Traveling Abroad

My husband and I were out to dinner one night after the horrific storm. As we were sitting there he posed a question to me that I am still unable to answer.
"Where do you want to go after we have repaired our home from this disaster?"
I sat there and contemplated all of the places in the world that I would like to visit. Many ideas came to my mind.
"Where is warm enough?"
"Who would I like to join us?"
"How long do I have?"
The choices were endless. There were so many place that I would like to go that I have never been before like, Spain, Turks and Caicos, Ireland, and even parts of the United States. Before children, my husband and I traveled often. We have been to Italy , Greece, and many of the Carribean islands. One idea that I realized is that, of all the places that I have been in Europe, what I find most facinating is visiting the many churches along the way. What I remembered is that from visiting thoses churches I found a sense of serenity and peacefulness that I had never felt before. Each church is distinct in its own way. Although I enjoy the many beaches and seerenity that that brings me, I knew that what I need after all is different. Growing up I always went to church with my grandparents and it almost felt forced. Now that I am older and wiser if you will it brings a different feeling.

Vocabulary
posed- brought to attention
contemplated-thought about
often- frequently
serenity- peaceful
distinct-different

Vocabulary activity

Create a "spinning wheel" using two cardboard circles of different sizes and a brass fastener. On the outer wheel write the vocabulay word; on the inner wheel write the definition. Punch holes in the center of each circle and fasten them together. Have your child spin the wheel to practice matching the vocaulary words with their definition.


Grammar point
Students will be able to identify multiple question words and change their town to fit asking a question.

Grammar activity
Students will create a series of questions to interview a classmate to learn more about them.

Alliteration poems for ids continues to be one of our most popular categories of creative children's poems. That's probably because they are so much fun to read, and even more fun to write. One of the reasons kids find this type of poetry so compelling is that the genre provides them with a tremendous challenge. Poems that fall into this category must use the same consonant at the beginning of each stressed syllable in a line of verse. For example "Chuck is a champ at changing baby chimps." Remember, it is not the letter itself, but the sound of the letter that makes a poem alliterative. So, “gum” and “gigantic” do not alliterate, but “knee” and “nap” do.

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked. If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers How many pickled peppers did Peter Piper pick?




Vocabulary

creative- inventive
compelling-captivating
genre- type of writing
tremendous- huge
category- group
consonant- letter of the alphabet other than a e i o u

Vocabulaty activity
Students will create a vocabulary book identifying the definition of the word, a synonym, and an illustration that shows what the word means.


Grammar point
Students will be able to identify the alliteration of a given poem

Grammar activity
studenst will create an alliteration poem on a food of their choice.

Wine and Health

6 Reasons Why a Little Glass of Wine Each Day May Do You Good


While parousing the web I discovered this very fascinating article on the effects of wine and an individuals health. I was astounded at how many beneits wine has on the average individual. How nay times do we hear conflicting ideas over certain topics? It's worth taking a look at. Maybe we should all become wine drinkers.
http://www.health.com/health/article/0,,20410287_1,00.html

Vocabulary
parousing- looking around
discovered- found
fascinating- great
astounded- surprised
benefits- positive effects
conflicting- opposing views

Vocabulary activity

Vocabulary Bingo -- Students can write their vocabulary words in a bingo sheet and you call out the words.

Grammar point

Since conflicting means opposite, children will be able to identify the antonyms of certain words.

Grammar activity

Students will play an online matching game in which they need to match the antonym to the correct oppopsite

Expresssion Through Poetry

A simile is an easy way to compare two things, so examples of simile poems include any poem that makes comparisons using the words "like," "as," or "than." As long as you compare one thing to another, whether or not the two things you are comparing are actually alike or not, you can consider it a simile poem.

Peering through the drape
Of my synthetic cell,
How I long to escape
This manufactured hell.
Like a bruised, little bird
Too confused to fly,
I’m trapped, in a word,
So confined am I.
A captive, collared lion
Alone in its pen,
I’m pacin’ and dyin’
In a manmade den.
For an eagle was not meant
To be locked in a cage,
Its life to be spent
Like a picture on a page.
And when a mighty lion,
In truth, is but a cat,
It will spend its time tryin’
To be greater than that.”


Vocabulary
escape- to get away from
confused- unclear
trapped- can not get away from
confined-restricted
captive-imprisioned

Vocabulary activity
Studnets will create a memory game on black flashcards using each vocabulary word and its synonym.


Grammar point
Students will be able to identify similes and metaphors within a given poem.


Grammar Activity
Students will be able to write similes and metaphors that describe an object from nature.




