LLG Blog Hiatus

Because I recently decided to go back into the classroom the LLG blog site will be on temporary hiatus. Please still feel free to contact LLG with questions regarding tutoring packages and tutor time and date changes (for your summer schedule).

 

Saint Patrick's Day

Wow and Ahhh your friends and family with these St. Patrick's Day fun facts:

Facts about St. Patrick's Day Holiday

• St. Patrick’s Day is observed on March 17 because that is the feast day of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. It is believed that he died on March 17 in the year 461 AD. It is also a worldwide celebration of Irish culture and history. St. Patrick’s Day is a national holiday in Ireland, and a provincial holiday in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
   
• In Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day, people traditionally wear a small bunch of shamrocks on their jackets or caps. Children wear orange, white and green badges, and women and girls wear green ribbons in their hair.
   
• Many cities have a St. Patrick’s Day parade. Dublin, the capital of Ireland, has a huge St. Patrick’s Day festival from March 15-19, that features a parade, family carnivals, treasure hunt, dance, theatre and more. In North American, parades are often held on the Sunday before March 17. Some paint the yellow street lines green for the day! In Chicago, the Chicago River is dyed green with a special dye that only lasts a few hours. There has been a St. Patrick’s Day parade in Boston, Massachusetts since 1737. Montreal is home to Canada’s longest running St. Patrick’s Day parade, which began in 1824.

Facts about Saint Patrick

• St. Patrick was born in 385 AD somewhere along the west coast of Britain, possibly in the Welsh town of Banwen. At age 16, he was captured and sold into slavery to a sheep farmer. He escaped when he was 22 and spent the next 12 years in a monastery. In his 30s he returned to Ireland as a Christian missionary. He died at Saul in 461 AD and is buried at Downpatrick.

Facts about the Irish

• 34 million Americans have Irish ancestry, according to the 2003 US Census. That’s almost nine times the population of Ireland, which has 4.1 million people.
• Some American towns have “Irish” names. You could visit: Mount Gay-Shamrock, West Virginia; Shamrock Lakes, Indiana; Shamrock, Oklahoma; Shamrock, Texas; Dublin, California and Dublin, Ohio.
    
• The harp is the symbol of Ireland. The color green is also commonly associated with Ireland, also known as “the Emerald Isle.”
   
• The Irish flag is green, white and orange. The green symbolizes the people of the south, and orange, the people of the north. White represents the peace that brings them together as a nation.
   
• The name “lephrechaun” has several origins. It could be from the Irish Gaelic word “leipreachan,” which means “a kind of aqueous sprite.” Or, it could be from “leath bhrogan,” which means “shoemaker.”
  

Facts about Clovers

• According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the highest number of leaves found on a clover is 14!
   
• One estimate suggests that there are about 10 000 regular three-leaf clovers for every lucky four-leaf clover.
       
• Legend says that each leaf of the clover means something: the first is for hope, the second for faith, the third for love and the fourth for luck.
   

Now go to this St. Patrick's Day Kaboose link to play leprechaun arcade games and find more St. Patrick's Day resources. 

Saturday Saying- Monkey See, Monkey Do

It's not only children who grow.  Parents do too.  As much as we watch to see what our children do with their lives, they are watching us to see what we do with ours.  I can't tell my children to reach for the sun.  All I can do is reach for it, myself.  


-Joyce Maynard

7 Reasons Your Schooler Should Practice Yoga

Yoga is a form of exercise, meditation, and breathing practices with Indian roots designed to bring unity to the mind, body, and spirit. Adults have vouched for yoga for years, saying it makes them feel better physically, enhances their ability to concentrate, and brings tranquility to their lives. Now parents and yoga instructors are looking at the possible benefits of yoga for kids.

1.) Children experience many of the same physical benefits adults do from practicing yoga. Yoga strengthens them and helps them become more flexible and coordinated.

2.) Yoga for kids also enhances self-awareness. Children who practice yoga learn early on to tune into their bodies. 

3.) Yoga for kids enhances imagination and empathy. Children learn early on to connect with all the life on the planet and realize that similarities far outweigh differences.

4.) Yoga teaches children to have fun and move their bodies in a con-competitive environment. Yoga isn't about being right or wrong, or being best or worst. It is about bringing unity to one's own life. 

5.) Yoga for kids teaches self-discipline. As part of the practice of yoga, kids need to slow down, hold certain postures, breathe or think in a certain way. Yoga encourages children to master themselves rather than wait for an adult to control them.

6.) Yoga for kids can also be a way to strengthen families. Yoga is an exercise that parents and children and even grandparents can practice and talk about together. 

