Lunch Box Notes

 

LUNCH BOX NOTES... ideas to use and share

Here are some more ideas, and I know I am now at a "writer's block" for ideas. I try and jot down little ideas, that are what my children will understand... we actually dance in the first rain of the season every year, we stomp from leaf to leaf in the fall as they crunch under our feet, we dig in dirt, and we hunt for nature's treasures.

Shout Out

I am so absolutely proud of my youngest son!!! Even though I'm not to happy about my schedule being completely out of whack (between three different schedules), he's being transferred to the another kindergarten class/session.

 

He was telling me, during this testing process, that there are children that do not know their ABCs, where as he is already reading and fully comprehending books (he loves Diary of a Wimpy Kid and SpongeBob). I know he came from it out of a spirit of boasting, so I took the time to explain there were things he doesn't yet understand, and this is why we go to school. But, I was on such a "mommy high", I made sure to enjoy the moment (there are highs and lows, and these moments help the lows when they come, and no child is perfect).

 

I think we need to celebrate with a trip to the COMIC BOOK STORE.. celebrate him!!!

Playing Videogames

Most parents scoff at the idea of videogames. Social media blames a lack of morals, violence, and deficiency in parenting on games children play. Truth is, children don't hold jobs, they can't even buy a majority of games without an adults permission, and only a small percentage of kids exposed even commit horrible acts. We tend to take a different approach...

 

If I encounter a rude adult/child that displays a filthy vocabulary, instead of gasping and covering my kids' ears, it becomes a lesson. I remind my children that we don't talk like that, and intelligent people use their words, which is a much better approach than to hide it and make it more appealing later in life when they naturally rebel. My aunt told me that an intellectual person can get the same point across, with the same meaning if not worse, without having to resort to profanity and ignorance (we pass that on to our children). So before you ridicule the person in public that has a disregard towards the fact minors share their space in public, find a positive solution.

 

Now don't get me wrong, we do our jobs as parents, screening out things like GTA (Grand Theft Auto), Bully, or even Black Ops. I just feel that the positives of even learning videogames are quickly over looked by a narrow vision (which is how prejudice thrives, same mentality).

 

My children were exposed to LeapFrog since they were infants (snagged them off shelves as they were made), I'd be folding laundry on my bed, as they were in the crib next to me playing and not realizing they were learning. Soon they were playing with Leapster Explorers, JumpStart on their computers, and many other forms of videogames. My youngest has been reading since he was four years old thanks to videogames!

 

My youngest looks up to his two older brothers, and that includes wanting to play the same videogames they do, but his biggest issue was not being able to read. So whether it was SpongeBob or Crash, he couldn't play well because he couldn't read the directions. One day I didn't feel like stopping what I was doing to "read what I do next", I told him that if he couldn't read it than he needed to play a different game. For our little man that loves to be independent, this was all the challenge he needed to learn how to read. When he started school this year, he was already reading books... and not just "Cat in the Hat" or "Hop on Pop". Our little man that started walking by nine months old copies my middle son in reading "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" (they have the entire series).

 

In conclusion... before we rip apart Xbox, Wii, or PlayStation we should look at the hidden benefits! It is time you can spend bonding (compete or conversations in a relaxed environment), or hidden lessons (whether behavior, reading, or situations we otherwise wouldn't encounter). I personally have been playing Everquest since a few weeks after it hit shelves, I play with my husband (and best friend), and I have conversations in game with people all over the world. http://www.everquest.com/free

 

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EDUCATIONAL GAMES

 

StarFall (learn to read)

http://www.starfall.com

 

PBS Kids

http://pbskids.org/read

 

Sheppard Software

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/science.htm

 

Primary Games

http://www.primarygames.com/science.php

 

There are so many out there, to make learning fun, which will help give your child an advantage, you just have to look.

~*Chores*~

In our home, chores are designed to help them learn life skills, not just free labor. However, in cleaning up behind themselves, a kitchen timer is effective. When I was little my mom would ask how much do I think I can do in a certain amount of time. With my little ones, I ask which one can do more in a certain amount of time (all in good fun), and make it competitive. Who can pick up the most toys in two minutes? Who can make their bed the fastest, properly?

