It turns out "Rapunzel was actually an awesome heroine who had a feisty temperament and tenacity. Shannon Hale, a Newbery Award-winning children's book author, has teamed up with her husband, Dean, to write Rapunzel's Revenge, which turns the original Brothers Grimm tale on its ear. They brought in the help of talented illustrator Nathan Hale (no relation) for help fleshing out the story". We guarantee that this book will turn even the oldest of audiences into giddy children flipping through the beautifully illustrated pages. Go and get your copy before the library runs out!
Kindergarten: Goodnight Little Monster by Marshall Cavendish
1st: Let’s Do Nothing by Tony Fucile
2nd: Theodore by Frank Keating
3rd: Matilda by Roald Dahl
4th: Beauty and the Beast by Max Eilenberg
5th: Rapunzel’s Revenge by Shannon Hale
6th: Operation Redwood by S. Terrell French
7th: The Sign of the Four by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
8th: Beastly by Alex Flinn
Monday, July 25, 2011
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Week Three "Ten Minute Truth"
Kindergarten Parents:
A recent article written by Ellen H. Parlapiano reveals our truth for this week. She discusses what teachers expect from their incoming kindergarten students. One of her five listed expectations includes that children have basic number and letter recognition. Parlapiano states: "Kindergarten teachers believe that it is their responsibility to teach kids letter sounds and how to write, but they do hope incoming students can recognize most letters by sight." Straight from the teacher's mouth- start early to ensure your child is up to speed with their alphabet. This week, review the Alphabet Word Box Games in the workbook with your child.
Parents with children in 1st-8th grades:
Our truth this week is somewhat piggy-backing on last week's, yet this time it's more about what your child can do for themselves, rather than what you can do to help them prepare for testing. The truth of the matter is, you're not going to be around to assist them in their academic ventures forever- they need to learn to take initiative on their own. Part of their responsibility will be ensuring they understand the practice questions they will encounter on the EOG. To re-familiarize themselves with the types of questions that will be asked, ask them to complete the following practice test sections:
A recent article written by Ellen H. Parlapiano reveals our truth for this week. She discusses what teachers expect from their incoming kindergarten students. One of her five listed expectations includes that children have basic number and letter recognition. Parlapiano states: "Kindergarten teachers believe that it is their responsibility to teach kids letter sounds and how to write, but they do hope incoming students can recognize most letters by sight." Straight from the teacher's mouth- start early to ensure your child is up to speed with their alphabet. This week, review the Alphabet Word Box Games in the workbook with your child.
Parents with children in 1st-8th grades:
Our truth this week is somewhat piggy-backing on last week's, yet this time it's more about what your child can do for themselves, rather than what you can do to help them prepare for testing. The truth of the matter is, you're not going to be around to assist them in their academic ventures forever- they need to learn to take initiative on their own. Part of their responsibility will be ensuring they understand the practice questions they will encounter on the EOG. To re-familiarize themselves with the types of questions that will be asked, ask them to complete the following practice test sections:
1. Multiple Choice Practice Questions
2. Fill in the Blank Practice Questions
3. Oral Practice Questions
4. Short Answer Practice Questions
5. Choose a Picture Practice Questions
2. Fill in the Blank Practice Questions
3. Oral Practice Questions
4. Short Answer Practice Questions
5. Choose a Picture Practice Questions
Week Three Suggested Reading
We're back this week with a whole new list of books for your children to enjoy! One of our favorite's this week is "Look to the Stars" by Buzz Aldrin. We love the way Good Reads describes it: "As one of a handful of astronauts to have walked on the moon, Buzz Aldrin has a unique perspective of space. He serves as an amazing guide as he introduces us to the pioneers of space. From Copernicus to the Wright brothers, from the Apollo program to dreams of future travel, he reminds us that mankind has always looked to the stars." We think that this would be a great book for you and your child to read together seeing that the space program is being shut down. You can talk with your child about the current event as you read and gaze at the "beautifully detailed illustrations by renowned illustrator Wendell Minor." Enjoy!
