Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Keep Your Eyes on the Ball

Football season is upon us, and my oldest son has decided to play again. Now I am not a big football fan. As a mom, I don't want my son to play this sport. As a spectator, I do not understand why players must run and hit each other for the sake of a ball. My "mom alarm" alerts and expresses my uneasiness for this sport.

In football's defense, there are some valuable lessons being taught such as teamwork, motivation, resilience, and sportsmanship. I must admit this, right? Plus, there are additional lessons too. One of my favorites is when a coach tells a player to never take his eyes off the ball. Not only is this a football lesson, this is a life lesson. Meaning if there is a goal, a mission, or a dream, one must strive to reach it. It can be hard, and it definitely can be challenging. But hopefully, the overall outcome will be rewarding...like football.

To my son, always keep your eyes on the ball. But more importantly, use these football directives and lessons for your life's journey. I firmly believe that it will prepare you to meet your goals. Mom loves you!

Monday, July 27, 2009

Libraries Hold Value

Reading programs are a wonderful way for youth to stay engaged in reading. When I was a kid, my sister and I would go to the library every Saturday to check out books to read. We had our own library cards with our own code names on them. My code name was California queen, and my sister's code name was California princess. As a child, we felt a sense of empowerment because we possessed a library card, and we also felt a sense of ownership because no one could take reading from us...it was ours to have.

Today, libraries are still offering great programs and book suggestions for young (and advanced) readers. For the most part, libraries are a wonderful resource for information. They offer reading programs for all ages, book clubs, language classes, computer access, and a range of seminars to keep the public updated and informed.

However, the best part about libraries in my assessment are that their extended programs and resources are free to the public. In a time, where most things are not free, it is good to know that libraries hold their value and more.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

What is Your Learning Style?

What is your learning style? Knowing this simple question is a key element in your growth and development.

When my children were between the ages of four and five, I actually home-schooled them. It's not an action that I wanted to pursue long-term, but it actually had a long-term effect. I could differentiate their learning styles.

My oldest child is a "textbook" type of learner. He enjoys reading and works well with a systematic type of instruction. For him, it means that he can be too hard on himself if answers are not readily available. It also means that he can become bored easily. Therefore, challenging assignments where he constantly feels engaged are best.

Now, my youngest child is an "experiential" type of learner. Rather than read, he prefers the hands-on approach. For instance, we visited Mud Island and the Civil Rights Museum in Memphis. At Mud Island, he had a blast walking in the assimilated version of the Mississippi River from Minnesota to New Orleans. At the museum, he obtained more information about the life and death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights movement. I wanted to share these examples because this particular son does not want his learning environment to be too serious or too structured. He would find that to be claustrophobic. In essence, my youngest son blossoms when he receives the type of instruction that he was meant to have which is experiential.

Fortunately, I get an opportunity to select the type of instruction that suits my children within the public school system. While growing up and being taught in public schools, selecting instruction was rare. Everyone was basically placed in the same mode of learning. Schools placed remedial learners in a class, average learners in a class, advanced learners in a class, and special needs in a class.

Today, it is like a breath of fresh air to see and experience the needs of more children being met. For instance, children with learning disabilities like autism, dyslexia, attention deficit disorder are having their needs met with special guidance and are being transitioned into a "mainstream" class setting. In addition, there are private schools that are formulated with these specific types of learning styles in mind.

Overall, it is wise for us to know our personal learning style (and our children's), but more importantly, it is a privilege for us to embrace it.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Summer Break!

I am parent who is elated when school is over for summer break. Like my kids, I get a chance to unwind and give my body and brain a break from all of their school commitments and activities.

Even though it's a summer break, it is not a chance for our kids to lay like broccoli and be complete vegetables. We, as parents, still need to keep them movitated with learning and reading.

In an article written by national columnist, Nicholas D. Kristof, he stated that American children drop in IQ each summer vacation because they are not in school or exercising their brains.

As Americans (and parents), we don't want our kids to falter due to a knowledge slump, do we? So exercise those brain muscles! Read to your children and allow them to read to you. Make up funny stories together. Take pictures of vacation spots, and have your child express themselves through writing. Play a math or word game in the car. Yes, turn the car TVs off and converse with your child. Let's keep the brains ticking in the summer.

I believe this diligence to learning and motivation will pay off. Enjoy your summer!

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Radiate Sunshine Together

Radiate sunshine wherever you go. This is an expression that I hope children and adults will take to heart. Sunshine represents light and warmth, and we sometimes characterize it as a time filled with cheer. When the sun is shining, I see the movement of kids playing outside, swimming in the pool, eating ice cream, enjoying their friends, walking their dogs, and just enjoying life. Kids are active and seem to have more energy. This is a good thing!

As adults, our world can be bombarded with an array of happenings, and we know that the sunshine is present, but sometimes we miss the joy that sunshine can offer us. So let's take a lesson from our kids and actually create and enjoy our "own" sunshine in the literal sense. Since the sun's light touches and enriches us, let's become replicas of the sun by doing good deeds, energizing our passions, spending time with family and friends, and absorbing the beauty that surrounds us.

In a sense, view the sunshine as a precious gift through the eyes of our children. Once in a while we can follow their lead and radiate sunshine together. (It won't hurt, right?)

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

A Child's Ability to Read

According to the Idaho Commission for Libraries, books with rhyme, rhythm, repetition, pictures, and childhood associations are great for a baby's mental development.



I am always amazed at a child's ability to learn words, recognize sounds, and read books. If a child engages in reading at an early age (even at birth), the act of reading will become of a part of their being and spirit. For my children, I started reading to them before they were born. It was a way for me to connect with them and for them to connect with me. I could recognize little movements when I read rhythmic stories like Dr. Seuss partly due to a tune in my voice and a clap to my hands. These stories were just really fun to me and soon became fun to my children with age.



To keep the enjoyment and interest of reading, I would potentially make up music or songs to stories. Often times, my children thought my stories were real, and I would reply, "Mommy just wants you to be interested in reading." Boy, was that fun! Now, the stories that I actually made up for them are real because I decided to become an author and embark upon a passion to make reading FUN for all children.



Now as a parent, you can select this path or charter on your own path, but please encourage your children to read and be present in their reading activities. Eventually, you will hear new words from their lips, you will witness the excitement of book characters in their eyes and smiles, and you will be mesmerized by their thinking abilities.



On yesterday, I heard my youngest son who is six years old reading an article in the newspaper. He read "bigger" words like competition, announcement, and obviously so fluently. I was stunned and overwhelmed, but more importantly, I rejoiced because I remember a time when we were focused on cat, hat, and sat. What a welcome surprise!