When children see books on a shelf, all the spines facing out, they are often overwhelmed. How do you choose? Which book is about firefighters? Is it my level? Does it have pictures?
One way I make books more appealing in my home and also at school is to have some books that only come out once a year. These "themed" books are usually on a holiday or seasonal topic. I like to take a special basket and place it in our living room. I fill it with books on that theme. Occasionally, I also stick in the basket a puzzle or game that also applies to the theme.
Right now, the baskets are changing in our house. We had one out for Halloween and autumn books and another for the election. The election basket had books that had anything to do with America. I included a puzzle of the Presidents I found in our toy room. Today, the first basket will be changed to Thanksgiving books. A few of the autumn books may stay.
I notice these themed baskets work wonders. Both my children and our guests (often adults) are drawn to looking through them. Our kids will often ask one of us to read the stories aloud even though they are both proficient readers. They love the fact we have been reading these stories annually for years.
Not sure you have enough books on a theme? No problem. First, make a decision to add one book a year to your collection. These books are enjoyable every year and will make a great collection to give to your grandchildren some day. You can also check-out library books on a theme. Ask the youth librarian to help you find both fiction and non-fiction stories for your family to enjoy.
You got the WRITE stuff!
A teacher friend of mine asked me the other day if I had a current list of ideas for aiding children in writing more at home. I thought I would share this post with some bullet-point ideas.
* Buy cool writing tools! - Don't you love a new pen? Children do, too. Whether it is short or chunk, colorful or glittery, having many different types of markers, pens, pencils and crayons on hand is sure to encourage more writing. I recently pulled out a retractable lead pencil for a friend's child when they needed to do their homework. They loved AND even wrote neater. Don't forget that great paper is fun, too.
* Use tech tools. Let your child write on the computer (where they can change-up the font or the size or the color! Using dictation software such as Dragon Speaks allows them to get their ideas down and they can return later to edit. There are new fonts available for dyslexics, too.
* The Family Journal - Grab a binder and some paper. Leave the journal in a place you frequent. Then, have each family member write or draw messages. This is especially great for the parent who works later to do with younger children. The child can leave their thoughts and the parent can respond and leave theirs. This gives you 4 outcomes: more writing, more reading, interaction and a journal to review when they are grown.
* Pass a Story - Write a sentence at the top of a piece of paper. Then, pass it to the person on your right. They read the first sentence and write the next. They pass again. Keep passing for a minimum of two rounds. What story did you create? Can't think of a story starter?
*Rainbow writing - Similar to Pass a story, but this time each new writer changes the color in which they are writing. My uncle once did an entire term paper this way. His teacher, yeah, not so pleased!
*Writing on the Walls - Use those bath crayons to write a story on the bath tub wall. Leave a question at the top of the tub. Then, watch as family members will enter the tub fully dressed to answer!
Sensational Sentences - Kids tend to write very simplistic sentences without detail. Here's one to play aloud to encourage better writing. In the car or at the table, start off a sentence. For example. The cat sat. Now, the next player must add 1or 2 words to make the sentence more interesting. The brown cat sat uneasily. This continues to the next player. The spotted brown wild cat sat uneasily. Play continues until no one can think of anything else to add to the sentence. The spotted brown wild cat sat uneasliy as is watched its prey advance towards it.
Write a list - Have your children help keep lists which also teaches them a form of organization. Whether they add to the family shopping list weekly or create a list of things that they would like to do this weekend.
Alphabet Writing - I'm Bored!? Not anymore. Write the alphabet down the side of a piece or paper and then choose a topic. Candy or veggies or boys names. Then, have them list one item on the topic for each letter. A= apples B= bananas and so forth. You can play this aloud, too, as a memory game.
There are some great board games that encourage writing development, too. Check out:
Scattergories Junior
Story Cubes
You've Been Sentenced (for grade 4 - 12)
Keep your eye on the blog as I will be adding some writing apps and online games in the coming weeks! Hope this helps your writer's block!
* Buy cool writing tools! - Don't you love a new pen? Children do, too. Whether it is short or chunk, colorful or glittery, having many different types of markers, pens, pencils and crayons on hand is sure to encourage more writing. I recently pulled out a retractable lead pencil for a friend's child when they needed to do their homework. They loved AND even wrote neater. Don't forget that great paper is fun, too.
