Keeping our Kids Out of the Winter Time Blues

Days are short and dark.  Our little kids feel as if their afternoon nap robs them from daylight playtime.  Preschool through sixth graders sometimes have indoor recess on sunny days.  The temperature needs to be high enough to eliminate the risk of frostbite.

I do not have all of the answers, but I am trying to make this January-February time full of wonder and fun. Exercise and food can make a big difference.  Our children lose focus in school when these two areas are lacking. 

Exercise:

• bike: make the garage a fun place to peddle.  
• keep taking walks in the snow. Getting outside in the winter is important.
• go to a local gym and just run.
• go to a kid exercise class.

Healthy Food Time: Many kids do not want to eat carrots, nuts, and other healthy food during lunch time.  I am trying to identify some creative times during the day to introduce foods with essential vitamins.

Snack time:  put out little bowls of food to snack on. Sometimes in different locations.

• carrots
• nuts
• fruit

Nap time: Kids are bored during this quiet time.  Hopefully they will snack on the following items to wind down.

• supply a little bowl.
• nuts
• soy nuts
• peanuts
• carrots
• broccoli
• red bell peppers
• onions
• corn
• eggplant
• Fruit
• prunes
• raisins
• blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, rasberries, and cranberries
• plums
• oranges
• red grapes
• cherries
• kiwi
• cup of milk or soy milk
• vitamin D-
• site 1

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Martin's Big Words
Doreen Rappaport
Illustrated by Bryan Collier

Martin Luther King Jr.

Sites, Photos, Lessons, Books and Video.

Sites:

National Geographic

"I Have a Dream"-Youtube video of Martin Luther King Jr.

Lessons: Literacy:

•   Friendship Sight Word Game 
•   Kid Books 
•   Art: 

Math and Literacy: Common Core Lessons Free Materials:

•   Material 1: 
•   Visual Timeline: 

Books: "Martin's Big Words." "If a Bus Could Talk" "A Picture Book of Martin Luther King, Jr."

Kid Schedules

When my son was 3 years old he really wanted to know what our routine/schedule was at home.  I used PowerPoint slides to show him a daily schedule using pictures.  He loved pushing the "enter" key when he completed a morning job.  It gave him some control.  He was too young to realize that mommy organized the "cool" slideshow.  Currently my son is asking when does school, karate, or a friend's birthday begin.  We are in need of a weekly chart that still contains pictures.  Going to school several days a week makes it hard for him to anticipate the routine.

Below is just an example.  Normally I use my son's pictures to make the chart more personable.  

Classroom Jobs

Classroom jobs allow student to have ownership, pride, and responsibility.  The mailbox, flag salute, and whiteboards are great jobs!  I like to create some unique jobs for the classroom.  Below are some ideas.

Classroom Activity Directors:  The students help organize class parties and decorations.

Banker:  Bankers help with classroom "bucks" earned for our class store.

Calendar:  Student (s) helps keep our classroom calendar up to date.  (assemblies, holidays, etc.)

Mail: Student (s) deliver corrected papers and notices to classroom mailboxes.

Librarian:  Student (s) take books from our "return bucket"  and re- shelve the books.

Game Closet:  Student (s) help organize classroom games.

Computer Manager/Tech:  Students (s) turn computers "off" at the end of the day.  They also help students with computer needs.

Consultant:  Student (s) helps other students with classroom questions or skill work.

There are so many more jobs that can be created.  There is an application that students use to apply for a job.  (Found at TPT Store).  The application can be done each semester or annually.