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Making time

Posted on October 14, 2010 10:59 am by TheAngelForever

There seems to be a lack of time recently. Each day starts off with a list of items that needs to be done, but something always comes up. Case in point. Yesterday, I took JSL to nursery school. He was not feeling the best, but was not SICK, if you know what I mean. Just like big brother, when JSL is fighting off a cold his asthma kicks in. This makes him clingy, tired, and off. To make a long story short, I managed to leave the school (literally pulling him off my leg), get around the block, and suddenly I saw a familiar number on my cell phone ID. It was the nursery school director. She had a hysterical JSL in her office.

*sigh*

I went into the school and knew that my son was not really sick. He is fighting off a cold just like half of the kids in his class. His nose was running and he was coughing from non-stop tears. When I arrived, he perked up immediately. The first thought in my head was that this was a mistake. We were letting a three year old think that if he cries and has a fit, I will automoatically appear. I took his temperature and it was 97 (he has a very low normal temperature). After many more tears about leaving, I finally took JSL home. I set him up on the couch to rest, but he did not sleep. He wanted me next to him. So there I sat snuggled up with my little guy. While he watched cartoons, I finished listening to The 19th Wife on my MP3 player. Those articles for Kids Fun Plaza NENY will have to wait for another day. My little guy needed me. As we were walking to school to pick up NHL yesterday, this was JSL.

He fell asleep with a Doodle Pro in his hands while I was walking and talking with another mother. Yes, he was one tired little puppy.

Although there may not be enough time in the day to get my writing done ahead of schedule, have a spotless house, exercise (need to work on that one), and do research on Gifted Education, at least I know I am here and ready to help my boys if/when they need me. Everything will get done, but a time out for snuggles and hugs may be required first.

Categories:
jsl me moments photos school vent

Tuesday Tales – The importance of picture books

Posted on October 12, 2010 11:03 am by TheAngelForever

The sky is falling, the sky is falling! Seriously, that is what I thought was happening last week as I started to hear about an article on October 8. The article published in the New York Times was about how picture books are losing their popularity. As I read the piece, my mind was racing. Picture books are such an amazing resource and now parents actually are knowingly pushing their children away from them in favor of chapter books. Yikes!

My oldest son is seven years old now. As a second grader, I have to admit that I would love him to read more chapter books. Check that, I would like him to read some high quality chapter books to broaden his horizons. Unfortunately, my son has no real interest in them. He already finished the Magic Treehouse books, and read a few others in the past. Now, he’s more interested in flying solo to complete his 100 books for the Readers to Leaders program at his school. My philosophy: Reading is the most important part of this equation – read and I will be happy. Seriously, I am not going to fight my child. If he wants to devour 3-4 picture books in a sitting over a chapter book I am game. The end product is he is being exposed to people, places and things that he never would have met without the stories.

When we go to the library, picture books are a staple for us. I often pick out nonfiction books by authors like Gail Gibbons and others to offer different genres. As a second grader, I am able to talk to my son and ask him what genre of book this would be. He can also answer how did the author wrote it, what are the story elements are, and more. Yes, he can answer these important questions which not only assist him as a reader, but encourage him within his own writing.

When I was teaching Language Arts to sixth graders, I also used picture books. Yes, even at the middle school level picture books can play an important role. One of my units of study was the book (chapter book) Ella Enchanted. We started off the time by reading a variety of Cinderella stories. For several days, we sat for story time listening to different tales of Cinderella and family. My students learned about different cultures and were able to see how different authors interpreted a classic tale. Comparing and contrasting the stories using Vehn Diagrams (a skill needed for ELA exams) was then completed along with some other tables about the books. Next, we listened to Ella Enchanted on CD. Then we watched the movie to write an essay on the difference/similarities of the book and movie Ella Enchanted (the lesson learned – you can not watch a movie to do a book report). At the same time, my students were also creating their very own Cinderella story to publish. We went to the computer labs to type them up, print them out and eventually they were bound with their own illustrations. It was an amazing accomplishment all thanks to the inspiration of other picture books read.

I would love for you to chime in on this hot topic in the world of books. What do you think about the role of picture books in the world?

Here are what some others have written on the topic: If you have something just let me know and I will add it to this list:

GeekMom – The Reason We Should Read Picture Books to Older Kids
On Our Minds @ Scholastic – Picture this…
Brimful Curiosities – Do you buy picture books? We do!

I would like to thank the authors and publishers of picture books for their creations. The memories that I have from readingy your books as a child, teacher and parent are one that will forever be in my heart.

