Sunday, April 29, 2007

So Why This Blog?

In August of '06, our local Preacher Boy (hence PB), challenged the saints to use viable media to enlarge the mission fields of harvest. I had recently retired from elementary school employment as a third grade teacher/technology supervisor/web designer from a local school, so the challenge was something I looked forward to initiating. I mentioned to him as I left that evening that I thought I could work something up for parents of small children seeking strategies and methods of training their young ones.
Since then, I mentally have been planning how and what I was going to do to accomplish this goal. I first started by claiming a small spot on the WWW as my own - a place where I could "park my stuff!" Next, I began researching and perusing other 'blogs' to see "how" I needed to present materials and curriculum and "what" I should teach. I've even tried to cozy up to some of you out there in Internet land, but ultimately have decided that the devil was directing quite effectively through the art of procrastination.
So here I am - ready to soar but fearing a major crash - wipe out supreme! I will do my best to be my best -technically speaking - and pray a whole heap that GOD will be glorified through Mimomma's Lemonade Stand, a blog spot dedicated to the assistance of parents training their children in HIS nurture and admonition.
If you are reading and wanting something to be specifically addressed, send me an email with your request. I may not have the answer but will work fervently to find techniques and/or information that I believe will help you!I look forward to hearing from you!
Marsha (Mimomma)
Ask, seek, and knock!

Speckled Spots of Selfish Chicken Pox

Jesus wants to to be 'in HIS image' (Gen. 1:25-26; Gen. 5:1; 1 Cor. 11:7; Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10); HE wants me to be like HIM.

If I follow HIM, Jesus will transform me to be more like HIMSELF.

But what if I do not love and keep HIS commandments? Does any of me look like Jesus? Or am I covered in speckled spots of selfishness as if I was covered with chicken pox?

Jesus wants to heal me - all of me! Jesus needs to stay in my heart and on my mind for me to be more like HIM.

So like Phillip and the newly converted apostles were answered, I want the MASTER of all to answer my question, "Teacher, where are you staying?" with "Come and see...."John 1:35-50

Science lesson from John 1:35-50

Science lesson on John 1:35-50

Demonstration on Reflection

Vocabulary: Jesus, image, reflect, reflection, relationship

You will need: an adult or friend, a flashlight, a mirror, a pencil, a piece of paper, and a protractor.

1. Shine the flashlight beam into a mirror and observe the light path as it approaches the mirror and again as it moves away from the mirror. This is the way in which you can measure the angle of the light as it approaches and leaves the mirror.

2. With the point of your pencil, touch the mirror at the point where the reflection is occurring. You may need to adjust your pencil so that it is perpendicular to the mirror's surface. You will now measure the angle which is between the pencil and the beam of light hitting the mirror. You will also need to measure the angle between the pencil and the beam of light leaving the mirror.

What happened? You may wish to try having the flashlight beam hit the mirror at different angles. You will need to measure the hitting angle and the reflecting angle for each one. Did you discover the relationship between the two angles?

THE BIG SO-WHAT -

How is my relationship with Jesus like that of the flashlight in the mirror?

What am I supposed to reflect and why?

Mirror, Mirror, On the Wall

Creative Motion Art- Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

The following mirror exercises will help your child develop his/her observational and listening skills so that s/he learns how to catch nuances of body movements and facial clues from others and appropriately respond to them. This collaborative effort can then translate into creative expression.

WHAT YOU NEED
Full-length mirror(s)

Vocabulary: mirror, mirror image, reflection, movement, expression


What to do:

  1. Discuss with your child various uses of mirrors. Point out, when necessary, that a mirror lets one see one's self the way others see him/her by way of reflection.
  2. Have your child stand in front of a mirror and describe what s/he sees. Encourage him/her to go beyond his/her own reflection and to observe what s/he sees in the background.
  3. Have him/her move closer and then farther away from the mirror and note the differences.
    Now have him/her stand before a mirror and make simple movements, such as patting his/her heads with left hand, pretending to clean a window with right hand, and so forth.
  4. Call his/her attention to the way a mirror reverses things; that is, though the person may be moving his or her right hand, the mirror image appears to be using his or her left hand. To demonstrate, have a student pretend to be a mirror image of you and do the same motions. You will be using your right hand, s/he will be using his.her left hand.
  5. Finally, try a series of movements - 2-3 movements at a time for very young children, but this time tell your child to copy (mirror) the exact sequence of your movements after you have finished the sequence.

The last exercise is the most challenging, but also the most rewarding. It's one that your child can improve on listening skills as s/he becomes accustomed to the concentration and collaborative effort.

Beginning Literacy Techniques

  • Question:
    What are some ways to help little ones learn the names and sounds of letters without using flashcards?
    Answer:
    There are several things you can do to help your child remain interested in learning her letters. Try using a multi-sensory approach. Your child may be a tactile learner instead of an auditory or visual learner, or she may just need a variety of sensory input to learn best. Help her to identify how each sound feels on her mouth.
  • Use a mirror to help. For example your lips come together for /m/.
  • You may want to try coming up with a rhyme or song about each letter.
  • Use alphabet magnets or alphabet cookie cutters with clay in lieu of flash cards. These activities may be more fun and engaging than flashcards and help your daughter develop her oral communication.
  • Use pictures. Give your child a picture (e.g. a cat) and have her sound out the name while placing marbles, drawing marks, or tapping her fingers for each of the individual sounds in the word (e.g., /c/.../a/.../t/ is composed of 3 sounds, thus the child would use 3 marbles, marks, or taps.) Stick with short words with a consonant-vowel-consonant pattern, like bat, top, pen, dad, etc.
  • You can also clap or tap out the number of syllables in a word.

Just remember that the more involved the sensory organs (ears, eyes, nose, tongue, skin) are, the more likely literacy foundations will stick to the grey matter!

Math lessons using mirrors

Math objectives explored: symmetry, grouping, same/different, compare/contrast, categories

Practical Activities for teaching the concept of 'same' (image is conformed to) and categories. Emphasize while teaching that for one to be like Jesus, one has to have similar characteristics.

What makes each item belong to the group?

Vocabulary: belong, characteristics, symmetry, compare, contrast, groups, categories, same, different
  1. Classify blocks by size
  2. Sort crayons, markers, and pencils into containers
  3. Compare sets using more and less
  4. Sorting buttons, keys, coins, pasta, cereal, fabric or paper scraps, marbles, balls, stamps, postcards, jar lids, leaves, shells, playing cards, etc. and explaining why
  5. Sorting zoo and farm animals for storage
  6. Going on a shape or color hunt.
  7. Give children a small card with a number on it. Put a large number card on the floor and ask your child to hop. jump. etc.,to the matching card number, then place his/her small number card on top of the big one. Continue until all numbers are matched.

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