The New Mrs. Ridner

Tool #11 - Self Assessing and Reflecting

2011-08-02T06:45:00.000-07:00

1. What are your favorite tools you now have in your personal technology toolbox? Briefly describe a particular activity that you will plan for your students using at least one of these new tools.
Among all of the tools that I learned about and explored, I am most excited about using Skype with my sister-in-law in Tennessee and her first grade class! I think it will be a fun and interactive way to teach kids about climate and weather.

2. How have you transformed your thinking about the learning that will take place in your classroom? How has your vision for your classroom changed? Are you going to need to make any changes to your classroom to accommodate the 21st Century learner?
I think that more than ever, do I understand the weight of the importance that technology has on kids these days. I look forward to using more of an interactive learning approach in my curriculum as well as "letting go of the reigns" a little bit to enable the "choice and decision" making, with of course, a few rules and guidelines.

3. Were there any unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you? I think that I was surprised at how much I thought I knew and finding out how much there really is out there. I felt confident starting my blog, making it all cutesy, and navigating known websites. Once I dove in, I relaized that there was SO much more than I was ever aware of! To my shock, some of it was a little difficult at first, until I felt comfortable and got the hang of it. Overall, I enjoyed the process and I look forward to utilizing new ideas in my classroom!

Tool #10 - Underneath it All - Digital Citizenship

2011-06-22T14:59:00.000-07:00

Discuss at least three things you would want to make sure your students understand about being good digital citizens.
I think this tool was so helpful, not only to my students, but to me as well. It was nice to be reminded of these things as it is easy to forget them in my day to day technological quests!

-Following the Golden Rule of "Do unto others as you would have them do to you." This is something that I try to live by daily and I think is important that children grow up with as well. As we all know this usually applies to friendships, but it's important use this application with everything in life- even technology!

-Realize that whatever you put in the computer it is there for the world to see. Nothing is really ever "deleted." This is definitely something that I learned recently myself and is extremely valuable information.

-If you use another's idea, always give credit to that person. Give credit where it is due! Hey, you want credit, too?

-NEVER give your password to your friends. Kids love to tell each other everything. This is something that may be difficult, but they will learn soon enough the importance of this!

-Ask parents/adults before visiting websites. The kids that I have taught in the past have been really good about asking permission about a website before they click. That is my policy in my classroom.. If I have never been to the site, you do not have permission to be there.

Share at least one of the resources mentioned above or on the Ed Tech website that you plan to use instructionally.
Brain Pop - this is such a great resource to seamlessly integrate technology into the classroom! The kids love it and it also offers things for those who need things to be a little more difficult. It holds accountability because the kids can take a quiz using their activities - which then can be used a grade in the grade book! I will use this as an enrichment to my curriculum that I am doing already. This website is easy to access at home, too!

Explain briefly how you would "teach" the idea of digital citizenship to your students.
Ok, so I started typing up how I felt about teaching this idea to childen and kind of hit a wall. I started writing about how setting boundaries for kids is so important. It teaches them when to stop and when it is appropriate. The more I thought about what I was typing, I began to confuse myself. If you set too many boundaries, kids become "boxed in" learners and tend to stick with what is easy. They often will become casual learners where leaving this box is scary and frowned upon. I want my kids to feel like they have a certain freedom when exploring technology. It is such an amazing feeling to watch these kids explore technology. Their eyes are opened to such a new world, and almost immediately, they become entranced.

Don't get me wrong, first graders still must have a set of guidelines and ideals that they must abide by. Our librarian, Karen Harell, does a fabulous job at teaching the kids about "recommended" sites and sites that should not be visited. I have to borrow a quote from Theresa's blog.. "If in doubt, I ask! That is what I encourage my kids do too. If you guide them as they are learning, and give them pointers to teach to that moment, then the process of validity becomes seamless in their search for knowledge." I couldn't have said it better!

Theresa Trevino answers this question how all of us wish we could! Check out Theresa's blog to see her answer!

Explain briefly how you plan to share the idea of digital citizenship with your parents.
I think that Back to School night is a great way to communicate this to parents. I also think that possibly speaking about digital citizenship at conferences and having some kind of form that parents must read and sign would hold them accountable for being aware of the procedures. We might also add blurbs to our blogs and newsletters and present them as "tips" to parents on a regular basis!

