A Big Ball of String

Good Wednesday to you! 

Life has a way of changing our plans, doesn't it? We think we are on a certain path, heading toward a certain destination, and then change happens. Sometimes, it is due to decisions we make and sometimes it is to just plain circumstances out of our control. We have encountered some life changing events in the recent month, which has caused me to step away from the blog momentarily. We were unprepared and thrown off guard by the avalanche of spiraling circumstances. I am sure we have all experienced a situation like this in our lives.

But, such life changing situations causes us to re-evaluate our lives. What is truly important? What can we live without and what must we live with? We have looked at every aspect of our family situation and shook things up a bit. If I was told six months ago of our current situation, I wouldn't have believed it. But, that is life, isn't it? We only have one thing to do when life throws us a curve ball. Modify, and move on. 

So...... here we are modifying and moving on. 

What in the world could this have to do with a reading blog? Actually, quite a bit. I have a book which I have read to the children when they were younger. As their reading abilities grew, they would read it on their own. I have even had some fun sharing this story with other children in a reading class. It is called "A Big Ball of String." 

                                                                          

"I had a little string.

It was no good at all. 

I went to look for more string 

To make a big ball. 

I got more string

From a box in the hall. 

I made it all up 

In a little string ball."

Our young friend searches around the house, garage, and even to the dump, in search of string to make a big ball. There were so many things he was able to do with the string when the flu overcame him. We had fun in our reading class with our balls of string creating ideas and exploring things to do. Who knew string could be so much fun?

So what exactly does a big ball of string have to do with the chaos in our lives? It may seem all wound up and possibly a big mess. But...... when you take a step at a time, one hand over the other, holding tight to that string, it all unravels and we make progress. Pretty soon, the mess clears up and becomes organized. Right before our eyes, it becomes an organized ball of life events that, in the end, just makes sense. It may not have been as disorganized as we thought, when looking back. 

So, teach your kids and loved ones that life events will happen when unexpected. That big ball of string may seem like a mess, but it can always be cleaned up and organized. 

You may even find some fun along the way! Take the time...

Just five minutes,
Dawn

Wordy Wednesday - consternation

 

This picture is the USS Arizona burning after the Japanese attacked on Pearl Harbor. My family and I watched an interesting documentary on the findings of this ship. Explorers and scientists are retrieving and viewing some amazing finds. The ship that once carried many men, serving their beloved country, leaving their spouses and children behind, prepared to protect many unknown fellow countrymen soon breathed their last during this attack 75 years ago today. The Japanese launched a surprise air attack on the U.S. Naval Base which, within a short two hour time span, killed more than 2,400 Americans, damaged 21 ships and destroyed more than 188 U.S. aircraft, including the USS Arizona. This attack created a new dimension to World War II. America was now involved.  (Picture courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration)

I felt it is quite fitting today to share the word "consternation". This event definitely fits the word.
  

[kon-ster-ney-shuh n]

 

noun; a sudden, alarming amazement or dread that results in utter confusion; dismay.

 

 Synonyms for this word are: bewilderment, alarm, terror, fear, panic, fright, horror, anxiety

 

I am sure this emotion filled many homes considering the current world events and the uncertainty of the future back on that December morning. Many family members lost their friends and loved ones. May those left behind be strengthened today knowing their soldiers gave it their all. 

 

Just five minutes,

Dawn

 

A mathematical folktale

    

I love, love, love the book for today! I have read it to my kids several times, and had the pleasure of reading it to a group of young students at a school. I have not come across any child that is not fascinated with this wonderful book. 

There are a few different variations of this story, but my favorite is this one: 

     

When a humble farmer named Pong Lo asks for the hand of the Emperor's beautiful daughter, the Emperor is enraged. Who ever heard of a peasant marrying a princess? But Pong Lo is wiser than the Emperor knows. And when he concocts a potion that saves the Princess's life, the Emperor gladly offers him any reward he chooses--except the Princess. Pong Lo makes a surprising request. He asks for a single grain of rice, doubled every day for one hundred days. The baffled Emperor obliges--only to discover that if you're as clever as Pong Lo, you can turn a single grain of rice into all the wealth and happiness in the world!

Kids love trying to start this mathematical calculation on their own, but when Day 9 arrives, with a total of 256 grains of rice, they quickly decide against calculating and counting. 

