In The News December 2007 Vol. 10-12
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Can
you feel the wonder in the air! The tree is up, the lights
sparkle, the gifts begin to grow, friends and family gather, there is
a hurry in the steps we take. Frowns turn to smiles, music fills
the air. What a magical time of year it is! It is
the simple things
that make this time so bright. When all is
faded we will recall little things that warm our hearts and make us
glow....the glint in the eye of a child, the note of a song, the smell
of pine, the taste of a cookie. May all our days be festive and
bright. The memories of this season and those past will
remain and lift our spirits for a lifetime. 
There are many stories
that are shared and told and retold during this time of year.
Those that include our children, families and friends are the dearest
of all. During this season as you read those favorite stories,
make an effort to include your children in the story. You will
find they remember the story and will often want you to repeat
it. Soon, they will be able to help you in creating their own
story of the season.
Wishing you all the joys of the
season. 
Happy Holidays!
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Nothing of worth or weight can be achieved with half a mind, with a faint heart, with a lame endeavor..... Isaac Barrow (1630-1677) Mathematician and Theologian |
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Each Christmas, Santa Mouse
becomes Santa's little helper. A special light is placed up
high upon the Christmas tree so that Santa Mouse can see when
he's placing those very special mouse-sized presents on the
limbs of the tree. Santa's ready to take off in his sleigh,
and Santa Mouse scurries onto his shoulder, only to fall off
into the deep, dark, snowy ground below. How will he ever find
Santa and help deliver presents to the children?
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Giving presents is a talent; to know what a person wants, to know when and how to get it, to give it lovingly, and well. . Pamela Wyndham Glenconner (1871-1928) Writer |
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This is the final part of a three part series we started in October. Family meals are important occasions. But it has become increasingly difficult to get a meal on the table.....and to get the family to the table. Okay, now you have everyone at the table, now what do you do. Here's help. Maintain a division of responsibility in feeding. Parents should determine what and kids should determine how much and even whether. Your job is to plan the menu, get the food on the table and preserve a pleasant mealtime. The children's job is to eat....or to choose not to eat. Children actually eat better when you present food to them in this neutral fashion and avoid pressuring, cajoling, or bribing them to eat. Expose your children to a variety of foods. Even if they don't eat certain foods at first, they will be getting used to them, and eventually they will eat them. In the meantime, they won't starve if you present a variety of foods, make sure there is bread on the table, and let the kids pick and choose from what's available. Maintain structured and
regular meals and snacks, forbid between-times Holding the line on the family meal is a parenting issue as well as a nutritional issue. It's all part of doing a good job as a parent. Hang in there, and bon appetite. Adapted from Ellen Satter, How to Get Your Kid to Eat....But Not Too Much |
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Laugh, Dance, and Sing Together
A
home filled with music is an exciting place to be. Begin when
the children are young by sharing lullabies from your childhood.
Create personalized versions of favorite tunes. Encourage your
children to teach you songs they've learned, and let them check out
tapes from the library. Play music when you're doing the dishes;
do a little jig when you're shaking up the orange juice. Your
kids will get a kick out of it and you'll contribute to a pleasant
home life that includes good-natured fu Introduce your children to all kinds of music; there's nothing like it for pleasure and relaxation, and it is so easily shared. Some studies indicate that babies respond to soothing music even before they are born. Laughter serves as a bridge between you and your child, bringing you closer. Laugh often; tell little jokes without poking fun or teasing. Look at the humorous side of life. When laughter and music are common threads running through your encounters with your child, family life is more exciting, and precious memories are made. Have a song in your heart. Be free with your laughter, spontaneous with your dance, and your children will think of you with a twinkle in their eye. Adapted from Wonderful Ways to Love a Child, Judy Ford
Dr. Conwell would visit a town arriving early enough to visit with the people trying to gain an insight into the local opportunities available and ways in which the people had failed to grasp these opportunities. He would then give his lecture talking to the people in terms of their own locality.
Ironically, the man who bought the farm was watering his camel one day and noticed a shimmering object in the stream. It turned out to be a diamond. Further search produced virtually "acres of diamonds." Other examples were given
of individuals who left their environment because of discontent,
riches were subsequently discovered in the very spot where they had
been. The point became quite clear. Every person has the
opportunity to become more successful right where on is with one's own
skill, energy, and natural ability. The truth of the lesson
cannot be denied. It is true for you! Right within your present environment is the opportunity for you to "mine diamonds".....become richer in money, satisfaction, recognition, and achievement. Adapted from Public School Administrator |
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We must be purposely kind and generous or we miss the best part of life's existence. Horace Mann (1769-1859) Educator and Politician |
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Visualization
is the process of forming mental pictures or images based on what has
been read. You can use this instructional technique to increase
reading comprehension. The practice of visualization helps
children concentrate on a selection and focus on detail. The
ability to create rich mental images also serves to improve memory.
