If you get a chance to stop by IHop between 7AM and 10PM tomorrow, March 4, 2014, you can join in the celebration of their 9th annual NATIONAL PANCAKE DAY fundraiser. You can eat your favorite pancakes, or make a donation that will benefit children’s hospitals and charities across the country. For more details visit: http://www.ihoppancakeday.com
By: JOANNA MARPLE,
on 2/28/2014
Title: A Splash of Red, The Life and Art of Horace Pippin Written by Jen Bryant Illustrated by Melissa Sweet Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2013 Ages: 5-8 Themes: biography, Horace Pippin, artist Awards: A Robert F. Sibert Honor Book Winner of … Continue reading
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As promised, here are some other suggestions for making a difference, passing on kindness and serving others.
1. ANIMAL SHELTERS often need volunteers to walk dogs. Rescue organizations could use foster families to care for pets or to provide donations for pet food and supplies.
2. VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS such as the WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT welcome volunteers for fund raising events, or to help vets write a resume. http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org
3. You can READ TO SENIORS in a nursing home or assisted living facility, help them with basic computer skills, play games and share hobbies as well. Many seniors are lonesome and would really welcome spending time with children.
4. During holidays, you can visit a local cemetery to clean and maintain headstones that look neglected…especially those of veterans.
5. PICK UP LITTER and recyclables at your neighborhood park or playground.
6. See someone sitting alone at a table or on a bench? Say hello and if possible, buy them a cup of coffee or a soda.
7. SMILE AND GREET those you meet. You never know when a thing as simple as a smile and kind greeting may have a huge impact on a person’s day.
8. And finally, if you have gently used books that you no longer want, there is a wonderful organization that will make sure they go to children who need them. Visit http://www.firstbook.org
Summer’s coming to a close and we’re all getting back to our school schedules. For many children, community service is part of the school curriculum. Even if it is NOT, many parents want their children to learn to help others, to cheerfully volunteer and be of service to those in need. Even with busy schedules, here are two ways to help.
September 11, 2013 is National Day of Service and Remembrance. There are many national events going on to remember those lost on 9-11 as well as to honor those who continue to serve and fight for freedom. If you’d like to find out how to be part of this, go to: http://www.serve.gov/sept11.asp
On September 15, thousands of restaurants nationwide will be donating proceeds all week to help end childhood hunger in the US. Visit: http://www.dineout.nokidhungry.org
On Friday, I’ll have more suggestions on simple ways to serve others.
“If we do not lay out ourselves in the service of mankind whom should we serve?” Abigail Adams
September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Most of us know first hand how devastating cancer can be. It is especially difficult when a child is struggling with the disease. You and your kids can help fund much-needed research by hosting a BAKE SALE. For information, go to: http://www.cookiesforkidscancer.org
Here is a delicious cookie recipe to get you started.
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 C white flour 3/4 C whole wheat pastry flour 1/2 C rolled oats 1 tsp baking soda
1 stick softened butter 1/2 C canola oil 1/2 C granulated sugar 1/2 C brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla 2 lg eggs 2 C chocolate morsels 1 C chopped walnuts or other nut of choice
1. Heat oven to 375. Combine dry ingredients and set aside.
2. Beat butter, oil, sugars and vanilla in large until creamy. Add eggs and beat until blended.
3. Gradually add dry ingredients and nuts. Mix until combined. 
4. Drop by spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 9-11 minutes, or until edges are lightly browned. Remove from pans to cool.
These cookies freeze well and can be jazzed up with sunflower seeds, dried cranberries or whatever other dried fruit you enjoy. Don’t be afraid to experiment.
There are so many recipes made for kids who are interested in learning how to prepare or cook simple meals. Depending on the age of the child, all children can lend a hand in the kitchen. It is a great way to build self-esteem and get your child to try new foods. When he or she has helped prepare a meal, tasting the food is part of that job.
Some simple kitchen and meal prep tasks are: chopping or dicing vegetables, spreading butter or other condiments onto bread, grating cheese, mixing sauces, beating eggs, tearing lettuce for salads, measuring ingredients for baking, rolling out dough, sifting flour, stirring, coating chicken in breadcrumbs. I’m sure you can think of many more. Will the kitchen be messier when kids participate in cooking? Sure, but clean up is part of the job.
