Martin Luther King Jr. -- Kids Edition

A lot of parents ask how to teach about Martin Luther King Jr. to their kids.

Super Ally Videos I History of MLK Jr. I PBS Kids on Race I MLK Jr. by Kid President I Time for Kids MLK Jr. I MLK Jr. Facts for Kids

Teaching the story of one man may seem simple, but it opens up so many complicated and uncomfortable questions parents may not feel qualified to answer correctly. Is your child old enough to understand? Will it upset or confuse them?

Children start recognizing differences between people at three months old. Giving them the tools and words they need to develop awareness and empathy is essential to a bright future. Part of that is understanding the trials of the past and the pitfalls of the present.

So how do we do that?

  1. Read. Read. Read. Read. Read. Reading is a super power. Children’s books are a teacher’s key to unlocking lasting lessons for kids. Did you know that children relate/love/bond to book characters they see as much as they relate to real people? Brilliant children’s book authors have written about Martin Luther King Jr. in ways that children understand. Here are a few recommendations:

    1. I am Martin Luther King Jr. by Brad Meltzer (this is a personal Common Ground favorite of many teachers)

    2. A Picture Book of Martin Luther King, Jr. (Picture Book Biography) by David Adler and Robert Casilla

    3. The Story of Martin Luther King Jr.: A Biography Book for New Readers by Christine Platt

    4. Martin Luther King Jr. by Carrie Hollister

    5. National Geographic Readers: Martin Luther King, Jr. (An Early Readers Book!) by Kitson Jazynka

    6. I have a Dream by Martin Luther King JR. (with a CD)

    7. Something Happened in our Town: A Child’s Story about Racial Injustice by Marianne Celano (Author), Marietta Collins (Author), Ann Hazzard (Author), Jennifer Zivoin (Illustrator)

    8. I’m Mixed! by Maggie Williams

    9. Last Stop on Market St. by Matt de la Peña (this is a personal Common Ground favorite of many teachers)

    10. We’re Different, We’re the Same (Sesame Street) by Bobbi Kates

    11. All are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold

    12. The Colors of Us by Karen Katz

  2. Do your research to find the right words. It can be hard when a question your child (or student!) asks stumps you. Where do you begin? How much do you say? When will they tune out? PBS Kids has an amazing series of articles on how to talk about diversity, injustice, and how to be a good friend.

    1. Why and How to Talk to Your Children about Race

    2. The Race Conversation for Young Children

    3. A Discussion Guide on Talking to Young Children about Race and Racism

    4. How to talk Honestly with Children about Racism

  3. Don’t discourage questions. Be honest. Encourage curiosity in your children by exploring all topics, including ones that make you uncomfortable. Admit when you don’t know something or if you made a mistake, and keep reminding kids that you are still learning too. Kids will be afraid to be wrong, ask the “wrong” questions, or to make mistakes if you show that you are. Learning is a journey you should be on your whole life. Let them know it’s a journey they are on WITH you, that you are a team.

  4. Proceed with sincerity, kindness, an open heart. Growth is hard. Since Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights movement, there has been progress, but we are nowhere NEAR finished. While we are teaching this next generation, we must remember we are not finished growing and should never be. Be aware of the past and what it can teach us. Be mindful of the present and how you can be better each day. Be hopeful for the future, and remember that Dreams take work.

    With Love,
    Your CG Family

Read More

Spotlight On: Conscious Discipline - A Transformative Experience

We, as an entire center, have been taking Dr. Becky’s Conscious Discipline courses.

This is so much more than a “how-to” class. Conscious Discipline takes a transformative view on our interactions with EVERYONE, not just our students, which makes it an incredibly unique and humbling experience.

What is Conscious Discipline?

Instagram I Blog I Free Webinars I Podcast I Discipline Tips I Extra Info Links I Methodology

Conscious Discipline is designed to completely transform the way we look at “discipline.” For generations we have looked at punishment and discipline as synonyms. We have created a divide of judgment between good and bad, pass and fail, win and lose, that encourages learning and behavior through fear.

All. Behavior. Is. Communication. If we only address the behavior, we are not addressing the needs causing the behavior that aren’t being met. The goal is not “to drive you crazy,” which they can’t do anyway, if you have control! They just do not know how to ask for what they need yet.

Conscious Discipline is a series of classes designed to give you empowering tools that help you communicate, guide, and encourage with LOVE, a force much more powerful and long lasting than fear. Check out the methodology link above for the four key tenants!

