MILE HIGH MAMAS REVIEWS MAGIC LANTERN

“MY FIRST BOOK KITS”

Mile High Mamas was created as an entertaining community resource for area moms. The site includes regular posts by some of Colorado’s most popular Mommy Bloggers, a message board, monthly cutest kid contest , and a Mama Drama advice column. We also hold regular giveaways and product reviews.

Laurie Cooper has given Magic Lantern a great review on the “My First Book Kits – Shapes and Colors”.  To see what she has to say go to…

http://www.milehighmamas.com/2009/11/11/magic-lantern-lighting-the-path-to-literacy/

Family World Fun is a Blog for families to find Fun Ideas, Crafts, Recipes, Vacation spots, Family Traditions and lots more.

Recently, Family World Fun reviewed Magic Lantern’s Kidz Story Kit.  My favorite part of the review was Caroline’s comment, “I can’t wait to do this with my son. Since the holidays are coming up and he is out of school (Thanksgiving Vacation, Christmas Vacation). This is a great project to do with him and of course the bonding between him and I will probably be just out of this world.”

Take a look at the product review and all that Family World Fun has to offer. There’s also a special give away for the Kidz Story Kit so be sure to enter to WIN!!!

http://familyworldfun1.blogspot.com/

I must admit that I am a procrastinator.  I have great intentions to organize my laundry room and file all of my pictures neatly into picture albums and boxes.  But, honestly many times these projects do not get finished or sometimes even started.  I love reading articles on organization, and as soon as the Container Store opened up in our area, I was one of the first ones there.   I have grand ideas of what my laundry room will one day look like, but I haven’t even made the first steps in starting the project.  My perfectionist tendencies tend to shine through, and sometimes, if I can’t achieve perfection, I don’t even attempt the task.

How does this relate to writing and helping young writers you may ask?  Well… I have been thinking.  When my daughters embark on a creative journey of drawing masterpieces or gluing magnificent leaves onto their collages, I want them to enjoy the experience from start to finish.  I don’t want them to get caught up on the need for perfection and not even attempt to try.  Writing and drawing are creative processes that require motivation, encouragement, and risk.

I want to ensure that I am providing a safe, fun, and creative environment for my children.  I am determined to set aside my need for perfection and allow them to express their creativity and enjoy the creative process.  So, I am going to shut down my computer, go grab a pile of paper and crayons, and make fall books outside.  How can you start writing with your child today?  Like the famous Nike logo states, “Just Do It!”

Fall is here and so are school conferences.  It’s that time of year where parents across the country meet with their child’s teachers and discuss setting goals, meeting standards, and celebrating achievements.  From preschool drawings to research projects, your child has been working on learning ways to communicate through writing.

As a former teacher, I was amazed at the progress my students demonstrated during the course of one year.  I always kept a portfolio for each child and shared writing examples at conference time.  So, this year when I attended my first preschool parent-teacher conference for my little girl, I was extremely excited to see her work.  My eyes lit up when I saw that little “cinnamon roll” person.  She drew one circle with four little sticks pointing out and used dots for eyes.  She is at the beginning stages of writing.  She is learning to draw representations of her world.  Over time, she will add more details and begin to write words, which will lead to stories.

There is no way that I can keep every drawing or project that she brings home; however, I can keep those pieces that move me.  I intend to keep a “Writing Portfolio” for her at home, so I can see snapshots of her writing development.  Learning to write is a journey that continues for a lifetime.  There is no doubt that writing needs to be assessed and grades need to be given, but I encourage you to remember where your little one started and where they are now.  There is no doubt that they have come a long way!

** To create a beautiful keepsake “Writing Portfolio”, see Magic Lantern’s Custom Publishing option: http://www.mymagiclantern.com/category-s/28.htm

Do you know how you are going to participate in the first-ever National Day on Writing?  If not, here are some fun, engaging activities for you and your family.  Start by spreading the word!  Many people may not be aware of this day dedicated to the art of writing.   Here are several fun ideas:

• Have a family writing contest – Pick a theme or genre and have each family member write a piece and share their work.  You can give awards for the funniest, scariest, or most creative piece.
• Have a writing marathon – At the beginning of the day, give everyone blank paper and see who can write the most by the end of the day.
• Give each person a family picture- Write a story or poem about the picture, then put it together in a book.
• Keep track of writing tasks during the day – Challenge each person to record all of the times that they write throughout the day.  Whether you are composing emails or signing checks, it all counts as a writing tasks.  Together share what you did.  You will be amazed at how much you write in one day!

These are just a few ideas to get you started.  Have fun!

If you would like to find out more about what others are doing for the National Day on Writing check out The National Writing Project.

Now that the school year is in full swing, I am sure that your child is bringing homework projects home. Whether your child is in preschool or high school, you will be working on projects together or just supervising. Here are several tips on helping your child complete homework assignments.
• Read the directions thoroughly. If you or your child has a question, ask the teacher as soon as possible. Know the different ways you can contact your child’s teacher.
• Provide support for your child. Encourage your high school student to share what they are working on at dinner, or sit down next to your second grader and watch him answer a question or write a sentence.
• Recognize when your child is frustrated or distracted. Determine whether the assignment is intended to be completed independently or collaboratively. Help when needed.
• Ask Your Child Questions. Generally speaking, homework is a reflection of what kids are learning in school. Let her know you are interested in what she is learning.
• Proofread written work together. If you are working on a writing assignment with your child, determine the purpose and audience of the assignment and make the appropriate changes together. Remember, learning to write is a process, and there are many developmental stages. Learn what the teacher’s expectations are for your child’s writing ability.

Lastly, homework is part of the educational experience. It is important to schedule time into your daily routine for homework, and most importantly have fun. Homework time is a great chance to learn more about what your child is doing at school and who your child is as a learner.