 

I'm sure this goes against the grain of society, but the reality is, when they get older not everyone gets a trophy. As adults they will be competing for jobs, pay raises, and if they are their own boss with others in their field. As parents we feel it stifles a child to teach them strangers care more about their feelings/self-esteem than performance. True self-esteem is built on how they can handle failure, do they whine and force their way or see it as a way to do better next time? I console my little ones when they meet a "let down" to their perceptions, like recently when my youngest didn't win the popsicle draw. His older brother, picked up trash at lunch, earned a slip for a free one, and he saw it as a way to help his school and make his baby brother happy. We'd already had the chat about how he doesn't always win, how others deserve a chance, and that he has a chance next time. But it melted my heart to see his brother do an act of kindness, in the specific area his brother was having difficulty without previous knowledge, and out of his own heart.

 

When I put together the chore board for the boys, I used colored scientific tape, letter stickers from Michael's, and magnets and puffy stickers from Michaels (I made them better stick with gorilla glue)... and pictures cut out and gorilla glued to magnets at top. I chose the dry erase choice, so we can swap out chores as they master them, and they earn coins they stick in their piggy banks (later to their bank accounts. The boys also stick cash gifts away, recycle for extra money to stash away, and we teach them how to repurpose and freecycle. Things they have me sell on CraigsList actually ends up towards charity, they love to sell their old stuff to help the SPCA. And as a parent, things were given to them, so we don't feel it is right to take anything back in any fashion... it is all their choice! Even if in the future they choose to keep their cash, but in the mean time I am proud they are making positive choices and thinking of others and not just themselves.

 

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CHORE CHARTS

 

DLTK

http://www.dltk-cards.com/chart

 

Free Printable Behavior charts

http://www.freeprintablebehaviorcharts.com

 

Chore Charts.com

http://www.chorecharts.com/free-charts-charts

 

Goal For It

http://www.goalforit.com/chore-chart.html

 

Handipoints

http://www.handipoints.com/printable-chart/chore-chart.html

 

Tip Nut

http://tipnut.com/chore-charts

Fresh Coconut

While at the grocery store, the boys saw a fresh coconut, and asked if they can try one... how can we say "no", normally we're trying to talk them into trying things outside of their comfort zone.

When I was a child, I was usually forced into trying new things, and now as an adult I can thank my "Nana". We had to take a "no thank you bite", which was the equivalent of three bites before we can decide we don't like it. I have to be honest, this coconut was not ripe yet, so it had a soapy type taste and was harder to chew. We all agree that coconut milk is something we all dislike, whether fresh or in a can from the health store.

I ended up sticking them in a baggy, in the door of the fridge, and I'll suffer through it for the added health benefits. I love how my husband and I are on the same wave length when it comes to parenting our boyz, we balance each other out, and the boys will get the advantages for many years to come. Both of us wrap our lives around our kids...

Reading Stories

When my children were really little, I'd read to them, even before they fully understood the English language.

When they were really small, I have to give thanks to Leapster! We had tons of toys, the fridge magnets, and never stopped cruising toy isles for the newest Leap Frog stuff!!!  I would fold laundry on the bed, occupy them in the crib close by, and phonics started extremely early. Reading opens up new ideas when they are small and being read to and a whole new world they can escape to as they get older and do it on their own. They both currently still use Leapster Explorers, which we love because it gives them a game between learning, and they have all the stuff the characters they are presently into. Our children learned to read early on so we didn't have to buy the books with reader like we had with our eldest.

Recently it has come to our attention that they still at 5 and 7 still need us reading to them, our voices, and cuddle time. We push education, and when they started to read on their own, we started to push their limits and stopped reading to them. I talked it over with my husband, and since the kids seem to understand much more than most might give them credit for, we're going to start reading to them again. But instead of reading books they understand or can already read, we'll do higher end books (and have the ability to explain words and concepts).

Here is to a new chapter of life when we can read books, watch the movies, and compare the differences...

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FREE ONLINE BOOKS/READING

The Online Books Page

http://digital.library.upenn.edu/books

Read Print

http://www.readprint.com

Book Spot

http://www.bookspot.com/onlinebooks

StarFall (learning to read free)

http://www.starfall.com

Montessori

http://www.learntoreadfree.com

Soft Schools

http://www.softschools.com/language_arts/phonics

Phoniks

http://www.foniks.org

There are so many more, if you look

Preparing School Snacks

School is around the corner, and from lunch box notes to healthy snacks, I am trying to make the transition as easy as possible for the boys.

