Unearthing and Protecting the Gem Within

Format

Individual Presentation

First Presenter's Institution

Ruth C. Chapman (Writer/Speaker)

Second Presenter's Institution

N/A

Third Presenter's Institution

N/A

Fourth Presenter's Institution

N/A

Fifth Presenter's Institution

N/A

Location

Session 9 (Vernon)

Strand #1

Family & Community

Strand #2

Social & Emotional Skills

Relevance

In this moving and highly relevant presentation, I will engage Early Childhood Educators and Families of Young Children in effective ways to address children at risk by interweaving the HEART and the HOME. In this workshop, I will explore and examine proven strategies for helping educators, parents, social workers and others to identify and develop the skills, gifts, talents and assets of children who are often viewed as being difficult or hard to reach. This workshop utilizes the two stands of Heart and Home in “Unearthing and Protecting the Gem Within” young children at risk.

Brief Program Description

This fast paced, interactive, fun and informative workshop will compel adults working with young children viewed as difficult or hard to reach develop new perspectives on how to see and protect the “gem within the child.” Participants will emerge with effective strategies, methods and resources to reach the “HEART AND THE HOME” of the children they serve.

Summary

The workshop “Unearthing and Protecting the Gem Within” is an interactive experience for Early Childhood Educators, Families of Young Children at Risk, and the professionals involved in the lives of children who are viewed as difficult or hard to reach. The workshop focuses on the premise that all children possess gifts, talents, abilities and skills that deserve to be unearthed and protected regardless of socio-economic status, family structure, racial and cultural differences and other factors placing young children at risk. I will explore and discuss topics such as strengthening the heart of the provider, communicating with parents in a caring and effective manner, reassessing personal biases blocking effective care for children at risk, and finding and practicing kindness. I will provide workshop activities and hand-outs to be used as practical application methods and strategies in the home and classroom settings. In addition to providing learning materials based on Best Practices, I will provide role-play and improvisational experiences that will help participants experience the ways in which communication and interactions occur and how to become more effective in reaching children at risk with kindness and caring. A major component to be discussed is “reframing thoughts and words to be more sensitive to children and their families.”

Participants will engage in interactive activities such as “Caught in the Web,” “You Are Awesome,” and “Crack Open that Rock.” All activities allow participants to examine strategies to appreciate differences in culture, experiences, personality and temperament in conjunction with the “Heart” and Home” strands.

Having worked with children and their families, in inner-city early childhood settings, I have utilized researched methods and strategies that have made an impact on hard to reach children and families. My experiences have allowed me to find repeated success in helping children to blossom socially, emotionally and intellectually. Families have used these practical practices to build communities of support and understanding. Participants will emerge with a variety of methods and materials designed to find common ground and to respond positively to challenging situations as related to young children at risk.

Evidence

I have utilized the Creative Curriculum in pre-school and kindergarten settings as well as in Playschool (a parent support program for young children at risk.) The following sources have been instrumental in developing effective methods, approaches and strategies that have been field tested in promoting a caring environment and practical practices for children at risk as related to the following conference strands:

HEART (Social/Emotional Skills) and HOME (Family and Community)

The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation (2015). Kindness in the ClassroomPost, S. G. (2005). Altruism, happiness, and health: it’s good to be good. International Journal of Behavioral MedicineBen’s Bells Project (2015). Kind Campus

Creative Curriculum for Preschool, Diane Trister Dodge, Laura J. Colker, Cate Heroman

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Ruth C. Chapman has enjoyed decades of experience working with children at risk. She served as an educator in an alternative high school in Springfield, Ohio for 15 years. She later served as a counselor for families of children at risk from early childhood through high school. She was actively involved as an officer in the Ohio Alternative Education Organization in several positions including a brief period as president. In recent years, Dr. Ruth C. Chapman has focused on working primarily with young children, their families, their educators and their support personnel, to help facilitate understanding and appreciation of the uniqueness of young children at risk. It is Dr. Ruth C. Chapman’s educational mission is to help others seek and find the beauty that exists inside the child who may appear to be difficult or hard to reach. Dr. Ruth C. Chapman has earned several degrees and certificates in education, counseling and community outreach. While still periodically serving as an educator in Philadelphia, PA, Dr. Ruth C. Chapman also currently enjoys writing and public speaking. She is the author of several books and publications. Dr. Ruth C. Chapman can be reached at Rdestiny51@aol.com.

Keyword Descriptors

Caring curriculum, character education, effective communications with parents, parenting skills and support

Presentation Year

March 2019

Start Date

3-6-2019 11:15 AM

End Date

3-6-2019 12:30 PM

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Mar 6th, 11:15 AM Mar 6th, 12:30 PM

Unearthing and Protecting the Gem Within

Session 9 (Vernon)

This fast paced, interactive, fun and informative workshop will compel adults working with young children viewed as difficult or hard to reach develop new perspectives on how to see and protect the “gem within the child.” Participants will emerge with effective strategies, methods and resources to reach the “HEART AND THE HOME” of the children they serve.