Being competent in the kitchen is not only a necessary life skill, it increases awareness of what goes into a meal and where food comes from. It also can lead to our children making better, healthier food choices. And, it’s a way for busy families to connect and have some time together. Everyone has to eat. Involve the kids and make meal time a family affair. Here are two web sites for inspiration: http://www.cookinggames.com and bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/kids-baking
I don’t know what it’s been like in your part of the world, but here in NJ we have had a bumper crop of sweet, juicy peaches this summer. IN addition to eating them out of hand, I’ve made peach crisp, peach pie, and peach smoothies. But here is a simple recipe you and the kids can use to make the taste of summer last a bit longer. Try making some homemade Peach Jam.
1. Place 6 large peaches in a pot of boiling water for 1 minute; rinse in cold water and peel.
2. Remove pits and cut peaches into wedges until you have about 6 cups.
3. Transfer to a food processor until coarsely chopped. NO food processor? chop or dice by hand.
4.In a medium stainless steel saucepan, (don’t use aluminum…the acid in the peaches leaches out the aluminum and not only gives the peaches a bad taste, it gives the body unwanted aluminum) combine peaches, 2 cups of sugar, 2T chopped ginger, 1 T lemon juice and 1/4 t. salt. This is medium sweet. Feel free to adjust the sugar if you like it less sweet or more sweet.
5. Simmer over medium heat, stirring now and then until thick. It should take about 30 minutes. Ladle into mason jars and cool. Refrigerate overnight.
You can store this for up to 1 month in the refrigerator. Makes a great last minute gift for a picnic or barbeque. Serve it over ice cream and watch the rave reviews.
If you’re looking for some new trails or pathways to hike and bike what’s left of summer and into fall, check out http://www.traillink.com
This site is hosted by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, a non-profit agency that has helped convert more than 21,000 miles of old railroad beds into trails across the U.S.
Mrs. P…from the fabulous website http://www.mrsp.com is hosting her 5th annual Be-A-Famous-Writer contest for grades K-4. Beginning in September, your child’s teacher can enter for the classroom. So if you have a child who loves to tell or write stories, now is the perfect time to have some of those stories published on Mrs. P’s web page. Her site is also filled with stories to read and listen to. Mrs. P reads some of her favorites in her own unique way. Be sure to check out her site for the full details. Happy writing!
Here’s my blogger friend Gail Terp with some great tips for getting your kids in Back To School mode.
Back to School Tips: Some kids are starting school this week; others will start within the next few weeks. After a summer of less structure, getting back into school mode can be a challenge. Here are a few tips for getting off to a good start.
Establish a place to keep all school information.
School Clothes
Morning Routine
Along with my own experience, I used these sites to write this post. Please check out them out for more ideas.
Here are 2 sites that have downloadable resources you may find helpful.
Have a great start to the new school year!
Gail Terp
About Me
I’m a retired teacher who has spent the last 30 years working with enthusiastic and reluctant readers. One of my top goals as a teacher was to connect kids with books they loved. It’s still my goal. My blog, Best Blog for Kids Who Hate to Read, is one way I use to reach it.
Since this is a lecture of sorts, I’ll keep it short. After reading an article in the newspaper – you know, that inky thing that comes to the house via the doorstep – I feel compelled to address the “dumbing of humanity”. The article mentioned how printed maps are being phased out due to the popularity of GPS devices.
Okay, maybe maps are a pain, what with having to fold and unfold them and jamming them into an already full glove box. But… map reading is just one more thing we humans are giving up in favor of having a machine do our thinking for us. Every time we give up learning new skills, we cheat our brain out of its natural tendency to want to learn and fire new synapses.
There is a whole generation of people who will grow up not knowing how to do some of the following: read a map, write/read in cursive (many schools don’t teach it any more), sew on buttons or hem a skirt, fix a leaky faucet or rewire a lamp, make ice the old fashioned way with trays, open cans with manual can openers, tie shoes, tell time with an analog clock, build a campfire, make a meal from scratch, write a simple letter to a loved one using no abbreviations. I could go on, but I’m sure you can think of some of your own things to add.