* Use tech tools. Let your child write on the computer (where they can change-up the font or the size or the color! Using dictation software such as Dragon Speaks allows them to get their ideas down and they can return later to edit. There are new fonts available for dyslexics, too.
* The Family Journal - Grab a binder and some paper. Leave the journal in a place you frequent. Then, have each family member write or draw messages. This is especially great for the parent who works later to do with younger children. The child can leave their thoughts and the parent can respond and leave theirs. This gives you 4 outcomes: more writing, more reading, interaction and a journal to review when they are grown.
* Pass a Story - Write a sentence at the top of a piece of paper. Then, pass it to the person on your right. They read the first sentence and write the next. They pass again. Keep passing for a minimum of two rounds. What story did you create? Can't think of a story starter?
*Rainbow writing - Similar to Pass a story, but this time each new writer changes the color in which they are writing. My uncle once did an entire term paper this way. His teacher, yeah, not so pleased!
*Writing on the Walls - Use those bath crayons to write a story on the bath tub wall. Leave a question at the top of the tub. Then, watch as family members will enter the tub fully dressed to answer!
Sensational Sentences - Kids tend to write very simplistic sentences without detail. Here's one to play aloud to encourage better writing. In the car or at the table, start off a sentence. For example. The cat sat. Now, the next player must add 1or 2 words to make the sentence more interesting. The brown cat sat uneasily. This continues to the next player. The spotted brown wild cat sat uneasily. Play continues until no one can think of anything else to add to the sentence. The spotted brown wild cat sat uneasliy as is watched its prey advance towards it.
Write a list - Have your children help keep lists which also teaches them a form of organization. Whether they add to the family shopping list weekly or create a list of things that they would like to do this weekend.
Alphabet Writing - I'm Bored!? Not anymore. Write the alphabet down the side of a piece or paper and then choose a topic. Candy or veggies or boys names. Then, have them list one item on the topic for each letter. A= apples B= bananas and so forth. You can play this aloud, too, as a memory game.
There are some great board games that encourage writing development, too. Check out:
Scattergories Junior
Story Cubes
You've Been Sentenced (for grade 4 - 12)
Keep your eye on the blog as I will be adding some writing apps and online games in the coming weeks! Hope this helps your writer's block!
Best Thing EVER...
Yup, I gave my mother a terrible time when she bought hers on QVC over a year ago. But when I saw those babies in a two pack at Costco, I knew they had to be mine!
The Huglight is a Good2Know item. I am, in fact, using it right now as I sit in complete darkness writing this blog in the night. Wrapped casually around your neck, the light has a single or double white light option. This is also a 3-way bulb going from dim to super bright. You can click again for a red light option allowing you to not lose your night vision. It is light and padded. I actually walked around the house last night forgetting I had it on.
Now, I know so many readers are glass half empty types. They are saying things like - I already own a book light. Or - my flashlight works just fine. Hello?? This is hands-free. I can read my first generation (aka non-back-lit) Kindle with just one dim light pointing at the page. I can head into the bathroom in the night. I could walk my dog, if I had one, and still see where I am going. I am positive the uses are endless and these lights allow others to be undisturbed by your light.
So, now you probably are all heading to Costco to pick these up and I encourage you to do so. However, if you usually receive a holiday gift from me, I would appreciate you pretending you never read this blog and just receive it with a smile. Oh and mom, I am sorry I made fun of your neck lights - they are Good2Know!
Share the VOTE with your KIDS!
I very much remember heading to polling places with my parents each election. I also remember mock-elections in school beginning when I was in kindergarten and we cast our votes for either President Jimmy Carter or President Ronald Reagan. Each time, my parents would remind me why it was important to vote. I thought, in my little girl mind, that I might someday become the first, Jewish woman president. Now, my daughter carries that dream.
Later, I became very fascinated with history. I attended college at a small, women's school in upstate New York, a school that not only had buildings on the Underground Railroad, but also educated Suffragists. Voting meant expressing your voice. It meant fulfilling a right that, through my education I knew, had been no easy battle to win. It also was not a right in so many places around the world.
Now, I am by no means going to tell you, dear reader, who to vote for though I sure would like to do that. Instead, I am merely going to encourage you to bring your children to vote. Or encourage you to show them your mail-in ballot. I hope you will explain how our government works and why no vote is unimportant. Most importantly, I hope that no matter who wins on November 6th, this year or any year, you will share with your children the importance and the excitement of playing a role in selecting a leader who shares the beliefs you share.
