Wednesday, February 27, 2013

The Sunshine Vitamin: Vitamin D

Long grey winter days rob you of the important vitamin source found naturally through the sun's rays. Vitamin D is the Sunshine Vitamin! How can you help your children and grandchildren make the most of limited winter sunlight? Take them outside, even if just for a few minutes..
A sunny day in mid-winter is a gift. It is worth the extra effort to get children bundled up for ten to fifteen minute fresh air breaks when there is so much benefit. Taking children out even for short time helps them absorb Vitamin D, get a little exercise and reduce stress. Vitamin D helps strengthen and promote bone health and fights against depression. Don't forget the sunglasses to protect your eyes from the UV rays.

Because 90% of the Vitamin D our bodies make comes from sunlight, where should we get Vitamin D on those mostly cloudy days? Eating certain foods can contribute much of the required daily amount of 600 IUs. Fortified milk, yogurt, salmon and many other food sources provide this vitamin.

Find out all about our need for Vitamin D and learn about its sources in this wonderful website: d sunshine vitamin. You can also listen to the Learning Through the Seasons podcast from WNMU Radio 90 at: www.wnmufm.org/post/vitamin-d

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Khan Academy - Help With Your Child's Homework

 Have you ever been frustrated helping children do homework? Adults of the world, we have been rescued!  Salmon Khan and the team at Khan Academy have provided an amazing library of easy to access online video tutorials and practice lessons just for you and your children. To hear an audio podcast about Khan Academy,  go to the Learning Through the Seasons WNMU Radio 90 podcasts.
What Do You Need:
The website is at: https://www.khanacademy.org/  Browse the home page for lesson videos, they have over 4,000 tutorials that range from beginning arithmetic through high school and beginning college math. They also have videos for Social Studies, Science, Art History and Computer Science. The practice lessons coincide with the tutorials, giving students the hands-on they need to become more proficient.
 You can create an account and have the Khan Academy site keep track of your student's progress and set the video and practice lessons all electronically. This way students can work at their own pace, but not move on without mastery. The courses are organized by using a "Map of Knowledge." You can start working anywhere on the map, and the Khan Academy will suggest the best skills for you to work on. This computerized system will even remind you when you need a review.
 Want to know more? This site also offers and About page that gives a full overview of how to use the materials and set up your child's account.
How This Will Help My Child:
Millions of students from all over the world use this completely free website to help them learn at their own pace. It give students the ability to control and take responsibility for learning and helps foster curiosity and challenge. 

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Reading Picture Books

Books with few words but beautiful pictures are fantastic for story telling and developing conversation skills. Children who read well have usually been read to often. Researchers recently reviewed eight studies and found that reading to your child can raise his or her IQ by over six points. No TV show, video, or computer game can replace two people engage by reading together and talking.
Materials you will need:
Ask your librarian for Caldecott Medal winners with few words.


  If you can’t get to the library, use your computer and go to the Storybird site. It is an excellent collection of very visual stories all created by other readers. In your browser: http://storybird.com/
Find out more tips and ideas in the Storybird Blog: http://blog.storybird.com/
What to do:
   Gather a few stuffed animals to read with you in a cozy spot. If you are using Storybird on computer, you can browse from a list of topics and age leveled links. You can even create your own picture stories right in Storybird since the pictures are all provided in the program. These stories can be saved and shared with others when you create your own account.
How to read together:


 After reading the title and author, start a conversation “Look at that.  What do you see? Just soak in the beauty of a few pages. Then start making up your own story using your words and the author’s illustrations. Your child will learn to add to the story.


  Ask questions that begin with “What, who, where, when, why do you think, or how?”  How do the characters feel—happy, sad, angry, upset, lonely, warm and cuddly inside?  What is the character thinking about?  What will the character do next?” Give the characters names,
    After you have exhausted those questions ask, “What do you think will happen next?” Predicting is an important reading skill.
Whatever you do, take it slow.  Adults often hurry children. Instead, give them time to think. Relax. Reading calms children and adults, preparing for sleep soothing a hurt, and giving great joy.  This is an extremely important part of every child’s routine before naps and bedtime. 
More recommended books: 
Here are a few award winning picture book authors and titles to start: Tuesday, The Three Pigs, Flotsam, Free Fall, and Sector 7 by Wiesner; Lehman’s The Red Book, Museum Trip, Rainstorm, and Trainstop; Rathmann’s Good Night, Gorilla, and 10 Minutes till Bedtime; Briggs The Snowman; VanAllsburg’s Ben’s Dream; Blake’s Clown; dePaola’s Pancakes for Breakfast; Spiers’ Rain; Rohmann’s Time Flies; Deep in the Forest by Turkle; The Silver Pony by Ward; Yellow Umbrella by Jae-Soo Liu; and Hug by Alborough.
Find more American Library Association Award Winners at: http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/the-one-and-only-ivan-wins-the-newbery-medal_b64364
Photos & Illustrations: http://storybird.com/pascalcampion/artwork/read-me-a-story/ ; Storybird logo
Reference: http://bit.ly/YxPbTk