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

Thinking Readers

There is a difference between people who can read and people who THINK while they read. Parents always want to show-off with their child's reading level which is often obtained by doing a reading fluency test. But, who cares, what you can read, if while you are reading you are not thinking! I have come up with a list of questions to consider when talking with someone else about a book. Whether you are both reading it together or you are just wanting to know more. Sometimes the thing that is Good2Know is really what question to ask!

•   What do you think would happen in the sequel to this book? 

•   Would you enjoy reading other books by this author?

•   If you had the chance to meet the author of this book, what would you say?

• Have you ever experienced the same events or feelings that the main character did? Describe those feelings. 

• If you were the main character, what would you have done differently in the story?

• How would the story change if it took place in our town?

• What made the book interesting? 

• Is the character someone you’d like to have as a friend? Why or why not?

• If you were the author how would you have changed the ending? The beginning? Which other events would you have changed? 

• Did the story turn out the way you thought it would? Why or why not? 

What We Read in Book Club

Just thought I would post a few titles we read in our book club this past year. Today, my post on the Raising Arizona Kids website talks about book clubs. With today's technology like Skype, a book club can happen between friends in far off places! Our 2nd through 4th grade club read:

Dexter the Tough by Haddix

The Tale of Despereaux by Dicamillo

Clementine's Letter by Pennypacker

Rules by Lord

Gooney Bird is So Absurd by Lowery

All of these great titles can be found in my shop! I am now reading new titles for this year's club.

Do you have a great book for our book club which now goes through grade 5? Leave the title in the comments section below!

Best Summer Reads that are Good2Know!

We can't stop reading and thought you might like to know what we love!

Just Published - Strawberry Hill by Ann Hoberman (will be a 2009-2010 book club book)

Always a Favorite - Great Picture Books

Brown Bear, Brown Bear by Bill Martin

Old Turtle by Douglas Wood

Read Aloud Rhymes for the Very Young by Jack Prelutsky

My Daughter's Top 5 - for grades K-2

Mercy Watson series by Kate DiCamillo

Ramona series by Beverly Cleary

Gooney Bird Green by Lois Lowry

All of a Kind Family by Sidney Taylor

I'll Read to You, You Read to Me by Ann Hoberman

My son's Top 5 - for grades 2-6

Hank Zipzer series by Henry Winkler (that's right, the Fonz)

Robert and the Weird and Wacky Facts by Barbara Seuling

I Put a Spell on You by Adam Selzer

The Lemonade Club by Patricia Polacco

Rules by Cynthia Lord

Hot Teen Reads

Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass

Double Helix by Nancy Werlin

hostage by Willo Davis Roberts

Just One Wish by Janette Rallison

You can find all of these books in the ItsGood2Know shop which is on the top right corner of this blog!

Website Finds for Organizing!

Eric, my husband, volunteered to head to the grocery store this evening and I certainly would not want to stop him. He did need; however, a list and rather than start from scratch, I looked online to find a grocery list tool. Well, not only was I able to make my list, but I also found several other tools and ideas on this site that are useful. Generally, I try to steer clear of mass marketing sites, but this one is Good2Know! http://www.scottcommonsense.com I'll be sure to post other list making sites as I find them!

Today was an insightful one for I also found two other Good2Know sites to help me stay more organized.

One is for packing and I heard about it from another mom. I tried it out for our upcoming California trip and it is really neat! Give it a whirl at http://upl.codeq.info

Lastly, I am looking for a way to organize and keep track of my books. I had five minutes and came upon this site. I am just beginning to try it and you may like it, too! http://www.librarything.com

These sites seem Good2Know!