Example: Penguing are like men in tuxedos

40 Day Blessing

Approximately forty days after a child is born it is an Orthodox Church Tradition that a special service is offered in the Church which emulates the Old Testament custom in which the Blessed Virgin Mary brought Jesus into the Temple on the fortieth day after His birth and is commemorated on the Feast of the Presentation of Christ. The Forty Day Blessing essentially consists of prayers of joyful thanks for the safe delivery of mother and child. The service blesses the mother who has been absent from the sacramental life of the Church for forty days and formally presents the newborn child to the Church family for the first time as the priest formally brings the infant into the Sanctuary. This is an important tradition for parents to uphold. Parents must call the Church office at least one full week in advance to schedule the Forty Day Blessing service.
The Sunday after Thanksgiving I was able to witness this extaordinary experience. My niece and Godaughter was recieving this holy celebration. In the midst of all the tragedy that my family has endured over the past several weeks, this experience changed my outlook on certain things. It made me realize what is truly important and how important your faith really is. I was overwhelmed with emotion and truly blessed to be a part of such a special celebration.

Vocabulary
Custom- something in which a particular cultures does
commenorate-Recall and show respect for (someone or something) in a ceremony.
consist- include
tradition-an inherited action
extraordinary- special or amazing
emotion- strong feeling

Vocabulary activity
Children will play hangman using the provided sheets
SuperKids Hangman

Grammar point
studenst will use the correct form of verbs to describe particular actions

Grammar activity
Students will work in groups of three or four and play charades against another group to figure out what their teamates are acting out.

Sandy

It has been five weeks since hurricane Sandy tore through Long Island. The amount of devestation that I have seen, not only to my own home but to neighboring towns is mind blowing. The worst part is knowing that so many people have homes that are uninhabitable and have been annihilated. My home being one of them. This tragedy has turned our lives upside down. With nine feet of water in the street you could only imagine what went on. Everyday is a struggle and my children are beginning to ask questions. "Mommy when are we going home"?, "Mommy I miss my bed". It has been very difficult to maintain some sense of normalcy after this length of time. Through all of the heartache we are thankful though for the generosity of friends, family, and neighbors. It's amazing how turmoil can bring people together. An unknown neighbor of ours would come by every morning in her minivan with coffee and bagels for the people that were working on tearing out what was left of their homes. Later that day she would come by with hot meals that she cooked at her home, along with more coffee and water. This woman, five weeks later, is still coming by. This is just one example of the kind and sincere gestures made by people throughout this tragedy.

Vocabulary
uninhabitable- home that is not livable
annihilated- destoyed
normalcy- ability to be normal
turmoil- disaster
sincere- caring
gestures- action by someone

Vocabulary Activity
SuperKids WordSearch Puzzle
O B C T C I O R R I G M M H E T
C I C S I J E R Y E I H M P Z T
E E L S I R H H C E E I E O R E
I E N O S N H J L N L P E U A Z
D D S E R E C D A E B E Q T N B
Z U E P G E E E M P A D J D E H
E M S O V B S E R U T S E G E N
I G I M T R O O O E I S S P B Y
S E Q J G P O E N C B A E N P C
S S S C G X N A C Y A E I O O O
L E T C D E T A L I H I N N A C
D D A D U M I S R S N P P R S A
G F A N S F N I O T I E E P A O
D D S X G I W E O A N S M S R D
T E E E E L I O M R U T K C I I
T I O F I B E Y C H A Z O R E N

Grammar Point
Students will use quotation marks to show where and when dialogue is being used to illustrate when a conversation is taking place.


Grammar Activity

Creative Writing Games

Show students a picture of two people engaged in some sort of action. Have them think about what they are talking about and write out a short dialogue. Ask students to come to the front of the room and read them. Ask the rest of the class to vote on the winner. Alternatively, have students write a dialogue for an imaginary situation, such as two people arguing over where to eat dinner, or even two animals engaged in a discussion.

Hotel Transylvania

Over the weekend I took my children to the movies to see Hotel Transylvania. Here is a movie, although animated is for both children and adults. I guess the reason behind that being that in order to get parents to bring their children to the theater it must entertain them as well. Being that Halloween is just a few weeks away, I decided that this was the movie to see. I must say that I think I enjoyed it more than my children. The humor was definately over their heads but I was completely amused. I laughed throughout the entire movie. Maybe the cast had something to do with it. Adam Sandler, Kevin James and Steve Buschemi to name a few. With a cast like that how can it not be?