In order to help children build a foundation of discipline and emotional regulation within, we need to teach ourselves to be aware of what we are saying with our words. We need to catch ourselves in moments of heightened emotion, and break defensive habits that have been passed down from parent to child.

WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO JOIN US! How?

Here is a tried-and-true tool that we learned at the very beginning of our training. It’s called STAR BREATHING, you star!

Three deep breaths shut off the “fight or flight” system of the brain.

This active calming technique is an essential component of emotional health. Teach children to S.T.A.R.: Smile, Take a deep breath And Relax.

S.T.A.R. is one of four core breathing techniques in Conscious Discipline. The other techniques are Drain, Balloon and Pretzel. <—Click here to download a poster showing these different techniques to remind you and your kiddos how to calm yourself before you respond.

Giving yourself a chance to calm down gets you out of the “survival state.” Once you’re calm, if you’re still frustrated, repeat to yourself ”I am safe, Keep Breathing, I can handle this.” to keep the bad feelings at bay. Problem solving can commence once you are calm and ready!

We have made our Conscious Discipline Action Team and will be rolling out changes! Stay tuned, we will be sharing more things that we are implementing in our center to help transform early childhood education as we know it.

Love Love Love,

Your CG Family

Read More
Who We Are, Model Citizens, Life Common Ground Who We Are, Model Citizens, Life Common Ground

June is Pride Month

June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month. We are here to help you promote awareness, celebrate, and provide examples on how to be a fantastic ally!

Here at Common Ground, we love every member of our community. All are welcome here! Because educators are a foundational part of a student’s life, we do everything we can to support them with love, understanding, and humility. That last one is super important, because it stems from the simple truth that we never stop learning, especially as educators. Once we have decided we know everything, the world keeps turning along without us.

Our children look to us to teach them how to be the best people they can be. Kindness, openness, acceptance, these are the tools that help them navigate the world with love and, in turn, help to shape the world into a more beautiful, gentle place. I would hope that my children are better than me, and that their children after them are better than that. We must always be growing, changing, learning.

Our LGBTQ+ friends have faced so much adversity. Our children learn from early ages how people are supposed to dress, what they are supposed to look like, how they should act, and it shapes their perceptions before they even understand what the ramifications of those perceptions. I have heard three year olds on the playground tell their friends that “only girls wear pink” or “you can’t play with us, the boys are over there.” Little children constantly look for guidance on how to act, they pick up on social cues and paradigms so much earlier than you could ever imagine.

How do we combat this? Reading to them. Answering their questions. Changing our vocabulary and helping to educate them. Simply admitting that we don’t know everything, but that our love is boundless, uncompromising. It allows them to feel free to explore their world without fear, leaving wonder in its wake.

Copy of Untitled (3).png
  1. Educate Yourself:

    1. Basic LGBTQ+ Terms to Know

    2. The Trevor Project offers free education on how to support youths, and offers support to those who need it. They also offer news and information about the state of LBGTQ+ kids and what they need.

  2. Introspection and Self Awareness:

    1. Be aware of your gender biases.

      1. Do you hesitate to allow your kids to wear certain colors or themes? Why? Are you afraid they’ll be made fun of? Are you uncomfortable? Explore those feelings within yourself.

      2. Do you find yourself suggesting certain shows or books to your children/students/etc. based on their sex? Is there anything in their books or shows that enforce gender stereotypes or even passively utilize homophobia as humor? These moments can often be teaching moments, if we catch them in ourselves or in others.

      3. Do you find yourself trying to discourage gendered imaginative play? Children explore their world and try to discover/practice what they’ve learned through imaginative play. Consider what you’re teaching them when you try to guide their games through your biases.

    2. Consider the behavior of others.

      1. Once you have considered your own language and biases, consider those people who interact with your children. Do they exhibit any of the gendered language above? Do you allow it because of the source? Remember your children are watching what you do.

      2. If there is resistance from a friend, a family member, a teacher, to avoiding teasing, consider speaking with them consistently rather than changing your child’s behavior/outfit/etc. Even if they don’t, your child will see you support them, and will support others that same way.

  3. Small, Everyday Support

    1. Add your preferred pronouns in your signature line. It normalizes the practice.

    2. Use people’s chosen names and pronouns. If you are corrected on someone’s pronouns, thank them and move on.

    3. Instead of “boys and girls” say “people/folks/friends/students/kids.”

    4. Support local LGBTQ+ businesses, artists, entrepreneurs, non-profits, etc.

    5. Stand firm in these beliefs and don’t keep silent.

    6. Stay aware of how LGBTQ+ youths are being affected by the local school system, in local politics. Become their advocate with your money, your voice, your vote.

