Labor Day Family Activities

Labor Day is a federal holiday in the United States. The first Labor Day was held in 1882 to create a holiday for workers of the Central Labor Union. It became a federal holiday in 1894. It was originally intended that the day would be filled with a street parade to allow the public to appreciate the work of the trade and labor organizations. Labor Day is annually held on the first Monday in September. One of the reasons for choosing to celebrate this on the first Monday in September was to add a holiday between Independence Day and Thanksgiving. Since Labor Day is a federal holiday, all government agencies, schools, organizations, and many businesses are closed so families can take advantage of the holiday weekend.

Labor Day gives workers a day of rest and it celebrates their contribution to the American economy. It was originally organized to celebrate various labor associations’ strengths and contributions to the United States economy. It is largely a day of rest in modern times. Many people mark Labor Day as the end of the summer season and the last chance to make trips or hold outdoor events with the family.

In some neighborhoods, people organize fireworks’ displays, barbecue picnics, public art shows, and sporting events. Labor Day marks the end of the swimming season; so many public pools have their last open day on Labor Day. The football season starts and many teams play their first game of the year during the Labor Day weekend.

Whether your family participates in the organized events of Labor Day or not, why not take this opportunity to make this day a “family day” of fun and relaxation. If you decide to stay at home, you can have fun with your kids playing games in the yard like: kickball, hopscotch, dodgeball, tag and hide-go-seek. Many of these games of the past can entertain kids of all ages. What a great way to engage the whole family in physical activity and fun. Plan to have a picnic in the backyard and grill your favorite foods for sharing a delicious meal together. This special time together will bond the family unit and give you lasting memories to treasure. So enjoy your Labor Day and make this day special for your family.

Tips to Help Motivate Your Child to Be Successful in School

Many children express a desire to do well in school but my lack the proper motivation to complete the level of work necessary to succeed. Here are a few tips that may help motivate your child's academic learning:

 1. Authentic Learning -  What is your child currently learning in school? Link the skills learning into every day life experiences. For example: use math skills to plan a vacation budget or balance a checkbook with the bank statement. When shopping for summer clothes, let your child figure out the "sale prices" by using percentage discounts. This type of authentic learning helps your child see the value of learning the skills in

school so they can be used in real life situations.

2. Interest Learning -  What is your child most interested in learning more about? Is it art, music, mechanics, or sports? Use this interest to improve in reading skills and broadening research strategies through internet searches. When your child is interested in learning about what he/she really cares about, reading becomes a pleasure instead of a chore. So find out what your child really loves and broaden his learning through special reading opportunities.

3. Making Choices -  Give your child some control and choices in the daily routine. With your guidance, your child can gain improvement in organization skills and study habits. Direct your child's attention into making a choice between two areas instead of "telling him" what to do, or what to wear, or what to select. You will begin to see an improvement in your child's maturity level when given an opportunity to make decisions about daily routines and schedules.

4. Share Learning Experiences -  Encourage your child to share with the family what he is learning about in school. Encourage him to celebrate his accomplishments and successes. When the family can celebrate the successes, the child can be encouraged to establish strong work habits that will improve the academic success and motivation for learning will be improved.

Pack a Punch with a Healthy Lunch

When it’s time to pack your child’s school lunch, think about this: What you decide to include on their lunch menu can make or break their learning potential.  Offering up colorful, tasty and nourishing meals to your children - especially at lunch- will keep them fueled and attentive for the classroom and after-school activities.  Below is a list of useful tips to make packing a lunch easier.

