Friday, December 3, 2010

Thursday, July 22, 2010

It's Like Getting A Free Backpack!



Staples is offering FREE backpacks after Easy Rebate next week! The details can be found in the Staples preview ad. Make sure you are looking at the ad for the week of July 25 - 31.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Thursday Thought

Lead a life so that others will remember you not by your wealth or position, but by the content of your character.
-Martin Luther King, Jr.

Active With Asthma



Active With Asthma is a FREE, fun, educational day for children ages 6-14 with asthma. Children will learn about asthma, physical activity, medications, nutrition, how to avoid “triggers”, asthma action plans and more. Active With Asthma will be held at Principal Park in Des Moines on Friday, August 13 from 9 am – 4 pm. This is a great opportunity for kids to have FUN while playing games and meeting other kids with asthma! Lunch is included and there will also be a parent education component from 1pm - 3 pm. Registration is open to children across the state. Register online at www.lungIA.org. Please contact Janelle Thier with the American Lung Association in Iowa with any questions (515) 309-9507 Ext 224.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Thursday Thought

"I've learned that the more a child feels valued,
the better his values will be."
-from the book Live, Learn, & Pass It On

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Online Storytime by Barnes & Noble

This summer, Barnes & Noble is offering an Online Storytime for your children! The featured book for the month of July is "Smash! Crash!" by Jon Scieszka.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Thursday Thought

Let your thoughts be planted in rich soil and let your actions stand tall in a child’s eyes. Just as fruit does not fall far from the tree, children do not stray far from their heroes.

-Author Unknown

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Thursday Thought

20 minutes a day is the recommended amount of time to read to your child but I personally love the following recommendation...

"Read! Read! Read! until you think your lips are going to fall off -- and then... read one more!!"
-Bev Bos

Reading to your child WILL HAVE a MAJOR POSITIVE IMPACT on his/her future school success.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Thursday Thought

"Children need your presence more than they need your presents."

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Get Moving!

Movement is the key to healthy development. In a

world dominated by television, computers, and video games,

children are spending more time sitting down, indoors, and

staring at video screens than ever before. At the same

time, more children are being diagnosed with learning

disorders and developmental delays. The best way to help

these kids is to get them moving!

Children who are physically active in their early years

have a significantly greater chance of achieving success in

school. This is because movement stimulates the brain and

develops readiness skills, such as body awareness and

coordination, that are crucial to classroom learning.

Students who do not reach this level of developmental

maturity often have difficulty sitting still and paying

attention in class. They get distracted easily and as a

result, struggle with academics or behavior.

So get the kids moving this summer! Playing outdoors

and indoors helps ALL children develop mature readiness

skills, stay healthy, and most importantly, have FUN!


*Reprinted from S.M.A.R.T. Summer Ideas For Parents

The Minnesota Learning Resource Center

Friday, June 4, 2010

Friday Fact

Vocabulary - a way of naming things we know about

Did you know...

*children who have large vocabularies and lots of experiences using language are more successful in school. (Hart & Risley 1995)

*research has revealed that vocabulary knowledge is the single most important factor contributing to reading comprehension.

So...
TALK, TALK, TALK with your children. Discuss the things around them, answer their questions, ask questions, read non-fiction books. You'll be amazed with how much information they will retain and you'll be contributing to their future comprehension abilities.