My son and I made the most delicious cheesy crescent rolls tonight by using Immaculate Crescent Rolls, and placing cheese and minced garlic inside the triangles, and rolling them up! We then baked them in a 350 degrees oven for 12-14 minute and they came out warm and delicious!
Update on October 1st- There was one extra roll last night so I thought I would pack it for lunch today, but he ended up wanting it as a late night snack. We are going to make more tonight!
Resources:
Immaculate Honestly Delicious Crescent Rolls (I picked these up at Whole Foods)
Need to keep dough refrigerated
(No bleached flour, No artificial preservatives, and no hydrogenated oil)
immaculatebaking.com
9010 Plymouth Avenue North
Golden Valley, MN 55427
1-800-243-6419
Monday, September 30, 2013
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Portuguese Language Classes for adults and children, Oakland, CA
Portuguese Language classes are now being offered on Piedmont Avenue in Oakland, CA on Mondays starting October 7, 2013. The focus will be on Brazilian music, dance, poetry, and legends. My son learned a little of Portuguese when he was three years old and started taking Capiero classes and the teacher taught some Portuguese as part of the lesson.
This class will be offered at Capoeira Mandinga on Piedmont Avenue in Oakland, CA. I haven't been to this studio, but am excited to try out this class with my son!
Resources:
Portuguese Language Classes
Adults and children Mondays
Classes begin from 6:30 to 7:30 PM on October 7th
The focus will be on Brazilian music, dance, poetry, and legends
(If interested, contact Georgia Esteves at georgiaesteves@gmail.com or call (510) 338-2256.)
Teacher: Georgia Esteves Young, from Rio de Janeiro
Location: Capoeira Mandinga, 4137 Piedmont Avenue, Oakland, CA
www.capoeiramandinga.org
This class will be offered at Capoeira Mandinga on Piedmont Avenue in Oakland, CA. I haven't been to this studio, but am excited to try out this class with my son!
Resources:
Portuguese Language Classes
Adults and children Mondays
Classes begin from 6:30 to 7:30 PM on October 7th
The focus will be on Brazilian music, dance, poetry, and legends
(If interested, contact Georgia Esteves at georgiaesteves@gmail.com or call (510) 338-2256.)
Teacher: Georgia Esteves Young, from Rio de Janeiro
Location: Capoeira Mandinga, 4137 Piedmont Avenue, Oakland, CA
www.capoeiramandinga.org
Review of New York Times article , "A.D.H.D. Seen in 11% of U.S. Children as Diagnoses Rise."
Through the years, in my teaching profession, I have seen the diagnoses of A.D.H.D. and A.D.D.H.D. rise. I am concerned since A.D.H.D., as mentioned in a New York Times article on March 31, 2013, has no definitive test and is determined only by speaking extensively with patients, parents, and teachers, and ruling out other possible causes. Teachers are given surveys to fill out to help diagnose. This process of ruling out other possible causes can be subjective and is time consuming, and is sometimes even skipped under "time constraint" and pressure from parents.
I was surprised to find out that fifteen percent of school age boys have received A.D. H.D. diagnoses, the rate for girls was 7%.
Most alarming was the rate of diagnoses among those of high school age, those from ages 14 to 17, these rates were particularly high, 10% for girls and 19% for boys. According to the New York Times article, "About one in ten high school boys are currently taking A.D.H.D. medication."
Resources:
The New York Times
March 31, 2013
"A.D.H.D. Seen in 11% of U.S. Children as Diagnoses Rise."
By Alan Schwarz
I was surprised to find out that fifteen percent of school age boys have received A.D. H.D. diagnoses, the rate for girls was 7%.
Most alarming was the rate of diagnoses among those of high school age, those from ages 14 to 17, these rates were particularly high, 10% for girls and 19% for boys. According to the New York Times article, "About one in ten high school boys are currently taking A.D.H.D. medication."
Resources:
The New York Times
March 31, 2013
"A.D.H.D. Seen in 11% of U.S. Children as Diagnoses Rise."
By Alan Schwarz
The A.D.D. Nutrition Solution: A Drug-Free 30 Day Plan by Marcia Zimmerman
This book, The A.D.D. Nutrition Solution, written by Marcia Zimmerman, relates discoveries made during Zimmerman's over ten years of research as a nutritional biochemist.