  4. Kid-Friendly Media to Consume together: Did you know that a beloved character in a book can have the same empathetic effect on a person as a real life friend? Stories have power, and sharing them with your children can help them have an awareness of the world around them that they wouldn’t normally have.

    1. Julian is a Mermaid: An imaginative and insightful book that captivates the imagination while showing, without a doubt, that boys make beautiful mermaids too.

    2. Prince and Knight: This is the cutest, most incredible picture book. It’s one of my absolute favorites. It is a rhyming story about a prince whose parents are struggling to find him a partner to rule the kingdom. But when a dragon threatens his kingdom and he races to the rescue, perhaps he finds what he’s been looking for all his life…

    3. Steven Universe: A hilarious, fun, adventure cartoon that introduces a lot of complex concepts of identity and love in charming, bite sized pieces. You’ll find yourself singing along to the amazing songs that encourage self-love and confidence. It also covers issues like anxiety, fear of failure, and unconventional families.

    4. Mommy, Mama, and Me: A sweet picture book for young readers that helps show that a family isn’t just a mommy and a daddy.

    5. Pink is for Boys: A fun picture book about smashing down gender stereotypes!

    6. The House in the Cerulean Sea: This is a chapter book for older children and young adults. It is one of my personal favorite books ever. The story is fantastical with laugh-out-loud moments. The message is wholesome: Who you are is enough.

    7. A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo: The story is so sweet and the illustrations are so cute.

How are some other ways we can widen our impact in the community? How are some other ways we can support our students? What are some other ways we can talk about these issues with our children? We would love to hear from you.

Love, Love, Love,


Your CG Family

Read More
Friends of CG Fridays Common Ground Friends of CG Fridays Common Ground

Friends of CG Fridays!: Dryer Vent Wizard and Mr. Appliance

Hello Everyone!

It’s been awhile, so for this FRIENDS OF CG FRIDAY we are featuring TWO of our best company friends as a special treat!

DVW-logo-767x600.png

DRYER VENT WIZARD and MR. APPLIANCE came to save the day for us a few weeks ago and we wanted to brag on them.

Do you remember a few months ago when we wrote about how to vacuum out your dryer vent? Ms. Liz is very handy in a pinch! While this was a good temporary fix, you really should make sure that you hire a professional to completely clean our your dryer.

A few weeks ago we had a little snafu with both our washer and our dryer simultaneously. We wanted to make sure our littles’ linens were getting the best care possible as QUICKLY as possible, so we shopped around and found Dryer Vent Wizard and Mr. Appliance.

Dryer Vent Wizard came in and took extra care to assess the situation! While we had cleared out all the dryer lint for aways down the vent, we didn’t realize how far it extended! Especially with the vaulted church roof. Our technician gave it a full examination, explained the issues, and gave us a fair price. He also got the job done super quickly, and we haven’t had issues since!

d843f18978dd774e8a369093bfe56724-1.jpg

Mr. Appliance helped us diagnose our washer! Full disclosure… we were overloading it with items and soap. Our technician let us know that, since that was our primary issue, he would just give it a good examination and tune up, no reason to get too expensive. We appreciate honesty! (and guidance from a pro)

YES! This recommendation isn’t glamorous! But since most of us deal with laundry every single day, we thought this one was helpful, ESPECIALLY since summer is right around the corner… stay tuned for our TEACHER TIPS on grass stains and other pesky clothing ailments!

Love, Love, Love,

LJ and your CG Family!

Read More
Who We Are, Teacher Tips, Model Citizens, Life Common Ground Who We Are, Teacher Tips, Model Citizens, Life Common Ground

May is Asian-Pacific Heritage Month

May is Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month—a celebration of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States. A rather broad term, Asian-Pacific encompasses all of the Asian continent and the Pacific islands of Melanesia (New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji, and the Solomon Islands), Micronesia (Marianas, Guam, Wake Island, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, and the Federated States of Micronesia) and Polynesia (New Zealand, Hawaiian Islands, Rotuma, Midway Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, and Easter Island).

It is incredibly important to educate ourselves and our children about our Asian-Pacific American neighbors, especially because of all the misinformation spreading around due in-part to the coronavirus pandemic. The more we inform ourselves, the more we can understand the Truth, the less fear and hate we help spread!

