Have you checked out Pinterest.com? There is a wide variety of things you can find on this online pinboard – including education and activities. The graphic below shows 16 ways educators use Pinterest. I have also started pinning some of my NIE blog posts onto Pinterest. You can check out them out by clicking on the following link Pinterest Newspapers in Education.
There has been a lot of talk about synthetic drug use in our area recently. Two teen-aged males died apparently from overdosing on synthetic drugs in the month of June. These were two separate cases.
To make you more aware of what is happening, the Grand Forks Police Department has started their own YouTube channel . They have produced their first video on synthetic drugs. Sgt. Travis Jacobson, Drug Recognition Expert from the GFPD answers the following questions in the 4 minutes :31 seconds video:
1. What are synthetic drugs?
2. What synthetic drugs do you see in Grand Forks?
3. What are some of the symptoms of a synthetic drug user?
4. What if I don’t want to get my friends/family in trouble?
Take the time to watch the video. It is very informative and is only 4 minutes: 31 seconds long. To view the video click here, for more information contact the Grand Forks Police Department 787-8000 or http://grandforksgov.com/police
Text a tip to 701-740-6759.
We had a visit Wednesday morning from approximately 60 students ages 6-12 who are participating in the YMCA Adventure Camp. They are learning about the Flood of 1997 this week and asked if they could see the Herald’s Flood of 1997 photo display in the community room. Even though these students weren’t around during the Flood of 1997, they were very interested in hearing about it.
Charles Schiller
Check out these July 4th Craft ideas from Country Living. (Some of the craft items use newspaper!) http://www.countryliving.com/syndication/fourth-july-crafts-syn#slide-1
Inspired by turn-of-the-century celebrations, these seven joyful tributes to red, white, and blue harken to a time when impromptu hats were folded from leftover newspapers, and marching bands, firecrackers, and lawn games marked the day. By Bethany Lyttle.
Information and activities are from KRP’s Ultimate Holiday Activity Guide from the NIE Institute.
It was on July 4, 1776, that the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence and officially declared the American colonies free and independent states. When the declaration was read, people responded by ringing bells, playing music, and rejoicing in the streets.
Today, America celebrates the Fourth of July in similar fashion. Fireworks, picnics, parades, patriotic concerts, and more each year help the nation commemorates its birthday.
ACTIVITIES
1. Pretend you are a reporter living when the Declaration of Independence was created and you have the opportunity to interview one of the crafters of the declaration. Make a list of reporter’s questions you would have asked that person. Then conduct research to get the answers to those questions. Conclude by writing a newspaper story based on the information.
2. Watch for newspaper stories about festivities that celebrate the Fourth of July. Then analyze one of the events and the traditions behind it.
3. Compare American lifestyles today to those of Americans living during the Colonial period. During research, find five products or services advertised in the newspaper and find out if those or similar products existed during the time when America was born.
FIREWORKS SAFETY from kidshealth.org
The safest way to enjoy fireworks is at a professional display. Some people light sparklers at home or even set off their own fireworks, but this is dangerous. Each year thousands of people are treated at hospital emergency rooms for fireworks-related injuries. And almost half of those injured each year are kids under age 15. Some of the people hurt each year aren’t the ones setting off the fireworks, but people who are nearby.
It’s best to stay away from areas where nonprofessionals are setting off fireworks. Fireworks can cause serious eye injuries, including blindness, if the eye tissue gets damaged or torn. Other common injuries from fireworks include burns to the hands and face, which can leave scars. Someone could even lose one or more fingers if fireworks go off the wrong way. Fireworks can also start fires, which can hurt even more people.
July 1 is Canada Day. Here are some fun facts from McClatchy Tribune that celebrate all things Canadian. Information was written and illustrated by Laurie McAdam, McClatchy Newspapers.
The name Canada dates back to the year 1535. The word “Kanata”, which is the Huron-Iroquois word for “village” or “settlement,” was used to describe what is now Quebec City. In 1557, French explorer Jacques Cartier, when claiming Kanata for France, simply repeated the word as Canada. The name stuck.
Canada’s birthday: On July 1, 1867, Canada’s provinces, territories and British colonies unified as one nation with a national government and law-making parliament.
Queen Elizabeth II is the Queen of Canada and head of state. The queen’s duties are carried out by the governor general.
The Canada goose has become the most common waterfowl species in North America.
