I Am Part Horse!

I Am Part Horse! By Mary Ann Burke

INTRODUCTION: GenParenting bloggers will periodically feature select children’s stories with educational and social-emotional growth themes. I Am Part Horse was written to support second grade learners. Students will complete rattlesnake science projects and research online informational text to write a rattlesnake report.

Yikes! My Snake Bite!

On a hot summer night, I felt a harsh stinging bite on my foot while walking on my front porch. Jumping up and down and crying in pain, I screamed, “SNAAAKE!”

My dad came running. “Stop jumping around, Nellie! Try to stay calm so the poison will not spread in your body.”

We anxiously watched as the tan, diamond-patterned, 18-inch baby rattlesnake slithered off the front porch and dropped into the garden below.

When Dad phoned 911, the dispatcher ordered, “Have your daughter sit quietly until the fire department and ambulance arrive at your home to transport her to the hospital.”

As my dad cuddled me while waiting for the ambulance, I cried, “Dad, my foot hurts and it is burning. My mouth feels prickly. When I try to breathe, my chest aches.”

When the paramedics arrived, my foot had swollen to the size of a balloon! They carried me out of my house on a stretcher and placed in the ambulance. By the time we were on the way to the hospital with sirens blaring, I felt even worse!

I Become Part Horse!

At the hospital, my doctor explained, “We have ordered antivenom medicine to make you feel better. I will give you a painkiller shot that will make you drowsy and help with the pain.”

The next thing I remembered, I was confused and my head felt heavy. Dad was sitting by my bed. “What happened? Where am I?”

Dad hugged and reassured me, “You were asleep for a full day. Your doctor stayed with you all night. He will continue to check on you today. The doctor had to order medicine from another hospital. This medicine was an antidote to fight the venom in your body. It was made from the blood taken from a horse.”

“What! I cannot believe that I now have part of the blood of a horse in my body. I am having so much trouble moving my leg!”

Dad explained, “Nellie, I will take you to physical therapy so you can learn how to walk again. The snake venom in your body causes nerve damage. Your doctor can fix the nerve damage. You are going to get better!”

I Hobbled Back to School!

After a couple of weeks of resting my injured foot, I hobbled back to school. As I entered my classroom, Sophia hugged me and exclaimed, “Where have you been? What happened to you?”

Before I could answer, Manuel patted me on the back. “Yo! It’s not fun without your silly jokes, Nellie!”

Then I proudly explained to my class, “I was bitten by a rattlesnake. My medicine to fight the poison was made from horse blood. Now I am part horse!”

“Whoa Nellie! What are you saying?” exclaimed Sophia and Manuel as they looked at me in shock and wonder.

Our teacher, Mrs. Hecklebee, quickly reassured us, “Learning about snake bites and antivenom medicines would be a great project for our second-grade class. Rattlesnakes are not a problem for most kids. But they are a big deal for us because we live near lots of rattlesnakes. We can learn how to protect ourselves from snake bites when playing outside.”

What is Antivenom Medicine?

Mrs. Hecklebee read us a story about rattlesnake bites and explained, “Antivenom is a medicine that is made to kill the rattlesnake’s poison in a person’s body. It is made by injecting small doses of venom into an animal over time. The animal is not hurt. When the venom is mixed in the animal’s body, the animal’s body will produce antibodies. These antibodies are made to destroy the venom. They are collected from the blood of the animal and are used as the medicine to help people get better from a rattlesnake bite.”

I added, “Sheep, goats, donkeys, and rabbits are some of the animals that are used to make this medicine. My antibodies were made from the blood of a horse. That is the way I became part horse!”

Lilia shockingly looked at me and exclaimed, “Are you going to start walking like a horse when your foot is better?”

“NEEEIGH! And I am being taught how to gallop in my physical therapy sessions as I learn to walk again.”

SIDEBAR HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT:

Think about the different animals that are used to make antibodies for rattlesnake bites. Then complete the following activities:

Draw a picture of one of the animals that help make the antivenom serum.
Write a sentence or report describing how the antivenom is made in the animal for medicine.

How Can We Protect Ourselves From Snake Bites?

