Friday, May 6, 2016

BRAIN DRAIN




Brain Drain or how to keep your kids learning skills sharp over the summer break

I know I used to look forward to summer vacation as a child, (maybe not so much as a mother) but still there was something about those carefree days of lounging around, swimming, and playing with friends all day.  Little did we know that we were probably victims of “Brain Drain”, that loss of knowledge and skills that were acquired during the school year.

Students who don’t read or participate in learning activities during the summer months can lose a grade level of math and reading skills equal to two months of learning according to a study at Johns Hopkins University. If kids are not exposed to books in the home or given the opportunity to read they come back to school further behind than when they left at the start of the summer.

So what we can do as parents and caregivers to keep children engaged over the summer months to prevent this loss of skills? Here are some fun activities to plan.

  1. Plant a garden. Kids will learn about seed dirt, and where food comes from. It’s also good exercise getting out and working together in a garden.  To tie in this activity with reading here are some reading suggestions.


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  1. Form a home or group theater. Kids can write, produce, act and perform a story. This will sharpen writing, speaking, and art skills. They could perform at home or in a park for a great family night of fun.
  2. Visit a Zoo, planetarium, science museum or other such place. We are fortunate to have all of these within an hour of our town and the kids really enjoy them no matter their age.
  3. For home activities get involved with your kids in the kitchen. Preparing a dish from a cookbook requires math skills, reading skills along with eye hand coordination. Or you could build a birdhouse together. Again math skills and eye hand coordination are utilized.
  4. Join a summer reading Program. This of course is my favorite one being a book nerd and book seller.  Most local libraries offer a reading program often giving small prizes as rewards.  The Gatesville Library has online registration for their program http://www.ci.gatesville.tx.us/index.asp?SEC={858CCB52-342A-437D-9B8E-8271BEA92F6B}&Type=QUICKFORM&persistdesign=none

Often working parents struggle to make time to attend these events at the library so another option would be to join the Barefoot Books World Passport Reading Program. With this program you can travel the globe without leaving home. You will increase their global awareness; create knowledge and tolerance of other cultures while boosting their literary skills. A child needs to read at least 6 books over the summer to maintain their knowledge and reading level that they had at the end of the school year.  

Kids will get access to their own passport reading log activity, and you will receive updates full of tips to help.


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Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Stem & Steam Part 2


Stem & Steam

Part 2 – Books to Share

 

Yesterday I talked about why STEAM & STEM education is important. I personally lean towards STEAM because I feel the addition of art curriculum in necessary for a well-balanced education and also to reach more kids that learn visually. Books of course play a very important role in the education of all children no matter their age or learning ability. Counting books for infants and toddlers introduce them to the concept of numbers. One of my eldest daughter’s first words was “two”.  She was just over a year old and she knew what it meant to have two cookies. I could give her one and she‘d shake her head and point to the cookie jar and say two. She was not happy until she had two. In simple counting books often it is just a number on a page with pictures of that many items. When looking at books like this don’t just say then number and say 6 snakes (or whatever is pictured). Count the snakes or you can do the math and say 5 + 1 = 6. Make sure you demonstrate the concept of math, not just the words.

 

As children grow older you can introduce stories that include math and science lessons when they are written into the story so that the children are entertained but also challenged with these new ideas. Here is one of my favorites from Barefoot Books.

 

   

 

The Real Princess

A Mathemagical Tale

Practice your math skills while enjoying this quirky take on "The Princess and the Pea." The King and Queen and their three sons are on the search for a real princess, but it is only the Queen who knows the secret. After the story, there is an opportunity for readers to test their counting skills with fun number games. Book with CD edition includes story read by actress Juliet Stevenson.
http://bit.ly/1WFQaB6

 

New this Spring also from Barefoot Books is the Genius of Leonardo da Vinci. Many of us think of him as a famous artist, but he was also an engineer and inventor that was truly amazing for his time. If I had to choose one book for a STEAM classroom, this would be it.

 

The Genius of Leonardo da Vinci

Meet Leonardo da Vinci: artist, engineer, pacifist and inventor. Told through the eyes of da Vinci’s young apprentice, this stunning book will fascinate youngsters — and inspire everyone! Features original words and drawings from da Vinci’s notebooks to spark curiosity about STEAM and offer a unique glimpse into this boundary-busting thinker.

Ages 5 to 11 years


 

My Granny Went to Market is a very popular book as it is a counting book but it is so much more. It teaches Geography, World Cultures, and rhyming while on a journey around the world. This book is a great way to introduce young children to other cultures and to teach them about how unique yet similar we all are around this magnificent planet. Kids and adults alike enjoy this book.

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My Granny Went to Market

A Round-the-World Counting Rhyme

Fly away with Granny as she takes a magic carpet ride around the world, collecting a steadily increasing number of souvenirs from each exotic location! This rhyming story will take young readers on an adventure to different countries while teaching them to count along the way.


 

I wanted to include the Barefoot Books World Atlas as it is a priceless educational tool for young students. This is one that should be included in every home library. This book is a great introduction to the world around us. With its interactive pages children really enjoy discovering each new country and continent.

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Barefoot Books World Atlas

This is the atlas for twenty-first-century readers. It’s packed with information about the way in which communities and cultures around the world have been shaped by their local environments, and it looks at the ideas and initiatives that are shaping the future.

Maps of regions and oceans bring faraway places to life, with illustrated geographic and architectural features, people, plants and wildlife, from oil fields to Buddhist monks to the Amazon rainforest. Also features a pull-out map, fold-out booklets and panels.


 

This final book I enjoy as it makes a really nice bedtime story and what a great way to send those kids off to dreamland than with visions of stars, planets and our solar system to fuel their dreams.

Star Seeker

A Journey to Outer Space

Journey through the night sky on a poetic trip that blends adventure, imagination and science to teach the basics of our solar system. Includes endnotes about the planets, stars, moons, constellations and even a little mythology.

Ages 5 to 7 years

This book is currently out of stock until August 2016.


 

These are just a few recommendations that I currently have and I will add more as I explore and find books that I know I’d love to read. I love when I can sit and share a story with a child that entertains and yet also teaches them about the world of science, math, and more often without them even realizing it. These books are perfect for the classroom, homeschool, library or just to read with your child. If you have any questions please comment below and I will get back to you.

Please feel free to share this blog with your friends and family, I want to inspire everyone with a child in their life to read to them and with them.