Besides being a fun way to spend time together, games are a great way to learn.  Many games are so fun that we don’t realize we are learning.  Some games help with math, spelling or reading skills.  Others improve focus, reasoning and strategy.  Some games even promote coordination skills and manual dexterity.  Check out this website for some game suggestions under categories – A List of Fun Family Board Games

     Games don’t have to be educational to learn from them.  We learn important social skills as we interact over games.  The healthy competition provides opportunities to manage frustration and be patient as we await our turn.  We learn how to play fairly, win with grace, and how to handle disappointment.  We learn that luck comes and goes and that it is important to never give up because sometimes our luck can change and we can be right back in the game.

     Only one more month before the winner of the classroom party will be determined!!  As a further incentive this month, we will have a drawing for a family game each week.  All you have to do is turn in your hour logs to be eligible.  A winner will be selected from the sheets returned each week!

So…ring in 2010 with the sound of family laughter and fun around a board game! 

The following is a list of games compiled from several lists of favorites from the internet and from personal experience.  Enjoy!!

Chess – Research has shown that chess can actually improve such things as reading, math and even IQ!

Scrabble – This classic game can improve language skills and spelling.

Equate – This is a math version of Scrabble where players use tiles to form math equations.  It was a Parent’s Choice Award winner.

Bananagrams – Another word game using tiles.  It is fast to play and easy to take along!

Jenga – It takes coordination to remove wood blocks without toppling the tower!

Monopoly – A favorite game of many generations!  It helps players with reasoning and math skills.

Apples to Apples – Players each take turns being the judge.  They select the noun card that best describes and adjective. 

Life – This is a great game to discuss some of life’s issues as players move through imaginary lives and deal with some of life’s unexpected twists.

Clue – A family favorite ‘who dun it’ game.  Now there is a Harry Potter version. 

Qwirkle – Winner of the Mensa Select Award.  A game of strategy for ages 6 and up.

Oodles of Doodles – Fast paced for ages 10 and up.  Draw eight items that describe a category.

If Wishes Were Fishes – Selected as the best family board game by Game Magazine. Players catch fish and sell them in a game that requires planning.

Once Upon A Time – The storyteller creates a story guided by his/her cards but may be interrupted by other players.  The first player to lay their Happily Ever After card wins.

I hope that you are enjoying a great winter break.  I look forward to hearing all about the fun things you are doing with your families!

When I think about 2009, many of my happiest memories were made with my family .  I hope that you will make a resolution to make 2010 a great year, filled with lots of fun family time!

See you next year!!!!

          Thank you to the families who participated in blanket making for Project Linus.  Because of your efforts, ten blankets have been donated to children who need them!

Don’t miss family scrapbooking on December 1^st!!

Tuesday  6:30-7:30 pm at Lux Middle School

You will receive a free scrapbook and more!

Bring photos, ideas and your family!! 

          Our family scrapbooking project ties into this month’s theme of family traditions.  A tradition can be something we do together once a year, monthly, weekly or even daily.  These activities bind us together.  We can rely on them and they can bring comfort and routine. They are predictable markers we can look forward to and also provide a history that families are more likely to remember.

There are many benefits of family traditions besides providing fun memories.  Family traditions are a way we pass down family heritage.  They connect us to past generations and future generations.  We learn values important to our family.

Here are some ideas of traditions you may want to start with your family: 

*read together every night

*make a family tree

*celebrate your children’s half birthday

*have Grandma teach you how to make your favorite foods

*video tape each other sharing family stories

*start a tradition of donating food to the food bank

*camp once a year (you can even set up the tent in your living room and microwave s’mores)

*have a family date night once a month

*family game night once a week

*write each other letters of appreciation

*celebrate fall by raking leaves and jumping into the pile

 *if you celebrate Thanksgiving with your family, get everyone up and digesting by walking around the block and call it the “Turkey Trot”

*start an I’m Thankful For…” tablecloth.  Have each family member write on the tablecloth what they are thankful for

*exercise together

*video tape family members on their birthday.  Have them share special things they remember from the year

Please log your family fun hours!  I enjoy reading about the great times you are sharing!!!  I hope to see you and your family at the scrapbooking event on December 1^st!

http://www.projectlinus.org

In November, Morley students and their families will have the opportunity to make handmade blankets for the charity, Project Linus.

The following is the mission statement of the organization.

• “First, it is our mission to provide love, a sense of security , warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer “blanketeers”.”
• “Second, it is our mission to provide a rewarding and fun service opportunity for interested individuals and groups in local communities, for the benefit of children.

Project Linus was started in 1995 by Karen Loucks who read an article about a child who was comforted by a blanket during her cancer treatment.  She decided to begin making blankets for her local hospital and Project Linus was started.  Over 3 million blankets have been made and given to children so far! 

This shows us that one person can make a huge impact on the lives of many!

