Rae Pica
Washington, D.C.
Award-winning #ECE Author. Speaker. Online Educator. Check out my FREE Resource Library at www.raepica.com/free-resource-library-opt-in!
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Articles by Rae Pica
Holiday Stress: Before It Starts, Take a Moment to Remember What's Really Important
As the holidays approach again this year, many parents are already making lists and plans and schedules. They may be excited for the festivities and family get-togethers, but along with this can come anxiety and stress. Remembering what last year was like may intensify these feelings and may be a precursor to actually spoiling the enjoyment and significance of the holiday season.
Hop, Skip and Jump into the Future
Once upon a time, children preferred to play outside and refrained from staying indoors. Never sitting still for long, children skipped, galloped, climbed trees, jumped rope, played hopscotch and rode their bicycles for blocks. They ran screaming through each other’s yards and down the middle of the streets. They played touch football, hide-and-seek and tag. They raced each other to the slide and swings, chased butterflies and got filthy rolling around on the ground.
Unstructured Play for Kids: Why Children Need Downtime for Mental Health & Learning Life Skills
dad 30seconds.com/dad A child with downtime will engage in authentic play (self-chosen, self-directed and without extrinsic goals) alone and with others. Because play employs divergent thinking (a much-needed 21st-century skill), his problem-solving abilities will grow. If he has the time to carry out his plans and bring them to a conclusion, he’ll experience the satisfaction that comes from thinking things through and working them out.
Why Children Are Falling Out of Their Chairs at School: A Lesson in Proprioception & Vestibular Senses
When I read that children are falling out of their seats in school, I thought there must be a mistake. But, no, it was true. One first grade teacher reported that it happened 44 times in one week! She likened it to 23 penguins trying to stay upright on chairs. Since then, many other teachers have reported similar stories to me. Honestly, I should have realized it would come to this. The reason?
Why Children Are Falling Out of Their Chairs: A Lesson in Proprioception & Vestibular Senses
mom 30seconds.com/mom When I read that children are falling out of their seats in school, I thought there must be a mistake. But, no, it was true. One first grade teacher reported that it happened 44 times in one week! She likened it to 23 penguins trying to stay upright on chairs. Since then, many other teachers have reported similar stories to me. Honestly, I should have realized it would come to this. The reason?
Q&A: Can Roughhousing Go Too Far When Dad Plays With His Young Daughter?
Q. My husband plays very rough with my 3-year-old daughter. He does not hurt her and makes her laugh, but whenever they play he hangs her upside down by the ankles to swing her. He has that habit of lifting her like that. She loves it, but I don't know if that's OK. What do you think?
Teaching in the Age of Entitlement: How to Avoid Contributing to the Problem
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Teaching Strategies: How to Deal With Temper Tantrums in the Classroom
Rae Pica with Becky A. Bailey, Ph.D., Dr. Alan Kazdin & Dee Gormly Temper tantrums can be an unsettling experience for child-care providers, preschool, kindergarten and elementary school teachers. Our experts have varying views and strategies for dealing with children who go off the deep end in the classroom. Follow on Twitter: @bodymindchild @bamradionetwork
Make Learning Stick: Activating Background Knowledge When Teaching Remotely
Larry Ferlazzo with Cheryl Abla, Elizabeth Villanueva, Adam Fachler and Jeffrey Wilhelm How does background knowledge make learning stick? How do we connect our learning objectives to what students already know, care about, and grasp? How can we activate background knowledge when teaching remotely?
When “Balance” Takes Precedence Over Children’s Needs
Recently I had a short debate on Twitter with Dr. Jennifer Ashton, known to many as the chief medical correspondent for Good Morning America. Typically, I don’t engage in debates because I’m not quick-witted enough to respond with snappy comebacks. But what she did on GMA that morning upset me, and I couldn’t let it slide. First, she reported on the new study showing that screen use for more than an hour a day is changing the structure of preschoolers’ brains.
