Check out this great article for inspiration on creating great reading spaces, simply, in your own home featuring ideas from educational leaders, including The Merit School!
https://www.redfin.com/blog/creative-reading-spaces-for-kids/
How to keep kids warm, healthy and safe
Winter can bring lots of family fun — whether this involves sledding and romping around in the snow or just hanging around together at home. Here are a few ideas I give to parents to keep their kids warm, healthy and safe during winter.
How to dress your kids (not like little adults)
Parents with babies and younger kids should:
1. Adjust winter clothes for children’s needs. Dress babies and young children in one more layer of clothing than an adult would wear in the same conditions.
2. Keep exposure to the cold at a minimum.
and young children don’t have the same tolerance for cold that adults do. It’s important to limit time outside.
3. Don’t forget winter accessories. Remember warm boots, gloves or mittens and a hat, which make a big difference in keeping young children and babies comfortable.
Simple ways to avoid winter colds
It’s a common myth that cold weather causes colds, but it does not. Colds are caused mainly by viruses that we are more commonly exposed to in the winter.
Viruses are spread even more easily when children are in school and in close contact with each other, typically through respiratory droplets in the air and on hands.
Prevent colds and the flu by getting kids to:
4. Use soap and water. Washing their hands frequently will reduce the spread of germs.
5. Cover their mouth. Sneezing or coughing into the bend of their elbows also helps prevent spreading germs.
6. Get immunized. Keep vaccinations current, including the flu shot (for children 6 months and older).
Be safe on sleds and snow tubes
7. Always supervise children. Injuries can occur quickly when kids are sledding or snow tubing. It’s important to keep a close eye on them.
8. Keep away from motor vehicles. Often, sledding hills are not far from highways or roads. It’s important to keep a safe distance.
9. Sled in proper ‘form.’ Kids can prevent injuries by sledding feet first or sitting up, instead of lying down head-first.
10. Find a clear area. Pick a sledding location that is clear of obstructions like trees or fences and is covered in snow.
11. Choose a good sledding hill. A sledding hill should not be too steep, with a slope of less than 30 degrees, and should end with a flat runoff.
Be safe on skis and snow boards
12. Dress in layers. If you begin to sweat, remove layers as needed to stay dry. Wet clothes can cause your body to chill and can lead to hypothermia or frostbite.
13. Wear a helmet. It’s important to protect your head from injury.
14. Protect skin. Keep your skin from being exposed to harsh temperatures to avoid frostbite. Be especially careful with small areas of your body, such as your hands, feet and ears.
15. Be aware of weather conditions. Consider going inside if the temperature drops below 0 degrees F (-17.8 C).
Be aware of frostbite symptoms. If you notice your child skin turning red or becoming numb, move to a warmer location and protect them from further exposure. Use warm water or blankets to raise their body temperature.
In winter, there are lots of options for fun. Enjoy the snow, and stay safe.
for more information, visit health.clevelandclinic.org
The Power of Gratitude
Thanksgiving is right around the corner and always a great time to be thankful for the things you have. It’s also an opportunity for children to learn gratefulness and develop an ‘attitude of gratitude’.
The Power of Gratitude
Research has shown that gratitude is a big factor in levels of happiness, and also contributes to long-term benefits such as:
- Better relationships
- Physical health
- Psychological health
- Reduced aggression and more empathy
- Better sleep
- Higher self esteem
- Mental Strength and resilience
Having an attitude of gratitude is a great skill for children to develop, and one they will benefit from for a lifetime.
“When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.”
―
Amie Canter discusses student engagement in the classroom
Our Supervisor of Primary Curriculum and Instruction, Amie Canter at The Merit School of Stafford discusses student engagement. https://www.teacherready.org/guest-blogger-amie-canter-discusses-student-engagement-through-classroom-innovation/
Advanced Concepts at The Merit School of Stafford
Now more than ever, education is facing “reform” on a continuous cycle. Though the world’s greatest education leaders attempt to “reinvent” or “reform” education, very little change is actually taking place. Specifically in the United States, education has focused primarily on reading and math and has raised these two subjects to the level of supreme importance. Our education system has also managed to successfully promote the few that perform high on assessments, and condemn all others that perform below the standard. How can we turn this around? How can we put an end to what seems to be an endless cycle leaving students devastated in its wake.
The answer is simple. I’ve said it during many of my teacher trainings, and I’ll say it again. Change can’t happen until it happens! We (teachers) must be the change we want to see in education. There is power in numbers, and we all know there is a LOT of teachers. If we can stand together with the purpose of making positive change in education, we would see change as early as tomorrow.
Get Inspired By What This Alumna Has Done With Her Online Teaching Certification
The Merit School Completes First Private Pre-School Assessment Study with UVA
The Merit School teachers were recently recognized for their participation with The University of Virginia (UVA) Center for Advanced Study in Teaching and Learning (CASTL) and the Curry School of Education which piloted the first private pre-school assessment with the Virginia Kindergarten Readiness Program (VKRP).
Charles Leopold, CEO shares, “We are committed to providing the highest quality programs for the children and families we serve and delighted to have been able to assist with this important pilot program. Our partnership with UVA, who are leaders in education research, has allowed us to develop cutting-edge programs that support children and their development so they have the strongest foundation when they start school.”
The pilot was instrumental in expanding the assessment of children entering kindergarten in Virginia Public Schools beyond the Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening (PALS) to include school readiness domains of math, social skills, and self-regulation. Research has shown that skills in these areas are indicators of future achievement in both school and life. Data shows that 34% of children in the Commonwealth arrive at kindergarten unprepared in one or more critical learning domains in Literacy, Math, Self-Regulation and Social Skills.
Wanda Weaver, Center for Advanced Study of Teaching & Learning at UVA commented, “Our VKRP Team is grateful to the numerous Merit School directors, teachers, and parents who supported this important work. Our goal is to create math assessments that teachers across the Commonwealth can use to track student’s growth over time – from the beginning of pre-k to the end of kindergarten. The data from these assessments will also yield information on areas where students need more support from their teachers and families.”
