Loving Learning

My father was a wise man. He wrote me a letter when I was beginning my freshman year in college encouraging me to celebrate being a "lowly" freshman, because I will become a "freshman" over and over in my life.  Having an opportunity to learn something new will always be the next step after we think we are "experts" in one endeavor. Thus, I would like to share some things I know about learning and children and welcome discussion so that I can continue my learning journey and encourage you to do the same. Let's instill this spirit of wonder
in our children, knowing that there is rarely "one right answer."
Today, I would like to emphasize the importance of reading to and with your child(ren.) Find an interest, a quiet place, and make it a special time. Make the book come alive. Discussion and interruptions are ok. It is never too early.  There are board books for the very young, picture books for the young and chapter books to follow. I read To Kill a Mockingbird aloud to my daughter when she was 16 and it is her favorite book even now that she is an adult.
Great Eye-dea: Story: The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything By Linda Williams   Illustrated By:Megan Lloyd
This story includes repetition, is light hearted and perfect for the season.
                         Activity:
                Have your child(ren)...

•  pick out a pumpkin.
•  draw or paint a face on the pumpkin. (Either scarey or nice.)
•  make a "talk bubble" and write, or have the child write what the pumpkin might be saying inside the talk bubble.
•  cut out or let the child cut out, the talk bubble.
•  use a glue gun, glue the talk bubble to a toothpick. (Parent or teacher do this step for a young child.
•  stick the toothpick with the words into the pumpkin.
•  sign the work of art. 
•  find a special place to display their pumpkin.

   This activity can be done with paper and markers, crayons, chalk, etc. Drawing the steps and displaying.

Materials: The Little Old Lady Who Wasn't Afraid of Anything.
                  * pumpkin
                  * Markers or paints
                  * White cardstock paper (for talk bubble)
                  * Toothpicks or wooden scewers
                  * Glue gun

Discussion: What was a time you were scared?
                    What was a time you were very brave?
                    Do you think there was a time the story when the 
                    little old lady was scared?
                    How do you think she was brave?
                   What was the problem the pumpkin head whispered  
                   to the little old lady?
                   How did she solve the problem?
                  Do you think the little old lady was brave? Why?
Here's to celebrating learning, as together we honor the wisdom of my father.
                                      I hear: I forget.
                                   I see: I remember.
                                  I do: I understand.
                                    -Chinese Proverb-
                     Until Next Thursday,
                            JD