By Tamara Cook

The Cooper-Young Business Association is proud to announce this year’s winners of the 2011 Young Artist Contest. This post-Festival event is held annually to encourage the love of art in school age children. The CYBA received 266 entries for the contest which had a theme of “Communities Going Green.” A reception for winners and artists was held at Peabody Elementary located on Thursday, November 3.

This free contest is open to children from all over Memphis and the surrounding communities, grades 1-12, and is sponsored by Lenny’s Sub Shop. Contestants competed against students in one of three grade level divisions: grades 1-4, grades 5-8, and grades 9-12. Prizes are awarded in each division in the following categories: $500 first place, $100 second place, $75 third place, and $50 honorable mention. These scholarship bonds were presented to all contest winners on the evening of the reception. Lenny’s Sub Shop provided refreshments, and the whole community was invited to view the art and meet the winners.

This year’s winners are:

Grades 1-4

First Place – Antrell Kendrick, Grandview Heights Elementary

Second Place – Abigail Cassius, Grahamwood Elementary

Third Place – Amanda Cassius, Grahamwood Elementary

Honorable Mention – Jonathan Johnson, Presbyterian Day School

Grades 5-8

First Place – Edgar Guerrero, Colonial Middle School

Second Place – Amelia Brittain, Grahamwood Elementary

Third Place – Kaylre Franklin, Graceland Elementary

Honorable Mention – Dori Hardage, home school student

Grade 9-12

First Place – William Ross Harvell, Christian Brothers High School

Second Place – James Ward, Wooddale High School

Third Place – MeKAyla Swain, Wooddale High School

Honorable Mention – Noe Suavez, Kingsbury High School

By Kandra Kolehmainen

When I went to school as a young girl, educational options were very limited. In fact, in the small Iowa town where I lived there was only one option – traditional. My school was like most: teacher led, children in desks, textbooks, and a state approved curriculum. Many communities did offer a variety of traditional schools, but the truth is, for most of us alternative schooling did not exist. But now many education options are available, each with its own set of ideals, precepts, and vocabulary. Philosophies such as Montessori, Reggio, Waldorf, and Classical education have become accepted and very well known. But much of their terminology is not. At the Natural Learning School we embrace the Reggio philosophy as well as the ideals that govern it.

The Reggio philosophy is punctuated with terms such as learner led, project based, webbing, facilitator, and emergent curriculum. One of the most central and least understood precepts of the Reggio philosophy is emergent curriculum.

Curriculum is defined as “the courses offered by an educational institution.” Courses and lessons are designed to teach students specific information in a specific order and usually on a specific day. Curriculum is designed to teach an entire class the same information in adherence with state requirements but with no regard for an individual student’s actual skill level.

An emergent curriculum is a curriculum that is not planned in advance but rather emerges from what is happening in and around the classroom. Ideas come from many places such as classroom resources, research (books, experiences, and computer), teacher interests, family or friends of students, local or world events, classroom discussions, school events, student conversations, and the interests of the students themselves. As interests form and new ideas are discovered, the curriculum changes to fit students’ interests as well as necessary academic skills.

In fact, emergent curriculum is tailored to fit each individual student. Interests that develop out of the classroom experience and turn into projects may involve all students, a small group, or an individual child. Students follow their individual interests and participate in projects at a pace that works with their skill level, not with outside arbitrary standards that may or may not fit the child.

Emergent curriculum is a living thing that constantly changes as new discoveries are made.

Although it is free flowing, it is in no way a free for all. Reggio teachers and the classroom environment must be incredibly organized in order to respect the child’s need to explore according to his own timeline. Teachers must be very flexible and willing to let learning happen when the child is ready and in the way that works best for the child. Projects that develop out of the classroom are webbed (a spider web-like flow diagram) to show all of the possible directions in which the project may go, along with skills to be learned at each step. The Reggio teacher must reevaluate daily where the project is taking the students and what adjustments need to be made for available resources and future activities.

For example, at the elementary school a discussion over the course of a month went from storms, to lightning, to electricity, to energy, and then to atoms. A planned experiment regarding the effect of temperature on atoms turned into an exercise in the importance of eliminating variables. The atom discussion was put on hold while the experiential learning of the day took center stage. Follow up discussions cemented the children’s learning. The teachers then made resource and planning adjustments to support the change of direction. It was emergent curriculum in action, and all students gained amazing understanding from being allowed to follow their natural course of learning.

