Story by Brenna Phillips

Illustrations by Kristie Chamlee

Take a look at this drawing showing Noah choosing to follow God’s way:

I heard something yesterday about one of the characters from one of my co-workers at school that intrigued me to do further research. My co-worker is an elementary education major in college and said her class watched a video saying Cookie Monster is now Veggie Monster. What?? No more Cookie Monster??

In my research I discovered that statement is false! Click here for proof that Cookie Monster is still Cookie Monster. He has not changed his name to Veggie Monster, Fruit Monster, Broccoli Monster, or any other healthier choice food. Click here for the article denying Cookie Monster’s name change.

Thank goodness one of my favorite childhood characters has kept his identity. The Sesame Street website description of Cookie Monster states that he likes “eating crunchy fruits, vegetables, and, of course, cookies!” He knows how to eat healthy foods. He eats healthy foods. He teaches the importance of eating healthy foods. He even models eating healthy foods. That’s how to do it. It is ok to eat cookies (and desserts) but eat those favorites in moderation after eating healthy foods.

Thank you, Sesame Street, for teaching young children about healthy eating while maintaining a sense of fun.

Most recently I read an article about an educator who credits much of her success to her grandfather’s advice while learning to waterski:  ”He told her she would never have a good ride unless she went outside of the wake.” Read that article by clicking here.

I am reminded once again that we must get out of the boat. We must get our feet wet. We must try. Even if we sink toward the bottom a few times in our efforts to succeed, may God pull us back up and help us to try again.

For students to succeed in the ‘real’ world, they must learn through cross curriculum by combining one subject with another subject with another subject, all working together using practical methods to engage students.

Check out this article on how my college is waking up to the learning patterns of today’s students. Click here for the article. Way to go, Mocs!

She said when the preacher said “let us pray” at a wedding, her little boy bowed his head.

That’s what it is all about. We teach them at young ages. We model what to do. Then they demonstrate on their own what they have learned.

Make the transition moving up easier with this book: Savannah Goes to Children’s Worship. Click on the title or see the book link to the right of this post to place your order for the book.

Click on this video to join in the song Every Move I Make.

Every Move I Make

Click on the link for the following video:

A Homeschool Family

I teach at an early childhood learning center that offers summer camp for school-agers. I often ask those students if they have been working on their summer reading assignments. While some of them will say yes, most of the answers are no. Reading is not one of their fun activities of the summer. They would much rather be running through the sprinkler or climbing on the playground.

At one summer camp where I worked, we had three 15-minute silent reading periods set aside in our daily schedule for the students to read. They could either read books provided by the school or they could bring their own books, preferably books on their summer reading lists. These reading times started off well at the beginning of summer camp but slowly lost their appeal as summer went on.

As an early childhood teacher of 3-4 year olds, I set aside reading times each day for the students. At this young age, obviously, there isn’t much reading going on, but they are encouraged to choose books from the bookshelf and look at the pictures. This time serves as down time between high energy activities as well as time to introduce books related to the theme of the week.

I sit down with the students and either read the books to them or have them tell me what they think is happening in the stories from the pictures. This activity encourages respect for books, a love for reading, and opens their imaginations to adventures occurring in the stories. It is important to switch books out and replace books on the bookshelves every week or every two weeks to prevent boredom.

Click on this link for a study completed on students and summer reading. Interesting!