1

110th Anniversary NewsletterJune 2012

2

Table of ContentsStaff Spotlights

Interview with Tyria Easterwood

What kind of volunteer are you

Flashbacks A Timeline

Interview with Dianne Turner

Whatrsquos in Demand

Kidrsquos Corner

How to help

Reading List

Camp Kaleidoscope

Golf and Dinner Auction

Volunteer Spotlights

Miscellaneous

Summer Events

Carnival

5-6

7-8

9

10-15

16

17

18-21

22-23

25

26

27

3

4

Staff SpotlightsGatekeeper of the Kingdom

Controlled Chaos

Interview with Tyria Easterwood

Interview with Mrs Turner

5

Controlled Chaos

Whether you are a volunteer client sponsor or new employee chances are that Tyria Easterwood will be the first person you come into contact with

here at Kingdom House Wersquove all heard the old adage that you never get a second chance to make a first impression so wersquore lucky to have

someone as welcoming and talented as Tyria (Ty for short) greeting you when you walk in the door

In the two days I spent shadowing Ty to learn the responsibilities at the front desk I began to understand what a delicate and chaotic job she has Donrsquot be fooled into thinking that all she does is greet clients as they sign in If you want to keep up with Ty you have to be able to juggle as many as four urgent phone calls at once negotiate client requests with Kingdom House policies attack a mountain of paperwork remember every new visitorrsquos name and all the while use your

peripheral vision to see whorsquos standing by the side window waiting to be let in And donrsquot for a moment forget to maintain a calm

pleasant demeanor ldquoOne thing that people always compliment me on is my smile and my ability to remove myself personally from

the situation and think about what others are going throughrdquo says Ty She has a unique aptitude for making people feel at ease as they tackle

uncomfortable situations and begin to initiate difficult but meaningful changes in their lives

Ty has close connections to Kingdom House that span several generations ldquoI first came here in 1970-1971 as a child when I was

one or two years oldrdquo As an adult she started off working as a substitute teacher in infant care (ages 13 to 24 months old) before moving to the front desk Her daughter went through Kingdom House childcare services as well Now her youngest son Jacob-Tyler enjoys the combination of learning play friendship and creativity that can be found in our accredited preschool daycare (also known as the Blue Room)

In our interview Ty emphasized the role that Kingdom House played in providing her a secure happy childhood Thanks to hard work and a little help from Kingdom House Tyrsquos mother was always able to put on a happy face for her 3 daughters so that they never knew how she struggled Growing up she never once thought of her family as ldquopoorrdquo ldquoI wasnrsquot even aware of povertyrdquo she says ldquobecause my mom was a single parent and she gave us everything that she could while working and trying to further her educationshe always made it possible to give us the best of everythingto me it just looked like we were a little happy familyrdquo Now Ty helps other parents to achieve the same sense of comfort and stability in their households as she enjoyed growing up

Ty understands that it can be difficult for a client to walk through our doors and ask for help the very first time When asked what advice she would give to a new client at Kingdom house she offered words of motivation ldquoDonrsquot let this be a stopping point or a stumbling block Take advantage of the services that we offer here so that you can become better at what you do A lot of clients that come here can get stuck so I try to encourage them

Gatekeeper of the Kingdom Interview with Tyria Easterwood

Tyria Easterwood Administrative Assistant amp

Receptionist at Kingdom House

6

to use the services to their benefitrdquo She understands that Kingdom House is not a final destination but rather a stepping stone to other opportunities allowing thousands of locals to achieve self-sufficiency and work towards their personal goals every year Self-sufficiency comes about through a combination of resilience trust and openness to new situations ldquoldquoI love our motto lsquoChange Begins Withinrsquo Their situations can get better if thatrsquos what they want -- if theyrsquore serious about itrdquo says Ty

To those who may be contemplating volunteering or applying for a job at Kingdom House Ty offers some words of encouragement ldquoWhatever skills they may have wersquoll find a way to utilize them here If theyrsquore just entering high school therersquos always a need -- whether its just helping to maintain the landscape outside working with the children or helping out at our pantry wersquoll always have a job for yourdquo The most valuable volunteers are the ones who like our clients commit to making long-term changes Every small task is equally vital to keeping this machine running Meanwhile Ty continues on the path to accomplishing a few of her personal ambitions She recently completed her Masterrsquos Degree in Human Resources Development and Training at Webster University While her current work has allowed her to utilize her networking skills she would eventually like to work in Development and Training to help

people improve their job skills find their first job or advance their career paths She has been an incredible asset at the front desk over the years and we can only imagine how valuable she will be in the future to those seeking personal career guidance

Tyria in October 1976a month before her 6th birthday

Donrsquot let this be a stopping point or a stumbling block Take advantage of the serviceswe offer here so that you can become better at what you dordquo

ldquo

7

I spoke with Ms Turner during afternoon nap time and had to be careful not to raise my voice too far above a whisper The children were resting in separate cots as soft

music played in the background Silent and still like this they looked rather angelic But anyone who has raised a four year old will tell you that getting

twenty of them to calm down and rest at once is no small feat -- it takes a talented caregiver to orchestrate Dianne Turner has been working

with children at Kingdom House for over thirty-five years Shersquos been working with ages 3-5 in the ldquoblue roomrdquo (the designated color for this age group) for over twenty years She exudes an aura of practiced patience and love which enables her to observe understand and nurture each individual childrsquos distinct needs before they enter kindergarten

It seems that each year she becomes more adept at picking up on subtle cues from the children and learning to tailor to each individual

childrsquos strengths Before teaching pre-K Ms Turner worked in infant care When I asked her what was unique about working with this age

range she emphasized the rapid pace of developmental growth that occurs before Kindergarten When they first come in to the daycare says

Ms Turner they canrsquot hold a crayon properly because their hand muscles are not fully developed When asked to draw or write they will scribble with

shaky wavering lines But with daily practice writing drawing and completing arts and crafts projects these muscles strengthen Before you know it they have developed the fine motor skills to draw in a straight lines pay attention to details and create distinct letterforms This will give them a boost entering into elementary school

One of the mottos in Kingdom House daycare is ldquoLearning Through Playrdquo On the surface this sounds like little more than a nice arrangement of words If the kids are just playing some might ask then what kind of education are they receiving that they couldnrsquot get at home with their parents In fact while ldquoLearning Through Playrdquo might appear spontaneous and carefree to an outside observer it is actually designed quite strategically When I stopped by to observe in the morning the children were seated around the carpet with two children at a time circling around a small chair As Ms Turner cheered words of encouragement a tape played with upbeat music Accompanying this soundtrack a male voice would issue orders like ldquoWalkrdquo Skiprdquo ldquoHoprdquo ldquoRunrdquo and ldquoGalloprdquo When their turn came to circle the chair most of the children seemed to relish being the center of attention giggling profusely A captive audience created all the more incentive to follow the auditory instructions Eventually the disembodied voice would cease to issue orders leaving only the music associated with each motion to indicate the appropriate action Thus in one simple activity that looks an awful lot like recess the kids sharpen their gross motor skills while learning to listen follow instructions and work with a partner

Of course some skills are more urgent than others to develop before kindergarten - like letters numbers colors and writing - the building blocks to literacy Ms Turner takes special care to give more intensive attention to those who seem to have

Children at our accredited daycare receive a balanced breakfast lunch and snack

Controlled Chaos Interview with Ms Dianne Turner

8

difficulty in these areas without ever berating them or making them feel like they are somehow ldquoslowrdquo This way when she sends a group of children off to practice their home phone numbers and addresses while the rest of the children attack jigsaw puzzles it is just an activity like any other and they donrsquot feel that they are somehow being punished It is this kind of delicate yet persistent nurturing that helps young children to develop a love of learning rather than a resentment of it I am sure it must be physically taxing for Ms Turner to control and direct the unbridled energy of twenty-five kids all day long but thankfully she is not alone At any given time she is assisted by at least one other teacher whether that is Miss Startrice Miss Wendy Miss Porscia or Miss Natalie

When I asked Ms Turner for advice to new volunteers she suggested that everyone schedule a day to come in and observe the whole program like a fly in the wall intervening as little as possible from morning to afternoon This way yoursquoll get to learn the kidsrsquo names much faster and understand how to both encourage and discipline them Yoursquoll also get a better idea of what the daily routine feels like and what activities you might bring to the table to vary that routine I had been teaching art lessons for over a month before I finally stayed a full day and gained a much deeper understanding of the program after doing so Wherever your talents may lie - art music athletics cooking or gardening - you can add something to this experience if you are willing to plan ahead make a commitment and - perhaps most importantly - be flexible It might take some adjustment to keep up with the short attention span and abundant energy of this age group but on the bright side they are quick to warm to new teachers On my second day volunteering I was already greeted with a resounding ldquoHi Miss Laurardquo upon entering the room I also spoke to a high school student who was just finishing up the two weeks of community service required to receive her diploma She was sure she would come back frequently even though she hadnrsquot originally planned to ldquoI donrsquot think I could leave these kidsrdquo she said with a smile