1. When it comes to preparing a healthy lunch, be resourceful and use dinner leftovers.
2. Plan for the week ahead.  Take some time over the weekend to plan your lunch menus.
3. Ask your kids to help plan the menus.  This will put them in the driver’s seat and you could get some good ideas.
4. Advance meal prep can be helpful by saving precious time with your busy schedule during the week.
5. Stock the essentials.  One healthy cooking essential is canned tomatoes, as they are perfect for making pastas.  Peanut butter and canned tuna make for quick and healthy sandwiches.  Frozen vegetables fit in with numerous recipes.
6. Develop a master list on you computer of all different food groups.  Keep this list in a visible location like on the refrigerator door, where your family can add items as needed.
7. Make your kids chefs.  Children will be more willing to try new food when they plan and prepare their meals.
8. Prepare a lunch that is adventurous.  Try a new recipe from the Internet or a cookbook, like a crunchy vegetable and turkey tortilla wrap or turkey and bean chili.
9. Mix it up by combining favorite foods with colorful, unfamiliar ones.  For instance, mix peas into macaroni and cheese, or add carrots to spaghetti sauce and lasagna.
10. Make a healthy pizza.  Use a bagel or English muffin and add tomato sauce, cheese and pieces of pineapple and spinach.
11. Prepare mini meals, which are always fun for your children.  For instance, offer mini whole grain bagels as sandwiches.
12. Serve the same food in different forms.  For example, pair up raw carrot sticks with cooked carrot coins.
13. Start a family garden if space and time allow it.  A garden can teach your children about new foods.
14. Keep in mind that kids need to taste a new food about 10 times before they learn to like it.  Also, the most important message you can give your children is that food is FUN, and learning about food is fun, too!

Written by Ximena Jimenez, a licensed and registered dietitian and currently acts as a National Spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Transition Time

If your child is making the transition from elementary school into middle school or from middle school into high school, take advantage of orientation opportunities offered by your school district for students. Transitioning into a new school level can be very scary for your preteen or teenager. They worry about not knowing anyone or what to wear or if their friends will be in their classes. These are legitimate concerns and going to the orientation sessions before school begins, will ease some of the anxieties your child may be exhibiting.
During the orientation, here are a few activities that your child can participate:
1. Meet administrators, teachers, and guidance counselors. It helps to know the school personnel before school begins.
2. Receive class schedules and become familiar with the procedures of a regular school day.
3. Follow an abbreviated daily bell schedule to become familiar with the school building and to navigate between classrooms.
4. Receive locker assignments and have an opportunity to practice the combination lock.
5. If transportation is a concern, many school districts will run their school buses so check with your district’s transportation director.
Once your child has gone to the orientation planning session, he/she will see other students who have the same worries and anxieties and this will help to calm the nerves a little. This is also a good bonding time between parent and child as you share in the abbreviated bell schedule system. You can help your child learn to navigate the school plant by pointing out reference spots to identify where classrooms are located. Point out the bathrooms, cafeteria, gym, nurses’ office, and the main office as references for future needs. The orientation experience will benefit your child in making the transition between elementary and middle school or into high school.

Communicating with High School Parents

When students enter high school, communicating with parents can become a challenge that teachers have to overcome. Teachers can begin by establishing rapport with parents of high school students. Teachers have the responsibility of establishing an open dialogue with parents through frequent communication. Teachers can start the school year off by informing parents of student expectations in curriculum studies and classroom behaviors. During orientation sessions when parents and students are visiting in classrooms, teachers can model the classroom experience so parents and students have a better understanding of expectations. Teachers can give an overview of the curriculum and share goals for student participation.

To keep the lines of communication open and frequent, parents can share the means of communication that best meets their needs. Parents and teachers can have two-way communication through electronic means, such as: on-line grading portals, emails, school web-site updates, and phone calls. Teachers can keep available student data and behavior logs that can be shared with parents during conferences and parent meetings. Teachers need to keep true to the plan for communicating feedback that is accurate, specific, and in a timely manner. Parents will be appreciative of the attention to detail teachers share concerning their child’s education. The collaboration between the parent, teacher, and student will result in a productive learning environment that will improve student performance and parent participation in their child’s education.

Building Parent-Teacher Partnerships

Good communication means sharing good news with parents and families concerning their child’s academic progress, citizenship and character behaviors, and overall successes in school. As the new school year begins, teachers can take the first step in establishing a positive rapport with their students’ parents and families through good communication. This can be done through notes, cards, letters, or phone calls.

Here is a list of ideas that can be used to initiate the positive communication with your students’ families:
 • Introduce yourself and the new teacher
 • Tell the parents a simple overview of the curriculum
 • Invite them to Open House or Back to School Night by giving them the date and time
 • Comment on how you are looking forward to having their child in your class
• Inform them of any special incentives you may be using in your class for “good work” or “attendance” or “behavior awards”
• Let the parent know you are interested in learning about their child’s strengths and weaknesses and are willing to work together to help their child have a successful school year.

