Summer Recipes for Children

Some of the best education and fun craft ideas are the ones you can eat! What's even better is that creating fun food items with your child makes great use of family quality time over the summer. Sit with your child and create a family meal schedule each week. Let them pick a day and a recipe where they will help prepare the meal. And any time you are having a get-together, nothing will make a child feel more special than being your "little helper." Matching aprons go a long way, too! Use the resources listed below to create fantastic summer memories your child won't soon forget.


Nick Jr. Recipes


From lemon-lime soda that's great on a hot summer day to cakes fit for any summer birthday party, Nick Jr. has super recipes to keep your family entertained all summer long!


Disney's FamilyFun Summer Recipes


Kick off your summer fun recipes from Disney, including light meals, salads and appetizers perfect for the hot months ahead.


Eating Well Recipes for Healthy-Eating Kids


EatingWell.com has created summer recipes that mix cool and healthy foods in a way your children won't even recognize! Try the old fashioned spaghetti and meatballs and polish it off with chocolate crunch for dessert.


Summer Recipes for Kids from Shamrock Farms


Shamrock Farms' Young Chef Academy will have your child feeling like the next Wolfgang Puck! These recipes are a child-friendly and child-approved way to have one amazing summer.


Gluten Free Recipes for Kids


Lots of children will be looking forward to the fantastic eats that remind them of summer, and for those who may have food allergies, this site has them covered. From smoothies to sandwiches, your children will find great recipes here!

Important Notice About EOG Retesting

Students who scored 1s and 2s on the End-of-Grade tests will have the opportunity to take the test(s) again. Beginning today and continuing through June 1, each student being retested will receive 10 hours of individualized in-school tutoring. In addition, if your student is schedule for EOG retesting, you should have received an important flyer on Thursday, May 24th, that lists a number of websites with tools to help your student prepare for these important retests. Please read the flyer carefully and review the websites that pertain to your student's challenging subject area. We strongly encourage parents and students to make full use of the home study resources provided in the flyer. You may want to go over these exercises with your student so that the second test can be a better experience.


Retesting dates:
          May 31 -- Science for 5th and 8th Graders
          June 4-6 -- Reading and Math for 3rd through 8th Graders

#WordsofWisdom

[via: www.pluginid.com]

HSA Healthy Eating Tip: Buy Local

Over the weekend, people from all over North Carolina and beyond flocked to the State Fairgrounds to enjoy the rides and food at the annual Got to be N.C. Festival.  While the festival had a lighthearted and fun-filled atmosphere, it also served a serious purpose: to emphasize the importance of supporting local agriculture.  Some of the numerous reasons to buy locally grown food include:

• Local food travels fewer miles to land on your plate: "Local food" does not have a specific definition, but these foods have been grown within a 100-mile radius (some even say up to 225 miles). The farther food travels, the more energy and gasoline must be used to get the food to your plate. Buying local will save energy costs and valuable non-renewable resources.
• Local food tastes better: The crops are picked at their peak freshness, and farm-made products, such as cheeses and jams, are hand-crafted for the best flavor. Food from far away is older, has traveled long distances in trucks or planes, is jostled around in the shipping process, and has sat in warehouses and supermarket shelves before it finally gets to your table. Local food tastes better because it is fresher and has been grown or created with the consumer in mind.
• Local produce is more nutritious: The less time that passes between farm and table, the fewer nutrients fresh produce will lose. Locally grown fruits and vegetables contain more nutrients because they are picked at their peak freshness, transported shorter distances and sold directly to the consumer.
• Local produce stays fresh longer: Since the produce was picked the day before, it will last longer in your refrigerator (if you can hold off from devouring it!).
• Local produce is safe: Local farmers are not anonymous and they take their responsibility to the consumer seriously. The risk for major E. coli outbreaks will be slim to none with locally-grown produce.
• Local food preserves genetic diversity: While conventional farming practices mono-cropping with limited plant varieties, smaller local farms often grow many different varieties and rotate their crops to provide a long harvest season with an array of different colors and flavors.
• Local produce benefit the environment and wildlife: Well-managed farms conserve fertile soil and clean water in our communities. The farm provides a habitat for wildlife.
• Local food connects you to the land through the farmers who grow your food: There is something exciting about engaging in a time-honored connection between eater and grower. Talking to the very farmer who grew and picked your food gives you insight into the relationship between the seasons, the land, and your food.
• Buy seasonal. Buy local as much as possible. Your local farmers' market is an excellent place to start!

