Teacher’s Corner

The following are writing prompts and discussion topics based on the blog, “When a Kid Gets Hurt.”

1. Think about a time you saw someone help a person who was hurt. The helper could be you or someone else. What did the person do to help the one that was hurt? Would you have done something different? If so, why? If not, what did you like about what was done for the person hurt?
2. What advice would you give parents about what to do when their child is hurt? Give them advice about how much and what type of attention to give and how to know what is needed.
3. When asked what they want or need, many people will often say, “I don’t know.” Have you ever seen that happen? Why do you think they answer that way? What do you think would help them to be able to answer that question?
4. Research the International Happiness Day. Write a 1-to 2-page description and analysis of it. Write about what it is and what value you think it has or could have. Also make suggestions for anything you think could make the idea of a Happiness Day be even better.
5. You probably have seen little children trying to get attention (tugging on a pants leg, crying, whining, misbehaving). Think about times when you have wanted attention. Think about what you did to get that attention. Make a list of how you think adults generally get attention. What ways on your list do you think are the most effective and why?

NOTE: If you prefer that students not be required to write about or discuss themselves, suggest they respond to the prompts by talking about their experiences with friends or relatives instead of themselves.

Teachers, you can use this blog in classrooms. Here are two ideas about how.

1. For middle or high school parenting or child development courses:

• Use the blog for discussion topics
• Require students to research the topics and agree or disagree with what the blog is suggesting.

2.  For all courses, especially English Language Arts:

• Use the blog for writing prompts for paragraphs, theme papers, journal entries, class starters, etc. Have students read the blog and respond to:
  • Do you agree with what is being said about kids? Do kids really act, think or feel that way?
  • Do you agree with what is being said about parents, grandparents, teachers and child caregivers? Do or should they act, think or feel that way?
  • What would be your advice on this topic?
  • What was left out of this article?
  • If you were a parent, would you use any of this information? How?

Why can this blog be a useful teaching tool?

• Students that see connections between their coursework and their lives do better in school.
• Most students will either be parents one day or have children in their lives that they care about, so the topical information can help them build their knowledge about children and parenting and develop a positive image of the type of parenting they want to do.
• The new core literacy standards adopted by most states call for frequent writing in all courses.
• Newly developed end-of-course assessments to be used by many states will require that students demonstrate that they can think critically. These prompts help students practice critical thinking.
• Newly developed end-of-course assessments to be used by many states will require that students demonstrate that they can analyze what they read. These prompts help students practice analysis.