During a trip to the library yesterday, Bobadob and I noticed this version:

 

This story is slightly different. A village girl outsmarts a selfish king by asking him to double a portion of rice every day for 30 days in order to feed the hungry.

Adorable, adorable stories! Fabulous conversation starters for your elementary students. 

Just five minutes

Dawn

 

Wordy Wednesday

    

The word chosen for today may be greatly needed in the upcoming months. We had a few snow flakes through the air last night and it is apparent more is on the way. The salt and sand will start paving the roads to aid in protecting our many drivers from the multiple scary ice patches. It is important, though, to keep our vehicles clean of the salt on regular basis. 

The word for today is 

simonize

verb (SAHY-muh-nayz)

to shine or polish to a high sheen, especially with wax.   

"Let's go wash and simonize the van before we leave for vacation."

I am sure this word could also be used when needing to clean and shine shoes or silver. This probably isn't a common word, but you can certainly find a way to use this word today. 

It won't take long to expand your vocabulary,

Just five minutes. 

Dawn

Wordy Wednesday

 

The vocabulary word for today is 

equipoise 

 noun, (ee-kwuh-poiz) 

 This word means equilibrium, even balance, counterbalance.

The steadfast man, who regards sorrow and happiness with equipoise.

Be sure to try out this word today! There is opportunity all around you

to build your vocabulary and expand your mind. Be brave! 

Just five minutes,

Dawn 

Benefit to the elderly

 

I love this scene taken from "The Notebook".  James Garner, 'Duke",  reads to his beloved wife who is suffering from dementia. This scene spurs the topic of today's blog.

If you have been reading this blog for awhile, you can easily see the benefits and importance of reading to all kids, regardless of their age. But what if your children have left the home and moved into adulthood? What if you don't have children of your own yet? You can still help others benefit from your generous gift of reading out loud. The elderly need you! There are many benefits the elderly can gain from hearing books read to them.

First of all, as aging increases, health declines. The elderly are not able to do all those wonderful activities they once loved. Their freedom of movement has been replaced with walking with the aid of canes or wheelchair. The joints are sore and the muscles are weak. This is just a stage of life. New activities are sought out to keep the brain stimulated such as crossword puzzles, Suduko and stimulating conversation. It is vitally important to keep the brain function moving forward even though the legs may not be able to function as they once did. 

According to research done and results given in "A Literature-Based Intervention for Older People Living with Dementia", they state "The conclusions of a six-month quantitative and qualitative study found that engagement in reading-group activity produced significant reduction in dementia symptom severity."

Isn't that fabulous news? Perhaps local senior centers could offer adult read-aloud sessions? Perhaps you could spare an hour to read at the library to all those who desire to listen? Take the time to share a portion of a book this upcoming Thanksgiving. Many wonderful conversations can be started and you may inspire the listener to share thoughts, experiences and memories. What a blessing that would be!

"Isn’t it funny? We come in with nothing and go out with all these thoughts.”  Reading group member, living with dementia, Devon stated. Many others have also commented on the wonderful feelings and sense of well-being from books.

Results from the previously mention study state the participants were noted as having other benefits as well.

• Improved mood
• Improved levels of concentration
• Improved recollection
• Greater levels of social interaction

When being read to, there is no other option than to simply focus on the task at hand. Listening helps to sharpen focus, boots comprehension, and internalize the words that are spoken, regardless the age of the listener. Therefore, it is a form of exercise for the mind.

Perhaps your loved is dealing with advanced stages of dementia and not able to concentrate as they once did. Picture books are a wonderful conversation starter. Some have minimal words and the focus becomes the picture and the direction their mind takes them. Other books have simple story lines. The options are various and many.

Since we have been given the gift of reading, we should use it to benefit others. Make the decision to bless others. Deciding to help and act on it doesn't take long.

Just five minutes,
Dawn

Wordy Wednesday

                                                   




Bill Watterson is the creator of the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes. I have always enjoyed his humor in the life of little boy and his friend. The word for today is quite fitting for the fun we seek in this life.  
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jocularity   [jok-yuh-lar-i-tee]

 noun    

  1 :  given to jesting :  habitually jolly

 2 :  characterized by jesting : playful

A jocular man who could make the most serious people smile.

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Find some wonderful humor in your life today as you practice today's word. If not for the whole day, then be sure it is for 

Just five minutes....