We each shared our picture of an animal that could be used to make antivenom. Gerald drew a picture of a donkey and Lilia created a picture of a sheep getting a shot of venom from a rattlesnake. I drew a picture of a horse and named him Lucky because I am lucky to be alive and well.

Mrs. Hecklebee stated, “Rattlesnakes and other venomous snakes do not bite unless they are afraid they will be hurt by a person or large animal.”

She read a story about how to stay safe from being bitten by a rattlesnake or other venomous snakes. I learned most bites happen when people accidentally touch the snake with their foot while hiking or with their hand while gardening. We also brainstormed what we could do to avoid a venomous snake bite.

Sophia said, “My mom rakes the weeds in her garden before she starts pulling them with her hands to scare off any rattlesnakes.”

Manuel stated, “My dad and I love to go hiking in the woods and look carefully for snakes.”

I explained, “My dad now sweeps the leaves off the front porch even in the summer in case there is a rattlesnake.”

SIDEBAR HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT:

Talk to your parents about how to make your home safe from poisonous snakes and brainstorm safety rules for your home:

Write one rule to keep your home safe from poisonous snakes.
Draw a picture of you and your family using that rule at your home.

We shared our homework assignments with our classmates. Jasmine explained, “My mom was bitten by a rattlesnake when she was a little girl. She does not know what kind of medicine was given to her to make her better. She was very happy when I told her that we were learning how to stay safe from rattlesnake bites. Her suggestion was to respect the snake. Give it the space it needs to escape and observe the beauty of the snake after it returns to its home in nature.”

I love to hike, but I am careful and respect the beauty of all creatures in the forest. I will always love horses because they are beautiful animals that help save people’s lives.

Bibliography

Burton, J. A. (1998). The book of snakes. Edison, NJ: Chartwell Books.

Dussling, J. (1998). Slinky, scaly snakes! New York, NY: DK Publishing, Inc.

Ellis, E. (biologist personal communication, January 14, 2023).

Gentry, D. (biologist personal communication, January 11, 2023).

Kimura, S. (biologist personal communication, January 14, 2023).

Jackson, T. (2001). Nature’s children. Danbury, CT: Grolier Educational.

Julivert, A. (1993). The fascinating world of snakes. Hauppauge, NY: Barron’s Educational

Series, Inc.

Llewellyn, C. (1997). I didn’t know that some snakes spit poison and other amazing facts about

snakes. Brookfield, CT: Copper Beech Books.

Main, D. (2011, July 12). Popular Mechanics [Blog]. Retrieved November 18, 2022 from

Markle, S. (1995). Outside and inside snakes. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Children’s

Book Publishing Division.

McCarthy, C. (1993). Poisonous snakes. New York, NY: Shooting Star Press Inc.

Montgomery, S. (1999). The snake scientist. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Norwich, G. (2011). Snake-A-Phobia. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc.

O’Hare, T. (2005). Rattlesnakes.Vero Beach, FL: Rourke Publishing LLC.

Parsons, A. (1990). Amazing snakes. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.

Pringle, L. (2004). Snakes! Strange and wonderful. Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mill Press, Inc.

Reinhart, B. (molecular biologist personal communication, February 17, 2023).

Richardson, A. (2003). Rattlesnakes. Mankato, MN: Capstone Press.

University of Melbourne (n.d.) What is antivenom? Retrieved November 21, 2022 from

https://biomedicalsciences.unimelb.edu.au/departments/department-of-biochemistry-and-pharmacology/engage/avru/discover/what-is-antivenom.

Venn, C. (2002). Rattlers and other snakes. Chicago, IL: World Book, Inc.

Summertime Social-Emotional Learning Routines

As the summer sun calls and school doors close, parents, you have the perfect opportunity to focus on nurturing your child’s social skills in the comfort of home. Social skills are essential for navigating the complexities of human interaction, fostering meaningful relationships, and thriving in various social settings. In this blog post, I’ll explore practical and engaging ways you can cultivate social skills in your child during the summer break.

Encourage Playdates and Social Interaction:

Arrange playdates with friends, neighbors, or classmates to provide opportunities for social interaction.
Create a conducive environment for play by offering toys, games, and activities that encourage cooperation and communication.
Supervise play sessions and intervene when necessary to teach conflict resolution and problem-solving skills.