Resources:
The A.D.D. Nutrition Solution: A Drug-Free 30 Day Plan, by Marcia Zimmerman
Resources:
The A.D.D. Nutrition Solution: A Drug-Free 30 Day Plan, by Marcia Zimmerman
5 foods to avoid feeding children with ADDHD symptoms
5 Foods to Avoid feeding children with ADDHD symptoms:
1. SALT - Salt can lead to a depletion of the minerals needed to keep the neurons firing in a healthy manner.
2. CAFFEINE - Caffeine pulls minerals out of the bone. Coffee, tea and other caffeinated drinks are acidic and lower the natural ph of the body. Minerals are important also as they assist nerve function.
3.) SUGAR - Sugar is an ADDHD child's downfall because it robs the body of vitamins, minerals, and enzymes and increases hyperactivity by preventing blood sugar levels from remaining stable.
4.) HYDROGENATED OILS - Bad fats inhibit healthy nerve function. The wrong kinds of fats are the trans fats and saturated fats. Healthier oils include flaxseed, canola, and olive oils.
5.) ADDITIVES - Avoid food coloring such as reds ad yellows, and monosodium glutamate (MSG)
(Modified from Marcia Zimmerman's research about ADDHD and feeding children, from http://marciazimmerman.com/nutrition-solutions-to-autism-spectrum-disorders/ as well as Zimmerman's book, The A.D.D. Nutrition Solution: A Drug-Free 30 Day Plan.)
1. SALT - Salt can lead to a depletion of the minerals needed to keep the neurons firing in a healthy manner.
2. CAFFEINE - Caffeine pulls minerals out of the bone. Coffee, tea and other caffeinated drinks are acidic and lower the natural ph of the body. Minerals are important also as they assist nerve function.
3.) SUGAR - Sugar is an ADDHD child's downfall because it robs the body of vitamins, minerals, and enzymes and increases hyperactivity by preventing blood sugar levels from remaining stable.
4.) HYDROGENATED OILS - Bad fats inhibit healthy nerve function. The wrong kinds of fats are the trans fats and saturated fats. Healthier oils include flaxseed, canola, and olive oils.
5.) ADDITIVES - Avoid food coloring such as reds ad yellows, and monosodium glutamate (MSG)
(Modified from Marcia Zimmerman's research about ADDHD and feeding children, from http://marciazimmerman.com/nutrition-solutions-to-autism-spectrum-disorders/ as well as Zimmerman's book, The A.D.D. Nutrition Solution: A Drug-Free 30 Day Plan.)
Patchwork Children's Series, Freight and Salvage Coffeehouse, Berkeley, CA
Patchwork Children's Series
Berkeley, CA
All upcoming children's shows are Saturday at 11AM
Asheba with special guest, dane party with the Alphabet Rockers
October 12th, 2013, free show
The Hipwaders
December 21st, 2013
Resources:
2020 Addison Street, Berkeley, CA 94704
(510) 644-2020
folk@freightandsalvage.org
www.freightandsalvage.org
Transportation/Directions
Berkeley, CA
All upcoming children's shows are Saturday at 11AM
Asheba with special guest, dane party with the Alphabet Rockers
October 12th, 2013, free show
The Hipwaders
December 21st, 2013
Resources:
2020 Addison Street, Berkeley, CA 94704
(510) 644-2020
folk@freightandsalvage.org
www.freightandsalvage.org
Transportation/Directions
5 best foods for children with ADDHD
5 best foods to feed children with ADDHD symptoms:
1) Trace minerals such as zinc and iron. Trace minerals are found in such foods as fruits, vegetables, and animal products.
2) Calcium and Magnesium, in foods such as milk or lots of green veggies. Magnesium has a calming effect on the nervous system. Calcium and magnesium can be found in milk, milk products, green vegetables, such as broccoli, kale, collard greens, spinach, and whole grains and cereals.
3) Protein such as a smoothie including powder protein or eggs for breakfast, a snack such as brown rice cakes with hummus or crackers with any kind of nut butter.
4) Vitamin B complex such as nutritional yeast, liver, rice nuts, milk, eggs, meats, fish, fruits, leafy green veggies, or whole grains and breads.