Even though the students’ interests are of utmost importance in a Reggio school, not all interests are followed. Projects and individual interests that are explored in the classroom must have both value and depth in order to stimulate children’s critical thinking skills. Children learn by making connections; by applying existing knowledge to new situations. In depth studies are full of opportunities to develop new connections. Those interests that do not have critical thinking value and depth are not forgotten. Instead, children are encouraged to research these interests at home and report back to the class (a lack of homework at the Natural Learning School gives the child time to research at home). In reporting back, interests may be piqued, new ideas may form, and a new project may emerge. Teachers will plan for it, and students will learn through it. Through emergent curriculum children learn in an exciting and interesting way that stimulates a life-long love of learning.

By Dr. D. Jackson Maxwell

Every few years I write an article on one of my favorite topics – the baffling machinations of our educational system. Being a parent of two school aged children this subject is dear to my heart. As a parent, I have observed many things good, a few bad, and some downright odd. Ponder the following and see if you, like me, find the following policies and practices as peculiar as I do.

My first concern is a health issue. It is common knowledge that the best way to prevent the spread of colds, flu, and other diseases is by frequently washing our hands with soap and warm water. Oddly enough, I have never found a sink in a school that students have access to that has warm water! When asked, one teacher postulated the reason was that the school designers were fearful children would scald themselves if they turned the water on too hot. Nonsense I say. All you need is a regulator on the hot water heater to control the temperature. So what’s real the deal?

Why do some schools allow teachers to choose the classes they want to teach based primarily on seniority? Shouldn’t the principal assign teachers to subjects they will teach based on their test scores and proven experience? Doesn’t logic dictate that this is the best way to assign teachers to a particular subject? Yet many courses are assigned to teachers based merely on their seniority, personal preference, randomization, or favoritism rather than a proven performance record. Hmmm.

Under Superintendent Kriner Cash’s administration much emphasis has been placed on holding teachers accountable. It has been asserted that more time needs to be purposefully directed to good first teaching and targeting specific student needs. Yet Cash, by his very own actions, has consistently made this extremely difficult. For example, in 2010 the Cash administration terminated hundreds of teaching aides. The president of the Memphis Education Association stated this was a terrible blow to morale which ultimately piled the former aides’ tasks on to already over worked teachers. While a few aides were eventually rehired, the end result is that now teachers have been taken out of their classrooms to do nonacademic jobs such as watching students eat lunch and other housekeeping task for four or more hours per week. Educators with master degrees, doctorates, and even National Board Certification are picking up trash, monitoring noise, and clearing trays rather than developing curriculum, writing grants, and doing the work of actually educating students. Hmmm…a true waste of professional talent, eh?

Beyond this, problems abound concerning the public’s perception of Dr. Cash’s opulent lifestyle. In a city noted for its high poverty rate, Superintendent Cash makes an annual salary in excess of $258,000 plus benefits and is chauffeured around town in a school board owned car accompanied by a detail of police-style Memphis City School officers. It’s not just Dr. Cash who merits the royal treatment. Similar benefits are bestowed upon much of the upper management. While in its own right appalling, all of these over-the-top, taxpayer funded benefits are being heaped upon the Cash administration while they regularly announce teacher layoffs and decry the need for more money. In my humble opinion, these ego-stroking perks are a waste of tax dollars. What are the superintendent and his cronies so afraid of that they need to be escorted around town in security vehicles protected by armed officers? Could it be those very taxpayers they are bilking of millions to support their bloated salaries and benefit packages? Or is it the throngs of educators in the trenches—teachers, teaching aides, and support staff—that their administration has terminated. Perhaps they are afraid of a revolt by parents who are sick of seeing Dr. Cash and his entourage parading from one media spectacle to the next while each year more and more Memphis City Schools fail to make the grade. Hmmm, indeed!