Kindergarten: LMNO Peas by Keith Baker
1st: A Visitor for Bear by Bonny Becker
2nd: Princess K.I.M. and the Lie That Grew by Maryann Cocca-Leffler
3rd: Look to the Stars by Buzz Aldrin
4th: Ribsy by Beverly Cleary
5th: George Washington Carver by Tonya Bolden
6th: Escape! The Story of the Great Houdini by Sid Fleischman
7th: Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
8th: Total Tragedy of a Girl Named Hamlet by Erin Dionne
Kindergarten: LMNO Peas by Keith Baker
1st: A Visitor for Bear by Bonny Becker
2nd: Princess K.I.M. and the Lie That Grew by Maryann Cocca-Leffler
3rd: Look to the Stars by Buzz Aldrin
4th: Ribsy by Beverly Cleary
5th: George Washington Carver by Tonya Bolden
6th: Escape! The Story of the Great Houdini by Sid Fleischman
7th: Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
8th: Total Tragedy of a Girl Named Hamlet by Erin Dionne
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
The news, in kid-friendly language
We just came across this awesome article on one of the RSS feeds we follow about a new website that contains news stories in a kid-friendly format:
"Kids love reading about what’s happening in their world. But so often, the newspaper is full of inappropriate and difficult articles. Teaching Kids News (TKN) is a sister website to Getting Kids Reading. They offer kid-friendly news articles, taken from the headlines of real newspapers.
One of the great things about TKN is that kids can read the articles themselves and parents don’t have to worry that they’ll be exposed to scary stories or inappropriate language. However, TKN doesn’t shy away from the hard news. They've covered the Japan earthquake, the ousters in the Middle East and hockey violence. Of course, they’ve also presented stories on undiscovered tribes, Justin Bieber and Harry Potter.
TKN uses kid-friendly language and a ton of context to explain ideas that adults tend to know automatically, but which would be new to most kids. Thousands of teachers and home-schoolers use TKN every day because each article includes “curriculum connections” to create an instant lesson plan.
During the school year TKN offers daily news articles; in the summer they present weekly articles, and there are more than 150 great articles in our archives. This week’s article is about some new 3-D photos of the Titanic. Very cool."
Your child being in the "know" regarding current events and world issues will help shape their future as a leader. Reading the news daily will not only allow them to work on their reading skills but in the long run will help them stand out among their peers. We at Healthy Start Academy encourage you to get your kids excited about learning whats going on in the world and we feel Teaching Kids the News is an excellent resource for doing so.
"Kids love reading about what’s happening in their world. But so often, the newspaper is full of inappropriate and difficult articles. Teaching Kids News (TKN) is a sister website to Getting Kids Reading. They offer kid-friendly news articles, taken from the headlines of real newspapers.
One of the great things about TKN is that kids can read the articles themselves and parents don’t have to worry that they’ll be exposed to scary stories or inappropriate language. However, TKN doesn’t shy away from the hard news. They've covered the Japan earthquake, the ousters in the Middle East and hockey violence. Of course, they’ve also presented stories on undiscovered tribes, Justin Bieber and Harry Potter.
TKN uses kid-friendly language and a ton of context to explain ideas that adults tend to know automatically, but which would be new to most kids. Thousands of teachers and home-schoolers use TKN every day because each article includes “curriculum connections” to create an instant lesson plan.
During the school year TKN offers daily news articles; in the summer they present weekly articles, and there are more than 150 great articles in our archives. This week’s article is about some new 3-D photos of the Titanic. Very cool."
Your child being in the "know" regarding current events and world issues will help shape their future as a leader. Reading the news daily will not only allow them to work on their reading skills but in the long run will help them stand out among their peers. We at Healthy Start Academy encourage you to get your kids excited about learning whats going on in the world and we feel Teaching Kids the News is an excellent resource for doing so.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Week Two "Ten Minute Truth"
Along with posting the weekly reading list on the blog every Monday, we will also be publishing short ten minute activities that you as parents can do with or without your child to further their educational experience.
Kindergarten Parents:
This week we would like you to focus on your child's developmental skills. Sometimes as parents we're not quite sure if our children are growing and learning at the correct speed. By the time your son or daughter enters kindergarten, The Clearinghouse on Early Education and Parenting (CEEP) suggests they should have these Kindergarten Entry Skills. The truth here is that the development of these entry factors will not only allow for a better transition into schooling for your child but also prepare them for the years to come.
Kindergarten Parents:
This week we would like you to focus on your child's developmental skills. Sometimes as parents we're not quite sure if our children are growing and learning at the correct speed. By the time your son or daughter enters kindergarten, The Clearinghouse on Early Education and Parenting (CEEP) suggests they should have these Kindergarten Entry Skills. The truth here is that the development of these entry factors will not only allow for a better transition into schooling for your child but also prepare them for the years to come.
