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Million Word Challenge UPDATE

Raise Your Child — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:46:34 +0000

Help students read to succeed!

Join the Million Word Challenge.

Over the last week, 134 schools across Los Angeles County have taken on the challenge of encouraging their students to read millions of words outside of school.

These Literacy Champions are joining us in increasing literacy rates among our students. Together, we are creating a legacy of avid readers and critical thinkers amidst a changing global economy and society.

Today, February 1, 2012, the Million Word Challenge officially kicked off at Leo Politi Elementary School in Los Angeles. The campaign led by Families In Schools, is a partnership between education, business, and community leaders. Brad Rumble, Principal at Leo Politi Elementary School, shares the importance of literacy and the Million Word Challenge:

Principal of LAUSD Elementary School Challenges You

The 2012 Million Word Challenge is a literacy campaign that encourages preschool – 12th grade students to read millions of words outside of school time. Each year, 200,000 students in over 300 schools participate in the Million Word Challenge and explore the joy of reading. At the annual campaign’s culmination in April, each participating school will select one student winner to receive a $50 gift certificate to purchase books of their very own.

Million Word Challenge participant challenges you to read outside of school!

How Can a School/Agency Participate?

Register your school/agency online at www.millionwordchallenge.org today. The Campaign launches on February 1, 2012. There are limited spaces available so schools/agencies will be registered on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Implement the challenge in your school/agency following the guidelines. Schools/Agencies will have access to an online handbook to help with implementation.
Submit the name of your school/agency’s Million Word Challenge Winner by logging back onto www.millionwordchallenge.org in April 2012.
Each student winner receives a $50 gift certificate to purchase books at the Target Book Store at Festival of Books, which will take place at USC April 21 – 22, 2012. Students unable to attend Festival of Books will be able to use their gift card to purchase books at any Target store.

For additional information, please contact

Colin Meng at (213) 201-3907 or at

ctmeng@familiesinschools.org

The Million Word Challenge: Register today

Raise Your Child — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:41:18 +0000

Challenge your students to read millions of words!

Register today for the Million Word Challenge:
www.millionwordchallenge.org

The 2012 Million Word Challenge is a literacy campaign that encourages preschool – 12th grade students to read millions of words outside of school time. Each year, hundreds of schools participate in the challenge. Join them to promote a home culture of literacy by registering today for the Million Word Challenge and launch your school’s campaign on February 1, 2012.

How Can a School/Agency Participate?

Register your school/agency online at www.millionwordchallenge.org today. The Campaign launches on February 1, 2012. There are limited spaces available so schools/agencies will be registered on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Implement the challenge in your school/agency following the guidelines. Schools/Agencies will have access to an online handbook to help with implementation.

Submit the name of your school/agency’s Million Word Challenge Winner by logging back onto www.millionwordchallenge.org in April 2012.
Each student winner receives a $50 gift certificate to purchase books at the Target Book Store at Festival of Books, which will take place at USC April 21 – 22, 2012. Students unable to attend Festival of Books will be able to use their gift card to purchase books at any Target store.

For additional information, please contact

Colin Meng at (213) 201-3907 or

at ctmeng@familiesinschools.org.

Million Word Challenge participant challenges you to read outside of school!

Expand Your Read with Me/Lea Conmigo Family Literacy Program!

Raise Your Child — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 18:41:56 +0000

Expand Your Read with Me/Lea Conmigo Family Literacy Program!

Thank you for supporting literacy through Read with Me/Lea Conmigo, a family engagement program designed to improve the early literacy skills of infants and toddlers, preschool children, and students in kindergarten through 1^st grade. Expand your Read with Me program today for the low, one-time cost of $100 per student. Also, please feel free to contact us for other support services including:

Getting Ready for Read with Me: A 2-hour Read with Me training for new staff.
Read with Me Again: A 2-hour Read with Me refresher training for staff already trained in the Read with Me program
Read with Me Literacy Backpack: Replace your Read with Me backpack with or without books.
Read with Me Backpack Tags: Replace you lost tags for your backpacks.
Storysharing Tips: Replace lost Storysharing tips for your Read with Me backpacks.

CLICK HERE to Read with Me brochure for your information.

Please feel free to contact me at (213) 201-3905 or at lmiranda@familiesinschools.org to expand your Read with Me/Lea Conmigo program today. I look forward to speaking with you soon.

Best Wishes,

Lupe Miranda

Lupe Miranda

Program Assistant, Early Education and Family Literacy

Families In Schools

Web: www.familiesinschools.org

Direct Number: (213) 201-3905

Main Office Number: (213) 201-3900

Email: lmiranda@familiesinschools.org

Our mission is to involve parents and communities in their children’s education to achieve lifelong success.

Elementary Math Success Using Base Ten Blocks

Raise Your Child — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:11:23 +0000

I’ve been a teacher for over a decade. When I became a teacher I was eager to teach kids differently than I had been taught. So much of how I was taught as a child was motivated by results, scores and performance. If I did well on the standardized test that proved that I was learning. Filling in the right bubble proved that I understood the question and the answer. Sadly, this was far from the truth, because I missed out on understanding what happened in between the question and the answer. I couldn’t tell my teacher why choice “D” was right. I needed teachers who could show me why my answer was correct. I needed teachers who knew about math manipulatives.

Elementary School math can be a challenge for students. This is especially true when kids are taught how to get the right answers to problems, but aren’t taught why their answers are correct. That’s why math manipulatives are a fantastic tool for teaching the basic mathematical operations in a way that makes sense to kids. Place value, number sense, addition, subtraction, multiplication and long division are just a few examples of mathematical concepts that can be better taught, and understood, using a hands-on approach.