5.) Essential Fatty Acids (EFA's) since the right kind of fats are needed to help the brain fire information efficiently from synapse to synapse. Fish, flax seeds, nuts are great sources of EFA's. DHA Omega 3 eggs are a great source of Omega 3 fatty acids. The right kinds of fats are need to help the brain fire information efficiently from synapse to synapse.
I like Judy's Family Farm organic Omega-3 eggs.
Judy's Family Farm
Petaluma, CA 94952
(Writings adopted from Marica Zimmerman's research written about on healthy living.com as well as other sources such as Zimmerman's book, The A.D.D. Nutrition Solution: A Drug-Free 30 Day Plan.)
Recipe for Ginger Roasted Salmon (See Comment below)
Ingredients-
4 (6 ounces each) of center cut boneless salmon
1 tablespoon of seasoned rice vinegar
2 tsp of fresh ginger
2 tsp of honey
2 tablespoons of olive oil
coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
Recipe-
1) heat oven to 425 degrees
2) Place salmon, skin down, on rack
3) Mix together vinegar, honey, ginger, and oil, until well combined
4) Pour 1 tsp over each salmon fillet. Roast until cooked through, 15-18 minutes.
5) Transfer to serving plates, drizzle each with additional tsp of ginger mixter.
(modified from ginger roasted salmon recipe on delish.com)
Note: I made this recipe tonight, on September 29th, and my son didn't like this recipe. I loved it, though!
1) Trace minerals such as zinc and iron. Trace minerals are found in such foods as fruits, vegetables, and animal products.
2) Calcium and Magnesium, in foods such as milk or lots of green veggies. Magnesium has a calming effect on the nervous system. Calcium and magnesium can be found in milk, milk products, green vegetables, such as broccoli, kale, collard greens, spinach, and whole grains and cereals.
3) Protein such as a smoothie including powder protein or eggs for breakfast, a snack such as brown rice cakes with hummus or crackers with any kind of nut butter.
4) Vitamin B complex such as nutritional yeast, liver, rice nuts, milk, eggs, meats, fish, fruits, leafy green veggies, or whole grains and breads.
5.) Essential Fatty Acids (EFA's) since the right kind of fats are needed to help the brain fire information efficiently from synapse to synapse. Fish, flax seeds, nuts are great sources of EFA's. DHA Omega 3 eggs are a great source of Omega 3 fatty acids. The right kinds of fats are need to help the brain fire information efficiently from synapse to synapse.
I like Judy's Family Farm organic Omega-3 eggs.
Judy's Family Farm
Petaluma, CA 94952
(Writings adopted from Marica Zimmerman's research written about on healthy living.com as well as other sources such as Zimmerman's book, The A.D.D. Nutrition Solution: A Drug-Free 30 Day Plan.)
Recipe for Ginger Roasted Salmon (See Comment below)
Ingredients-
4 (6 ounces each) of center cut boneless salmon
1 tablespoon of seasoned rice vinegar
2 tsp of fresh ginger
2 tsp of honey
2 tablespoons of olive oil
coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
Recipe-
1) heat oven to 425 degrees
2) Place salmon, skin down, on rack
3) Mix together vinegar, honey, ginger, and oil, until well combined
4) Pour 1 tsp over each salmon fillet. Roast until cooked through, 15-18 minutes.
5) Transfer to serving plates, drizzle each with additional tsp of ginger mixter.
(modified from ginger roasted salmon recipe on delish.com)
Note: I made this recipe tonight, on September 29th, and my son didn't like this recipe. I loved it, though!
Friday, September 20, 2013
Organic apple picking in Sebastopol, CA
This month I want to take my son to Gabriel Farm in Sebastopol, CA. They provide tours of their certified organic orchard. In order to be a u-pick visitor and pick their organic apples, you need to join their CSA by buying a case of their organic apple juice for $35.00.
Resources:
Gabriel Farm
3175 Sullivan Rd.
Sebastopol, CA
(707) 829-0617
Resources:
Gabriel Farm
3175 Sullivan Rd.
Sebastopol, CA
(707) 829-0617
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Train and Platform Toy - My son has loved this for a few years!
The Melissa & Doug Whittle World 9-piece wooden train and Platform set is one of my son's favorites! He got it when he was around 3, and he still enjoys it now! Why? It is a 9-piece wooden train and platform set. This play train set is full of imaginative fun!