For more information on Raleigh's Farmers Market, visit: 

http://www.ncagr.gov/markets/facilities/markets/raleigh/ 

[via: http://www.superkidsnutrition.com/nutrition_answers/of_benefitsproduce.php]

Come Attend Durham's Annual Bimbé Festival!

What: Durham's 43rd Annual Bimbé Cultural Arts Festival


When: Tomorrow, Saturday, May 19, noon - 8 p.m. (HSA's booth will be open noon - 4:30 p.m.)


Where: CCB Plaza (downtown Durham), 201 N. Corcoran St.


What you should know: The Bimbé Cultural Arts Festival has been a tradition in Durham for over 40 years. This family oriented event is a celebration of African and African American history, culture, art and traditions. 

Participants enjoy live national and local talent, ethnic food, arts and crafts, an interactive kid’s area, and community resources. There will also be a host of weekday events planned. Come and embrace the rich, diverse and unique traditions of the City of Durham.

We hope to see everyone there!

[via: http://durhamnc.gov/ich/op/prd/Pages/Bimbé-Cultural-Arts-Festival.aspx]

Stop the Summer Brain Drain!

Kids Lose One to Three Months of Learning

Did your child's brain shrink last summer? Probably not, but it may have shifted into reverse, according to a study by Dr. Harris Cooper, professor of psychology at the University of Missouri-Columbia. The study found that when students return to school after a long summer vacation, they've lost one to three months worth of learning.

Kids Lose Most in Math

The decline is more detrimental for math than it is for reading. "All students lose math skills," says Cooper. It may be because community and home environments give kids more opportunities to practice reading than math. The study also found that income has an impact on how much a student loses or gains in reading. Middle-class children actually gained in reading over the summer, while lower-income students experienced losses. Cooper attributes this to the enrichment activities that many middle-class kids participate in over the summer, such as camp and trips.

What You Can Do

Your kids don't have to spend the summer stuck in reverse. "Parents can help their kids retain educational skills," says Cooper. He suggests the following five tips to kick off a learning-filled summer.

1. Keep lots of books around and make regular trips to the library. Most libraries schedule special summer events for kids. Sign up your family!

2. Think about what your kids may be learning next year when you plan the family vacation. Talk with teachers to find out what they'll be covering in class. If it's a unit on the civil war for example, you may want to schedule a visit to Gettysburg. If it's geology, visit a national park.

3. Keep math in mind. Since kids lose more math skills than anything else over the summer, try to do some special planning to find math-related activities. For example, if you can't decide whether to sign your child up for "Shakespeare's Theater" or "Math Magic" at the local community center, go with the math.

4. Consider summer school or tutoring. Struggling kids can get a lot of different kinds of help from these programs. Summer school can also enrich and accelerate learning in areas where kids show a special interest.

5. Call the curriculum coordinator in your child's school district, visit the school board office, or contact the schools of education at local colleges and universities to find out what educational programs will be offered in your area over the summer.

Remember to keep it fun! You don't want to sour your kids on learning during the summer break.

[via: http://school.familyeducation.com]

Test Taking Techniques

End-of-Grade testing begins tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. Help your child feel confident and prepared during the test with the following tips:

• Read the directions.  Usually the teacher will read and explain the test directions with the class. If she doesn’t, remind your child to read the directions and remember to ask for clarification if he doesn’t understand them.

• Skim the test quickly. This test taking strategy is much overlooked by students. Many times when the student completes the short, easier sections of the test he gains more confidence. He then can continue the test with less pressure. By skimming over the test your child will know what to expect and can pace himself a little better for a longer or written essay section of the test.