Here are some links to great information on voting and government to share with children. I hope you enjoy them with your kids in the coming weeks. Don't forget: VOTE!
Suffragists
African-American History of voting
How to Become the President
Voting for Kids
School House Rock song
Vote for Somebody song
Great link to books on elections
Later, I became very fascinated with history. I attended college at a small, women's school in upstate New York, a school that not only had buildings on the Underground Railroad, but also educated Suffragists. Voting meant expressing your voice. It meant fulfilling a right that, through my education I knew, had been no easy battle to win. It also was not a right in so many places around the world.
Now, I am by no means going to tell you, dear reader, who to vote for though I sure would like to do that. Instead, I am merely going to encourage you to bring your children to vote. Or encourage you to show them your mail-in ballot. I hope you will explain how our government works and why no vote is unimportant. Most importantly, I hope that no matter who wins on November 6th, this year or any year, you will share with your children the importance and the excitement of playing a role in selecting a leader who shares the beliefs you share.
Here are some links to great information on voting and government to share with children. I hope you enjoy them with your kids in the coming weeks. Don't forget: VOTE!
Suffragists
African-American History of voting
How to Become the President
Voting for Kids
School House Rock song
Vote for Somebody song
Great link to books on elections
Super simple - YOU can make them in the MORNING- muffins
I find it difficult to find something satisfying for everyone on school days. My son, if he had his druthers, would eat mid-morning and is, instead, forced to eat before school. My daughter, well, she likes variety, eating a different breakfast almost daily. What they both have in common is often needing something quick to eat that can travel with them. These very simple banana muffins are great with a piece of fruit on the drive to school.
Since I am not organized and lack the desire to prepare lunches at night, I wake early to get them ready. When I have browning bananas, I add these to the day. I preheat the oven as soon as I wake. I mix the batter and put them into bake while I make lunches. They are so simple that by the time the kids make it downstairs, the muffins are ready to roll.
Super Simple YOU can make them in the MORNING muffins!
1/3 cup melted margarine
about 3 soft bananas
3/4 cup of sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. cinnamon
Enjoy Life mini chocolate chips, to your liking
Preheat your oven to 375. Place muffin wrappers into your muffin tins - this recipe makes 12.
Melt margarine in the microwave - cover to avoid splatter. Let it sit.
Throw bananas into your KitchenAid or other mixer. Mash the bananas and slowly add the sugar. Add the egg and blend well. Now, add your dry ingredients while the mixer is on low. Finally, add the margarine. Once the batter is smooth, remove mixing bowl from mixer. Now, with a rubber spatula, stir in the chocolate chips to your liking.
Use a ice cream scoop to neatly scoop batter into the muffin tins. Place in the oven for about 18 minutes. Let them cool for a couple of minutes. They will stay nicely in a sealed container for a couple of days, but only if they last that long. YUM!
Since I am not organized and lack the desire to prepare lunches at night, I wake early to get them ready. When I have browning bananas, I add these to the day. I preheat the oven as soon as I wake. I mix the batter and put them into bake while I make lunches. They are so simple that by the time the kids make it downstairs, the muffins are ready to roll.
Super Simple YOU can make them in the MORNING muffins!
1/3 cup melted margarine
about 3 soft bananas
3/4 cup of sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. cinnamon
Enjoy Life mini chocolate chips, to your liking
Preheat your oven to 375. Place muffin wrappers into your muffin tins - this recipe makes 12.
Melt margarine in the microwave - cover to avoid splatter. Let it sit.
Throw bananas into your KitchenAid or other mixer. Mash the bananas and slowly add the sugar. Add the egg and blend well. Now, add your dry ingredients while the mixer is on low. Finally, add the margarine. Once the batter is smooth, remove mixing bowl from mixer. Now, with a rubber spatula, stir in the chocolate chips to your liking.
Use a ice cream scoop to neatly scoop batter into the muffin tins. Place in the oven for about 18 minutes. Let them cool for a couple of minutes. They will stay nicely in a sealed container for a couple of days, but only if they last that long. YUM!
The Tale of the Unpatient Patient
I am pretty sure G-d is trying to help me learn patience and to slow down a little this year. This has become clear in many experiences I have had recently and yesterday was no exception.