While ldquoLearning Through Playrdquo might appear spontaneous and carefree to an outside observer it is actually designed quite strategically

9

What kind of volunteer are you Take Oprah Winfreyrsquos Quiz to find out what kind of work suits you best

Take the

Quiz

Apply to Volunteer

Find openings

2

Table of ContentsStaff Spotlights

Interview with Tyria Easterwood

What kind of volunteer are you

Flashbacks A Timeline

Interview with Dianne Turner

Whatrsquos in Demand

Kidrsquos Corner

How to help

Reading List

Camp Kaleidoscope

Golf and Dinner Auction

Volunteer Spotlights

Miscellaneous

Summer Events

Carnival

5-6

7-8

9

10-15

16

17

18-21

22-23

25

26

27

3

4

Staff SpotlightsGatekeeper of the Kingdom

Controlled Chaos

Interview with Tyria Easterwood

Interview with Mrs Turner

5

Controlled Chaos

Whether you are a volunteer client sponsor or new employee chances are that Tyria Easterwood will be the first person you come into contact with

here at Kingdom House Wersquove all heard the old adage that you never get a second chance to make a first impression so wersquore lucky to have

someone as welcoming and talented as Tyria (Ty for short) greeting you when you walk in the door

In the two days I spent shadowing Ty to learn the responsibilities at the front desk I began to understand what a delicate and chaotic job she has Donrsquot be fooled into thinking that all she does is greet clients as they sign in If you want to keep up with Ty you have to be able to juggle as many as four urgent phone calls at once negotiate client requests with Kingdom House policies attack a mountain of paperwork remember every new visitorrsquos name and all the while use your

peripheral vision to see whorsquos standing by the side window waiting to be let in And donrsquot for a moment forget to maintain a calm

pleasant demeanor ldquoOne thing that people always compliment me on is my smile and my ability to remove myself personally from

the situation and think about what others are going throughrdquo says Ty She has a unique aptitude for making people feel at ease as they tackle

uncomfortable situations and begin to initiate difficult but meaningful changes in their lives

Ty has close connections to Kingdom House that span several generations ldquoI first came here in 1970-1971 as a child when I was

one or two years oldrdquo As an adult she started off working as a substitute teacher in infant care (ages 13 to 24 months old) before moving to the front desk Her daughter went through Kingdom House childcare services as well Now her youngest son Jacob-Tyler enjoys the combination of learning play friendship and creativity that can be found in our accredited preschool daycare (also known as the Blue Room)

In our interview Ty emphasized the role that Kingdom House played in providing her a secure happy childhood Thanks to hard work and a little help from Kingdom House Tyrsquos mother was always able to put on a happy face for her 3 daughters so that they never knew how she struggled Growing up she never once thought of her family as ldquopoorrdquo ldquoI wasnrsquot even aware of povertyrdquo she says ldquobecause my mom was a single parent and she gave us everything that she could while working and trying to further her educationshe always made it possible to give us the best of everythingto me it just looked like we were a little happy familyrdquo Now Ty helps other parents to achieve the same sense of comfort and stability in their households as she enjoyed growing up

Ty understands that it can be difficult for a client to walk through our doors and ask for help the very first time When asked what advice she would give to a new client at Kingdom house she offered words of motivation ldquoDonrsquot let this be a stopping point or a stumbling block Take advantage of the services that we offer here so that you can become better at what you do A lot of clients that come here can get stuck so I try to encourage them

Gatekeeper of the Kingdom Interview with Tyria Easterwood

Tyria Easterwood Administrative Assistant amp

Receptionist at Kingdom House

6

to use the services to their benefitrdquo She understands that Kingdom House is not a final destination but rather a stepping stone to other opportunities allowing thousands of locals to achieve self-sufficiency and work towards their personal goals every year Self-sufficiency comes about through a combination of resilience trust and openness to new situations ldquoldquoI love our motto lsquoChange Begins Withinrsquo Their situations can get better if thatrsquos what they want -- if theyrsquore serious about itrdquo says Ty

To those who may be contemplating volunteering or applying for a job at Kingdom House Ty offers some words of encouragement ldquoWhatever skills they may have wersquoll find a way to utilize them here If theyrsquore just entering high school therersquos always a need -- whether its just helping to maintain the landscape outside working with the children or helping out at our pantry wersquoll always have a job for yourdquo The most valuable volunteers are the ones who like our clients commit to making long-term changes Every small task is equally vital to keeping this machine running Meanwhile Ty continues on the path to accomplishing a few of her personal ambitions She recently completed her Masterrsquos Degree in Human Resources Development and Training at Webster University While her current work has allowed her to utilize her networking skills she would eventually like to work in Development and Training to help

people improve their job skills find their first job or advance their career paths She has been an incredible asset at the front desk over the years and we can only imagine how valuable she will be in the future to those seeking personal career guidance

Tyria in October 1976a month before her 6th birthday

Donrsquot let this be a stopping point or a stumbling block Take advantage of the serviceswe offer here so that you can become better at what you dordquo

ldquo

7

I spoke with Ms Turner during afternoon nap time and had to be careful not to raise my voice too far above a whisper The children were resting in separate cots as soft

music played in the background Silent and still like this they looked rather angelic But anyone who has raised a four year old will tell you that getting

twenty of them to calm down and rest at once is no small feat -- it takes a talented caregiver to orchestrate Dianne Turner has been working

with children at Kingdom House for over thirty-five years Shersquos been working with ages 3-5 in the ldquoblue roomrdquo (the designated color for this age group) for over twenty years She exudes an aura of practiced patience and love which enables her to observe understand and nurture each individual childrsquos distinct needs before they enter kindergarten

It seems that each year she becomes more adept at picking up on subtle cues from the children and learning to tailor to each individual

childrsquos strengths Before teaching pre-K Ms Turner worked in infant care When I asked her what was unique about working with this age

range she emphasized the rapid pace of developmental growth that occurs before Kindergarten When they first come in to the daycare says

Ms Turner they canrsquot hold a crayon properly because their hand muscles are not fully developed When asked to draw or write they will scribble with

shaky wavering lines But with daily practice writing drawing and completing arts and crafts projects these muscles strengthen Before you know it they have developed the fine motor skills to draw in a straight lines pay attention to details and create distinct letterforms This will give them a boost entering into elementary school

One of the mottos in Kingdom House daycare is ldquoLearning Through Playrdquo On the surface this sounds like little more than a nice arrangement of words If the kids are just playing some might ask then what kind of education are they receiving that they couldnrsquot get at home with their parents In fact while ldquoLearning Through Playrdquo might appear spontaneous and carefree to an outside observer it is actually designed quite strategically When I stopped by to observe in the morning the children were seated around the carpet with two children at a time circling around a small chair As Ms Turner cheered words of encouragement a tape played with upbeat music Accompanying this soundtrack a male voice would issue orders like ldquoWalkrdquo Skiprdquo ldquoHoprdquo ldquoRunrdquo and ldquoGalloprdquo When their turn came to circle the chair most of the children seemed to relish being the center of attention giggling profusely A captive audience created all the more incentive to follow the auditory instructions Eventually the disembodied voice would cease to issue orders leaving only the music associated with each motion to indicate the appropriate action Thus in one simple activity that looks an awful lot like recess the kids sharpen their gross motor skills while learning to listen follow instructions and work with a partner

Of course some skills are more urgent than others to develop before kindergarten - like letters numbers colors and writing - the building blocks to literacy Ms Turner takes special care to give more intensive attention to those who seem to have

Children at our accredited daycare receive a balanced breakfast lunch and snack

Controlled Chaos Interview with Ms Dianne Turner

8

difficulty in these areas without ever berating them or making them feel like they are somehow ldquoslowrdquo This way when she sends a group of children off to practice their home phone numbers and addresses while the rest of the children attack jigsaw puzzles it is just an activity like any other and they donrsquot feel that they are somehow being punished It is this kind of delicate yet persistent nurturing that helps young children to develop a love of learning rather than a resentment of it I am sure it must be physically taxing for Ms Turner to control and direct the unbridled energy of twenty-five kids all day long but thankfully she is not alone At any given time she is assisted by at least one other teacher whether that is Miss Startrice Miss Wendy Miss Porscia or Miss Natalie