Why are we so content to let machines or others do these important brain/ problem solving exercises for us? Why are we letting our brains turn to mush?
Technology is great, and I’m not going to throw away my laptop anytime soon. But, if we don’t start exercising our brain with these varied skills and activities, where will we as humans end up? Not as the smartest species surely. As the old saying goes, “Use it or lose it.”
Give your sexiest organ something to do.
Today’s post was written by MARTHA RODRIGUEZ, teacher, presenter and expert on bringing the fun back to learning. She runs the blog: www.areelcoolsummer.blogspot.com where she posts about children’s books. You can also find out more about Martha and her publishing company at: http://www.readtomepublishingllc.com
Motivating Factor: FUN!
It’s not rocket science. Or is it? Well, if your kiddo likes rockets and science, then, yes, it is rocket science. But what if they don’t? How do you motivate your children or students to learn?
I’m a mom to three, now grown, children. I don’t know everything there is to know about parenting or about being their first teacher, but this I do know. They each had different study habits and learning styles, and when we added the element of fun to homework, projects, and studying, they learned their lessons faster, were more engaged in their projects, and whatever they learned stuck in their spongy brains.
Sometimes they were even lucky enough to have teachers who knew how to have fun, too. To this day, whenever we do a crossword puzzle or play a trivia game and the question is, Who was the (pick a number) President of the United States?, my daughter sings the Presidents Song her middle school teacher taught her. And, she always gets the answer right! Chances are that you learned your ABCs as a very young child by singing them. Why stop when you’re three, or four, or five. Singing is fun no matter how old you are and if it helps you learn, what’s better than that? And who cares if you sing off key?
When the kids were studying their states and capitals we made up funny sayings or silly clues to help us remember. Hartford, Connecticut was “Connect the cut so your Hartford won’t bleed.” Juneau, Alaska was “Do Juneau (you know) Alaska?” Cheyenne, Wyoming was “Where does shy Anne live?” I know, it’s corny, but it worked. That’s what it’s all about. 
Trust me, science and history projects can be fun. Yes, I said, “can.” If you’re new at this you usually go for the safe approach; the tri-fold backboard. You glue pie charts and facts on the thing and hope for the best. Is it informative? Perhaps. Did the kids really learn something? Maybe. Was it interesting? It depends on the child. We usually took a different approach… lights, camera, cue music, aaaaaand…. ACTION!
A power point presentation of the Brooklyn Bridge using pictures you took yourself and a recording of the interview of your dad, who just happens to be a bridge engineer, brings a new dimension to learning and is a fun History Fair project. Technology is King! Your child can do a similar project using resources in your town or one nearby. Take a day trip to a landmark and make it a family affair. Encourage the kids to call a local expert on the subject matter to request an interview. These days you can even Skype with an expert (check out Skype in the Classroom) and don’t forget he or she may be a family member, teacher, friend or neighbor.
Filming your brothers and their friends playing videogames while you take their pulse and blood pressure is a fun way to prove your hypothesis that pulse will increase and blood pressure will rise depending on the type of videogame you play. Or, maybe you’ll disprove it. I won’t give away the results. With all the technology we have at our fingertips, kids can make a video science project on a phone or tablet. Everyone will think science is cool with a project like that!
We’ve touched upon things we can do during the school year to help make school assignments and studying a bit more fun, but what about keeping up during summer vacation? Well, there’s the dreaded assigned summer reading list! (Insert scary music and blood-curdling screams here!) Even for kids who love to read, this can be a chore. It is homework, after all. It’s what we do in-between that can be really fun. Alternate the assigned books with reading material the kids chose on their own. If you have a reluctant reader the in house, these tips may help to get them motivated. Remember, reading it’s just about sitting down with a book, it’s also about exploring, crafting, cooking, and even acting and joking!
And what teacher doesn’t love to torture us… um, I mean, “encourage us to write” by assigning an essay over summer vacation. Sure, it keeps writing skills from sinking to the depths of the ocean floor during your beach outing, but it’s probably not the first thing on the kids’ list of fun things to do during summer. It may help to start the kids out by doing some creative writing using fun prompts like these. They can write stories on their own, with their friends during sleepovers, or you can write together on long car or plane trips.