So what have you read recently? Please be sure to link up to your Tuesday Tales and/or leave a comment below. Include something you read on your own, with a child or someone else. Tuesday Tales are all about spreading the love for books.

Categories:
books looking back me moments nhl photos real world news

Holiday park fun with the boys

Posted on October 11, 2010 5:16 pm by TheAngelForever

Since today is Columbus Day, NHL does not have school. I took the boys to get something special out for lunch and we brought it back to Nana’s house. Nana went with us to the library after that to return some items. We picked up a few new books and then went to the park. This is the point that I realized I had left my camera at home (batteries are acting up again). So please excuse my cell phone photo quality, but it helped to capure some moments in time.

Here is the little guy hamming it up on the train:

NHL was trying to avoid me while on the slide, but he stopped for a few seconds:

Then I asked for a photo of the two of them together – NOT! A three year old and seven year old do not stay still long enough on a playground for long.

Nana had the boys stop to check out the acorns on the ground. NHL was really into investigating the holes in the ground where they were located.

After that, it was big blue slide time. For some reason, JSL wanted to hold Nana’s hand on the way down.

Next, they were both eaten by a hippo, flew on an airplane, and rode on a giant purple T-Rex.

And last but not least they spun themselves dizzy, were swinging to the sky, and went rock climbing before heading home.

Sorry for the day off, but I am spending it with my two sepcial little boys. With any luck, the weather will continue to be like this and I will get a few more fun afternoons outside with my kiddos.

Categories:
brothers family fun jsl nhl photos sahm weather

Apples and Abba

Posted on October 9, 2010 1:21 pm by TheAngelForever

Dear JSL,

This was your first full week of nursery school in quite some time. Wednesday, you were supposed to go on an apple picking field trip. There was going to be a hayride and other fun activitities. Unfortunately, the rain had other plans. Well over five inches of rain came and would not stop over several days. Thanks to this, apple picking was not an option. Your teachers made some extra fun activities that were apple related this week. You were so proud to share your painted apple on the wall:

When we walked into school Friday, there was a surprise waiting for you. You had one of the most prized jobs for the week. You were selected to be Abba for Shabbat. I wanted to take your photo next to the table, but you were a little stinker and refused. So I took a picture of the table.

When school was over, you were so proud to show me your Abba sticker and tell everyone about it and the grape juice. Yes, there is no doubt you really like nursery school, even if you are a bit clingy in the mornings lately. I can not wait to see more of your projects and visit one day when you are Abba to see you in action.

Love,

Mommy

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If you want to participate in Dear Kid Saturday, head on over to Cutest Kid Ever by clicking on the button below.

Categories:
Dear Kid Saturday jsl milestone photos school

Introducing KidsFunPlaza

Posted on October 8, 2010 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Over the last few months, I have mentioned projects, deadlines, articles to write and blog posts for another project in my Tweets. Up until this post, I have been pretty quiet about it here on my own blog. I have been working on a new adventure. To say that this never would have been possible without social media, specifically Twitter, would be an understatement.

Quite a while ago, I "met" @AnaRC on Twitter. We started chatting about crazy New York winters and Disney. Ana moved to Northeast NY from her previous home of Western NY. Fast forward to present day and I am working on her latest pet project called KidsFunPlaza. This project is a dream that she had and is living out. Not only is there a blog, but a new magazine for the Northeast region of New York. Check out our first baby (with my second baby modeling it):

I am writing the toddler and kiddo articles on the KidsFunPlaza Blog as well as in the magazine. In addition to this, I am doing interviews in the magazine for the Parent and Educator of the month. Our second magazine is going to print next week and I can not wait to see it. The blog is not region specific and has articles that are written by an amazing group of women that I will introduce you to soon in another post. For now, please say hello to those of us on Twitter –> @CutestKidEver, @TheCraningGap, @SandraFoyt and @AlbanyMommy (if I missed someone please let me know). The magazine is a local resource for parents, grandparents, and others that will be available in locations for FREE. Eventually, KidsFunPlaza will be expanding to other regions and will be a fantastic resource for people throughout the country.

So my question to you this week is:

Do you have a free local parent magazine/paper near you? If you do what do you like/dislike about it? If you do not, what would you like to see in one some day?

Also be sure to enter my CardsDirect $50 gift card giveaway. TechyDad is also hosting a LuLu.com Photo Book giveaway.

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Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the linky there if you are participating.