Banana Nut Muffins, where I substitute the oil for extra virgin Olive oil or Coconut oil, add extra walnuts, and ground flaxseed. I try to come up with ideas to sneak in healthy without sacrificing taste. baked goods are excellent for ground flaxseed (Omega 6 like the walnuts).

Dried fruit/nuts/seeds are a great trail mix, easy to store, and helpful in pre-packing lunches.

Don't forget the lunch box notes, and this year I am scrapbooking them, trying to make them as personal as possible, but mainly just a reminder to my kids that we love and support them.

School Schedules

It is that time of year again, school is starting, and schedules are back in swing after the lazy days of summer soon come to a close...

I for one have a son in 11th grade, 2nd grade, and one starting kindergarten. Which means I have to jumble three separate schedules. Thankfully I have an fixation with scrapbooking, and love to print out pictures through Costco (cheap and fast)! Now I will have a printed out schedule with the alarms I set on my cell phone.

Here is a mock schedule without actual times...

Here is a background to put together your own schedule/notes. The good thing is, you can design your own to fit your own tastes. I figured this was fitting for Autumn being just around the corner.

Travel Smores

I actually own a ceramic set, with sterno to help roast the marshmallows, but nothing compares to a real open camp fire. The experience of noises we can't quit explain, the crisp air that floats through camp, and the abundance of stars overhead as we bond over a sweet sticky melted mess...

During the summer months I do a travel version, as we head off to the sandy beaches! One part Cinnamon Toast Crunch, one parts Hershey baking chocolate chips, and one part mini marshmallows. ~*Mmm*~

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Target sells Marshmallow Shooters (various kinds), which can be fun for the backyard, camping, at home, or even the beach!!! ~*AWESOME*~... especially if you live in a house with all boys like we do.

Lil Men

Anthony and Tyler are my little men, they are close enough in age to be each other's best friend... BROTHERS!!! A bond I wish I was able to expirience.

~*Hugs*~

~*My Inspiration*~

Anthony

Tyler

Vincent

~*MY BOYZ*~

SPRAYGROUNDS

Sacramento Spraygrounds

List of Spraygrounds in Sacramento & Surrounding areas... FREE

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100 Alexandra Drive, El Dorado Hills
831 Redwood Ln, El Dorado Hills

9550 Mainline Drive, Elk Grove

5540 Bellaterra, Elk Grove, CA

5511 Dorcey Drive, Elk Grove

9370 Sierra River Drive, Elk Grove
1322 Bundrick Dr  Folsom

6004 Riley Street, Folsom

700 Golf Links Rd, Folsom
3200 Freedom Park Dr., McClellan, CA
3625 Spoto Drive, Rancho Cordova

3141 Bridgeway Drive, Rancho Cordova

10488 White Rock Rd, Rancho Cordova

6101 West Oaks Blvd., Rocklin, CA

3980 Rocklin Road, Rocklin

1801 Whitney Ranch Parkway

1013 Galleria Blvd, Roseville
2804 Pope Ave, Sacramento
2350 Northrop Avenue, Sacramento
3650 Southport Parkway, West Sacramento, CA

Athony's First Glasses

Today my littlest angel officially wears glasses... he is far sighted with an astigmatism. We are celebrating how he is a unique part of our family!

He is due to go back to the optometrist in three month. We'll find out than if the prescription changes, if we can make sure he has a few pair on hand, so far he says he can see better. We had no clue he ever needed them... he reads, does basic math (can see numbers fine), and keep up with videogames (Leapster Explorer, JumpStart, and many other games that not only require reading but some like Spore or nick.com games need him to keep up reaction times).