Tool #9- Incorporating Classroom-Based Devices as Tools for Learning

2011-06-22T13:57:00.000-07:00

Why do you think it is important to tie the technology to the objective?
Kids these days are growing up in a world that DEPENDS on technology. If we can integrate technology into education and content objectives, this will hopefully make it even esier for them to adapt and transform to an environment that seems to change everyday!! It seems to me that technology is different each time we approach it; there is ALWAYS something new and cool!

Why should we hold students accountable for the stations/centers?
I am a FIRM believer in establishing routines and independence at a young age. Holding children accountable for their own learning is one of the most empowering tools you can give a child. They can create their own sense of responsibility and accountablilty if you allow them to explore the experience of being able to make their own choices and self monitoring their progress!

Visit 2 of the applicable links to interactive websites for your content/grade level. Which sites did you like. How could you use them as stations? How can you hold the students accountable for their time in these stations?
Brainpop.com is a wonderful interactive website that integrates Bloom's Taxonomy to create the level that is most appropriate for the learner. Most of the Texas TEKS are present on this website and the kids find it fun and entertaining! It is VERY grade level appropriate and provides a wealth of information!

We use Words Their Way for our word study and have found that Spellingcity.com is a great tool for parents and kids at home. It was not on the list, but I have heard so many great things from parents how their kids love coming home and playing on this site. We have been using this website for 3 years at RCE and we think it is a very useful tool!

We use both of these websites in stations. If they are visiting the computers as a station, they have the choice to visit these sites. Also, the iTouch has an app for brainpop that could be used as well.

As far as accountablity, after eaach unit in Brainpop is taught, kids can take a quiz over the material they have learned. Spelling city is obviously a tool that will help a student excel on a spelling test!

List two to three apps you found for the iPod Touch/iPad that you can use in your classroom. What do you see that station looking like? How can you hold the students accountable for their time in these stations?
Houston Zoo (Helps navigate when you are at the zoo, but also gives animal specifications. It also helps with the Map skills and reading a map with cardinal directions.) We visit the Houston Zoo each year and this app will be a HUGE success with my children.
Funny Flash (This one is neat because it morphs animals and then spells them out verbally and in print.) This will be a great app for those ESL students.
Math Drill (Addition & Subtraction - primary grades.) Awesome for students learning their math facts!
Louvre Our art teacher will love this, I will share with Ms. Lehman. The only issue is that you need to connect to WiFi.
NASA Some of my colleagues participated in a NASA webinar and found it fascinating. I would like to participate in this in the upcoming year.
Sight Words (Great way for students to learn their sight words.)
Tic Tac Toe (Just for fun! My kids especially LOVE playing this.)
The Weather Channel (Keep current with weather conditions anywhere. Goes well with our Seasons/Graphing Weather Unit.)

What about other ways to use the iPod Touch/iPad? Share another way you can see your students using the device as a station.
I am already using the iTouches during both math and literacy stations. I plan to use them for self guided projects with my gifted learners as well as to differentiate learning. I love the Brainpop app and plan to add this to my apps on the iTouches. The sight word apps will be used for my ESL students to reiterate English language verbiage to their internal repertoire of knowledge.

Tool #8- Taking a Look at the Tools

2011-06-22T13:40:00.000-07:00

After watching the videos/tutorials, list two to three things you learned about the device(s) that will be in your classroom this fall.

After watching the videos, the first thing that stood out to me was not really a surprise, but more of a "now, why are they deciding to do that?" I knew that 1st graders were not going to be receiving iPads, but getting 2 more iTouches. Getting the 2 new iTouches is fabulous, but I think that the younger kids need the iPads so that they can have a bigger screen. When they use the iTouches, often the kids that have trouble with fine motor skills, really struggle with math facts, sight words, or any other game. I know that my kids last year really did enjoy the iTouches, so 2 more will be great!

Also, it will be SO nice to have the 5 Dell minis! There is so much that we can do with these! The possibilities are endless! These will be wonderful when we complete our Presidential research project!