Lastly, President Bush initiated No Child Left Behind where all students are to be 100% proficient in reading and math by 2014. Hmmm, everyone 100% proficient? As you already know, for 100% of any large group to be proficient in anything the bar has to be set mighty low, and that is exactly what happened. To make strides toward this unrealistic goal and avoid the penalties, many states chose to dumb down their tests thus enabling more students to be deemed proficient. Need I say more?

Despite my best attempts to understand the reasoning behind the actions of our local and national leaders, I remain at a loss. I guess these things are not meant for a mere taxpaying citizen to understand. If you have any similar type questions or answers to my ponderings, please feel free to email these to me, and I will try to pass these along in future articles.

Dr. D. Jackson Maxwell is a parent, freelance writer, and Educational Consultant. If you have any questions or comments, please email him at djacksonmaxwell@gmail.com.

By Kate Lareau

Another great Peabody Elementary event is coming up, and the whole community is invited to come enjoy Central BBQ, shop for Christmas (or for yourself!), and support your neighborhood school! The Peabody Elementary Silent Auction will take place Thursday, November 17, from 5:30-7:30pm in the Peabody Cafeteria. Last year’s auction raised over $2500 that went toward software for the Accelerated Reader program, new playground and exercise equipment, and new items for the library.

Items in this year’s auction will include gift certificates to local businesses, items from local shops/artists, themed gift baskets, and much more. All proceeds will go to support learning at Peabody. Because of Central’s generous donation of barbecue, all proceeds from the sale of the dinner (only $5 per plate) will also go directly to the Peabody PTA to purchase needed supplies and materials for the teachers and students of Peabody.
So let’s summarize: dinner for $5 and great shopping – a pretty fabulous deal considering it all benefits the kids of Peabody and strengthens our neighborhood school!

Peabody Elementary Silent Auction
Thursday, November 17
5:30-7:30pm
$5 for Central BBQ dinner, no charge to shop the Silent Auction

By Demetrius Boyland

Neighbors, it’s that time of year again – time for photographs with Santa! Come one, come all to the gazebo at the corner of Cooper Street and Young Avenue between 5:30 and 6:45pm on November 15. You can have your very own photo session with Santa for $10 dollars. If you bring your own camera and take your own pictures the fee is reduced to $7. And best of all, Santa is donating all the proceeds to the McLean Mural Project in Cooper-Young. We can’t wait to see your smiling faces!

Press Release from Lifelink Memphis

Lifelink Memphis

Contact: Toni Melton                                                                                                     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tel:  901-337-3372

Email:  toni@lifelinkmemphis.org

SECOND ANNUAL TRUNK OR TREAT AT LIFELINK MEMPHIS

Cooper and Walker to become the intersection of kids and candy.

The parking lot at 1015 Cooper Ave. will host the second annual Lifelink Trunk or Treat, Sunday, October 30 from 5 to 7 pm. This year’s celebration will include decorated vehicles, face-painting, and of course, candy.

Bring the kids out to this safe and friendly venue and for the most fun to be had during the sunset hours.

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If you would like more information on this topic please contact Toni Melton at 901-337-3372 or email to toni@lifelinkmemphis.org

By Dalila Early

For a Reggio teacher, the most commonly asked question is not “What are your views on education?” or “How do you teach math?” or even “Do you give standardized tests?” The most asked question is “Who is Reggio Emilia?” The truth is Reggio Emilia is not a person, but a place – a city in northern Italy.

After the destruction of World War II, the citizens of Reggio Emilia decided that a new approach to early childhood education was necessary. Families worked together not only to physically build schools, but also to develop a philosophy based on an emergent curriculum where children learn by becoming part of their world through direct experiences, relationships, and exploration. They also believed that the children would develop as individuals through respect, responsibility, and following their own interests. This innovative approach stressed that a child’s education is in the hands of the child, and that teachers are present not to teach, but to facilitate the child’s learning.

A Reggio education occurs through questions. Information is not given by teachers, but rather discovered by students. Teachers step in when a child truly cannot either perform a specific skill, or cannot find answers after much investigation. When a child asks “Why?” the Reggio teacher answers with the question “What do you think?” Children then have to look inside themselves for answers; in other words, they have to think. They form their own opinions and theories, and come to their own conclusions. This is true learning, and is the heart of the Reggio philosophy.

