Friday, July 29, 2016

ODD SQUAD: The Movie

Both my kids are crazy about ODD SQUAD. (I have to admit a certain fondness for Agent Otto, myself.) So they were a little sad at first when Agents Olive and Otto were replaced by Agents Otis and Olympia, but they love the new characters, too.

Anyway, when they heard that there was a full-length movie coming out on Monday, August 1st, on PBS KIDS they were totally psyched. Whenever they happened to catch a promo of the movie while watching the show, they'd come running to remind me that we HAD to be home on the 1st so they could watch the movie. Their excitement doubled when they discovered that Otto and Olive would be on the show, too.

So when I had a chance to preview the show for PBS KIDS, I said, "YES!" The preview DVD and agent "gear" arrived a few days ago and my kids went nuts, racing to the TV to watch it.

The ODD SQUAD: The Movie does not disappoint. 

The creators went all out on this one with both actors and visual effects. In this episode, a rival group of adults that calls itself Weird Team arrives with a gadget that fixes any odd problem. As a result, Odd Squad is run out of business and all the agents are forced to disband and go back to their lives as regular kids. Using math skills and teamwork, the kids discover Weird Team isn’t actually solving problems, but just covering them up. The Season 2 cast teams up with the Season 1 cast to stop Weird Team and save the world from destruction by "Daves" (you'll have to watch the show to find out what this means!).

I could see now why Olive, Otto, and Oscar were replaced and why there will probably be new team members each season: they're growing up!! Otto and Oscar towered over all of the other agents. :) So to stay true to Odd Squad, new kid agents will be required.

My kids enjoyed this so much that every morning when I wake up, they're watching it, laughing. I said, "What's the deal? How many times are you going to watch this movie?" My son's response was, "We're going to watch it every day until it airs."


Ok. It's summer. I'll give them a pass.


Disclosure: I'm a PBS KIDS Ambassador which grants me access to upcoming shows, events, and more to share with my readers. All thoughts and opinions are strictly my own!

Thursday, July 28, 2016

ADE DIY Guides & Grants for K-12 Educators


The best teachers in this country, take important concepts and make them relevant to real life. They think outside the box and create learning situations that engage and motivate their students. Those special teachers who truly care about their students and who go above and beyond deserve to be recognized for their passion, commitment, and ingenuity.

The Allen Distinguished Educators (ADE) award program recognizes and rewards teachers who “break the mold” of traditional schooling to provide students with opportunities to become thinkers, makers, and creators through computer science, engineering, and entrepreneurship.

In addition, ADE is enabling a growing subset of teachers who want to employ 21st-century learning strategies with their students through open-educator resources. It recently launched 11 new DIY Guides & Grants for K-12 educators to adapt and implement ADE-designed projects in their classrooms, as well as 14 new Roadmaps for building and growing innovative education programs. These new resources were developed by the 2016 class of ADEs.

These Guides are diverse. For example, in Coding Cultural Understanding, students create a game that tells the story of a hunter or gatherer from an indigenous culture of their own choice. Or in 53 Miles per Burrito,  students must answer the question: “Can I ride 53 miles on a bike from the energy of a single burrito?” They must define their variables, collect their data, analyze their data, and present their results. By the end of the data collection, students should have all the information they need to design a burrito that would provide them with the exact caloric content necessary to ride 53 miles. Other guides include creating arcade games and designing a hermit crab habitat.

While many of the current guides were implemented in high schools, all of the guides can be modified for younger grades.

ADE wants to help you implement these programs in your classrooms, too, and so each of these guides also has a grant associated with it. The purpose of the DIY Grants (up to $1000) is to help us enhance the replicability of the DIY Guides, as well as their adaptability to a range of school types, locations, and grade levels. They are looking for teachers who work in school environments different from those of the ADEs who created them. The current application period opened on July 20th and you can apply between now and September 5th.  

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Read Around the World: Golden Tales


Once again, I'm happy to be participating in Multicultural Kid Blogs' annual Read Around the World series. If you haven't been following it, then you are missing out on a wonderful opportunity to discover children's books that reflect the beautiful cultures found around the world. It's easy to travel to foreign lands without ever leaving your house when you have a book in your hand. These stories make excellent read alouds and are fascinating for the entire family. My book recommendation is Golden Tales: Myths, Legends, and Folktales from Latin America.