Screens and Worksheets Aren’t the Solution for Preschoolers’ Learning
Screens and Worksheets Aren’t the Solution for Preschoolers’ Learning There is so much talk these days about how much school kids are missing. About how much “learning” is being lost. And I can’t help but wonder when school became the end-all and be-all for children. Especially for young children — who, until recently in history, were never part of the schooling scene anyway and managed to do just fine.
Finding the Best in Your Students, Even When...
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Classroom Management: Nipping Negative Student Behavior in the Bud
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Logical Consequences: Nuanced Responses to Student Misbehavior
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Managing Increasingly Unmanageable Classroom Behaviors
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When Is It Time to Quit Teaching?
Rae Pica with Katy Farber, Richard M. Ingersoll & Valerie Strauss Why do great teachers quit and how can you tell if it’s time for you to bail out of teaching? Teachers are increasingly expressing intense frustration and dissatisfaction with the realities of teaching. In this segment we look at when and why teachers should consider getting out and when they should stay. Follow on Twitter: @valeriestrauss @Non_Toxic_Kids @bodymindchild @bamradionetwork
Lonely, Isolated Educators: Why?
Rae Pica with Rob Mancabelli, Lisa Nielsen, Nicholas Provenzano, Erin Klein Feelings of isolation occur with some regularity among educators. Teachers spend much of their day separated from peers in classrooms that can become silos. However, technology is providing new ways for teachers to connect with peers both near and far. Our guests today walk us through the process of getting connected. Follow on Twitter: @robmancabelli @innovativeedu @thenerdyteacher @kleinerin @bodymindchild @bamradionetwork
The Classic Classroom Management Mistake and How to Avoid It
Sarah Fillion is a professional development designer and consultant for the Northeast Foundation for Children, Inc.’s Responsive Classroom. Olga Jarrett, PhD, is Professor of Early Childhood Education at Georgia State University. She is both a recess researcher and a recess advocate. Jason Flom is Director of Learning Platforms at Q.E.D. Foundation Peter DeWitt, Ed.D., has been a principal in upstate NY since 2006. He blogs at Finding Common Ground for Education Week.
Teaching Beyond the Test (2)
By Rae Pica In an era of high-stakes accountability and standardized testing, is there room for teaching beyond the test?You bet, say our guests, and here’s how to do it without losing your job. According to my guests, here’s what the research shows about teaching to the test: · Classes heavily focused on test prep are not necessarily associated with higher test scores. · Creative, in-depth teaching is more likely to generate increases in test scores.
Kids & Unstructured Play: Why Children Need Downtime for Mental Health & Learning Life Skills
A child with downtime will engage in authentic play (self-chosen, self-directed and without extrinsic goals) alone and with others. Because play employs divergent thinking (a much-needed 21st-century skill), his problem-solving abilities will grow. If he has the time to carry out his plans and bring them to a conclusion, he’ll experience the satisfaction that comes from thinking things through and working them out.
Sexualization of Children: Let's Teach Girls They're More Than a Pretty Face
mom 30seconds.com/mom Sadly, there are many studies showing that for girls, appearance determines their value. Worse, a girl's appearance is more often – at younger and younger ages – being defined by how sexy she is. And there's more: Half of all 3- to 6-year-old girls worry about being fat, nearly half of 6- to 9-year-old girls wear lipstick or gloss, and the sexualization of children has led to eating disorders in those as young as 6. Children also rank body image among their highest concerns.
Earlychildhood NEWS - Article Reading Center
Tony sits focused on his computer screen. Keisha's watching her favorite television program. And Kim is enthusiastically playing video games. What do these three scenarios have in common? They're all taking place indoors – a situation becoming more and more typical in the lives of American children. There are a number of reasons for this disturbing trend.
Why Does Sitting Still Equal Learning for Kids? The Myth of the Brain & Body As Separate Entities
dad 30seconds.com/dad We can understand how, before there was research on how children learn best, early educators decided to seat students in tidy rows. But today we do have research on how children learn best. We know that the more senses used in the learning process the higher the percentage of retention. Yet schools still pump data through the eyes, ears and bottom and expect students to retain it anyway.