We got a lot of our suggestions below from The U.S. Dept. of Education, and we have added our own ideas as well! Please share some of the ways you make learning fun in your home in the comments!

History and Culture

  1. HISTORICAL LANDMARKS: Teach your kids about the Great Wall of China, and then use ALL THE BLOCKS YOU HAVE (we are talking duplos, legos, wooden blocks, plush blocks, couch cushions, everything!) to make the longest wall you can!

    1. Here is a great book about it: The Emperor who built the Great Wall of China — This is part of a whole series of children’s books on the History of China, and it’s incredible!

  2. Go for a visit: Pretend you are going to be visiting a country on the Asian continent or one of the Pacific Islands, and plan your imaginary trip! You can research tourist sites, talk about the food you’re going to eat there, what language you would have to learn to speak, etc! You can even look up local music on YouTube or Spotify. Who knows? This may be such a fun experience that you want to do this for real!

    1. Japan: Travel for Kids — Here is a great example of a “travel book” you could look up to help with this immersive learning experience!

  3. Explore AAPI history: From helping build the first transcontinental railroad to protecting the nation during times of war, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) have played significant roles in shaping modern history. Help your kids learn more about how AAPIs have enriched America’s history, by visiting some online resources.

Geography

  1. Make a globe: Help your kids cut and wrap a map of the world around a ball. Show kids how big Asia is compared to our North American continent. As you make it, you can point out the Pacific Ocean area of the world, and how Asia is on the opposite side of the world from us.

  2. Books on Countries: Geography books like Where in Asia is Malaysia? help kids (and their parents) to understand how diverse the Asian continent is!

Arts Connections

  1. Make lei: Tell your kids that lei, which are garlands, are made and given for occasions like marriages, birthdays, and lu’aus. Colorful flowers and greenery are braided, twisted, wrapped, or strung together to create lei for the neck, head, wrists, and ankles. Take construction paper and/or tissue paper and twine to make your own lei. Have a lu’au (see Healthy Eating below) and wear them, or give them to friends.

  2. Check out an art exhibit: Consider the diverse cultures of the AAPI community by looking at Asian art. Check out the Smithsonian’s Museum of Asian Art online. Point out to your kids how some of this art uses mediums like ink on paper; have your kids try their hand at creating similar art with basic supplies, such as paper, pencil, and chalk. Older kids may like to compare the similarities and contrast the differences in media used and subjects chosen.

Social Studies

  1. There are 48 countries in Asia: Write them all down and have your kids put them in alphabetical order!

  2. Find out more other cultures: Ask your kids how many countries make up the Asian-Pacific area of the world. Let them know that it’s not a small number, but instead over three dozen. Put the names of some Asian countries (e.g., Japan, China, South Korea, Philippines, Vietnam) each on a separate piece of paper, crumple into a ball, and put in a pile for kids to pick one. What do they know about that country’s location in the world, what language(s) people might speak, what foods they might eat, and what kind of climate they have.
    Help older kids appreciate a multitude of diverse ethnic backgrounds by exploring the Smithsonian photo gallery A Day in the Life of Asian Pacific America. Older kids may also like to read about what steps agencies, such as the National Endowment for the Humanities, have taken to preserve the APPI heritage.

  3. Have a lu’au: Our own state of Hawaii is part of the Asian-Pacific culture. Tell your kids that a lu’au is a traditional Hawaiian feast; today the lu’au is a celebration that brings together an entire family and community. The lu’au is a contemporary expression of a traditional Hawaiian feast set with food cooked in an earthen pit oven, covered with hot rocks and leaves; food can include fish, pork, and coconut dishes. Help kids contribute a dish, like Haupia, which is Hawaiian coconut pudding, to the family meal.

  4. History of Origami: Origami is a beautiful, relaxing hobby you can practice with your kids! You can start at a very young age, and get materials HERE. But you should really understand the history and cultural significance of the craft! Origami and Haiku is an incredible book that delves into two lovely art forms of Japan.

Science

  1. Learn about the lunar calendar: Explain to your kids that the lunar calendar is based on phases of the moon, unlike the calendars we typically see at home and in the classroom that are based on the earth’s rotation around the sun. Observed by people of Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Tibetan, and Mongolian heritage, the Lunar New Year is a time of modern festivity and ancient tradition.

