Carmela Dutra's Blog - Posts Tagged "ideas"
Family Reading Night
Family Reading Night is an annual statewide event held the third Thursday in November to encourage families to spend quality time reading together. It is sponsored by the Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian, Jesse White and Illinois Center for the Book. The next Family Reading Night will be November 20, 2014. read-family
The point behind this is to encourage families to read at home with their children. When I heard about this I thought it was a wonderful idea! A yearly event to remind and encourage families to read. Filled with helpful hints, and suggestions, are given to parents so they can keep this going at home.
When I was a child my one of my parents read to/with every night before I went to bed. Unfortunately today many parents do not have the opportunity to read with their kids every night. If that is the case could you manage to set aside one night every week to read with your kids?
What would this take? Some planning, and effort. As is true with everything in life, you must put forth effort. If you want to accomplish something you need to put forth the effort to do so, it won’t just happen on its own.
What if you feel overwhelmed, and can’t think of anything? There are wonderful suggestions you can find online, or at your local library. For example: you could follow along to books on tape, read comic books, or even make up your own story!
Get your kids involved! Have them help chose the day your family will read together. Encourage them to pick out books they like, and book that will be good for the whole family to enjoy. Make a party out of it! Pick up pizza, go to a park and then play after you’re done reading.
As parents, get excited about reading. When your children see you’re getting excited about family reading night, they will too! This is something that is not only economical (free if you go to the library and borrow books) but this is a way to draw your family closer to each other. Build memories, improve literacy, and maintain family unity.
We live in a time where everything is on the go, we can hardly keep up! Often times, children are the ones who get left behind. By setting aside time for family reading, it will help your children to see how much you value your time with them. It will help them to see reading as something fun they do with their family, and not a chore.
It doesn't cost much, just a little time, and little planning. We always say, ‘We want to give our children the best!’ This is a small thing you can give them that will make a huge impact, and yield great rewards.
Happy Family Reading!
Carmela Dutra
Author of the Adventures of Lorenzo the Bear
www.lorenzothebear.com
Facebook.com/lorenzothebear (like me!)
Twitter.com/lorenzothebear @lorenzothebear
http://ablogforyourthoughts.com/
The point behind this is to encourage families to read at home with their children. When I heard about this I thought it was a wonderful idea! A yearly event to remind and encourage families to read. Filled with helpful hints, and suggestions, are given to parents so they can keep this going at home.
When I was a child my one of my parents read to/with every night before I went to bed. Unfortunately today many parents do not have the opportunity to read with their kids every night. If that is the case could you manage to set aside one night every week to read with your kids?
What would this take? Some planning, and effort. As is true with everything in life, you must put forth effort. If you want to accomplish something you need to put forth the effort to do so, it won’t just happen on its own.
What if you feel overwhelmed, and can’t think of anything? There are wonderful suggestions you can find online, or at your local library. For example: you could follow along to books on tape, read comic books, or even make up your own story!
Get your kids involved! Have them help chose the day your family will read together. Encourage them to pick out books they like, and book that will be good for the whole family to enjoy. Make a party out of it! Pick up pizza, go to a park and then play after you’re done reading.
As parents, get excited about reading. When your children see you’re getting excited about family reading night, they will too! This is something that is not only economical (free if you go to the library and borrow books) but this is a way to draw your family closer to each other. Build memories, improve literacy, and maintain family unity.
We live in a time where everything is on the go, we can hardly keep up! Often times, children are the ones who get left behind. By setting aside time for family reading, it will help your children to see how much you value your time with them. It will help them to see reading as something fun they do with their family, and not a chore.
It doesn't cost much, just a little time, and little planning. We always say, ‘We want to give our children the best!’ This is a small thing you can give them that will make a huge impact, and yield great rewards.
Happy Family Reading!
Carmela Dutra
Author of the Adventures of Lorenzo the Bear
www.lorenzothebear.com
Facebook.com/lorenzothebear (like me!)