As parents, we always want the best for our kiddos. Creating a fun learning environment at home after a long, hard day at school or during the summer break is one way we can motivate them to learn and encourage them to build strong study habits to fit their personalities and needs. For us, it was fun and games, but no one knows your child like you do. Please share your tips with us!
Two things book related are happening this week. Wednesday is the debut of PERCY JACKSON: SEA OF MONSTERS by Rick Riordan. If you or your children haven’t read any of the Percy Jackson novels, I urge you to give them a try. Action/adventure and a memorable main character make for great summer reading.
Friday is National Book Lovers Day. Go to the library or your favorite bookstore and read your favorite story. Or, have your child read a story to some younger kids. Or, share books with those who have none. Happy Reading!
When you children outgrow their bikes or want the next, newest one, don’t just throw away the old two wheelers. in 2009 Kerri Martin opened her non-profit business Second Life Bikes. What’s unique about the company is that if a child wants a bike, he/she must spend some time working on repairing it and refurbishing bikes for others…a sort of sweat-equity. Kerri teaches the boys and girls about bike repair and operation, job skills and work ethic. Troubled youth can do community service in her shop. She’s also planning to expand into more formal training, welding instruction, nutrition classes and riding clubs.
To learn more about this wonderful program or to make a donation, go to: http://www.secondlifebikes.org
There are many wonderful ways to enjoy physical activity. As we wind down the days of summer, let the kids – and adults – in the neighborhood have a BACKYARD OLYMPICS.
You can set up an area with an obstacle course and see who can complete it. Crawling through a “tunnel”, jumping over ropes of various heights, rolling, running, and crab walking are all fun ways to compete in events. Walking like various animals is also fun (especially if accompanied by animal sounds). Endurance activities might include who can jump rope or keep a hula hoop going the longest. A fun spin on ball games might be a water balloon toss, or raw egg toss.
Finish up the day’s fun with Popsicle eating or watermelon seed spitting contests. Give all children a chance to feel special. You can award ribbons for the Best Sport, Purplest Tongue, Coolest Crab Walker, Awesome Hula Hooper, etc. You can even name your team and paint T-shirts for the big day.
It’s even more fun if adults “act like kids” by: wearing a swimsuit all day, being barefoot all day, digging in the dirt, eating a Popsicle for breakfast, running under a sprinkler.
Enjoy these last few weeks of summer and get physical!
Oobleck was the name given to a type of slime in a Dr. Seuss book that was capable of gumming up a whole kingdom. The oobleck the you can make for a science project isn’t gummy, but it does have interesting properties of both solids and liquids. It normally behaves like a liquid or jelly, but if you squeeze it in your hand, it will seem like a solid. This recipe and article were taken from: chemistry.about.com How to Make Ooblick by Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Difficulty Level: Easy Time Required: 10-15 minutes
You Will Need
water corn starch food coloring (optional)
1. Mix 1 part water with 1.5 to 2 parts cornstarch. You may wish to start with one cup of water and one and a half cups of cornstarch, then work in more cornstarch if you want a more ‘solid’ oobleck. It will take about 10 minutes of mixing to get nice homogeneous oobleck.
Tips:
If you want to learn more about cool chemistry projects check these links:
What’s not to love about Rice Krispie Treats? They’re sweet, chewy and crunchy all rolled into one. It’s hard for me to stop from eating a whole pan myself. Here is a way to make them a bit more nutritious and guilt-free.
Add 2 T of peanut butter or almond butter to the melted marshmallow mixture until it is dissolved.
Along with the crispy rice cereal, mix a combination of some or all of the following to equal 6 C: dry, uncooked oats, Cheerios, sunflower seeds, granola, crushed peanuts or almonds, a handful of mini chocolate morsels, coconut.
Stir the dry ingredients into the melted marshmallow mix until coated. Press into a greased pan and when firm, cut into squares. Enjoy. They are still a winner, with the added nutritional bonus.
There are some great websites with all kinds of activities for children of all ages. Here are three that have a wealth of outdoor games, activities and recipes for fun all summer long.