When I asked Ms Turner for advice to new volunteers she suggested that everyone schedule a day to come in and observe the whole program like a fly in the wall intervening as little as possible from morning to afternoon This way yoursquoll get to learn the kidsrsquo names much faster and understand how to both encourage and discipline them Yoursquoll also get a better idea of what the daily routine feels like and what activities you might bring to the table to vary that routine I had been teaching art lessons for over a month before I finally stayed a full day and gained a much deeper understanding of the program after doing so Wherever your talents may lie - art music athletics cooking or gardening - you can add something to this experience if you are willing to plan ahead make a commitment and - perhaps most importantly - be flexible It might take some adjustment to keep up with the short attention span and abundant energy of this age group but on the bright side they are quick to warm to new teachers On my second day volunteering I was already greeted with a resounding ldquoHi Miss Laurardquo upon entering the room I also spoke to a high school student who was just finishing up the two weeks of community service required to receive her diploma She was sure she would come back frequently even though she hadnrsquot originally planned to ldquoI donrsquot think I could leave these kidsrdquo she said with a smile

While ldquoLearning Through Playrdquo might appear spontaneous and carefree to an outside observer it is actually designed quite strategically

9

What kind of volunteer are you Take Oprah Winfreyrsquos Quiz to find out what kind of work suits you best

Take the

Quiz

Apply to Volunteer

Find openings

3

4

Staff SpotlightsGatekeeper of the Kingdom

Controlled Chaos

Interview with Tyria Easterwood

Interview with Mrs Turner

5

Controlled Chaos

Whether you are a volunteer client sponsor or new employee chances are that Tyria Easterwood will be the first person you come into contact with

here at Kingdom House Wersquove all heard the old adage that you never get a second chance to make a first impression so wersquore lucky to have

someone as welcoming and talented as Tyria (Ty for short) greeting you when you walk in the door

In the two days I spent shadowing Ty to learn the responsibilities at the front desk I began to understand what a delicate and chaotic job she has Donrsquot be fooled into thinking that all she does is greet clients as they sign in If you want to keep up with Ty you have to be able to juggle as many as four urgent phone calls at once negotiate client requests with Kingdom House policies attack a mountain of paperwork remember every new visitorrsquos name and all the while use your

peripheral vision to see whorsquos standing by the side window waiting to be let in And donrsquot for a moment forget to maintain a calm

pleasant demeanor ldquoOne thing that people always compliment me on is my smile and my ability to remove myself personally from

the situation and think about what others are going throughrdquo says Ty She has a unique aptitude for making people feel at ease as they tackle

uncomfortable situations and begin to initiate difficult but meaningful changes in their lives

Ty has close connections to Kingdom House that span several generations ldquoI first came here in 1970-1971 as a child when I was

one or two years oldrdquo As an adult she started off working as a substitute teacher in infant care (ages 13 to 24 months old) before moving to the front desk Her daughter went through Kingdom House childcare services as well Now her youngest son Jacob-Tyler enjoys the combination of learning play friendship and creativity that can be found in our accredited preschool daycare (also known as the Blue Room)

In our interview Ty emphasized the role that Kingdom House played in providing her a secure happy childhood Thanks to hard work and a little help from Kingdom House Tyrsquos mother was always able to put on a happy face for her 3 daughters so that they never knew how she struggled Growing up she never once thought of her family as ldquopoorrdquo ldquoI wasnrsquot even aware of povertyrdquo she says ldquobecause my mom was a single parent and she gave us everything that she could while working and trying to further her educationshe always made it possible to give us the best of everythingto me it just looked like we were a little happy familyrdquo Now Ty helps other parents to achieve the same sense of comfort and stability in their households as she enjoyed growing up

Ty understands that it can be difficult for a client to walk through our doors and ask for help the very first time When asked what advice she would give to a new client at Kingdom house she offered words of motivation ldquoDonrsquot let this be a stopping point or a stumbling block Take advantage of the services that we offer here so that you can become better at what you do A lot of clients that come here can get stuck so I try to encourage them

Gatekeeper of the Kingdom Interview with Tyria Easterwood

Tyria Easterwood Administrative Assistant amp

Receptionist at Kingdom House

6

to use the services to their benefitrdquo She understands that Kingdom House is not a final destination but rather a stepping stone to other opportunities allowing thousands of locals to achieve self-sufficiency and work towards their personal goals every year Self-sufficiency comes about through a combination of resilience trust and openness to new situations ldquoldquoI love our motto lsquoChange Begins Withinrsquo Their situations can get better if thatrsquos what they want -- if theyrsquore serious about itrdquo says Ty

To those who may be contemplating volunteering or applying for a job at Kingdom House Ty offers some words of encouragement ldquoWhatever skills they may have wersquoll find a way to utilize them here If theyrsquore just entering high school therersquos always a need -- whether its just helping to maintain the landscape outside working with the children or helping out at our pantry wersquoll always have a job for yourdquo The most valuable volunteers are the ones who like our clients commit to making long-term changes Every small task is equally vital to keeping this machine running Meanwhile Ty continues on the path to accomplishing a few of her personal ambitions She recently completed her Masterrsquos Degree in Human Resources Development and Training at Webster University While her current work has allowed her to utilize her networking skills she would eventually like to work in Development and Training to help

people improve their job skills find their first job or advance their career paths She has been an incredible asset at the front desk over the years and we can only imagine how valuable she will be in the future to those seeking personal career guidance

Tyria in October 1976a month before her 6th birthday

Donrsquot let this be a stopping point or a stumbling block Take advantage of the serviceswe offer here so that you can become better at what you dordquo

ldquo

7

I spoke with Ms Turner during afternoon nap time and had to be careful not to raise my voice too far above a whisper The children were resting in separate cots as soft

music played in the background Silent and still like this they looked rather angelic But anyone who has raised a four year old will tell you that getting

twenty of them to calm down and rest at once is no small feat -- it takes a talented caregiver to orchestrate Dianne Turner has been working

with children at Kingdom House for over thirty-five years Shersquos been working with ages 3-5 in the ldquoblue roomrdquo (the designated color for this age group) for over twenty years She exudes an aura of practiced patience and love which enables her to observe understand and nurture each individual childrsquos distinct needs before they enter kindergarten

It seems that each year she becomes more adept at picking up on subtle cues from the children and learning to tailor to each individual

childrsquos strengths Before teaching pre-K Ms Turner worked in infant care When I asked her what was unique about working with this age

range she emphasized the rapid pace of developmental growth that occurs before Kindergarten When they first come in to the daycare says

Ms Turner they canrsquot hold a crayon properly because their hand muscles are not fully developed When asked to draw or write they will scribble with

shaky wavering lines But with daily practice writing drawing and completing arts and crafts projects these muscles strengthen Before you know it they have developed the fine motor skills to draw in a straight lines pay attention to details and create distinct letterforms This will give them a boost entering into elementary school

One of the mottos in Kingdom House daycare is ldquoLearning Through Playrdquo On the surface this sounds like little more than a nice arrangement of words If the kids are just playing some might ask then what kind of education are they receiving that they couldnrsquot get at home with their parents In fact while ldquoLearning Through Playrdquo might appear spontaneous and carefree to an outside observer it is actually designed quite strategically When I stopped by to observe in the morning the children were seated around the carpet with two children at a time circling around a small chair As Ms Turner cheered words of encouragement a tape played with upbeat music Accompanying this soundtrack a male voice would issue orders like ldquoWalkrdquo Skiprdquo ldquoHoprdquo ldquoRunrdquo and ldquoGalloprdquo When their turn came to circle the chair most of the children seemed to relish being the center of attention giggling profusely A captive audience created all the more incentive to follow the auditory instructions Eventually the disembodied voice would cease to issue orders leaving only the music associated with each motion to indicate the appropriate action Thus in one simple activity that looks an awful lot like recess the kids sharpen their gross motor skills while learning to listen follow instructions and work with a partner

Of course some skills are more urgent than others to develop before kindergarten - like letters numbers colors and writing - the building blocks to literacy Ms Turner takes special care to give more intensive attention to those who seem to have

Children at our accredited daycare receive a balanced breakfast lunch and snack

Controlled Chaos Interview with Ms Dianne Turner

8

difficulty in these areas without ever berating them or making them feel like they are somehow ldquoslowrdquo This way when she sends a group of children off to practice their home phone numbers and addresses while the rest of the children attack jigsaw puzzles it is just an activity like any other and they donrsquot feel that they are somehow being punished It is this kind of delicate yet persistent nurturing that helps young children to develop a love of learning rather than a resentment of it I am sure it must be physically taxing for Ms Turner to control and direct the unbridled energy of twenty-five kids all day long but thankfully she is not alone At any given time she is assisted by at least one other teacher whether that is Miss Startrice Miss Wendy Miss Porscia or Miss Natalie

