Carmela Dutra's Blog - Posts Tagged "programs"
Summer reading (2)
Summer is just around the corner! One of things that teachers encourage over the summer vacation is to READ, READ, and READ! What can be done to help ensure that happens?
One thing my mother did every summer was, enrolling me in a reading contest at the local library. The goal was to out read everyone else in the program, and the top three winners would win a medal (resembled an Olympic medal). Each week we would go to the library and fill out sheet of how many books we read that week; and what they were about. At the end of the two months everyone gathered together to the top three winners were announced. It was a healthy competition, and if I made it into one of the top three spots my mom would give me an extra prize. I would get to pick where the family went to dinner that night to celebrate, being a typical kid I always picked Chuck E Cheese.
Why not check and see if your local library offers a program similar to the one that my mother enrolled me in. 20years later and I still remember it well, I bet your child will too.
Have an Adventurous Summer!
Carmela Dutra
Author of The Adventures of Lorenzo the Bear
www.lorenzothebear.com
facebook.com/lorenzothebear (like me!)
twitter.com/lorenzothebear @lorenzothebear
One thing my mother did every summer was, enrolling me in a reading contest at the local library. The goal was to out read everyone else in the program, and the top three winners would win a medal (resembled an Olympic medal). Each week we would go to the library and fill out sheet of how many books we read that week; and what they were about. At the end of the two months everyone gathered together to the top three winners were announced. It was a healthy competition, and if I made it into one of the top three spots my mom would give me an extra prize. I would get to pick where the family went to dinner that night to celebrate, being a typical kid I always picked Chuck E Cheese.
Why not check and see if your local library offers a program similar to the one that my mother enrolled me in. 20years later and I still remember it well, I bet your child will too.
Have an Adventurous Summer!
Carmela Dutra
Author of The Adventures of Lorenzo the Bear
www.lorenzothebear.com
facebook.com/lorenzothebear (like me!)
twitter.com/lorenzothebear @lorenzothebear
Reading vs. TV
This is a hot debate among many people (children included) what really are the pros and cons to reading vs. TV?
READING:
When you read, you are forced to exercise your imagination, improve writing skills, and expand your vocabulary. Reading opens doors - doors to factual information about any subject on earth, practical or theoretical. Given the wealth of available resources such as Internet, libraries, schools and bookstores, if children see reading as a source of information, and fun; then for the rest of their lives they will have access to all of the accumulated knowledge of mankind, access to all of the great minds and ideas of the past and present. It truly is magic!
It may sound funny, but ebooks can be a way for children to improve their fine motor skills and their hand-eye coordination, as they click around a childfriendly website or click the backward and forward buttons of online story pages. They may also be picking up valuable computer skills that they'll need in school and later in life.
TELEVISION:
If there’s a subject your child enjoys, more likely than not, there is a TV show, movie, or educational DVD that explores the subject in detail. You might be even be surprised to find out how many kids watch and love educational shows aimed at adults. Rachael Ray, for example has a huge following among kids and tweens, and her primetime show often features kids in the kitchen.
Most kids are not able to visit the rain forest or see a giraffe in the wild, but many have seen these things on TV. Thankfully, educationally minded producers have given us many shows and movies that allow viewers to see amazing footage of nature, animals, society, and other peoples. Kids and adults alike can learn from this type of media and gain a greater appreciation for our world and the animals and other people who inhabit it.
BALANCE:
Balance is the key to everything! Children MUST read but they also need to like and enjoy it if you want them to develop a love for it. At the same time they need to be able to relax, and sometimes do something a little more passive. Television is ok, in moderation. The problem is sometimes, kids end up spending too much time in front of the TV instead of being outside and doing physical activity; or picking up a book. Only you know what is best for you family, and make the right choices for them. Both books and TV can be beneficial and educational. At the same time they can also be filled with trash, so you need to be selective in what you allow your youngsters to read, or watch. Again only you can decide what is best, and how much is wise for your family to indulge in.
Have and Adventurous day!
Carmela Dutra
Author of the Adventures of Lorenzo the Bear
www.lorenzothebear.com
Facebook.com/lorenzothebear (like me!)
Twitter.com/lorenzothebear @lorenzothebear
READING:
When you read, you are forced to exercise your imagination, improve writing skills, and expand your vocabulary. Reading opens doors - doors to factual information about any subject on earth, practical or theoretical. Given the wealth of available resources such as Internet, libraries, schools and bookstores, if children see reading as a source of information, and fun; then for the rest of their lives they will have access to all of the accumulated knowledge of mankind, access to all of the great minds and ideas of the past and present. It truly is magic!
It may sound funny, but ebooks can be a way for children to improve their fine motor skills and their hand-eye coordination, as they click around a childfriendly website or click the backward and forward buttons of online story pages. They may also be picking up valuable computer skills that they'll need in school and later in life.
TELEVISION:
If there’s a subject your child enjoys, more likely than not, there is a TV show, movie, or educational DVD that explores the subject in detail. You might be even be surprised to find out how many kids watch and love educational shows aimed at adults. Rachael Ray, for example has a huge following among kids and tweens, and her primetime show often features kids in the kitchen.
Most kids are not able to visit the rain forest or see a giraffe in the wild, but many have seen these things on TV. Thankfully, educationally minded producers have given us many shows and movies that allow viewers to see amazing footage of nature, animals, society, and other peoples. Kids and adults alike can learn from this type of media and gain a greater appreciation for our world and the animals and other people who inhabit it.
BALANCE:
Balance is the key to everything! Children MUST read but they also need to like and enjoy it if you want them to develop a love for it. At the same time they need to be able to relax, and sometimes do something a little more passive. Television is ok, in moderation. The problem is sometimes, kids end up spending too much time in front of the TV instead of being outside and doing physical activity; or picking up a book. Only you know what is best for you family, and make the right choices for them. Both books and TV can be beneficial and educational. At the same time they can also be filled with trash, so you need to be selective in what you allow your youngsters to read, or watch. Again only you can decide what is best, and how much is wise for your family to indulge in.
Have and Adventurous day!
Carmela Dutra
Author of the Adventures of Lorenzo the Bear
www.lorenzothebear.com
Facebook.com/lorenzothebear (like me!)
Twitter.com/lorenzothebear @lorenzothebear
