Osage Station Park, Danville, CA

My son and I met some friends at Osage Station Park in Danville, CA this past week.  My son had a blast!  This park is named after the ranch that grew Osage oranges, and there are still three orange trees in the park.  This 35 acre park has the following amenities:
*5 BBQ pits
*20 picnic tables (located near children's play area)
*4 tennis courts
*4 baseball diamonds
*soccer fields
*path around park

Resources:

Osage Station Park
899 Brookside
Danville, CA  94526

Denver Dan Apple Hill- celebration on 9/30/12

I found about Apple Hill ranches from a teacher friend of mine.  It was a tradition in their family to go to Apple Hill every year in the fall.  In Michigan, where I'm from, people flock to the cider mills for fresh hot doughnuts and cold, fresh apple cider.  This weekend is a celebration at Denver Dan's apple patch.  It is Denver Dan's 80th birthday party and the ranch's 50th anniversary celebration.  There will be cake and cider, pony rides, music, balloon animals, etc.

Resources:

Apple Hill Growers
www.applehill.com

Denver Dan's Apple Patch
Denver Dan's 80th Birthday and The Ranch's 50th anniversary celebration
530-644-6881
September 30th, 2012

East Bay Mini Maker Faire- October 14th-Oakland

On Sunday, October 14th is the East Bay Mini Maker Faire, which is hosted by Park Day School.  I heard about it from some homeschool families, and they said it was amazing.  I'd never even heard about it before last week.

According to the families there are opportunities to make things, design, sew, build, etc.  I am going to be there with my son!

Resources:

East Bay Mini Maker Faire
EBMakerFaire.com
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Park Day School + Studio One Arts Center
Temescal District, Oakland

Mrs. Brown's Art - Elementary Art Curriculum

 Mrs. Brown's art curriculum spans the elementary school grades, where each grade level is given ideas for teaching art.  There are some fun ideas that are fairly easy to use.  Check it out!

Resources:

Mrs. Brown's Art Class
www.mrsbrownart.com

Mini Chefs, Oakland, CA

Mini Chefs is an amazing program that takes place at Tulip in Oakland bi-monthly.  His last class was , on Wednesday afternoon.  After cooking delicious blueberry smoothies and blueberry muffins, the teacher sat them all down on the rug and asked, "What is the important holiday coming up?"  My son, quickly said loudly, "Halloween."  Then, added that all the window displays have Halloween stuff in them.  Then, yesterday, when we got up to go to school, he said, "We need to not go to school today, it is Yom Kippur (Yom Kippur actually officially began last night.)  Thank goodness for programs such as Mini Chefs that teach curriculum that is important for young children to become more aware of their cultural and religious background.

Resources:

Mini Chefs

Cooking Club

Bi-Monthly Mondays

4:00-5:00PM

September through June

Located at Tulip, Rockridge, CA

JewishOakland.org/MiniChefs

Too much homework in elementary school?

The question of whether too much homework is given in elementary school is one that even teachers are asking lately.  When two parents are both working, many times families may not even sit down together until six or seven o' clock (or later.) The following are two very different scenarios of homework in the early grades.

 My friend's husband, who is currently unemployed, claimed to me recently that since he needs to sign his first grade's son's  homework each night, he feels like it is HIS homework.  This makes it difficult when his son refuses to do the work, and then this ruins the whole evening.  He's worried what is going to happen when he finally finds a job.  Will his son fall behind?  Will he be able to give his son the attention to daily homework?  Since they just foreclosed on a home, they both need to work right now just to get out of the hole they've been in financially.

Other friends of mine, who I ran into only a few days ago, send their son to Head Royce private school in Oakland, CA.  They told me that in the school there is a "no homework" policy in K and first grade.  They are really relieved about this since as a doctor and a lawyer, they want to spend "quality time" with their kindergarten son, rather than just doing homework.

How much is too much homework?  Is it needed?  How much time do two working parents have to sit down with their children and help with hours of homework?  Is this "quality time?"  These are interesting questions to me as I think about school choices for my child.

My 4 year old son's perfect morning!

My son wanted me to write this blog today!  This is a first!   He wanted me to write that he loves Children's Fairyland!  He loves Fairyland because of the two dragons, he claims, "One is nice and one is bad."  We are going there today and he wants everyone to know how excited he is!

Note:  We just learned that Children's Fairyland is on Fall hours; it is NOT open on many days during the week in the Fall.  Including today.  Don't forget to check their hours online before you visit.  So we'll be going to Lawrence Hall of Science instead.  You can check out some of our past blogs about LHS here.

He also wanted everyone to know about his favorite new breakfast!  This morning I made him Challah French Toast  (he just decided this today!)  It is Ina Gartener's recipe (found at this link).  I added a little white confectioner sugar on top and some "Let's do..Sprinkelz.   I got these sprinkles from Whole Foods and the coloring is natural dye, nothing artificial.  I didn't add the orange zest or the vanilla as recommended in the official recipe, just because I didn't have either on hand.

Enjoy!

Resources:

Children's Fairyland
Oakland, CA

Natural Sprinkles
Let's do...Sprinkelz
Distributed by Edward & Sons Trading Company
Box 1326, Carpinteria, CA  93014
www.edwardandsons.com
(the all natural dyes are extracts of seeds, vegetables, or fruits.)

Market Hall Bakery (Oakland, California)

Sprinkelz available online:

Why do teachers have to spend their own money?

One question I've had for years is why so many teachers have to spend their own money in order to have a quality program.  In California at least, most teachers have very little, if any funds to spend on extras to make a program interesting, and some even have to buy their own art and science supplies.  Given that some districts do not even have health insurance anymore, and I know teachers that therefore do not have health insurance and live from paycheck to paycheck, this is a crime.  Many people do not know that teachers do this, other than teachers friends and family.

