The Meaning of Marks!

In her Exchange article, "The Meaning of Marks: Understanding and Nurturing Young Children's Writing Development," Rachel Robertson says the following about young writers:

"Writing development is a component of literacy development that has received much less attention than reading. A novice might assume that a child learns to write in preschool or kindergarten by picking up a writing instrument and practicing, possibly copying dotted letters in a workbook or using a stencil as a guide. However, the foundation for writing begins much earlier. From the first grasping efforts a young infant makes to the attention a toddler gives to story time, the foundational skills needed to write successfully are practiced. Teachers and parents can and should use this captive and enthusiastic audience to extend and enrich the natural progression of writing development."

At HO4K's students practice using different writing tools and start at an early age with different forms of writing. The early development of fine motor skills and hand eye coordination along with exploration are imperative to future writing skills. As parents we serve as examples when we write lists, letters, create cards, leave messages, etc. Our little ones are constantly observing our behaviors and habits. The more we include them in such daily tasks, the more exposure they have which quickly develops into their own desire to write.

Living Love and Logic Tip #43

Questions are such FUN!Weekly Tip from the Love and Logic^® Experts

There is everlasting JOY and downright FUN in handling kids' mistakes with questions rather than recrimination. We never know whether those little souls are really listening to us while we're talking. But when we ask questions in a non-witness-stand and curious manner, we lead them to think. Let's look at a recent enjoyable example:

Two brothers, ages 8 and 6, were playing with bows and arrows and scooters here at our house the other day. Before leaving for home, their dad asked, "Did you boys put the arrows and bows and scooters away?" And they answered, "Yes." However, when I looked in the barn after they left, they had thrown everything just out of sight, inside the door. What a mess! There was the target, still with arrows sticking out; there were the bows, still strung; there were the arrows, scattered all across the floor and the scooters were buried beneath the arrows and bows.

When something like this happens, so many parents could lecture, show frustration, punish, thereby encouraging resentment in the kids, and raising their own blood pressure in the process.

Instead, I sent the picture below via email, to their Love and Logic dad. To find out what he did next, click HERE!

Living Love and Logic Tip #42

Making Them Suffer for What They've Done
Weekly Tip from the Love and Logic^® Experts

 

When kids misbehave or make mistakes, do we want them to suffer for what they've done…or do we simply want them to learn responsibility?

When we slip into the "making-them-suffer" mentality, the odds of success take a dive...along with our relationship with the child.

When we remember that "discipline" simply means "teaching," the odds are much higher that we'll remain empathetic...even loving...as we allow our children to learn from consequences.

A parent recently asked:

Our twelve-year-old son started to make a habit of lying to us about what was going on at school. We did our best to be empathetic as we described how he would have to do plenty of extra chores to replace the energy he had drained out of us. He had to pull weeds, clean up a bunch of old, rotted firewood, clean out a nasty dusty lawn shed, and a few other tedious jobs.

What worried us was his attitude about it all. He didn't even get upset. He even seemed to like it.

What are we doing wrong?

I suggested waiting and paying close attention to whether or not their son's politician-like behavior continued. Months later, she was excited to say that it did not.

Kids don't need to be upset about consequences
to learn from consequences.

Of course, the odds for learning go way up when consequences meet certain guidelines. Click HERE to review these guidelines.

Learning all about yarn

We have SO many wonderful parents at HO4K's and we love when they are able to share their knowledge and talents with us. Recently a HO4K's mother taught our kids about the creation of yarn. We started with  raw, dirty wool just sheered from the sheep (and was it ever stinky!) Some even made the association that it smelled like a petting zoo. Lol!

She explained that she washed it and shared different pieces that had been dyed various colors. She demonstrated spinning on the stick and then on her wheel. The children were very attentive and found it fascinating. Each couldn't wait for their turn to try using the wheel and individually with their own spinning stick. This was great practice for small motor skills and hand-eye coordination!

To finish, she demonstrated crocheting and also brought a hat and shawl that she previously knitted! They children were excited to see the possibilities that yarn has in creating many wonderful end products! Who knows, maybe someone just learned a new hobby!!!

A BIG thank you to our wonderful volunteer! Again, we love to have visitors. Let us know if there is something you would like to come in and teach the kids at HO4K's!

Swim lessons and announcements.

Hi Everyone!

Please save the date for Preschool 2012 Graduation and Program (for all students) Friday, August 17, 2012.

It’s Time for

Swimming

Lessons

Forty Minute classes
In a small group

Classes designed to meet
Individual abilities
& Build Confidence.

