Help your child learn to read!!

For those of you who don't know, I am an elementary school teacher. Well, not right this minute, but I did teach 2nd grade for 3 years before I put my career on hold to rear my children full time. (I do plan on going back some day, by the way.)

Much of second grade is spent learning to read or at least learning to read harder books than you could before. Anyway, I spent A LOT of time working with kids on their reading skills, so I might do a few posts on the importance of reading/school readiness. Please humor me.

I'd like to start off by saying that the NUMBER ONE thing that you can do to prep your child for school/reading is...dum, da da DUUUUUMM... READING OUT LOUD TO THEM!!

That should be pretty self explanitory, right?

BUT, when you read to them, make sure that you take the time to stop and talk about the pictures, ask them questions, have them make predictions, have them retell you the story, point at the words as you read, discuss vocabulary words that they are not familiar with etc. etc. These kinds of activities make the reading time EVEN MORE valuable.

If you read to your child on a regular basis, they will learn to associate reading with the positive feelings of your love for them, and they will be MUCH more likely to ENJOY reading.

Here's the equation:

you reading to kid=kid enjoying books/reading

kid's enjoyment=kid reading individually during free time (practice)

kid's practice=kid becomes a better reader

a good reader=someone who has a headstart in school (and life for that matter)

Now I will get off my high horse for a minute to tell you about some products that have assisted me in helping my 2 year old learn his ABC's and the sounds that the letters make.

LEAP FROG

First, I purchased this. It focuses just on the letters and their sounds.

Maybe a year later I purchased this. They can spell simple words and the toy can assist them in finding the right letter and sounding the word out.

Okay, I don't know why this picture turned out sideways, but these Leap Frop movies are marvelous!!! The letter factory really solidifies the letters and sounds. The word factory explains the vowels and how letters work together to form words.

I'm not huge on TV for small children, but these videos I love. Really try them out. It has helped my little guy so much. I really feel confident that he will be more than prepared to start school in a couple of years.

A good book AND some tips for organizing your time!!

Just so you all know out there, I am OBSESSED with finding new ways to become a more organized and efficient person. I think it is because I am natural PROCRASTINATOR and a more go with the flow kind of gal. Anyway, I did eventually realize that I might not reach my full potential if I don't stop procrastinating and really learn to buckle down and organize my life a little. So there you have it...a disorganized person by nature desperately working to overcome that weakness. (Don't get me wrong, I don't want to be soooo organized that I am uptight and CAN'T just go with the flow when the time calls for it. Spontaneity is a good thing too.)


Sooo...that being said. Last year I read this book:




Most of you are probably familiar with 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Well, I read the teen version of that back in high school. (Which was very good too by the way.)

This book expands on 7 Habits. It talks about how we can be as organized and efficient as we want to be and still get it wrong if we are letting the URGENT things in life crowd out the IMPORTANT things. For example: Playing with my children is very IMPORTANT, but it doesn't have an upcoming deadline, so I often put off playing with them to do something that seems more URGENT, like my laundry for example. (DEADLINE: Before you run out of clean underwear!)

The problem is, if we make it a habit to make time for the urgent rather than the truly important, we will end up with a very unfullfilling life because we will neglect all the things that we really care about the most.

Basically, this book really INSPIRED me. So in response to all the inspiration, I made this on my computer:

It is called my Role Goals Sheet. This little peice of paper helps me to make sure that I am setting and accomplishing goals in all of the important roles that I have in life.

FIRST, think of the important roles that you play in life. (Up to about 7, but less is okay too.) You may combine roles that are similar into one if you want. If you look closely at my sheet, you will see that I combined "family member" and "friend" into one. Examples of roles: spouse, parent, teacher (or other occupation), church service or volunteer...you name it. All the stuff we do in life.

THEN, you must remember to "sharpen the saw." That is a phrase that comes from 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Basically it means that if you don't take care of yourself, you won't be a very effective tool to take care of other important things in your life. You need to take care of yourself physically, spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. So, the entire bottom part of my sheet is to set goals to take care of myself so that I can do better in all of my "life roles" that are written at the top.

LASTLY, set your goals. You do not have to set a goal in every role each week. And you may want to set more than one goal under just one role. You decide how much you can handle. ALSO, sometimes a goal can fit under more than one category. For example: If I set a goal to take a walk every day with my son, that can fullfill a goal under the parent role AND it also takes care of ME physically and emotionally to be outside in the fresh air walking and spending time with my kids. Three birds with one stone!!

I fill one of these sheets out each week and then I paper clip it into my planner. (I love planners.) Then I try to schedule a day and time to accomplish each goal, if possible.

I have been doing this for almost a year now. It has taken a while to become a habit, but I have just kept trying, and now it is becoming just part of the routine. I usually fill it out on Sundays. (a worthy Sunday activity, I think) It makes me feel good to know that I try to take some time to really think about my husband and kids and family and church calling and plan something to do each week to strengthen those roles.

Anyway...you should read the book and try it out too!!

Red Pepper Spaghetti Sauce w/ Italian Meatballs

YUM!

Everyone likes spaghetti, right? Well, I got this recipe from a friend who got it from a friend. So I have no idea where it originated from. I adapted it because it originally made 35 servings. It really is yummy and has a distinctly different flavor than other sauces I've had. Everyone I've served it to has said something similar to, "Hey, what's in that sauce? That is REALLY good spaghetti sauce."


Not only that, but I never used to be into the whole meatball thing, but after trying this recipe, I have to say that I prefer meatballs to the whole ground hamburger cooked in with your spaghetti sauce thing. It really separates the flavors so that you can taste the meat and the sauce separately. Plus you can choose how much meat you get.

Ashley's Meatball Musings:

Speaking of meatballs, here are a few ideas. If you do not have the time or energy to make meatballs, you can buy a big pack of already made frozen meatballs at pretty much any store. OR- if you have a big freezer for food storage, a great idea is to maybe double or triple this meatball recipe, cook them, and then freeze them on a cookie sheet afterwards. Once they are frozen solid, scoop them into freezer bags and take them out as you need them.

Anyway, give this one a whirl next time you have a spaghetti night.

Italian Meatballs

1 pound lean ground beef
1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 med. onion
1/2-1 tsp. minced garlic
salt and pepper to taste
1 egg OR 1/3 cup water (your choice, but I think the egg makes it stick better)


Mix all ingredients. Don't add the egg or water all at once. You may not need it all, and you don't want the meatballs so moist that they fall apart.

Shape into balls. I made mine about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Place on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes. You may want smaller meatballs, so adjust the baking time as needed.



My meatballs BEFORE baking.


When finished, freeze OR add to sauce and simmer for 20 minutes.

And while the meatballs are baking...


Red Pepper Spaghetti Sauce

1 T olive oil
1 large red pepper
1/2 large onion
1 1/2 tsp. minced garlic
1 T basil
2 tsp. oregano
1 jar Ragu sauce (garden combo is good for this)
1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
1/2 cup cream





Saute onions, peppers, and garlic in oil.




Season with oregano and basil. Add Ragu. Add the desired ammount of meatballs and simmer for 20-30 minutes.



Mix in cream at the very end. The sauce will take on a lighter color and creamier texture.

Serves about 8.