When I asked Ms Turner for advice to new volunteers she suggested that everyone schedule a day to come in and observe the whole program like a fly in the wall intervening as little as possible from morning to afternoon This way yoursquoll get to learn the kidsrsquo names much faster and understand how to both encourage and discipline them Yoursquoll also get a better idea of what the daily routine feels like and what activities you might bring to the table to vary that routine I had been teaching art lessons for over a month before I finally stayed a full day and gained a much deeper understanding of the program after doing so Wherever your talents may lie - art music athletics cooking or gardening - you can add something to this experience if you are willing to plan ahead make a commitment and - perhaps most importantly - be flexible It might take some adjustment to keep up with the short attention span and abundant energy of this age group but on the bright side they are quick to warm to new teachers On my second day volunteering I was already greeted with a resounding ldquoHi Miss Laurardquo upon entering the room I also spoke to a high school student who was just finishing up the two weeks of community service required to receive her diploma She was sure she would come back frequently even though she hadnrsquot originally planned to ldquoI donrsquot think I could leave these kidsrdquo she said with a smile

While ldquoLearning Through Playrdquo might appear spontaneous and carefree to an outside observer it is actually designed quite strategically

9

What kind of volunteer are you Take Oprah Winfreyrsquos Quiz to find out what kind of work suits you best

Take the

Quiz

Apply to Volunteer

Find openings

4

Staff SpotlightsGatekeeper of the Kingdom

Controlled Chaos

Interview with Tyria Easterwood

Interview with Mrs Turner

5

Controlled Chaos

Whether you are a volunteer client sponsor or new employee chances are that Tyria Easterwood will be the first person you come into contact with

here at Kingdom House Wersquove all heard the old adage that you never get a second chance to make a first impression so wersquore lucky to have

someone as welcoming and talented as Tyria (Ty for short) greeting you when you walk in the door

In the two days I spent shadowing Ty to learn the responsibilities at the front desk I began to understand what a delicate and chaotic job she has Donrsquot be fooled into thinking that all she does is greet clients as they sign in If you want to keep up with Ty you have to be able to juggle as many as four urgent phone calls at once negotiate client requests with Kingdom House policies attack a mountain of paperwork remember every new visitorrsquos name and all the while use your

peripheral vision to see whorsquos standing by the side window waiting to be let in And donrsquot for a moment forget to maintain a calm

pleasant demeanor ldquoOne thing that people always compliment me on is my smile and my ability to remove myself personally from

the situation and think about what others are going throughrdquo says Ty She has a unique aptitude for making people feel at ease as they tackle

uncomfortable situations and begin to initiate difficult but meaningful changes in their lives

Ty has close connections to Kingdom House that span several generations ldquoI first came here in 1970-1971 as a child when I was

one or two years oldrdquo As an adult she started off working as a substitute teacher in infant care (ages 13 to 24 months old) before moving to the front desk Her daughter went through Kingdom House childcare services as well Now her youngest son Jacob-Tyler enjoys the combination of learning play friendship and creativity that can be found in our accredited preschool daycare (also known as the Blue Room)

In our interview Ty emphasized the role that Kingdom House played in providing her a secure happy childhood Thanks to hard work and a little help from Kingdom House Tyrsquos mother was always able to put on a happy face for her 3 daughters so that they never knew how she struggled Growing up she never once thought of her family as ldquopoorrdquo ldquoI wasnrsquot even aware of povertyrdquo she says ldquobecause my mom was a single parent and she gave us everything that she could while working and trying to further her educationshe always made it possible to give us the best of everythingto me it just looked like we were a little happy familyrdquo Now Ty helps other parents to achieve the same sense of comfort and stability in their households as she enjoyed growing up

Ty understands that it can be difficult for a client to walk through our doors and ask for help the very first time When asked what advice she would give to a new client at Kingdom house she offered words of motivation ldquoDonrsquot let this be a stopping point or a stumbling block Take advantage of the services that we offer here so that you can become better at what you do A lot of clients that come here can get stuck so I try to encourage them

Gatekeeper of the Kingdom Interview with Tyria Easterwood

Tyria Easterwood Administrative Assistant amp

Receptionist at Kingdom House

6

to use the services to their benefitrdquo She understands that Kingdom House is not a final destination but rather a stepping stone to other opportunities allowing thousands of locals to achieve self-sufficiency and work towards their personal goals every year Self-sufficiency comes about through a combination of resilience trust and openness to new situations ldquoldquoI love our motto lsquoChange Begins Withinrsquo Their situations can get better if thatrsquos what they want -- if theyrsquore serious about itrdquo says Ty

To those who may be contemplating volunteering or applying for a job at Kingdom House Ty offers some words of encouragement ldquoWhatever skills they may have wersquoll find a way to utilize them here If theyrsquore just entering high school therersquos always a need -- whether its just helping to maintain the landscape outside working with the children or helping out at our pantry wersquoll always have a job for yourdquo The most valuable volunteers are the ones who like our clients commit to making long-term changes Every small task is equally vital to keeping this machine running Meanwhile Ty continues on the path to accomplishing a few of her personal ambitions She recently completed her Masterrsquos Degree in Human Resources Development and Training at Webster University While her current work has allowed her to utilize her networking skills she would eventually like to work in Development and Training to help

people improve their job skills find their first job or advance their career paths She has been an incredible asset at the front desk over the years and we can only imagine how valuable she will be in the future to those seeking personal career guidance

Tyria in October 1976a month before her 6th birthday

Donrsquot let this be a stopping point or a stumbling block Take advantage of the serviceswe offer here so that you can become better at what you dordquo

ldquo

7

I spoke with Ms Turner during afternoon nap time and had to be careful not to raise my voice too far above a whisper The children were resting in separate cots as soft

music played in the background Silent and still like this they looked rather angelic But anyone who has raised a four year old will tell you that getting

twenty of them to calm down and rest at once is no small feat -- it takes a talented caregiver to orchestrate Dianne Turner has been working

with children at Kingdom House for over thirty-five years Shersquos been working with ages 3-5 in the ldquoblue roomrdquo (the designated color for this age group) for over twenty years She exudes an aura of practiced patience and love which enables her to observe understand and nurture each individual childrsquos distinct needs before they enter kindergarten

It seems that each year she becomes more adept at picking up on subtle cues from the children and learning to tailor to each individual

childrsquos strengths Before teaching pre-K Ms Turner worked in infant care When I asked her what was unique about working with this age

range she emphasized the rapid pace of developmental growth that occurs before Kindergarten When they first come in to the daycare says

Ms Turner they canrsquot hold a crayon properly because their hand muscles are not fully developed When asked to draw or write they will scribble with

shaky wavering lines But with daily practice writing drawing and completing arts and crafts projects these muscles strengthen Before you know it they have developed the fine motor skills to draw in a straight lines pay attention to details and create distinct letterforms This will give them a boost entering into elementary school

One of the mottos in Kingdom House daycare is ldquoLearning Through Playrdquo On the surface this sounds like little more than a nice arrangement of words If the kids are just playing some might ask then what kind of education are they receiving that they couldnrsquot get at home with their parents In fact while ldquoLearning Through Playrdquo might appear spontaneous and carefree to an outside observer it is actually designed quite strategically When I stopped by to observe in the morning the children were seated around the carpet with two children at a time circling around a small chair As Ms Turner cheered words of encouragement a tape played with upbeat music Accompanying this soundtrack a male voice would issue orders like ldquoWalkrdquo Skiprdquo ldquoHoprdquo ldquoRunrdquo and ldquoGalloprdquo When their turn came to circle the chair most of the children seemed to relish being the center of attention giggling profusely A captive audience created all the more incentive to follow the auditory instructions Eventually the disembodied voice would cease to issue orders leaving only the music associated with each motion to indicate the appropriate action Thus in one simple activity that looks an awful lot like recess the kids sharpen their gross motor skills while learning to listen follow instructions and work with a partner

Of course some skills are more urgent than others to develop before kindergarten - like letters numbers colors and writing - the building blocks to literacy Ms Turner takes special care to give more intensive attention to those who seem to have

