With Christmas just around the corner, I have been thinking about gift giving. Do you give books as gifts? I try to!

I heart books...

To me, books are the kind of gift that just keep on giving…unlike things with batteries! I also like that a child must engage their imagination to bring the pages to life in their mind…that is one of the parts I enjoy most about books when I read fiction…what do the characters look like, what kind of house do they live in?? To me, it is way more fun than giving a DVD…all the thinking was done by someone else!!

What are some of your favourite books to give as gifts?? Last year, I gave my kids each a magazine in their stocking…something fluffy to read for the girls…and a drum magazine for my son. This year my son requested a magazine subscription (oh…and the complete collection of Calvin and Hobbs!!). I am still thinking what to get the girls…lots of options for them!

What books have you given in the past…or what books are on the list this year? Love to get some new ideas!

I read this list a few years back…it made me smile…books really are the simplest way to go!

~ Books don’t need to be assembled before being given.
~ Books don’t need batteries.
~ Books never come in the wrong colour or size.
~ Books don’t need to be serviced by a dealer.
~ Books don’t need spare parts.
~ Books are easier to gift wrap than footballs.
~ Books don’t bite, scratch or kick.
~ Books don’t need watering or fertilizing.
~ Books don’t irritate your allergies.
~ Books don’t go out of style.
~ Books look good with any decor.
~ Books don’t get aphids or draw ants.
~ Books don’t bark or need to be walked in the middle of the night.
~ Books don’t shrink, stretch or fade.
~ Books don’t need extension cords.
~ Books won’t scratch the coffee table.
~ Books don’t get stale before they arrive.
~ Books never need ironing.
~ Books don’t have zippers that break.
~ When you are finished with a book, it is not empty.

Looking forward to hearing  your book suggestions…and have a wonderful time searching for the perfect books to give to your loved ones this year!!

Photo Credits: darwinbell (Creative Commons license on Flickr)

Practice family literacy in your home and community. Here are some great tips to start you on the road to reading:

Find a local Literacy cause...this one is mine!

Ask your child questions about the story you’re reading to ensure comprehension.

Book family time to read with your children every day.

Create a special reading place in your home, with your child’s favourite books within reach.

Donate funds to the literacy cause! For information on programs in your community, look under LEARN in the Yellow Pages.

Encourage children to read words on TV, street signs, mugs and t-shirts.

Find new stories to read with your children every week. Vary their length and subject matter.

Give your time to read aloud to a child.

Have a child read a book to you.

International Literacy Day is held on September 8 every year. Celebrate the day by picking up a book and reading to a child.

January 27 is Family Literacy Day! Visit www.abc-canada.org for a complete listing of Family Literacy Day events across Canada.

Keep teens reading. Give them books, newspaper articles and magazines about things that interest them – music, movies, TV and computers.

Let your child purchase a new book for his birthday!

Make every day a learning day. Ask your children to make a shopping list, read recipes together or help them make a calendar of their weekly activities.

Newborns benefit from reading too!

Organize a children’s book club with friends in your neighbourhood.

Purchase books to have in your home for your children to read over and over again.

Quiet, cozy reading spaces are good places for your child to read independently.

Remember that children learn by example – if you recognize the importance of reading, your children will too!

Set aside one day a week to make a regular visit to the library.

Treat a child to a story a day.

Usborne Books provide a great opportunity for your child to improve reading skills while learning lots of information.

Volunteer your time. Family literacy groups in your community could use your help with tutoring adults, reading to children and helping out with administrative tasks.

Write a letter.

X-ercise your mind! Reading ability is like a muscle, if you don’t exercise it often, you will not maintain the same level of reading ability as you get older. So – “use it or lose it!”

You are the key to improving a child’s reading ability by placing a high priority on reading in your home.

Zap off the TV – pick up a book instead!

~ Source Unknown

In Flanders Fields

by John McCrae

May 1915

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

We are thankful for what men and women have done to preserve our freedom…never forget!

Check out this site for more background on this poem and its author.

