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Literacy lunch box ideas for kids

Susan Cumberland August 22, 2014

Coming up with new ideas for school lunches can be a challenge. There are fun ways to encourage young children who are learning to read and write to practice literacy skills even during lunchtime. One way you can help your kids get familiar with their letters and sounds is to create lunches based on a letter of the week. Here are some fun literacy lunch box ideas for you to try.

Brainstorm lunch box ideas together

If kids are involved in planning their school lunches then they will be more likely to eat their lunch. If you are doing a letter of the week theme then have your kids help you come up with the ideas for the lunches at the beginning of each week. Ask them to choose some fruits and veggies that begin with the letter of the week as well as some special crackers and snacks. Making sandwiches in the shape of an animal that begins with the letter of the week can be fun too! Kids can even help put their school lunch together the night before so they get extra literacy practice and will be anticipating the yumminess that they get to enjoy the next day at school.

Use letter shaped cookie cutters to spell words

Cookie cutters can be used for more than just cookies. You can use letter shaped cookie cutters to cut out all sorts of lunch friendly foods. You can spell out your child’s name with cheese or cut a sandwich into letters that spell a word. If you are following the letter of the week theme you can spell a different word in your child’s lunch box that begins with the letter of the week. Apple slices can be cut with cookie cutters and so can slices of lunch meat. Have fun creating literacy filled lunches.

Choose foods that begin with the same letter

Pack a creative lunch where every item in the lunch box begins with the same letter of the alphabet. Have your child write a list of all of the items that they can figure out. When they get home they can check their list and see if they were able to name all of the items that begin with the letter of the week. For the letter “M” you could pack moon shaped apple slices, a meat sandwich with mayonnaise, mustard and mozzarella, mango and melon fruit cup and a mint for dessert. These are lunch box ideas that keep your kids excited about lunchtime wondering what they will find every day.

Include instructions in your kids’ lunch boxes

Send your child a list of instructions for how to make something from the items in their lunch box. This will challenge them to read the instructions and follow them in order to come up with the final result that they can then devour. You could list the steps to building a sandwich (and pack the ingredients separately in little bags or containers). You could also provide the separate components for a yogurt parfait with fruit and granola. Your child can then follow the instructions of how to layer the different ingredients to make their delicious treat. Kids like to make their own food and this will allow them to do that- plus it will save you time when making their lunch because you don’t have to put all of the items together for them.

These are just a few literacy themed lunch box ideas to get you started. Get creative with your kids lunches and encourage them to try new healthy foods. If you have fun making your child’s lunch then chances are they will have fun eating it!

3 back to school tips for parents and kids

Susan Cumberland August 15, 2014

Summer is coming to an end and fall is just around the corner. This means that school is almost back in session! Here are some helpful back to school tips to help your family prepare for the new school year.

1. Back to school tips to help you get organized

Use the new school year as an opportunity to organize your kids’ closets. Your kids can help with this task by going through their closet and finding the clothes that don’t fit them anymore. You could even turn this into a game and say for every five pieces of old clothing that you clean out of the closet you can replace it with a new outfit. All of the old clothes can be placed in a bag and donated to a local charity. Making room for new clothes by getting rid of old clothes should be a fun motivation for kids to jump on this first back to school tip!

2. Practice a school day at home

For kids starting kindergarten school is still an unknown to them. A fun way to help young children get ready for starting school is to play “school” at home. This can range from practicing to pack up backpacks to doing pretend school work at the kitchen table. Kids are excited to start something new, but they may need some help to know what to do once they arrive at their new classroom. Another important tip for kids is to practice following instructions without talking back. Teachers will expect kids to be able to follow classroom instruction without having twenty kids all talking back or asking questions at the same time. You can explain this to your kindergartener and say “when your teachers tells the class to sit at their tables and get out a pencil, you should follow the directions without talking.” Then you can practice this at home! This is also a nice way to get your kids to do their chores without talking back!

3. Get back into a normal schedule

Some kids stay on a pretty regular bedtime and rising schedule during the summer. Other families have later summer nights and enjoy sleeping in all during their vacation. If your family has gotten onto a summertime schedule then it’s a good idea to start adjusting your kids’ schedules at least one week before school starts. If you don’t get back on a regular schedule ahead of time then your kids will probably have a pretty rough first week back at school! You don’t want your kids falling asleep on their desks during silent reading time!