I made the decision yesterday, when I was home taking care of my daughter who is ill, to run to urgent care to get 'checked' out. I had a little bit of ear pain and a little sore throat. No need to go through the hassle of heading to my primary care physician.
Now, for those who know me, you know I am sincerely serious about healthcare and doctors. I take my kids often and only to the best providers.
Mind you, I have a brilliant physician who I can see anytime at the Mayo Clinic. Yep, I was too lazy to go through the hassle of driving for great care. Here's the play-by-play:
Call new local hospital run urgent care that I could literally walk to in order to determine the wait time.
Man at urgent care assures me that after paperwork it is a 10 minute wait - tops!
Excited, I rush out the door and within moments pull into the center.
I introduce myself as the "lady who just called" and I am given the obligatory clip board. I hand over my license and health card while I complete the paperwork. Impressed that they have asked for my pharmacy, I return the clipboard and begin to wait.
Waiting - no one is in the waiting room.
Waiting - yeah, not 10 minutes.
Waiting - someone leaves - I imagine I will be called...
"Are you ready?" girl in black at door asks.
Wait, shouldn't you say, "Raquel" or "Miss" or "Ma'am?"
I procede to the room where she asks if I have a sore throat. Just a little, I reply. She is determined to do a strep test. She hands me tissues with the words, "Just in case."
Just in case, what? I think. She has a difficult time opening the swab and procedes to swipe my throat. OUCH! Yes, I now have a sore throat!
Girl in black leaves. 30 minutes pass. I read all news updates on my phone. I text my dear husband to let him know I should have gone to Mayo. Huge banging comes from the room next door. Sounds like a jack hammer.
New woman in black who has a loud East coast accent enters. "Yeah," she says, "We're switching, cause she went on break."
Great! She now very loudly proceeds to take my history and inquire why the girl in black did the strep culture. She likes to do those, she mentions casually. This takes a good 15 minutes during which time she complains about the slow computer she is using. She also needs me to spell the names of the drugs I take regularly. Really??
I am beginning to consider in my head that if the doctor enters and is at all creepy, I will just leave and get a refund some other time. I am brought out of my thoughts by the loud banging which has returned. I inquire if there is construction.
"Nope, " says the medical assistant. "That's just Dominoe's pizza next door. You should be here when they are cooking pizzas. It stinks!"
She leaves. Dr. C. comes in. Badda bing, badda bang, he determines it is a sinus infection. Poor guy, you can just tell he'd rather be somewhere else. He tells me he will email in my script to my pharmacy and it will be ready in the hour.
Yeah, that would be true if the intake guy had actually recorded my full hyphenated name (which is on my paperwork, insurance card and ID) and not just entered me with my husband's last name. Six hours later, and many phone calls to clarify things, I received my meds.
Lesson Learned: Patience really is a virtue. When you are patient, good things come to you, like quality care. When you want 10 minutes, it not only takes longer, but it is LOUD and full of BANGING!
I made the decision yesterday, when I was home taking care of my daughter who is ill, to run to urgent care to get 'checked' out. I had a little bit of ear pain and a little sore throat. No need to go through the hassle of heading to my primary care physician.
Now, for those who know me, you know I am sincerely serious about healthcare and doctors. I take my kids often and only to the best providers.
Mind you, I have a brilliant physician who I can see anytime at the Mayo Clinic. Yep, I was too lazy to go through the hassle of driving for great care. Here's the play-by-play:
Call new local hospital run urgent care that I could literally walk to in order to determine the wait time.
Man at urgent care assures me that after paperwork it is a 10 minute wait - tops!
Excited, I rush out the door and within moments pull into the center.
I introduce myself as the "lady who just called" and I am given the obligatory clip board. I hand over my license and health card while I complete the paperwork. Impressed that they have asked for my pharmacy, I return the clipboard and begin to wait.
Waiting - no one is in the waiting room.
Waiting - yeah, not 10 minutes.
Waiting - someone leaves - I imagine I will be called...
"Are you ready?" girl in black at door asks.
Wait, shouldn't you say, "Raquel" or "Miss" or "Ma'am?"
I procede to the room where she asks if I have a sore throat. Just a little, I reply. She is determined to do a strep test. She hands me tissues with the words, "Just in case."
Just in case, what? I think. She has a difficult time opening the swab and procedes to swipe my throat. OUCH! Yes, I now have a sore throat!