My son and I went on the Amtrak train twice this summer, once to Los Angeles, and once to Eugene, Oregon, so he has the experience of really being on the train, which helps! This play set includes nine high quality wooden pieces - engine/dining with reversible tabletop, passenger car, station platform, and five people. The two-sided tabletop features a checkers game on one side, and dinner for two on the other! Tough plastic connectors easily attach and detach the train cars. There are smooth rolling cars for traveling. The interchangeable people are designed to fit into all the Whittle World sets.
I highly recommend this toy for the three to five year old set, though my child may still love it when he is six, I'll let you know!
Resources:
Melissa & Doug
Whittle World
9-piece wooden train & platform set
1-800-284-3948
www.MelissaAndDoug.com
ZP12031
P.O Box 590
Westport, CT 06881
My son and I went on the Amtrak train twice this summer, once to Los Angeles, and once to Eugene, Oregon, so he has the experience of really being on the train, which helps! This play set includes nine high quality wooden pieces - engine/dining with reversible tabletop, passenger car, station platform, and five people. The two-sided tabletop features a checkers game on one side, and dinner for two on the other! Tough plastic connectors easily attach and detach the train cars. There are smooth rolling cars for traveling. The interchangeable people are designed to fit into all the Whittle World sets.
I highly recommend this toy for the three to five year old set, though my child may still love it when he is six, I'll let you know!
Resources:
Melissa & Doug
Whittle World
9-piece wooden train & platform set
1-800-284-3948
www.MelissaAndDoug.com
ZP12031
P.O Box 590
Westport, CT 06881
Friday, September 13, 2013
Break the fast Yom Kippur Foods
Leah Koenig, author of "The Hadassah Everyday Cookbook: Daily Meals From The Contemporary Jewish Kitchen," suggests giving some traditional break-fast foods a modern twist. She recommends some of the following foods:
bagels
cream cheese
smoked fish
cucumbers, capers, red onion
fresh grain salad and/or other spreads such as hummus, curried yogurt dip, and pita chips
fresh vegetable for dipping
Recipe for Barley, Apple, and Feta Salad
from The Hadassah Everyday Cookbook: Daily Meals From The Contemporary Jewish Kitchen, by Leah Koenig
Serves 4-6
Ingredients:
1 cup of pearl barley
2 stalks of celery, finely chopped
1 green apple (such as granny smith) peeled and finely chopped
2 tablespoons of chopped flat-leaf parsley
1/2 cup of crumbled feta cheese
1/4 cup of lemon juice
3 tablespoons of olive oil
2 teaspoons of honey
salt and freshly ground pepper
Recipe instructions:
1. Add barley to a large saucepan and cover with water by 3 inches. Bring to a boil over high heat: reduce heat to medium and cook, partially covered, until tender, 30-40 minutes. Drain barley thoroughly and transfer to a large bowl, let cook slightly. Add celery, apple, parsley, and feta.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, honey, salt, and pepper to taste; drizzle over salad, and toss to combine. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Cookbook recommendations:
The Hadassah Everyday Cookbook: Daily Meals from the Contemporary Jewish Kitchen by Leah Koenig
The Foods of Israel Today by Joan Nathan
Website with recipes for Yom Kippur, from Haaretz
bagels
cream cheese
smoked fish
cucumbers, capers, red onion
fresh grain salad and/or other spreads such as hummus, curried yogurt dip, and pita chips
fresh vegetable for dipping
Recipe for Barley, Apple, and Feta Salad
from The Hadassah Everyday Cookbook: Daily Meals From The Contemporary Jewish Kitchen, by Leah Koenig
Serves 4-6
Ingredients:
1 cup of pearl barley
2 stalks of celery, finely chopped
1 green apple (such as granny smith) peeled and finely chopped
2 tablespoons of chopped flat-leaf parsley
1/2 cup of crumbled feta cheese
1/4 cup of lemon juice
3 tablespoons of olive oil
2 teaspoons of honey
salt and freshly ground pepper
Recipe instructions:
1. Add barley to a large saucepan and cover with water by 3 inches. Bring to a boil over high heat: reduce heat to medium and cook, partially covered, until tender, 30-40 minutes. Drain barley thoroughly and transfer to a large bowl, let cook slightly. Add celery, apple, parsley, and feta.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, honey, salt, and pepper to taste; drizzle over salad, and toss to combine. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Cookbook recommendations:
The Hadassah Everyday Cookbook: Daily Meals from the Contemporary Jewish Kitchen by Leah Koenig
The Foods of Israel Today by Joan Nathan
Website with recipes for Yom Kippur, from Haaretz
Excellent homeschooling blog - simplehomeschool.net
I stumbled across an amazing blog about homeschooling called simplehomeschool.net, when I was researching about why my son is getting grumpy after kindergarten! I love simplehomeschool.net.
