Saturday, August 7, 2010

“Back-to-school books for kids who feel different - CharlotteObserver.com” plus 2 more

“Back-to-school books for kids who feel different - CharlotteObserver.com” plus 2 more

Back-to-school books for kids who feel different - CharlotteObserver.com

Posted: 07 Aug 2010 08:55 AM PDT

Posted: Saturday, Aug. 07, 2010

School shopping list: pencils, paper, school clothes, new children's books for understanding differences.

Most important? The last. Why? The learning will last long after the paper's gone and the pencils are nubs.

Homework assignment No.1: Discuss differences

Two humorous stories spur conversation and diffuse fears about feeling different. Erica Perl's "Dotty" (Abrams, ages 4-6) stars Ida, a young girl who comes to school with her imaginary friend Dotty. Ida's peers have fantastical buddies, too, and Julie Denos' whimsical drawings and the behaviors of the silly beasties set a playful mood. By midyear, however, Ida's friends mature and mock her beliefs. Thank goodness for Dotty, who comes to her defense, as does Ida's quirky, empathetic teacher.

Jeremy's not so lucky with his teacher, Mrs. Nuddles, in Candace Ryan's "Animal House" (Walker, ages 5-8). She won't accept his explanations about how the "shrewler" gnawed on a project (pictures show his ruler turned beastly and hungry). Her perception changes when she visits Jeremy's house, where readers appreciate how the author and illustrator have wrought a comedic transformation of reality. Mrs. Nuddles gasps as she skirts the "floormingos," and the "refrigergator" jumps at her.

Homework assignment No.2: Consider compassion

Jacqui Robbins' "Two of a Kind" (Atheneum, ages 5-8) are sneering anti-heroes Kayla and Melanie, who decide Anna is "cool after all" and welcome her into their exclusive clique while they mock Anna's best friend, Julisa. After manipulations and threats, Anna breaks free from these bullies and regains her simpatico relationship with Julisa. Author and illustrator Matt Phelan get the details just right - Anna's tummy hurts at lunch, Anna sits at a distance from her new friends, and finally readers see the reunited friends "laugh until our glasses fall off."

"I Repeat, Don't Cheat" (Simon and Schuster, ages 5-8) is Margery Cuyler's fifth story about the worrying Jessica. When her Lizzie cheats and lies, Jessica tries ignoring, considers tattling and finally explodes. Resolution comes from a kindly male teacher who listens and explains a better action plan.

Melody, the heroine of Sharon Draper's "Out of My Mind" (Atheneum, ages 9-12), has cerebral palsy and at almost 11, she's never spoken a word. Brilliant thoughts and stunning words swirl around in her head like beautiful snowflakes that she can't voice to her parents, sister, sitter and most definitely not to peers. Their prejudice is the heart of this book, and the view from Melody's perspective is certain to engender compassion. Highly recommended for a read aloud.

Kathryn Erskine's heroine of "Mockingbird" (Philomel, ages 9 and up) has Asperger's as well as a brother who's just been murdered in a school shooting. Ten-year-old Caitlin, who has difficulty understanding how the crazy world works in normal times, struggles to understand. Erskine effectively scatters capitals throughout Caitlin's narrative as if they are screaming in her head for her to Get It, or control her TRM (Tantrum Rage Meltdowns).

Five Filters featured article: "Peace Envoy" Blair Gets an Easy Ride in the Independent. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Parents swap kids' school clothes online to save bucks - msnbc.com

Posted: 06 Aug 2010 11:51 PM PDT

MIAMI — Kelly Trella has found a way to get rid of her 2-year-old son's old clothes: She swaps them.

Trella was looking for a way to clear out her basement when she stumbled upon a magazine article about thredUP, a children's clothes swapping website. She signed up and has been swapping gently used clothes from her Meriden, Conn., home ever since.

"Its cost-effectiveness is terrific. It's really great to have an opportunity to share with folks around the country," she said.