Going back to school can be a fun and exciting time, but it can also be a source of anxiety. Make sure you help your kids relax and prepare for the new year in a way that promotes positivity. Here are some more helpful back to school tips for reducing anxiety.

Learning spelling and grammar in the age of “spell-check”

Susan Cumberland August 8, 2014

Are students still learning spelling and grammar in schools? Or are they being taught to rely on automated spell checking tools? In an age that uses so much technology there is still the need to have a basic knowledge of the English language. If students aren’t learning spelling and grammar basics in school then no amount of technology can compensate for these skills. There is also a need to be educated in computer literacy as well.

Why is learning spelling and grammar important?

Some people think that even if students are not learning spelling and grammar in schools they will be okay because they can use computers and technology to correct their mistakes. This is not necessarily true. What happens when a student is in a situation where a computer is not available to them.

Spell check can’t solve all grammar problems

If a student is using a word processor with spell check they might think it will solve their problems. Spell check programs do work well if you spell a word slightly incorrectly or if you accidentally slip on the keyboard. If a student has absolutely no idea how to spell a word then spell check might not be able to offer the correct spelling. If the student is given a list of possible choices they may not be able to choose the correct word. This is a problem. Similarly if students rely on electronic programs to automatically place punctuation or correct sentence structure for them, this will not always work. There needs to be some basic foundation first, and then these grammar tools can be very helpful.

How can technology be used to support literacy education?

Technology is by no means a bad thing, nor is it responsible for students learning poor grammar. If technology is used properly it can actually be a huge asset to teaching literacy skills. There are electronic readers that are able to provide students with word definitions or audio help for how to pronounce a word. Some e readers are also connected to the internet. This makes it possible for students to further explore certain sections of the text if they want to dive deeper into the background or meaning of what they are reading. This just shows that if used properly technology can be a real asset to literacy education. We should also be aware that technology does not replace basic spelling and grammar education.

The need to be educated in computer literacy

With the advancements in technology there is a need to educate students on how to use computers. Computers don’t take away the need to learn spelling and grammar, but in addition students should be trained in computer literacy as well. In order to reap the benefits of technology, students and teachers need to know how to use it. Learning the basics of how to operate a computer, word processing programs and the internet are all useful skills that should be taught in schools. Parents can also introduce their children to these computer literacy skills at home. Some children know their way around a laptop or handheld device before they hit preschool, but others don’t have access to technology devices. This means that schools also need to provide computer literacy lessons for all students.

We live in a world that uses technology for almost everything. Students should also learn how to use technology and receive the many benefits from it. We also need to remember that technology doesn’t replace basic literacy skills like spelling and grammar. These literacy skills still need to be taught in schools. With both the basic skills combined with technology our students will be able to advance beyond past generations.

Prepare for the new school year with a Vancouver tutor

Susan Cumberland July 18, 2014

Getting a Vancouver tutor this summer is a good idea for students who want to be ready for next fall. Especially because of the teachers’ strike in the Vancouver school district students may have fallen behind. By working one on one with a tutor in Vancouver or other Lower Mainland cities students can make up any missed lessons and even get ahead for the next school year.

How to find a Vancouver tutor

It’s actually easier than you think to find a personal tutor in Vancouver. There are certified teachers who will come to your home to tutor students in one or multiple subjects. Visit our tutoring services page to find a tutor in your area who is a good match for your child. We have tutors in Vancouver Island, Okanagan, Comox Valley and Fraser Valley as well as other nearby cities.

Reasons to hire a Vancouver tutor this summer

When you meet with a local Vancouver tutor they will be familiar with the BC curriculum. If your child fell behind during the past school year the summer time is a great opportunity for your child to catch up. Tutors are trained to determine what academic areas a student needs help in. You can meet with a tutor and discuss what would be good for your child. You can also establish a schedule of how often your child will need tutoring sessions.

Express your hopes and concerns with your child’s tutor

You should feel free to discuss what areas you feel your child needs extra help with. You can also let your child’s tutor know what you hope the outcome of regular tutoring sessions will be. A professional tutor is highly trained in monitoring student progress and will be happy to share regular evaluations with you. It is actually very important that the parents are part of the tutoring process. Don’t be shy when it comes to communicating with your tutor and with your child about what they are learning.