7.) Through practicing yoga, children can learn ways to relax and get control of stress in their lives. A child worried about a test, for instance, might use the meditation or breathing techniques of yoga to help her calm down and focus.

For other Yoga insights and further reads go to http://www.yoga4beginners.org/. 

Saturday Saying- Happy Valentine's Day

"What the heart gives away is never gone ... It is kept in the hearts of others."
- Robin St. John

Share with those around you. Share your loves, your passions, your opinions, your ideas, and your insight. Those words will reverberate to others.

Families, have you heard of such a thing?

Groupon is the new savings craze.

All you do is 1) go to the Groupon website, 2) choose your city, 3) type in your email address, and 4) wait anxiously, staring at your email, for the deal of the day.

To learn more about Groupons click here.

Saturday Saying- Confidence

The Tortoise and the Hare

The hare was once boasting of his speed before the other animals. "I have never yet been beaten," said he, "when I put forth my full speed. I challenge anyone here to race with me."

The tortoise said quietly, "I accept your challenge."

"That is a good joke," said the hare. "I could dance around you all the way."

"Keep your boasting until you've beaten," answered the tortoise. "Shall we race?"

So a course was fixed and a start was made. The hare darted almost out of sight at once, but soon stopped and, to show his contempt for the tortoise, lay down to have a nap. The tortoise plodded on and plodded on, and when the hare awoke from his nap, he saw the tortoise nearing the finish line, and he could not catch up in time to save the race.

                                   -Aesop's Fables

Do Unto Otters

The students auplauded at the end of this book. We stopped often to laugh. We studied the pictures. We had a great class discussion about treating others the way that we'd like to be treated. We completed the fun, post lesson activities offered on the author's website. During my reflection of this lesson that tied into our Launguage Arts unit I realized this book can be revisited throughout the year because of its lesson and high student interest.

The author, Laurie Keller, has written great children's books and created a website with teacher and/or home resources. I encourage you to read this book about Mr. Rabbit and the Otters with your child(ren).



Saturday Saying- Martin's Big Words

Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true education.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

In the spirit of Black History Month and the past week of Martin Luther King's birthday, it is important to remember the influence that Dr. King had on our school systems. We have had the experience to learn and grow together as a diverse society and that our future generations will have the same gift.

The above message that Dr. King conveys about education caught my attention. We can teach and educate any child to his or her highest ability but ultimatly good character, being an outstanding person, handed with that education is a truly educated child.

guysread.com

Jon Scieszka....name sound familiar? Well, maybe his popular children's books, "Stinky Cheese Man" and "The True Story of the Three Little Pigs" ring a bell. Boys flock to these books because of of their humor, crude sayings, and laughable illustrations.

In a abrupt way to say to boys, who are out playing ball or filling time with video games, Scieszka says READING IS COOL! His new website, guysread.com, has an arsenal of reading recommendations and interactive links to all things book.

As an educator and aunt to three young boys, my favorite part about this website is their goal to encourage all boys (guys), whom studies show are becoming less and less interested in reading over the years, to become life long readers.


*** This website is not only boy friendly, girls can also visit this site to find out about good books and other reading resources.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. & a Dream

The message that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. carried with him is simple, equality. This is a message that children young and old easily understand. But understanding segregation, prejudice, and the violence that was endured in the Civil Rights Movement is knowing why we need to continue to bridge the racial divide.

Martin Luther King didn't only stand up for what he believed in, he was willing to risk his life to carry that simple message. Today, because of that sacrifice I can teach wonderful children regardless of race, religion, sex, and economical background.

When your children return from school ask if these discussions are occurring in their classroom. You can also continue the discussion in your own home. Asking and answering questions now and throughout the year  will continue to help your child(ren) be free of judgement, discriminations, and to practice equality in their thoughts and words.

These are my favortive Martin Luther King Jr. children's books:




Martin's Big Words by Doreen Rappaport



Here is a speech by Martin Luther King you may want your children to watch with you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEMXaTktUfA&feature=related 

 

Remembering 2011

As a school teacher, who writes the date every day, does calendar warm ups with the class everyday, and corrects improper date writing everyday, why is it so difficult for me to switch to writing a new year? If it takes adults a while to warm up to remembering to write the new year on emails, letters, faxes, signatures, then it must be even more trying for children. And if your child was in my class they must write their first name, last name, and date on every paper.

There are several ways for you to help ease your child(ren) into remembering to write the correct year when writing the date. These activities will allow a quicker and easier transition. Try one of them or all of them after school or on the weekend.


