Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Almanacs “Helping Your Child With Homework - WATE” plus 4 more

Almanacs “Helping Your Child With Homework - WATE” plus 4 more

Helping Your Child With Homework - WATE

Posted: 28 Oct 2009 06:03 AM PDT

Children need to know that their parents and adults close to them think homework is important. If they know their parents care, children have a good reason to complete assignments and turn them in on time. There is a lot that you can do to show that you value education and homework.

Set a Regular Time.
Finding a regular time for homework helps children finish assignments. The best schedule is one that works for your child and your family. What works well in one household may not work in another. Of course, a good schedule depends in part on your child's age, as well as individual needs. For instance, one youngster may work best in the afternoon after an hour of play, and another may be more efficient after dinner (although late at night, when children are tired, is seldom a good time).

Outside activities, such as sports or music lessons, may mean that you need a flexible schedule. Your child may study after school on some days and in the evening on others. If there isn't enough time to finish homework, your child may need to drop some outside activity. Homework must be a high priority.

You'll need to work with your elementary school child to develop a schedule. An older student can probably make up a schedule independently, although you'll want to make sure it's a good one. It may help to write out the schedule and put it in a place where you'll see it often, such as the refrigerator door.

Some families have a required amount of time that children must devote to homework or some other learning activity each school night (the length of time can vary depending upon the child's age). For instance, if your seventh-grader knows she's expected to spend an hour doing homework, reading, or visiting the library, she may be less likely to rush through assignments so that she can watch television. A required amount of time may also discourage her from "forgetting" to bring home assignments and help her adjust to a routine.

Pick a Place.
A study area should have lots of light, supplies close by, and be fairly quiet.
A study area doesn't have to be fancy. A desk in the bedroom is nice, but for many youngsters the kitchen table or a corner of the living room works just fine.

Your child may enjoy decorating a special study corner. A plant, a brightly colored container to hold pencils, and some favorite artwork taped to the walls can make study time more pleasant.

Remove Distractions.
Turn off the television and discourage social telephone calls during homework time. (A call to a classmate about an assignment may, however, be helpful.)

Some youngsters work well with quiet background music, but loud noise from the stereo or radio is not OK. One Virginia junior high school history teacher laments, "I've actually had a kid turn in an assignment that had written in the middle, `And George Washington said, "Ohhhhh, I love you."' The kid was so plugged into the music that he wasn't concentrating."

If you live in a small or noisy household, try having all family members take part in a quiet activity during homework time. You may need to take a noisy toddler outside or into another room to play. If distractions can't be avoided, your child may want to complete assignments in a nearby library.

Provide Supplies and Identify Resources.
For starters, collect pencils, pens, erasers, writing paper, an assignment book, and a dictionary. Other things that might be helpful include glue, a stapler, paper clips, maps, a calculator, a pencil sharpener, tape, scissors, a ruler, index cards, a thesaurus, and an almanac. Keep these items together in one place if possible. If you can't provide your child with needed supplies, check with the teacher, school guidance counselor, or principal about possible sources of assistance.
For books and other information resources, check with the school library or local public library. Some libraries have homework centers designed especially to assist children with school assignments (there may even be tutors and other kinds of individual assistance).

These days many schools have computers in classrooms, and many households have personal computers. However, you don't have to have a computer in your home in order for your child to complete homework assignments successfully.

You may want to ask the teacher to explain school policy about the use of computers--or typewriters or any special equipment--for homework. Certainly, computers can be a great learning tool and helpful for some assignments. They can be used for word processing and on-line reference resources, as well as educational programs and games to sharpen skills. Some schools may offer after-school programs where your child can use the school computers. And many public libraries make computers available to children.

Set a Good Example.
Children are more likely to study if they see you reading, writing, and doing things that require thought and effort on your part. Talk with your child about what you're reading and writing even if it's something as simple as making the grocery list. Tell them about what you do at work. Encourage activities that support learning--for example, educational games, library visits, walks in the neighborhood, trips to the zoo or museums, and chores that teach a sense of responsibility.