To aid in the construction of your young child's developmental skills review the Beginning Sound Menu Games on pgs. 235-241. For even more practice with these skills, head on over to KidZone where you can print out worksheets on learning letter sounds. These entertaining sheets provide letter recognition, phonics and printing practice!
Parents with children in 1st-8th grades:
As you know, 3rd-8th graders are required to take End of Grade (EOG) Tests at the conclusion of each school year. The tests are designed to measure student performance on the goals, objectives, and grade-level competencies specified in the North Carolina Standard Course of Study.
Parents with children in 1st-8th grades:
As you know, 3rd-8th graders are required to take End of Grade (EOG) Tests at the conclusion of each school year. The tests are designed to measure student performance on the goals, objectives, and grade-level competencies specified in the North Carolina Standard Course of Study.
The truth here is that it is extremely important f0r your children to start preparing for these tests early. They not only determine if your child is eligible to move on to the next grade, but their scores also help teachers to decide what classes would best suit them (which eventually determine the path of their educational career). Below are suggestions we put together to aid in the preparation for these sorts of tests!
Test Taking Tips-How to Prepare Your Child for Standardized Testing
1. Preparing all year round-Provide enriching experiences
2. Read aloud with your child (this helps foster a positive attitude toward reading)
3. Share experiences-Do activities with your child that build necessary test-taking skills (ex: create a map of your neighborhood)
4. Become informed about your state’s testing procedures
5. Help your child know what to expect (discuss tips with your child from their summer workbook)
6. Help your child with his or her regular school assignments
7. Keep in regular contact with your child’s teacher (attend teacher-parent conferences and PTO meetings)
8. Learn to use the computer as an educational resource
1. Preparing all year round-Provide enriching experiences
2. Read aloud with your child (this helps foster a positive attitude toward reading)
3. Share experiences-Do activities with your child that build necessary test-taking skills (ex: create a map of your neighborhood)
4. Become informed about your state’s testing procedures
5. Help your child know what to expect (discuss tips with your child from their summer workbook)
6. Help your child with his or her regular school assignments
7. Keep in regular contact with your child’s teacher (attend teacher-parent conferences and PTO meetings)
8. Learn to use the computer as an educational resource
Pssst! On the North Carolina Public Schools website, you can find practice tests for each grade.
Week Two Suggested Reading
We hope that everyone had a great weekend! Below are the books we recommend for each grade to read this week. One of our all time favorites is "How to Eat Fried Worms." Who couldn't love the classic story about a new student being dared to eat worms and eventually changing the balance of power in his 5th grade class? It will be hard for your child to put any of these books down once they start reading!
Kindergarten: Are You My Mother? By P. D. Eastman
1st: The Quilt Keeping by Patricia Polacco
2nd: Chicken Man by Michelle Edwards
3rd: The Artic; The Desert; The Ocean; The Rain Forest by Alan Baker
4th: How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell
5th: Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate Dicamillo
6th: The Danger Box by Blue Balliet
7th: The Postcard by Tony Abbott
8th: The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
Kindergarten: Are You My Mother? By P. D. Eastman
1st: The Quilt Keeping by Patricia Polacco
2nd: Chicken Man by Michelle Edwards
3rd: The Artic; The Desert; The Ocean; The Rain Forest by Alan Baker
4th: How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell
5th: Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate Dicamillo
6th: The Danger Box by Blue Balliet
7th: The Postcard by Tony Abbott
8th: The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
QR Codes- Scavenger Hunts for Reluctant Readers
Are you asking yourself what the heck QR codes are? You've seen them, they're the small barcodes with hidden messages that are popping up on TV ads, marketing materials and even fast food containers- anyone with a cellphone can crack them. With the free iPhone and Android app called "RedLaser" you can scan a square and in seconds its secret message will be divulged. A blog we follow, Getting Kids Reading, had the great idea of incorporating these barcodes into a scavenger hunt for your children! You can create your own message here- it can be as simple as "Look under your bed". Hide clues all over the house, give your child a mobile phone and watch their eyes light up! Visit this link to read the original blog post and learn more about the scavenger hunt idea!
If you’ve never tried reading a QR code before, download the app and try this we made up! Cheers to being the "cool" parent who knows about technology;)
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Motivate your child to complete their workbooks...
