NY Times Children's Book of the Day in August

                                            




NY Times Children's Book of the Day:

The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli

Since summer is still here, I wanted to review a book that I thought was refreshing and funny for kids. It's called The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli. This book is cute and fun natured. It's all about a crocodile who is scared to eat a watermelon because of a possible fear of the seed growing in his belly. I want to share this book with my Kindergarten class because its a short story that they can follow along to as I point to the large words on the page. This helps them with sight words. You could also use this book for choral reading.They are exposed to strategies like predicting what might happen if the the crocodile accidentally ends up eating a watermelon seed! This book has wonderful colorful illustrations. I just have to explain to them that a seed cannot grow in your belly if you do end up eating a watermelon seed! 

http://www.whataboutwatermelon.com/index.php/2013/05/3639/

After the book, you could ask the students what their favorite fruit is to eat. 
You could also compare and contrast different fruits and have them think about the fruits with seeds and what they look like inside. 
Here is a recipe for a Watermelon Juice I recently made!



Watermelon Juice:

1. 1/2 Watermelon
2. 1 Lemon sliced
3.  Handful of fresh Mint (optional)

This is a great refreshing mildly sweet summer drink. I start with slicing the watermelon in half. 
Half of the watermelon is pretty sufficient. Cut the watermelon into cubes and toss them 
into your juicer. I prefer most of the rind, just make sure to cut the very green part off. 
The rind is full of nutrients for your body. I then take the sliced lemon and toss it into the juicer. It is ok to leave the seeds in the watermelon. Remember, the seeds will not hurt you, a watermelon will not be growing inside of you! 

I then take the mint and put it in the juicer. 
This is a great juice to beat the summer heat! 
If you have some watermelon juice left over, 
get out a popcicle tray and freeze the 
leftovers for a tasty watermelon popsicle! 

Back to School

Hello Everyone!

 This weekend was a major task to clean and organize my belongings before I begin teaching. I really feel so much better about my life when I shed unwanted clothing and gadgets that I don't use anymore. I feel refreshed and ready to take on the world! I usually do this cleaning after each season. This helps me transition into each of the four seasons easier and takes unwanted stress off of having to look for things. Being organized is the first step into clearing your mind and getting ready for new experiences ahead.

 My grandmother Lillian introduced this practice to me and my sister growing up. Thank god I still do this! Since I am a lover of style and clothing, it helps me put together my ensembles quicker for the day ahead. If I am transitioning from summer to fall, I usually begin bringing out more of my fall clothes and storing the summer things. I go with the rule, if you haven't worn it within a year, toss it! This eliminates unnecessary clutter and allows me more free time to do whatever else I need to accomplish! Not only do I feel better about myself, the things that I no longer use are going to someone else in need. Here is just a glimpse into my organized dresser!

It's the little things in life that make me smile!