Area student in grades 3-5 will soon have a chance to improve their writing skills while visiting the Toledo Museum of Art. Beginning with the start of the 2016-2017 school year, The Museum’s Education Department, in cooperation with the Women’s Initiative of the United Way, is offering Word Shop, an activity-based program focusing on experiencing art and then writing about it. Students will participate in one of two writing opportunities—one involves viewing pieces of art, then analyzing and interpreting them, the other in developing and writing a narrative about works of art.

Mike Deetsch, Director of Education and Engagement at TMA, explains that the students will practice different kinds of writing, including writing opinion pieces based on objective observations, as well as descriptive and creative writing. Classroom teachers need no special training to enroll in the program, and the Museum will provide extensive resources to teachers for follow-up activities. The program will run Tuesdays-Fridays during the school year. Deetsch suggests that interested teachers contact Kate Blake at 419 255-8000, ext. 7240 for information about the program and related bus transportation to the Museum.

Parents looking for positive styles of discipline to deal with their children’s fights and tantrums are invited to attend the ACT: Raising Safe Kids class beginning May 17 and running until July 5 at the Children’s Resource Center in Bowling Green. The American Psychological Association endorses this free program that helps parents examine their disciplinary styles to choose one that  best fits their child. Research has shown that graduates of the course used less harsh discipline and benefitted from support of their classmates in the course. The class meets from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. each Tuesday, with a family meal first and childcare provided while parents are in the class. Kristen Junga at the CRC has more information at 419 352-7588 about the class and other offerings at the Center, whose mission is to provide child-centered, family-focused mental health and co-occurring mental health and substance abuse services to all Wood County and nearby families.