The Summer Solstice, which occurs on June 21st, is when the sun is at its highest path through the sky and the day is the longest. It marks the beginning of summer in the northern hemisphere and simultaneously begins winter in the southern hemisphere. Because the day is so long the Sun does not rise exactly in the east, but rises to the north of east and sets to the north of west allowing it to be in the sky for a longer period of time. In 2010, the solstice occurs and summer begins, in the Northern Hemisphere, early on June 21, at 7:28 a.m. EDT

The solstice is due to the tilt of the earth's axis, without it we would have no seasons. The earth spins around

Keep Reading at: http://www.examiner.com/x-2016-Parenting--Education-Examiner~y2010m6d20-June-21st--marks-the-beginning-of-Summer

In 1907, Anna M Jarvis, to ease her grief, proposed and then organized an annual remembrance for her mother who had passed on into loving memory. It was a special memorial service that was to honor her mother with five hundred carnations-her mother's favorite flower-made into corsages.

Miss Jarvis worked, for the next seven years, to create a national holiday honoring mothers. On May 8, 1914 Woodrow Wilson declared the second Sunday in May "Mother's Day," urging an annual "public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country."

Very quickly the day became a commercial event. Anna Jarvis spent the rest of her life fighting the commercialism of this holiday that was so dear to her heart. She wrote countless letters, articles and pamphlets arguing that the holiday had been intended to inspire thoughtful, loving gestures-"through some distinct act of kindness, visit, letter, a gift or tribute to show remembrance of the mother to whom general affection is due."

Although Mother's day ended up disappointing Anna Jarvis, she did give us a beautiful day full of reflection. Keep Reading at: http://www.examiner.com/x-2016-Parenting--Education-Examiner~y2010m5d7-Mothers-Day-Family-Fun

The last month of school provides parents with an opportunity to encourage their children to become self-motivated. It is easy during first months of school to motivate children. Everything is new, new teacher, room, school supplies, a fresh start to be brilliant! Yet, all those reasons are external.

The end of a school year is a perfect time to teach our children to be intrinsically motivated; geography or environment change will not necessarily make them motivated over time. It is a gift to help children learn how to work consistently, and get pleasure from their work, to become life long learners.
Keep Reading at: http://www.examiner.com/x-2016-Parenting--Education-Examiner~y2010m4d24-An-opportunity-to-encourage-selfmotivation

Spring weather can be a challenge for parents; it can be sunny, it can rain, or snow, all in the same week. Active children love to run and play outdoors, but when the weather conditions change from day to day and they need to limit their outdoor activities children tend to get antsy.

Although, children do need to learn that it is not the weather that makes them moody, it is their attitude toward the weather. A special plan for when the weather is tempestuous will be a colossal advantage to both parents and children. Special treats and activities that are enjoyed only on stormy days pass the hours pleasantly while your children are cooped up indoors.

Create a stormy day box which is filled with treasures and inspirations to occupy children. Special paper, glitter, paint, crayons, Popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, craft books, all the elements you already have in your household.
Keep Reading: http://www.examiner.com/x-2016-Parenting--Education-Examiner~y2010m4d16-Stormy-Day-Box-101

Most children learn the basic rules of their language at an early age through listening and practice. Learning to make sense of language requires time, development and lots of practice in everyday situations. A lot of verbal interaction not only helps children to communicate and be sociable, but understand their environment as it helps children with thinking and reading abilities.

A great majority of children develop language very efficiently, they out grow small problems like the inability to pronounce words as adults do. However, if your child appears not to hear what you say to her/him, if you find it difficult to understand your child, if she/he has noticeably different communicative abilities from other children of the same age, you may choose to speak to your family Doctor.

As parents, we are our children’s chief resources in language development. With our questions, as well as how we listen and respond to our children’s comments, we become our child’s main sustainers of language development and growth. With many oral interactions our children are encouraged to understand the written language, as they learn to comprehend.

Because oral language is so crucial to a child’s literacy development, which includes listening, speaking, reading and writing skills we need to cultivate it each day. Children need to learn how conversation works, how to take turns, look attentively, use facial expressions. They need interaction with other children their own age, and mixed-age groups. Family activities should nurture collaboration and discussion such as building with blocks together, games, book-sharing, gardening, long walks, cooking, dinner time, puzzles and even sewing. keep reading at: http://www.examiner.com/x-2016-Parenting--Education-Examiner~y2010m4d6-Oral-language-development-in-our-homes

R.R.Cratty

Dating back to the fourteenth century Hot Cross Buns have been a part of Good Fridays. According to legend, on Good Friday the poor would visit abbey kitchens, where monks would give them a spicy currant bun with iced crosses. These Hot Crossed buns were considered blessed and believed to impart powerful protection.

By the eighteenth century, their popularity had grown and English street vendors would sell them by the bushel on Good Friday. Today hot cross buns are sold in bakeries throughout the season of Lent. This simple recipe can be whipped up for family and served with your favorite tea.

Easy Hot Cross Buns

Not the traditionally made buns, but these are delicious Hot Cross Buns are made in half the time.

Rhodes Dinner rolls
1 beaten egg
2/3 cups of currants
1 teaspoon cinnamon
4 teaspoons granulated sugar
6 tablespoons milk

Coat large muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray

Place two frozen dough balls in each tin sprinkle in currants and cinnamon

Preheat oven to 200 then TURN OFF OVEN.

Boil Water in tea pot and pour in shallow pan, place pan on lower rack.

Place rolls in oven 1 hour or until double in size.

Remove pan of water.

Cut a deep cross into the top of each bun with a sharp knife

Brush with beaten egg

Bake at 350 for 15 minutes

To make a glaze, dissolve 4 teaspoons granulated sugar in 6 tablespoons of milk and boil for 2 minutes. Brush warm buns twice with this syrup to glaze.

R.R.Cratty
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Thanks for knitting for charity...I crochet, but I think they would take a warm cozy crochet scarf?

Livia McCoy has taught average or above average high school students with learning disabilities specific to language since 1984. Her new book, When Learning is Painful, How to Help Struggling Students, is a resource for parents and teachers. A well researched, easy to read practical guide based on how research works in the classroom and at home.

McCoy begins by basing her personal philosophy on Knowles, 1980 work:
• Adults need to be respected
• Adults make sense of their own experiences
• Adults want to feel autonomous and self-directed
• Adults want their learning to be relevant and practical
She uses these principals with the idea that learning should be joyful and meaningful.
As she lists ten ways to make learning more enjoyable McCoy delves into important considerations regarding how people learn.

Ms. McCoy has suggestions for learning styles not just in the classroom but homework, with practical advice like: teach your child that they are in charge of their technology, not their technology is in charge of them. Your child can turn off their phone…wow what a concept!
keep reading at:http://www.examiner.com/x-2016-Parenting--Education-Examiner~y2010m3d27-New-book-helps-struggling-students

The best Secret Garden and the first day of spring... Saturday March 20th is the first day of spring in 2010, in the Northern Hemisphere. Say good bye to winter with a new family book. Keep Reading at: http://ning.it/cNVqFk