Walnut Festival is more expensive than expected

I took my son to the Walnut Festival in Walnut Creek last night.  We parked across the street at the shopping center and ate dinner at MOOYAH burger place.  It is somewhat of a  gourmet burger place, and my son loved the kids cheeseburger.  My son walked into a bar table that was right next to the cashier, banged his head loudly,  and then screamed, "I NEVER want to come back here!"  He ended up getting a free chocolate milkshake out of the deal.  I told the manager that they may want to move the bar as I predict more children will be banging their heads soon!  Next time they may lose out more than a milkshake!


The Walnut Festival is VERY expensive for a casual family outing.  For example, it is $5.00 just to enter the festival for everyone two and older.  Then, for $20.00 you get 20 tickets which gets you on about 5 rides.  My son enjoyed the "Raider" ride the best which is themed after the movie raiders of the lost ark, there was lots of climbing involved so this ride may not be appropriate for some children.  Also, parents can not go on this ride with children.   Today, a wrist band will be available for $25.00 a person that will get you in any rides.  Yet, if a couple have two children, that is still very expensive for a festival, and that is not even including food and games (there are games everywhere, which my son was actually more interested in than the rides. Beware!  For my son and I it was a fun mommy and son date night but ended up being much more expensive than I expected.  Bring cash, and lots of it!

Tast of Bali in Oakland, CA

I love the Monkey Forest Road Cafe in Oakland, CA.  They have tasty coffee as well as regular and gluten free bakery treats.  The patio area is child and dog friendly, just bring some extra toys and books for entertainment.

They also have a gallery inspired by arts of wares of Bali.  This area is not very child friendly but children love the art and wares, just hold there hand.

They have the following books on display there which are fun to dream and peruse while
 enjoying coffee.  I love this place!

For teachers, this a wonderful place to correct papers, plan, dream, and relax and refresh for your next work day!

Resources:

Bali Modern- The Art of Tropical Living
By Gianni Francione
Periplus Editions
ISBN  962-593-466-9


Bali Living:  Innovative Tropical Design
By Gianni Francione with Kim Inglis
ISBN  978-0-7946-0567-4

Some Fenced and Gated Parks in the East Bay, CA

Here are some fenced and gated parks in the East Bay of  California.

Berkeley-  Aquatic Park-  80 Bolivar Drive
                 (Bancroft between University/Ashby.
Castro Valley- Parsons Park (top of Almond and Walnut Roads)
                      Castro Valley Community Park- 18988 Lake Chabot Road.
Concord- Hillcrest Park- 2086 Olivera Rd.
Dublin- Bray Commons- 3300 Finnian Way (at Keegan.)
Hayward- D Street Playground (between Foothill and Mission.)
Pleasant Hill- Gregory Land & Cleaveland
Lafayette- 500 St. Mary's Road (Behind Community Center.)
              - Brook Street and Moraga Road
              -Lafayette Reservoir
San Leandro- Halycon Park- 1245  147th Avenue
Santa Cruz- Frederick Street (By the Marina- great views!)

75th annual Walnut Festival, 9/20-9/23, Walnut Creek

The 75th annual Walnut Festival is starting today and ending this coming Sunday, September 23rd. This is a big festival in Walnut Creek at Heather Farms Park with the following amenities:

-carnival
-fishing
-3 stages of live entertertainment  (I'd recommend earplugs or a kid-friendly headphone as the music can get really loud at these festivals.  I took my son to the Lafayette art and wine festival last weekend and it was really loud!
-arts and crafts
-kidzone
-food and drinks

How Important is Play in Kindergarten?

     According to an article published by the Alliance for childhood entitled, Crisis in the Kindergarten, "Why Children Need to Play in School," child-initiated play should be restored to kindergarten.  Since my own son is currently in preschool, I am very interested in this current debate.  How much play should be incorporated in preschool and kindergarten curriculum and what should the play look like?
    Most teachers would agree that what used to be first grade curriculum looks more like kindergarten curriculum.  The argument is that school should be a place for learning, and that there is plenty of time for play at home.  Is this true?  What time do most kindergarten and preschool children actually arrive home, especially if both parents are working?  In upcoming blogs I hope to explore this debate further.
   
Resources:
www.allianceforchildhood

Apples and Honey for a Sweet New Year

The Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah began last night at sundown.  Cut apples and honey are foods almost always eaten together on this holiday.  The apple slices are dipped into honey and a prayer is given asking for a sweet new year.  Having apple slices with honey was such a treat for my son!  He was actually excited to eat apples!

Mr. Mopps 50th anniversary party on September 16

Mr. Mopps children's books and toys in Berkeley, CA, is having a 50th anniversary party tomorrow, September 16th, 2012.  There will be balloon animals created by a fairy and a pirate, face painting, chalk drawing, and live music.  The Family Book Lab a couple of doors down will offer free commemorative posters, and another neighbor, Music Connects, will also have an open house.

Resources:

Mr. Mopp's Children's books and toys
1405 MLK Jr. Way
Berkeley, CA

Date:  September 16, 2012

Time:  11AM- 3PM

Music:  11:00-11:45AM- Ukalady Band

            12:00- 12:45 PM  Brass Menazeri Band

Chabot Space and Science Museum

I visited the Chabot Space and Science Museum this past labor day, on September 3rd.  My preschool age son loved the preschool area of the museum with lots of hands on exploration experiences.  I also discovered that the museum has a Tyke Explorers workshop for children 2 1/2 to 5 years old.  There should be upcoming dates listed on the website, ChabotSpace.org/tyke-explorers.

There are also night hikes, numerous exhibits, as well as even an overnight experience at the museum for older children!

Resources:

Chabot Space & Science Center
www.chabotspace.org

Remembering