Photo Credits: petercastleton (Creative Commons license on Flickr)

Reading is important…but I think you know that since you are reading a blog about it <grin>!!

But do you read TO your children, even when they are older?? We do in our house! Why?? Because it is a great thing to do together! But where do you begin? Here are my thoughts…

Enjoying reading together!

When you have really little ones, don’t wait until they are bigger…start right away!  There are amazing books out there for really little ones…fun board books that are meant to be loved and enjoyed! They have a few words to give the child the wonderful sound of the parent’s voice…but they can also have bright colours, touchy feely spots…something for all five sense! It is so amazing to watch little ones as they take in the books…it is just the beginning of their journey to reading!

For preschoolers, there are SO MANY excellent books out there for a parent to read to your child…but this is where you  may find the attention span can be all over the place…that is okay…they are just getting the hang of listening and it could take a bit of practice. Usborne has a great series that helps them step into reading slowly, with a few little tricks. The series is called “Farmyard Tales” and has some neat features. The first is that each story (there are 20 of them, all taking place in and around Apple Tree Farm) begins the same…”This is Mrs. Boot the Farmer. She has two children called Poppy and Sam and a dog called Rusty” (typed from my memory <grin>)….and so they can pretty much join in and help mom and dad get the story going! And you will find that the main characters are going to show up over and over again…kids love that! And one more thing that is fun…there is a little yellow duck to find on every page…just the thing to help your child have something to do while listening to you read! This was the highlight for my kids, for sure!

What about reading to school age children? Do you stop when they can read themselves? No! We continue to read aloud here and our girls are in Grade 4, 9 and 12! It is a fun family thing to do…but it is also helping to build their listening skills, something definitely needed in life. And reading books above your child’s reading level (but something they have an interest in) can only help improve their vocabulary and interest in the subject. Another advantage to reading aloud rather than reading silently? As a parent, you can stop and discuss things along the way that you would not have had the opportunity to do if your child were in his room reading by himself. We have had some excellent conversations which began by reading a chapter in a book.

And don’t be afraid to switch it up sometimes…maybe read a magazine article or poetry (rhyming ones are good for little ones) or different Advent type books before Christmas, etc…what are some of YOUR favourite books to read as a family? Enjoy them this week!

Photo Credits: edenpictures (Creative Commons license on Flickr)

This is a great article by Daniel Belcher…

For many, reading has many benefits that continue to enhance their lives. Their lives are bettered in some the following ways: mentally, spiritually and sociality. Also, if we develop a habit reading will we become more confident and self assured in abilities to comprehend and understand all types of information. Let’s further examine some of the benefits of reading.

One of the other main benefits of reading is that it exercises your mind. Your mind begins to bend and flex mentally, It stays lose and limber so to you can flow easier through the course of the day. The regular routine ensures that the reading muscle stays in good shape as well as the mind. Just like physical exercise, there has to be a determination to make reading part of your life. If you understand the many benefits of reading, you will have no trouble adopting a regular habit of reading.

Reading has other benefits to the regular reader which is the ability to focus. When the mind is trained and channeled, it begins to pay attention more thoroughly. For example, when you are faced with some of life’s difficult and challenging assignments, you will have the ability to stay calm and objectively look at the problem, circumstances or required task. If you continue to read, you continue to stay focused; bottom line.

There is perhaps no greater avenue to learning then through reading. All people, great and small, have learned more things by reading then practically anywhere other way. When we continue to read, we have the ability to expand our minds tremendously. We review the pages of knowledge left by those who came before us. We than begin to add to the knowledge as the cycle of humanity continue. The regular routine reading has positively chanced the course many peoples’ lives.

Finally, when we develop a practice a habit of reading, we are building solid foundation on which to build. This foundation of reading will allow us to accomplish many goals and ambitions we have for our lives. Our habit of continuing to read helps to ensure we will continue to succeed. Reading has a long and distinguish track record for establishing positive and lasting benefits to humanity.

I retired from United States Navy in 2003, after serving over 21 years of enlisted active duty onboard several different ships and a few shore assignments. I am married. My wife and I have two daughters. We have two dogs, Chow Chow’s, to be exact. I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Liberal Arts (Focus area Psychology) from Excelsior College class 2004.