Resources:
Blog about homeschooling
http://simplehomeschool.net
Resources:
Blog about homeschooling
http://simplehomeschool.net
A day in a Waldorf Kindergarten Class
I was interested to see this sample schedule and narrative of what children do in a Waldorf Kindergarten class, see http://simplehomeschool.net/ a-day-in-the-life-of-a-waldorf-kindergarten/.
The DO take naps!
The DO take naps!
How much sleep should children 3-5 get?
My son is five years old, and started kindergarten a few weeks ago. I am worried about him as he's been really grumpy! He told me today he wants to have a taxi take us to Amtrak and he wants to go on a sleeper train. This summer we had gone to LA, CA and to Eugene, Oregon on the sleeper train, he loved it! I think he is overtired, his Kindergarten goes from 8:30 to 1:30, which is shorter than many Kindergarten's in my area, yet I think it is still too long and tiring for my son. I researched the National Sleep Foundation, and they recommend that children 3-5 years old get 11-13 hours of sleep (including naps for children 5 years of age!)
The National Sleep Foundation claims, "Sleep is a vital need, essential to child's health and growth. Sleep promotes alertness, memory, and performance. Children who get enough sleep are more likely to function better and are less prone to behavioral problems and moodiness."
I know after doing research that my son needs more sleep! I wish kindergarten's incorporated rest time in their schedule!
Resources:
www.sleepforkids.org/html/sheet.html
The National Sleep Foundation claims, "Sleep is a vital need, essential to child's health and growth. Sleep promotes alertness, memory, and performance. Children who get enough sleep are more likely to function better and are less prone to behavioral problems and moodiness."
I know after doing research that my son needs more sleep! I wish kindergarten's incorporated rest time in their schedule!
Resources:
www.sleepforkids.org/html/sheet.html
gluten free bakery in Oakland, CA- Mariposa Artisan Crafted bakery
I enjoy going to Mariposa bakery and having their gluten free breads, pizzas and sweets! I go there about once a week and get some bread, a few sweets, and some crackers. Sometimes, I'll also get their frozen pizza, or order a piece of hot pizza! Yum!
Resources:
Mariposa Bakery
Oakland Bakeshop- 5427 Telegraph Avenue, unit d3, Oakland, California
SF Ferry Building Shop-One Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA
(510) 595-0955
www.mariposabaking.com
Resources:
Mariposa Bakery
Oakland Bakeshop- 5427 Telegraph Avenue, unit d3, Oakland, California
SF Ferry Building Shop-One Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA
(510) 595-0955
www.mariposabaking.com
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
snacks for lunches- organic fruit bites in snack pouches- my son loves them!
Have you ever found a lunch box left for the weekend with a rotting apple or other disgusting thing inside? Most mom's have! I do put apples and other some other fruit in my son's lunch, yet if he also has activities after school, and I want to pack something I sometimes reach for the organic fruit bites. I also use them for traveling, as they do not need to be refrigerated. My favorite brand is Annie's, and the ones my son likes are the "summer strawberry bunny fruit snacks" and the strawberry fruit bites. My son usually eats the whole pack, and there is one serving of fruit per pouch. There are no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives and they both come in fun shapes. The first ingredients listed is organic apple puree concentrate and organic apple juice concentrate.
Resources:
Annie's Homegrown
Organic Bunny fruit snacks, summer strawberry
Organic Orchard, strawberry fruit bites
Certified Organic by Oregon Tilth
Made in USA
1610 5th Street
Berkeley, CA 94710
Website: WWW.ANNIES.COM
1-800-288-1089
Resources:
Annie's Homegrown
Organic Bunny fruit snacks, summer strawberry
Organic Orchard, strawberry fruit bites
Certified Organic by Oregon Tilth
Made in USA
1610 5th Street
Berkeley, CA 94710
Website: WWW.ANNIES.COM
1-800-288-1089
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Homeschooling group- SF BUN, yahoo playgroup
My friend, who is homeschooling her two children, belongs to a group called SF BUN which is a San Francisco Bay Area of California group. They meet every Tuesday to do a playmate at a park. I went to the park playmate once in the summer, and there were an assortment of ages of children, and it appeared to be a fun, family activity!
