Weekend Challenge 1/14

Tim is 11 years old. Every year, he gathers with his family for a picnic in the park. The following people came to the picnic this year: one grandfather, one grandmother, two fathers, two mothers, one father-in-law, one mother-in-law, one daughter-in-law, four children, three grandchildren, one brother, two sisters, two sons, and two daughters. But Tim said it wasn't a very big group this year. How many people were at the picnic, and who were they?

Whew! This one took some hard thinking. Can you solve the weekend challenge? How about your children? Students? Post your answers in the comments section. Check back on Monday for the solution.

Have a great weekend!

Weekend Challenge (Solution)

Here is the solution (and a way to find it) to Friday's Weekend Challenge:

Adam is the thief.

Draw a square table to help solve this puzzle. According to the information, Brett and the teacher sit across from each other, and the thief sits to the right of the teacher. The thief is also to the left of the banker - now we know that Brett is the banker. The only profession left is the carpenter, who sits across from the thief. We see that the carpenter sits across from Adam, who must be the thief.

We hope that you enjoyed the Weekend Challenge. Stay tuned to Bridging the Gaps for more fun puzzles. Interested in (LOTS) more? Check this out!

Weekend Challenge

It's Friday! Want to add a little logic to your child's weekend? Present the following challenge to your children:

A group of four people are sitting together at a table. Their names are Adam, Brett, Carol, and Daisy. One of these people is a thief. The other three people include a banker, a teacher, and a carpenter. Using the following clues, figure out which person is the thief!

• The person sitting across from Brett is the teacher.
• The person to Daisy's left is the carpenter.
• The thief is to the right of the teacher.
• The thief is to the left of the banker.
• The carpenter is sitting across from Adam.

Check back Monday for the correct answer.

Parents - don't be afraid to take a stab at this one! You can post your answers in the comments section below.

News for the New Year

We’re a few days late, but we here at Lorenz Educational Press wanted to wish you and yours a very happy 2011!

A new year provides each of us the opportunity to look back on the year that was while looking forward to the year that will be. LEP had a very exciting 2010. We released more than 50 new products. While working hard on new projects for 2011, we created this blog, along with a Facebook page and Twitter feed. These forums have allowed us to interact with you – and what a joy that interaction has been!

2010 was a great year, and we hope to make 2011 even better. A whole new lineup of products is on its way, from reproducible workbooks and poster papers to teaching guides and timelines – there’s something for every parent and teacher. We’ve also got tons of new ideas for the blog, so stay tuned for lots more fun and interesting content.

2011 will be an extremely special year for LEP, as we welcome our first baby! Well, not exactly. Congratulations and best wishes to Bonnie, one of our talented team members. She and her husband are expecting their first child in May!

What was your favorite 2010 highlight? How about your main goal for 2011? Are there any more mothers- or fathers-to-be among our readers? Leave a comment below!

Use Music to Enhance Your Classroom!

Children love music. It makes them laugh. It makes them dance. And it makes them think. The lessons that students learn from music teachers and programs have an ongoing effect on educational development. Think you have the worst musical ear to ever listen? No problem. You can still deliver a first-rate musical education to your students, not matter your training or experience. If you worry that you don’t have time to squeeze musical elements into your busy day, don’t – it’s easy to incorporate music into existing lesson plans and activities.

Why should you include music in your classroom? There are many answers, most with a common theme, and the evidence supporting them is convincing – music will enhance your student’s educational experience. Studies have shown that children who participate in music education score higher on academic tests. Research indicates that musical learning engages both sides of the brain, a vital element of education and development. Music also impacts a child on multiple levels, including the physical, emotional, and spiritual. Music can quite literally change a child’s life. And don’t forget – music is fun!

How can you bring music into your classroom? Here are some easy ideas to get you started:

• Use music to get students thinking creatively. Play some music CDs for your students. Have them respond in some way. You might encourage younger students to move to the music. You could ask them to draw a picture from the music. Or, simply ask children how the music makes them feel, or what it makes them think about. Older students could write a short story or poem from the music, or try writing their own lyrics based on a current topic of study.
• Listening skills developed and reinforced through music education are particularly important for early learners. These skills are an important foundation for communication and understanding. Communication is vital in building strong, healthy communities both in and out of the classroom. Listening to music can even improve your learning space by creating an atmosphere of learning and positive attitudes.
• Develop language arts or public speaking skills while exploring music. Allow students to select a favorite instrument. Have them research the history of the instrument, as well as how it works, and prepare a short written or oral presentation about their findings. Or, let music boost your math lessons. Have younger students count the number of instruments in a band or orchestra. Music elements like rhythm can develop key concepts like number patterns.
• Music has impacted society for centuries. Develop a lesson about the impact of music on history, culture, and entertainment. For example, how did popular music protest or react to certain historical events, like slavery, war, or natural disasters?
• Add music to a classroom celebration. Music is fun, and can upgrade any morning or afternoon. Children will have a blast with popular sing-along songs. Learning and repeating the lyrics will reinforce listening and memorization skills. If you’re up to it, let children play a simple-to-master instrument like the recorder or rhythm instruments. They can create their own unique tunes, or follow the beat of a popular song together.

It doesn't matter how you do it, but bringing music into your classroom will have positive, dramatic, and lasting effects on your students’ education. What do you think about music education? How do you use music with your students or children? Share your thoughts and ideas in the comments section below!

Help Your Students Honor Our Veterans!

November 11 is Veteran’s Day! It’s an excellent opportunity to discuss the importance of America’s armed forces in the past, present, and future. There are many ways to let this special day inspire your work in the classroom.

