The name, also spelled paw paw, paw-paw, and papaw, probably derives from the Spanish papaya, perhaps because of the superficial similarity of their fruit. Pawpaw has numerous other common names, often very local, such as prairie banana, Indiana (Hoosier) banana, West Virginia banana, Kansas banana, Kentucky banana, Michigan banana, Missouri Banana, the poor man's banana, and Ozark banana.

The earliest documentation of pawpaws is in the 1541 report of the de Soto expedition, who found Native Americans cultivating it east of the Mississippi River. The Lewis and Clark Expedition depended and sometimes subsisted on pawpaws during their travels. Chilled pawpaw fruit was a favorite dessert of George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson was certainly familiar with it as he planted it at Monticello. The Ohio Pawpaw Growers' Association lobbied for the pawpaw to be the Ohio state native fruit in 2006; this was made official in 2009.

Growers hope that potential medical use will eventually lead to increased market demand from the pharmaceutical industry. The seeds also have insecticidal properties. Some Native American tribes dry and powder them and apply the powder to children's heads to control lice; specialized shampoos now use compounds from pawpaw for the same purpose. While it is not meant to replace conventional cancer treatments, pawpaw extract is currently investigated as an alternative cancer treatment alongside conventional and approved treatments, partly due to inhibition of ATP production by acetogenins.

SEE ONE !  There is a kookaburra at the Lincoln Park Zoo.  Since it's too cold to head to the zoo, follow this link to see it and learn more about it.  http://www.lpzoo.org/factsheet.php?contentID=121  (*I checked with the Brookfield Zoo, and sadly they have informed me that they do not have a kookaburra.)

HEAR ONE!  This short YouTube video is a great clip of the silly, laughing call of the kookaburra.   

READ ABOUT ONE!  A kookaburra is featured in Magic Tree House #20, Dingoes at Dinnertime by Mary Pope Osborne.  The Kookaburra Song that we are singing in class is part of the text in the book!

Enjoy!  Mary

Music Together^®® is a fantastic early childhood music and movement program! I know this first-hand, not only as a teacher for 8+ years but also as the mother of a son who benefited from its curriculum. The impact of learning rhythm, movement, and melodies on a young child’s brain is well-researched.  In these classes I have watched as babies grew up into toddlers and then into preschoolers. I have seen these babies sing the resting tone, I have heard preschoolers sing entire songs in tune and I have followed the beat-tapping feet of a toddler as he circled around the room. These are only some of the musical milestones that I’ve had the opportunity to witness in my classroom.

But over the years I have also seen children in my classes with challenges that simply made the classes too difficult for them to manage week after week.  Sometimes I suspected that the transitions happened too quickly for them, and in other situations I could see that sound sensitivity was causing discomfort as a child had to leave the room for the loud or high-pitched songs.  Maybe the group was too large for some. Many of these children were simply unable to continue with class.

This always upset me. I believe that Music Together is a class for everyone, after all it is called music together. I wanted to be able to support those families but lacked the knowledge and expertise to do so. I didn’t even know where to start.

This past year I was approached by a mother from one of our classes in Andersonville. Her name is Jordan Sadler, MS, CCC-SLP, director of Communication Therapy P.C. She’d seen children in her Andersonville Music Together class with some of these challenges. She also knew from her experience in the field, that music classes for kids like these were a void that needed to be filled. So, she came to me with an idea for a class.

After months of discussing and working out the details with Jordan and Music Together headquarters, the outcome is a brand new class for ages 0-5 that will be taught by Communication Therapy associate, Laura Allison, MA, CCC-SLP. In addition to her work as a speech-language pathologist, Laura has completed the intensive Music Together^® training and will be combining her clinical skills with her musical ability to teach this class.

Here is the official class description:

MIXED AGE – Supportive Environment
This Mixed Age Supportive Environment Music Together^® class will offer increased support to children exhibiting regulation disorders, speech issues, sensory processing disorders or developmental delays. They will attend alongside their typically developing siblings. Adaptations will be made so that each child can participate to the best of his or her ability. The instructor will use visual aids to accompany music and activities, adjusting sensory input as needed to maximize the engagement and enjoyment of each child. Communication between parents and the instructor will provide parents with strategies to increase engagement and participation of their children. It is our goal to offer an experience rich in music, movement and interaction in a fun and supportive environment.

I am excited to present another option for Merry Music Makers’ families. The 10-week class will start in January at the Communication Therapy clinic on Saturday mornings. If you or someone you know are interested in this class, please visit the registration page at the Merry Music Makers website!  Registration opens on Monday, November 16.

Article and Featured Video from the Music Together Fall 2009 Family Newsletter:

What a beautiful rendition of "Apples and Cherries," sung by four-year-old Esther Kassel. And what fun to sing with your ears under water! Preschoolers not only love silliness; it facilitates their learning, too. To extend the learning with the "Apples and Cherries" song, try this idea:

Substitute the funniest or most disgusting ice cream flavors possible for vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry! Your preschooler will be sure to come up with some great ones. How about:

There are 9 MT collections that span three years and are filled with unique songs.  These songs are specifically chosen to help develop audiation and stimulate the young child's music development.  The winter session features the Drum Collection.  Here are some other reasons to choose Merry Music Makers:   

It's fun and there will be all new songs and activities for families to enjoy.

 

We commend families for choosing Merry Music Makers and Music Together for their child's musical development.  When families return to our classes again and again, we see those children exhibiting more musical behaviors in class and adults see more happening at home.  And that is something to celebrate!!

 

Mary