~*Social Studies*~

SOCIAL STUDY/HISTORY LINKS


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50 States
http://www.50states.com

A Family Fourth
This is a great collection of things you can do together as a family for the 4th of July. There's more to do than just barbecue!
http://fun.familyeducation.com/independence-day/holidays-and-celebrations/32874.html

A Force More Powerful
Can a computer game teach how to fight real-world adversaries—dictators, military occupiers and corrupt rulers, using methods that have succeeded in actual conflicts. A dozen scenarios, inspired by recent history, include conflicts against dictators, occupiers, colonizers and corrupt regimes, as well as struggles to secure the political and human rights of ethnic and racial minorities and women.
http://www.afmpgame.com

Amelia Earhart Goes Transcontinental
This week in history Amelia Earhart crossed North America in 19 hours and 5 mintues. This is a great resource to teach your children about this historic explorer.
http://www.ameliaearhart.com

American Archaeology
http://www.history.org/kids

American Leaders
Your child can discover some of the early American leaders with this great resource. Not only can your children learn about early leaders, but learn about what makes a good leader.
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/leadersofearlyamerica/index.html

Ancient History Sourcebook
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/asbook.html

Apples 4 the Teacher
United States of America Learning Activities
http://www.apples4theteacher.com/usa-states

Archaeology Day Lesson Plans
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/unearthingsouthamerica

Ben's Guide to the U.S. Government
http://bensguide.gpo.gov

Betsy Shows Them Again
When Betsy Ross designed the American flag, the flag committee complained that it would be too difficult to make five-pointed stars in mass production. Well, she showed them how to do it with ONE snip of the scissors! See how she did it!
http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagstar.html

California History Online
http://www.californiahistory.net

California Timeline of State History
http://www.shgresources.com/ca/timeline

Explore The States
Check out this great multimedia presentation on the different states presented by the Library Of Congress! Music, stories and more!
http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/es

Freethinker's Day - These are the times that try men's souls"
This week is Freethinker's Day. It is celebrated each year on the anniversary of the birth of Thomas Paine, a leader of the American Revolution and author of, among other works, COMMON SENSE. Now you can read and learn about one of America's first free thinkers.
http://www.ushistory.org/paine/commonsense

History Channel
Whether you have satellite or cable television be sure to see what is playing with your local programming. Well worth planting the seeds to learn more with visual help.
http://www.history.com

Jun 6 D-Day
With Memorial Day just a vacation memory, here is a great lesson in history to remind us of what Memorial Day is all about.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/guts/index.html

Leaning Adventures in Citizenship
This is a fun site for parents and kids with lots of multimedia and fun interactive activities to explore. It's based on the PBS television series which you might be able to get or order from your local library if you like. But it's a great resource even by itself!
http://pbskids.org/bigapplehistory/parentsteachers/index.html

Martin Luther King Jr's Birthday
This is a great place for children to learn about Martin Luther King, Jr. There are printable activities, timelines and more.
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/history/us/MLK

Miller Center (Political History)

http://millercenter.org

Red Ribbon Week
In honor of Red Ribbon Week, this is a perfect time to talk to your child (if age appropriate) about different substances that can hurt them (like drugs, alcohol and smoking.) Here is a great resource to help you. There are articles such as Brain Power and the effects on your child's brain, Mind over Matter and more
http://www.drugabuse.gov/parent-teacher.html

Sacramento History
http://www.sacramentohistory.org

So, Where Did The Easter Bunny Come From?
You might be surprised at the origins of the Easter Bunny. Seems like an American tradition. Here's a hint, a visit from the Easter Bunny was only second to a visit from Christ-Kindel in this tradition.
http://www.holidays.net/easter/bunny1.htm

St. Patrick's Day
St. Patrick's Day comes during lent. That means no meat. But! St. Patricks Day is an exception! Guess what you are allowed to eat? Corned Beef with Cabbage! So that's where that comes from. There is more you can find out, even a video to find out the truth behind the mysterious Saint, and learn more about why this day is celebrated!
http://www.historychannel.com/exhibits/stpatricksday/index.jsp

State Symbols
Learn About the 50 States
http://www.netstate.com/states/index.html

The Official Alamo Site
Great information, videos, multimedia and more on the Alamo.
http://www.thealamo.org

The Statue Of Liberty Cam
http://www.libertycam.com

~*Science*~

SCIENCE LINKS


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A Live Interactive NASA Webcast for Students
http://www.journeytopalomar.org

California Board of Psychology
http://www.psychboard.ca.gov

Can a toilet-paper tube support your weight?
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/educator/act_columns_ho.html