ThredUP launched in mid-April and now has 15,000 members with another 1,000 being added each week. Founder and CEO James Reinhart says the Cambridge, Mass.-based company is trying to attract parents who are buying back-to-school clothes, which, he says, is one of the largest one-shot expenditures for families during the year.

That thredUP even exists is surely driven by the economy, but there are other ways to swap clothes.

The national retail chain Once Upon A Child sells new and gently used products. These days people who once only dropped off clothes are buying them, too, said Dawn Weston, owner of the franchise in Brandon, Fla.

"More people are being conservative. They are being conscious of what they spend," she said. "They didn't have to worry about it before. They still want their kids to have those really nice things, but they don't have the bucks to do it."

Online back-to-school swapping was a natural extension of clothing rental sites for grown-ups. At renttherunway.com, a $1,050 Herve Leger dress can be rented for $150, "to give every woman in American access to this Cinderella experience," said co-founder and CEO Jennifer Hyman. Expectant mothers can rent a pretty dress at RentMaternityWear.com.

ThredUP partnered with a Boston charity Cradle to Crayons to give $1 from every swap to the charity to help clothe children and buy them school supplies.

The site sends 10 empty post office boxes to each customer. The customer browses the website for boxes of clothing. Once a box is found, the customer pays $13 for shipping and the box is sent to them by whoever currently has it. The customer then agrees to list a box of clothing and they're notified when someone picks it so they can send it off.

Swappers can choose what boxes of items interest them based on variables such as gender, size and season. There are no photos of the clothing, so decisions are pretty much based on brands and descriptions.

"The first box I got, I paid $13 total and I got 13 shirts. No stains. No tears. Yeah, they have gone through the wash a couple times," Trella said.

Trella said her son goes to day care full time, so she wants clothes that can get dirty, and the price is right.

"You are only shelling out a small amount of money," she said, "You are giving and you are getting. It's a nice to share."

The basic membership to the site is free; premium is $29.99. The company relies on customer reviews to weed out the people who are giving clothing that is in bad condition.

Redbook Deputy Executive Editor Melanie Mannarino said there is an element of trust involved for the people who use the site. The magazine featured the site in its August issue.

"It's almost friendly and neighborly," she said.

The risk is whether other people will have the same taste in clothing as you do, she said. But, it's not as limited as shopping at garage sales and thrift stores.

Mannarino said the site shows a shift in the American mentality toward saving and conserving.

"Now these clothes are going to go to somebody else who can use them," she said.

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Donating School Supplies - Helping Needy Kids Get Back to School - Associated Content

Posted: 07 Aug 2010 07:44 AM PDT

Back to school is an exciting time and an anxious time. With today's ever changing economy getting your child's school supply list can seem overwhelming. Some families have multiple children and the list of supplies
 needed to start school is staggering. Schools are feeling the financial pinch as well and need the family's assistance in having the children prepared with the things they will need.

What to do if you need help getting school supplies? Where to go if you have extra supplies to donate?

1. Check local schools supply lists. Most schools provide a detailed list of what each grade level needs. These often can be found in your area in places like Walmart or other super centers, as well as most office supply stores like Office Max. Schools also routinely post on their web pages their supply lists. Donations can be dropped of at your local school and the guidance counselor and school team distribute supplies to the children who come in without them.

2. Check local radio and TV ads. Often stations hold drop off locations. Local businesses often have radio personalities held "hostage" on a school bus until the bus is filled. This makes shopping simple because you often find out as you are heading into the store. Add a few extra school supply items into your cart, and drop off the bag on your way out.

3. With the increase of on-line websites today, there's another easy way to donate. Websites such as www.iloveschools.com and www.donorschoose.com allow you to donate directly to schools you are interested in.

All children deserve to start off school on equal footing as other children. Often teachers purchase the supplies needed for the children who come without. Helping the community get the children ready to go back to school with a few needed supplies is an easy, giving thing to do.

Five Filters featured article: "Peace Envoy" Blair Gets an Easy Ride in the Independent. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.
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