1. spoonful.com: Water games, scavenger hunt, Tacos and Bridges (check it out!) and lots more .
2. Parenting.com: Eleven water games and other activities for kids. We all knew water was fun. These activities will keep the kids cool on a hot day.
3. Alphamom.com has games such as driveway baseball, elbow tag, musical sprinklers and more. These games are great for parties and get-togethers.
Kind of makes me wish I was a kid again. It’s a great excuse to put on a swimsuit and join the fun!
Micheals Craft Stores are offering the PASSPORT TO IMAGINATION crafts program for kids 5 and up. Children can explore all seven continents and learn about their landmarks. The program runs from June 17 through August 2 and costs [email protected] per session. For details go to: http://www.micheals.com
While summer should be fun-filled and relaxing, some children get bored or lose skills when they are out of school. Others just do better when there is some structure to the day. If you and your family are looking for FREE summer enrichment for kids, check out these websites:
http://www.ixl.com is an interactive math site containing more than 7 million activities and quizzes created by math teachers. There are problems from Pre-K through high school geometry and algebra.
http://www.funbrain.com was created fro children from preschool through grade eight. It offers more than 100 interactive games fro math, reading and literacy. There are also popular books and comics to read on the site, including “Diary of a Wimpy Kid”, “Amelia Writes Again” and “Brewster Rocket”.
http://www.openculture.com contains high-quality cultural and educational media from all over the world. Children can find free online classes on topics such as English Literature, biology, math and film.
So while you’re having summer fun, check out some fun-filled learning activities as well.
Across the country families and communities will be celebrating our nation’s 237th birthday with parades, picnics and fireworks. If you’d like to get in on some local fun, check out these sites. Each has information about what’s happening in your area of the country.
1. www.Zvents.com 2. http://www.eventbrite.com 3. http://www.99events.com
You can also GRILL FOR A CAUSE this summer by hosting a barbecue to raise money for the USO. When you register your event at: http://www.bbqforthetroops.org you create a webpage where your guests can donate to support men and women in the armed forces.
July is NATIONAL ICE CREAM MONTH. You can celebrate with your favorite treat and even try making your own. For directions on how to make ICE CREAM IN A PLASTIC BAG go to: eHow:How to Make Ice Cream in a Bag
You can also try: http://www.pbskids.org Homemade Ice Cream
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!
Tis the season for that beautiful insect that even bug hating people can’t resist…butterflies. If you want to lure these colorful creatures to your backyard, try planting MILKWEED. (see photo) Go to: http://www.monarchwatch.org to find out which varieties of milkweed will thrive in your area. The plants are easy to grow and come back year after year. You can also mix them in with your other flowers. 
Your garden should be aflutter in no time.
If you’d like to watch the MIGRATION of the Monarch butterfly, catch the IMAX film FLIGHT OF THE BUTTERFLIES IN 3D at a museum near you.
My blogger friend Gail Terp: http://www.gailterp.com came up with a wonderful list of books that have scripts for children to put on their own plays. So, for the budding actors in your family, check out some of these titles.
Books for Summer Drama Fun
Want to add a little drama to your summer days? Put on some plays! Your plays can be straight out of your head, ones someone else has written or a combination of both. Here are some books to get you started. In case your library system doesn’t carry some of these books, I’ve added the library call numbers so you can browse for summer drama.
12 Fabulously Funny Fairy Tale Plays by Justin McCory Martin
The author has taken well-known fairy tales and given them a new twist. The titles give a pretty good idea of what to expect: Spiderella, Rafunzel, The Emperor’s New Hair, Slurping Beauty and 7 more.
The Jumbo Book of Drama by Deborah Dunleavy, illustrated by Jane Kurisu
This book has many ideas to get your creative drama ideas started. There aren’t many scripts, just countless ideas for creating your own plays and other bits of drama. Some of the chapters are: Magic, Clowning Around (really fun ideas), Puppets and Puppetry, Comedy and Tragedy.
