Ask Bonnie

www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/september11th

With the seventh anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks upon us, many children are asking questions that adults may struggle to answer.

BrainPOP, the award-winning creator of animated, educational content for children, today released a movie that helps parents and educators address the difficult subject. The movie and related online features will be free throughout the month of September at www.brainpop.com/september11.
“When a child asks about September 11th, it’s not always easy to speak about what happened — or why it happened,” said Avraham Kadar, M.D., BrainPOP’s CEO and Chairman. “As a New York City-based company that specializes in supporting teachers and communicating with students, we very much wanted to help.”

BrainPOP’s September 11th movie is a resource parents and teachers can use to explain the sensitive topic and encourage children to discuss their feelings about what happened that day. They can also find and exchange ideas about how to discuss the subject on BrainPOP Educators

About BrainPOP
Founded in 1999, BrainPOP ( www.brainpop.com) creates animated, curriculum-based content that supports educators and engages students. Our award-winning online resources include BrainPOP, for grades 3 and up; BrainPOP Jr., for grades K-3; and BrainPOP Espanol. The newest resource, BrainPOP Educators, features free tips, tools, and best practices by and for our teacher community.

Aligned to state standards and easy to use, BrainPOP serves thousands of schools worldwide. They host more than 1.5 million visits to our sites each month, through district, school, media lab, classroom, homeschool, and family subscriptions.

You’re probably feeling excited and maybe a little sad that summer is over. Some kids feel nervous or a little scared on the first day of school because of all the new things: new teachers, new friends, and maybe even a new school. Luckily, these “new” worries only stick around for a little while. Let’s find out more about going back to school.

The First Day
Most teachers kick off the school year by introducing themselves and talking about all the stuff you’ll be doing that year. Some teachers give students a chance to tell something about themselves to the rest of the class.

When teachers do the talking on the first day, they often go over classroom rules so you’ll know what’s allowed and what’s not. Pay close attention so you’ll know if you need to raise your hand to ask a question and what the rules are about visiting the restroom.

You might already know a lot of people in your classes on the first day. But it’s a great day to make a new friend, so try to say hello to kids you know and new ones that you don’t. Make the first move and you’ll be glad you did and so will your new friend!

Moving to Middle School?
Sixth grade often signals a move to middle school or junior high, where you’ll find lockers and maybe a homeroom. This is just what it sounds like - a classroom you’ll go to each morning, kind of like your home in the school. In middle school, you might move from classroom to classroom for each subject. Your teachers know that this is a big change from elementary school and will help you adjust.

Most teachers let you pick your own seat on the first day, but by the second or third morning, they’ll have mapped out a seating plan. It’s a good idea to write down where your seat is in your notebook so you don’t forget.

Feeling Good on Day One
Seeing friends you haven’t seen in a while can make the first day a good one. You also can make the day feel special by wearing an outfit you like. Maybe you got a great T-shirt on vacation, or your new sneakers put a spring in your step. If you wear a uniform, you might wear a favorite watch or piece of jewelry to show your personal style.

It can make you feel good to be prepared and have all the supplies you need. Some schools distribute supply lists before the year begins, so you can come stocked up on pencils, folders, and whatever else you’ll be needing. Once you’ve covered the basics, you might tuck an extra dollar or two in your backpack for an emergency (like forgetting your lunch money). Or maybe you’d like to bring along a book or magazine to read while you’re on the bus.

Whatever you put in your backpack, make sure you pack it the night before. This prevents the morning panic when you can’t find your homework or lunch box. Speaking of lunch, that’s something else that can help you feel good at school - whether it’s the first day or the 100th day. Pack it the night before if you don’t like what’s on the menu at the cafeteria. Try to include a variety of foods in your packed lunch, especially fruits and vegetables.

Get Oriented
The first day of school is your first chance to find your way around a new school, or learn the pathways to new classes in your old school. It’s a lot to learn in one day, so don’t be surprised if you need a reminder or two.

It might help to write a few notes to yourself, so you’ll remember the important stuff, like your locker combination and that lunch starts at 11:43, not 12:10. Before you know it, your fingers will fly as you open your locker and you won’t have to check your notes to know what time lunch starts!

A Bad Start?
What if you hate school by the end of day one? Teachers recommend giving things some time to sort themselves out - once you know your way around the building and get adjusted to the new routine, you’ll probably feel better. If those feelings don’t fade, talk to your mom, dad, teacher, or school counselor.

Here are a few final tips for a fantastic first day:

Get enough sleep.
Eat a healthy breakfast.
Try your best.
Develop good work habits, like writing down your assignments and turning in your homework on time.
Take your time with school work. If you don’t understand something, ask the teacher.
Keep a sense of humor. One teacher we know shows his new students a picture of himself graduating high school - a grinning ape in a red graduation cap and gown. This usually makes the kids laugh, and it’s a good way to remind them that school is fun!

source by: Mary L. Gavin, MD

This is a general outline of the milestones on the road to reading and the ages at which most kids reach them.