This post may contain affiliate links.

A Picture Book of Latin American Folklore



As usual, I always have a hard time narrowing it down to just one book. Technically, I think I'm supposed to focus on a book from one particular country, but I'm cheating a little this time and sharing a marvelous title that I use in my own homeschool world studies lessons.

Golden Tales: Myths, Legends, and Folktales from Latin America is not a new title, but it has lasting value. I love the variety of stories inside this book and how it reflects the beliefs of so many cultures. You'll read about how the Tainos thought the sea was born, and about the Colombian legend of El Dorado. Beautiful illustrations are interspersed throughout the book, as well as brief commentaries by the author at the end of each story.

So if you are raising a young global citizen or are simply looking for materials to help you with your world studies class, consider this remarkable book by Latina author and illustrator, Lulu Delacre.

Use this Book When Studying These Topics


Educators and parents: this is a great book to pair with studies on the following topics:
  • Latin America
  • Puerto Rico
  • Dominican Republic
  • Cuba
  • Mexico
  • Colombia
  • Bolivia
  • Inca
  • Zapotecs
  • Tainos
  • Legends, myths, folktales
  • World studies
Take a peek at the Table of Contents: 


How to Use This Book


Of course you can always just read the book as you do any other children's book. But if you are looking to use it in your classroom or home studies, here are a few other ideas:

  • Make this part of your morning basket routine and begin your day by reading one of the stories each morning. 
  • Discuss the legend or myth with your children, with questions such as, "Does this story remind you of another one you may have heard?" or "What did you think about the story?" or "What part did you like best and why?"
  • Give your children a storyboard and have them fill it out based on the story of the day
  • Visit Reading Is Fundamental which has this wonderful Educator's Guide with resources related to the book, including an interview with Lulu Delacre, the author and illustrator.

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Monday, July 25, 2016

Keep the Summer Learning Going wtih PBS KIDS

Wow! We're almost to August 1st and that means summer break is quickly disappearing. Have you been keeping up with your kids' summer learning opportunities? Don't worry. That doesn't mean spending hours each day sitting at the table doing worksheets. Remember, learning is supposed to be fun and easy!

You can create unique learning opportunities for your children using simple supplies that you either:

  • probably already have at home, or 
  • can download and print, or
  • buy at your local store.

For example, chalk is incredibly versatile! There are so many learning activities you can do with it. If your kids are spending time outside on the porch or sidewalk, give them some chalk and some directions. Younger children can practice letter identification (write random letters then ask them to circle all the letter "a's" that they see) or beginning letter sounds ("Draw me something that begins with the letter B."), while older children can practice their storytelling skills by drawing wordless stories or playing sidewalk Boggle.  

Click on the image below to download the idea chart.

Things to draw with chalk


Activity kits like the Crystal Mining Kids Lab shown in the top image are also super popular and very educational. You can find similar ones at your local Target, Walmart, or craft store. They're designed to keep your kids busy learning and out from behind a screen.

And of course, there's nothing better than reading books. From activity and craft books to chapter books and novels, your kids will be boosting not only their vocabulary, but their reading and spelling skills, too. 

PBS KIDS has some awesome summer-themed downloads for your family. If your kids watch PBS KIDS shows, they'll be crazy about this year's designs with the Kratt brothers on their reading log and inside their summer adventure booklet. The latter has lots of fun activities such as writing your own creature adventure or making leaf and bark rubbings.

Their summer learning site on PBS Parents also has a daily tip calendar to give you ideas on how to engage your children throughout the summer. And if you're on social media, you can participate in their social media challenge. Just share pictures with the hashtag #MyFavoriteSummer. You can find this week's theme here

And don't forget that PBS KIDS has lots of new summer programs. In fact, the first ODD SQUAD Movie is scheduled to premiere next Monday on August 1st.

So take advantage of all the resources that are available to you and keep your kids learning this summer so that they start school strong this fall!

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Free Download: Shapes & Locations Mini-Lesson in Spanish

Are you thinking about homeschooling your preschooler or kindergartner this year? Or maybe your child's school doesn't offer Spanish classes and you'd like them to learn at home. Either way, this month's free download from MommyMaestra sponsor - Spanish for You! - is an excellent resource for youWalgreens.

