June 2012 Holidays and Activities

1st–Children’s Day–This holiday is celebrated around the world in many countries, such as: Bulgaria, China, Kazakhstan, and Russia.

5th–Constitution Day (or Independence Day) in Denmark– About, Kid Stuff, Author Hans Christian Anderson

14^th—Flag Day USA–http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/flag-day/index.html

15^th—Fly a kite day (Ben Franklin’s experiment in 1752)–Make one like Ben’s

Read a book review and check out a book about Kite Flying–http://bonniesbooks.blogspot.com/2010/04/kite-flying-by-grace-lin-2002.html

Other kite making links: http://www.my-best-kite.com/how-to-make-a-kite.html

http://www.skratch-pad.com/kites/make.html

3^rd Sunday—Father’s Day –(History of Father’s Day lesson and craft)

And, check out these articles, books, and links especially for dads!

 

No Normal Children

By: Delana H. Stewart

There are no normal children.

Show me a normal child, and I will show you a child who has areas in which he/she excels and areas in which he/she would benefit from modifications or additional help or tutoring.

Are there children with high IQ, low IQ, and average IQ? Yes. But I would ask what intelligences are being tested/measured of the many possible types of intelligence? And tested by whom and with what assessment tool? And tested under what conditions?

Though Dr. Linda K. Silverman talks about the value of assessments and assessment tools, in her book Upside-Down Brilliance: The Visual-Spatial Learner, she says “Each child is different. Each one needs to be seen within the context of his or her family history, life experiences, strengths and weaknesses, passions and frustrations, to determine if learning differences are actually learning disabilities” (p. 165).

In order for all children of differing learning styles and differing strengths to succeed in a limited environment like a typical classroom, those for whom the classroom and method of instruction are not designed may need a diagnosis in order to get them the services and assistance to be successful in that environment.

Imagine if someone had designed the public school system around the musically gifted? Or, what about a school system designed around the Visual-spatial Learner or the right-hemispheric learner? Those of us not wired that way would need to be labeled learning disabled in order to receive modified assignments or therapy or at least tutoring to help us succeed in that unfamiliar, uncomfortable, or ill-suited environment.

I believe that testing and assessment is actually a good tool to help children be successful in a classroom environment. However, parents and teachers need to help children recognize, understand, utilize, and value their strengths, not just understand their weaknesses and how to compensate for them.

If you would like to read about the various kinds of intelligence, check out:

• 2June 26, 2010Multiple Intelligences: How Does Your Child Think?

If you would like to read more about Visual-Spatial Learners and right-brained learners, check out:

• 0March 1, 2012Unforgettable Math (Snapshots of a VSL #2)

• 8January 14, 2012Snapshots of a VSL #1

• 0June 13, 2011Moving Education from Potential to Kinetic: Helping Right-brain Learners and Others who learn differently

 

 

Monkey See, Monkey Do

“I saw my dad do exercises every morning when I was growing up.  What do I do for 20 minutes every morning?  Exercises.  I saw my mom take her thrice weekly walks, and now I choose to walk two miles a day for school instead of taking a taxi.  I am thankful that my husband jogs every other day.  My kids see that and want to jog, too.”          –Mary H    

  Here are some ideas for helping your family become more fit:

1. In-home physical fitness routines: including jumping jacks, sit ups, tumbling

2. In home work out videos, such as Tae Bo, dance, or others.

3. Swimming

4. Working out in a local gym and swimming pool (or hotel/apartment fitness center)

5. Playing sports, such as Basketball, Baseball, Cricket, Soccer

6. Tree climbing, rope climbing, wall climbing, rock climbing

7. Children challenging their parents to a certain level of fitness improvement

8. Cycling and Hiking as a family

9. Jogging and Walking

10. Taking Tae Kwon Do or Karate lessons

11. Stair Climbing (as exercise)

12. Skating, “Scootering”

13. Working out with free weights (engage your kids in making their own weights)

14. Tennis, Badminton, Volleyball

15. Designate 1-2 times a week to gather at the park as a family (or families) for Frisbee, Basketball, etc.

 

CBD has fitness videos for kids and adults ranging in price from $7.99-18.99.  Amazon.com also has a large variety ranging from $4.99 and up.

