On the bookshelf

On the Bookshelf May blossoms with books

‘Be You!’ By Peter H. Reynolds

A joyful celebration of the ways that every child is unique and special that reminds readers to “be your own work of art.” Be patient, persistent and true. Because there is one, and only one, YOU. Orchard Books

‘Superluminous’ By Ian De Haes

Nour loves the luminous glow she was born with, but it’s only when it starts to dim that she discovers the true power of her brilliant light. Annick Press

‘Goodnight, Veggies’ By Diana Murray and Zachariah OHora

A sleepy bedtime story set in a community garden depicts a friendly earthworm who observes the nighttime rituals of tuckered-out tomatoes, cuddly cauliflowers and potatoes with closing eyes. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

CANCELLED

It is with a sad heart that we announce the cancellation of our

May 30th Lupine Fest.

We greatly appreciate all of your support and the efforts of our vendors each year to make our festival a wonderful community event. We are looking forward to that continued support and resuming our festival next year.

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We still plan to celebrate spring in a creative way. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for some fun upcoming activities.

AlbanyPineBush.org

STEM: It’s not just for school

Everyday moments can introduce children to science, technology, engineering and math concepts

Everyone says that STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) is SO important – kids will have many more job opportunities if they follow a STEM career path. But people who develop an interest in STEM need to be exposed to STEM in order to develop that interest. Kids who’ve had some exposure to STEM are much more open to considering science and technology

by

Patrick McNamara

when they choose their classes in middle and high school. But how can we expose our kids to STEM?

First step – don’t call it STEM – it makes it sound like an assignment. Help kids see that science, technology, engineering and math are everywhere, Continued on Page 7

Cooking with your kids and having them help measure ingredients is a great way to expose them to fractions and other STEM concepts.

and that they interact with it daily without making it sound like school or a major life decision. 1. We all use math and science all the time. When you cook with your child (and you should cook with your child), incorporate math by letting him or her measure the ingredients and figure out how much to put in when you double the recipe. Fractions make more sense for many students when they can physically see how two ¼ cups of flour is the same as one ½ cup of flour. 2. Problem solving is an everyday experience. A key component to STEM education is understanding how to solve a problem. Use everyday opportunities to challenge your kids to think through a problem. Challenge your kids to come up with a resolution to the problem. If it gets too frustrating, support them by helping them break it down into smaller steps. Learning how to break problems down to manageable pieces is applicable in every subject, and yet many students don’t grasp that breaking a problem down is the first step to solving it. 3. Encourage experimenting. Give your child permission to take things apart – an old computer in pieces can really open up an interest in how things n Learning Center continued from Page 6

work. A quick Google search can help them understand how to put it back together. But circle back and get them to explain what they discovered. Great toys like LEGO and K’NEX lead kids to build amazing structures and objects. When your child builds that amazing roller coaster, ask him or her to explain how the pieces work. Have your child show you what he or she did. 4. Go outside. STEM isn’t just screens and machines, math problems and code. Engage your kids with STEM while you’re outside. Ask them – before they ask you – why is the sky blue? Have them look at the structure of plants and leaves. Talk about the weather. How does it feel before the rain? Why is it usually darker when it rains? Work together to plan and build a garden. Discuss what they want to plant and why. And together, watch the plants grow – make a point of observing everything regularly and ask your kids to predict how big the plant will be next week, or when the flowers will bloom or when the tomatoes will ripen. If you’re really looking to increase learning opportunities, chart it out!

Engaging with your kids and getting them to notice the world around them – how things were built, how they work and why they work, and even encouraging them to think about how to change it or make it better, is what STEM is all about! Simply pointing out some of those things we all take for granted can spark that awareness and promote a STEM interest in our children.

Patrick McNamara is the Executive Director of Sylvan Learning of Albany and Clifton Park, which provides tutoring services and academic coaching (www.SylvanLearning.com).

First step – don’t call it STEM – it makes it sound like an assignment. Help kids see that science, technology, engineering and math are everywhere, and that they interact with it daily without making it sound like school or a major life decision

7.0 in. Listen to Parent Pages columnist Jodie Fitz read her book “Fidget Grows a Pizza Garden” or meet the new character Sip and download a hydration chart at jodiefitz.com.

Online fun with an educational twist

It can be tough to keep busy as the weeks in pandemic-related isolation drag on. And parents who are trying to help their children stay sharp while they are learning at home, might be running out of ways to keep them engaged.

Parent Pages columnist Jodie Fitz has got some ideas! On her website, she’s sharing a number of free online activities related to her book “Fidget Grows a Pizza Garden,” about a girl who is very excited to grow a garden but is surprised when the tomatoes ripen and she realizes she isn’t actually growing a pizza. Visit jodiefitz.com/storytime to watch a video of Jodie reading the story and download coloring sheets, recipes and pizza fraction activities.

Also on her website, she introduces a brand-new character, Sip, who encourages kids to stay hydrated – something that is easy to forget when you are stuck at home. On Sip’s page (jodiefitz.com/sips-page), you’ll find lots of great resources and information for parents, a coloring activity and a downloadable kid-friendly water tracking chart that will encourage kids to drink more water – one sip at a time.

Cooking together as a family is a good way to bond and relieve the stress of stay-at-home monotony. At jodiefitz.com, you’ll find so many great recipes that even the littlest of kitchen helps can be a part of, like Apple Pie Parfaits and Butterfly Quesadillas.

People often find comfort in food when times are tough, and Jodie’s website offers a number of food-related activities to keep little minds and bodies busy. Let’s Cook! writer shares activities and more on her website

#DanceLikeaDad