This is the perfect time to introduce a unit discussing America’s conflicts. Students will learn how wars and skirmishes have shaped the world we live in; and that those battles were fought and decided by American men and women. A more focused unit about Veteran’s Day and the people it celebrates is another possibility.

Celebrate a local veteran (or a group of them). Invite a veteran or soldier who is comfortable speaking to your students about Veteran’s Day and what it means to him or her. Let the students ask questions. Arrange a special activity beforehand to thank your special guest. Have students create Thank You cards to give to the speaker. Such a gesture will mean a lot to most veterans – it’s always important to thank these men and women for the amazing things they do.

Arrange a donation for troops currently stationed overseas. It’s easy to assemble a simple care package that could make a soldier’s day. Stock your package with treats, hygienic items, and cards expressing thanks and encouragement. Search the Internet for various organizations and information on care packages. You could also raise money for a care package through a bake sale for the entire school. For more information on this idea, check out the following web site: http://www.uso.org/

How will you celebrate Veteran’s Day with your students? What have you done in the past that has been special? Do you have any suggestions for other educators? Click the ‘Comments’ link below and share your ideas with us!

Veterans have played a huge role in ensuring our country’s future. It’s very important to explain this fact to students of all ages. On November 11, do something to celebrate Veteran’s Day. No matter how big or small the gesture, you’ll honor the men and women that continue to keep America safe.

Bring Your Classroom to the Blogosphere!

We’ve written a few posts about technology in the classroom (see here and here). There’s no doubt that innovations like the Internet, eBooks, and digital whiteboards have changed modern education; and they will continue to do so. There are so many new ways to engage students! It can be somewhat overwhelming to approach. How does a teacher start? Have no fear, LEP is here. We’re planning a series of posts about getting your classroom on board the tech train. Today, we’re taking a look at blogging.

In recent years, blogs have become insanely popular. A search for blogs will yield literally millions of results. There is a seemingly endless variety of blog types: business, personal, photo, entertainment, educational – you name it, there’s probably a blog out there (or a hundred) that covers it.

You might wonder: Why should I pay attention to blogging? For starters, blogs are a wonderful way to engage students. It allows constant connection to educational content both inside and outside the classroom. It enhances the idea of a classroom community, allowing students and teachers to discuss, analyze, and discover together. Blogging also emphasizes technological education and competency, something that is increasingly important in today’s advanced world. Add to all that the fact that blogs are fun and easy to use and maintain and you have a real winner!

Getting Started

Setting up a blog is a snap. Web sites like Blogger and WordPress walk you through setup. After entering some simple information (e-mail address, password, display name, etc.), you’re ready to start blogging. You will want to look into your blog’s settings and make some decisions about who can and cannot access it. You probably don’t want anyone and everyone being able to view your blog. But you might want to let parents take a look. Don’t worry; it’s not hard to “gate” your blog – which will allow only those you approve to visit. You will also want to pay attention to comment moderation – do you want to read comments before they post? Again, tinkering with your blog’s settings is simple. The whole process probably won’t take more than an hour.

Once you have your blog set up, publish a welcome/introduction. Describe your intent and explain how students will use it. Some student training will be required, but you’ll be amazed at how quickly they pick up on it!

How you use your blog is entirely up to you. It could be a weekly assignment, a daily math problem, or simply a place for students to ask questions of you and one another. Blogs are incredibly versatile, and often evolve as you go, adapting to you, your students, and the material. For some ideas, do a Google blog search for “classroom blogs.” Don’t be discouraged if things are a little slow to start. Keep at it – students will catch on.

Now What?

As we said, you can use your blog in any way you wish. If you teach younger students, you might publish videos and pictures, inviting students to share responses (either on the blog or verbally, depending on age). Older students can post responses to thought-provoking questions and scenarios or discuss current events. The possibilities are pretty much endless. Here are a few ideas:

Post short essay questions pertaining to classroom material. Students can post their responses in the comments section. You, in turn, can comment on their responses. You might be surprised at how eager students are to discuss each other’s answers and thoughts/opinions. This is a great way to increase student communication.

Make yourself available to answer homework questions. This does require some of your precious out-of-class time, but can be invaluable to students. If the assignment is right, students can also help one another.

Have students post online book reports or historical figure biographies. Encourage feedback and questions from other students.

Turn your blog into a classroom calendar. Remind students of due dates, important events, and extracurricular opportunities. A blog is also a great place to offer extra credit assignments.

Don’t be afraid to use your blog as a fun resource! Post funny YouTube videos or photos on Friday and let students share their thoughts and reactions. Ask a daily riddle or brain teaser and give the first student to answer correctly (via blog comment) a small prize. Provide links to educational sites and games. Blogging is a fantastic way to increase the fun factor of your classroom.

Sharing

Your blog is too awesome to be limited to your students and you. It’s very easy to share your blog, and the benefits of doing so are great. Who you share your blog with is entirely up to you. You might want to let the rest of your school in on the secret. This allows your administrators to follow your class’s progress. It might also provide inspiration to other teachers and students, which might bounce back to you in the form of their ideas for your blog.

Parents love to know what’s going on at school, right? Blogging is an easy way to keep them updated, and, if you wish, involved. Giving parents access to your blog allows them to watch as students interact and learn. Parents could also weigh in with their thoughts and comments, challenging and supporting students, as well as you.

What Are You Waiting For?

What’s not to love? Blogging offers so many opportunities to enhance your classroom and benefit your students. But don’t take our word for it. Get out there are start blogging! Good luck – check back in and leave us comments about how it goes.