If we do not know our history, we are doomed to repeat it. I continue to ponder this idea as I finish reading, "The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl" by Timothy Egan. The author profiles survivors that lived in the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles during the 1930's. He also provides a look at the years before the drought took hold in the 1930s.
I enjoyed this book for the history presented, but I also enjoyed it for a more personal reason. My grandmother lived through the great American dust bowl. Now, I can understand the hardships she experienced during this time. She mentioned several times how she doesn't know how they survived. She was a widow with a young son living with her mom who was also a recent widow. They survived together through perseverance and a belief in God that better days will come.
I wish that I had talked to her more about her experiences.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt helped tremendously to save the midwest states. His 2 ideas of shelter belts and soil conserveration districts are still in use today. However, many shelter belts were removed to make room for more crops during more prosperous years. I will look at the shelter belts in a new way after reading this book. And I hope this country has learned from the mistakes of the past and will never have to relive "The Great American Dust Bowl".

How to turn children into readers

1. READ -- Begin reading with your children before they are born. Babies love to hear their parents' voices and the rhythm of the spoken words. As children get older, they enjoy seeing the pictures in books as you read the words. More importantly thought; children love sitting in the Mom's and/or Dad's lap and listening to a story. "Children become readers on the laps of their parents." I don't remember where I saw this quote, but it is so true!
2. TALK -- Your children want to talk to you even when they are babies and can't say "real" words. Kids need to hear words used in different context. Talking also lets you learn what's happening in your child's life.
3. PLAY -- Go outside and play. You can play a game of catch, a game of hopscotch or basketball. You can go outside and watch the kids run up and down the driveway. Let the kids stretch their legs and enjoy the outdoors.
4. NO TV -- OK, maybe no TV is a little harsh, but limit the TV watching to a minimum. Kids learn in 3 dimensions. TV is only 2 dimensions. Even those TV shows and videos that claim they help babies learn need to be viewed in moderation. Too much of a good thing is never a good thing.
5. READ -- Reading is so important that it needs to be listed twice.

Education does not begin in kindergarten. Parents are the first and best teachers. Going to school is a formal education. Parents teach in an informal setting; everyday!

I worked with a fabulous first grade class today! They learned how to find information on the database, Brittanica Online. Yesterday, I introduced the Winter Olympics and the activity we will do with the Olympics. Each student has a country to follow during the Olympics. Today, they found the leader, capitol, money and population of that country. They recorded the information in a table.
They listened. They were interested and engaged. They are ready for the Olympics to begin!

I just finished reading "The Gollywhopper Games" by Jody Feldman. The author has created an exciting adventure. Gil wins the opportunity to participate in the Gollywhopper games; beating out 5000 other kids. He begins the competition as part of a team. They need to complete 5 puzzles and 5 stunts.
You can complete the puzzles too. Read the puzzle. Think about what you know about logic and what has happened in the story. Once you have it figured out, continue reading the story to see if you solved it the same as Gil.
In the beginning of the story, I'm reminded of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. 500 tickets to participate in the first phase of the game can be found in the products sold by the Gollywhopper Toy Company. After the 2 teams are selected, I'm reminded of the 1980's movie, Running Man. The contestants participate in what seems like a very, very large building and the observers watch from an observation deck not visible to the contestants.
The reader becomes interested in Gil from the first page where we learn that his dad was wrongly accused of embezzling money from the The Gollywhopper Toy Company. And the interest in Gil continues to the very last page. He makes friends, stays calm and thinks.

2009-2010 Flicker Tale nominees

bully: 2 a : a blustering browbeating person; especially : one habitually cruel to others who are weaker -- www.merriam-webster.com
To prevent someone from being a "habitually cruel to others" person, that person would need to be taught different behaviors and want to change from a "habitually cruel person". A bully needs to be taught empathy and ways to boost their own self-confidence. A bully won't be changed by listening to someone say they shouldn't be a bully. Shouldn't the focus be on increasing the self-confidence of all kids. If a kid is self-confident in his actions and beliefs, then he could stand up to any criticism and won't feel the need to criticize others.
No one can change the actions or behaviors of another. We can only change our own actions or behaviors.

I just ordered the 2009-2010 Flicker Tale nominees. Most of them look very exciting! Look for the following titles in our Kennedy Elementary Library in August when we come back to school.

Picture books
Willow by Denise Brennan-Nelson and Rosemarie Brennan
Turtle's Penguin Day by Valeri Gorbachev
Kiss! Kiss! Yuck! Yuck! by Kyle Mewburn
A birthday for Cow! by Jan Thomas

Intermediate Books
The Extrordinary Adventures of Ordinary Basil by Wiley Miller
Punished! by David Lubar
Keena Ford and the Second-Grade Mix-up by Melissa Thomson
The Green Ghost by Marion Dane Bauer

Non-fiction books
Listen to the Wind by Greg Mortenson and Susan L. Roth
Two Bobbies by Kirby Larson and Mary Nethery
You Never Heard of Sandy Koufax? by Jonah Winter
Wolfsnail: a backyard predator by Sarah C. Campbell