This is the beginning of a two-way communication technique that can be useful throughout the school year. Make sure to share good news instead of only bad news. When and if there is an occasion to talk with parents concerning disruptive behavior, they are more than likely, willing to work with the teacher concerning a plan of action to improve their child’s negative behavior.
Teachers will see an improvement in student achievement, improvement in student’s self-image, and a reduction in disruptive classroom behaviors when the parents and teachers form a partnership through good communication.

New Teacher's Survival Guide

Starting a new career as an educator can be an overwhelming experience in the beginning. You may have to be getting acquainted to, not only a new school environment, but new people and new community, as well. This only adds to the stress you may be feeling concerning getting ready for the first day of school. Here are a few tips to help you get settled into your new routine and feel a little more comfortable about starting the new school year. You can beat the “first day jitters” by:
1. Know the school policies and procedures well; such as: opening and closing hours, attendance procedures, fire drill regulations, lunchroom regulations, and nurse and guidance services.
2. Familiarize yourself with the building layout. Know the location of the main office, gym, lunchroom, nurse’s office, supply room, teacher’s workroom, and restrooms.
3. Meet the teachers on your hall. Introduce yourself to custodians, cafeteria personnel, and school secretary. A little friendship can go a long way when you need a helping hand later in the year.
4. Decorate your classroom and have the room ready for guests when parents and students visit during orientation time. You will want the room to be warm and welcoming. If you have younger students, having their name around the room will help them to feel a part of the classroom community.
5. Arrange the classroom desks in a way that allows for flexible grouping and movement.
6. Have your materials ready for the first day of school. Get to school early on the first day and be prepared for the “unexpected” happening, like an emergency meeting or phone call.
7. Plan, plan, plan- create lessons for the first day that set the tone for high expectations in learning.
8. Greet pupils with a friendly smile and welcome.
9. Establish classroom and school rules on the first day.
10. Get plenty of rest during the first week of school and plan for a relaxing weekend that will rejuvenate you for the following week of school.
There are so many rewards in teaching young boys and girls. You are a vessel of knowledge and inspiration for the next generation. Embrace your time with these students and give them the best of you everyday. They deserve the best teaching and you will reap the rewards in years to come. Congratulations for accepting this challenge and best wishes for a successful school term.

Beach Time Memories with Seashells

Maybe your family had a vacation trip to the beach recently or are planning to go before summer's end. Either way, seashell collecting becomes a tradition that spans all age groups. You may even have boxes, bags, or jars filled with shells collected from prior trips to the beach. You may have even said, "These shells will make beautiful crafts someday," but just haven't found the time to make anything with them. Why not consider having some quality "family time" using your collection of seashells to make a few decorative crafts for your home or gifts for family members. MATERIALS YOU WILL NEED • small, flat, wooden picture frame • small wooden or cardboard boxes (vary the shapes and sizes for multiple crafts) • jelly jars, baby food jars, and/or canning jars • small clay pots • white glue and/or glue gun (only under adult supervision with small children) • varying sizes, colors, and shapes of seashell collections • craft supplies, such as: wiggly eyes, pipe cleaners, fuzzy balls 1. Large SEASHELLS • A large seashell can be transformed into an imaginary creature by gluing wiggly eyes, fuzzy ball for nose, and making antennae and legs out of pipe cleaners. Glue smaller shells to the pipe cleaner legs for little feet. • If you have a large conch shell, it is beautiful by itself and can be displayed on a shelf or table for others to view. 2. Medium SEASHELLS • Using the flat, wooden picture frame, glue the medium shells around the perimeter of the frame. Use smaller shells to fill in the spaces between the shells to completely cover the frames' surface. The finished product will be the perfect frame to display a family portrait of your recent beach vacation. 3. Small SEASHELLS • Using the wooden boxes, glue the smaller seashells to the sides and top of the box. This decorative box will become the perfect storage place for jewelry, coins, and other small treasures. 4. Combination of ALL Size SEASHELLS • Use the jar collections to display your varied sizes, shapes, and colors for the remaining shells. Display the jars throughout your home to remind you of the fun time you experienced at the beach with your family. Which ever craft idea you and your child decide to make doesn't matter. Just take advantage to this quality time spent with your child to enjoy seeing his/her creativity blossom with theses shells. Reflect on your beach vacation and share memories that will form lasting images in your child's mind. The seashell crafts will become a reminder of wonderful days spent at the beach with your family.