This mini-lesson comes with activities to help your child learn about shapes and locations, as well as an audio file. 


Bilingual Books About Shapes! (affiliate links)

You may also enjoy these bilingual books for children:


If this is your first time here, you can find other free samples from Spanish for You! here. There are some fantastic downloads of games and activities for you and your family to enjoy. If you enjoy this activity, be sure to visit the Spanish for You! website where you'll find tons of additional resources for you to help your young Spanish learner!

Monday, July 18, 2016

New Bilingual Album: Cuando era pequeña

Hey, Friends!

Hope your summer is going well. I'm on vacation this month with friends visiting us from Bolivia, so I haven't been writing so much. We ALL need breaks from time to time, no? Are you enjoying your summer? Are you spending quality time with your kids?

Well, while you are enjoying family time, I want to be sure that you know about another awesome new bilingual album release, this time from our friend Nathalia Palis-McLaughlin. Cuando era pequeña (When I was Your Age) is fun way for children to learn concepts that they'll be learning in school and in life. With her unmistakable voice, Nathalia will enchant your children with her lively songs. I love how the lyrics weave back and forth from English to Spanish effortlessly to give children a truly bilingual experience.

You can listen to a sample of her album and purchase it on her site here. There are 10 songs on this album that teach children about everything from the dinosaurs to the Amazon. The titles are:
  • Dinosaur Dance 
  • Señor Opuesto 
  • It's My Birthday
  • Pesadillas
  • Qué llueva 
  • When I Grow Up  
  • La Iguana Pepa
  • Oh Math
  • ¿Qué me dices tu?
  • Otra Vez

Keep the bilingual learning going this summer with fun resources like this one that get your kids up, moving and singing in two languages!

Enjoy!

Monday, July 11, 2016

15 Ways to Raise Non-Racist Children



Last week was so disturbing in so many ways. I was very disheartened to see all the violence erupting across our beloved country. Racism is an ugly, ugly beast.

Like you, I don't want my children eventually becoming victims of a violent society. As I mentioned in my Facebook post, I don't know how we stop this madness among adults. But I do know that as parents, there's one really big thing we can do to stop it in the future: raise non-racist kids.

Raising children who see beyond the color of a person's skin takes a conscious effort on the parents' part. We must deliberately teach respect and cooperation. We must destroy the "Us versus Them" mentality that has slowly permeated our culture.

The reality is that there are good people in this world and there are bad people. It doesn't matter what color your skin is or what uniform you wear. There are both kinds of people EVERYWHERE.

So we must raise our kids to respect others and not judge someone based on the way they look but on their actual actions. We must assume people are good unless we see them doing otherwise. We must raise children who value life and don't take another person's life lightly, or that think their own lives are more important than others. We absolutely must train our children to communicate effectively, without belittling, cursing, or threatening others even in anger. And we must help our children to have friends of all colors, backgrounds, and nationalities so that they do not fall victims to ignorant stereotypes.

Below are 15 things you can do to raise an enlightened, unprejudiced child who doesn't judge other people by the color of their skin.


1. Don't be a Racist


Model the change you want to see in our society. Model the person you want your children to grow up to be. That means NOT making or repeating stereotypical comments to your children about people based on the color of their skin, the language they speak, the uniform they wear, or anything along those lines. Treat people as individuals not as representatives of an entire race or culture. Your children are watching you even when you don't think they are, and they are learning how to be an adult from you.


2. Vocally Oppose Racism


Even if you aren't racist, society and the media constantly bombard our children with racist images (some subtle, and some not so subtle), so it is up to us to point out why they are wrong if our children see them. Our outrage and disappointment should be visible, but in a controlled fashion. We should explain with great seriousness how these images hurt people's feelings and send the wrong message. Whenever possible, we should relate them to our own children's lives and people they know:

  • "How would you feel if people thought/said these things about you?" 
  • "How do you think [family or friend] would feel if they saw this picture? Wouldn't they feel bad about themselves or hurt that someone thinks of them this way?" 
  • "This isn't true. [Name] isn't like that at all, and would probably be hurt if s/he saw this."

Make your children think about how words and actions have power, and that those words and actions can be used to uplift or tear down.