How do you plan to manage the device(s) in your classroom? Do you have ideas/suggestions that others may find useful?

As of right now, I have specified drawers that each iTouch "lives" in. The kids were really good about putting them back where they belonged. This year, with 2 more iTouches, I will most likely label them with a number or letter so that I (and the kids) can keep track of them at all times.

While reading Lou Ann's blog, I saw that there is an app for Brainpop,Jr. This is a FABULOUS site that the kids just adore. We could download this app and this would be a great learning tool for workstations or extra time!

Tool #7- Reaching Outside your Classroom: Online Digital Projects

2011-06-22T13:23:00.000-07:00

After visiting the resources regarding online digital projects, design a collaborative project with another classroom.

Ok, so I can't take full credit of this activity, but I saw this posted on the 11 tools website, and thought that I could adapt this experience to our classrooms needs.
I have heard so much about Skype lately, and how fun it is to connect with people that you may not see every day. Zac's sister in law is a teacher that lives in Knoxville and I thought that this would A)be a great experience for the kids to understand differences and similarities in weather patterns, and B) to get the oppurtunity to stay in touch with my future sister in law! Since I won the Playnormous iMac.. this would be great!

Unit- Weather and Seasons

Objective:TLW understand that the weather changes through the season in different ways in Texas and Tennessee.
*Implementation would begin on the first day of fall and continue through December as we would incorporate this into our everyday calendar activities.
*I could see using united streaming and youtube on google docs to send videos of the different weather. We could Skype each other and the kids could ask and answer questions in both classrooms. What a cool way to communicate! can see and read about the kids reflections about weather here and there.

Tool #6- Using Web Tools to Promote Discussion in and out of the Classroom

2011-06-22T09:23:00.000-07:00

Choose at least two of the tools from the above list. Create an account for each.
Embed the sample (preferred) or link to the URL.
Use each of the tools you choose to create a sample of how you would use it in your classroom.

Twitter: meredithlouise1
Facebook: Meredith McKim
Google Docs: Standard District Login / GMAIL account

Share your thoughts on how you see the tools being integrated into your classroom. How do you see them encouraging participation?

Today's Meet- I think this is a really great tool. While I was perusing Helen Ann's blog, I noticed her idea with this tool. I think that her idea using Today's Meet is awesome! She suggested using it as a forum of discussion after Meet the Teacher or Back to School Night. This way, parents have the ability to ask questions in a chat sort of way with out TONS of emails being sent back and forth. I will DEFINITELY use this tool this year!

Twitter- I think that twitter is such a popular trend right not that this tool could be a great way to communicate little blurbs and reminders to parents! It's almost like a text message without giving out your phone number. I think that with most parents having iPhones or smartphones, this would be an easy way to communicate!

Tool #5- Producing with Web 2.0 Tools

2011-06-21T16:26:00.000-07:00

Use at least two of the tools above to create products. Think about your content. Create a “set” for one of your lessons! Or, consider providing the site as a choice for your students to create products. Make a model for a student created product.
Describe for your readers how you think each tool can be incorporated into your classroom - how you could see the tool being used by you instructionally and your students to demonstrate their understanding of a concept or topic in your classroom.

I LOVE Wordles!! We did this as a class in the computer lab with our book buddies last year! The kids love them. I thought this one was pretty fitting for right now. :)

As far as incorporating this into a lesson or into my classroom, I think this would be a fabulous "getting to know you" activity for the beginning of the year. Since we will have the minis, we could definitely do this as a class. Each child come come up with a list of words that describe him or her. You could even create a list so that they can simply answer the questions. We could hang these up in the classroom all year long!

I also really like Animoto. This past year, our first graders completed a Presidential research project where they chose a president that they knew little about. After completing the BIG 6 reseach model, the kids created trading cards that we converted into an Animoto! Way cool! We also utilized Big Huge Labs as a website to help us with our trading cards.

iMovie- At the end of the school year, first grade teachers have created 20 minute iMovies that contain pictures of the entire school year. They turn out amazing and we give them to each of the kids as gifts. This is a fabulous tool that is easy to use once you get the hang of it! We plan on continuing this little tradition because we hear great feedback from parents and kids! :)

Tool #4- Moving Up to the Clouds

2011-06-21T15:48:00.000-07:00

Create at least one document in Google Docs and share it with a few others on your campus or within your department. It could a team member, a department colleague, or another teacher with whom you plan a collaboration. Ask that person to comment or chat and real-time edit the document with you.