Resources:
SF BUN
Yahoo Groups,
Homeschooling group that meets in various parks each week
Resources:
SF BUN
Yahoo Groups,
Homeschooling group that meets in various parks each week
Monday, September 9, 2013
Send K student to school with snacks and lunches that they can open on their own
One of my friends that teaches K, has told me that some of the students in her class this year can't even open their own snacks or lunches because they are sent in hard to open containers. Some of the little fingers are still developing. Also, most schools just don't have the help or assistance to give tons of individual attention, so that means students are waiting for teacher help just to be able to START eating their snack/lunch. Many schools are shortening the actual time to only 20 minutes so there is not much time to eat.
What children in a public school do in kindergarden
This is a sample of some of the things a child will do in K in a public school in California. Of course, all public schools are different. This school is in alignment with standards and this is based on the 2012-2013 school year, just to give a peak.
What K students did in 2013 in a sample public school:
*2 singing programs a year
*Learn how to add to 20
*Learn how to estimate
*Learn how to tell time
*Teacher will say numbers such as "3,6,9,12," and students will repeat.
*Students will learn to write, many times teachers will now use the document camera
* Students will be asked to draw a picture of themselves, this will sometimes go in their portfolio
*Students will learn to count, starting with 1 to 10 and extending to 30. Students will be shown random number cards and will be asked what they are. For example, "What number is this?"
*Students will learn lower and upper case letters. Students will be shown random lower and upper case letter cards and will be asked what they are. For example, "What letter is this?"
*Students will do a directed drawing
*Students will do journal writing, such as naming and telling
*Students will given a word such as snake, and the teacher will point to the s and ask, "What letter is that?"
What K students did in 2013 in a sample public school:
*2 singing programs a year
*Learn how to add to 20
*Learn how to estimate
*Learn how to tell time
*Teacher will say numbers such as "3,6,9,12," and students will repeat.
*Students will learn to write, many times teachers will now use the document camera
* Students will be asked to draw a picture of themselves, this will sometimes go in their portfolio
*Students will learn to count, starting with 1 to 10 and extending to 30. Students will be shown random number cards and will be asked what they are. For example, "What number is this?"
*Students will learn lower and upper case letters. Students will be shown random lower and upper case letter cards and will be asked what they are. For example, "What letter is this?"
*Students will do a directed drawing
*Students will do journal writing, such as naming and telling
*Students will given a word such as snake, and the teacher will point to the s and ask, "What letter is that?"
What children now need to know at the end of K in a public school
I talked with a friend this past summer who is an experienced kinder. teacher about what children are really expected to learn these days. The list is long! This list below does not necessarily reflect my personal opinion, it is just objective, from a teacher's mouth. Most teachers are worried we are trying to push to much to early, while not having enough time for social skills, art, and music.
What children are expected to know by the end of a public school K (all schools are slightly different, and private schools have their own expectations and curriculum.)
End of K:
-Teacher reads story such as 3 bears, and children can retell
-children know numbers to 30 (using little blocks to show 1 to 1 correspondence)
-know how to write and say numbers and letters
-know letters and sounds
-can name numbers in random number order
-knows 30 site words
-can recognize numbers versus just naming numbers
-can identify beginning sounds in words
-can order numbers with one through 30 number cards
-can identify ending sounds
-using color crayons, can identify colors, and can answer, "What color is that?"
-can dictate cvc (consonant, vowel, consonant) words such at cat
- when teacher reads story such as Little Red Hen, child can answer questions
What children are expected to know by the end of a public school K (all schools are slightly different, and private schools have their own expectations and curriculum.)
End of K:
-Teacher reads story such as 3 bears, and children can retell
-children know numbers to 30 (using little blocks to show 1 to 1 correspondence)
-know how to write and say numbers and letters
-know letters and sounds
-can name numbers in random number order
-knows 30 site words
-can recognize numbers versus just naming numbers
-can identify beginning sounds in words
-can order numbers with one through 30 number cards
-can identify ending sounds
-using color crayons, can identify colors, and can answer, "What color is that?"
