Nov

Reading 101

For a student to become a good reader they need:
1) phonemic awareness - the ability to hear, identify & use individual letters sounds or blends
2) symbol imagery - the ability to memorize the symbol for that sound (the letter or letters)
3) concept imagery - the ability to see the big picture or meaning of the word, phrase, sentence

Learning Sight Words

Reading Fluency

Reading Comprehension

Game ideas to help with phonemic awareness to try at home.

Reading & the brain - brain scientists look at why some kids struggle more then others with reading.

Nov 19 - 23

Student Led Conferences

It's that time of year for parents to get a first hand chance to see their child's classroom and to get a glimpse of what daily learning looks like. When I was a child my parents went to the school without me to have a grown up conversation with my teacher about my learning and social skills.  My  mom always though that 15 minutes was way too short to figure out what was happening in my classroom. I was always so nervous waiting for them to get home to hear what was spoken about.

Student led conferences is a nice change from the way things used to be done. the idea is to put the student in charge of the conference. It allows the the children to speak about their own learning and be the expert for mom and dad. If parents have been reading the teacher's weekly blog this is a great chance to ask specific question to their child in regards to the work they are sharing or games they are playing.  Having the chance to discuss with their child what they are most proud of and what are some new goals they have. Children feel empowered as they take responsibility fort heir own learning.

Teachers are lucky enough to get to see another side or their student as well as the parent child interaction during student led conferences. It can shed light on how the family communicates and works together to learn new things or solve problems.

Student Led a Success

Nov 12 - 16

Nutrition and Learning

Good nutrition helps kids show up at school prepared to learn. Failing to provide them with a proper diet puts them at risk of not meeting their potential. I know when I am hungry I find it hard to concentrate, have a short attention span, as well as struggle to process information or complete tasks. This rings true for kids as well.

Tips and encourage your kids to eat healthy:
- allow your child to try a variety of different foods 
- offer nutritious snacks 
- have a balanced breakfast and allow time to eat it
- eat together as a family 
- pack your child’s lunch from home with their help in what they choose
- don’t over react when your child refuses a new food, but try again several times
- let them tell you when they are full
- encourage children to drink plenty of water 
- involve your child with planning and preparing healthy meals

Canada Food Guide Recommendations

Healthy Lunch Ideas

Nov 5 - Nov 9

Being Active

In a previous blog I talked about general strategies to proactively work on your mental health hygiene. Last week I focused on sleep.  This week I am going to look more in depth at the effects and benefits of exercise for both mental and physical health. Exercise is defined as any movement that makes your muscles work and requires your body to burn calories. Exercise can come in many forms.

Benefits of regular exercise:
- can improve you mood and decrease anxiety or depression (produce serotonin hormones)
- helps burn calories to maintain your weight and build muscle
- increases your overall energy level
- promotes blood flow and oxygen that supports healthy skin/ complexion as well as memory and thinking skills
- can help you relax and sleep better

Yoga Benefits:
As you now know my history with and preference for yoga I thought I would outline a few benefits that are associated with that form of exercise:
- improves flexibility and muscle strength
- improves posture and balances
- increases blood flow and can help with circulation 
- relaxes you (slowing your breath and helping you focus)

Benefits of Relaxation / Visualization:
- reduce anxiety, stress, worry and help fight depression or low self-esteem
- helps with sleep disorders
- increases focus, concentration and promotes creativity

"Yoga and meditation are medicine for the mind." - J. Julius

To learn more about the different areas of impact that yoga can have on your life and health please refer to the following article.

8 Limbs of Yoga

Oct 29 - Nov 2

The Importance of Sleep

Children have busy days. School, after school activities, homework, household chores, mobile devices and family activities quickly eat up the hours in a day.  At the end of the evening, they need a break. A good night's sleep allows them to recharge their bodies as well as their minds and be ready for the next day. Sleep in like gas in a car: full in the morning and empty at night
Most children need between 9-11 hours of sleep a night, though some require even more. Without enough rest kids become lethargic, cranky, impatient, have difficulty focusing or maintaining attention and may not even be able to think clearly. Too little sleep can effect growth and the immune system as well.
Lack of sleep. Can it make you sick?

Strategies to catch more ZZZ's:
- establish a daily bed time and a routine
- limit screen time an hr before bed
- have a winding down period before bed
- avoid caffeine or heavy foods before bed
- use the bedroom for sleeping (not for homework or playing games or using the Ipad)
- watching TV close to bedtime has been linked to having difficulty falling asleep, anxiety about sleep and sleeping fewer hours

The following article explains the importance of healthy sleep for children.
A Good Night Sleep

Oct 22 - 26

I have always been interested in  mental health / stress, how it impacts one's life and effective strategies that can be learned  for caring for our mental health.

According to a study done in 2015 by the Mental Health Commission of Canada, 1 in 5 people will experience a mental health disorder in their life time. (1) A person's mental health not only impacts the person directly but family, friends, children and coworkers. Everyone must deal with a certain level of stress or anxiety. Having the skills and tool to deal with these emotions when they arise is one way to proactively work on your mental health hygiene.
https://www.healthyplace.com

Strategies:
1) Developing a network of meaningful relationships helps to increase self confidence and encourages positive experiences.
2) Your body needs to recharge nightly.  Not getting enough sleep effects your ability to focus, your patience level, productivity and your ability to handle stress.
Recommended sleep times
3) Exercise not only tones your muscles but it releases endorphins, the brain’s natural stress reducers. 
Practicing yoga has many mental and health benefits.  It includes mediation, visualization and breathing exercises that encourage relaxation.

4) Food is fuel for your body. Having a well balanced diet ensures you have the "gas" to get through the ups and downs of your day.
Canada Food Guide

Over the following weeks I will be exploring some of these strategies more. If you or someone you know is in need of support please access the following resources:
Canadian Mental Health Association: 403-297-1402
Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868
Distress Centre Calgary:  403-266-HELP (4357)

References:

1. Homewood Health. “Reducing Mental Health Stigma.” Homeweb, Homewood Health, homeweb.ca/articles/590343c17222348a28cfc70a.
   

Oct 15 - 19

Another busy week here at Ranchlands School.  Last week many teachers worked with our Area 1 specialists (complex needs, speech pathologist, physical therapist, occupational therapist) to create new goals for all of our students who are on an individualized program plan (IPP).  These documents will be coming home this week and is your child does have an IPP, you have the opportunity to have a discussion about the document with your child's teacher.

This Friday we are excited to start "Try Something New". All teachers were asked to create an activity/ lesson around something they are passionate about and would like to share with the students at Ranchlands.  Mrs. Lytviak and myself will be running a yoga and meditation session for division I students.  We were excited to see over 40 students sign up to join us.

I started practicing yoga in my early 20's.  As someone with a busy mind I found that yoga, breath work and visualization helped me to calm what I call my monkey mind.  As part of my masters degree I worked on a research project with a fellow classmate of the benefits of meditation and we created an ran a class for adult women at the Grace Women's Centre at Foothills Hospital. I later took my yoga teacher training and received my certification from the Yoga Passage, a downtown yoga studio. I went on to teach both hatha, ashtanga and hot yoga at studios, gyms, businesses (for employees) and private residences.  Though I have not formally taught in years, yoga and mediation has remained a passion of mine.