Dawn

 

Beautiful new lullaby book out today!

 

This brand new book by first-time author, Ainsley Earhardt, is just gorgeous. Not only in the pictures, but the words as well. This beautiful book comes out today through Amazon and will become an easy favorite for parents as well as children. 

"But if you get lost

In the ocean's vast tides,

Take heart, my child,

I'll be by your side." 

Each page is just a sweet and meaningful as the one before. Let this become a delightful bedtime story and begin the wonderful journey that books can provide. 

Just five minutes,

 Dawn  

A few magic words

 

As a parent, I have been known to frequently remind my kids of the "magic words" please and thank you. We all know them. We have all been taught them. But somewhere along the way, we don't seem to think they are necessary any longer. For some reason, I don't seem to hear them from the adults I interact with in my daily life. 

What happened? Are these words not necessary anymore once adulthood arrives? These simple phrases can actually make a profound difference in the lives of those around us. When was the last time you thanked the young man who bagged your groceries? What about truly thanking the cashier at the gas station? He or she plays a small part in getting you from point A to point B by accepting the money for your gas. Your medical doctor or nurse needs to hear a heartfelt thank you every so often for the hard work they do day in and day out.

When we teach our children to use these "magic words" we are actually teaching them to be an unselfish person. Have you ever thought of that? You are teaching them to think and act outside of themselves for the good of someone else. You are teaching them to show respect for others and not demanding something. For example, take the time and watch the waitress when she asks if you would like salad dressing on your side salad. If we respond with a kind look and perhaps "yes, please, Ranch dressing would be nice. Thank you." You have shown how you appreciate her and her upcoming work on your behalf. She will be sure to bring you a healthy amount of Ranch dressing because she feels respected. Counter that with a response of "yeah, I want Ranch." While you are still going to have some cool Ranch dressing for your salad, I am sure she will feel kindness exhibited with the former response.

Teaching our children how to grow into wonderful, kind, respectful adults is a job we should never falter on. There is a brand new book coming out to help us teach our children the power of the word please.

Bill O'Reilly and James Patterson have teamed up to create a sweet book on the power of the word please. Since this book is not available until November 21, I am not able to provide a personal description. Therefore, I am using what Amazon has written.

"In this inspired collaboration, bestselling authors Bill O'Reilly and James Patterson remind us all that a single word--"Please?"--is useful in a thousand different ways. From finding a lovable stray dog to needing a partner on a seesaw, from reading a bedtime story to really, really needing a cookie, Give Please a Chance depicts scenes and situations in which one small word can move mountains.With a vivid array of illustrations by different artists, this charming, helpful book is a fun and memorable way for children to learn the magic power of one simple word: please."

The illustrations Amazon displays from the inner pages of this book are adorable and relatable to children. I am sure you will be able to use this book to beautifully teach the importance of this word. It is also a good reminder for us, as adults, to put these powerful words back into our daily vocabulary.

Hop, skip or jump over to Amazon and pre-order your book today. It won't take long to order it....

Just five minutes,

Dawn

1825

                                                 

 The first step in reaching 1825 books is to take that first step. 

Can you imagine the characters this 5 year old encountered? 

Can you imagine the vocabulary this child has? 

Can you imagine the future this young one has as a lifelong reader? 

How long would it take the parents of this child accomplish such a feat? 

Only a few minutes a day. Put the phone down and resist making that post in Facebook. Turn the television off. Place that little one on your lap and grab a book. 

What about starting here?

                                                


Do you know this book? We love it! Laura Numeroff is a creative author with several adorable books similar to this one. We have enjoyed them all! I hope you do too. 

1825 books, and even more, are attainable. You have the ability to start children on a lifelong journey of loving to read. It won't take long to start the process....

Just five minutes...
 Dawn

Veteran's Day

                  

Happy Veteran's Day!

I just learned of an informative book teaching the ABC's through the life of our military men and women.  Maria Cordova, wife of an active duty Army soldier, wrote the book "The ABC's of the Army."

Ashleigh writes,  "Love this book! My children have enjoyed reading this over and over. It opens up so many discussions of learning about Daddy's job. The illustrations and tribute to the Fallen are beautifully done. A must have for Army families with children of all ages. Thank you for your contribution into the Army literature world for our kids"

An Army veteran writes, "Being an Army veteran I wish that I had a book like this while I was serving. This book helps children see the Army in a simple, easy to understand way. The illustrations are so cute, and every page is engaging. My kids loved it! Great gift idea for any military service member with children."

