National Geographic Asks: What's the Big Idea?

I spent part of my childhood overseas, so have been fascinated by geography and travel from a very young age.  It should come as no surprise then that one of the many blogs I follow is the wonderful National Geographic Education Blog.  A few days ago, they unveiled a program to help families and educators prepare for summer.  From creating a family tree to constructing a compost pile, National Geographic has put together a host of cool projects. As they say, we all know that the end of the school year doesn't mean the end of educating!

If you are looking for something to do with your kids this summer, check out the Ideas for...

indoor family fun:

A Wander Through A Handful of Kids Literature Blogs

From the Collecting Children's Books Blog

I thought this blog entry would simply be revisiting a blog entry that I love from last year, but then I became completely lost on the Internet by a series of fierce wonderings (as Luke's 3rd grade teacher would say):

So, re-printed from last year, a  lovely blog post about starting a summer book club for your kids.  I found the blog "Dinner: A Love Story" a few weeks ago, and have been enchanted for a couple of reasons.  The first is that the blogger manages to prepare a home cooked meal for her family every single night of the week.  It's a dream of mine.  At the Morell home, we survive on Chipotle take out for days at a time.  The other reason I adore this blog is that the entire family loves children's books, and has a series of posts suggesting various wonderful titles (and several I'd like to try...)  Blogger Jenny Rosenstrach sets up a summer reading program for her kids - something I used to do when my kids were younger.  Like me, she uses shameless bribing (one summer, when Peter was in 2nd grade, he earned nearly 20 playmobil men).  So take a moment to check out the summer reading program, the book lists, and perhaps even the dinner suggestions too:

Dinner a Love Story Summer Reading:

This year, when I wandered back to see if Jenny had a new list of books for the summer (she does not), I discovered that she recommended a wonderful blog dedicated to children's literature:

Mrs. Little: An Obsession with Children's Books

With entry titles like: "If Amelia Bedelia was a Chanel Client", and "If your son sleeps with a light saber... " I was hooked.

So then I wondered what other Children's Literature blogs might be out there that I have been missing, and came across a fascinating article by Elizabeth Bird which appeared in the School Library Journal a few years ago.  Titled:  This Blog's for You: Ten of the best blogs for folks who take kids' lit seriously (but not too seriously).  I wandered through all ten, and have chosen three that I found to be fascinating... and hope you do too!  

Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast

I consider it fair to say that of all the children’s literary blogs, the most visually stunning (with consistently kicking content) is the product of Eisha Prather and Jules Danielson. They provide amazing interviews of up-and-coming authors and illustrators. - Elizabeth Bird

Educating Alice

A blog written by Monica Edinger, an educator at New York City’s Dalton School, this regularly updated site features whip-smart commentary and classroom experience regarding all aspects of children’s literature. - Elizabeth Bird

Collecting Children's Books

This may be the best-written children’s literary blog of all time. Librarian Peter Sieruta doesn’t just retell the history of children’s books—he brings it to life and makes it dance! - Elizabeth Bird

Time to stop wondering and wandering!  I have laundry (and reading!) to do...

Enjoy!

Mrs. Morell


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LearnZillion

Upper School Math Teacher and tech guru Polly Sileo recently attended a professional development conference, and discovered a cool new resource she would like to share with the HTS Community.


Learnzillion contains videos that review a range of math, grammar, phonics, reading and writing  topics that align with the new Common Core standards.  Our teachers recognize it will be a great resource to help prepare lessons and provide differentiation - to help struggling kids review,  or kids who need a challenge think about new concepts.  For parents or tutors, it could be a great resource for many of the same reasons.   This website is similar to Khan Academy,  but it is created by teachers and is more intentional, and far less procedural than KA.

I have provided a pair of screen shots to help give you a sense of what the lessons look like...

If the program sounds intriguing, you can read more it in the following news articles:

•  CNN Report
• EdSurge

Enjoy!

Mrs. Morell

KidsPost Summer Reading Club - Animal Adventures

Each summer, the Washington Post KidsPost sponsors a Summer Reading Club.  This year, the focus is on animal adventures.  You have to love a crew that wrote:  "We at KidsPost have been squirreling away (or gathering) books.  We've worked like dogs to find interesting titles.  And we've waited till now to let the cat out of the bag."   If you have a child who loves animals, you may want to check out wonderful list of titles, mostly with 8 to 12 year olds in mind:

• Survivors: The Empty City, by Erin Hunter
• Never Say Die, by Will Hobbs
• Pegasus: The Flame of Olympus, by Kate O'Hearn
• An Army of Frogs, By Trevor Pryce
• The Familiars, By Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson
• The Tale of Despereaux, By Kate DiCamillo
• The Cats of Tangelwood Forest, By Charles de Lint

Parents can register their children on the Washington Post, and any child who reads any or all of the titles on the list receives a bookmark (the program works on the honor system).

Learn more about the program by visiting:

KidsPost Summer Reading Program

Six Great Online Games for Summer Learning

Whenever I am feeling reasonably confident that I am an expert on the educational resources on the Internet, boom! someone sends me a link to a completely new website or idea that I have never heard of... it's so humbling.  

Today, Karen Robinson forwarded this article from the Mind/Shift website,  highlighting six games from PBS Learning Media involving such cool topics roller coasters, sugar, and secret missions...perfect summertime fare.  In some cases, you might need to set up an account on PBS, but that is easily accomplished:

• Amusement Park Physics (grades 9-12... but I suspect younger kids will be able to enjoy!)