What are you doing to make reading an integral part of your life (and the life of your children?)?

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Belcher

Photo Credits: moriza (Creative Commons license on Flickr)

What are learning styles…and why does it matter? A child’s learning style is how he processes information the easiest…and this can be VERY helpful as you help him try to retain the information he is learning at school or home. I heard a speaker talk about learning styles and she used a very simple illustration to give parents a hint as to which learning style is most predominant in your child. This is not overly scientific, but it does give a little insight as to which approach might help your child as they learn and read.

The speaker encouraged us to observe our child as we asked them simple questions, about anything as the questions and answers were not really important, but HOW they answered was. They are likely to do one of three things (at least most of the time) when they ponder their answers…

1. Your child may look “up” as if to search for the answer somewhere in outer space…this is an indication that your child may be a visual learner. It is almost as if they search around to “see” the answer! This child is all about what they can see when learning, so a very colourful, detailed book would be wonderful for them as they tend to think in pictures. Any kind of chart, diagram, photograph etc. will help them absorb the information better. They also tend to sit at the front of a classroom so they can take in everything the teacher has to say…including their visual expressions and body language.

2. Your child may look “sideways” as if to look for the answer in their ears…this would be an indication that your child may be an auditory learner. It is almost as if they are looking to find the answer in their ears as this is how they seem to learn the best…by hearing! The information comes to life via listening to the tone of voice, pitch, speed and other nuances. This type of child would do well listening to parents read a book aloud or with books on CD.

A lot can be built while listening to a story...even a pyramid!

3. Your child may look “down” at their hands as if looking for the answer there…this would be an indication that your child may be a kinesthetic (tactile) learner that seems to learn best by doing! This type of child needs to be moving while learning…so maybe learning to count by jumping on the stairs or playing with lego while listening to mom read so they can sit still a bit longer. They really need to be able to explore the world around them and need a very hands-on approach to learning.

It is so interesting to watch our kids and see where their strengths are…and then teach to those strengths. This exercise can give you some clues as to what is in your child’s head…and maybe even in your own too! Give it a try…I would love to hear about your experiences!

How do we up the learning quotient? Look at the stats…

We learn…

10% of what we read
20% of what we hear
30% of what we see
50% of both what we see and hear
70% of what is discussed
80% of what we personally experience
95% of what we teach to someone else

(W. Glasser)

So what do we do with this information? It certainly should change how we look at learning (both for ourselves and our children). We can read things…but the learning really kicks in when we actually DO something with the information we are looking at…and look what happens when we teach someone else…the learning just maxes out!!

Consider these things the next time you help your child with homework…what will you do differently? Love to hear your thoughts!

There is just something fun about sitting down around the table and playing a game. As a family, we always have a good time competing against each other…or working with each other, depending on the game we are playing. And, then there is the learning aspect to things that kids never realize…it is just part of the fun to them!

What games are our favourites? Well…we have quite a large collection, I will admit. Everything from Monopoly to UNO to Scrabble! As the kids get older, there is also less time to get everyone together to play…one of the reasons we love holidays like Thanksgiving (coming up this weekend in Canada). Nothing like having a rousing game while we wait for the turkey to cook!

Risk is fun as we all attempt to take over the world (and learn a little geography along the way), but we have also discovered Settlers of Catan and enjoy it for similar reasons. There is enough strategy to make it fun, but enough chance to allow for my 8 year old to win (and she has!). Planning ahead and co-operation are important skills to bring to the table for this game.

Sometimes a simple game of Chess is in order if there are only 2 people available. I will be the first to admit that I am not very good at this game as I am not good at planning my moves in advance. When all the kids were schooling at home, they would take turns playing each other first thing in the morning to get their brains warmed up for the day! It was neat to see them start to think strategically…an important skill to have in life!

My youngest and I always enjoy a game of Rack-O…I have always enjoyed this game (in fact we are still using the original game I had when I was her age!). It is a game that is fast and really helps reinforce number order…(and I can still beat my 8 year old once in a while, unlike chess!).