I created our first week's lesson plans on Google Docs and shared it with my team, so this was really useful! HAB emailed me back immediately and told me how proud she was of me! (She is finished with 11 tools... grr) Now.... if only I could get a picture of it to post..

Briefly discuss how you can use the tools in Google Apps with your team or department. How can you incorporate Google Apps as a tool in your classroom? Which tools are you excited about using with students.

I think this is a great way for our team and the staff to communicate. It takes some getting used to, though. I found it much easier the more that I "played around" and became familiar with everything. Google forms will be a great tool to use in the clssroom. This seems like a very efficient way to assess knowledge "on the fly." This can bring in some of the active and overt participation with the use of the ActivBoard eggs! Pretty cool!

Tool #3- Finding Online Video and Image Resources

2011-06-21T09:35:00.000-07:00

Visit several of the video hosting/streaming sites mentioned above. Share with your readers which sites you found most useful for your content and why.

In the past, we have relied heavily on United Streaming and Youtube as educational tools in the classroom. We also use Brainpop, Jr, which the kids LOVE. These videos are educational and kid friendly. They are also very easy to navigate and search. I know that I will be using these websites in my classroom in the future.

Here are some fun videos that we used to help teach counting coins and counting by 5's last year. The kids loved it and were singing the songs all the time.

Copyright- I was always familiar with the laws of copyrighted material, but wasn't familiar with the exact laws. I know now that you can post anything that is copyrighted to a secure website that requires a password or is a walled location. The youtube video is pretty entertaining.

I am excited to use Picassa to upload more pictures for flipcharts and videos!

Tool #2- Building Community in the Online Environment

2011-06-21T09:20:00.000-07:00

After completing the above, share you thoughts about building and participating in an online community and participating in a PLN. What points stood out to you from the commenting advice? Were you able to apply any of the advice in your comments? How did you feel about sharing your thoughts publicly? Was it different than when you're sharing your successes/challenges with your teammate?

I have commented on blogs before,and had no problems. When I created my blog for PLaynormous, it was easy to navigate and follow other people. Today, I encountered a lot of issues while posting. Karen and Theresa helped me as much as they could, but were stumped as well. I posted on 5 or more blogs of my collegues and some of the posts did not show up. We will see how this goes!

Share the url or name of a website or social network that you plan to visit in the future. What does that site have to offer?

I found a useful blog on technology and classroom tools. It looks really interesting and I look forward to exploring it and using it to update my blog.

http://ladybugsteacherfiles.blogspot.com/

Tool #1- Getting Started - Creating your blog!

2011-06-21T08:46:00.000-07:00

Write a brief post about your experience to date. Did you find the experience fairly easy? Did you face any challenges?

I found creating a Voki very easy and exciting. It was fun to create a Voki with all of the different tools. I did not run into any problems.

Can technology help child obesity?

2010-05-20T11:52:00.001-07:00

eSchoolNews.com

What's new at the Houston Zoo?

2010-05-20T10:23:00.000-07:00

Parents,
Below is a video clip of the newest member to the Houston Zoo. It just so happens that Baby Baylor's worldly debut was yesterday while we were visiting!

The Playnormous results are in....

2010-05-20T10:03:00.001-07:00

Parents,

Below you will see how much of an impact Playnormous had on the class! A special thank you goes out to everyone who took the time to take the survey!

