Friday, April 27, 2012

Fantasy Photos

by Lisa Stowe From FamilyFun Magazine

Fantasy Photos

Show off how zany your family really is by creating these altered portraits you can post on the refrigerator.

What You Need
  • Family photographs (or printouts)
  • Glue dots
  • Ribbon, fabric, and yarn, and other decorative items
Instructions
  1. Fantasy Photos Variation Give each player a family photograph (or printout), glue dots, and a supply of decorative items, such as ribbon, fabric, and yarn. Then see who can come up with the most outrageous improvements. Our testers giggled as they made a funky fabric shirt for Dad, a glitter-glue collar for the dog, and blue tinsel hair for Grandma. One goofy group turned their clan into aliens with pom-pom antennae and googly eyes.

Monday, April 23, 2012

Raising Readers


Tomorrow Night at the Coleraine Library - Raising Readers - see attached flyer for information. This is an awesome offering for our community - Hope to see you there!

STEM Tools at Home

Many of the "tools" needed for science, math, and engineering exploration are right inside your home! Here are five ideas for putting everyday tools to work for some everyday fun:
STEM Tools at Home | Reading Topics A-Z | Reading Rockets

Friday, April 20, 2012

Bloomin' Buttons

Bloomin' Buttons

If spring has yet to blossom, your kids can create a preview of the season's colors by livening up your houseplants with vibrant button flowers.

Materials

  • 26-gauge green florists' wire
  • Colorful buttons
Instructions
  1. Step 1 - Bloomin' Buttons For each flower, thread an 8-inch length of florists' wire up through a stack of colorful buttons, then back down, as shown.

  2. Twist the wire just below the stack to secure it, then insert the flower in your plant's soil.

Monday, April 16, 2012

Help Your Child Get Organized

http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/learning/child_organized.html#

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Friday, April 13, 2012

Children's Fair - Save the Date!!!

Children's Fair
Saturday, April 28, 2012 9am-1pm
IRA Civic Center, Grand Rapids
Enjoy Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast 9-11am
Explore BIG Vehicles
Delight in the Carnival and Activities, Discover Opportunities for Youth and Families
Enjoy Storytellers and Music
Fun and Learning for all ages!

Monday, April 9, 2012

Be Positive!

Instead of telling your kids what not to do, try telling them what they should do. Negative messages such as "don't" and "no" tend to break down self-esteem. Try to ask your child to "Please do" instead. Don't forget YOUR manners!

Friday, April 6, 2012

Team up to Green up - Save the Date!!



Saturday April 21st
9:00am - 12:00pm
Grand Rapids Middle School














Grand Rapids High School’s GREEN TEAM and Grand Itasca Hospital are “TEAMING UP” to save the environment. Join us for 2 Special Presentations by the Science Museum and our Environmental Explosion!!!

9:30 am Three Rivers Presentation-Discover about the Mississippi, St. Croix and Minnesota Rivers and their important differences in water quality, land use, and river use. Understand that source pollution is a serious concern.

11:00 am Energy Connection-How to use energy wisely. Focus on the science of energy and energy conservation. Watch dynamic demonstrations and use one-of-a-kind equipment.

There are also demonstrations and exhibits on the environment in the Commons Area from 9am-12pm. Funded in part by Blandin Foundation-Children First!, Grand Itasca Clinic and Hospital, Grand Itasca Clinic and Hospital Foundation, Lake Country Power Operation Round Up, and ISD 318 Community Education.






Monday, April 2, 2012

6 Easy Ways for Kids to Learn

(1) Music. Kids like songs and catchy tunes. Think about how many times you've been unable to shake a song from your mind. Kids learn great lessons and ways of doing things such as learning your address, phone number, how to brush your teeth, state capitals, or even how to spell their names.

(2) Repetition. Hearing and seeing something enough times helps a child learn. It starts to stick to them like glue so having them repeat their verb conjugation of the word "to be" in Spanish or what

(3) Exposure. If your middle school kid has a science test on photosynthesis or the parts of the heart, post the photos and information they learn from class around the house. In the bathroom (they look at it while they brush their teeth), in their room where they study, in the kitchen on the wall where they can see it while they eat. Repeated exposure to educational tools is important. Think how you posted the alphabet in your toddlers room so they could see the letters everyday. The same holds true with an older child.

(4) Involvement. Nothing helps a child learn quite like an involved parent, but it doesn't mean you have to grill your child on their spelling words for hours at a time. Approach it differently, ask them to explain it to you. Such as "Pretend I don't know who Thomas Jefferson is. Tell me what you've learned about him" then simply listen. See how the child gets excited about telling you something they've learned.

(5) Routine. Having an established after school routine helps a child get their homework done without the chaos of trying to finish a forgotten assignment at midnight the night before its due. This can work even with after school activities. Have your child empty their homework at the same place everyday and ask them what's due, when and ask how you can help. The child should do their homework in the same place and put it in their backpack as soon as it's completed. Again, no scrambling for it the next morning or worse, leaving it at home. Nothing is more discouraging that doing the homework perfectly, only to leave it on your kitchen table.

(6) Environment. Make sure where the child does his homework is productive for that child's learning. Is the TV blaring, the radio on, you're cooking dinner and the child is sitting at the kitchen table stuck on problem #1? Maybe the environment is too chaotic for him. Find a quiet, simple place for the child to work by turning off the TV until all homework and chores are done. (The chores thing is really to help out parents.) That way you can offer a productive environment for the child and are able to stay involved in their progress. Limited distraction is important when learning new things or figuring out problems.

http://parent.lifetips.com/cat/2432/education/index.html

Brain and Learning

Recent advances in brain imaging measures provide us with new information about the reading processes taking place within the brain.
Brain and Learning | Reading Topics A-Z | Reading Rockets