3. Make Friends with Everyone


Take a minute to think about all the people you know and consider friends. Take a look at your Facebook feed. Is everyone one color? If so, it may be time to climb out of your box. Make an effort to make friends with people and families from different backgrounds, different cultures, different races. You'll be amazed at how enriched your life will become and the significant impact it will have on your child's perspective and treatment of others.


4. Speak Out


Time to put on your big kid underwear and walk the talk. Your child is watching you. Silence is cowardly. Be brave. If you are with your friend, and you see them (or even someone you don't know!) being harrassed, belittled, ridiculed by another person because of their color, language, or appearance, stand up and say something. Show support and solidarity. Bullies are more likely to pick on one person than they are a two or more. Show some class and fight ignorance with intelligence, strength, and dignity. Kick fear to the curb. Racist jokes suck. Don't laugh. Frown and tell it straight: "That's not a funny joke. It's cruel and ignorant."


5. Teach Respect


Everyone deserves our respect. Our kids should assume the people they meet are good people until they have proven/indicated otherwise. "Sir" and "Ma'am" should be a permanent part of your language and your child's as a sign of respect for others. You don't have to agree with everyone, but that doesn't mean it's okay to talk ugly to a person just because they have a difference of opinion.

REMEMBER: You can't control what other people do, but you sure can control your own self. Don't let other people drag you down to their level if they are vulgar or insulting. Treat them how you'd want to be treated.


Don't forget that you can download my free packet for parents and teachers, #RespectEachOther. It focuses on bullying and it isn't just for children of color. It's for all children. It not only deals with what to do if you are being bullied, but also what to do if you SEE someone who is being bullied. And it gives advice to parents who have children that are being bullied. It's available in English AND Spanish.


6. Read Diverse Books


Reading should already be a routine in your home if you have children. They should be reading every day. Make sure that starting from the time they are born, you are reading books that reflect other cultures and people. Don't only read books about white characters. Don't only read books about black characters. Don't only read books about Hispanic characters. Don't only read books about Asian characters. Don't only read books about Native American characters. Don't only read books about Jewish/Christian/Muslim characters. Read ALL of them so that you can begin to understand why other people think or behave the way they do and discover similarities. Stop your kids from thinking of people who look different as "OTHER."

Need ideas for multicultural children's book titles? Multicultural Kid Blogs is a goldmine.


7. Teach Anger Management


Having self-control is the single most important trait a parent can help their child develop. Losing your temper is what 2-year-olds do. Train your kids to respond, NOT to react. I know for a fact that a calm, kind response and even a heartfelt apology can cool another person's anger. Really, it is super hard to keep screaming at a person who is responding calmly and with sincerity. You start to realize how silly and dramatic you sound/look. Remind them that by allowing someone else to make them out-of-control angry, they are giving that other person all the power. I tell my kids all the time, "You are the one in control of your emotions, they do not control you." Here are some great techniques for teaching kids how to control their anger.

And along with this goes the ability and willingness to say "I'm sorry." Teach children that apologizing doesn't make a person weak. It makes a person wiser and kinder. It doesn't mean you agree with someone else, but it does mean you're sorry you've hurt their feelings.


8. Teach Effective Communication Skills


Another valuable skill is the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with others. Children should be able to express themselves without physical violence. They should also be able to ask the right questions to understand why another person is behaving in a specific way. 

The first step in conflict resolution is understanding the problem. Did Ana take Aurelio's toy? Why did she do that? How do we stop that from happening again? Is Helen scared of Billy? Why? Helen should be able to explain, and Billy should be able to understand so that if he is doing something wrong or if she has misinterpreted his actions, he can apologize and/or explain himself.


9. Show Them How Empathy Works


Empathy is the ability to recognize, understand and share the feelings another person has. Empathy generally has to be developed because most children are ego-centric and only think about themselves and how they feel. Sadly, if they do not learn to have empathy, they grow up into selfish adults who only think about themselves and their own feelings. Being empathic helps people see situations from multiple perspectives and makes them better problem solvers, a quality highly valued by employers.

One of the best ways to develop your child's sense of empathy is to help them learn to identify their own feelings and then apply them to other people. Asking questions such as "How do you think that made him/her feel?" or "What would have been a better thing to say?" is important for helping kids to think about others.

Here are some evidence-based tips for fostering empathy in children.


