My Family Rocks...and Rolls

             I have a blended family. Not many people know what that is or how it works out. So I'll explain how my blended family works. Being part of my family makes my life truly exciting. I have been an official step mom to my boys for about 5 years (but part of the family for about 10 years). I am also a new mother of a two year old named Dante. Our house is full of boys and a perfect balance between responsibilities and play time. The dynamic between my husband Todd and I keep our home functioning smoothly. As a mother figure to a 16 year old  and a 12 year old, I need to be very involved with football, other televised sports, need to have knowledge of new videos on Youtube, and be active enough to play some kickball. I also need excellent eye-hand coordination for  any spontaneous gaming opportunities. My husband and I spend our time off singing baby songs, reciting nursery rhymes, changing diapers, kissing boo-boos and handling loads of house work!
The best thing about my family is the different happenings-daily. Sometimes it’s teen troubles or project and homework help, or my toddler is getting into trouble somewhere in the house. But no matter what Dad and I are an unstoppable team! We have even nick named ourselves the GT-UNIT, which is a Gina and Todd well oiled machine. It is a life full of quality, rather than quantity. Todd is so much an active part of his children’s lives I often have to stop him in his tracks much like a yield sign just to steal a kiss. Todd is a phenomenal father, the best I have ever seen. He is  a cool guy who has several amazing qualities. We have joint custody of our boys. We have them 4 nights a week. He and I see them everyday, and we love it! To make our time fun and productive we have special days we have incorporated into our lives.
             We have “Morning Mondays” which is when we are all up getting ready for our day at the same time. Big brothers help with our little guy. As I’m getting ready for the day, Dad’s preparing breakfast, snacks, and bringing boys to school. Tuesdays are “Try- new-Tuesdays”. If not for this day we’d be eating mac and cheese or chicken nuggets with no variations from that kind of meal ever. It’s squash we are trying this Tuesday, not sure that’ll be a hit but who knows. Wednesday’s are “At Work Wednesday”, the boys would head with dad to work but now they stay home with me. Thursday’s will sometimes be our movie night. We take turns picking movies. I’m thinking of showing Twilight at my next turn. Love story stuff is my favorite! We have “Feel Good Friday”, which consists of nice dinner talk. We do an activity where we take turns saying something nice about everyone and we feel good afterward. We have family game night Saturdays when we can. Big brother will read Dante to bed, then we play a game! Sundays we try to get to church. This blended family is fantastic! It’s so amazing how we all work so well together, Dad and I are always on the same page while our baby plays with his big bro’s; that is why my family rocks and rolls!

Blended ('blend)- to blend and mix, to put things together with typically good results. A combination of things that become one to exist as one.Verb.

Balance (ˈbalənst)- fairly proportioned. Equal and even parts. Taking all aspects of something into consideration to make something that is well proportioned. Adjective.

Dynamic- (dīˈnamik)- a force that makes something change and progress. A process of evolution and a system that shows progressive growth in an area. Adjective.

Spontaneous (spänˈtānēəs)- all of a sudden an opportunity. A unsuspecting occurrence. 

A time frame where something happens once and a while. Something that happens at random. unplanned activity. Adjective.

Machine (məˈSHēn)- something with many parts that together function properly. Parts of a whole that work effectively together to preform a task. Noun.

Quality (ˈkwä-lə-tē) - the value of something. The degree of greatness. How good or bad something can be. A feature or characteristic that describes something or someone. Noun.

Quantity (ˈkwäntətē)- the amount of something. A way to measure something but usually not by an actual measurement system. Noun.

Several (ˈsev(ə)rəl)- more than two but not many more. Something that has a countable amount greater than two. Determiner and pronoun.

Joint- something that is shared by two or more people. Two parties that work together as one. Adjective.

Productive (prəˈdəktiv)- to make or create an abundance of something. Producing or able to make more of something and to accumulate some item. Achieving an abundance in a progressive manor. Adjective.

Variations (ve(ə)rēˈāSHən) - the difference and change in something with known boundaries. A shift or change in the normal order of something. a different version of something.

Practice: Unscramble each word, read hints for help.

1. ytilauq                          

(hint: how good or bad something is)

2. tnioj

(hint: together)

3. veresla

(hint: more than two but not many)

4. emacinh

(hint: something with many parts that run well together)

5. endedlb

(hint: mixed together)

6. dnamyci

(hint: a system that shows progression)

7. blanced

(hint: even and fairly distributed)

8. senapontsou

(hint: suddenly and without a plan, at random)

9. qantyitu

(hint: the amount of something)

10. sariationv

(hint: differences and change in something)

11. vetiprocud

(hint: the ability to produce or create an abundance of something)

 It is not uncommon for families to exist in many different forms, such as being a blended family. Knowing more about different types of families helps people to better understand each other and those in their community.

http://www.focusonthefamily.com/lifechallenges/relationship_challenges/blended_families.aspx

Grammar point: I used quotation marks in the paragraph above because the days in my week have different titles. Make sure you know when and how to use quotation marks. The first thing to remember is that quotation marks are always used in pairs. Quotations marks are used to set off spoken language or titles of things that do not normally stand by themselves.