Then there are the “spirited” games we play that have only one goal in mind…to get everyone excited and loud! The one we like the best is Pit (and the version we are using was my Grandmother’s!! We might need to invest in a new one soon…the cards are a bit fragile after all these years!). Sometimes playing a game is just for the sake of having fun…and we do!

Another good one for when the whole extended family is around is Apples to Apples…so much fun as we try to find the closest match to the current word…which can prove to make some hilarious matches…worth checking out if you want to keep the kids having fun at Grandma’s house if the turkey is taking longer than expected! Lots of thinking in this game too…just don’t tell the kids that.

Wow…so many games to talk about…but I will save others for another day. I am looking forward to playing this weekend…having fun with family, with a little learning on the side. Hope you get a chance to have a game night at your place sometime soon too!

I would really love to hear about your favourite games, especially with Christmas coming up…need something fun to put under the tree this December…so please share!

I came across these fun, easy to implement ideas on how to build your child’s vocabulary (as well as reading and comprehension skills too)…I hope you find them helpful…I plan to add this simple exercise into my daily routine!

By: Reading Rockets (2009)

All parents want their child to do well in school. One way to help your child is to help them build their vocabulary. Beginning readers use knowledge about words to help them make sense of what they’re reading. The more words a reader knows, the more they are able to comprehend what they’re reading or listening to.

Talking to and reading with your child are two terrific ways to help them hear and read new words. Conversations and questions about interesting words (“The book says, ‘The boy tumbled down the hill,’ and look at the picture! How do you think he went down the hill?”) are easy, non-threatening ways to get new words into everyday talk.

Sharing a new word with your child doesn’t have to take a long time: just a few minutes to talk about the word and then focus back on the book or conversation. Choose which words to talk about carefully — choosing every new word might make reading seem like a chore. The best words to explore with your child are ones that are common among adult speakers but are less common to see in the books your child might read.

When introducing new words to your young learner, keep the following four helpful hints in mind:

1. First, provide a simple, kid-friendly definition for the new word:Enormous means that something is really, really big.
   

   An enormous bubble!

2. Second, provide a simple, kid-friendly example that makes sense within their daily life:Remember that really big watermelon we got at the grocery store? That was an enormous watermelon!
3. Third, encourage your child to develop their own example:What enormous thing can you think of? Can you think of something really big that you saw today? That’s right! The bulldozer near the park was enormous! Those tires were huge.
4. Lastly, keep your new words active within your house.Over the next few days and weeks, take advantage of opportunities to use each new vocabulary word in conversation.

Take the time to share new words and build your child’s vocabulary. You’ll be enormously glad you did!

Be sure to share with us some of the words you shared with your kids this week!! Looking forward to reading your comments!

Photo Credits: Pink Sherbet Photography (Creative Commons license on Flickr)

Why do we find things that go fast exciting? Such as roller coasters. Well, it’s not the acceleration so much – it’s the perception of danger that goes along with it. When we’re in dangerous situations, our bodies produce adrenaline and cortisol, the “fight or flight” hormones. Scientists believe that our bodies have actually evolved to seek out this type of stimulation. On a roller coaster, we trust that the ride is designed to be safe, so our brains also produce oxytocin – the “trust” hormone. This quells the sensation of fear, and what we’re left with is the physical rush without the anxiety. That’s why roller coasters are a great option for a first date. It drums up both the excitement and bonding hormones, making you feel connected to and excited by the person you’re with.

When you bump your head, why do you see stars? The stars you see are actually neurons in your visual cortex firing spontaneously. When you get a blow to the head, blood sloshes into and out of your capillaries. This causes the neurons around those capillaries to fire off unexpectedly, and your brain interprets these as lights – or “stars.”

I found these random facts on John Tesh’s website…I always learn a lot from his radio show! What is your favourite tid bit you have learned from him? If you have not heard him on the radio, be sure to check out www.tesh.com!

Photo Credits: hjl (Creative Commons license on Flickr)