Twitter.com/lorenzothebear @lorenzothebear
http://ablogforyourthoughts.com/
The Story Behind Lorenzo
Back in December I was visiting a classroom of second graders where I was asked a series of questions. Who is Lorenzo the Bear? Where did he come from? Is he real, or fictional? Will he have more adventures, and stories to tell? All excellent questions! Such thinkers these children were!
I loved how excited they were they had so many questions, I couldn't keep up! It got me thinking, I don’t recall ever addressing all of these questions for you. Since tomorrow will be the Book Launch for Lorenzo’s next adventure, Journey to Honeysuckle Mountain. What better time than right now to tell you a little more about Lorenzo.
I was asked by a little boy ‘Who is Lorenzo, did you make him up?’ That is a question I get asked quite a lot and the answer is simple. Lorenzo is, HEY! If this is a blog about me, can’t I tell them about the classroom visit, and answer the questions? Of course! You are so right Lorenzo, why didn’t I think of that!?! OK, go ahead the keyboard is all yours! Thank you!
Okay. Am I real? YES!! I am based off a real stuffed toy my maker Carmela Dutra had when she was a child. When her dad gave her the bear he said he would protect her so she could sleep. Okay hang on, let me tell this part After all this was before you were borne. You’re right I think you should tell them. Thank you.
Like most youngsters I was afraid of the dark, the night was especially hard for me. One day, my dad told me he had something that would help me; then he handed me a stuffed bear. He assured me that this bear would protect me from whatever it was that troubled me. I loved the bear so much! I named him the Brave Bear Lorenzo (why I picked Lorenzo as the name, I have no idea). So between Lorenzo, a trusty nightlight, and my usual bed time stories; I was able to sleep again.
Thus, when my nephew Jason asked me to draw him pictures, and Desi wanted a story I couldn’t think of anything else other then my most beloved stuffed animal!
For me, Lorenzo is most real, maybe not in the “traditional” sense. Even though he has a new home with my niece Desi, he will always be a part of my life. 
Are you curious to see what the real Lorenzo looks like? Well, then check out the bear Desi is holding in the picture. That’s him!
That hasn’t changed. Even though I am happy in my new home I still keep in touch with Carmy. I’m still that same lovable, brave bear she had as a child. The only difference now, is that I can help all kinds of animals, and people alike through my stories! I am an outgoing bear who loves to make friends, and meet new animals. I’d like to think that I am the kind of bear that you can always count on. I do not let fear stand in my way when it comes to helping others. But What I really love is visiting classrooms!
It was so much see all of the boys and girls. They were so eager to hear about my first Adventure to Jellyfish Cove. Carmela even brought in with her a stuffed Lucy Bear for all of the boys and girls to hold and play with, it was a Beartastic time!
After the reading was finished all of the boys and girls started asking questions. One question that was asked more than once was, ‘Will Lorenzo take another adventure somewhere else???’ Why yes I do! My next one will be to Honeysuckle Mountain where I visit Queen Berverlee the Bumble Bee.
But do you what you what to know what my most favorite part about the visit was??? Come closer to the screen so you can hear me…… Closer…… Closer…… It was when they were told they get to help write a story!!!!!! Oh all of the boys and girls just screamed in excitement! Oh and their ideas! There were some pretty nifty ideas that they had. They were very descriptive of what would happen too. Some told how I would have to face off against Lord Boris again, then some talked about helping lost Zebras, and the Yeti’s!!
It was the most awesome, Beartastic experience I have ever had! I cannot wait until our next classroom visit. Well you don’t have to wait too much longer Lorenzo. I haven’t told you yet, but next week are visiting a second and third grade classroom at Anne Darling! REALLY!! Oh boy! I can’t wait I’m so beary excited! Let’s start planning that trip right now!
Thank you all for reading the blog that Lorenzo and I worked on together. Do you have any questions you would like to ask? Please leave a comment with your questions!! And bee sure to join us March 31st for the Book Launch of; The Adventures of Lorenzo the Bear Journey to Honeysuckle Mountain! https://www.facebook.com/events/15548...
www.lorenzothebear.com
Follow me on Twitter! www.twitter.com/carmy4077
www.twitter.com/lorenzothebear
Like me on Facebook! www.faceboo.com/lorenzothebear
http://ablogforyourthoughts.com/
I loved how excited they were they had so many questions, I couldn't keep up! It got me thinking, I don’t recall ever addressing all of these questions for you. Since tomorrow will be the Book Launch for Lorenzo’s next adventure, Journey to Honeysuckle Mountain. What better time than right now to tell you a little more about Lorenzo.