Exercise: Look inside of newspapers and magazines and cut out 3 examples of a place where quotation marks are being used. Try to find quotation marks being used to reveal the title of something and an example of when dialogue and spoken language is being used.

A DAY IN DAYCARE

             The importance of being an early childhood educator/childcare professional is more difficult than some may think. Being a childcare provider is a complicated job. A childcare professional must be a  person with elaborate multitask skills and patience. Being able to multitask is among one of the requirements to keep the day running smoothly. Many feel that what I do is just babysitting but the events that occur daily leave me utterly exhausted by mid-day. The day usually starts with a few high energy children with separation anxiety who need to first be changed out of their pajamas and into their clothing during the preparation of breakfast. What a morning routine consists of is coercing picky eaters to have a few more bites of their breakfast, diaper changes or bathroom trips, structured play area activities, and getting older children off to school on time. Parents require my attention too each morning. They need to know how much they owe me, if their child can stay late, switch a day, and if there are diapers left. I receive all kinds of other random thoughts, questions and concerns each morning. After mothers and fathers finally leave I need to construct, demonstrate and aide children in doing a theme related art project. I also perform a 30-45 minute circle time consisting of many games, fun ideas, and songs that help teach my little ones their ABC's and 123's, along with many other concepts. There is plenty of bad singing (on my part) throughout the day and constant creative teaching. I do have a few helping hands who sometimes need more help than they provide. It is occasionally difficult to get the adults to stop chatting or texting and engage the children. I need to constantly monitor what the others are doing to help maintain a safe and healthy learning environment. 

            Lunchtime and nap are action packed moments where we heat up, set out, and get ready all of the individual requirements of each child's meal time and rest time items. Many children have a pacifier, special blanket, or very specific sleep time ritual. I once had to stroll a 3 year old in a stroller back and forth inside until he fell asleep and then transfer that child to the rest mat. Some children go to sleep with bottles and I have to make sure to take them away when they fall asleep, rinse them and send them home. There are lunch bags, back packs, extra clothing, special toys, and so many personal items to keep track of each day. There is also homework to do after school afternoon children.

           In the evening there is usually another art project, have an afternoon snack, some children even have dinner with before leaving to go home. We also spend time outdoors towards the end of the day. We might go on a nature walk or take a trip to the playground. The events of the day are almost always fun, exciting, and interesting. We play pretend, teach, give hugs, and love all children. We sooth the worries of parents, keep children comfortable, and we patch up playground boo-boos. It is not an easy job- but it is a rewarding one.

                                                                         

Words to explore:

1. complicated, (ˈkämpləˌkātid) -  having many parts, something difficult, twisted, interconnecting pieces,tangled, complex. Adjective

2. elaborate, (iˈlab(ə)rit)- complicated, detailed, having complexity, involved, carefully arranged pieces. Adjective

3. utterly (ˈətərlē), - totally or completely, all together, fully, absolutely.

Adverb

4. anxiety (aNGˈzī-itē)- feeling nervous, worry, concern, uneasy, or fearful. Noun

5. coercing (kōˈərs)- trying to convince, to persuade an unwilling person to do something.Verb

6. construct (kənˈstrəkt)- to create, to make, to build. Verb

7. engage (enˈgāj)- to become involved in, occupy, attract,  to speak and communicate with ( with a person), to look at and interact with. Verb

8. monitor (ˈmänətər)- to watch, to look over, to follow and keep track of progress, observe. Verb 

9. specific (spəˈsifik)-  a precise detail or part, something that stands out or alone from a group. One kind. Noun

10. exciting (ikˈsītiNG)- something that creates a positive emotion awaiting something, enthusiasm, to be made eager, feeling greatly or very interested. Adjective

For some fun practice recognizing new words:

                  A  DAY  IN  DAY CARE

W T F T E N E U X N P A Z M M 
T L M C U X K G E N N Y G Y J 
M Z Y U E B C M A X R G Y D H 
T R F R H T E I I G N J P H V 
L O A T B V A E T I N G O T D 
R P F S H V T R C I L E U U I 
M O M N L Y S R O F N S M T A 
N M G O N O E X Q B P G V T S 
L O B C G O X Q Y K A B I E P 
I S P E C I F I C U X L W R U 
T D E T A C I L P M O C E L C 
R O T I N O M B E W E X R Y Q 
G S P H R W Z N X Q R C N V F 
J K I J Z J J W B U F A O T H 
C R H D R Z T A E C V S V K I 

ANXIETY
COERCING
COMPLICATED
CONSTRUCT
ELABORATE
ENGAGE
EXCITING
MONITOR
SPECIFIC
UTTERLY

 Childcare environments can be challenging but childcare professionals can rise to any occasion. Many childcare environments have ESL children in their classrooms. There are resources to help early childhood educators be more prepared and prepare their immigrant students to learn.