The beaver is Canada’s national symbol and adorns the back of the Canadian nickel. It also is the largest rodent in North America and mates for life unless the mate dies.
A stetson worn by the Mounties is also called a campaign hat, drill sergeant hat, round brown, ranger hat, Scouts hat, Smokey Bear hat and lemon squeezer.
Canada has the longest coastline of any country in the world, with about 151,600 miles, and is the second-largest country in the world.
The Loonie: When Canada wanted to issue a gold-colored dollar coin, it was designed with an image of fur-trappers on the back. The master dies were lost by the courier before minting, so a new design was necessary to thwart the possibility of counterfeiting. The new design was a common loon, and Canadians embraced it. They affectionately refer to it as “the loonie” just as U.S. bills are nicknamed “greenbacks.”
Lucky Loonie: A Canadian icemaker at the 2002 Olympics froze a loonie at center ice as a mark for the dropped puck. Both the men’s and women’s Canadian hockey teams won gold that year. The coin was recovered from the ice and given to the Hockey Hall of Fame, and the legend of the lucky loonie began. Since then, players have gone to hiding the loonie on the opposing team’s nets or freezing the coins into the ice before games. This has led to teams checking the ice for coins before tournaments.
Names of actual places in Canada: Drumheller, Moose Jaw, Saskatoon, Squamish, Blow Me Down, Saint-Louis-Du-Ha-Ha
Curling is a popular team sport in Canada with similarities to lawn bowling and bocce ball, but is played on ice. With the limitless possibilites of stone placement and shot selection, it is sometimes referred to as “chess on ice.”
Happy Canada Day to our northern neighbors!
Have you read the article “Officials alarmed by ‘bad batch’ of drugs in Grand Forks” by Stephen Lee in the June 19 issue of the Grand Forks Herald? After two teen-aged males died apparently from overdosing on synthetic drugs, federal, state and local law enforcement officials held an emergency meeting Tuesday in Grand Forks.
What can parents? Here is some helpful information from an NIE tab called Stay Smart, Don’t Start – the Truth About Drugs and Alcohol. The tab was produced by the Washington Times Newspapers in Education Department and distributed by the NIE Institute. I have posted below an article from the tab called Parents: The Biggest Influence.
Parents: The Biggest Influence
Not Your Kids? Here’s How to Make Sure! Could you be the parent of a drug abuser? If your immediate reaction is “Not my kid!” you’ve got company. Even kids who are not guilty of any wrongdoing become protective of their privacy during adolescence, and their parents expect this part of growing up. However, kids are masters at hiding what they don’t want you to see. It can take some detective work to be sure your children aren’t abusing drugs or alcohol.
You may have secretly searched his or her room and been relieved not to find any drug paraphernalia. You’ve monitored your child’s My Space or You-Tube or Facebook site and haven’t found any alarming pictures or posts? That could be a good sign. But prescription medications have now become the drug of choice for many teens. Approximately one in five teenagers has reported abusing a prescription medicine, and one in 10 has reported having abused cough medicine. When they combine either with alcohol, the game gets more dangerous.
Here are some tips and suggestions for protection and detection:
•Educate yourself. Learn the slang terms that kids use to describe cough medicine abuse, like Dex, Robo and Triple-C.
•Safeguard medicines at home. Monitor your medicine cabinet and note which products you have and how many.
•Properly throw away medicine that you are no longer using in the trash. It is not wise to keep medicine, such as pain medicines, around for when you might need them in another instance. In the majority of those situations, medicine will have expired or is not the right medicine for your specific injury or ailment. It is always best to consult with your healthcare provider and stay away from self-diagnosing or self-prescribing.
•Communicate with your teen. Talk to your teens about all types of drug abuse, including prescription drug and cough medicine abuse. Studies have shown that kids whose parents discuss the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse with them are 50% less likely to use either.
•Teach your kids to respect medicines. Remind your children that it is never safe to abuse prescription and OTC medicines, use someone else’s medications, and it is not OK to do it even just once. Young people are dying or becoming seriously dependent on a variety of drugs.
•Monitor your teens’ Internet usage. Many websites promote medicine abuse, either by providing instructions, abuser communication groups or videos. Always be aware of what your teenagers are doing online.
•Recognize the signs of medicine abuse. The warning signs include missing or empty bottles or packages of prescription or over-the-counter medicines and changes in behavior. If your teen takes medications, you should be in control and dole out the necessary amount.