• Skip Hard Questions.  Tell you youngster not to be afraid to skip a question on the test. It is better for your young one to skip a question that he’s unfamiliar with or one that is too hard than wasting time on it. His score will be better if he completes accurately the items that he’s most familiar within the time limit of the test. If there’s time the student can always come back to try the harder questions towards the end of the test.

• Check over work.  Remind your child to make sure that he didn’t skip any part of the test. This happens often. When the test is turned in to the teacher it’s a little too late to make corrections or complete missed sections. If there’s time, check over for correct spelling, punctuation, capitalization and grammar. In a math test, always check the signs (operation of the problem) and note careless mistakes such as adding instead of subtracting can lower the test grade substantially.

Good luck, everyone!

[via: http://www.maryannsmialek.com/resources/articles/test_techniques.html]

#WordsofWisdom

[via: mamiverse.com]

Pointers: Preparing Your Child for a Stress-Free School Day

With the EOG's just a few days away, it's more important than ever that your children have stress-free school days. These few simple tips that you can incorporate into your family's daily routine will have a positive impact throughout the entire day. While these tips can be used during the entire school year, they will help your child during the EOGs by starting the day off right!

Get Organized the Night Before.  Check your child's homework, organize their backpack, and set it near the door. This way they won't forget it the next morning. Plan and pack breakfast and lunch items for the next day. You could waste 10-15 minutes in the morning deciding what your child should eat.

Go to Bed on Time.  As we've stated before, children need 7-10 hours of sleep each night, and adults need 7-8 hours. Ensuring that your family gets enough rest means everyone will wake up energized and refreshed, read to take on the day ahead.

Wake Up Early.  Part of the reason we emphasize going to bed on time is because we also emphasize waking up early. Give yourself a half an hour before your children wake up to get some things done. Your children should wake up at least one hour before leaving for school.

Play Happy Music.  Play your family's favorite songs to keep positive, happy energy flowing through your home before everyone's day begins. No one's ever been in a sour mood belting out their favorite tunes.

Eat Breakfast.  Even if you wake up late and haven't packed your child's school bag for the day, don't skip breakfast -- no matter what! Fruit, a bowl of cereal, or yogurt will suffice. Concentrating on an exam will not be your child's first priority if they are fighting against hunger pangs and low blood sugar.

Bonus Tip: Hug and kiss your children before they go off to school. Make sure to tell them that you love them. You'll be happier and they'll feel loved and encouraged. Win-win!

WordsofWisdom

"But the wild things cried, Oh please don't go-we'll eat you up-we love you so!" And Max said, "No!" The wild things roared their terrible roars and gnashed their terrible teeth and rolled their terrible eyes and showed their terrible claws but Max stepped into his private boat and waved goodbye."--Maurice Sendak

Rest in Peace, to one of the greatest writers and illustrators of children's literature.

EOG Prep

The End-of-Grade tests are right around the corner!

Today starts the first in a three-part series on how to help your child prepare for the End-Of-Grade tests. This week focuses on the mental aspects of preparing for the exam.  The trick isn’t to psych them up for the big day, because the “big day” actually lasts about a week.  And so, the goal is to keep your child motivated day in and day out to do their best, and after about day three of all-day testing this task gets harder and harder.  If you consistently have a positive attitude, it will go a long way to helping your child get through the exams successfully.

1*      Let your child know what to expect-Whether this is your child’s first year taking the exam, or their last, talk to them about the importance of the EOGs, and the impact the tests will have on them academically.  Make sure they understand that the test period is quite lengthy, but you know they’ll do great!

2*     Talk with your child –Find out what worries them most about the EOGs.  Knowing this can help you find the right things to focus on and make them less anxious about the exams.

3*      Motivate-You are your child’s biggest cheerleader and advocate! There’s no reason to wait until the testing begins to positively motivate them.  Give them recognition whenever you see them studying or doing homework.  Let them know you are happy they are staying focused and that it will go a long way to doing well during the actual exam.
4.*    After-school-Each day during the exam period, speak with your child about how their day went.  Find out what they think they did well in, or where they faltered.  Give moral support and let them know that no matter the outcome, you are proud of their effort!

#WordsofWisdom

"When you're at the end of your rope. Tie a knot a hang on." -Franklin D. Roosevelt.