In the
Neighborhood
Twenty-Seven Ways to Practice Your Sight Words
Diana
Bass
Bicycle and
Pedestrian Safety and Courtesy
By Officer Jerry Jones - School Resource Officer
Heavy back packs can harm your
child’s back.
By Dr. Neil Szeryk
Putting homework in its place
By Tanya
Donaghey
Children and their responsibility to household
chores
By Mary Ann
Martin
Diana Bass
1.
Paint your words with
shaving cream.
2.
Glitter write your words.
3.
See how many times you can
write your words in one minute.
4.
Use coins to form your
words.
5.
Make a path with your
bike/scooter in the shape of your words.
6.
Type your words on the
computer using five different fonts.
7.
Go to www.puzzlemaker.com
and make a wordsearch with the words.
8.
Go to www.puzzlemaker.com
and make a letter tiles puzzle.
9.
Make your words out of playdoh.
10.
Use your favorite snack
to shape your words and eat them.
11.
Write your words in one
color and trace over them in more colors.
12.
Find your words in the
titles of your movies.
13.
Paint your words on the
computer
14.
Use your toys to shape
the letters in your words.
15.
Read a book and each time
you find one of your words, stand up.
16.
Write your words on paper
and then cut them out.
17.
Write your words on small
pieces of paper and then put the papers in a bag and then draw them out and
read them.
18.
Spell your words on a
foggy mirror or window.
19.
Use your family and spell
your words with your bodies.
20.
Fold your paper into
sections and then write your words with “pizzazz” in squares.
21.
Write your words on
little pieces of paper, hold them in your hand and
have someone try to guess the words.
22.
Tape-record yourself
singing a song with your words
23.
Print your words on
someone’s back.
24.
Use markers and make a
pattern with colors out of your words.
25.
Print your words on
paper, cut them out, and fly them on a paper airplane.
26.
Play “Hangman” with them.
27.
Make two copies of each
word on 3 X 5 cards and play “Concentration”.
Heavy back packs can harm
your child’s back.
Have you ever really looked at the posture of an 80 pound sixth
grader bent under a 40-pound backpack? The weight of the backpack forces the
child to hunch over with shoulders rounded and head jutting forward. Over time,
the muscles adapt to permanent poor posture, often leading to back problems and
other injuries. For many, lifetime back pain can begin in elementary school.
"In my own practice, I have noticed a marked increase in the number of
young children who are complaining about back, neck and shoulder pain,"
said Dr. Neil Szeryk, of The Chiropractic Connection
"The first question I ask these patients is, 'Do you carry a backpack to
school?' Almost always, the answer is 'yes.'"
This new back pain trend among youngsters isn't surprising when
you consider the disproportionate amounts of weight they carry in their
backpacks - often slung over just one shoulder. A recent study found that the
average child carries a backpack that would be the equivalent of a 39-pound
burden for a 176-pound man, or a 29-pound load for a
132-pound woman. Of those children carrying heavy backpacks to school, 60
percent had experienced back pain as a result. Other studies have shown that
slinging a backpack over one shoulder could exacerbate the curvature of the
spine in scoliosis patients. Preliminary results of studies
being conducted in
What Can You Do?
*Pay attention to common sense advice like simply lightening the
load. Teaching kids that they don’t have to carry everything they own will
help, but the fact is, until kids all carry one-pound indestructible computers,
backpacks are not going to shrink much.
*Make sure your child's backpack weighs no more than 5 to 10
percent of his or her body weight. A heavier backpack will cause your child to
bend forward in an attempt to support the weight on his or her back, rather
than on the shoulders, by the straps.
*The backpack should never hang more than four inches below the
waistline. A backpack that hangs too low increases the weight on the shoulders,
causing your child to lean forward when walking.
*A backpack with individualized compartments helps in
positioning the contents most effectively. Make sure that pointy or bulky objects
are packed away from the area that will rest on your child's back.
*Bigger is not necessarily better. The more room there is in a
backpack, the more your child will carry-and the heavier the backpack will be.
*Urge your child to wear both shoulder straps. Lugging the
backpack around by one strap can cause the disproportionate shift of weight to
one side, leading to neck and muscle spasms, as well as low-back pain.
