Oh, joy, it's summertime! Now I get to have fun with my own kids!
The super-hot days have arrived, and the girls and I have been hiding out indoors during the hottest time of day. Fortunately my girls get bored with t.v. easily (not having cable helps!), so they are open to lots of different activities.
I'm starting to set up our weeks sort of like camp. (Have I mentioned I adore camp? I'd like to open my own one day). We've named it "Camp Sand Dollar". Cute.
My 6 year old has helped put together an itinerary. So far it looks like this:
Thursday: Cooking-Pizza. Swim. Appointments. Dinner with Katie.
Friday: Crafts. Swim. Spend night with friends.
Saturday: Family day. Outdoor concert with Danny and Justin.
Sunday: Church. Out in the Park fest.
Nothing too rigid, plenty of time for reading, playing with the puppy and toys, but enough structure to have activities to look forward to. Which is exactly what summer is all about!
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
Reading Success is Critical by the End of Third Grade
The Annie E. Casey Foundation is focusing attention on the critical importance of achieving grade-level reading proficiency for all children by the end of third grade, and its special KIDS COUNT report, Early Warning! Why Reading by the End of Third Grade Matters, introduces the Casey Foundation’s call for a renewed emphasis on reading success.
“Until third grade, children are learning to read. After third grade, they also are reading to learn. When kids are not reading by fourth grade, they almost certainly get on a glide path to poverty,” said Ralph Smith, executive vice president of the Annie E. Casey Foundation. “Poor reading test scores are profoundly disappointing to all of us who see school success and high school graduation as beacons in the battle against intergenerational poverty.”
According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation KIDS COUNT report, Early Warning! Why Reading by the End of Third Grade Matters, there is a strong correlation between poor reading scores and poverty. Parents and communities must continue to foster literacy in children. A child's success in school, his financial potential, and ability to become a productive member of our nation rests heavily on his or her ability to read.
http://www.funofreading.com
Please visit my booksite listed above to preview over 1400 titles of quality children's literature designed to foster a love of reading for all children.
“Until third grade, children are learning to read. After third grade, they also are reading to learn. When kids are not reading by fourth grade, they almost certainly get on a glide path to poverty,” said Ralph Smith, executive vice president of the Annie E. Casey Foundation. “Poor reading test scores are profoundly disappointing to all of us who see school success and high school graduation as beacons in the battle against intergenerational poverty.”
According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation KIDS COUNT report, Early Warning! Why Reading by the End of Third Grade Matters, there is a strong correlation between poor reading scores and poverty. Parents and communities must continue to foster literacy in children. A child's success in school, his financial potential, and ability to become a productive member of our nation rests heavily on his or her ability to read.
http://www.funofreading.com
Please visit my booksite listed above to preview over 1400 titles of quality children's literature designed to foster a love of reading for all children.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Welcome to my blog!
I am big into reading and education: I believe that books are tools that can change your life. I'm a mother of 2 little girls, a special educator, and a bookseller with Usborne and Kane Miller Books. I started selling Usborne and More books because my family loves to read, and we just fell in love with these books.
I want this blog to be a place where parents and students can learn more about reading and the benefits that it brings to families. As a special educator I firmly believe that books can benefit all children, regardless of disability.
I want this blog to be a place where parents and students can learn more about reading and the benefits that it brings to families. As a special educator I firmly believe that books can benefit all children, regardless of disability.
Having fun with different languages
When we returned home from our trip to Tokyo, my then four year old daughter started "speaking" Japanese! She would flip through a book and read out loud, in what she thought was Japanese. She would tell me that the word for table in Japanese is "uhbooka", or something else that sounds Japanese to her. She sounded like she really knew her stuff, I was half tempted to believe her!
After researching the benefits of learning a second language, I'm all about encouraging my childrens' fun with language, no matter how nonsensical!These are just some of the benefits that children receive when learning a second language, according to the Center for Applied Linguistics http://www.cal.org/index.html:
-Has a positive effect on intellectual growth.
-Enriches and enhances a child's mental development.
-Leaves students with more flexibility in thinking, greater sensitivity to language, and a better ear for listening.
-Improves a child's understanding of his/her native language.
-Gives a child the ability to communicate with people s/he would otherwise not have the chance to know.
-Opens the door to other cultures and helps a child understand and appreciate people from other countries.
-Gives a student a head start in language requirements for college.
-Increases job opportunities in many careers where knowing another language is a real asset.So go ahead and play around with another language, it'll be fun!
After researching the benefits of learning a second language, I'm all about encouraging my childrens' fun with language, no matter how nonsensical!These are just some of the benefits that children receive when learning a second language, according to the Center for Applied Linguistics http://www.cal.org/index.html:
-Has a positive effect on intellectual growth.
-Enriches and enhances a child's mental development.
-Leaves students with more flexibility in thinking, greater sensitivity to language, and a better ear for listening.
-Improves a child's understanding of his/her native language.
-Gives a child the ability to communicate with people s/he would otherwise not have the chance to know.
-Opens the door to other cultures and helps a child understand and appreciate people from other countries.
-Gives a student a head start in language requirements for college.
-Increases job opportunities in many careers where knowing another language is a real asset.So go ahead and play around with another language, it'll be fun!
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Reading for the Spirited Child
Books can be wonderful resources for children. But what about kids with ADD/ADHD, who can’t seem to “settle down”? Children with ADD can also enjoy the benefits of reading.
No child wants to sit down and read through a dry book, especially a child who has trouble staying focused. Books should be able to draw in the reader and hold his attention. The vivid colors, exciting story lines, and interesting topics found in Usborne books are ideal for students diagnosed with ADD/ADHD. Struggling readers can enjoy high-interest, beginner reading level books, such as Castles. I also suggest finding a book series, such as Usborne’s Ballerina Dreams. If a child reads one book in the series, she may find the book so intriguing that she wants to read all of the books in the series!
Habitual reading can i
mprove a child’s reading skills and attention span. Reading can be a wonderful way for all children to learn to enjoy "quiet time". Here's to reading!
http://www.funofreading.com/
No child wants to sit down and read through a dry book, especially a child who has trouble staying focused. Books should be able to draw in the reader and hold his attention. The vivid colors, exciting story lines, and interesting topics found in Usborne books are ideal for students diagnosed with ADD/ADHD. Struggling readers can enjoy high-interest, beginner reading level books, such as Castles. I also suggest finding a book series, such as Usborne’s Ballerina Dreams. If a child reads one book in the series, she may find the book so intriguing that she wants to read all of the books in the series!Habitual reading can i
mprove a child’s reading skills and attention span. Reading can be a wonderful way for all children to learn to enjoy "quiet time". Here's to reading!http://www.funofreading.com/
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Put more reading in your days!
Reading as a family is a great way for children to devour more books. Here are some tips to squeeze more reading into your busy schedule:
*Let the kids create their own “library”: I use a narrow linen closet for my children’s books. This way books are always available for my children, and it keeps the house neater, too! For extra fun give your children some index cards and a stamper, so they can play “librarian”.
*Keep books handy in the car. Ask your children to read out loud to you while you drive. You can ask questions and discuss the story, too.
*Let your children see you read. Instead of automatically flipping on the t.v. or sitting in front of the computer, grab a book. When children see their parents read, they are learning that reading is valuable.
*Make reading special! On a weekend night have the family cuddle up together in the big bed with a pile of books. Let the kids read till they can’t keep their eyes open! A relaxing night with books beats cable any time!
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