 

From Airborne to June 14, 1775 to Woobie and Zonk,  a great discussion with your children can begin with a book like this.  It may even be useful as you meet with your relatives and friends who have served us so bravely through the many years. 

This book has just been released, so the likelihood of being at the local library is slim, but ask your friendly librarian and you may be surprised. 

Be sure to thank a Veteran today. It doesn't take long, 

Just five minutes
Dawn

Henry Huggins

                                                 

I will finish reading this adorable book to Bobadob today. We have had fun traveling through the adventures Henry has with his new dog, Ribsy. Bobadob loved the chapter called "The Pale Pink Dog." In this chapter, Henry decided to put Ribsy in a local dog contest. He tried to whiten the lighter spots on Ribsy by using talcum powder. But the powder was pink! Henry now has a pale pink dog! We giggled through this book. Each chapter is delightful and enjoyable. 

The original copywrite date of this book was in 1950, with renewed updates in 1978 and again in 2000. Therefore, you might be successful in locating it in your local library. Check it out. 
 
Have you read this book? Which chapter was a favorite? 
What are you reading out loud to your loved ones today?

Just five minutes, 
Dawn 

Wordy Wednesday

Regardless of your age, your financial status, your gender, or your belief system, one thing remains for all people. We all use words, and we can all learn to expand our vocabulary. We can learn to expand our mental dictionary whether we are 4 or 104.

Wordy Wednesdays will help us to slowly and effectively increase our word usage and vocabulary. Perhaps you already know and use these words, perhaps you don't even know how to pronounce them. And that is okay! We will do this together!
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juxtapose    (jux-ta-pose)

verb    Juxtapose is defined as to put two things close to each other in order to highlight or compare the differences between them.

An example of juxtapose is when you put a very short book next to a very long book.

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Now that you have a new word to use, don't hesitate in using it! 

Practice, practice, practice! 

I look forward to hearing how this new word worked for you. How did you use it? How did your kids use it? Do share your experiences. It encourages us all!

And, remember, it doesn't take long, 

Just five minutes....

Dawn 

Start today......

“My advice is, never do tomorrow what you can do today. Procrastination is the thief of time. Collar him!”
― Charles Dickens 

We all procrastinate on things. Calling an old friend, exercising, or start saving for retirement may be on the list of items to do tomorrow. What happens to that list? It gets pushed aside and we may never start it. But then, it is too late. We lose touch with friends, the doctor requests putting us on medication, or we are unable to retire due to lack of funds. 

Some areas of our life, and our ability to procrastinate, hurts others more than it affects us. For example, kids are only young once. They need hugs today. They need undivided attention today. They need direction today. We can not allow our days, weeks, months to pass without providing these needs for our kids. Before long, they will move out and build their own lives.

What about something as simple as reading? When they are little, we read nursery rhymes, poems and short stories to them. We explore the Three Little Pigs, Cinderella, and Snow White. But when they learn to read, we stop reading to them.

What causes us to do this? Why do we stop reading to them once they learn to read? Is it silly to read to high school students when they are capable to read on their own? Are we attempting to keep them as children even though they are growing up? 

There are amazing benefits to reading out loud! Have you thought of this before? Lets explore some. These fabulous points are taken from www.sixwise.com
 

1. Build a lifelong interest in reading. "Getting kids actively involved in the process of reading, and having them interact with adults, is key to a lifelong interest in reading," said BeAnn Younker, principal at Battle Ground Middle School in Indiana.
2.  Children whose parents read to them tend to become better readers and perform better in school, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
3. Reading to kids helps them with language and speech development.
   
4. It expands kids' vocabulary and teaches children how to pronounce new words.
   
5. Reading to toddlers prepares them for school, during which they will need to listen to what is being said to them (similar to what they do while being read to).
   
6. Reading to older kids helps them understand grammar and correct sentence structure.
   
7. Kids and parents can use reading time as bonding time. It's an excellent opportunity for one-on-one communication, and it gives kids the attention they crave.
   