Putting
homework in its place
Ensuring that your child completes his or her homework can be a
challenge. According to Tanya Donaghey, owner of
Tutoring 101 in Allen, having a strategy and routine in place will help make
homework a positive experience – for everyone in the family. Tanya recommends the
following:
- Determine the best
time for homework: It’s a good idea to select a regular time for homework
that is workable for everyone – both the family’s schedule and your
child’s needs. Think about your child’s temperament. Does he or she need
some “down time?” Does he or she need to run around and get rid of some
pent up energy after school? Homework time should not be a punishment. If
you can find the right time with your child – and be consistent about it –
the whole process will be more peaceful, as well as more efficient and
productive.
- Establish a
homework station: Decide with your child where the best place is for
completing homework. A desk or table in your child’s room is ideal because
it will foster the independence that you are going to expect when your
child reaches middle or high school. Also, children who are distracted by
noise and movement will have an easier time focusing in a location that’s
not part of the family living space.
- Provide Direction
– but not directions: Many children do need help with homework, but it is
important to help in ways that will lead to independence. Consider this:
Before they’ve even glanced at the directions, kids often will show
parents a worksheet and say, I don’t get it.” Kids know what they are
doing; why spend time figuring out directions if you can get Mom or Dad to
explain what to do? In these cases, rather than reading out the directions
to yourself and then explaining them, ask your child to read the
directions aloud to you. This strategy enables kids to hear the
directions, which often all that’s needed to make the assignment clear.
- Create a homework
toolbox: As a parent, its easy to become
frustrated when – 15 minutes into homework time, with no visible progress
made – you’re told, “I was looking for a pencil!” A homework toolbox will
help solve that problem. All you need is an inexpensive plastic container
with a lid that’s a couple inches deep and big enough to hold 8 _ x
11”sheets of paper. Together with your child, fill the box with standard
supplies- paper, pencils, an eraser, sharpener, ruler, markers,
highlighter, glue, text book holder and any other homework tool that your
child many need to complete assignments. Then declare this “anti-walking”
toolbox a permanent part of the homework station.
However you help with homework, don’t lose sight of whose assignment it really is. Editing, rewriting, and changing answers may enhance the quality of the work but not the learning experience. Keep in mind that while we all want success for our children, the ultimate goal is to allow the child to build confidence in his or her own skills and ability.
If you would like additional information contact Tanya at Tutoring 101 (972-359-0222)
Domestic Goddess 
972-783-6685
Cleaning, closet/kitchen reorganization, pet sitting
Children and their responsibility to household chores
Children start out with a natural curiosity to want to help mom
and dad, but as they get older, this desire soon leaves as they find other
things to occupy their time. Things such as friends, video games, television
shows, reading a good book, talking on the phone, finishing some school
project, extra-curricular activities, rehearsals, and the list continues to
grow the older they become.
How do parents get their children to pick up after themselves?
Mary Ann Martin, owner of Domestic Goddess cleaning service, says there are two
approaches - for young children (2-6) and older children (6 +)
For the young child Mary Ann recommends:
1. Starting when they are young and enthusiastic. Start when they
desire to help mom and dad. Even if they may make a bigger mess, take the time
to show them how to do it right. If children learn the phrase "later"
from mom and dad, it is only natural that they will develop a subconscious
"later" attitude. Children learn by example - give them a positive
example from the get-go!
2. Find chores that are age appropriate for the child and do not
expect them to get it right the first time. Heck, don't even expect them to get
it right the hundredth time. Children are just starting to develop their motor
skills and need time to practice them. By allowing them to make a bed that
looks like the dog just trampled across it, and praising them for a job well
done, you are instilling in them a sense of pride. A pride in taking care of
their things and you are instilling in them an "I can do it"
attitude.
3. If your children cannot remember to do their chores on their
own, consider gentle reminders. You can simply say something like, "Okay
everyone, it's time to get busy on our chores. Tim, you make the beds in every
room. Emily, you vacuum the rugs in all the rooms. Trish, you take the dishes
out of the dishwasher, put them away and put in the next load of dishes. And, I
will mop the floor and do the laundry." What this does, is show everyone
that a clean house takes teamwork and teamwork gets the job done in half the time.