1. Click on the "2011 Number Search" below and print it out. Circle all the 2011's you can find and count them to see if you found them all.

2. Click and print the Happy New Year card below (preferably on card stock paper). Fold the paper (hamburger style) so the it looks like a greeting card. Have your child color the front and then write a letter to a family member or loved one. Depending on age: K-1 depending on ability, write out what the child says to you (scribing); 2nd-6th graders should be writing in a friendly letter format using all 5 parts of a friendly letter (especially 2nd graders because this is in their California Content Standards and they will be tested on this for state testing (CST) later this year)

3. Click and print the worksheet below. Either circle or color (a different color) each 2011 that you can find. Then, count to see how many times 2011 was written on this worksheet.

4. Click and print this story starter. Have your child finish a creative 2011 story starter. If they need more room (yea) turn the paper over and continue to let the creativity flow. Again, depending on the age, you may have to write the story for your child.

5. Click and print this Acrostic poem below. In order to complete the poem write one word that starts with the letter in the sequence that has to do with the new year. For example, for the letter N you may write Nice, or for the E you may write Exciting. For K-1st grades you may what to write the words they come up with as it will further help their vocabulary and using new words.

6. Last but not least, my favorite new year idea. Create a 2011 memory box. Start with an old shoe box, then collect markers, crayons, construction paper, fabric, pictures, sparklies, and any other fun crafts you can find. Write 2011 in large font on the top of the box, then decorate! Throughout the 2011 year your child can collect important artifacts from 2011 and place them in his/her own 2011 memory box. The box can contain A+ papers, art work, pictures, collections, etc.

 

No matter the age of your schooler these activities can rev them up for the 2011 new year. Hopefully, sooner rather than later we'll all get used to writing 2011 in the date.

All worksheets and activities are from http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/index.htm.

To Have a Resolustion, To Not Have a Resolution?

Once again I have no New Year's resolution. Although I can see how it is beneficial for some people to set goals and make commitments, it just doesn't work for me. Instead of once a year commitment, everyday when I get out of bed I tell myself that today I am going to be a better wife, friend, teacher, person then I was yesterday. I guess in some way I am doing a daily resolution to better myself.

For those of you who can and do commit to your New Year's resolutions here are some thoughtful and character building New Year's resolutions for you and your schooler(s).



New Year's Parenting Resolutions


I will be a good role model for my child...
Parents have profound influence on the way their children grow up. This New Year give up your bad habits like procrastinating, smoking etc and be a role model for your children.

I will make efforts to understand my child...
Instead of cribbing over your child's tantrums and unhealthy habits try and understand why he is behaving in that peculiar manner. This will help you understand and resolve the issue in a much better manner. This not so easy goal can be achieved by spending quality time and being patient with child.

I will teach my child to eat healthy...
Encourage your child to develop healthier eating habits which includes consuming fruits, milk and vegetables and giving up junk food. Of course, you need to practice this before you preach.

I will encourage my child to take regular physical activity...
Obesity in children is rising because of their sedentary lifestyles. It is extremely important to make your children realize the benefits of regular physical activity. Enrolling them in the sports class of their choice will be a good idea.

I will reward my child for his good behavior...
For the proper personality development of your child, it is important to praise and reward his achievements and good behavior. Besides, it is also important to show a calm and patient behavior when your child misbehaves or is in trouble. This helps him become a cool and level-headed person.

New Year's Resolutions for Preschoolers

• I will brush my teeth twice a day.
• I will wash my hands after going to the bathroom and before eating.
• I will clean up my toys.

New Year's Resolutions for School Age Kids

 

• I will do my homework in time.
• I will go to sleep on time.
• I will drink milk and water, and limit aerated drinks.
• I'll never give out personal information such as my name, home address, school name or telephone number on the Internet or to strangers.
• I'll be nice to other kids. I'll be friendly to kids who need friends - like someone who is shy, or is new to my school
• I will wear my seat belt every time I get in a car. I'll sit in the back seat and use a booster seat until I am tall enough to use a lap/shoulder seat belt.
• I will apply sunscreen before I go outdoors.
• I will try to stay in the shade whenever possible and wear a hat and sunglasses, especially when I'm playing sports.
• I will try to find a sport (like basketball or soccer) or an activity (skipping rope, dancing or horse riding) that I like and do it at least three times a week!

 All resolution ideas are from http://www.newyearfestival.com/.



Saturday Saying- Day 1 of 2011

A happy New Year! Grant that I
May bring no tear to any eye
When this New Year in time shall end
Let it be said I've played the friend,
Have lived and loved and labored here,
And made of it a happy year.                          


    -Edgar Guest