3:15 app by Patrick Carmen

Patrick Carmen has created an app that contains three short 15 minute scary stories that kids can experience by reading, watching a short video or listening as the story is narrated. Carmen hopes it will bring kids to reading, using the tools that they consider essential today. Readers will find the story filled with interactive clues that they can use to unlock more content on the website. Sounds similar to 39 Clues, doesn't it?
Check it out! By the way, this is really scary and is appropriate for 4th graders and above.

Easy Peasy Spring Craft

Doesn't this look inviting? What an easy craft to make your grandmother, aunt, mother or even a sick relative! You'll find the instructions here.

Parents and Reading

I am a member of the Illinois Reading Council and receive their journal. In the Spring 2011, Volume 39, Number 2 issue, there's an article titled "Parent Involvement in Reading" by Laurie Elish-Piper that lists 12 things parents can do to bring reading to their children. Here is a brief synopsis of her recommendations for children in K-5:

1. Set aside a family reading time each day or at least several times per week.

2. Give books or magazines as gifts for birthdays, holidays or other important celebrations.

3. MAKE REGULAR TRIPS AS A FAMILY TO THE LIBRARY. (my emphasis)

4. Audio books provide a great way for families to listen to books while driving or relaxing.

5. Institute a 15-minute late-night reading routine at your home.

6. Most elementary age children enjoy reading series books with familiar characters.
(Think Judy Moody, Stink, Captain Underpants, Magic Treehouse, Geronimo Stilton, even Harry Potter.)

7. Play word games together to build your children's interest in words. (Piper suggests Scrabble Flash, Blurt, Bananagrams, and Apple to Apple Junior.)

8. Encourage your children to become aware and interested in vocabulary words around them. (Ms. Sarah uses a Word of the Day in her preschool storyhour.)

9. Stash books where your children will be--in the car, in their bedrooms, and even in the bathroom.

10.BE A READING ROLE MODEL. (Again, my emphasis.)

11. Read comics, jokes, riddles, and puns together.

12. Plan a book swap with your neighbors, friends, or other family members who have children the same age as yours.

Six iPad/iPhone Apps for Kids - Newborns/Toddlers (Review)

Yes, more apps!

I was tooling around YouTube the other day and came across a video of recommendations of children's apps for different age groups which featured reading skills that I thought you might find interesting. Here it is!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFVfUl9TfOc

K-2 Storyhour

Last week we had a program based on dental hygiene in our K-2 Storyhour. Students from the Prairie State Dental Hygiene program gave an awesome presentation on brushing, flossing, brushing your tongue and all around oral hygiene. I was so proud of the creative questions the children asked. One boy asked what other alternatives there were to mint toothpaste and toothpastes that contained dyes, as he cannot have either. Another asked about brushing your tongue. So proud of my K-2'ers and the dental hygienists!

Free Children's Cognitive Worksheets and Websites

After reading the article "Cramming for Kindergarten Tests" by Noreen S. Ahmed-Ullah in the February 14th edition of the Chicago Tribune, I was shocked at how competitive enrollment at the Chicago magnet schools had become. Who knew a parent would consider hiring a tutor for their preschooler? There are many websites that provide the cognitive learning experiences that were detailed in the article.

I found worksheets for preschool and elementary grades at TSL Books. Com. What's great about this site is that you can choose grade level and skill level. It includes preschool skills such as coloring the word "red" with a red crayon or more advanced skills such as geometry reviews for fifth graders. Lots of options here.

Kidsland.tv is a fun website where a child can learn cognitive or life skills in Playland, learn English or math skills in Studyland, play Sudoku, smart games or brain games in Gameland, read various books in Storyland, or dance in Danceland and sing in Musicland. The graphics are charming and voices funny and I can see where a child would enjoy his experience there. Kidsland also provides the parents with a report card to chart your child's progress.

At Kidslearningstation.com you'll find a variety of worksheets including phonics and some that work with fine motor skills. Again, lots of options here.

These are just three sites I found by searching by "kids cognitive learning". There were many more. I hope this encourages you to take that first step to enriching your child's education. You'll also find it fun and one wild ride!