Children at our accredited daycare receive a balanced breakfast lunch and snack

Controlled Chaos Interview with Ms Dianne Turner

8

difficulty in these areas without ever berating them or making them feel like they are somehow ldquoslowrdquo This way when she sends a group of children off to practice their home phone numbers and addresses while the rest of the children attack jigsaw puzzles it is just an activity like any other and they donrsquot feel that they are somehow being punished It is this kind of delicate yet persistent nurturing that helps young children to develop a love of learning rather than a resentment of it I am sure it must be physically taxing for Ms Turner to control and direct the unbridled energy of twenty-five kids all day long but thankfully she is not alone At any given time she is assisted by at least one other teacher whether that is Miss Startrice Miss Wendy Miss Porscia or Miss Natalie

When I asked Ms Turner for advice to new volunteers she suggested that everyone schedule a day to come in and observe the whole program like a fly in the wall intervening as little as possible from morning to afternoon This way yoursquoll get to learn the kidsrsquo names much faster and understand how to both encourage and discipline them Yoursquoll also get a better idea of what the daily routine feels like and what activities you might bring to the table to vary that routine I had been teaching art lessons for over a month before I finally stayed a full day and gained a much deeper understanding of the program after doing so Wherever your talents may lie - art music athletics cooking or gardening - you can add something to this experience if you are willing to plan ahead make a commitment and - perhaps most importantly - be flexible It might take some adjustment to keep up with the short attention span and abundant energy of this age group but on the bright side they are quick to warm to new teachers On my second day volunteering I was already greeted with a resounding ldquoHi Miss Laurardquo upon entering the room I also spoke to a high school student who was just finishing up the two weeks of community service required to receive her diploma She was sure she would come back frequently even though she hadnrsquot originally planned to ldquoI donrsquot think I could leave these kidsrdquo she said with a smile

While ldquoLearning Through Playrdquo might appear spontaneous and carefree to an outside observer it is actually designed quite strategically

9

What kind of volunteer are you Take Oprah Winfreyrsquos Quiz to find out what kind of work suits you best

Take the

Quiz

Apply to Volunteer

Find openings

5

Controlled Chaos

Whether you are a volunteer client sponsor or new employee chances are that Tyria Easterwood will be the first person you come into contact with

here at Kingdom House Wersquove all heard the old adage that you never get a second chance to make a first impression so wersquore lucky to have

someone as welcoming and talented as Tyria (Ty for short) greeting you when you walk in the door

In the two days I spent shadowing Ty to learn the responsibilities at the front desk I began to understand what a delicate and chaotic job she has Donrsquot be fooled into thinking that all she does is greet clients as they sign in If you want to keep up with Ty you have to be able to juggle as many as four urgent phone calls at once negotiate client requests with Kingdom House policies attack a mountain of paperwork remember every new visitorrsquos name and all the while use your

peripheral vision to see whorsquos standing by the side window waiting to be let in And donrsquot for a moment forget to maintain a calm

pleasant demeanor ldquoOne thing that people always compliment me on is my smile and my ability to remove myself personally from

the situation and think about what others are going throughrdquo says Ty She has a unique aptitude for making people feel at ease as they tackle

uncomfortable situations and begin to initiate difficult but meaningful changes in their lives

Ty has close connections to Kingdom House that span several generations ldquoI first came here in 1970-1971 as a child when I was

one or two years oldrdquo As an adult she started off working as a substitute teacher in infant care (ages 13 to 24 months old) before moving to the front desk Her daughter went through Kingdom House childcare services as well Now her youngest son Jacob-Tyler enjoys the combination of learning play friendship and creativity that can be found in our accredited preschool daycare (also known as the Blue Room)

In our interview Ty emphasized the role that Kingdom House played in providing her a secure happy childhood Thanks to hard work and a little help from Kingdom House Tyrsquos mother was always able to put on a happy face for her 3 daughters so that they never knew how she struggled Growing up she never once thought of her family as ldquopoorrdquo ldquoI wasnrsquot even aware of povertyrdquo she says ldquobecause my mom was a single parent and she gave us everything that she could while working and trying to further her educationshe always made it possible to give us the best of everythingto me it just looked like we were a little happy familyrdquo Now Ty helps other parents to achieve the same sense of comfort and stability in their households as she enjoyed growing up

Ty understands that it can be difficult for a client to walk through our doors and ask for help the very first time When asked what advice she would give to a new client at Kingdom house she offered words of motivation ldquoDonrsquot let this be a stopping point or a stumbling block Take advantage of the services that we offer here so that you can become better at what you do A lot of clients that come here can get stuck so I try to encourage them

Gatekeeper of the Kingdom Interview with Tyria Easterwood

Tyria Easterwood Administrative Assistant amp

Receptionist at Kingdom House

6

to use the services to their benefitrdquo She understands that Kingdom House is not a final destination but rather a stepping stone to other opportunities allowing thousands of locals to achieve self-sufficiency and work towards their personal goals every year Self-sufficiency comes about through a combination of resilience trust and openness to new situations ldquoldquoI love our motto lsquoChange Begins Withinrsquo Their situations can get better if thatrsquos what they want -- if theyrsquore serious about itrdquo says Ty

To those who may be contemplating volunteering or applying for a job at Kingdom House Ty offers some words of encouragement ldquoWhatever skills they may have wersquoll find a way to utilize them here If theyrsquore just entering high school therersquos always a need -- whether its just helping to maintain the landscape outside working with the children or helping out at our pantry wersquoll always have a job for yourdquo The most valuable volunteers are the ones who like our clients commit to making long-term changes Every small task is equally vital to keeping this machine running Meanwhile Ty continues on the path to accomplishing a few of her personal ambitions She recently completed her Masterrsquos Degree in Human Resources Development and Training at Webster University While her current work has allowed her to utilize her networking skills she would eventually like to work in Development and Training to help

people improve their job skills find their first job or advance their career paths She has been an incredible asset at the front desk over the years and we can only imagine how valuable she will be in the future to those seeking personal career guidance

Tyria in October 1976a month before her 6th birthday

Donrsquot let this be a stopping point or a stumbling block Take advantage of the serviceswe offer here so that you can become better at what you dordquo

ldquo

7

I spoke with Ms Turner during afternoon nap time and had to be careful not to raise my voice too far above a whisper The children were resting in separate cots as soft

music played in the background Silent and still like this they looked rather angelic But anyone who has raised a four year old will tell you that getting

twenty of them to calm down and rest at once is no small feat -- it takes a talented caregiver to orchestrate Dianne Turner has been working

with children at Kingdom House for over thirty-five years Shersquos been working with ages 3-5 in the ldquoblue roomrdquo (the designated color for this age group) for over twenty years She exudes an aura of practiced patience and love which enables her to observe understand and nurture each individual childrsquos distinct needs before they enter kindergarten

It seems that each year she becomes more adept at picking up on subtle cues from the children and learning to tailor to each individual

childrsquos strengths Before teaching pre-K Ms Turner worked in infant care When I asked her what was unique about working with this age

range she emphasized the rapid pace of developmental growth that occurs before Kindergarten When they first come in to the daycare says

Ms Turner they canrsquot hold a crayon properly because their hand muscles are not fully developed When asked to draw or write they will scribble with

shaky wavering lines But with daily practice writing drawing and completing arts and crafts projects these muscles strengthen Before you know it they have developed the fine motor skills to draw in a straight lines pay attention to details and create distinct letterforms This will give them a boost entering into elementary school

One of the mottos in Kingdom House daycare is ldquoLearning Through Playrdquo On the surface this sounds like little more than a nice arrangement of words If the kids are just playing some might ask then what kind of education are they receiving that they couldnrsquot get at home with their parents In fact while ldquoLearning Through Playrdquo might appear spontaneous and carefree to an outside observer it is actually designed quite strategically When I stopped by to observe in the morning the children were seated around the carpet with two children at a time circling around a small chair As Ms Turner cheered words of encouragement a tape played with upbeat music Accompanying this soundtrack a male voice would issue orders like ldquoWalkrdquo Skiprdquo ldquoHoprdquo ldquoRunrdquo and ldquoGalloprdquo When their turn came to circle the chair most of the children seemed to relish being the center of attention giggling profusely A captive audience created all the more incentive to follow the auditory instructions Eventually the disembodied voice would cease to issue orders leaving only the music associated with each motion to indicate the appropriate action Thus in one simple activity that looks an awful lot like recess the kids sharpen their gross motor skills while learning to listen follow instructions and work with a partner

Of course some skills are more urgent than others to develop before kindergarten - like letters numbers colors and writing - the building blocks to literacy Ms Turner takes special care to give more intensive attention to those who seem to have