Model Positive Social Behaviors:

Be a role model for your child by demonstrating kindness, empathy, and respect in your interactions with others.
Use everyday situations as teaching moments to illustrate social norms, such as taking turns, sharing, and listening attentively.
Provide verbal praise and reinforcement when your child exhibits positive social behaviors.

Practice Active Listening:

Teach your child the importance of active listening by maintaining eye contact, nodding, and responding appropriately during conversations.
Engage in active listening exercises where you and your child take turns sharing stories or experiences, demonstrating empathy and understanding.

Promote Emotional Awareness:

Help your child identify and label their emotions using simple language (e.g., happy, sad, angry).
Encourage open communication about feelings and emotions, validating your child’s experiences and providing support when needed.
Use books, videos, or visual aids to explore different emotions and discuss how to cope with them in healthy ways.

Role-Play Social Scenarios:

Role-play common social situations with your child, such as introducing themselves to new friends, asking for help, or resolving conflicts.
Take on different roles and encourage your child to practice appropriate responses and problem-solving strategies.
Provide feedback and positive reinforcement to reinforce desired behaviors.

Engage in Cooperative Activities:

Participate in cooperative activities that require teamwork and collaboration, such as cooking, gardening, or building a fort.
Emphasize the importance of working together, sharing responsibilities, and respecting each other’s ideas and contributions.
Reflect on the experience afterward, discussing what went well and how each person contributed to the task.

Explore Social Stories and Role Models:

Read social stories or watch videos featuring characters who demonstrate positive social skills and behaviors.
Discuss the lessons learned from these stories and how they apply to real-life situations.
Encourage your child to emulate positive role models and incorporate their behaviors into their own interactions

Celebrate Social Successes:

Celebrate your child’s social successes, no matter how small, to reinforce their confidence and motivation.
Keep a journal or visual chart to track progress and acknowledge achievements along the way.
Encourage a growth mindset by emphasizing effort, perseverance, and continuous improvement in social skills.

Summer is the perfect time for you to focus on nurturing your child’s social skills in a supportive and enriching home environment. By incorporating these practical strategies into everyday activities, you can help preschool and elementary-aged children develop the social competence they need to thrive in school, relationships, and life. Remember, building social skills is a journey that requires patience, consistency, and encouragement, but the rewards are immeasurable.

Behavior Assessments Support Children’s Learning Successes

A Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) is a process used in special education (and sometimes in general education) to understand and analyze the reasons behind a child’s challenging behavior. It’s a systematic and individualized approach that helps educators and other professionals identify the underlying factors contributing to a student’s behavior while at school and provide tailored support for their behaviors. An FBA is NOT completed for all students.

Understanding Behavior Challenges

This thorough and structured process aims to understand why a child engages in certain behaviors that may be challenging or disruptive at school. It involves gathering information to figure out what triggers the behavior, what purpose or function the behavior serves for the child, and how the environment may be influencing their actions. The goal is to develop a clear understanding of the behavior’s root causes so that effective strategies and interventions can be implemented to support the child while at school.

Functional Behavior Assessments

FBAs include the following:

Individualized Analysis: An FBA is tailored to the specific child and their unique behavior. It involves gathering information through observations, interviews, and other assessment methods to create a detailed profile of the child’s behavior.
Identifying Triggers: The assessment seeks to identify the antecedents or triggers that precede the challenging behavior. These triggers could be environmental factors, social situations, or other events that set the stage for the behavior to occur.
Determining Function or Purpose: One crucial aspect of an FBA is determining the function or purpose the behavior serves for the child. Understanding what the child gains or avoids through their behavior helps in developing targeted interventions.
Collaboration with Parents and Teachers: Parents play a crucial role in the FBA process. Their insights and observations about the child’s behavior at home contribute valuable information. Teachers and other school staff also collaborate to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the child’s behavior across different settings.
Development of Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP): Based on the findings of the FBA, a Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) is created. This plan outlines specific strategies and interventions to address the identified triggers and functions of the behavior. The goal is to promote positive behavior and provide support to the child.
Ongoing Monitoring and Adjustments: The FBA process is not a one-time event. It involves ongoing monitoring of the child’s behavior and the effectiveness of the interventions. If needed, adjustments to the BIP can be made to ensure continued progress.

