss signs, notes or cards, cookbooks, grocery lists, and even your blog (or texting!) with your child. Show them that writing and reading is something that is useful and fun all throughout your day. Talk about print as you read it or write it - "Oh! Since I am starting a new word in my card to Grandma, I am going to make sure to leave a space between the word I just wrote and my new word to make it easier for Grandma to read! This is what real writers do, and you can do it, too, in your own writing! Just like me!" "Since there is a question mark at the end of this sentence, I know that Daddy is asking a question in his note, and I should make my voice sound like this when I read it!"


Of course, there is nothing more special than the tried-and-true before bedtime reading session. My dad read to my sister and I every single night, and it was not only bonding time with my family, but also instilled in my sister and I the love and value of reading. My mom swears it is how come we are so smart and well-adjusted (ahem!) and actually research supports her claims. Reading aloud to your child is THE single most important thing a parent can do to ensure that your child becomes a successful reader.

I can go on and on about literacy and probably will have several more posts on the topic over the course of my lifetime, but for now, I leave you with a few resources. While perusing the NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) website, I came across this article from the American Academy of Pediatrics. It lists some good guidelines for selecting books for your children depending on their age, and encourages parents to be purposeful in their selection of literature. For you medical folk out there, there are also some neat links on how pediatricians can support literacy and even some pre-designed handouts to give to patients' parents.

Secondly, there is this book called the Read Aloud Handbook my mom gives EVERY mom-to-be. She says it is the mother of all books, and will literally save your life as a parent. It gives you a list of the best books, as well as ways to encourage reluctant readers. It is a must own!

Now, do as I say and your child will never make a poor choice or disappoint you. HA!