18 Books that Will Inspire Your Kids - from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Today is my first official day of summer vacation... so much to read (and do), so little time!

A friend shared this intriguing list from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation yesterday...  I think I'll need to check out a couple of the titles to add to my own list, such as How to be an Everyday Philanthropist, and Design Revolution: 100 Products that Empower People.   I must say I've never come across Toilets of the World (from the 5th grade list) in a local bookshop, but it could be just the thing to engage a reluctant reader.

Take a peek and see if any of the titles appeal to the readers in your home:

http://www.impatientoptimists.org/Posts/2013/06/Summer-Reading-18-Books-That-Will-Inspire-Your-Kids

Just keep reading...

Mrs. Morell

Keeping Kids Engaged Through the Summer

Many of the Holy Trinity teachers turn to Edutopia for inspiration and great teaching ideas.  Today's newsletter focused on preventing the Summer Slide - with parents in mind.  Follow the link below to check out their fun and engaging activities to keep brains busy:

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/resources-prevent-summer-slide-matt-davis

Mrs. Miller's Top 10 iPad Apps for 1st Grade (Rising 2nd Grade)

Reading

   1.    The Opposites - $1.99: Challenges students to match up pairs of opposing words in increasingly difficult levels.  (ages 7+)

   2.    Learn To Read –Four Letter Words - $.99: Learn how to read up to 300 four letter words.  Options for audio hints and adding your own voice.

3.    Scribble My Story – Free: A book and art creation app where kids can create their own stories.

4.    Raz-Kids – Free:  Type in your child’s Teacher Username:  egeraghty and select your child’s name from the class list.  Practice listening to and reading books.  Leveled books starting at Level aa up to Level Z.  Can continue to increase the student’s reading level as they progress.

Mrs. Miller's Top 10 Apps for Pre-K (Rising Kindergarten)

Phonics

   1.     Starfall ABC’s - $2.99 (Very basic:  See, hear and interact with letters and sounds in words, sentences, and games) and,

Starfall Learn to Read - $2.99:  There are 15 mini-books, each focusing on a specific beginning sound, ending sound and vowel sound, along with videos and activities to enhance literacy learning. 

2.     Free Fall Spelling - $.99:  Works great with Pre-K/K as a tool for learning the alphabet by turning on “Show Hints” under the Settings menu.

Mrs. Miller's Top 10 Apps for Kindergarten/Rising 1st Grade

Catherine Miller spends quite a bit of time with little people and iPads, and has put together a list of her favorite Apps for hours of learning fun:

Phonics

1. Starfall Learn to Read - $2.99:  There are 15 mini-books, each focusing on a specific beginning sound, ending sound and vowel sound, along with videos and activities to enhance literacy learning.

2. Free Fall Spelling - $1.99: 150+ spelling words of common objects.  Three ways to practice spelling: Letter Drag and Spell; Typewriter Spell; Word Scramble

3. First Words Deluxe – $4.99: Learn to spell words in these categories: animals, vehicles, colors, shapes and items around the house.

4. Word Magic - $.99:  Fill in the missing letter (beginning sound, ending sound and middle sound).

5. Scribble My Story – Free: A book and art creation app where kids can create their own stories.

Great Websites for Rising 4th Graders

Following is Mrs. Miller's list of favorite ideas for rising 4th graders.  These sites will help your children improve their typing speed, master multiplication facts, and provide ways to practice spelling, grammar and phonics... all while having fun!

Keyboarding

BBC Dancemat Typing

Great Websites for 3rd Graders

Yesterday Mrs. Miller presented ideas for rising 2nd graders - today she has put together a list of her favorite websites to keep rising 3rd graders engaged in learning fun over the summer months.  These sites will help your children improve their typing speed, master math facts, and provide ways to practice spelling, grammar and phonics... all while having fun!

Keyboarding

Alpha Munchies

Great Websites for 2nd Grade

Mrs. Miller has been busy assembling a fantastic list of online resources for rising second graders.  The hope is that they make learning fun, so keep our students engaged over the summer!  (Lists for other grades to follow:)

 Keyboarding Sites

Dancemat Typing

Summer Reading - For Parents!

Our amazing summer reading suggestions are now in place for each of our classes at HTS.  This summer, our faculty will also be undertaking a summer reading assignment, and we thought we'd pose a challenge to you, our parents, as well.  Following are a few titles from our teacher summer reading list, and a few others that come highly recommended... So pick up a couple of these titles, or download them on your eReader... and head to the beach :)

Teach Your Children Well: Parenting for Authentic Success

By Madeline Levine

Psychologist Madeline Levine, author of the New York Times bestseller The Price of Privilege, brings together cutting-edge research and thirty years of clinical experience to explode once and for all the myth that good grades, high test scores, and college acceptances should define the parenting endgame. 
Teach Your Children Well is a toolbox for parents, providing information, relevant research and a series of exercises to help parents clarify a definition of success that is in line with their own values as well as their children’s interests and abilities.

Teach Your Children Well is a must-read for parents, educators, and therapists looking for tangible tools to help kids thrive in today’s high-stakes, competitive culture.

http://www.amazon.com/Teach-Your-Children-Well-Parenting/dp/0061824747/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1369852899&sr=1-1