8. Being read to builds children's attention spans and helps them hone their listening skills.
   
9. Curiosity, creativity and imagination are all developed while being read to.
   
10. Being read to helps kids learn how to express themselves clearly and confidently.
    
11. Kids learn appropriate behavior when they're read to, and are exposed to new situations, making them more prepared when they encounter these situations in real life.
    
12. When read to, children are able to experience the rhythm and melody of language even before they can understand the spoken or printed word.
    
     
    

WoW! Reading out loud can do all that for our kids?!

Perhaps you don't know where to start. That is where I come in! I have been reading to our kids ever since they could breathe on their own. I have seen the positive outcomes. We have explored some fabulous books, interesting characters, and found our favorite authors. Our son, who just turned 17, still enjoys listening to books. TaterTeen (as we call him) is sometimes the first one on the couch ready to listen to the next adventure. He is more than capable of reading, but there is something special about listening to mom read that he still thoroughly enjoys. 

Here are some places to start. These books are fabulous beginning books to share as a family. You only need a small amount of time to build up your kids, and give them a wonderful gift.

For pre-k children, Sandra Boynton is a fabulous author. She combines silly characters, fun phrases and delightful pictures for children to fall in love with. 
                                                               

Elementary children seem to enjoy this story of a loving friendship between a pig and a wise spider. The barnyard animals are true to character and the simple life of a sweet girl touches our hearts.


                                                                

Middle school, high school and even college age gals seem to enjoy the writings of Kiera Cass. The Selection is a combination of the "Hunger Games meets the Bachelor". It is an easy read, with some interesting topics blended in to spur conversation.

                                                                     

If you are looking for something with more discussion topics, check out this one. This is an electrifying story of an Adventist family who dared to practice their faith in Hitlers Germany during World War II. I even read this book to Bobadob (our 6 year old) and he found it thrilling and begged for more.  
                                                                   


Don't put off for tomorrow what you can do today. 

Our kids love the sound of our voices, especially when quality time is spent. Reading out loud is a fabulous way to build that bond, create time together and lift our children up for a better future. 

It doesn't take long.

Just 5 minutes....
Dawn

Just five minutes.....

My daughter, LuLuBean (as we refer to her), was ready to begin to read! We worked on letters, sounds, and beginning writing. It was time to combine all we had learned and take the next step.  

What an exciting adventure we will have together exploring new books, new characters, and drifting away in our imaginations! I imagine trips to the library. I imagine sitting for hours on the couch snuggled up enjoying our discussions of in-depth characters, lands far away, and dreaming with our books. I imagine discussing the literary greats, the recent Caldecott and Newberry Award winners, and sharing our favorites.

We began using the wonderful book, "How to Teach Your Child To Read in 100 Easy Lessons", written by Siegfried Engelmann.


                                                  

    
I was apparently much more excited than she was.  

She hated it! Strange letters creating strange sounds, long vowels, silent letters..... when does the good stuff come? I recall hearing her say, "I am never gonna get this! This is dumb!"

Each day her frustrations grew and her angst for reading was mounting. How could I get her past this emotion? How could I help her to see that this all does make sense? Were my dreams fading as each day passed? 

I recall telling her, "Just 5 minutes...."   I would set the timer and tell her she would only have to read the stories for 5 minutes. Wherever she was at when that buzzer rang was good for me!


                   

Those five minutes seemed like an eternity to her some days! And truthfully, for me as well! She would struggle, wiggle, complain, whine and moan through those words and combined letters. As soon as the timer would ding, the book was slammed shut, her energy was regained and off she was singing and laughing.

Until one day.............


She didn't wiggle. She didn't complain. There was minimal struggling. What was going on?  

She asked for one more minute. One more word. One more sentence. 
             

                                     


YEAH!!!!!! She is getting it!!! The love of reading has been born!!! 

Each day that passed was more exciting than the previous! She asked for two more minutes, two more sentences. Her passion began to grow and her love for these word combinations began to make sense. 

From that day on, she has asked to read more and learn more. Trips to the library, purchasing stories on Kindle, and reading any chance she gets.  We have talked about story-lines, interesting characters, lands far, far away. We have discussed our favorite authors and hoping for the sequel to our favorite books to be released soon.

But I now have one more dilemma.  Now the tables have been turned. 

She is now begging me for just five minutes........ 



“There are many little ways to enlarge your child's world. Love of books is the best of all.” 
^{- Jacqueline Kennedy}