Heart group backs video games in obesity campaign

2010-05-18T06:24:00.000-07:00

http://www.chron.com/news/science/

By JOEL SCHECTMAN AP Business Writer © 2010 The Associated Press
May 17, 2010, 5:42PM
NEW YORK — Talk about strange bedfellows. The American Heart Association and Nintendo Co. are teaming up to promote the popular Wii video game console, as the health advocacy group concedes that its campaign for traditional exercise isn't working.
The surprising partnership, announced Monday, comes amid growing concern about obesity among kids who spend much of their time watching television and playing video games.
Nintendo will be able to brand its Wii products with the AHA's iconic heart logo to let consumers know that the organization considers the items a healthy choice. Nintendo will donate $1.5 million to the Dallas-based AHA as part of the partnership.
"We can keep beating the drum on traditional exercise and make small changes to the obesity epidemic, or we can try something that is really provocative and new," Clyde Yancy, the AHA's president, said in an interview.
Numerous studies show a correlation between obesity and the amount of time children spend with television and video games. Jeffrey Levi, executive director of Trust for America's Health, said the best solution is simply to cut the cord and encourage youths to spend less time in front of screens.
But the AHA said it is endorsing the Wii because it will encourage sedentary Americans to take the first step toward fitness. With 70 percent of Americans doing no regular physical activity at all, the AHA wants to find a way to reach out to people turned off by gyms and traditional sports.
The organization said its studies show that 40 percent of those who don't exercise say that it's not entertaining enough. The AHA says the Wii addresses the fun factor.
The Wii, which has sold more than 30 million consoles across the Americas, comes with a controller that encourages people to physically move as they play. Sports-style games such as baseball and boxing let players move their arms to simulate the pitching of a ball or the throwing of a punch. Nintendo also makes a foot pad accessory, the Wii Fit, that allows players to try dance steps or yoga.
The heart icon covers the Wii console itself along with two of its more active games, Wii Fit Plus and Wii Sports Resort.
Many of the Wii games are less physically demanding. Some puzzle titles, for instance, let players adjust shapes through small twists of the wrist.
Wii players say that the level of physical exertion varies greatly by player.
Maria Lambiris, an 18-year-old illustrations student at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, said the game system recently helped her lose five pounds.
"You really get into it sometimes and you can use your whole body," Lambiris said.
But her classmate Maki Yang, 19, was quick to point out that sometimes it's easier and more fun to cheat.
"You can just do this with your wrist," Yang said while flicking her wrist slightly, "and you do even better in the game."
But while many of the games may not offer the same level of physical activity as traditional sports, they may help get some people started on a healthier lifestyle.
"It is a first step for someone who is entirely sedentary," Yancy said.
Yancy said that once that person becomes motivated, he or she can access a website Nintendo and the AHA are developing to help monitor exercise and diet plans.
Rival game console makers Microsoft Corp. and Sony Corp., cognizant of the Wii's popularity, are also developing motion controllers. Microsoft's Natal, for instance, wouldn't require a physical controller; players would use their bodies to control their video game characters. The AHA said it wasn't currently in discussions with those companies.

Summer Reading Program

2010-05-15T11:42:00.000-07:00

Sign up for the 2010 Summer Reading Program and earn a chance to win an HP mini netbook, board games, books, craft kits, coupons to cool restaurants, and more! This Year's Theme: From Fables to Fantasy!

The Summer Reading Program (SRP) is a free incentive program to encourage kids and teens to read.

The SRP includes many diverse free educational and fun programs including entertainers, storytimes, science activities, crafts and other fun programming for kids and teens up to 18 years of age.

PROGRAM DATES: June 1 - August 1, 2010

HOW TO REGISTER: Early online registration begins
May 1, 2010!
REGISTRATION CONTINUES THROUGH AUGUST 1: Visit any Houston Public Library location or register from your home computer, through August 1.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE:
Read or listen to books, enter book titles or time read on your online reading log either at home or with the help of your librarian, and come to your local Houston Public Library location to pick up your prize at 5, 10 and 20 book level.

The more books you read, the more prizes you are eligible to win. See YOU the summer!

Healthy Writing!

2010-05-14T08:46:00.000-07:00

Nutrition 101: Publication!

2010-05-13T18:26:00.000-07:00

Exercising Made Easy!

2010-05-13T14:57:00.000-07:00

Parents,
Are you wondering how to keep your kids active this summer? Here are a few ideas that Mr. Howard demonstrated with us:

KRCE - Nutrition 101

2010-05-13T05:20:00.000-07:00

Nutrition Survey

2010-05-12T13:06:00.000-07:00

Parents,
Please take a moment to fill out this brief survey on how www.playnormous.com has impacted your child's life.