I was asked by a little boy ‘Who is Lorenzo, did you make him up?’ That is a question I get asked quite a lot and the answer is simple. Lorenzo is, HEY! If this is a blog about me, can’t I tell them about the classroom visit, and answer the questions? Of course! You are so right Lorenzo, why didn’t I think of that!?! OK, go ahead the keyboard is all yours! Thank you!
Okay. Am I real? YES!! I am based off a real stuffed toy my maker Carmela Dutra had when she was a child. When her dad gave her the bear he said he would protect her so she could sleep. Okay hang on, let me tell this part After all this was before you were borne. You’re right I think you should tell them. Thank you.
Like most youngsters I was afraid of the dark, the night was especially hard for me. One day, my dad told me he had something that would help me; then he handed me a stuffed bear. He assured me that this bear would protect me from whatever it was that troubled me. I loved the bear so much! I named him the Brave Bear Lorenzo (why I picked Lorenzo as the name, I have no idea). So between Lorenzo, a trusty nightlight, and my usual bed time stories; I was able to sleep again.
Thus, when my nephew Jason asked me to draw him pictures, and Desi wanted a story I couldn’t think of anything else other then my most beloved stuffed animal!
For me, Lorenzo is most real, maybe not in the “traditional” sense. Even though he has a new home with my niece Desi, he will always be a part of my life. Are you curious to see what the real Lorenzo looks like? Well, then check out the bear Desi is holding in the picture. That’s him!
That hasn’t changed. Even though I am happy in my new home I still keep in touch with Carmy. I’m still that same lovable, brave bear she had as a child. The only difference now, is that I can help all kinds of animals, and people alike through my stories! I am an outgoing bear who loves to make friends, and meet new animals. I’d like to think that I am the kind of bear that you can always count on. I do not let fear stand in my way when it comes to helping others. But What I really love is visiting classrooms!
It was so much see all of the boys and girls. They were so eager to hear about my first Adventure to Jellyfish Cove. Carmela even brought in with her a stuffed Lucy Bear for all of the boys and girls to hold and play with, it was a Beartastic time!
After the reading was finished all of the boys and girls started asking questions. One question that was asked more than once was, ‘Will Lorenzo take another adventure somewhere else???’ Why yes I do! My next one will be to Honeysuckle Mountain where I visit Queen Berverlee the Bumble Bee.
But do you what you what to know what my most favorite part about the visit was??? Come closer to the screen so you can hear me…… Closer…… Closer…… It was when they were told they get to help write a story!!!!!! Oh all of the boys and girls just screamed in excitement! Oh and their ideas! There were some pretty nifty ideas that they had. They were very descriptive of what would happen too. Some told how I would have to face off against Lord Boris again, then some talked about helping lost Zebras, and the Yeti’s!!
It was the most awesome, Beartastic experience I have ever had! I cannot wait until our next classroom visit. Well you don’t have to wait too much longer Lorenzo. I haven’t told you yet, but next week are visiting a second and third grade classroom at Anne Darling! REALLY!! Oh boy! I can’t wait I’m so beary excited! Let’s start planning that trip right now!
Thank you all for reading the blog that Lorenzo and I worked on together. Do you have any questions you would like to ask? Please leave a comment with your questions!! And bee sure to join us March 31st for the Book Launch of; The Adventures of Lorenzo the Bear Journey to Honeysuckle Mountain! https://www.facebook.com/events/15548...
www.lorenzothebear.com
Follow me on Twitter! www.twitter.com/carmy4077
www.twitter.com/lorenzothebear
Like me on Facebook! www.faceboo.com/lorenzothebear
http://ablogforyourthoughts.com/