Education Buzzwords: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
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Praising Kids: Why Saying "Good Job" Isn't Always Such a Good Idea
mom 30seconds.com/mom Everywhere there’s a mix of adults and children I hear "Good job!" being said to the kids. While it may seem harmless, trying to bestow self-esteem through constant praise doesn’t prepare children for the real world. Hearing “good job” the first few times may make a child feel good. But the feeling is temporary. And someone is eventually going to critique or criticize.
Earlier Is Better for Kids? No! Childhood Is Not a Dress Rehearsal for Adulthood
mom 30seconds.com/mom Whether we're talking about academics or athletics, the idea that earlier is better has infiltrated American society and education. As a result, children are expected to read as babies and to play like Beckham years before their eye-foot coordination allows them to successfully connect foot to ball.
Teaching Students Inclusion and Anti-Bias: What Works
Rae Pica with Monique Marshall We can never fully understand people with identities different from our own. So how do we go about teaching inclusion and anti-bias effectively? Follow on Twitter: @bamradionetwork @raepica1 #edchat #edreform #ece #earlyed #AskingWhatIf Share 3.3K 0 Episode Guests Monique Marshall, a 28-year veteran educator, is currently a 5th grade teacher in an independent school in Los Angeles, and a committed diversity, equity and social inclusion educator and consultant.
Kids & Unstructured Play: Why Children Need Downtime for Mental Health & Learning Life Skills!
A child with downtime will engage in authentic play (self-chosen, self-directed and without extrinsic goals) alone and with others. Because play employs divergent thinking (a much-needed 21st-century skill), his problem-solving abilities will grow. If he has the time to carry out his plans and bring them to a conclusion, he’ll experience the satisfaction that comes from thinking things through and working them out.
Pillow Fights, Wrestling, and Piling On: Good for Kids?
Rae Pica with Mike Huber andDeborah J. Stewart, M.Ed. Join us as we take a second look at rough-and-tumble play. Our guests explain why “physical processing” is important to child development. Follow on Twitter: @bamradionetwork @raepica1 @Teach_Preschool #edchat #edreform #ece #earlyed #AskingWhatIf Share 4.1K 0 Episode Guests Mike Huber is the author of Embracing Rough and Tumble Play: Teaching with the Body in Mind and co-host of the podcast Teaching with the Body in Mind. Deborah J.
Risky Child's Play: The Good, the Bad, and the Mostly Good
Rae Pica withRusty Keeler and Jessica Cabeen When it comes to children, is “too safe” a legitimate notion? Join us as we attempt to define the line between protecting kids and being overprotective.
10 Inspiring Educators Volume 1: Episode 24:am
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Three Ways to Help Young Children Expand Their Vocabulary
Rae Pica with Susan B. Neuman, Tanya Christ, Amanda Morgan How do young children learn new words and add them to their active vocabulary? Follow on Twitter: @bamradionetwork @susanBneuman@raepica1 @TanyaChrist1 @ NotJustCute #edchat #edreform #ece #earlyed #AskingWhatIf Share 6.7K 0 Episode Guests Dr. Tanya Christ is an Associate Professor of Reading and Language Arts at Oakland University, and former NYC public school teacher and co-author of Bridging the Vocabulary Gap. Susan B.
Do You Know Enough About the Impact of Screen Time on Students?
Rae Pica with Dr. Victoria Dunckley, Cindy Eckard, Jill Berkowicz Ed.D Join us as we take a closer look at how increased screen time may be impacting some students. Follow on Twitter: @bamradionetwork @drdunckley @screensandkids@myers_Berkowicz @raepica1 #edchat #edreform #ece #earlyed #AskingWhatIf Share 5.6K 0 Episode Guests Dr. Victoria Dunckley is an award-winning integrative child psychiatrist and recognized expert on the impact of screen-time.
New Technology-Driven Reading and Learning Disabilities
Rae Pica with Joye Newman andJason Flom Join us as we unpack a surprising trend of technology-driven learning disabilities.
Three Smart, Effective Alternatives to Suspending Students
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Technology Use in the Early Grades: When, What, How?
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