Girl in black leaves. 30 minutes pass. I read all news updates on my phone. I text my dear husband to let him know I should have gone to Mayo. Huge banging comes from the room next door. Sounds like a jack hammer.
New woman in black who has a loud East coast accent enters. "Yeah," she says, "We're switching, cause she went on break."
Great! She now very loudly proceeds to take my history and inquire why the girl in black did the strep culture. She likes to do those, she mentions casually. This takes a good 15 minutes during which time she complains about the slow computer she is using. She also needs me to spell the names of the drugs I take regularly. Really??
I am beginning to consider in my head that if the doctor enters and is at all creepy, I will just leave and get a refund some other time. I am brought out of my thoughts by the loud banging which has returned. I inquire if there is construction.
"Nope, " says the medical assistant. "That's just Dominoe's pizza next door. You should be here when they are cooking pizzas. It stinks!"
She leaves. Dr. C. comes in. Badda bing, badda bang, he determines it is a sinus infection. Poor guy, you can just tell he'd rather be somewhere else. He tells me he will email in my script to my pharmacy and it will be ready in the hour.
Yeah, that would be true if the intake guy had actually recorded my full hyphenated name (which is on my paperwork, insurance card and ID) and not just entered me with my husband's last name. Six hours later, and many phone calls to clarify things, I received my meds.
Lesson Learned: Patience really is a virtue. When you are patient, good things come to you, like quality care. When you want 10 minutes, it not only takes longer, but it is LOUD and full of BANGING!
Never Miss a Teacher Conference!
When I first became a classroom teacher, I was only 22 years old and a real newbie. I was assigned to an inclusive 5th grade public school classroom. It was awesome! What I learned immediately was the importance of constant contact (I should have coined that name) with parents. While I made an effort to call 2 or 3 families each week, this was before emails were commonplace, to check-in and report some "good" stuff about their kiddos, I learned the most at conferences. Parents would share in person how they learned as kids, their fears about their children, their pride in their children and they would share what was working and what was not. These conferences taught me to be a better observer and listener. It was what brought us together to be on the same team for this child. I have always said - every child needs a cheerleader - that is the parents job, while mine was to coach.
Turn the tables, I am now the mother of two super fabulous and smart children. I am also a school administrator and my primary role is to understand how each student is progressing in our school. I think now, more than ever, when most contact is not in-person, parent/teacher conferences are even more necessary. It is the time when parents can learn just where their child stands as a learner and where a parent can show the teacher that they are playing on the same team. Here are some questions you may want to pose at your child's upcoming conference:
*How does my child get along with others? Who are his/her friends?
*What books and games would be great for my child? What does my child like to read?
*What can we do at home to better support his/her learning?
*Are there examples of my child's work?
*Does my child behave in an age appropriate manner? Do they perform on grade level?
*What is my child's learning style?
*What do you see as his/her strengths?
*What is one area you are wanting hi/her to have as a goal this year?
*Is there anything I am not asking about that I should know about?
Come prepared for your child's conference. If you feel you are cut short, ask for a follow-up meeting. It is important to understand how your child is learning and how you can support them. Great teachers will appreciate your preparation and be happy to answer your questions.
Got other great questions for conferences that you think are Good2Know? Post them in the comments!
Turn the tables, I am now the mother of two super fabulous and smart children. I am also a school administrator and my primary role is to understand how each student is progressing in our school. I think now, more than ever, when most contact is not in-person, parent/teacher conferences are even more necessary. It is the time when parents can learn just where their child stands as a learner and where a parent can show the teacher that they are playing on the same team. Here are some questions you may want to pose at your child's upcoming conference:
*How does my child get along with others? Who are his/her friends?
*What books and games would be great for my child? What does my child like to read?
*What can we do at home to better support his/her learning?
*Are there examples of my child's work?
*Does my child behave in an age appropriate manner? Do they perform on grade level?
*What is my child's learning style?
*What do you see as his/her strengths?
*What is one area you are wanting hi/her to have as a goal this year?
*Is there anything I am not asking about that I should know about?
Come prepared for your child's conference. If you feel you are cut short, ask for a follow-up meeting. It is important to understand how your child is learning and how you can support them. Great teachers will appreciate your preparation and be happy to answer your questions.
Got other great questions for conferences that you think are Good2Know? Post them in the comments!
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