Show an Interest.
Make time to take your child to the library to check out materials needed for homework (and for fun too), and read with your child as often as you can. Talk about school and learning activities in family conversations. Ask your child what was discussed in class that day. If he doesn't have much to say, try another approach. For example, ask your child to read aloud a story he wrote or discuss the results of a science experiment.

Another good way to show your interest is to attend school activities, such as parent-teacher meetings, shows, and sports events. If you can, volunteer to help in the classroom or at special events. Getting to know some classmates and other parents not only shows you're interested but helps build a network of support for you and your child.

(This information is provided by the U.S. Department of Education.)

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Almanac Goulash - Daily Gazette

Posted: 28 Oct 2009 06:31 AM PDT

With autumn upon us and winter right around the corner, it's time to think about adding hearty dishes to the family menu. The 2010 Old Farmer's Almanac is here to help with a robust take on traditional goulash.

GOULASH

1 cup flour
2 tablespoons coarse salt
1 tablespoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons sweet paprika, divided
3 pounds beef stew meat, oxtails, bone-in shanks, or short ribs
4 tablespoons butter, lard, or a combination of the two, plus more if necessary
6 onions, sliced thin
1 tablespoon Hungarian paprika
1 quart stock or broth (any kind)
2 tablespoons orange zest
1/2 cup white wine
2 cups sour cream
egg noodles
butter (optional)
2 teaspoons caraway seeds

Combine the flour, salt, pepper, and 1 tablespoon of sweet paprika. Dredge the meat in the mixture, then sauté in the butter over medium heat in a nonreactive Dutch oven until browned, working in batches if necessary. Use more butter or lard if your pan becomes dry.

Return all of the beef back to the pan, and then add the onions. Stir in the Hungarian paprika, remaining sweet paprika, stock, orange zest, and wine. Simmer over low heat, stirring constantly and incorporating any browned bits into the sauce. Cover and simmer over low heat for 2 to 3 hours, or until the meat is fork-tender.

Check occasionally for liquid, adding more white wine, water, or stock, if necessary. When the meat is cooked, stir in the sour cream and heat through, but do not boil. Prepare the noodles according to the package directions. Serve the goulash over buttered noodles and sprinkle with caraway seeds. Makes 6 to 8 servings.

(Recipe reprinted with permission from the 2010 Old Farmer's Almanac.)

Have a favorite autumn recipe? Email foodforum@dailygazette.net.

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Andrea Lopez - News 4

Posted: 28 Oct 2009 06:38 AM PDT

News

Andrea Lopez

CBS4 reporter Andrea Lopez has a reputation for working hard and she has extensive experience shooting and editing her own news stories.

Many of her reports have won awards from Colorado Broadcasters Association, Colorado Associated Press and Colorado Ski Country USA.  Andrea received the 2002 Gordon Yoder Scholarship to attend the National Press Photographers Association TV NewsVideo Workshop.  She won an Emmy at the 2003 Heartland Regional Annual Emmy Awards for "The Terry Barton Interview," an exclusive interview with the woman who lit Colorado's largest wildfire.

Prior to joining the CBS4 team, Andrea served as a weekend producer, back-up anchor, and reporter at KOAA-TV in Colorado Springs.  She got her start in TV journalism as the News Bureau Chief at KREY-TV, a CBS affiliate in Montrose, Colorado, where she shot, edited and anchored a four-minute nightly newscast.

Andrea holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communications from the University of California at Berkeley and a graduate degree in journalism from Concordia University in Montreal, Canada.

Since graduating from Berkeley in 1993, she has worked as a freelance print journalist publishing articles in magazines such as Bird Watcher's Digest, American Careers, Backhome Magazine and the 2003 Almanac for Farmers & City Folk.  Her first book, "When Raccoons Fall Through Your Ceiling", was published in November of 2002 by the University of North Texas Press.  It focuses on how people can co-exist with wildlife and solve wildlife-related problems.