Achieving Sucess that Supports Student Learning

In summary, a Functional Behavior Assessment is a tool used to understand the “why” behind a child’s challenging behavior, leading to the development of a personalized plan to support positive behavior and create a more conducive learning environment. It emphasizes collaboration between parents, educators, and specialists to address the unique needs of the child.

Nurturing Your Children’s Passions

It’s a new year! Your children may become anxious about how to fill long dark winter days. What can you do as parents to nurture their passions? When your children tend to shut down on cold winter days, you may feel overwhelmed and frustrated on how your family will get through the winter months without going crazy.

Questions to Ask Your Kids to Identify Passions

Here are some questions you can ask your children to get them thinking about what they would like to do or explore during their free time:

What do you love most about school?
What would you like to do to keep your body moving on cold winter days?
What is your favorite playtime activity?
What do you like to do outside?
Who would you like to do a project with? What would you do for a project?
What would you like to learn about? How do you want to learn about this topic?
Where would you like to go to learn more about a specific topic?
Is there a museum or activity program that explores or provides training about a topic of interest?
What can I do to support your interests?
What should we research online to identify classes or learn more about your topic of interest?

Some of the Best Projects Come from Our Children

Children are capable of planning incredible projects when you encourage them with your actions. For example, Maria loves art and shares art projects with her friends. She creates temporary tattoos by drawing creations with marking pens on an absorbent sheet of paper. Then she places the marking pen art against her skin and dampens the sheet of paper with a paper towel. She is very impressed with transferred tattoos. Her sister, Anna, loves to create finger weaving leashes for her collection of stuffed animals. Rosie, her cousin, designs and sews doll clothes for her doll. She has also has created an Etsy account to sell customized Cricut stickers.

Science experiments generate lots of questions that must be answered. Brandon experimented with various hand sanitizers and surface cleaners to determine which products killed the most germs. Dave learned how to code and created various digital games. Marla won an ecology award for learning how to continuously water trees while conserving water with various irrigation systems.

Passions Lead to Internships and Careers

Although these art projects and science experiments sound like educational and exciting rainy-day activities, several led to future internships and career choices. Maria now works in a store creating graphic art designs for tee shirts and other products. She plans to major in graphic art design when she starts college. Anna loves project-based learning and wants to inspire kids by becoming a project-based elementary teacher. Brandon has expanded his scientific interests and is currently becoming certified as a train engineer at a local park. Dave is getting ready to apply to colleges. He wants to eventually construct mass transit systems. I loved playing school when I was a kid and am still teaching students after 40 years in education.

Share in the comments section below this blog what passions you may have developed as a child that led to a satisfying career. Much success as you continue to support your children’s passions.

Acts of Kindness Monthly Calendar

Happy new year 2024! Each year many of us make new year’s resolutions and will fail fulfilling them within the first few weeks. This year I made the commitment to help our younger family members give back to their community. Planning should not overwhelm our family when considering their demanding schedules. To overcome this challenge, we convened family meetings with Brandon, Anna, and Maria.

Kindness Acts Calendar

We decided to focus on one act of kindness each month. Listed below is our proposed schedule of activities that might work for your family:

January: It is cold outside and homeless shelters are filled with families. Donate a few hours at a soup kitchen or give a sack of groceries to our local food bank.
February: Create 10 handmade valentines for a local senior center or senior nutritional lunch program. Give people who work hard in our community some chocolate candy.
March: Distribute flowers to the neighbors to celebrate the start of spring.
April: Make pretty Easter eggs with greetings and deliver to neighbors.
May: Think of all the mothers we know and wish them a happy Mother’s Day.
June: Make a lemonade stand and give away tee-shirts to cool off during the hot season.
July: Clean up the streets from 4^th of July celebrations.
August: On the first day of school, say good morning to everyone. Tell them that we hope they are happy with their teacher and friends in their class.
September: Be kind to our parents and do things that our parents love to do with us on Labor Day.
October: Try not to scare people with our costumes.
November: Collect donations for the food bank to buy turkeys.
December: Give new or nearly new toys to the Toys for Tots program.

Activity Reflection

After completing all of these acts of kindness, our family should feel fulfilled, tired, and happy! Much success by sharing your acts of kindness with others.