This approach is only possible if one trusts in the fact that children are innately curious and eager to learn. Following the interests of the child through project based curriculum, children learn math, science, social studies, art, language arts, movement, and music in a more in depth manner. As a Reggio Emilia teacher, this is proven to me every day at the Natural Learning School. Whether it is a baby watching leaves falling from the trees, preschoolers mixing colors for the first time, or an elementary student researching and finding the answer to the all-important question “How does an airplane stay in the sky?” our teachers have the privilege of being a part of discovery every day.

Located in the heart of the Cooper-Young at 1992 Nelson Ave, the Natural Learning School is the best kept secret in town providing a child centered, project base, Reggio inspired education for children 1 year to 11 years old. For more information check our website at naturallearningschool.com.

By Libby Flynt

The Cooper-Young Festival Friday 4 Miler is right around the corner. So are you ready to run, volunteer, or party? Now is the time to plan your Neighbors Light the Way party so our runners are cheered on every step along the race route.

The CY 4 Miler Facebook page has a Light the Way invitation where all of us can post. There are several ways you can use this resource. First, if you are on the race route and have a great idea for a party, post on the site and enlist people to join the fun. In addition, if you don’t live on the race route but are looking for a party to go to where you can dress like a zombie, pirate, mermaid, etc, then check out the site and find a spot! Or if you have a party idea but don’t live on the race route, post on the site and maybe someone will volunteer their yard! Whether your party is big or small, has an elaborate theme or consists of just a few friends with coolers, we all want to support our great neighborhood and have a successful run. Let’s make sure that any runner who isn’t familiar with our neighborhood runs away extremely impressed with Cooper-Young.

Party planners can register their parties for the Neighbors Light the Way competition by emailing info@cooperyoung.org or calling the CYCA office at 901-272-2922. There will be party judges on race night and all registered parties will have the chance to win prizes. So all you party people start thinking about themes, costumes, twinkle lights, sparklers, sprinklers, cocktails, new friends, and old friends, and we’ll see who takes home the prizes. See you on Friday, September 16, at 7pm.

By Kristan Huntley
The competition for the block with the most pop tabs is on again this year, and the competition is shaping up to be fierce! For those who are new, this Cooper-Young block competition is in support of Ronald McDonald House’s Pop-Tab-Palooza campaign. Each year, residents all throughout the neighborhood collect pop tabs and then bring them to the Cooper-Young Community Association booth the day of Festival to be counted in the total for their block. Once the Festival is over and all the pop tabs are counted, the many (many!) bags of pop tabs are dropped off at the Ronald McDonald House and the funds from recycling the tabs go to the charity.
So, how can you join the competition? Well, first start saving those pop tabs! Collect them from your family, co-workers, or even pick them up off the sidewalk if you like. On the day of the Cooper-Young Festival, place them all in a resealable bag and bring them to the CYCA booth (located near Sweet Grass). From there, volunteers will count the tabs and the official results will be announced in the October LampLighter. The winning block will be awarded $100 (generously provided by a wonderful CY resident) for use during the National Night Out party in October. Last year’s winning block was from Evelyn. Can another block step up and take the title of pop tab champion this year?

By Lisa Lynch
Camp Rock is the ultimate summer camp for aspiring musicians, that is, until the flashy, new Camp Star opens right across the lake taking most of the Camp Rock staff and even some of the campers. With the very existence of Camp Rock hanging in the balance, remaining Camp Rockers must band together to prepare for an epic showdown against their rivals. Based on the Disney Channel Original Movies Camp Rock and Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam.
Disney’s Camp Rock: The Musical is directed by Amy Hanford (The Drowsy Chaperone at Harrell Theatre) and features Chris Hanford (Ostrander Award-nominated choreographer for Thirteen at Harrell Theatre), Ian Goodwin (Speech & Debate, POTS@TheWorks), Curtis Scott (Oliver!) and a host of young, bright, debuting talent from across the city.
Disney’s Camp Rock: The Musical runs August 26 – September 18 at The Circuit Playhouse, Thursdays – Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm. The Pay-What-You-Can performance is Thursday, September 1. The Circuit Playhouse is located at 51 S. Cooper Street in Midtown. For more information or to make reservations, please call 901-726-4656 or go online to playhouseonthesquare.org.