August 13, 2004
What to say when the wolves come knockin'!
Hello again!
I want to share with you that Summer Series 2004 was absolutely AMAZING! We packed the room for 2 days! Folks came from as far as NY and as close as down the road! We laughed, played games, shared stories, made CAPES! and even made time for a bunch of workshops too!! (imagine that!) The premiere of the new WOLVES workshop was outstanding! I have had the opportunity to do it again a few times already for various groups and it is being so well received!
We MUST keep showing the wolves that being hands-on play based and child centered IS kindergarten readiness!!! My intention is that this new workshop will continue to give teachers, parents and providers the tools (ammunition!) to defend play in the lives of our young children AND to show that when the children are "just playing " in an engaging environment there is so much learning going on!
Some extra GOOD NEWS too! I contacted CAEYC and they have agreed to add it as a last minute workshop for the state AEYC conference in Sacramento this coming March of 2005! Excellent!
If you would like to book the new WOLVES workshop be sure to give us a call at 800-477-7977 to get more information. Get your own copy of Lisa's latest publication What to say when the wolves come knockin' by calling us today! You will be able to order it online as soon as I get a picture of the cover up here on the site but for now give us a quick call and we will get it out to you ASAP!
A quick sidebar to allow for a definition of "wolf"
I have already had to fight off accusations of being "anti-administration" due to this new presentation. So I'm trying to nip this in the bud here! Of course the accusations are coming from folks who have only seen the title of the workshop and have not actually sat thru the presentation. Here's the bottom line: a WOLF is anyone who gets in the way of creating hands-on child centered places by saying that children, instead of"playing," need to be "getting ready." Wolves want children to be doing homework, dittos, flashcards and attending computer camp even though they are only three years old! Wolves worry about what the neighbors children can do compared to their own children. Wolves worry that their children are not talking soon enough, reading soon enough or growing teeth fast enough.
Many of these anxieties are based not on what they (in their heart of hearts) want for their children - but are based on what OUR SOCIETY AND MEDIA HAVE BRAINWASHED THEM INTO THINKING THEIR CHIDLREN NEED. (Watch out Michael Moore!) I will tell you with 100% honesty that once we are able to talk to the wolves and show them how "ooey gooey" environments ARE "getting them ready" - they convert! They are then on our side! And there is NOTHING better than converted wolves in your corner! We must be able to articulate our beliefs. We have the responsibility to go deeper than "kids learn through play." I will direct you to my article entitled "A crash course in the language of wolves" for additional clarification. It is in the RESOURCES section of the website. If you cannot find it send me an email and I will attach it back for you.
Point being - wolves are not limited to administrators! This is not an admin bashing seminar!!! Now granted, some wolves ARE administrators but not all administrators are wolves! This workshop doesn't point fingers at anyone! I am showing folks how to link the ooey gooey philosophy to the various expectations - whether that be your state's kindergarten standards, the desired results (do you use the DRDP+ ?), the early childhood environmental rating scale (ECERS) or the family (day) child care environment rating scale (FDCERS).
Anyone who expects toddlers to be memorizing shapes and colors and preschoolers doing times tables just might be a wolf! Shoot - parents can be wolves, so can your mother in law, the play group captain, the grocery clerk, the salesperson at the high pressure toy store, the teacher down the hall can be a wolf and, to be honest - so can you or I.
When we forget that what we are doing is right and best and we begin to second guess our philosophy and when give in to the pressure to put away the playdough and boot up the computer we find ourselves wearing a wolf face too.
Now breathe...
In and out - out and in
all my love
lisa
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All workshop titles and articles written by Lisa Murphy are © Lisa Murphy, Ooey Gooey, Inc. Rochester, New York.
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