Here is a link to find out more and educate others about ESL children in a daycare setting.

http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?ArticleId=475 

Grammar point: The paragraph above describes many things so the use of commas are many.Commas are a frequently used punctuation mark. Commas are usually used to demonstrate a pause in the sentence. Commas are used to separate word groups in a set of three or more items. Example: Many children have a pacifier, special blanket, or very specific sleep time ritual.
Commas can be used in many other ways. One other way is to separate two adjectives that are interchangeable.

Exercise: Can you write 5 sentences about your day at work where you use commas appropriately?

Weekend Mall Trip

Shopping At The Mall:

There are many reasons to make a trip to the mall. I make a trip to the mall more frequently because I live so close to it and I have several reasons to visit besides to shop. I pay bills at the mall to satisfy debts of past shopping experiences. I will also go to the Walmart in the mall to locate better deals and discounts on food items that I do not normally find in the local supermarket. The mall also offers eye brow threading which I stop in to get when I need to maintain my appearance and personal hygiene. An entire Sunday could be spent in the mall when I want to take my son to an indoor playground and the weather is bad. I also occasionally use the children’s barber shop by the Sears department store for his hair cuts. My son Dante also really loves the big indoor fish pond, and last time he had a haircut he enjoyed a lollipop while watching the fish swim. Another one of my favorite things to do at the mall is have lunch in the food court with friends. I feel that the food court is a social spot that has a variety of lunch and dinner choices. I did notice that the prices are a little expensive but it is the convenience and location of the food court that makes it popular. I do not always have the extra money to go shopping, but when I do I head to the local mall for all my shopping needs. The mall is a fun and social place, has so much to offer, and I enjoy my time there with my son Dante on occasional weekends.

***WORDS TO LEARN***
1. Frequently- often, repeated, something that is done all of the time
/ˈfrēkwəntlē/ (adverb)

2. Several- more than one of something, but not many, having a few
/sev(ə)rəl/ (pronoun)

3. Satisfy- to fulfill (a desire or need), to meet the needs of something. To gratify the requirements of something.
/ˈsatisˌfī/ (verb)

4. Locate- to find a place, to discover the position of.
/ˈlōˌkāt,lōˈkāt/ (verb)


5. Maintain- to keep something the same, to stay without changing, sustain, continue, support.
 /mānˈtān/ (verb)

6. Occasionally- sometimes, now and then, every so often, infrequently, once and a while, on ocassion.
/əˈkāZHənl-ē/ (adverb)

7. Variety- different, diverse, variation of something
/vəˈrīətē/ (noun)

8. Convenience- something done easily, something that takes little effort, simple to do
/kənˈvēnyəns/ (noun)


Practice:
Choose from the words above. The word that best completes each sentence.

1. Some people eat healthy in order to __________ their good health.
(hint: People who are healthy will try to support their good health)

2. Many people will _______________ an address by using a GPS device instead of a map.
(hint: When someone has not been somewhere before they need to find the place some how)

3. You may find a good coupon _____________ that will make a sale item even cheaper.
(hint: It does not happen often that a sale item will be discounted even more)

4. Many holiday shoppers will go to the mall ____________ during the holiday season.
(hint: Some may return repeatedly to the mall before they are done with their holiday shopping)

5. There is a _____________ of shoes to pick from when you are in the Macy's shoe department.
(hint: Everyone has a different fashion sense and may need many options to find what is right for them)

6. When you are feeling tired of walking the mall all day you may need to stop at Starbucks to____________ a need for some coffee.
(hint: Many people need caffeine to fulfill their need for more energy)

7. There are __________ clothing stores in the mall but there are also jewelry stores, shoe stores, and restaurants.
(hint: Shoppers have a few good options to find the outfit they are looking for.)

8. Shoppers will use the______________ of the elevator instead of the stairs because there are so many stores to visit on three different floors.
(hint: Elevators are an easy and quick way to get to multiple stores in less time. They are simple to locate and use.)

The mall is a social place which has several cultural aspects; to learn more check out this article on the subject;

http://www.canberra.edu.au/media-centre/2012/august/shopping-malls

Grammar point; What do you think a verb is? A verb is a part of speech that describes an action. Examples: run, walk, stand, sit, bring, offer, carry.

Exercise: Read the paragraph above (print paragraph) and circle all of the verbs I used. Can you write a paragraph about a shopping trip you have taken that includes at least 10 verbs?