Okay so your kids have been read to since they were in the womb, you role-model positive reading behaviours at home (your kids see you read the news, for example), and you encourage all kinds of fun literacy activities at home.
So what?s left for you to celebrate the upcoming Family Literacy Day? Lots actually, and it doesn?t even have to include a book! (Not that I?m encouraging you not to read?)
1. ?Build your house from the ground up
I?m not talking about building a tower with Lego blocks. I?m talking about developing a strong oral language foundation. Oral language develops before writing and reading development. The simplest thing you can do with your family? Storytelling. If you go back far enough in your memories, you may remember some of those gems that were told to you. Some held lessons, (like traditional folktales often do), some told of a family member?s experience in a humorous way, others were spooky. Storytelling can be shared with many people at the same time making it perfect for a family. It can be done anywhere and people can start from scratch if there aren?t any stories in your memory bank.
2. ?Paint the town red, green and purple
The Pre-school/ Kindie set might appreciate some creativity on your part. Have them write in unusual places:
- in the snow with a water spritzer filled with water and some food colouring (or beet juice)
- with a paint brush and plain water on the side of a building (they love watching it dry up in the summer heat)
- in the bathtub with non-toxic bath crayons
- making words threaded on beaded necklaces with letter beads
- with their food (e.g. dough, pasta ? see an old post?of mine for ideas)
3. ?Be an Adbuster
Any definition of Literacy must include Media Literacy. Your kids are BOMBARDED with hundreds of images and media influences by the hour. It is up to us as parents ? though schools are doing an amazing job ? to deconstruct what our kids take in. It runs the gamut from body image stereotypes to understanding what we are being told we should buy. There are some pretty good sites?that deal with media awareness. Given its plenitude in our lives ? packaging, billboards on street corners, commercial jingles, backpacks with promotional material and product placement in movies ? there is no shortage of material to choose from when you want to chat with your kids about Media. A walk down any busy street with the kids and you can chat media for hours (if they let you). mediasmarts.ca?has some resources for teachers that parents should have a look at too.
4. ?Board games, duh.
Okay so this isn?t off-beat, just fun. But making one up is, so get the kids the materials they need and guide them if they wish. Or if you prefer,?skip the board-making and make up a game you can play on-the-go, like I did here.
5. ?Belt it out!?
Get out the karaoke machine (if you are cheesy enough to have one). Songs, lyrics?they are poems. ?My daughter loves to find her favourite singers on Youtube. Since I don?t yet let her watch videos, she finds the lyrics. She?s reading poems (lyrics) for enjoyment. Double-win. This is an all-family event, so get everyone together and celebrate your love of lyrics, song and poetry.
6. ?Make an infographic.
If you don?t know what infographics are, then consider this?your media education. Kids can pick a topic, generate data (they have to do some?research?mua ha ha says the evil teacher) and publish it. They can then be shared on all social media with family and friends. You can try making one at?http://visual.ly/ and view some ways that others have used information and data to get a message out.
7. ?Make cool how-to manuals on Snapguide
In school, we teach kids how to do procedural writing so many kids will have background knowledge about what goes into how-to guides. Snapguide?has a web-based, visual format, is easy to use, and can be shared through social media to friends and family. Kids can make anything based on their interests (how to make a Lego car, how to paint stripes on you nails, how to make coconut muffins, how to knit a hat, how to do a dance move, whatever?). ?You?ll need photos or video footage and the template makes it easy for you?to insert titles, materials and instructions.
This list could be as long a Canadian winter, but report cards are a-calling, so maybe YOU can post some of your favourite off-beat ideas here too!
Daniela
Source: http://clubmom.ca/family-literacy-day-an-off-beat-list-of-ideas-for-families/
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There have been dramatic studies about the science of the brain, how it works and how we can deal with our emotional pain in new ways. There have been many articles and books written in the last few years about the different parts of the brain, how they function, and how they can heal emotional anguish.
My amygdala kicks in when I experience any body sensation that reminds me of the electrical system of my heart giving out or kidney stones floating in painful areas. I could be feeling winded when I exercise or heartburn or any other sensation that seems out of the ordinary. I feel the sensation and then thoughts about my possible demise enter and panic sets in like an unwanted visitor.
Example of how this all works: First you notice a physical sensation like heartburn and as soon as you feel it, you tell yourself that this feeling is not dangerous, that it is only heartburn and not a heart attack or heart failure. You will have to practice this; it won?t be natural to you at first, but after repeating this process several times, it will begin to become second nature. You then tell yourself to take some deep breaths and feel yourself relax. If you are focusing on your breathing, it is difficult to concentrate on anything else like fear.
While it?s hardly my favorite show, it?s hard to dismiss the cultural impact of American Idol. Now Idol has an app to go along with its dominant TV presence. American Idol Official features cast bios, news, and videos of the performances you might have missed on the show. It also features a large social media component, so discussing your favorite singers is a breeze via Facebook and Twitter.
Endless Alphabet helps kids learn their ABC?s alongside some basic grammar with fun, silly lessons and adorable monsters. Kids can learn phonics via interactive puzzles and the app constantly updates with new words. Currently, Endless Alphabet has dozens of words in its database and more are delivered on a regular basis. The app doesn?t score users, as it?s only focused on learning, not competition.
Emily Yoffe 
Smokers who thought they were getting a sweet deal from ObamaCare may want to think twice before lighting up again. According to the Associated Press, one of the many well-concealed provisions of the bill that then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Congress had to pass ?so that you can find out what?s in it? could make health insurance cost up to 50 percent more for Americans with cigarette habits ? especially longstanding ones.