  2. Discover more about trees: Let you kids know that in 1912, Japan gave several varieties of over 3,000 cherry trees to the U.S. as a symbol of friendship. These trees were planted in Washington, DC, and produce the well-known cherry blossom. According to the National Park Service, in 1965, Japan gave another 3,800 trees. In 2011, about 120 propagates from the surviving 1912 trees were sent back to Japan to retain the genetic lineage. Look at the different trees in your neighborhood or on the way to school, and see how many different kinds of trees you can find. How can you differentiate among the trees you see—do some have noticeable flowers, like cherry blossoms, in the spring? Are leaves different shapes and sizes on different kinds of tress?

  3. Try Asian horticulture: With your kids, read about bonsai and penjing. See if your kids would like to try their hand at creating a bonsai.

Healthy Eating

  1. Make an Asian dish: With your kids, research different countries in the Asian-Pacific region, and think about what kinds of foods the people there might eat. Why do you think fish and rice dishes are frequently consumed—could it have to do with people in a lot of Asian and Pacific countries being close to or on the water (look at your globe) or the climate and soil in those areas? Find recipes that your kids can help prepare. They might enjoy following a traditional fried rice recipe created as part of the Let’s Move! initiative. or watching a video on how it’s done. Many grocery stores carry ingredients common to Asian cuisine. You could also make a special trip to a local Asian market.

Reading

  1. Read books with AAPI connections: Help your kids discover different aspects of the AAPI community by reading books related to the Asian American experience—the Smithsonian’s Asian Pacific American Center has a list of books aimed at developing multicultural appreciation in students. For younger kids, consider this list of children’s books

Thank you so much for helping us celebrate our Asian-Pacific American Teachers, Students, and Families!

Love, Love, Love,

LJ and your CG Family

Read More
Teacher Tips, Life, Community Activities Common Ground Teacher Tips, Life, Community Activities Common Ground

CG Recommendations: Top Ten Strollers for Spring Walks

Stroller+banner.jpg

Hi! Spring is in the air and we are SO EXCITED to see so many of our parents walking up with their strollers to pick up their kids.

Lake Thoreau.jpeg

Reston is one of the most walkable cities in America. The local Reston nature trails are phenomenal and we are right on the W&OD Trail.

Do you want to walk to the Reston Farmer’s Market at Lake Anne? EASY! Did you want to take the W&OD trail to downtown Herndon? Vienna? No problem.

You could walk the Lake Thoreau Loop in South Reston, admire the incredible scenery, and stop to play at three playgrounds minimum with very little detour.

There are so many amazing spring ways to make memories right in your back yard! No travel or indoor activity Covid-19 risk required. While we urge caution and social distancing, we are also right on Metro’s Silver Line. If you wanted to take your family to walk among Washington DC’s gorgeous Cherry Blossoms (peaking until April 10th, 2021), you could get there without having to take a car at all!

The key here, of course, is having the right stroller for your young family.

Here at Common Ground, we have seen (and tried!) them all. Umbrella strollers. Jogging strollers. Double umbrella and jogging strollers. Convertible strollers that match up with carseats. Strollers with three wheels, four wheels, eight wheels. We are here to give you our TOP TEN recommendations so that you don’t have to find out mid-memory making that a particular stroller is just not working out…

  1. Single Stroller: Baby Jogger City Mini GT2 Stroller, Jet

  2. Carseat Travel Stroller: Graco Modes Pramette Travel System

  3. Best Convertible Carseat Stroller: Doona Infant Car Seat & Latch Base – Car Seat to Stroller

  4. Lightweight, One-Hand Foldable Stroller: Babyzen YOYO2 6+ Stroller

  5. Excellent Jogging Stroller: BOB Gear Revolution Flex 3.0 Jogging Stroller

  6. BEST NEWBORN TO 50lbs UMBRELLA STROLLER: Summer 3Dlite Convenience Stroller

  7. Amazing, Unstoppable Double Jogging Stroller: BOB Gear Revolution Flex 3.0 Duallie Double Jogging Stroller 

  8. Best Economy Jogging Stroller: Baby Trend Expedition Double Jogger, Centennial

  9. Best Lightweight Double Stroller: Kolcraft Cloud Plus Lightweight Double Stroller

  10. Classic Ultralight Inexpensive Stroller: Cosco Umbrella Stroller with Canopy


Do you have a stroller you absolutely love and want to recommend? Leave your suggestion in the comments!

Love Love Love,

Your CG Family

Read More