Children at our accredited daycare receive a balanced breakfast lunch and snack

Controlled Chaos Interview with Ms Dianne Turner

8

difficulty in these areas without ever berating them or making them feel like they are somehow ldquoslowrdquo This way when she sends a group of children off to practice their home phone numbers and addresses while the rest of the children attack jigsaw puzzles it is just an activity like any other and they donrsquot feel that they are somehow being punished It is this kind of delicate yet persistent nurturing that helps young children to develop a love of learning rather than a resentment of it I am sure it must be physically taxing for Ms Turner to control and direct the unbridled energy of twenty-five kids all day long but thankfully she is not alone At any given time she is assisted by at least one other teacher whether that is Miss Startrice Miss Wendy Miss Porscia or Miss Natalie

When I asked Ms Turner for advice to new volunteers she suggested that everyone schedule a day to come in and observe the whole program like a fly in the wall intervening as little as possible from morning to afternoon This way yoursquoll get to learn the kidsrsquo names much faster and understand how to both encourage and discipline them Yoursquoll also get a better idea of what the daily routine feels like and what activities you might bring to the table to vary that routine I had been teaching art lessons for over a month before I finally stayed a full day and gained a much deeper understanding of the program after doing so Wherever your talents may lie - art music athletics cooking or gardening - you can add something to this experience if you are willing to plan ahead make a commitment and - perhaps most importantly - be flexible It might take some adjustment to keep up with the short attention span and abundant energy of this age group but on the bright side they are quick to warm to new teachers On my second day volunteering I was already greeted with a resounding ldquoHi Miss Laurardquo upon entering the room I also spoke to a high school student who was just finishing up the two weeks of community service required to receive her diploma She was sure she would come back frequently even though she hadnrsquot originally planned to ldquoI donrsquot think I could leave these kidsrdquo she said with a smile

While ldquoLearning Through Playrdquo might appear spontaneous and carefree to an outside observer it is actually designed quite strategically

9

What kind of volunteer are you Take Oprah Winfreyrsquos Quiz to find out what kind of work suits you best

Take the

Quiz

Apply to Volunteer

Find openings

6

to use the services to their benefitrdquo She understands that Kingdom House is not a final destination but rather a stepping stone to other opportunities allowing thousands of locals to achieve self-sufficiency and work towards their personal goals every year Self-sufficiency comes about through a combination of resilience trust and openness to new situations ldquoldquoI love our motto lsquoChange Begins Withinrsquo Their situations can get better if thatrsquos what they want -- if theyrsquore serious about itrdquo says Ty

To those who may be contemplating volunteering or applying for a job at Kingdom House Ty offers some words of encouragement ldquoWhatever skills they may have wersquoll find a way to utilize them here If theyrsquore just entering high school therersquos always a need -- whether its just helping to maintain the landscape outside working with the children or helping out at our pantry wersquoll always have a job for yourdquo The most valuable volunteers are the ones who like our clients commit to making long-term changes Every small task is equally vital to keeping this machine running Meanwhile Ty continues on the path to accomplishing a few of her personal ambitions She recently completed her Masterrsquos Degree in Human Resources Development and Training at Webster University While her current work has allowed her to utilize her networking skills she would eventually like to work in Development and Training to help

people improve their job skills find their first job or advance their career paths She has been an incredible asset at the front desk over the years and we can only imagine how valuable she will be in the future to those seeking personal career guidance

Tyria in October 1976a month before her 6th birthday

Donrsquot let this be a stopping point or a stumbling block Take advantage of the serviceswe offer here so that you can become better at what you dordquo

ldquo

7

I spoke with Ms Turner during afternoon nap time and had to be careful not to raise my voice too far above a whisper The children were resting in separate cots as soft

music played in the background Silent and still like this they looked rather angelic But anyone who has raised a four year old will tell you that getting

twenty of them to calm down and rest at once is no small feat -- it takes a talented caregiver to orchestrate Dianne Turner has been working

with children at Kingdom House for over thirty-five years Shersquos been working with ages 3-5 in the ldquoblue roomrdquo (the designated color for this age group) for over twenty years She exudes an aura of practiced patience and love which enables her to observe understand and nurture each individual childrsquos distinct needs before they enter kindergarten

It seems that each year she becomes more adept at picking up on subtle cues from the children and learning to tailor to each individual

childrsquos strengths Before teaching pre-K Ms Turner worked in infant care When I asked her what was unique about working with this age

range she emphasized the rapid pace of developmental growth that occurs before Kindergarten When they first come in to the daycare says

Ms Turner they canrsquot hold a crayon properly because their hand muscles are not fully developed When asked to draw or write they will scribble with

shaky wavering lines But with daily practice writing drawing and completing arts and crafts projects these muscles strengthen Before you know it they have developed the fine motor skills to draw in a straight lines pay attention to details and create distinct letterforms This will give them a boost entering into elementary school

One of the mottos in Kingdom House daycare is ldquoLearning Through Playrdquo On the surface this sounds like little more than a nice arrangement of words If the kids are just playing some might ask then what kind of education are they receiving that they couldnrsquot get at home with their parents In fact while ldquoLearning Through Playrdquo might appear spontaneous and carefree to an outside observer it is actually designed quite strategically When I stopped by to observe in the morning the children were seated around the carpet with two children at a time circling around a small chair As Ms Turner cheered words of encouragement a tape played with upbeat music Accompanying this soundtrack a male voice would issue orders like ldquoWalkrdquo Skiprdquo ldquoHoprdquo ldquoRunrdquo and ldquoGalloprdquo When their turn came to circle the chair most of the children seemed to relish being the center of attention giggling profusely A captive audience created all the more incentive to follow the auditory instructions Eventually the disembodied voice would cease to issue orders leaving only the music associated with each motion to indicate the appropriate action Thus in one simple activity that looks an awful lot like recess the kids sharpen their gross motor skills while learning to listen follow instructions and work with a partner

Of course some skills are more urgent than others to develop before kindergarten - like letters numbers colors and writing - the building blocks to literacy Ms Turner takes special care to give more intensive attention to those who seem to have

Children at our accredited daycare receive a balanced breakfast lunch and snack

Controlled Chaos Interview with Ms Dianne Turner

8

difficulty in these areas without ever berating them or making them feel like they are somehow ldquoslowrdquo This way when she sends a group of children off to practice their home phone numbers and addresses while the rest of the children attack jigsaw puzzles it is just an activity like any other and they donrsquot feel that they are somehow being punished It is this kind of delicate yet persistent nurturing that helps young children to develop a love of learning rather than a resentment of it I am sure it must be physically taxing for Ms Turner to control and direct the unbridled energy of twenty-five kids all day long but thankfully she is not alone At any given time she is assisted by at least one other teacher whether that is Miss Startrice Miss Wendy Miss Porscia or Miss Natalie

When I asked Ms Turner for advice to new volunteers she suggested that everyone schedule a day to come in and observe the whole program like a fly in the wall intervening as little as possible from morning to afternoon This way yoursquoll get to learn the kidsrsquo names much faster and understand how to both encourage and discipline them Yoursquoll also get a better idea of what the daily routine feels like and what activities you might bring to the table to vary that routine I had been teaching art lessons for over a month before I finally stayed a full day and gained a much deeper understanding of the program after doing so Wherever your talents may lie - art music athletics cooking or gardening - you can add something to this experience if you are willing to plan ahead make a commitment and - perhaps most importantly - be flexible It might take some adjustment to keep up with the short attention span and abundant energy of this age group but on the bright side they are quick to warm to new teachers On my second day volunteering I was already greeted with a resounding ldquoHi Miss Laurardquo upon entering the room I also spoke to a high school student who was just finishing up the two weeks of community service required to receive her diploma She was sure she would come back frequently even though she hadnrsquot originally planned to ldquoI donrsquot think I could leave these kidsrdquo she said with a smile

While ldquoLearning Through Playrdquo might appear spontaneous and carefree to an outside observer it is actually designed quite strategically

9

What kind of volunteer are you Take Oprah Winfreyrsquos Quiz to find out what kind of work suits you best

Take the

Quiz

Apply to Volunteer

Find openings

7

I spoke with Ms Turner during afternoon nap time and had to be careful not to raise my voice too far above a whisper The children were resting in separate cots as soft

music played in the background Silent and still like this they looked rather angelic But anyone who has raised a four year old will tell you that getting

twenty of them to calm down and rest at once is no small feat -- it takes a talented caregiver to orchestrate Dianne Turner has been working

with children at Kingdom House for over thirty-five years Shersquos been working with ages 3-5 in the ldquoblue roomrdquo (the designated color for this age group) for over twenty years She exudes an aura of practiced patience and love which enables her to observe understand and nurture each individual childrsquos distinct needs before they enter kindergarten

It seems that each year she becomes more adept at picking up on subtle cues from the children and learning to tailor to each individual

childrsquos strengths Before teaching pre-K Ms Turner worked in infant care When I asked her what was unique about working with this age

range she emphasized the rapid pace of developmental growth that occurs before Kindergarten When they first come in to the daycare says