Click here to take survey

Childhood Obesity

2010-05-12T06:28:00.000-07:00

Parents,
This was on the KHOU News last night, and I thought it was extremely interesting and an eye-opener!

Recipes

2010-05-11T12:08:00.000-07:00

The Sneaky Chef to the Rescue
By Missy Chase Lapine
**You need to prepare the Purple Puree and Flour Blend ahead of time!

Purple Puree

3 cups raw baby spinach leaves
1 ½ cups fresh or frozen blueberries, no syrup or sugar added
½ teaspoon lemon juice
1 to 2 tablespoons water

Place the spinach in the food processor and pulse a few times. ‘This will reduce the spinach. Next, add the blueberries, lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of water; puree on high until as smooth as possible. Stop occasionally to push the contents to the bottom. You can add another tablespoon of water to create a smooth puree.

This will keep in the refrigerator up to 3 days, or you can freeze ¼ cup portions in sealed plastic bags.

Flour Blend

1 cup all-purpose, unbleached white flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup wheat germ, unsweetened

Combine the flours and wheat germ in a large bowl. This makes about 3 cups. This blend can be stored in a sealed plastic bag or container in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.

Light Brainy Brownies

3 tablespoons unsalted butter
½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 large eggs
¼ cup vanilla yogurt
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
½ cup sugar
¾ cup Purple Puree
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon instant coffee powder
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup Flour Blend
¼ cup oat bran
½ teaspoon baking powder
Powdered sugar, for dusting

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Butter or spray, then lightly flour, the boom of a 9-inch baking pan.
3. Melt the butter and chocolate chips in the microwave, checking every 15 seconds. Remove from heat and allow mixture to cool a bit. Meanwhile, in another bowl, whisk together the eggs, yogurt, vanilla, sugar and Purple Puree. Combine the Purple Puree mixture with the cooled chocolate mixture.
4. In a mixing bowl, whisk together cinnamon, coffee, cocoa, salt, Flour Blend, oat brand and baking powder. Add this to the chocolate mixture and blend thoroughly. Pour the entire mixture into the baking pan.
5. Bake for 36 – 40 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool completely in the pan before cutting the brownies using a plastic or butter knife. Dust with powdered sugar, if desired.
6. Keeps for a week in the refrigerator, covered tightly.

LIVE on KRCE! Nutrition 101

2010-05-11T08:44:00.000-07:00

Parents,
Have you ever wondered what it is like to be in a production studio? Well, take a look at the following video that my students made this morning! It was so precious and heard by the WHOLE school!

Nutrition 101: Can we trick the Cafeteria Ladies with our brownies?

2010-05-10T08:49:00.001-07:00

Parents, Today we tried out a little experiment with the ladies who work in the Cafeteria. There were 2 sets of brownies - one that was made from a box; and one that was made out of a spinach / blueberry puree. Here is what they discovered:

Playnormous Games

2010-05-09T16:23:00.000-07:00

Parents,
This last week, your child was introduced to this website: www.playnormous.com. It has wonderful games where your child learns about the food guide pyramid and food that are healthy for us. Try playing one for yourself - I dare you to have fun!

PLAYNORMOUS
Games for Health

When you have finished playing, please answer the following questions:

1. How are Playnormous games used in your classroom or library?
2. Which one of our health games is your favorite and why?
3. Why should you be selected to win a free Monster iMac?
4. How have Playnormous games impacted you, your classroom, or your library?

Nutrition 101: Carrots

2010-05-09T16:06:00.001-07:00

Carrots are a wonderful source of beta carotene! They are also great for the digestive system because they are high in fiber.

Seinfels, Jessica. Deceptively Delicious: Simple Secrets to Get Your Kids Eating Good Food. Departure Productions, NY. 2007.

Snack on This - Day 3

2010-05-06T09:50:00.001-07:00

Well, we have really made some great choices regarding the nutrition of our snacks and the food that we are eating! In only 3 DAYS, we are all aware of the benefits of healthy eating and making healthy choices that are good for our bodies and brains!!