Fifty Fabulous Fables by Suzanne I Barchers
Did you know that Aesop was a slave in Greece and wrote his fables around 550 B.C.? That’s over 2,500 years ago! I love knowing this fact. This book is filled with fables that Aesop wrote, rewritten as short plays. The plays are written for 2-4 players and at 4 different reading levels.
On Stage: Theater Games and Activities for Kids by Lisa Bany-Winters
Although there are a few scripts in this book, it is mostly filled with games and activities to get players thinking like actors and play-writers. There are all kinds of games that promote silly pretending, working together to create ideas, pantomime, creating characters, costume making and lots of others.
Putting on a Play by Paul Dubois Jacobs and Jennifer Swender
This small book covers all aspects of play production (casting, scripts, makeup…) and then suggests different topics such as pirates, princesses, the circus, explorers… Each topic gives suggestions for costumes, props and 3 different storylines.
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Now that school is out for the summer, you may be wondering how to keep your children entertained without spending tons of money. If finances are tight, don’t despair. There are plenty of fun filled activities you can do with kids to make the summer a memorable one.
1. Pitch a tent for the GREAT AMERICAN BACKYARD CAMPOUT. You can sleep under the stars in your own backyard. Identify constellations, make s’mores (check out my recipe under the recipe section of this blog). Tell stories, sing songs, eat hotdogs, and do everything you’d do at a camp far away. Visit: http://www.nwf.org/great-american-backyard-campout.aspx
2.Check out: http://www.parade.com/summerschool for 14 days of how-to steps and expert tips on everything from building a sand castle, to how to skip stones. You can also learn things like HOW TO HOST A BACKYARD MOVIE NIGHT, SPOT CONSTELLATIONS, TEACH KIDS TO FISH, and even HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN ICE CREAM.
3. Put on a Show. A Puppet Show that is. There are tons of videos and sites on how to make your own puppets and puppet theatres. To get you started, enter: Making puppets in your search engine and a load of sites will appear. Here’s a good one:
http://www.about.com/od/puppets 
You can also use stuffed toys, pencils with funny tops, or socks with painted faces. Or even cookies! (see photos) Let your imagination run wild.
To make it a real event, sell popcorn and lemonade.
4.And…you can’t go wrong with water. If you don’t have a pool, a sprinkler on a hose works great. Squirt guns and water balloon fights are sure cures for boredom and cool everyone off on a hot day. For little ones, fill up a bucket with water and let them “paint” the sidewalk to their hearts content. Add a few cups for pouring and you’ll keep them entertained for a long time.
Here’s the easy, kid-friendly recipe for a breakfast casserole you can assemble the night before and bake for breakfast.
BREAKFAST CASSEROLE: 1. Spray a 9×13 inch casserole dish with non-stick spray.
2. Line the dish with 2 slices of bread torn into pieces. 3. Cook 1 lb. of bulk sausage and crumble it over the bread layer.
4.Mix 2 C milk, 6 eggs, 3/4 t. dry mustard, and salt and pepper to taste. Pour over the sausage.
5. Sprinkle with 1 1/2 C grated cheddar cheese. Sprinkle with paprika.
6. Refrigerate overnight. Next morning, Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until set. Serve with fruit or a salad at brunch.
While it’s baking, why not do something special for/with Dad. Here are a few ideas: back rub, wash the car, sweep the steps and pick weeds in the garden, take out the trash, challenge him to a game of thumb wrestling, make him some popcorn and watch a movie together. offer to do an errand,
Happy Father’s Day!
Here are some ideas for one of a kind greeting cards for Dad for Father’s Day. All you need for the “FACE FLOWER CARD” is paper, a green marker and ink pads of assorted colors. You will also need photos of the kids or family members who are sending the love to Dad or granddad. Use a child’s index finger to make the flower petals and leaves. When dry, cut out the face of each child and glue onto the center of each flower. See photo.
You can also turn your favorite snapshot into a one-of-a-kind Father’s Day card at Treat, a new service from SHUTTERFLY. To make a FREE masterpiece go to: http://www.treat.com and enter the code: CARD4DAD. Watch this spot on Friday where I’ll post a great and easy breakfast casserole your kids can make the night before the big day and bake the next morning.
Happy Father’s Day! 
I love juicy sweet peaches!