10. Kick Jealousy out the Door


Quit worrying about what everyone else has that you don't have. Instead, start helping your child to recognize all the wonderful things with which they themselves are blessed and to give thanks for them. It's a lot easier to be happy for another person's good fortune if you know that you, too, have had many instances of good health, happiness, wonderful opportunities. At dinner each night, ask your children what the best thing was that happened to them that day so that they'll learn to appreciate their own lives.

And don't forget to celebrate the successes and blessings that others experience. Model the behavior you want to see in your children. For example, when a child in their class receives an award or goes on a fantastic vacation, say things like, "Wow! That is so great that Sofia got to travel all the way to Bolivia! I'm so happy for her! She'll learn so much. I'd love to travel, too, how about you?" or "Isn't that LEGO playset that Samuel got for his birthday incredible? I'm so happy for him, he's going to have a great time building it. Maybe we can save up to buy one similar. Which sets do you like?" The key phrase here is "I'm so happy for you/him/her." Because we need to teach our kids that it's important to be happy for others.


11. Nurture a Happy Heart


And speaking of happy, children that are happy are more likely to be successful adults and are less likely to develop mental disorders. They are more optimistic, less aggressive, and less prone to depression. They're more likely to see the good in others and treat others with fairness, not suspicion. It's okay to he sad or angry on occasion, as long as our general outlook is one of happiness. Think about all the truly happy people you know. Can you imagine any one of them treating another person unjustly?

I love the advice given in these 7 secrets to raising a happy child.


12. Develop Your Child's Sense of Social Justice 


Help your child understand that he or she has the power to create change. Help them learn to identify issues and know right from wrong and not be afraid to speak up. Don't be afraid to point out social issues in our time, but be sure to discuss solutions. Because our job is to leave this world a better place.


13. Study U.S. History


And I don't mean study WHITE U.S. history. Study the contributions of ALL Americans. Yes, you should know about Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and Lincoln. But you should also know about Agrippa HullWilliam FloraJuan de Miralles Trailhon and General Bernardo de GálvezLoreta Janeta VelázquezCorporal Joseph Pierce, and thousands of others. Teach your kids that heroes come in ALL colors.


14. Learn a New Language or About Other Cultures


It's really hard to learn a new language without learning about the cultures with which they are associated. And learning a new language gets the language learner excited about practicing their new communication skills with other people. Instead of seeing people as "others" - dangerous, abnormal, not like us - they instead see people as positive opportunities with which to interact.

Here's a great way to study culture as part of your curriculum, or simply at home as character development during the summer, after school, or on the weekends.


15. Travel


Traveling has SO many benefits! It can help boost new language skills, reinforce what you've learned about another culture, give you an opportunity to learn and make friends, and help you raise a global citizen who cares about our entire planet and humanity. Teach your children how we are all the same and interconnected. You don't have to agree with everyone else's beliefs, but you should understand what those beliefs are and respect their rights to have them.

Monday, July 4, 2016

Free Download: Captain Mama's STEM Activity

Happy 4th of July!! How are you celebrating the holiday? How about with a simple activity that celebrates the women who defend our country and the freedoms with which it comes? It's perfect! I'm crazy happy to share with you today's gift to MommyMaestra readers from my friend, Latina Air Force veteran and children's book author, Graciela Tiscareño-Sato. You probably remember my sharing a review of her new book, Captain Mama's Surprise/La Sorpresa de Capitán Mamá, a few months ago.

If you've been waiting patiently for it to be released, then today is THE DAY! You can finally order it on Amazon (my affiliate link) or directly from the publisher. PSST! If you order directly from the publisher, you'll also receive an embroidered patch of the book's cover art!

Captain Mama's Surprise is the second book in her bilingual children's picture book series about women and mothers serving in our volunteer armed services. And as I mentioned in my review, this great story includes a STEM activity so students can learn basic aircraft terms and begin to think about airplanes as structural machines that are engineered.

My kids had a great time with the activity, carefully thinking about structure and balance. And I'm delighted that the author and publisher has granted me permission to share this download with you! Your kids will love this activity.


Be sure to order your copy of the book! It is so FULL of information, you'll be happy you did. 

Friday, July 1, 2016

Summer Camp @ Home July Calendar


Can you believe July is already here? If you've been using the MommyMaestra free Summer Camp @ Home program, then you'll be happy to know that the July calendar is now live!

You can find it and other summer camp resources here.

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