-can dictate cvc (consonant, vowel, consonant) words such at cat
- when teacher reads story such as Little Red Hen, child can answer questions
Is this what children now need to know before K?
I talked to a friend who currently teaches Kinder. this summer and she gave me a list of things children need to know before Kinder. She is an experienced teacher.
The Before K List:
1. Write name
2. Can your child take turns, wait?
3. Play simple games, and not always win
4. Know how to share
5. Be able to cut a little with scissors, and not cut themselves or others
6. Know that they can't always be child of the day
The Before K List:
1. Write name
2. Can your child take turns, wait?
3. Play simple games, and not always win
4. Know how to share
5. Be able to cut a little with scissors, and not cut themselves or others
6. Know that they can't always be child of the day
Saturday, September 7, 2013
salty, crispy, organic snack for school
I packed Annie's homegrown organic snack mix for my son's snack at school last week. He likes salty, crispy snacks and I like the fact that the Annie's snack mix is made with organic ingredients. The snack mix includes baked cheddar crackers, buttery rich crackers, and pretzels.
Resources:
Annie's Homegrown Organic Snack Mix
(made with 100% organic valley cheese!)
www.Annies.com
1-800-288-1089
Resources:
Annie's Homegrown Organic Snack Mix
(made with 100% organic valley cheese!)
www.Annies.com
1-800-288-1089
bubble bath when overtired and cranky
I've been using the California Baby brand bubble bath for my son since he was a baby. I like using the Overtired and Cranky brand when he is tired and grumpy! It has chamomile, mandarin, rosewater, and aloe vera oils in it. The bubble bath produces no tears and is hypoallergenic.
Resources:
California Baby Overtired and Cranky Aromatherapy Bubble Bath
www.californiababy.com
(310) 277-6430
toll free (877) 576-2825
Resources:
California Baby Overtired and Cranky Aromatherapy Bubble Bath
www.californiababy.com
(310) 277-6430
toll free (877) 576-2825
child's bubble bath when sick
This was my son's first full week of kindergarden. He missed Thursday since he was sick. On Wednesday, since he was stuffy, tired, and grumpy I made him a nice bath when he got home. He didn't want to get in the bath, but it really relaxed him after he'd been in for awhile! My favorite bubble bath for him when he is sick, is California Baby's eucalyptus ease bubble bath. It has no sulfates, is tear free, organic, and is even safe for spas and hot tubs! There is even a bubble wand included for extra fun.
Resources:
California Baby eucalyptus ease bubble bath
www.californiababy.com/fun.html
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Walnut Creek Model Train Society, Walnut Creek, CA
My five year old son loves trains. I found the Walnut Creek Model Train Society this week, which we haven't checked out yet. They have limited hours and shows, so it is important to check the website for dates and times open.
Resources:
Walnut Creek Model Train Society
http://www.wcmrs.org/
2751 Buena Vista Ave.
(925) 937-1888
Resources:
Walnut Creek Model Train Society
http://www.wcmrs.org/
2751 Buena Vista Ave.
(925) 937-1888
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
THE FIRST FEW DAYS OF SCHOOL
I remember going on an interview years ago, and taking the book, The First Few Days, with me. It was recommended by a college professor that I trust and respect. The book is for both new and veteran teachers and for those who teach from K to college instructors. It explains about some essential qualities of an outstanding classroom that all teachers need to remember for those first few days, such as classroom management, teaching for mastery and to the standards, and creating positive expectations.
The First Days of School is a best selling book in education with over 2.2 million copies sold. My version in my teaching library that I bought years ago, didn't include a CD. Now, it is available with a CD, featuring Harry Wong, who is a sought after speaker in education, on both an audio and a video track.
I highly recommend the book, The First Few Days Of School! It really helps me stay focused on what is important at the beginning of the school year!
Resources:
The First Few Days Of School
Harry K. Wong and Rosemary T. Wong
The First Days of School is a best selling book in education with over 2.2 million copies sold. My version in my teaching library that I bought years ago, didn't include a CD. Now, it is available with a CD, featuring Harry Wong, who is a sought after speaker in education, on both an audio and a video track.
I highly recommend the book, The First Few Days Of School! It really helps me stay focused on what is important at the beginning of the school year!
Resources:
The First Few Days Of School
Harry K. Wong and Rosemary T. Wong
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