Nutrition 101: Apples

2010-05-06T06:41:00.000-07:00

Apples are high in antioxidants! And, did you know that the skin of a red apple has the most benefits for you? They are also high in fiber and help to regulate blood - sugar levels.

Seinfels, Jessica. Deceptively Delicious: Simple Secrets to Get Your Kids Eating Good Food. Departure Productions, NY. 2007.

25 Healthy Snacks for Kids

2010-05-06T05:40:00.000-07:00

Eat Right
Food, Nutrition and Health Tips from the American Dietetic Association
25 Healthy Snacks for Kids

When a snack attack strikes, refuel with these nutrition-packed snacks.
Easy, Tasty (and Healthy) Snacks
You may need an adult to help with some of these snacks.

1. Peel a banana and dip it in yogurt. Roll in crushed cereal and freeze.
2. Spread celery sticks with peanut butter or low-fat cream cheese. Top with raisins. Enjoy your “ants on
a log.”
3. Stuff a whole-grain pita pocket with ricotta cheese and Granny Smith apple slices. Add a dash of
cinnamon.
4. Mix together ready-to-eat cereal, dried fruit and nuts in a sandwich bag for an on-the-go snack.
5. Smear a scoop of frozen yogurt on two graham crackers and add sliced banana to make a yummy
sandwich.
6. Top low-fat vanilla yogurt with crunchy granola and sprinkle with blueberries.
7. Microwave a small baked potato. Top with
reduced-fat cheddar cheese and salsa.
8. Make snack kabobs. Put cubes of low-fat cheese
and grapes on pretzel sticks.
9. Toast a whole grain waffle and top with low-fat
yogurt and sliced peaches.
10. Spread peanut butter on apple slices.
11. Blend low-fat milk, frozen strawberries and a
banana for thirty seconds for a delicious smoothie.
12. Make a mini-sandwich with tuna or egg salad on a
dinner roll.
13. Sprinkle grated Monterey Jack cheese over a corn
tortilla; fold in half and microwave for twenty
seconds. Top with salsa.
14. Toss dried cranberries and chopped walnuts in
instant oatmeal.
15. Mix together peanut butter and cornflakes in
a bowl. Shape into balls and roll in crushed
graham crackers.
16. Microwave a cup of tomato or vegetable soup
and enjoy with whole grain crackers.
17. Fill a waffle cone with cut-up fruit and top
with low-fat vanilla yogurt.
18. Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese on hot
popcorn.
19. Banana Split: Top a banana with low-fat
vanilla and strawberry frozen yogurt. Sprinkle
with your favorite whole-grain cereal.
20. Sandwich Cut-Outs: Make a sandwich on
whole grain bread. Cut out your favorite
shape using a big cookie cutter. Eat the fun
shape and the edges, too!
21. Spread mustard on a flour tortilla. Top with
a slice of turkey or ham, low-fat cheese and
lettuce. Then roll it up.
22. Mini Pizza: Toast an English muffin, drizzle
with pizza sauce and sprinkle with low-fat
mozzarella cheese.
23. Rocky Road: Break a graham cracker into
bite-size pieces. Add to low-fat chocolate
pudding along with a few miniature
marshmallows.
24. Inside-Out Sandwich: Spread mustard on a
slice of deli turkey. Wrap around a sesame
breadstick.
25. Parfait: Layer vanilla yogurt and mandarin
oranges or blueberries in a tall glass. Top with
a sprinkle of granola.

Authored by American Dietetic Association staff registered dietitians.

Physical Education and Sport Week

2010-05-06T05:25:00.000-07:00

This week is National Physical Education and Sport Week, and this year’s theme,

“Move Every Body, Every Day, Every Way,” is a great way to motivate kids to get up and get moving.

Daily physical activity is instrumental for children to develop and maintain healthy lifestyles. Modern-day conveniences have made a sedentary lifestyle all too easy for kids. It is up to parents to ensure that their children participate in physical activity both at school and home. Here are a few ways you can make this happen:

-Encourage your children’s school to include more physical education classes and
recess time.

-Encourage your children to participate in school or community-sponsored sports
programs. Sports teach team work, self-discipline and coordination.

-Get active with your kids. You don’t have to be a great athlete to go for a jog,
play tag or swim with them at your local pool.