Private tutors help students avoid the summer slide

A common concern parents may have for their children is the summer slide. This occurs when students are out of the classroom and get out of the habit of reading, writing, critical thinking and learning in general. Some studies have shown that students are actually further behind when they start school in the fall than they were at the end of the previous school year. Having a tutor will not only help prevent students from experiencing the summer slide, but it will help them get ahead in their studies.

Students who spend time with a tutor over the summer will receive a number of benefits. They will get caught up in difficult subjects, maintain a habit of learning, avoid the summer slide and most importantly they will be prepared to start the new school year. If your child needs a tutor we can help get you started today.

Brain stimulating outdoor activities for kids

Susan Cumberland July 11, 2014

Are brain stimulating outdoor activities for kids going out of style? Playing outdoors seems to be less popular among today’s students compared to previous generations. Students may be saying inside more because they spend more time watching television or playing games on computers and tablets. Here are some outdoor activities for kids that will get students to spend some time outside.

Outdoor activities for kids using a map of the neighbourhood

Today’s society relies heavily on GPS devices and smart phones to direct us to where we are going. Some students may never have used a paper map before. There are a lot of activities that can be done using maps. So first and foremost students can create a map of their neighbourhood. They can go on a walk around their area and stop along the way to fill in the different streets and landmarks such as parks or stores.

Kids can learn how to use a compass

After the students have created a map of their neighbourhood they can learn to use a compass. If the student doesn’t have a compass they can follow these instructions to make their own compass by using a magnet, a needle, a piece of cork and a container filled with water. Once the compass is oriented, students can mark the proper directions on their neighbourhood map. The compass can be used for the following fun outdoor activities for kids as well.

Kids will love doing scavenger hunts around the neighbourhood

A parent or older sibling can help prepare the clues for a scavenger hunt. The students can then follow the clues and use their compass and neighbourhood map to complete the scavenger hunt. This activity could include more kids from the neighbourhood as well. If the students are up for an even bigger challenge they can make up their own scavenger hunt for someone else to complete.

Geocaching: the ultimate treasure hunt

Geocaching is a fantastic outdoor activity for students who are really interested in real live treasure hunts. Geocaching actually combines technology and the outdoors. A GPS device must be used to locate a specific set of coordinates where some sort of treasure is hidden. There are people who participate in hiding and searching for geocaches all over the world. Younger students should be accompanied by an adult when geocaching in unfamiliar or heavily wooded areas to ensure the student’s safety. You can search for geocaches near you on this website.

Encouraging students to do more outdoor activities is good for their bodies and their brains. Research shows that people who do physical activities learn better. Doing these outdoor activities for kids can be fun and they will get students out of the house. Perhaps they will even develop an interest in Geography!

Inspirational Educators on Film

Susan Cumberland June 27, 2014

Countless books and films have been created to honor the dedication of some outstanding educators throughout history. Most of these educators experienced some amount of ridicule and disbelief as they attempted to teach seemingly impossible students do seemingly impossible things.

What are the common qualities of inspirational educators?

Inspirational educators first and foremost have to care about their students. Jamie Escalante is a perfect example of a teacher who went above and beyond his required duty as a high school teacher. Teachers, tutors and parents must truly care about students and have a genuine desire for them to succeed. Another common characteristic of these educators is the amount of time that they are willing to spend working with students. It is the patience and dedication of these adults that have made such life changing impacts on so many students.

A High School math teacher with perseverance

Jamie Escalante a high school teacher in Los Angeles in early 1980s was able to motivate his students to excel in AP Mathematics. Most of the students in his class were not interested in passing the class, let alone doing well on the AP test. He labored outside of regular school hours to prepare them for the AP test. This proved to his students that he wasn’t there to do the bare minimum, but he actually cared about his students and their futures. His story was so inspiring that the movie, Stand and Deliver was made about his class at Garfield High.

An inspirational educator who defied the odds

The movie The Miracle Worker portrays an outstanding personal tutor named Anne Sullivan who was able to help a blind, deaf and mute girl named Helen Keller to speak. Anne Sullivan helped Helen Keller to defy all the obstacles stacked up against her and become a forerunner for women and people with disabilities who desired to pursue education.