The way you measure a society’s soul is by the way that it treats its children.
Nelson Mandela
Kidz Newz #165 – 8 December 2017
Welcome to Kidz Newz, especially all new subscribers. Kidz Newz is a regular newsletter with information and teaching tips for anyone involved with young children. You are receiving this because you have attended one of my workshops, purchased a book, or you have requested to be on the mailing list. Thank you. Please forward this to anyone you feel it may be of interest to. Feedback is welcome. Don’t forget to stay in touch on our Facebook Page and watch out for our exclusive fan page competitions.
Merry Christmas!
This will be the last Kidz Newz for 2017. The next newsletter will go out in February. Meantime, have a well-earned break.
Kidz-Fiz-Biz Workshop – ASME Summer School Perth
I have been invited to present at this event on Friday 19th January. Details to follow. Although put on by a music association, I recommend it for anyone involved with young children, not just music specialists, in order to learn more about using music in teaching, whether at early childhood, primary or secondary level. I have presented at the Summer School many times and it is always very worthwhile attending.
Wake Up It’s Christmas!
Thank you to those who responded supporting my comments in the last newsletter. Go here if you haven’t had a chance to read it. In a nutshell, I was lamenting the fact that political correctness has got in the way of common sense such that festivals like Christmas, which are based on the Christian religion, have to be somehow hushed up in educational settings for fear of offending non-Christians. Bah! Humbug! as Uncle Scrooge would say in Dickens’ A Christmas Tale. Like it or not, Christianity underpins Western society so by diluting reference to the Christian origins of Christmas, we are also diluting our culture. It is as if we are ashamed of our culture and our heritage. Far from being about ‘preaching the gospel’, teaching children about the origins of Christmas is simply part and parcel of education – informing them of the origins of their culture. Everyone is free to follow their own beliefs or lack thereof. Just don’t keep the children in the dark.
Christmas Specials – and Freebies!
You need to email me directly to get these specials as they won’t appear on the website – info@kidzfizbiz.com or phone me in Australia on 0410 642 781. These will last only until Friday 15 December.
Free with any purchase – a Scarf Magic DVD (valued at $13.75)
Free with a 20 set or 30 set Scarf Bag – a Scarf Magic Pack (valued at $27.50)
Half Price KFB Multicultural Book with full price KFB Learning Through Drama, Dance and Song (save $42.50)
Save $10.00 on Books
Nurturing Kids’ hearts and souls (Maggie Dent) – $25.00 (was $35.00)
The DEAL for Happier, Healthier, Smarter Kids (Dr Peter Dingle) – $25.00 (was $35.00)
Help Your Class to Learn (Barbara Pheloung) – $19.50 (was $29.50)
New Year – New Website
I have finally bitten the bullet by having my website updated. It should be fully functional in the next couple of days. Feel free to have a browse and take advantage of the freebie on the home page. Go here – www.kidzfizbiz.com.
More Christmas Crackers
Q – When is a boat like a pile of snow?
A – When it’s adrift.
Q – What do you call a penguin in the desert?
A – Lost
Q – Why did the jockey take his saddle to bed?
A – In case he had nightmares.
Quote of the Week
Q – ‘What’s worth doing and what’s worth having?’ (Vasco Pajama)
A – ‘It’s worth doing nothing and having a rest.’ (Mr Curly) from Michael Leunig
Testimonials
What was the most useful thing you learned today? (EYES Conference Perth 2016)
- The movement with the scarves.
- Laughter is good medicine. You are more in touch if you experience what a child experiences.
- Scarves!
- Wake-up fairy.
- Reminded me how valuable scarf play was.
- To integrate scarves into music, movement and relaxation for children.
- The way to introduce the scarf and the extra concepts – size, positioning, patterns etc.
- Different ideas for music and movement.
- Relax after movement, have a rest.
- Variety of ways to use scarves.
- Use of scarf in time to music and drama.
- Ideas to take back – practical expectations for little ones.
- Great ideas on movements with scarves.
- Ideas for motor skills.
- Having fun, use of imagination, loved relaxation part at end.
- Reminding me of the activities.
- More ideas for using scarves.
- Practical advice. Great ideas.
- I liked the stretches.
- How to incorporate dance and scarves into the curriculum.
- Different activities/ways to use scarves in dance and drama.
- How easy the session is.
- Movement is essential. Scarf Magic is one tool I can use.
- Learning to teach with seeing the content, and including music and movement.
- Just the idea of using a scarf.
- The whole thing. I’ve never done anything like it.
- Different ideas to use with scarves.
- Activity ideas.
Entertainment
Have a laugh – I don’t normally like this kind of thing as I object to animals being degraded but I have to say this is pretty cute, and the animals look like they are having a ball.
Click here to view – it’s only short.
About The Author
Marlene Rattigan B.A., Dip. Ed. (ECS), CELTA
Marlene Rattigan is an Early Childhood teacher, a teacher of English as a Second Language, and from 1987-2000 was a nationally accredited fitness leader. Her background is in music education. A keen interest in motor development in children led to the creation of Kidz-Fiz-Biz which she taught successfully for 13 years. Marlene also conducts workshops for children, teachers and parents at schools, in the community and at festivals. She has produced teaching manuals complete with audio CDs which are an extension of her ‘Kidz-Fiz-Biz’ program.
Kidz-Fiz-Biz
PO Box 6894, East Perth WA 6892 Australia
T: +61 8 9355 4890 M: +61 (0) 410 64 2781 E: info@kidzfizbiz.com
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Until next time … continue being a legend in your classroom.
Marlene Rattigan, Editor
Kidz Newz
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