4. Don't stereotype chores as male and female chores. Boredom
easily sets in when a child has to stick to only one chore or certain types of
chores.
5. Consider a chart that tells each child what he or she is to do
on a certain day.
6. Offer an allowance or reward system.
7. Make it clear that no one gets to hang out with their friends or
do extracurricular activities until their chores are done.
For the Older Child
According to Mary Ann, the issue of housework gets trickier if
you are just introducing it for the first time to an older child. Bad habits
have already been developed.
Fifty years ago, according to several studies, nearly all
children helped maintain the house - free of charge. Twenty years ago, kids
still did chores, but small payments lightened the task.
Today, all that remains of that tradition is the weekly payoff.
Most young people are busier than ever - with soccer, schoolwork, and music
lessons. Parents are left rolling their eyes in despair at unmade beds and
mounds of laundry. But while children today exhibit few domestic skills, many
may have gotten a helping hand from adults who have acted as tireless
chauffeurs and bankers and rarely demanded anything in exchange.
"The concept of service is gone and financial control has
virtually disappeared," says William Damon, director of the Center for the
Study of Human Development at
How to Set Up a Routine
When considering how to lower the boom on cleaning a room or
mowing a lawn, Maryann recommends that the first, most important step is to
establish a routine. Here are some tips to help in setting one up:
·
Involve the whole family
in choosing both chores and consequences.
·
Create simple, clear
visual aids that remove ambiguities and nudge children into fulfilling
responsibilities.
·
Set deadlines for
completion, with clear consequences for missing the moment.
·
Take time for training.
·
Make sure
responsibilities are age appropriate.
·
Be sure to praise a job
well-done.
·
Be consistent.
·
And most important: Never
do the chore for the child.
Mary Ann adds, even if your family is fortunate to have a cleaning
service do the bulk of the house work it is still very important to teach your
children the basics of taking care of their home.
For house cleaning estimates you can reach Mary Ann Martin at
972-783-6685.
BICYCLE and PEDESTRIAN
SAFETY and COURTESY
Officer Jerry Jones - School Resource Officer
For four years now, I have been teaching “Bicycle/Pedestrian
Safety/Courtesy” to our students. Numerous government,
medical, and educational studies show that today’s children are overweight and
out of shape. So I always encourage the kids to walk or ride their 
bikes to school. It’s fun, great exercise, and reduces the
traffic volume and air pollution.
As we see more and more kids walking and riding bikes or
scooters to school, we see more need for the aforementioned lesson. We also
thought it wise to forward some information to parents so you can reinforce at
home the safety and courtesy lessons your children learn at school.
The traffic laws of the State of
I try to discourage kids from riding in alleys because they are
dangerous. Someone backing a car out of a driveway can’t see a bicyclist in the
alley because of the fences. We want the kids to get off of their bicycle and
walk it across the intersections. If a car looks like it might run into them,
it is much easier to drop the bike and run than it is to suddenly try to peddle
faster. We can replace a bike but not a child. But the most important safety
item of all is the helmet. A cut or scrape or even a broken bone will heal.
Brain
damage is either permanent or fatal. Helmets are inexpensive
and even look cool these days.
A common courtesy for pedestrians and bicyclists is for everyone
to stay to the right – just as cars do on the roadways. This will allow for
better and safer movement of foot and bike traffic. When slower pedestrians are
overtaken by faster bicyclists the bikers can pass the walkers on the left.
Most bicyclists know to warn the pedestrians of their presence in some way. An
audible warning device such as a bell or horn is most common. Some riders use a
tradition started on the ski slopes and say “On your left” to let the walker
know they will pass them on their left.
Don’t you just hate all the traffic in the mornings? The more
people we can get to walk or ride bikes, the fewer cars there will be on the
road. And while we’re cutting down on traffic congestion and pollution we’re
getting some exercise. If everyone follows a few simple safety and courtesy
guidelines it will be a “win – win” situation for everyone.