Vocabulary

animated- cartoon like
theater-Place to watch a performance
entertain-to engage a person
humor-enjoyment of things that are funny
amused-to make someone laugh
cast-people that are part of a performance

Vocabulary activity

Students can begin to keep a vocabulary dictionary. This dictionary will have the word, a written definition a picture that can can associate with the meaning of the word.



Grammar Point

Children will be able to highlight and identify nouns, verbs, and adjectives within a given situation.

Grammar Activity

The students can play a word association game listing words (nouns, verbs, adjectives) that are associated with a given topic. Their partner would have to guess what it is that they are talking about.

For example:
slide
picnic
maze
flying a kite
swings
Answer: The park

Say Cheese

So last week my 2 children came home with the forms for school picture day. I was debating whether or not to place the order for pictures. The first reason being that the company wanted money for the pictures without me viewing the pictures first. What if I don't like them? Secondly, the pictures were so expensive. The more that I pondered it it was their Kindergarten year. A milestone year, one that will hold so many memories. So with that being said, I decided to place the order. Now here I am on the morning of the photographs searching for the perfect outfit. Am I crazy or is this what all mothers do the day of school pictures?

Vocabulary


debating-thinking of all possibilities
viewing-being able to olook at something first
expensive-something that costs a lot of money
pondered-think about something
milestone year- a year to remember
photographs-pictures taken








Vocabulary Activity


atgedinb __________________

wnigiewv __________________

pnxivese___________________

edonpdre___________________

onstemeli__________________

otorahpppg_________________


Grammar Point
Using a variety of punctuation to your thoughts can cponvey different meaning. When writing using a question leaves the reader with an opportunity to think or wonder about something.

Grammar Activity
Think of at least three questions that you have from your own experiences to create conversation points to discuss with your classmates.
For example: Why do you think people bully one another?
Why do moms ge so crazy over picture day?

Beginning of the School Year

So as we are settling in to the first month of school, things around me are stating to fall into place. This year was filled with commotion and chaos. My twins were starting kindergarten. With that came soccer, gymnastics, and karate. In addition to all of that I was taking two classes at Molloy. Can we say overwhelming. I know I can. But as the school year began all I heard around me was I can't, I won't, and I don't know how to. Well you could understand my frustration. I began to loose it. I beacame stressed out and unable to control my feelings. What was I to do? I knew that I needed an intervention. Someone or something to snap me out of it. Well luckily my husband and my family gave me a day to myself to enjoy some peace and quiet. A day was all I needed. I took the day to get a massage, read a good book, other than textbooks, and enjoy the calmness that ran over me.

Vocabulary words
commotion
chaos
overwhelming
frustration
intervention
calm

Vocabulary activity
Using the vocabulary words children will use paint swatches to create synonms for each of the words. this helps the children tier words to build academic language.

Grammar Point
Looking at contractions, change each contraction can't won't don't

Summer Surprises

Just when I thought summer was ending and we would begin our transistion into Fall, we were blessed with a spectacular day. It was one of the holiday weekends in mid September when my inlaws decided to take a leisurely boat ride. As we began our trip we spontaneously decided to take a trip to Fire Island for the day. After about an hour ride across the bay we docked the boat on one of the most beautiful islands. Atlantique was the name of the island and it couldn't have been more perfect. The sand was like crystals, the breeze was blowing slightly, and the sun was beaming down on us. It was so serene. As the kids played in the sand and caught killies, I watched them in awe. All I thought to myself was that this was the most amazing day and I didn't want it to end.

Vocabulary words
spectacular- amazing, perfect
transistion-change from one season to the next
leisurely- at a slow pace, gradually
spontaneously- quickly, without much thought
awe- to admire, look at with amazement
serene- quiet, peaceful

Exercise
Fire Island


Y B E G T M L Z L E E N P H Y
M L F Y J B A E D O O L N L V
B J S W X J K G Q I W R B B D
P J Y U E P D K T V A A E U K
B W S W O K C S K X Z L F P B
U L K I X E I K U Q B U A A W
B G M U R S N M Q S M C W D R
F Q C S N S N A V R B A E M Y
G N Q A G P E Y T E I T E A X
S T R K P M K R A N F C F N T
E T J H A U M J E C O E C Z O
L E I S U R E L Y N J P W G H
V V R R A D B L C J E S S P O
Z G M N G C K V R G T I M Y O
M P F H F F E A K T P A O R R



AWE
LEISURELY
SERENE
SPECTACULAR
SPONTANEOUSLY
TRANSISTION

Grammar Point
Children will understand the use of commas after listing more than two descriptions in a sentence. Insert the commas in the floowing sentences where they belong.
1. I like chocolate vanilla strawberry and pistachio ice cream.
2. Yesterday we went hiking biking and swimming.