Hands-on math tools are a “must have” for anyone who’s trying to teach elementary school math. Without an understanding of the mathematical processes involved in problem solving the correct answers are meaningless. A teacher should try their best to help kids understand their answers. Math should make sense.

Some parents and educators don’t know where to begin when it comes to teaching kids what to do with a math manipulative. Luckily, this is a hurdle that is easy to get over in today’s information age. Activity books, guides, lesson plans and practical application for hands-on math are readily available. They help guide any teacher though many activities that can accompany great hands-on resources. All the work is already done for you. All you need to do is round up the materials, copy the lesson plans and worksheets and follow the instructions. You’ll be amazed at how quickly kids begin to understand how to get the right answers. You’ll be amazed at how easy it is to teach math better than you were likely taught.

The internet is another valuable resource when it comes to figuring out how to teach with math manipulatives. A simple internet search will uncover lesson plans and valuable suggestions that incorporate hands-on tools for teaching mathematics. You’ll also discover a wide selection of products including Base Ten Blocks, math games, fraction circles, Cuisennaire Rods and much more. A simple search will open up all the possiblities you can explore when using these, and other, hands-on math resources.

When I was a child I was lucky if my text book included an illustration for the mathematical process being taught. Now, the materials available for understanding the mathematical processes are excellent and varied. We can teach so much more than our math teachers taught us when we use math manipulatives.

If you’re trying to uncover the best way to teach elementary school math you want to invest in some good math manipulatives. This investment should include the best possible resources. My favorite hands-on resource for teaching elementary math is a set of Base Ten Blocks. So many math concepts can be taught efficiently and easily with the investment in this inexpensive, easy to use set of materials. You’ll use them all year long and for many years to come. They’ll make you a better teacher. They’ll make learning easier and more meaningful for your students.

When learners have the chance to understand basic mathematic principles they will experience greater success when it comes to computation and math reasoning. You’ll get real results that reflect true understanding. Check out the ways you can teach math better using hands-on materials. Explore the possibilities with an eager mind that’s ready to learn. It’s an investment you won’t regret.

Author Description

By Alisa Clark. Alisa E. Clark, an educator for over 10 years with a Master’s Degree in Reading Education, reviews and consults with companies and schools districts about the latest tools and programs to enhance student learning. Her web site is at http://www.basetenblocks.com.

Holidays – How to Make a Candy Wreath

Raise Your Child — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 22:17:08 +0000

By Vera Lang

This video shows how to easily and inexpensively make a great gift for many holiday situations. It’s fun, great project you can do with children, for other children, for a shelter, for another family, for friends, as a holiday party gift, and of course, for you.

I was surprised how easy it was and how good it looks!!

I am not promoting candy as a general rule, so let this be a happy exception…
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

About the Author

Vera Lang is a regular contributor to various family blogs including this one: http://www.raiseyourchild.org , http://www.abouttogetmarried.com , http://www.mylastinglove.com/ and http://www.ownhomestyle.com

The Secret to First Grade Spelling

Raise Your Child — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 22:31:15 +0000

“Handwriting, reading and of course, 1st grade spelling are among the basic things your child learns in school. These three are very important as your child’s learning capacity with regard to these three aspects can make or break his learning habit and his learning desire as he matures. The earlier your child is taught and is made accustomed to writing, reading books and spelling his first-learned words, the earlier he is able to nurture good attitude and behavior towards learning.

Particularly, learning 1st grade spelling words are very crucial to a child’s development. Spelling bees are common school or classroom activities and for first graders, having won or even merely having participated in 1st grade spelling bees is already an achievement. It’s good to reward your child (not monetary though) if he won or got chosen to be a part of 1st grade spelling bees so that they would be delighted to learn more 1st grade spelling words.

On the other hand, when your child gets scorned when he is not able to spell his 1st grade spelling words right, he or she may be discouraged to go to school everyday or to go in front of the class to present, to talk or to participate in another 1st grade spelling bee. That’s how crucial 1st spelling words are-they are foundations of your child’s education and thus, you have to invest enough time and effort in helping him or her learn his 1st grade spelling words.

To help you teach your child 1st grade spelling words enjoyably and more effectively, you can try the following tips and suggestions:

1. Spelling lists – In schools, teachers usually ask first graders to bring home spelling list, which they have to read and review over the weekend. These 1st grade spelling lists are usually list of word families-that is, the words included in the list have similar features such as a common syllable or sound. You can use these 1st grade spelling lists in helping your child practice his spelling skills. You can ask him to write short sentences using the words or you can ask him to read short stories that have these words. In that way, he’ll get familiar with how the words are pronounced and are spelled.

2. Books – Books are excellent ways for you to teach your child the basics in reading and spelling words. As your child reads, he gets familiar with the spelling of the words and the sound of each letter or combination of letters. You may read together with your child or let him or her read after you read each line or sentence. It would be best to use books with colorful illustrations so that your child can better understand the meaning of the words and consequently, the story.

3. 1st grade spelling dictionary – It would be fun to list all the words your child has learned every week or every month in a personal dictionary. Letting your child show how well he progresses can encourage him to learn more. Also, his personal dictionary can serve as his guide or reviewer so he would always remember the 1st grade spelling words he has earlier learned.”

Author Description

Dave Poon is an accomplished writer who specializes in the latest in money and finances. For more information regarding Bank Account Online, please drop by at http://www.gofinancialsphere.com