Ms Turner they canrsquot hold a crayon properly because their hand muscles are not fully developed When asked to draw or write they will scribble with

shaky wavering lines But with daily practice writing drawing and completing arts and crafts projects these muscles strengthen Before you know it they have developed the fine motor skills to draw in a straight lines pay attention to details and create distinct letterforms This will give them a boost entering into elementary school

One of the mottos in Kingdom House daycare is ldquoLearning Through Playrdquo On the surface this sounds like little more than a nice arrangement of words If the kids are just playing some might ask then what kind of education are they receiving that they couldnrsquot get at home with their parents In fact while ldquoLearning Through Playrdquo might appear spontaneous and carefree to an outside observer it is actually designed quite strategically When I stopped by to observe in the morning the children were seated around the carpet with two children at a time circling around a small chair As Ms Turner cheered words of encouragement a tape played with upbeat music Accompanying this soundtrack a male voice would issue orders like ldquoWalkrdquo Skiprdquo ldquoHoprdquo ldquoRunrdquo and ldquoGalloprdquo When their turn came to circle the chair most of the children seemed to relish being the center of attention giggling profusely A captive audience created all the more incentive to follow the auditory instructions Eventually the disembodied voice would cease to issue orders leaving only the music associated with each motion to indicate the appropriate action Thus in one simple activity that looks an awful lot like recess the kids sharpen their gross motor skills while learning to listen follow instructions and work with a partner

Of course some skills are more urgent than others to develop before kindergarten - like letters numbers colors and writing - the building blocks to literacy Ms Turner takes special care to give more intensive attention to those who seem to have

Children at our accredited daycare receive a balanced breakfast lunch and snack

Controlled Chaos Interview with Ms Dianne Turner

8

difficulty in these areas without ever berating them or making them feel like they are somehow ldquoslowrdquo This way when she sends a group of children off to practice their home phone numbers and addresses while the rest of the children attack jigsaw puzzles it is just an activity like any other and they donrsquot feel that they are somehow being punished It is this kind of delicate yet persistent nurturing that helps young children to develop a love of learning rather than a resentment of it I am sure it must be physically taxing for Ms Turner to control and direct the unbridled energy of twenty-five kids all day long but thankfully she is not alone At any given time she is assisted by at least one other teacher whether that is Miss Startrice Miss Wendy Miss Porscia or Miss Natalie

When I asked Ms Turner for advice to new volunteers she suggested that everyone schedule a day to come in and observe the whole program like a fly in the wall intervening as little as possible from morning to afternoon This way yoursquoll get to learn the kidsrsquo names much faster and understand how to both encourage and discipline them Yoursquoll also get a better idea of what the daily routine feels like and what activities you might bring to the table to vary that routine I had been teaching art lessons for over a month before I finally stayed a full day and gained a much deeper understanding of the program after doing so Wherever your talents may lie - art music athletics cooking or gardening - you can add something to this experience if you are willing to plan ahead make a commitment and - perhaps most importantly - be flexible It might take some adjustment to keep up with the short attention span and abundant energy of this age group but on the bright side they are quick to warm to new teachers On my second day volunteering I was already greeted with a resounding ldquoHi Miss Laurardquo upon entering the room I also spoke to a high school student who was just finishing up the two weeks of community service required to receive her diploma She was sure she would come back frequently even though she hadnrsquot originally planned to ldquoI donrsquot think I could leave these kidsrdquo she said with a smile

While ldquoLearning Through Playrdquo might appear spontaneous and carefree to an outside observer it is actually designed quite strategically

9

What kind of volunteer are you Take Oprah Winfreyrsquos Quiz to find out what kind of work suits you best

Take the

Quiz

Apply to Volunteer

Find openings

8

difficulty in these areas without ever berating them or making them feel like they are somehow ldquoslowrdquo This way when she sends a group of children off to practice their home phone numbers and addresses while the rest of the children attack jigsaw puzzles it is just an activity like any other and they donrsquot feel that they are somehow being punished It is this kind of delicate yet persistent nurturing that helps young children to develop a love of learning rather than a resentment of it I am sure it must be physically taxing for Ms Turner to control and direct the unbridled energy of twenty-five kids all day long but thankfully she is not alone At any given time she is assisted by at least one other teacher whether that is Miss Startrice Miss Wendy Miss Porscia or Miss Natalie

When I asked Ms Turner for advice to new volunteers she suggested that everyone schedule a day to come in and observe the whole program like a fly in the wall intervening as little as possible from morning to afternoon This way yoursquoll get to learn the kidsrsquo names much faster and understand how to both encourage and discipline them Yoursquoll also get a better idea of what the daily routine feels like and what activities you might bring to the table to vary that routine I had been teaching art lessons for over a month before I finally stayed a full day and gained a much deeper understanding of the program after doing so Wherever your talents may lie - art music athletics cooking or gardening - you can add something to this experience if you are willing to plan ahead make a commitment and - perhaps most importantly - be flexible It might take some adjustment to keep up with the short attention span and abundant energy of this age group but on the bright side they are quick to warm to new teachers On my second day volunteering I was already greeted with a resounding ldquoHi Miss Laurardquo upon entering the room I also spoke to a high school student who was just finishing up the two weeks of community service required to receive her diploma She was sure she would come back frequently even though she hadnrsquot originally planned to ldquoI donrsquot think I could leave these kidsrdquo she said with a smile

While ldquoLearning Through Playrdquo might appear spontaneous and carefree to an outside observer it is actually designed quite strategically

9

What kind of volunteer are you Take Oprah Winfreyrsquos Quiz to find out what kind of work suits you best

Take the

Quiz

Apply to Volunteer

Find openings

9

What kind of volunteer are you Take Oprah Winfreyrsquos Quiz to find out what kind of work suits you best

Take the

Quiz

Apply to Volunteer

Find openings

10

Whatrsquos In Demand

Food Pantry

Daycare

Thrift Store

Boxers Briefs and Socks (New)

Construction Paper Gluesticks

Toiletries (Bathroom Tissue Soap Tampons)

Menrsquos Jeans (Good Condition)

Beads Yarn String Buttons

Spinach

Menrsquos Shoes (Sneakers and Dress Shoes)

Sculpey Clay

Jam

11

Daycare

Whatrsquos In Demand at the Thrift Store | Menswear

boxersbriefs

socks

sneakers

jeans

To donate clothing contact Andrea Dent at adentkingdomhouseorg

12

Whatrsquos In Demand at the Food Pantry | Groceries

fruit cupsjam

apple saucecanned spinach

chilicanned yams

pancake mixsyrup

11

Daycare

Whatrsquos In Demand at the Thrift Store | Menswear

boxersbriefs

socks

sneakers

jeans

To donate clothing contact Andrea Dent at adentkingdomhouseorg

12

Whatrsquos In Demand at the Food Pantry | Groceries

fruit cupsjam

apple saucecanned spinach

chilicanned yams

pancake mixsyrup

12

Whatrsquos In Demand at the Food Pantry | Groceries

fruit cupsjam

apple saucecanned spinach

chilicanned yams

pancake mixsyrup

Whatrsquos In Demand at the Food Pantry | Toiletries

bar soapbath tissue

deodoranttampons

loofahhand soap

body washshampoo

13

14

Whatrsquos In Demand at the Daycare | Art Supplies

Gluesticks

Yarn String

Pom-Poms

Buttons

construction paper

Sculpey Clay

Beads

To donate daycare supplies contact Christine Cannon ccannonkingdomhouseorg

felt squares

15

Whatrsquos In Demand at the Daycare | Activities

Picture Books (new)

Educational CDs

Math Lessons

Language Lessons

Puzzles

Tricycles

To volunteer contact Kenneth Pruitt at kpruittkingdomhouseorg

Music Lessons

Dance Lessons

16

Flashbacks

1962 Bouffants were real We also had a Womenrsquos Bowling League

1954 The first residents move into Pruitt Igoe which would ultimately fail due to lack of government sup-port

1902 Original Kingdom House Building

Founder of Kingdom House

Nurses Provide Medical Care

Charlottersquos Web was published in 1952 Here a teacher and student go over the story

17

1963 Kingdom House launches Program for Teenagers

1952 50th Anniversay CelebrationA little bit of reading at recess learning through play for over a century

1972 Boys dancing at Youth Social

18

Kidrsquos CornerMad Libs

Connect-the-dots

Crossword

19

Mad Libs Today I went to the zoo I saw a ____________(adjective)