Cheese Clay
What? Yes it's true. Clay you can play with, then eat. Why is this in the science section? Because it's a great time to explain to your children the value of washing their hands REALLY WELL!
http://www.easyfunschool.com/article1822.html

Chemical Elements
http://www.chemicalelements.com

Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Bird Science
http://www.birds.cornell.edu

Cosmos 4 Kids
The Cosmos4Kids site is all about astronomy. This informational site
http://www.cosmos4kids.com

Dealing With Endangered Animals - Online Game
This is a great interactive online game to teach your child about animal species, and conservation.
http://www.sandiegozoo.org/kids/games/dwes.html

Did Jules Verne design the Apollo spacecraft?
Jules Verne named it the "Columbiad". Take a look at his design, and the Apollo. You might be surprised! Compare it to this picture: vesuvius.jsc.nasa.gov/er/seh/cmmod.gif
http://vesuvius.jsc.nasa.gov/er/seh/vernorig.html

Discovery
Learn and teach with Discovery.com
http://school.discovery.com

Discovery School.com
Homework help and more... including science project ideas.
http://school.discovery.com/students

EScience Labs
home kits that bring science to life in your own home!
http://www.esciencelabs.com

Education.com
ALL GRADES! Looking for activities to show your child the fun side of learning? From science experiments and math games to writing projects and more, we've got you covered! Use the selector on the right to browse around, or narrow your search by grade and subject area.
http://www.education.com/activity/all-grades

Explorit Science Center
This hands on science exploritorium is in Davis 530 756 0191
http://www.explorit.com

Forces Science Lab
Squeezing, stretching, sliding, twisting, and bending -- try them all! Play this interactive online game and have fun (be careful you don't learn something at the same time!)
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/lab/forces.html

Has Spring Sprung Upon Us?
This is a gigantic collection of Spring worksheets and activities you can print for your kids.
http://abcteach.com/directory/theme_units/month_to_month/d_april/spring

Human Body
Virtual Tour of Human Body - In English and Spanish! http://www.medtropolis.com/vbody.asp
http://www.medtropolis.com

Human body
http://www.softschools.com/science/human_body

Is that your arm cantilevering or mine?
Print this fun challenge to learn about physics concepts. Perfect for all age kids.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/educator/act_mini_cantilever.html

K-12 Science Projects
FREE --- Power Point Science Projects and educational tools!
http://science.pppst.com/index.html

Learn about mummification 
http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/mummies/home.html

Lego Education
Science and Technology Powered by Mindstorms Education
http://www.legoeducation.com/Default.aspx?bhcp=1

Mad Scientist Network
The laboratory that never sleeps. The archives answer 36,000 commonly asked questions concerning science.
http://www.madsci.org

Magnet Man
This web site is devoted to magnetism and the cool experiments you can do with permanent magnets and electro-magnets. Some of the experiments are very basic - things you've done since second grade. Others are unique; perhaps you hadn't thought of doing some of these before, or had difficulty in trying to set them up. Lists of the materials needed for the demonstrations, directions on how to assemble them, instructions on how to show them, and notes on how they work are all here for you. Also shown are several cool magnetic toys you can buy. Of course, there are also links to useful sites, sources and books on magnets.
http://www.coolmagnetman.com/magindex.htm

Miss Maggie's Earth Science
Just For You From The Earth Adventures Educational Team!
http://www.missmaggie.org/weeklypack

National Geographic
http://nationalgeographic.com

Nature's Critters
Natures Critters is an entertaining way to educate children about our wildlife. ... Enter the World of Nature's Critters "Let the Animals Touch You!
http://www.naturescritters.com

Robert Krampf's Science Site
http://www.krampf.com

Science Channel
Be sure to what is currently running with your local programming, whether you have cable or satellite
http://science.discovery.com

Weather Whiz Kids
http://www.weatherwizkids.com

Wonders of the World Databank
Use this site to search the Wonders of the World Databank. If you have a local wonder, submit it and have it added to the databank! Play this interactive online game and have fun (be careful you don't learn something at the same time!)
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/wonder/index.html

Your own ocean wave!
Do you remember those ocean wave simulators in a bottle. When you shift the bottle, the a blue wave inside the bottle rolls to one side, then the other. Now you can make your own!
http://www.activitiesforkids.com/recipe/ocean.htm