Classes taught in 2 week sessions:

Session I: June 11 - June 21
Session II: June 25 - July 5
Session III: July 9 - July 19
Session IV: July 23 - Aug. 2
Session V: Aug. 6 - Aug. 16

Taught by Randee Worthen,
Red Cross Certified
Water Instructor
and
Life Guard

Classes will be available…
Mon, Tue, Wed, & Thur;
Two Week session at a time;
After school classes are also available;
Divided by skill level
and taught at
1008 Santa Helena Ave.
Henderson, NV 89002

Class size will be 2-5 children
Pending skill level & age
(Must have at least 6 children enrolled per session)
Pre-teen, Teen and Adult classes available upon request

Our program is
Developmentally
Appropriate to provide basic swimming skills and opportunity to build confidence.
$65.00 for group
$90.00 for Private
Classes may be paid by cash, check or money order
To: Randee Worthen

For more information

Ms.RandeeLee@gmail.com
Call: (702) 426-6822

Living Love and Logic tip #41

When Do We Step In?

Jill and Harry were stumped. How could they help their son Will? They were not only heartbroken to know that their son was being bullied, but also confused about how to intervene.

Jill wanted to involve the school principal, and possibly the police, while Harry kept reminding her that their Love and Logic class taught the importance of kids solving their own problems.

Love and Logic is not a black and white, or cookbook theory for raising children. I often kid that even though the use of common sense is not on that precious "List of State Approved Programs," it still comes in handy when dealing with kids. To read more about how to help your child through bullying and for more resources go HERE!

Learning In The Water!

Seriously? How lucky are these kids? There are not many schools that provide such learning experiences as playing in the water, sand and mud! This past week, students enjoyed using their imaginations to create their own car wash. They worked together to create tools, methods and also assisted in any help needed. Taking turns was easy, as each different option was fun and wet!

Using the hose was a real treat as we experimented with water pressure. We have control making the water come out fast or slow. Whoa! We discovered that water pressure can move objects! Spraying the water also strengthens our small motor skills, which we need for writing. What fun we have while learning!

Bubble blast!

 Experimenting with different bubble wands was a blast! Students took turns predicting the shapes and sizes of bubbles before blowing with different wands. It is amazing that different wands actually do create different bubbles. We all participated, taking turns even with our little ones! Bubbles are always fun to blow, but even more fun to catch, pop and stomp on!

At HO4K we always love the warmer months as it allows for so much adventure and fun outside! Make sure your child has their water clothes and sunscreen on each day, as we don't want them to miss out on any of the fun.

LIVING LOVE AND LOGIC TIP #40

Oppositional and Defiant Kids: Regaining Control of Your Life
Weekly Tip from the Love and Logic^® Experts

 

Perhaps you know one of those kids…the type who absolutely loves seeing your face turn red and hearing your voice get loud. Oh, the power they must experience upon seeing our veins bulge!

Power corrupts.

When kids see that they can control the color of our face, the tone of our voice and our emotions, it doesn't take long for them to get addicted. With this addiction comes the desire for ever increasing power. In their desperate quest for this power, they push more and more emotional buttons.

The more unhealthy control kids acquire the more out-of-control they become.

In my new webinar, Success with Strong-Willed, Stubborn or Downright Defiant Kids, I provide four hours of tips and tools dedicated to helping parents and educators regain healthy control around Napoleon-like kids…those children bent on world domination. To view a brief sampling of techniques you can begin experimenting with today go HERE!

Living Love and Logic Tip #39

Lying
Weekly Tip from the Love and Logic^® Experts

One of our Facebook friends wrote, "Is lying about brushing your teeth something to drop for my 11-year-old son? As we are pressing into the teenage years I am questioning what is worth not letting go because it is still lying which I don't want to condone."

Lying is unacceptable and wise parents don't ignore it or condone it. The wise parent does two things about lying.

#1. AVOID THE "DID YOU?" SITUATIONS

Very few humans, including adults, are like young George Washington in the cherry tree story. Most people, including children, tend to lie to protect themselves. If the youngster didn't brush his teeth, and the parent asks, "Did you brush your teeth?" the answer will probably be a lie. So, why ask in the first place?

A better approach might be to say, "I hope you're protecting your teeth by brushing. I've been a little worried for you since I pay for the good dentist reports and you pay for the bad ones. I hope you get a good report from the dentist."

And yes, a Love and Logic parent would have the child pay for the bad report. We don't make hollow threats. Remember that sincere empathy precedes the consequence. "How sad, a bad dentist report. Do you want to use your allowance money or what? Could you use a hug?"

To see the second idea and to read more of the article please click HERE.