...without having a nervous breakdown yourself!
Chick Moorman and Thomas Haller from NewsForParents.org put together an informative list of tips to encourage your child to complete their school work. Enjoy!
1. Eliminate the word homework from your vocabulary. Replace it with the word study. Have a study time instead of a homework time. Have a study table instead of a homework table. This word change alone will go a long way towards eliminating the problem of your child saying, "I don't have any homework." Study time is about studying, even if you don't have any homework. It's amazing how much more homework kids have when they have to study regardless of whether they have homework or not.
Chick Moorman and Thomas Haller from NewsForParents.org put together an informative list of tips to encourage your child to complete their school work. Enjoy!
2. Establish a study routine. This needs to be the same time every day. Let your children have some input on when study time occurs. Once the time is set, stick to that schedule.
3. Keep the routine predictable and simple. One possibility includes a five minute warning that study time is approaching, bringing their current activity to an end, clearing the study table, emptying their back pack of books and supplies, then beginning.
4. Allow children to make choices about homework and related issues. They could choose to do study time before or after dinner. They could do it immediately after they get home or wake up early in the morning to do it. Invite them to choose the kitchen table or a spot in their own room. One choice children do not have is whether or not to study.
5. Help without 0ver-functioning. Only help if your child asks for it. Do not do problems or assignments for children. When your child says, "I can't do it," suggest they act as is they can. Tell them to pretend like they know and see what happens. Then leave the immediate area and let them see if they can handle it form there. If they keep telling you they don't know how and you decide to offer help, concentrate on asking than on telling.
*Ask:
"What do you get?"
"What parts do you understand?"
"Can you give me an example?"
"What do you think the answer is?"
"How could you find out?"
6. If you want a behavior you have to teach a behavior. Disorganization is a problem for many school age children. If you want them to be organize you have to invest the time to help them learn an organizational system. Your job is to teach them the system. Their job is to use it. Yes, check occasionally to see if they system is being used. Check more often at first. Provide direction and correction where necessary. If your child needs help with time management, teach them time management skills. Help them learn what it means to prioritize by importance and due date of each task. Teach them to create an agenda each time they sit down to study. Help them experience the value of getting the important things done first.
7. Use study time to get some of your own responsibilities handled. Use study time to get some of your own responsibilities handled. Do the dished, fold laundry or write thank you notes. Keep the TV off! If you engage in fun or noisy activities during that time children will naturally be distracted. Study time is a family commitment. If you won't commit to it, don't expect that your children will.
Side note from Healthy Start: If all else fails, bribe them with the Walmart gift card they will receive if they bring their completed workbooks on their first day back to school- August 25th;) Just kidding, but seriously...
Completed Workbooks: Rewarding in more ways than one!
That's right! If your child brings their completed workbook back to school on August 25th (first day classes start back- mark your calenders!) they will receive a Walmart gift card. Help your child avoid the "summer slide" by encouraging them to complete the assigned weekly workbook pages- who ever said bribing didn't work was crazy ;)!
To make it easier on you busy parents we will be sending reminder postcards every week with the assigned material- they will have a colorful picture from one of our students each week- you cant miss 'em!. We'll also be posting the workbook portions on this blog so stay tuned for updates! If you're afraid you won't remember to check back to this page you can subscribe via email (top right of the page) and you'll receive the post in your inbox as soon as its published. Whew! That is THREE ways we are going to be communicating with you about your children's workbooks- they are THAT important!
We promise that if your child puts in the time this summer they will not only have a "healthy start" for next year, but also for the rest of their academic career. Thank you so much for allowing these summer workbooks to be a reality- together we can push your Healthy Start Academy student to realizing their greatest potential!
To make it easier on you busy parents we will be sending reminder postcards every week with the assigned material- they will have a colorful picture from one of our students each week- you cant miss 'em!. We'll also be posting the workbook portions on this blog so stay tuned for updates! If you're afraid you won't remember to check back to this page you can subscribe via email (top right of the page) and you'll receive the post in your inbox as soon as its published. Whew! That is THREE ways we are going to be communicating with you about your children's workbooks- they are THAT important!
We promise that if your child puts in the time this summer they will not only have a "healthy start" for next year, but also for the rest of their academic career. Thank you so much for allowing these summer workbooks to be a reality- together we can push your Healthy Start Academy student to realizing their greatest potential!
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