school | The Angel Forever

Category Archives school

Tuesday Tales – Books of the Hebrew School Kind

Posted on October 26, 2010 1:19 pm by TheAngelForever

My memories of Hebrew School as a child are cloudy at best since I try to forget it. I will be the first to admit that I did not like going. When I was a child, I went Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday. Now, Hebrew School typically begins in kindergarten once a week for children. Then, when they are in second grade, it goes to twice a week. We have been very lucky. NHL loved Hebrew School the last two years as a kindergartener and first grader. This year, the addition of Wednesday had been a big change. Still, he looks forward to going and learning. Just the other day, he mentioned out of the blue that he wanted to be a Mench. I nearly choked on my dinner. This was not a word I expected to come from my seven-year old son.

So, why am I bringing this up for Tuesday Tales?

Good question. I guess this has to do with how far books for Hebrew School have come. The new books are more realistic, interweave Judaic customs and views of every day life. The books are child friendly, packed with great information, and do not intimidate children while learning about our religion and how to read/write/speak Hebrew.

Check out NHL’s books that are being used. I have to admit, I am jealous and would love to get my hands on a few of them to really read.

Now, I can completely understand where the Mench term was coming from. I was also excited to see the amazing collection of Jewish Holiday/Heritage books that NHL’s teacher has. Many of the books we have and others I have never seen. I am sure he will be especially intrigued by The Cat in the Hat and a few other familiar books all written in Hebrew.

To all of the text-book companies out there, thank you! As a teacher and parent, I applaud you for stepping up to the plate. By making books to use in the classroom that are more engaging, you are not only helping teacher, but also reaching more students.

So what have you read recently? Please be sure to link up to your Tuesday Tales and/or leave a comment below. Include something you read on your own, with a child or someone else. Tuesday Tales are all about spreading the love for books.

Categories:
books looking back milestone nhl photos school Tuesday Tales

Lazy kind of weekend

Posted on October 24, 2010 8:26 pm by TheAngelForever

Sometimes, it is just nice to have a lazy weekend. No real need to go to a location, just sit at home and do things with your family. That was this weekend. I should feel energized, but I think it has allowed my mind to race a little too much about the events for this week.

Yesterday, TechyDad, NHL, JSL and I all stayed in our pajamas. Why yes, it was a glorious day of just doing things around the house and not getting dressed. We started the morning off with some warm, delicious biscuits for breakfast. After that, TechyDad had a bit of the cleaning bug. He organized the kitchen (had to be done for apple baking), cleaned the bathroom, and then helped me to move the couch to get some monster dust bunnies that had escaped.

After lunch, the boys played a new game that TechyDad received to review. There was a lot of laughing, giggling, and strategy going on. While they did that, I opted to get a head start on sorting, cutting, and bagging Box Tops for Education. As the coordinator in NHL’s school, the November 1st deadline is coming quickly. This is what sat in front of me.

A bit daunting at first. The nice part, I was able to listen to a lot of The Help on my MP3 player while I did this project.

So how many Box Tops do you think are here?

In the end, there were 620 in that pile alone. It all adds up and will go to good use at school. So, if you have any extra Box Tops for Education and do not have a school to donate them to, just let me know.

The boys also watched Disney’s Alice in Wonderland, then we had dinner and the kids went to sleep.

Today, NHL went to Hebrew School. TechyDad went with JSL to the grocery store to get some items for the week. Then he came home and put up a crock pot of applesauce. After lunch, I was upset about frogging a knitting project and did not feel too well. I took a nap while TechyDad made some apple muffins.

Sometimes, you just need a slow weekend at home to catch up on family time.

So what did you do this weekend before Halloween?

Categories:
baking photos school TechyDad weekend yummy

Making time

Posted on October 14, 2010 10:59 am by TheAngelForever

There seems to be a lack of time recently. Each day starts off with a list of items that needs to be done, but something always comes up. Case in point. Yesterday, I took JSL to nursery school. He was not feeling the best, but was not SICK, if you know what I mean. Just like big brother, when JSL is fighting off a cold his asthma kicks in. This makes him clingy, tired, and off. To make a long story short, I managed to leave the school (literally pulling him off my leg), get around the block, and suddenly I saw a familiar number on my cell phone ID. It was the nursery school director. She had a hysterical JSL in her office.

*sigh*

I went into the school and knew that my son was not really sick. He is fighting off a cold just like half of the kids in his class. His nose was running and he was coughing from non-stop tears. When I arrived, he perked up immediately. The first thought in my head was that this was a mistake. We were letting a three year old think that if he cries and has a fit, I will automoatically appear. I took his temperature and it was 97 (he has a very low normal temperature). After many more tears about leaving, I finally took JSL home. I set him up on the couch to rest, but he did not sleep. He wanted me next to him. So there I sat snuggled up with my little guy. While he watched cartoons, I finished listening to The 19th Wife on my MP3 player. Those articles for Kids Fun Plaza NENY will have to wait for another day. My little guy needed me. As we were walking to school to pick up NHL yesterday, this was JSL.