Before becoming a journalist, Andrea served as a refuge manager at Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation, Inc. in San Antonio, Texas.

Andrea rides horses for a hobby.  She also holds a black belt in Taekwondo, was a member of the Berkeley Taekwondo team for four years, and once trained under former Olympic team coach Sang Lee in Colorado Springs.

During her time in Montrose, Andrea also entered the Montrose Fire Protection District's fire academy and became a state-certified volunteer firefighter.

Some of the best advice she has encountered over the course of her career came from Casey Kasem during the Jerry Lewis MDA telethon in August of 2000.  He said: "Do all that you can do, do as much as you can, it will only give you more options." CBS4 reporter Andrea Lopez has taken that advice to heart!


See the entire news team

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TU: From the blogs - Tulsa World

Posted: 28 Oct 2009 04:37 AM PDT

Eric Bailey: Moving on

What else did a midweek game for Tulsa's football team do for the program?

It's allowed a disappointed fan base to stew for a few extra days.

Like the coaches and players say, it's time to move on. There's still plenty of football to play and a Conference USA championship is still within grasp.

But one final thought (I promise) on the TU meltdown.

Why did this one hurt so much for Tulsa fans? Co-worker Barry Lewis, who has an amazing sports almanac in his brain, researched and said it's only the second time in at least 40 years that the Golden Hurricane has given up a double-digit, fourth-quarter lead in the final seven minutes.

Against UTEP, it was a 24-13 lead surrendered in last week's 28-24 defeat. In John Cooper's finale in 1984, Tulsa led visiting Southwestern Louisiana 17-7 with four minutes left and lost 18-17 on a 45-yard field goal as time expired.

Tulsa fans no doubt hope that this never happens again for another 25 years.

The Picker: TU's unfortunate turn at UTEP

Here's the way you might think football would work. You find out what you do best.

You have all spring to find out what makes the best sense based on talents. Then the players in individual workouts have all summer to perfect their most skillful maneuvers. Then you have all fall as a team to further your abilities so that you give yourself a fighting chance when a game is on the line.

Third-and-3 with victory to be had

versus UTEP.

What does TU do? Run into the middle of a stacked line.

TU scared the big time with multiple formation wide open football, a highly intelligent course of action because when you lack numbers, you can't play it straight and succeed.

Against UTEP, third-and-3, game on: failed rush into an over-populated line.

Read more online at tulsaworld.com/sportsextra

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Canon-McMillan's upset win over Bethel Park in the first-round of the ... - Pennsylvania Almanac

Posted: 28 Oct 2009 05:34 AM PDT


Canon-McMillan's upset win over Bethel Park in the first-round of the WPIAL girls' soccer playoffs

Canon-McMillan upended Bethel Park, 2-0, in a WPIAL Class AAA girls' soccer playoff game on Tuesday evening, Oct. 27, at Bethel Park Stadium.

After a scoreless first half, the Lady Macs exploded for two tallies.

Four minutes and eight seconds into the second half, Taylor Schram dished off to Veronica Rothka. The freshman slipped a goal past Claire LoPresti.

With 11:19 to play, Schram again combined with Rothka for an insurance tally.

Ashley Hull recorded the shutout in the nets for the Lady Macs.

In other soccer action, the Peters Township boys blanked Penn-Trafford, 3-0.

Fourteen minutes into the contest, Thaddeus Piscatelli scored off an assist from Nate Troscinski.

Matt Venanzi, off a dish from Jesse Scheirer, made it 2-0 PT at the half with his tally in the 34th minute.

In the 52nd minute, Corey Wilcox tacked on the third tally. Zach Partyka assisted.

Parker Ulrich earned the shutout in goal. He made eight saves.

Earlier in the evening, the Lady Indians blanked Mars, 2-0

Dani Hume and Olivia Robison racked up the goals.

Megan Junker had six saves.


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