Besides helping your kids stay healthy, regular physical activity also helps kids perform better in the classroom. New evidence shows children find it easier to pay attention when they’ve been active.

For more information on keeping your children active, visit the Nutrition for Kids and Teens section at www.eatright.org.

Produced by ADA’s Public Relations Team

Nutrition 101: Red Peppers

2010-05-06T05:19:00.000-07:00

Red Peppers are high in vitamin C. That helps fight off infections and heal cuts. They also have several antioxidants that help your body!

Seinfels, Jessica. Deceptively Delicious: Simple Secrets to Get Your Kids Eating Good Food. Departure Productions, NY. 2007.

Nutrition 101: Broccoli

2010-05-06T05:07:00.000-07:00

Did you know that eating broccoli helps fight off certain cancers? It also helps us to build strong, healthy bones and teeth. It is a great source of calcium!

Seinfels, Jessica. Deceptively Delicious: Simple Secrets to Get Your Kids Eating Good Food. Departure Productions, NY. 2007.

Nutrition 101: Raspberries

2010-05-06T04:42:00.000-07:00

Did you know that Raspberries are high in fiber? They are also a great recources of antioxidants that help keep kids' brains in shape and fight off certain cancers.

Seinfels, Jessica. Deceptively Delicious: Simple Secrets to Get Your Kids Eating Good Food. Departure Productions, NY. 2007.

Snack on This - Day 2

2010-05-06T04:34:00.000-07:00

Parents,
Here are the results after just one day of talking about healthy choices. I am so proud of the choices these kids are making!

Nurtrition 101: Cantaloupe

2010-05-05T06:05:00.000-07:00

Cantelope is a great source of beta carotene. It not only helps our eyeseth, but it also hlepes heal our scrapes. It provides us also with vitamin C.

Seinfels, Jessica. Deceptively Delicious: Simple Secrets to Get Your Kids Eating Good Food. Departure Productions, NY. 2007.

Nutrition 101: Watermelon

2010-05-05T05:31:00.000-07:00

Did you know that Watermelon is a great source of vitamin A and C?

www.nutritiondata.com

Nutrition 101: Cucumbers

2010-05-05T05:17:00.000-07:00

Did you know that Cucumbers are great for our digestive system?

Nutrition 101

2010-05-05T04:54:00.000-07:00

Nutrition 101 is coming to Rummel Creek in the morning via KRCE. For the next week or so, your child will become a reporter to broadcast all the yummy vitamins and minerals you can get from fruits and vegetables to the entire school. If you would like to send in a fruit or vegetable for your child to share, please feel free to do so. Here is one to enjoy now!

Who brought healthy snacks?

2010-05-05T04:47:00.000-07:00

Parents,

Each day we will be creating a class graph with our snacks. The goal in this activity, is to bring awareness to healthy and unhealthy choices.

Information on the iMac Contest

2010-04-27T07:04:00.000-07:00

Calling all parents!

2010-04-27T06:27:00.000-07:00

2 of our Rummel Creek teachers have won an iMac computer for their classroom by entering a contest on www.playnormous.com. This website has some wonderful games that help teach your child about food and nutrition and making healthy choices for life!

For the next week or two, your child will be asked to play these games. Then, after they have had a chance to think about what they are learning, we will partner up with some older kids to help post their thoughts to this blog.

I also have some other activities that I will need your help with. They are totally optional - however, they will be photographed and used to make a class book and housed in our school library.

Keep checking back on this blog! In fact, become a follower and see what is going on!

First Assignment

2010-04-09T08:39:00.000-07:00

Please email or send in your child's favorite lunch or dinner recipe. In hopes of providing better nutrition for your child, I will work with others to find a healthier alternative to what they already enjoy. I am curious to know if they will notice a difference! The deadline for submission will be this upcoming Wednesday, April 14th. Of course, you can add your recipe to this blog! Let's get cookin'!

Welcome to my blog! :)

2010-04-09T08:30:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my blog! I am really excited to begin our blog because we have this wonderful oppurtunity to win a free iMAC computer for our classroom. Two classes at RCE have already won and the additional computer would make a tremendous impact on our classroom learning enviroment.