He fell asleep with a Doodle Pro in his hands while I was walking and talking with another mother. Yes, he was one tired little puppy.

Although there may not be enough time in the day to get my writing done ahead of schedule, have a spotless house, exercise (need to work on that one), and do research on Gifted Education, at least I know I am here and ready to help my boys if/when they need me. Everything will get done, but a time out for snuggles and hugs may be required first.

Categories:
jsl me moments photos school vent

Apples and Abba

Posted on October 9, 2010 1:21 pm by TheAngelForever

Dear JSL,

This was your first full week of nursery school in quite some time. Wednesday, you were supposed to go on an apple picking field trip. There was going to be a hayride and other fun activitities. Unfortunately, the rain had other plans. Well over five inches of rain came and would not stop over several days. Thanks to this, apple picking was not an option. Your teachers made some extra fun activities that were apple related this week. You were so proud to share your painted apple on the wall:

When we walked into school Friday, there was a surprise waiting for you. You had one of the most prized jobs for the week. You were selected to be Abba for Shabbat. I wanted to take your photo next to the table, but you were a little stinker and refused. So I took a picture of the table.

When school was over, you were so proud to show me your Abba sticker and tell everyone about it and the grape juice. Yes, there is no doubt you really like nursery school, even if you are a bit clingy in the mornings lately. I can not wait to see more of your projects and visit one day when you are Abba to see you in action.

Love,

Mommy

_______________________________________

If you want to participate in Dear Kid Saturday, head on over to Cutest Kid Ever by clicking on the button below.

Categories:
Dear Kid Saturday jsl milestone photos school

Bing and the Our School Needs program

Posted on October 7, 2010 5:51 pm by TheAngelForever

Right now, budgets are extremely limited in schools. At my son’s school, nurse teachers were cut, librarians let go, and many programs slashed. Thanks to this and other local issues, the school has been on the chopping block year after year. Below is a photo of my son last year at a rally to save his school (something no child should ever need to go to).

Our school is currently trying to implement a gifted and talent program for students that need to advance in their studies and have enrichment. The problem – no money. Parents like myself are trying to help and research items to use in the school that are cost-effective and will not burden the teachers any more than they already are. It is a very trying time to say the least, especially as the parent of a child that needs this programing.

Our PTA works hard to supplement the school with field trips, speakers and other programs for the students. Together, as a team, we work to better the educational experience for our children. I have to admit that we are very lucky that we have a groups of parents that genuinely care and come into the school to volunteer their time. This year, I am hoping to assist more in the classrooms as well. As a certified reading teacher, I hope to volunteer and help children that need a little more help with their literacy skills. With my little guy in nursery school a few days, I can do this and it always feels amazing to see the twinkle in a child’s eyes when they have an "ah-ha" moment.

So what can we do to help our school? First, go to your school join the PTA, ask your child’s teacher or principal how you can help. Perhaps sending in extra classroom supplies, working in the lunch room, or assisting with another item would help. Of course, companies like Bing are trying to help. Bing just announced their "Our School Needs" program. Here is a video about the submission process for the program.

General info about Our School Needs:

How the Our School Needs Contest Works

We want to hear from teachers and students about what their school needs most. Look around your school and think about how it would benefit from winning $100,000.

What To Do

Students can work in groups, classes, or even school-wide to write an essay and take pictures finishing the sentence "Our School Needs: ___________." To enter:

Write an essay (500 to 800 words)

Take pictures (3 to 5 photos)

Film a video (not required, but fun! Maximum of 3 minutes in length)

Who Can Enter

Any student or teacher from a K-12 school can enter. While students under 18 are encouraged to create the entry, a parent, legal guardian or a teacher must submit it.

What Could Our School Win?

Bing will award a quarter-million dollars, divided among four schools—$50,000 to three first-prize winners, and one $100,000 grand prize.

Categories

Schools will be broken out into 3 categories, K-6, 7-9 and 10-12. The top-voted entry in each category will be awarded a first prize of $50,000. The entry that receives the largest number of overall votes during the voting phase will receive the grand prize of $100,000.

To read more information about the Bing My School Needs contest, please go to their web site. I know that I will be forwarding this to my son’s school in hopes that we can apply and ease some of the yearly fears about keeping our school open and programs within it. Don’t forget, the last day to enter is Friday, October 22!

Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Bing and received a DonorsChoose.org giving code and a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.