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Entry bubble Your Turn: Are Your Kids Ready 4 School?

By: Editor | August 17, 2009 | Category: Home and Family

Child with backpackOur Monday blogger, Jake, has work duties that will take him away from Gov Gab until September. In his absence, we’re alternating between “Your Turn” weeks, where we’ll ask a question to spotlight your knowledge about government resources, and posts from guest bloggers across the government.

Today's Question:  Are your kids ready for school?

The start of the new school year requires a lot of work for parents:  school supply and clothes shopping, filling out paperwork, arranging childcare, calming anxious children, and changing routines to allow for earlier bedtimes.  Believe it or not, there are a lot of government resources to help you and your children make the transition easier.  And, please share your tips below - we parents need all the help we can to get the school year off to a great start!

| View Comments [6] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: children   editor   education   kids   school   your_turn  

 

Entry bubble Summer Reading for Kids

By: Joanne | July 21, 2009 | Category: Home and Family

Group of people with children (6-7) and teenagers (16-17) reading, covering faces with booksEven though it's summertime and school is out, that doesn’t mean that all learning has to come to a halt. I’m a believer in summer vacation as a time to have loads of fun, loaf around a bit, and get into some unstructured learning. We grownups tend to overlook it, but all sorts of interesting things are growing and crawling around the yard to explore.

Summer is also a great time to read. I’m not talking about textbooks (unless you’re into that kind of thing). Reading with your little kids and encouraging the big ones to read, opens whole new worlds of imagination and discovery.

We read to our kids every day, and this summer my 8-year-old reads to me every day. We also participate in summer reading activities at our local library – I bet your library has programs too.

Even though she’s a good reader, I still read to my 8-year-old at bed time when she’s sleepy. Now we’re reading Shel Silverstein’s “Falling Up.” Shel Silverstein is one of my favorite authors. I think his books are a fun and imaginative way to introduce kids to poetry…and I love to read them too. What are your favorites? What do your kids love to read?

Maybe your kid is ready to work on writing and illustrating his/her own book. Why not? Maybe you’ve got a great author living under your own roof.

| View Comments [3] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: book   education   joanne   read   summer  

 

Entry bubble April is Alcohol Awareness Month

By: Jess | April 09, 2009 | Category: Health

Glass of beerFor many people having a drink or two is no problem. But for others who might have a predisposition to alcoholism, even one drink could cause a downward spiral that leads to many, many drinks.

As part of Alcohol Awareness Month, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration provides valuable tips on raising awareness about alcohol abuse.

Parents can find information on educating their children and being a good role model.

Teenagers can find answers to many of their questions.

And there are resources for finding treatment.

In an additional effort to raise awareness, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism offers a free, confidential survey to determine if you display any of the characteristics of abusive drinking behavior. The survey takes less than five minutes and at the end provides you with a list of resources on where to go for help or more information.

If you or a friend need immediate assistance with a substance abuse problem, you can call the National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Referral Routing Service's toll free number: 1-800-662-HELP (1-800-662-4357).

You can find more substance abuse resources in the FAQ's section of USA.gov.

| Post a Comment | View Comments [2] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: alcohol   alcohol_abuse   alcohol_awareness_month   alcoholism   education   jess   prevention  

 

Entry bubble Back to School!

By: Colleen | August 20, 2008 | Category: General

In the immortal words of Billy Madison, "Back to school, back to school, to school busprove to Dad I am not a fool..."

Hard to believe but it really is that time again. You can nearly hear the collective groan of kids packing their book bags and dashing to the library to finish up the summer's required reading list.

Back to school isn't just about the kids though. Parents and teachers need to be ready to get "back to business" as well. For kids just starting school, parents should be sure their children's immunizations are up to date and they get back into a normal bedtime routine. Thinking farther ahead, other parents might want to start thinking about saving for their kids' college education.

Teachers are always looking for new ideas and materials to use in the classroom. For educators, Kids.gov has a whole section just for you! Check out "Teacher to Teacher," a great site where teachers can share information electronically using e-mail, pod-casts, or other technology. Some states will even accept these online workshops as career development credit. Federal Resources for Educational Excellence is another great place for resources from federal agencies.

Any special tips for getting your little ones (or yourself) back on the school bus and ready for another year?

| View Comments [1] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: colleen   education   library   reading   school   teacher  

 

Entry bubble Help for Teachers

By: Colleen | February 13, 2008 | Category: General

Amongst my group of friends, I am the oddball. This has a little to do with my taste in music, but more so that I am not a teacher. While it's not ENTIRELY the case, it sure seems like all of my friends are teachers.

My best friend commands a tribe of 5th graders. My high school partner in crime teaches middle school English (a feat that deserves a medal—battling the awkward braces years and all). My college accomplice? 3rd grade. Next door neighbor/sandbox buddy? She's also holding down the 5th grade. And finally, my roommate—kindergarten and first grade.

Because of these relationships, I am privy to the daily trials and tribulations that come with life when one educates the youth of America. Some of my favorites?

  • Weekly battles to secure the "best" times on the lamination machine user schedule.
  • Highly contested space on hallway bulletin boards

I had little insight or potential solutions to problems of this realm until recently.

Due to the frigid weather we've been experiencing lately, the kids have been denied their typical outdoor recess. 25+ kids trapped inside for playtime is taking years off my poor roommate's life.

Finally able to help her out, I talked to her about Kids.gov. This super cool site is filled with games and activities—perfect for indoor fun. All of the 1,300 links are federally approved, so parents and educators can be assured they are safe and appropriate. It also offers homework help. I wish I had the "Ask Dr. Math" site when I was a kid. Could have saved my parents and sister a few headaches (or gray hairs)!

Besides fun and educational information for kids, Kids.gov has a full section specifically for teachers. It has tons of lesson plans, activity ideas, and helpful tools for the classroom.

Once they have the kids entertained, teachers can also find useful links at USA.gov. It's a great resource to mix up straight from textbook lessons, or add some spice to a topic that can be a bit mundane. Like free stuff? Check out the cool posters, printed materials, and lesson plans from Pueblo.

Go forth and mold those young minds!

| View Comments [2] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: colleen   education   help   kids   teacher  

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