Here are some additional fitness ideas:

 

Did you know that 5 minutes of stair climbing burns approximately 144 calories?

 

Standing burns 36 calories per hour.  (Forget the time-out chair…let’s go back to standing in a corner!—If it burns calories….just think of the extra excess energy it will burn on a three year old! 

Stop looking for the empty bus seat….just think about what the extra standing will do for you!

 

Great P.E. assignment:  Kids wash the car (or family washes the car). I actually read this on a fitness site.

This link from Australia has some great articles on kids and fitness:

 

http://www.healthinsite.gov.au/topics/Exercise_for_Children

 

 

 

May 2012 Holidays and Activities

1^st Thursday—National Day of Prayerhttp://www.ndptf.org/--healing for the nation

May 1st–May Day and Dancing around a Maypole

May 5^th—Cinco de Mayo http://www.kinderart.com/multic/poncho.shtml

May 7^th—Teacher Day

May 10^th—Clean your room day

2^nd Sunday—Mother’s Day http://www.kinderart.com/seasons/mothersday.shtml

May 15^th—Chocolate Chip Day http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/May/chocolatechipday.htm

3^rd Saturday—Armed Forces Day

May 24^th—Brother’s Day

Last Monday—Memorial Day http://www.usmemorialday.org/activities/

May 25^th—Ascension Day –Meaning and traditions as celebrated in the UK

Graduation Crafts http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/graduation/

5 Stages of Speech Development

Do you ever wonder how your pre-school or elementary child is progressing in terms of speech? Here are five basic stages of speech development:

Stage 1: By Age 2 ½ to age 3, child should have mastered:   p, m, n, w, h

Stage 2: By Age 3 ½ to age 4, child should have mastered:  b*, d*, k, g, f, y

Stage 3: By Age 5-6, child should have mastered:  t, ing, r, l

Stage 4: By age 7, child should have mastered: voiceless th, sh, ch, j

Stage 5: By age 8, child should have mastered: voiced th, v, s, zh

* This is the sound bee and dee (not ba and da—for these, see below);

For more information on voiced and voiceless sounds, check out the following link:

http://www.uiowa.edu/%7Eacadtech/phonetics/#

Also, check out the Book Reviews page on The Education Café site for great book and dvd resources for speech.

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Here are some tongue twister exercises to improve problem consonants:  Mouth Workout– http://speechtherapy.ygoy.com/2010/09/18/tongue-twisters-for-kids/

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For an extensive list of speech development activities for birth – 6 years, check out the information on this link:

http://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/Parent-Stim-Activities.htm

Some of the many things they suggest are:

Ages birth – 2:

• Encourage him to make vowel and consonant sounds by repeating his attempt so say, ‘ba,’ ‘ma,’ ‘da’;
• Expand on single words your baby uses: “Here is Mama. Mama loves you. Where is baby? Here is baby.”

Ages 2-4:

• Use good speech that is clear and simple for your child to model.
• Ask questions that require a choice. “Do you want an apple or an orange?” “Do you want to wear your red or blue shirt?”
• Repeat what your child says indicating that you understand. Build and expand on what was said. “Want juice? I have juice. I have apple juice. Do you want apple juice?”

Ages 4-6:

• When your child starts a conversation, give your full attention whenever possible.
• Make sure that you have your child’s attention before you speak.
• Encourage your child to give directions. Follow his or her directions as he or she explains how to build a tower of blocks.

©1997-2007 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

7 Virtues for Kids

A review of: Light Their Fire for God: 7 Powerful Virtues for Your Kids By Anne and David Harper

Review by Elizabeth G

This is a great book to read for any parent.  It encourages many things we all know but it’s good to have it repeated. Their virtues are based on 2 Peter 1:5-7.

