The Amelia Piano Trio @ Orem Library-- TODAY!

Just a reminder about the wonderful opportunity at the Orem Library today!

The Amelia Piano Trio ( http://www.ameliapianotrio.com/live/) will be offering a youth outreach program called "The Hair Affair" at the Orem Public Library on Friday, March 26, at 1:30 p.m.

"The Hair Affair" is an all-ages program depicting the lives of famous composers through cartoons and musical examples. by using hair styles of composers throughout history (who have notoriously bad taste in hair-dos) the Amelia Trio trace the stories of these composers and their historical importance."

They will also be performing at the Library on Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. They will be performing Debussy: Trio in G major, Bernstein: Trio and Chopin: Trio in G minor, Op. 8..

Summer camps

As a family, we travel a lot throughout the year. One thing I like to do is find out if there are any day camps in the town we are visiting. Its been fun in years past for the kids to experience a day camp in a new place. Not only do they learn what's being taught, but it helps their social skills for getting to know new people.

If you will be traveling this summer, here's some day camp tips:

• use the internet to find a local rec center in the town you are going to
• check with the local zoo, science center, or history museum
• call the local YMCA
• check with area churches--even if its not your religion, lots of church offer day camps which can be a wonderful way for your child to experience another religion in a non-threatening way.
• art and craft shops--many stores have mini classes or seminars

Have a happy "day camp" summer!

LEGO

Now through July 2010, LEGO Education is searching for 10,000 new contestants for its 2010 LEGO Smart Creativity Contest, challenging classrooms across the United States to become LEGO Smart If you are a teacher, home educator, after-school program director, or otherwise working with students within the education field, you are eligible to compete in this year’s contest. Previous year’s contestants are also eligible and must use their current kit for the contest challenge, due to launch August 2, 2010! http://www.legoeducation.us/about/item.aspx?art=3465&bhcp=1

Free Science Class

Who doesn't love FREE CLASSES?

Central Utah Gardens in Orem is offering free Kid Science Classes.

Ages 5 and up.

Youth Fishing Class

Youth Fishing classes are held at Highland Glen Pond (by Lone Peak High School), on Tuesday and Thursday, May 4-20, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Registration begins April 1st.

http://www.highlandcity.org/images/applications/2010fishingclass.pdf

Homeschool Radio Show

We found this site awhile ago and LOVE IT!!! You will recieve a free radio show download for kids/families every week!  Even my prek kids LOVE to listen to some of them.  We purchased a membership so we can access the whole last year of shows-- but you can just recieve one every week for free if you would like! :)  This is what they have this week..

Well, here we are with this week's classic

"Living Book for the Ears" program for you!

"The Tin Whistle"

starring Ronald Reagan

This week, by popular demand, we bring back one of

our all-time favorite programs, and the favorite

of a lot of long-time listeners. THE TIN WHISTLE

is the haunting story of a spoiled little boy and

his new tin whistle, and how it impacts the lives

of those around him. A MUST listen for your children,

with the added bonus of the then-future-President of

the United States, Ronald Reagan, being the narrator.

An excellent program you will long remember!

http://www.homeschoolradioshows.com

Writers Workshop- Recognizing Voice

On Hand: One personal story written two ways: without voice and with voice. Write the passages on chart paper or project the stories on a screen for easy viewing.

Mini-Lesson: Tell students that you have written the same story in two ways. Read the first narrative, which might be similar to this:
 

There was mold growing in a container in my refrigerator. It was gross. The food was spoiled, so I threw it out.

Now share the second:

I knew it was in there, somewhere. I had purchased a carton of my favorite banana vanilla yogurt, and if I wasn't mistaken, I still had some left. Yes! I thought as I spotted it in the back. I opened the lid, eager to dive in, and spotted one of my worst enemies: refrigerator mold. Not only was it quicker at gobbling up my favorite foods than I was, but it clung to the sides of each container, refusing to be washed down the sink without a fight. I prepared myself for battle-and to gag.

            Ask, "Which of these two passages has more voice?" Even the youngest of students will be able to identify the second. We may not be able to easily define voice, but we all recognize it when we see it.
            Now ask, "How did I present more voice in the second passage?" Students will offer a variety of observations, which may include:

·         You used more details (The details an author chooses show his or her particular view of the world, and thus reveals voice.)
·         The use of "Yes!" (This conveys enthusiasm and energy, both qualities of voice.)
·         You said, "spotted one of my worst enemies." (We experience voice when the author presents an idea uniquely.)
·         You used more lively verbs: purchased, spotted, dive, gobbling, clung, gag.
·         The first one sounded like this: blah, blah, blah . . . The second one was more ooh! ooh! ooh!

Extension: Take a passage (perhaps one from a favorite book) that has lots of voice and, with the students, reduce it to a few lines without voice.
 
  Adapted fromNo More "I'm Done!" Fostering Independent Writers in the Primary Grades  by Jennifer Richard Jacobson


Writing Tip

One of the very best ways to prompt your students to revise is to model the revision of your own work. Do not, however, keep showing them clean drafts. You want to show them pages of works that demonstrate your thinking: crossed-out words and sentences, arrows, carets, notes in the margins. The more regularly you show them your messy drafts, the more apt they will be to revise all on their own.