_____________(noun) jumping up and down in its tree He

_____________(verb past tense) __________(adverb) through the

large tunnel that led to its __________(adjective)

__________(noun) I got some peanuts and passed them

through the cage to a gigantic gray __________(noun)

towering above my head Feeding that animal made me

hungry I went to get a __________(adjective) scoop of ice

cream It filled my stomach Afterwards I had to

__________(verb) __________ (adverb) to catch our bus When

I got home I __________(verb past tense) my mom for a

__________(adjective) day at the zoo

20

21

22

Summer Reading

14

Whatrsquos In Demand at the Daycare | Art Supplies

Gluesticks

Yarn String

Pom-Poms

Buttons

construction paper

Sculpey Clay

Beads

To donate daycare supplies contact Christine Cannon ccannonkingdomhouseorg

felt squares

15

Whatrsquos In Demand at the Daycare | Activities

Picture Books (new)

Educational CDs

Math Lessons

Language Lessons

Puzzles

Tricycles

To volunteer contact Kenneth Pruitt at kpruittkingdomhouseorg

Music Lessons

Dance Lessons

16

Flashbacks

1962 Bouffants were real We also had a Womenrsquos Bowling League

1954 The first residents move into Pruitt Igoe which would ultimately fail due to lack of government sup-port

1902 Original Kingdom House Building

Founder of Kingdom House

Nurses Provide Medical Care

Charlottersquos Web was published in 1952 Here a teacher and student go over the story

17

1963 Kingdom House launches Program for Teenagers

1952 50th Anniversay CelebrationA little bit of reading at recess learning through play for over a century

1972 Boys dancing at Youth Social

18

Kidrsquos CornerMad Libs

Connect-the-dots

Crossword

19

Mad Libs Today I went to the zoo I saw a ____________(adjective)

_____________(noun) jumping up and down in its tree He

_____________(verb past tense) __________(adverb) through the

large tunnel that led to its __________(adjective)

__________(noun) I got some peanuts and passed them

through the cage to a gigantic gray __________(noun)

towering above my head Feeding that animal made me

hungry I went to get a __________(adjective) scoop of ice

cream It filled my stomach Afterwards I had to

__________(verb) __________ (adverb) to catch our bus When

I got home I __________(verb past tense) my mom for a

__________(adjective) day at the zoo

20

21

22

Summer Reading

15

Whatrsquos In Demand at the Daycare | Activities

Picture Books (new)

Educational CDs

Math Lessons

Language Lessons

Puzzles

Tricycles

To volunteer contact Kenneth Pruitt at kpruittkingdomhouseorg

Music Lessons

Dance Lessons

16

Flashbacks

1962 Bouffants were real We also had a Womenrsquos Bowling League

1954 The first residents move into Pruitt Igoe which would ultimately fail due to lack of government sup-port

1902 Original Kingdom House Building

Founder of Kingdom House

Nurses Provide Medical Care

Charlottersquos Web was published in 1952 Here a teacher and student go over the story

17

1963 Kingdom House launches Program for Teenagers

1952 50th Anniversay CelebrationA little bit of reading at recess learning through play for over a century

1972 Boys dancing at Youth Social

18

Kidrsquos CornerMad Libs

Connect-the-dots

Crossword

19

Mad Libs Today I went to the zoo I saw a ____________(adjective)

_____________(noun) jumping up and down in its tree He

_____________(verb past tense) __________(adverb) through the

large tunnel that led to its __________(adjective)

__________(noun) I got some peanuts and passed them

through the cage to a gigantic gray __________(noun)

towering above my head Feeding that animal made me

hungry I went to get a __________(adjective) scoop of ice

cream It filled my stomach Afterwards I had to

__________(verb) __________ (adverb) to catch our bus When

I got home I __________(verb past tense) my mom for a

__________(adjective) day at the zoo

20

21

22

Summer Reading

16

Flashbacks

1962 Bouffants were real We also had a Womenrsquos Bowling League

1954 The first residents move into Pruitt Igoe which would ultimately fail due to lack of government sup-port

1902 Original Kingdom House Building

Founder of Kingdom House

Nurses Provide Medical Care

Charlottersquos Web was published in 1952 Here a teacher and student go over the story

17

1963 Kingdom House launches Program for Teenagers

1952 50th Anniversay CelebrationA little bit of reading at recess learning through play for over a century

1972 Boys dancing at Youth Social

18

Kidrsquos CornerMad Libs

Connect-the-dots

Crossword

19

Mad Libs Today I went to the zoo I saw a ____________(adjective)

_____________(noun) jumping up and down in its tree He

_____________(verb past tense) __________(adverb) through the

large tunnel that led to its __________(adjective)

__________(noun) I got some peanuts and passed them

through the cage to a gigantic gray __________(noun)

towering above my head Feeding that animal made me

hungry I went to get a __________(adjective) scoop of ice

cream It filled my stomach Afterwards I had to

__________(verb) __________ (adverb) to catch our bus When

I got home I __________(verb past tense) my mom for a

__________(adjective) day at the zoo

20

21

22

Summer Reading

17

1963 Kingdom House launches Program for Teenagers

1952 50th Anniversay CelebrationA little bit of reading at recess learning through play for over a century

1972 Boys dancing at Youth Social

18

Kidrsquos CornerMad Libs

Connect-the-dots

Crossword

19

Mad Libs Today I went to the zoo I saw a ____________(adjective)

_____________(noun) jumping up and down in its tree He

_____________(verb past tense) __________(adverb) through the

large tunnel that led to its __________(adjective)

__________(noun) I got some peanuts and passed them

through the cage to a gigantic gray __________(noun)

towering above my head Feeding that animal made me

hungry I went to get a __________(adjective) scoop of ice

cream It filled my stomach Afterwards I had to

__________(verb) __________ (adverb) to catch our bus When

I got home I __________(verb past tense) my mom for a

__________(adjective) day at the zoo

20

21

22

Summer Reading

18

Kidrsquos CornerMad Libs

Connect-the-dots

Crossword

19

Mad Libs Today I went to the zoo I saw a ____________(adjective)

_____________(noun) jumping up and down in its tree He

_____________(verb past tense) __________(adverb) through the

large tunnel that led to its __________(adjective)

__________(noun) I got some peanuts and passed them

through the cage to a gigantic gray __________(noun)

towering above my head Feeding that animal made me

hungry I went to get a __________(adjective) scoop of ice

cream It filled my stomach Afterwards I had to

__________(verb) __________ (adverb) to catch our bus When

I got home I __________(verb past tense) my mom for a

__________(adjective) day at the zoo

20

21

22

Summer Reading

19

Mad Libs Today I went to the zoo I saw a ____________(adjective)

_____________(noun) jumping up and down in its tree He

_____________(verb past tense) __________(adverb) through the

large tunnel that led to its __________(adjective)

__________(noun) I got some peanuts and passed them

through the cage to a gigantic gray __________(noun)

towering above my head Feeding that animal made me

hungry I went to get a __________(adjective) scoop of ice

cream It filled my stomach Afterwards I had to

__________(verb) __________ (adverb) to catch our bus When

I got home I __________(verb past tense) my mom for a

__________(adjective) day at the zoo

20

21

22

Summer Reading

20

21

22

Summer Reading

21

22

Summer Reading

22

Summer Reading

23

Summer Reading

24

Kingdom House is celebrating 110 years of empowering future generations in St Louis this year Join us for the Golf Tournament and Dinner Auction and celebrate as we come together for Kids Kingdom House and Community Kingdom House is a place where lives are truly changed - we provide hope to the hopeless and a future to those who have been told they have none We recognize that with internal change comes personal growth and with personal growth comes true life success

We are continually looking to add to the family of supporters who are truly looking to be a part of our change initiative Will you consider partnering with us to make a difference in the lives of individuals in our city

Included in the $300 Registration fee this year

18 holes of Golf and Cart at the Country Club of St

Albanrsquos $100

Nike Store item Your Choice Shoes Golf Bags Putter

Half Zip Wind Top Duffle Bag etc valued at $106

(suggested retail)

Lunch amp Drinks on Course $35

Dinner amp Drinks $60

Over $300 value

Golf and Dinner Auction Save the Date July 9th 2012 at the Country Club of St Albanrsquos

The 2012 Kingdom House Golf and Dinner Auction is July 9th You wonrsquot want to miss out on this amazing event for an incredible value We are coming together for Kids Kingdom House and Community

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

25

copyKingdom House 2012wwwkingdomhouseorg

All Rights Reserved

This book was set in Univers and Centaur Swash Capitals by the publisher and

printed in the United States of America

Laura Beckman is the Graphic Design Assistant at Kingdom House

For more information visit laurabeckmancom

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27