These virtues are:

1. 1. The power to obey what is right in God’s eyes. (moral excellence/goodness) UP
2. 2. The power to gain spiritual insight from God’s word. (knowledge) UP
3. 3. The power to control the flesh so that the Spirit reigns. (self-control) IN
4. 4. The power to rejoice through tribulation (perseverance) IN
5. 5. The power to please Him in all things (godliness) IN
6. 6. The power to accept and forgive (brotherly kindness) OUT
7. 7. The power to serve God & others (love) OUT

He devotes a chapter to each virtue.  Here are some of the highlights that I gleaned from some of them.  He says our kids need to first look UP (towards God), then IN (at ourselves) and then OUT (towards others).

Self-control: we don’t’ have to “muster” up self-control.  It is a result of being focused on the Spirit.  The love of Christ control us as we set our mind on Him (2 Cor. 5:14)

The flesh will always have opportunities to sin; we must create opportunities for the Spirit.

Sin is crouching at the door (Gen. 4:5-7)

Their weapons are: Bible (Ps. 119:11), Prayer (Matt. 26: 38, 40-41) and Faith (1 Tim. 6:12).

Perseverance: “remaining behind, patiently enduring”.  Remember Joseph (Gen. 45 & 50)–In life there are two guarantees: 1) life is hard, 2) God is sufficient.  Memorize James 1:2-4, 12.

Godliness: Worship is the magnifying glass that ignites the power of God in our lives.  Worship involves everything we say, think or do.  Sacrifice reveals our deep down attitudes and motives for doing everything.  When you learn to sacrifice your own desires and love, worship and obey God, you will learn that intimacy with God is more important than anything else. (1Tim. 4:7-8)

Brotherly kindness: (Rom. 12:10).  1. Acceptance of others–not tolerance of their beliefs or taking them as your own.  2. Availability – to God first, then family and He will show you the rest.  3. Accountability – find someone you can trust completely to encourage you and pray with you.

Love: (John 13:34-35) phileo love – comes from a pure soul (mind, will, emotions).  Agape love – comes from a pure heart (inner spirit controlled by the Holy Spirit).  When we have both of these loves we will want to know Jesus and make Him known. Rev. 2:3-5.

Tick-Tock Parenting

Timer Tips for Parenting and Homeschooling

by: Delana S

Tip # 1:  Math Motivation—If your child struggles with math (not necessarily correctness, but speed—and staying on task) then try this technique.  Start with a row of problems from the homework assignment.   Block out with a separate sheet of paper the rest of the page.  Time your child completing one problem.  Then, set the timer for the appropriate time for him to complete the rest of the problems on that row.  See if he can beat the time.  No reward is necessary!  Kids love to break their own records!  As he improves at this, set the timer for him to complete 2 rows of the homework page.  Then later, set the timer for the whole page.  If he can’t stay focused with that much, back up to timing a shorter portion.

Tip # 2:  Mom on the Phone—Do you have a young child who likes to “need” you right when you get on the phone?  If the child is 4-8 years old this trick should work.  Tell “Suzy” that anytime you are on the phone when she “needs” you, that she should bring you the timer.  You will set the timer for a beforehand agreed upon time (like 5-10 minutes) and she will wait quietly for you (often watching the timer) until the timer dings.  This should be enough time to handle the phone call and arrange a call back time.  Then, when the timer dings, give Suzy your undivided attention.  Kids like to feel some control and feel totally helpless when you cannot give them your attention.  For the 7-8 year old, you may be able to set the timer for 15-20 minutes.  After awhile, Suzy will forget all about bringing you the timer when you are on the phone.  This technique really worked with our youngest son.  It saved some embarrassing moments on the telephone and gave me the opportunity to take calls peacefully.  This may even work for teaching moments.  Try setting it for 20-30 minute teaching periods.

Tip # 3:  A Change of Pace. Are you having difficulty motivating a particular child?  Or, perhaps, one child is having difficulty with one particular subject?  Time to change the routine! This really works.  Try putting the difficult subject first.  Being less tired can help a difficult subject seem easier.  Sometimes just changing the subjects around can be just what it takes.  One time my husband told our teens and preteen about the time he used to work 4 ten-hour days.  He gave them the option of having school 4 days a week (if they could get it all done) and taking a 3-day weekend.  This brought the motivation high for the last two months of that school year.  It can be good for a period of time to try something different.