Living Love and LOgic #38

Mission Impossible: Ensuring our Children a Perfect LifeWeekly Tip from the Love and Logic^® Experts

 

Do you know parents who believe that it's their job to prepare the world for their children…so that their kids never experience any struggle, discomfort, or disappointment?

Maybe you know a slightly different variety…those who try to micromanage their children into being successful.

Both types love their kids. Nevertheless, both types make it much harder for their children to develop personal responsibility and self-esteem.

Parents dedicated to removing all discomfort, rescue their children from the consequences of their poor decisions.

Rescuing creates insecure kids, who doubt their ability to face the world without our constant protection.

Those who try to ensure success, bark orders and tell their kids exactly what to think, choose, and do.

Trying to ensure success leaves kids believing that they can't succeed on their own.

Parents who understand the Love and Logic approach allow their children to learn from plenty of affordable mistakes.

Click HERE to read more of this article and to find out how you can help your child succeed in an appropriate way!

Living Love and Logic #37

Life and Death Decisions
Weekly Tip from the Love and Logic^® Experts

Does it seem to you that this world gets faster paced and more complicated each and every day? Compared to people a generation ago, are we faced with far more decisions and temptations than ever before in history? What will the world look like when our kids get there? Will the decisions they face be simpler…or far more difficult? Will the consequences of their decisions be smaller, or will they be a lot larger…often life and death?

Clearly, the world is becoming more temptation-laden every day. That's why it's more important than ever for kids to experience the type of parenting that helps them learn how to make good choices about serious issues. Providing this type of parenting hinges on our awareness of the following:

Kids learn to make great decisions about big and critically important matters by making plenty of poor decisions about small and relatively unimportant matters… and by experiencing the natural and logical consequences.

To learn how you can help your child learn now about serious choices go HERE.

Easter at HO4K

Celebrating holidays is always more fun when surrounded by excited children! Easter was not any different. The children loved talking about eggs. Where they come from, how they become hard boiled, different ways to eat them, etc. But most of all the kids loved dying them! What a great way to revisit our color wheel and how to create new shades of colors. The children each got to dye 3 eggs. Using the prongs, which are a great small motor tool, children selected the colors, mixed and then dipped!

Even our little ones got involved and with some help participated in the dying of the Easter eggs. While the children were outside playing, the Easter Bunny must have stopped by. That tricky bunny came and took our eggs. He then hid them throughout school. What fun we had finding the eggs in all the hard places! We worked together as a team and found them all!

Learning is fun!

When we work with our bodies, our brains remember! The students are again working together to review their letters while creating them with their bodies! What a great way to practice teamwork while reinforcing our alphabet knowledge!

The letter E had us exploring elephants!

Students at HO4K were enthusiastic about creating their own elephant masks! The students started off by creating "elephant skin" by mixing and layering different paints to create a textured look. After the "skin" dried, we created elephant masks. The students loved participating in dramatic play, as they moved throughout the room as elephants, creating body movements and sounds that can only be heard in the African safari! Students will remember the letter E as it is tied to the memories of their elephant experience at school.

Writing is something that students develop at their own pace. Many will go through stages when they enjoy writing and then struggle to find the desire. It is always exciting when students engage in any form of writing independently. The above student used her chalk to not create with pictures, but instead with words. She wrote "Apricot,apricot go to the zoo “ ! What a great start for a future author!These are important pre-writing skills!

Whenever you get the chance, provide a few art and writing materials at home for your child. You will be amazed at how creative our little ones are. Their imaginations get the best of them as they sit down to create without specific assignments. It is then that they work within their own boundaries and creativity. There is nothing holding them back as they explore and create!

Cotton Flowers

The children love discovering through science. One of our current investigations has been with cotton flowers. Brought from Carolina, the students have been fascinated with this plant. The first thing we did was observe the differences and similarities with the cotton flower and other plants. The students noticed the difference in touch with the cotton and other plants we have worked with. We found that the cotton flower also had cotton seeds within it. Students took turns removing these seeds and further investigating both the seed and flower.

Next, students plant the cotton seeds into soil. We will water and care for the cotton seeds, observing and recording the changes that occur. We hope to see cotton flowers sprout soon and will be sure to follow up on our cotton flower project. Check them out for yourself the next time you are visiting HO4K.

LIVING LOVE AND LOGIC TIP #36

Perfect Underachievers Weekly Tip from the Love and Logic^® Experts

Do you know any gifted kids who are super capable but just will not apply themselves in school? Some take the path of least resistance by completing only the work they find simple and easy. Others simply shut down altogether.