As children form images, they integrate familiar pictures based on
their prior knowledge and experience with the new images gained from
their reading. Reinforcing visualization encourages children to identify the words and phrases authors use to help readers have sensory experiences (sight, hearing, touch, smell, taste). Select an author's descriptions of a story's setting and characterization to introduce your child to visualization. This is an ideal time of year to practice the technique.
Adapted from Silver Burdett and Ginn |
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Dolores Kreisman, Educator |
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Adapted from Wisconsin
Dept. of Education |
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Blessed are the joy makers. Nathaniel Parker Willis (1806-1867) Writer |
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Fin, Fur and Feather
Bureau of Investigation (FFFBI) Headquarters: The site uses
interactive stories and original thinking games to get kids to solve mysteries
and learn crucial skills such as using the Internet for research and
investigation, reading, and writing. The project encourages
exploration of a wide range of subjects from math and science to
geography, genetics and history. There is a
section for teachers which helps explain what's going on. Cybersense and
Nonsense: In this sequel to Privacy Playground, for ages 9-12,
the three CyberPigs learn some important lessons about authenticating
online information and observing rules of netiquette. They also learn
how to distinguish between fact and opinion and how to recognize bias
and harmful stereotyping in online content. As Les, Mo and Lil
discover, "just because it's on the Internet, doesn't mean it's
true." There is a teacher guide, as well. Miscositas: This
site is dedicated to teaching, learning or living more than one
language. A collection of over 40 virtual picture books in
English, French and Spanish, including games, curricular suggestions
for teaching and learning these languages, and links to more
resources. Illustrated throughout with colorful drawings
including entries in the large pop-up glossary. Walking with Prehistoric
Beasts: Welcome to the last 65 million years on Earth, which ushered
in the rise of mammals, the freezing of the climate and the arrival of
humans. Learn about the players (creatures from the Cenozoic
Era), their habitat and the science behind these
discoveries. Interactive features on this site allow students to
Build a Beast from skeletal remains, view the changing environment of
the creatures, and e-mail a scientist with unresolved
questions. Geography For Kids:
This and other 4Kids sites (Chem and Biology) bring science basics to
the level of elementary or middle school students. One great
feature of this site is the virtual reality shots of geography
landforms. Check out the Examples, where students can click on a
link in an index to get an image of the object described. Navajo Code Talkers: World War II
Fact Sheet: Navajo code talkers took part in every assault the
U.S. Marines conducted in the Pacific from 1942 to 1945, transmitting
messages by telephone and radio in their native language....a code
that the Japanese never broke. This is a great example of
language skills that played a role in history.
From the Knowledge HQ Staff Copyright © 2007 Knowledge Headquarters, Inc. All Rights Reserved. www.knowledgehq.com |
panhandling for food
handouts, and don't let the kids raid the refrigerator just before or
just after a meal. Let them know if they don't eat their dinner,
they will have to wait to eat until the next meal or snack time.
Then let them decide what they will do about eating. 
A
nurturing home is a place where parents and children can relax and
unwind from the pressures of the day. Laughing, singing, and
dancing are the fastest ways to transform worries into
celebration. Having fun together will strengthen your family and
foster, easy, honest relationships among all of you. And as your
children grow they are much more likely to enjoy being with the
family if everyone is having a good time.
n; but, more important, you're
creating an atmosphere where family members can be easygoing with each
other, which is critical to open communication, especially with
teens. 
Shortly after the turn of
the century a noted educator, Dr. Russell Conwell, delivered a
lecture, so inspiring he was invited to repeat it over 5,000
times. Its title, ACRES OF DIAMONDS, has become a familiar
phrase to describe the unseen opportunity in any environment. 
The lecture itself started
out by the story of an ancient Persian farmer, contented and
prosperous, who learned of diamonds and the power that 
To have a true friendship,
you have to do more than exchange Christmas cards or call each other
once a year. There has to be some continued support and
attention; otherwise the relationship is a sentimental attachment
rather than a true friendship. 
While your children may be occupied
with gifts during this season, it has been my experience that there is
a point when they need something different. Here are some activities that will
keep them occupied and teach them at the same time. They are adapted
from Newspapers in Education (NIE), a nationwide program that uses the
newspaper as a teaching tool. 