•Get to know your child’s friends and their parents. Listen carefully when your child talks to his or her friends. If you have a gut instinct that a new friend is less than trustworthy, be extra vigilant.
•Double check. As an extra check, have your child call you during the party at a prearranged time—for example, about four hours after the party begins. If you get the “None of the other kids have to do that” response, insist that they can’t go to the party unless they agree to call. Let them know that if you don’t hear from them, you will be calling the house yourself. If they know they will be talking to you at some point during the evening, they may be less likely to drink or take drugs for fear you will be able to “tell.”
•Wait up (or wake up) when your child comes home in the evening. Knowing you’ll be there for “check in” can be a great deterrent to unwise behavior. Have a brief conversation about how the evening went. Watch for signs of odd or unexplained behavior such as slurred speech, unsteady walk or dizziness, sweating, nausea, dilated pupils, drowsiness, vomiting, and numbness of extremities.
•Be a good role model. Don’t abuse drugs or alcohol yourself.
•Most important: TALK. You have undoubtedly seen television and magazine ads advising you to talk to your kids about drugs. Studies have shown that kids whose parents discuss the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse with them are 50% less likely to use either. For suggestions on how to do this, see “How to Talk to Your Kids: Teachable Moments” that follows.
While it would be nice if parents could trust their teenagers 100%, it’s a bit unrealistic to do so. Peer pressure is the driving force of much adolescent behavior. Most kids want to feel that they’re part of the group, and it can be hard not to cave in to fit in. While these steps are not easy or pleasant, helping your child make drug- and alcohol-free choices is well worth the effort. Years down the road, they will thank you for doing the right thing today.
How to Talk to Your Kids: Teachable Moments
Notice the word “moments” in the title? That’s because a one-time conversation is not likely to be effective. Just as occasions arise to reinforce math or reading skills, there are particularly good opportunities to talk about drugs and alcohol.
When you’re driving with your teen, you’ve got a captive audience. An activity you enjoy together, whether it’s fishing or jogging, sets a positive tone for a talk. You might kick it off with a remark about a drug or alcohol related accident or other incident, or a conversation you had with friends about their child’s addiction problems and how difficult it has been for the family.
Newspapers and television also offer teachable moments. Nearly every day there is a story about a drunk driver who has been arrested or an incident related to drugs or alcohol. Television documentaries about drugs present another teachable moment. Watch them together, and discuss them afterwards. Ask your kids questions that require more than a one word answer. For example, ask “Why do you suppose the boy in that story took all those pills?” instead of “Shouldn’t he have known better?”
Remember, whenever and wherever your talks, they should be two-way conversations, not a lecture. Make your family position on drugs and alcohol clear, but show plenty of love and concern—not anger or suspicion. Try for an “open forum” feeling, where everyone feels free to express their opinions and feelings.
When should you have your first talk with your teen? As soon as you can. Be on the lookout for the first teachable moment. Then look for another one. And another. Keep talking.
Take a moment to think about all the people who care about you. There’s probably a very long list of concerned individuals. Your parents, your brothers and sisters, your aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, friends, teachers, doctors, neighbors. — Whew! That’s an awful lot of caring. You’re in very good hands!
Now it’s time to give back to the world some of that caring. Having compassion, understanding and respect for others is a good place to start. Acting responsibly and doing the right thing is next in line. This 8-page character ed guide has many activities to make learning about caring fun. It was produced by Project Solution & the Washington Times and distributed by the NIE Institute.
Download by clicking on the following link: http://legacy.grandforksherald.com/pdfs/Caring%203-7.pdf
Happy Father’s Day! We know this is the one day of the year that dads are supposed to take it easy, but we wanted to stretch your brain a little. Here are some trivia questions to test your knowledge on this Father’s Day. — Jody Mitori, MCT and David Thomas, McClatchy Newspapers
These students (who will be entering grades 1-3 in the next school year) are participating in a summer creative writing class taught by Laura Knox, kindergarten teacher at Viking Elementary in GF. The students came to the Herald to learn about writing and reporting the news. They were even equipped with pencils and notebooks.
Check out their blog by clicking on the following link: http://classblogmeister.com/blog.php?blog_id=1349003&blogger_id=262314
Reporter Ann Bailey shows the kids a newspaper article she wrote.
Reporter Chuck Haga talks to the kids about working for a newspaper.