The common denominator with many underachieving kids is deep-seated perfectionism. That's right! As strange as it may sound, many kids who do poorly in school desire to do perfectly in school. As they grow, they become more and more imprisoned by the belief that it's better to avoid trying than to appear less than perfect in any way.

Sadly, many of these perfect underachievers are misdiagnosed as lazy or uncaring. Actually, fear…rather than apathy…drives their poor performance.

In my book, From Bad Grades to a Great Life!, I teach a variety of strategies for helping perfectionists gain the courage to achieve. To learn some more tips from Love and Logic click HERE!

worm farm

Are you sure you are ready for this??

A curiosity most children have is discovering more about worms. The children at HO4K are so lucky to have the opportunity to explore and get dirty while learning about worms, their environment and  more about how these fascinating creatures help our Earth. Some of the children have been enthusiastic learning about worms! Some others, not so much! The children are learning to be brave about doing things outside their comfort as they observe the changes in our worms and the worm compost they are creating.

We have gathered both Earthworms and Night Crawlers into a large container where they work hard to create soil. Each day the children observe the changes with the worms and also with the compost. We have placed fruits, vegetables and moist paper towel for the worms to feed off of the bacteria. They work hard moving throughout the dirt and food, eating and creating waste that later becomes the soil. We will use this soil later to plant some of our new plants. Ask you child to tell you some new facts they have learned about worms. Also, be sure to check out the worms yourself next time you are at school. They really are fascinating!

LIVING LOVE AND LOGIC TIP #35

Do You Have to Feel Guilty?
Weekly Tip from the Love and Logic^® Experts

Do you think the following parents ought to feel guilty for their actions?

Parent A:

I said to my teenage daughter, "I wash clothes that are placed in the hamper." They've been lying in a heap in her room…so she doesn't have anything else to wear except her least favorite outfits.

Parent B:

My son was getting more irritable and defiant every day. It seemed related to how much time he was spending playing his video games. I took the video games and told him that I loved him too much to see him getting so addicted to them.

Parent C:

My ten-year-old asked for a cell phone. I let her know that she could have one when she could afford the entire cost…including the data plan.

Parent D:

Our 23-year-old son was sitting around all day watching television. We told him that we were fine with him living with us for a while if he was doing his best to finish school or get a job. He continued to be so disrespectful and lazy that we asked him to leave.

What do you think? Should these parents feel guilty for what they've done? Do you have to feel guilty when you set and enforce reasonable limits with your kids?

Click HERE to read how to have quilt free parenting!

Lately in math

We used our bodies to learn more about the concept over and under. We created a pattern of chairs and then students practiced going over and under each chair. We had fun as we practiced this concept first with movement and our bodies. Later we reinforced "over and under" as we created oval Easter eggs in art. We weaved with paper which helps with hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills, while reinforcing the pattern of "over under". Check out your little ones art work as they bring them home. You can help review this concept by asking them to show you what going over and under something looks like!

Nevada State Standards addressed in the above activities include:

Math Standards

2.PK.2

Recognize and replicate simple patterns(e.g., ABAB).

4.PK.2

Identify positions (e.g., in front, behind, next to, up, down, inside, outside, on top, ordinal positions).

Physical Development Standards

3.PK.1 Demonstrate locomotor movements such as up, down, forward, and backward.

3.PK.2 Demonstrate the ability to follow basic movements (e.g., over, under, in, out, in between).

The above student practiced stacking cups into a pyramid formation. We talked about estimation and how many she thought she stacked. Next time, we will estimate how many she can stack in 1 minute, 3 minutes and so on. We plan on recording the data to be able to compare if she gets faster with each attempt. On a cold day, have your child show you how they can stack cups. Record the data as you practice and see just how fast you can go!

Nevada State Standards addressed in the above activity include:

Math standards
1.PK.3b Estimate the number of objects in a set of 5 and verify by counting.

Physical Development Standards
6.PK.1 Demonstrate skills in eye-hand coordination (e.g., stacking, sorting, lacing toys, stringing beads,
reproducing basic patterns, complete six-piece puzzle, Legos and peg-boards).

Goodbye Mr Timmy!

All of the kids at HO4K have LOVED spending time with Mr. Timmy. He has a contagious fun and exciting energy that kids are drawn to. We are so excited for him as he leaves to serve his church as a missionary! The kids wanted to give him something to remember them by and seeing as he will be wearing a tie daily, thought that a tie would be perfect. Each child carefully signed their name on the back and made cards to show their appreciation.

Everyone seemed a bit emotional as we had our last day with Mr Timmy. The kids said their goodbyes and wished him luck on his new adventure! We will miss him but will write to him and know that many wonderful things are to come these next two years for him!