Book Review ~ Wayside School Series

Title: Wayside School
Series

Author: Louis Sacher

Accelerated Reader (AR) Level: 3 (worth 3-4 points)

Ages that Will Enjoy the Book: 8 - 12

Movie Version Available: Yes (animated – not really a common movie though, also a weekly cartoon)

Review: I love to read these books with my class. They are so animated and full of child-like imagination. Kids love to imagine all of the nonsense that goes on in Wayside School. Kids will laugh their way through the entire series. I must admit that I enjoy it as well. It is a nice story for kids who are just starting out on chapter books because each chapter is a standalone story. It makes a large undertaking like beginning a chapter book, more possible since it can be done in small steps.

Also by Louis Sachar

Test Taking Tip ~ Multiple choice

More and more, tests are becoming multiple choice. It is a great idea to give your kids a few pointers on how to test well. Obviously, it's not a great idea to guess on your tests, but if your child can not come up with the answer, then it is nice to have an idea of how to pick wisely.

One thing to pay attention to on multiple choice is distracters. The wrong answers are called distracters, for obvious reasons. Often, two or three of the answers will be very similar or have quite a bit in common. That way if you are close to the right answer, but not 100% sure, the similar answers make it a bit more difficult. However, if you have no idea of where to head on the answer, this can help you as well. Look for the answers that have some similarity. That should help narrow your choice just a bit. It will most likely be one of those answers. This technique may increase your odds to a 50/50 or one out of three.

Website Review ~ Hippo Campus

Website: http://www.hippocampus.org/
Appropriate for ages: 8 and up    
Helps with: Math, Science, Government, History, Psychology, and Statistics    

Review: This website is a great tool. You can search through all of the topics listed above and find video lessons on hundreds of subtopics. For example, you can search U.S. History and find videos of most major historical events. Additionally, you can switch to the textbook tab and search through quite a few textbooks. Each textbook includes a list of topics to help you find what you are looking for quickly. This site is very easy to navigate through and holds a wealth of information.

Memorization Tip ~ Rhyming Phrases

When you are memorizing information, creating a rhyming phrase can really help you remember something. I find myself thinking "30 days hath September, April, June, and November..." any time that I need to know if a month has 30 or 31 days. Another example is, "In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue." Recalling this information is easy because I know a little rhyme to help me remember it. I have applied this to help me study for numerous tests (especially history with all of its facts and dates.) Maybe next time you help your child study for a test, you can come up with some sort of rhyming phrase to help him remember the information.

Book Review ~ Shadow Children Series

Title: Shadow Children Series (Among the Hidden)

Author: Margaret Peterson Haddix

Accelerated Reader (AR) Level: 4-5 (worth 5-7 points)

Ages that Will Enjoy the Book: 12-15

Movie Version Available: no

Review: I really enjoyed these books. They are full of suspense and plot twists. They are written on the fourth and fifth grade level, but use caution before giving them to children that age. I know a few fourth graders that love this series, but many students that age would not be ready for them yet. They are set in a future society where government leaders have decided that there is not enough food. To "fix" this problem, they decree that each family may only have two children. The series follows several children who were born into families already having two children. They must, consequently, live in hiding or get a new identity. The children, their families, and their supporters try to change the government so all children can be safe. Some situations may be too intense for younger children. However, if your kids are old enough to handle these books, they are very well written. Readers will be kept on the edge of their seats at all times.

Also by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Teach Me

Next time you have been working on a skill or concept with your child, have him try to "teach you" the material. This is a great way to assess if your child has grasped the concept or not. If a child can teach it back to you, then he has truly mastered what he was learning. It is also a great way to find areas that still need a little polish. Children usually like to feel like they are teaching an adult something new, so it should not be too hard to get your child to cooperate. Ask questions to make sure he explores all areas of the material in his lesson. Obviously, this idea will not work too well if the student has not understood the material himself. So, make sure you cover it thoroughly before having him teach it back to you.

Website Review ~ Kids Health

Website: http://kidshealth.org/index.html
Appropriate for ages: 8 and up
Helps with: Learning about health

Review: This website has individual pages for parents, kids, and teens. The site provides articles about health as well as ideas for science experiments and health related puzzles. The kids' site is very age appropriate. I think that kids might enjoy some of the puzzles. Also, I think this site would be very helpful if a student needs to do any research relating to health. There are lots of articles to read and a glossary of medical terms.