Keep in mind that kids develop at different paces and spend varying amounts of time at each stage. If you have concerns, talk to your child’s doctor, teacher, or the reading specialist at school. Early intervention is key in helping kids who are struggling to read.

Infancy (Up to Age 1)
Children usually begin to:
imitate sounds they hear in language
respond when spoken to
look at pictures
reach for books and turn the pages with help
respond to stories and pictures by vocalizing and patting the pictures

Toddlers (Ages 1–3)
Children usually begin to:
answer questions about and identify objects in books — such as “Where’s the cow?” or “What does the cow say?”
name familiar pictures
use pointing to identify named objects
pretend to read books
finish sentences in books they know well
scribble on paper
know names of books and identify them by the picture on the cover
turn pages of board books
have a favorite book and request it to be read often

Early Preschool (Age 3)
Children usually begin to:
explore books independently
listen to longer books that are read aloud
retell a familiar story
recite the alphabet
begin to sing the alphabet with prompting and cues
make continuous symbols that resemble writing
imitate the action of reading a book aloud

Late Preschool (Age 4)
Children usually begin to:
recognize familiar signs and labels, especially on signs and containers
make up rhymes or silly phrases
recognize and write some of the letters of the alphabet
read and write their names
name letters or sounds that begin words
match some letters to their sounds
use familiar letters to try writing words

Kindergarten (Age 5)
Children usually begin to:
understand rhyming and play rhyming games
match some spoken and written words
understand that print is read from left to right, top to bottom
write some letters and numbers
recognize some familiar words
predict what will happen next in a story
retell stories that have been read to them

First and Second Grade (Ages 6–7)
Children usually begin to:
read familiar stories
sound out or decode unfamiliar words
use pictures and context to figure out unfamiliar words
use some common punctuation and capitalization in writing
self-correct when they make a mistake while reading aloud
show comprehension of a story through drawings

Second and Third Grade (Ages 7–8)
Children usually begin to:
read longer books independently
read aloud with proper emphasis and expression
use context and pictures to help identify unfamiliar words
understand the concept of paragraphs and begin to apply it in writing
correctly use punctuation
correctly spell simple words
write notes, like phone messages and email
enjoy games like word searches
use new words, phrases, or figures of speech that they’ve heard
revise their own writing

Fourth Through Eighth Grade (Ages 9–13)
Children usually begin to:
explore and understand different kinds of texts, like biographies, poetry, and fiction
understand and explore expository, narrative, and persuasive text
read to extract specific information, such as from a science book
identify parts of speech and devices like similes and metaphors
correctly identify major elements of stories, like time, place, plot, problem, and resolution
read and write on a specific topic for fun, and understand what style is needed
analyze texts for meaning

Reviewed by: Gail S. Diederich, MS

A home filled with reading material is a good way to help kids become enthusiastic (and proficient) readers. What kind of books should you have? Ask your kids about their interests. If they’re too young to have a preference, your local librarian can offer suggestions about age-appropriate books.

Here are some other tips:

Keep a varied selection. Collect board books or books with mirrors and different textures for babies. Older kids will enjoy variety: fiction, nonfiction, and poetry plus dictionaries and other reference books.

Kids can understand stories they might not be able to read on their own. If a more challenging book interests your child, make it something to read together. Younger kids can look at illustrations in books and ask questions as they follow along.

And don’t limit reading material to books. Kids might also enjoy:

magazines (for kids)
audio books
postcards from relatives
photo albums or scrapbooks
newspapers
comic books
the Internet
Keep reading material handy. Keep sturdy books with other toys for easy exploration. Books near the changing table and high chair can be helpful distractions for younger kids at appropriate moments. Plastic books can even go in the bathtub. Keep books next to comfy chairs and sofas where you cuddle up so you can read after feedings and naps.

Create a special reading place. As kids grow, keep age-appropriate books and magazines on shelves they can reach in their favorite hangouts around the house. Make these shelves appealing and keep them organized. Place some of the books with the covers facing out so they’re easy to spot. Put a basket full of books and magazines next to their favorite places to sit. Create a cozy reading corner, and encourage kids to use it by setting up “reading corner time” each day.

Keep it appealing. Make sure reading areas have good lighting. Change the materials often — add seasonal books, rotate different magazines, and include books that relate to what kids are interested in or studying in school. Decorate the corner with your child’s artwork or writing. Place a CD or tape player nearby for audio books.

Encourage kids to create the reading. Set up a writing and art center and encourage kids to make books, posters, or collages that they decorate with their own pictures and writing. Kids love to read things they’ve written themselves or to share their creations with family and friends.

source:Mary L. Gavin, MD