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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

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
keep reading:

http://www.examiner.com/x-2016-Parenting--Education-Examiner~y2010m...

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

You exemplify that good educators are good every day, no matter what is going on. The past weeks you have continued to teach, you have kept children a priority. As our government bails out corporations and allows schools to close. I walk into your classrooms and you are listening with your head and your heart, you acknowledge the wonders and wonder right along with your students.

While America sends billions to other countries, you are loosing your jobs. Still, you are intentional with your words and lessons as you teach not just the answers in a book, but the child. You share the treasures that took generations of educators' years to acquire. Your science is not just the subjects and the age of your students but how best to teach, what is the best instruction.

Each day you take the time to acknowledge passions and build a bridge to connect what children need to know with what they love. You support their curiosity, and never forget to celebrate accomplishments, no matter how small in each student. You truly have built a community. You do keep individual children's need above "Race to the Top" requirements.Keep Reading at: http://www.examiner.com/x-2016-Parenting--Education-Examiner~y2010m3d13-Respect-To-American-Teachers

Pi Day 101
March 14th or 3-14 is Pi Day. Pi is the ratio of any circle’s circumference to its diameter. In other words Pi is the number you get when you divide the circumference of a circle (the distance around the circle) by its diameter (the distance across). It is typically written as 3.14.Because pi is 3.14159….some schools hold their celebrations until 1:59. Pi is called an irrational number; it has an infinite number of digits.

March 14th also happens to be the birth date of Albert Einstein—which makes it a double math celebration. Time for a math party filled with math challenges.

The History of Pi
Ancient Babylonians are known to have determined the area of a circle by taking 3 times the square of its radius which gave the value of pi, 4,000 years ago. One Babylonian tablet found, revealed a value of 3.125 for pi, which is a closer estimate.

In 1706 William Jones began using The Greek letter π. The symbol was made popular by Euler in 1737.

Activities to celebrate Pi day

• Who can memorize and recite Pi to the most digits without a mistake!
• Read a variety of stories involving the use of measuring circles.
• Read about ancient Egypt and Archimedes
• Measure the circumference, diameter and radius of objects around the house.
• Only eat circular food.
• Create your own Pi T shirts using Fabric Paint or Fabric Markers
• Pi Bracelets, with each bead color representing a number
• Make a pizza measuring the circumference, diameter and radius.
• For dessert, of course, you must have pie!

Enjoy making Math Memories,
R.R.Cratty
Keep Reading at: http://www.examiner.com/x-2016-Parenting--Education-Examiner