Family Volunteering

Thank you so much for sharing all the fun you have been having with your families!  It sounds like lots of Morley families are sharing good times together!  If you have photos of your family enjoying time together that you would like to share, please send them to me and I will put them on the website.  Send them to: info@firstshutitoff.com   

Also, please continue to fill out your log sheets.  The classroom with the most hours will win a party!  You can check the website to see how your class is doing.  New hours will be posted each Monday evening.  Check it out at www.firstshutitoff.com

The theme for this month is family volunteering.  Imagine how good it feels to spend time with your family while helping someone in your community!  Volunteering is a great way for your family to spend meaningful time together while making a difference!  Research has shown that kids who volunteer are much more likely to continue volunteering as adults and eventually carry on that tradition with their own children.  Volunteering helps kids become caring and responsible citizens who understand the needs of their community.  It builds self esteem which decreases the chances of children becoming involved in high risk behavior. 

Brainstorm as a family about volunteer projects you can become involved with.  You can pick up trash, plant a tree or help an older neighbor.  Donating the coats or toys you have outgrown can really help kids who may not have those things.  Collecting food items to donate to the food bank can help in a big way also.  You can draw a picture for someone in a nursing home.  There are many ways your family can help!

Morley families have the opportunity to be involved in helping the charity Project Linus.  This organization provides homemade blankets to children who are ill, traumatized, or need comfort.  Lincoln East DECA will be on hand during the Morley Chili Feed on November 11^th with fleece blankets to tie.  Our goal is for Morley families to help us complete 10 blankets for donation.  See how good it feels to help others feel better!

So…have a great month with your family!  I can’t wait to hear about the fun you are having together!  If you need more sheets to record your hours, you can find them in Mr. Naumann’s office.  I hope to see you at the Chili Feed!

**played in the park

**worked on puzzles

**told jokes

**read together

**performed family concerts

**went swimming

**had tickle fights

**played library

**racked leaves

**drew pictures

**went to a play

**went to sporting events

**took dogs for a walk

**rode bikes

**played games

**sang together

**made paper dolls

**jumped on the trampoline

**went to the pumpkin patch

**exercised

**played monsters

**colored

**gathered acorns

**spent time with grandparents

**did  homework together

**decorated a cake

**talked

**played football

**did Cub Scout project together

**picked vegetables

**practiced volleyball together

**took a walk

**made cookies

**had a fall party

**went for ice cream

**played kick-ball

**discussed what happened at school

**and many of you helped with meal preparation and enjoyed great famly meals together!!!

**Have everyone make an acronym of their name, using their favorite foods.

     M – macaroni and cheese     A – apples     R – raisins     Y – yogurt

**Take turns humming a familiar tune and see if the others can name it.

**Talk about the funniest thing that has happened to you during the week.

**Make plans for a fun adventure for the family to do on the week-end.

**Say three nice things about the person to your left.

**Pick up something on the table and see if each person can come up with a word that rhymes with it.

**Help your family know you better.  Tell them about your favorite friends, favorite school lunch and favorite recess activity.

**Have each person take turns saying what super power they would like to have.  Next have your family give you a super hero name.

  The doctor replies…”I would say that the problem is that you aren’t eating right!”

**What did the chewing gum say to the shoe?

  I’m stuck on you!

**Which word in the dictionary is spelled incorrectly?

  Incorrectly.

**Why are teddy bears never hungry?

  Because they are always stuffed.

**Have you heard about the restaurant on the moon?

It has great food but no atmosphere.

**What do you get from a pampered cow?

  Spoiled milk!

**How do you change a pumpkin into another vegetable?

  You throw it out a window and it comes down squash.

**What did the ground say to the earthquake?

  You crack me up!!

**What did the judge say when the skunk came into the courtroom?

  Odor in the court!

**Why did the tomato turn red?

  It saw the salad dressing!

**Why do the sea-gulls fly over the sea?

  Because if they flew over the bay, they would be bagels!

**What did the spider do on the computer?

  He made a website.

**Why is 6 afraid of 7?

  Because 789.

**What did the pencil sharpener say to the pencil?

  Stop going around in circles and get to the point!

**What season is it when you are on a trampoline?

  Spring time!

**Why did the little boy eat his homework?

  Because the teacher said it was a piece of cake.

**What is an astronaut’s favorite place on a computer?

  The space bar.

**What do you call cheese that is not yours?

  Nacho cheese!

What has one head, one foot and four legs?

  A bed.

**Why did the computer squeak?

  Because someone stepped on the mouse.

**Where do cows go on holiday?

  Moo York

**What is the difference between a teacher and a train?

  The teacher says,  “Spit your gum out” and the train says, “Chew, chew, chew”.

Family meals are much more important than just nutrition.  Meal time is a chance for families to catch up with each other, learn about each others day, their likes and dislikes.  It shows kids that they are a priority for their parents.  These families build stronger and more open relationships.  Children learn manners, patience and the give and take of conversation.  Active, caring, sharing mealtimes are like cement that bonds a family together.  It gives us tools for life and resilience to face adversity and temptation.

*Studies have shown that kids whose families do not make family meal time a priority are less likely to think their parents are proud of them.

*19% of teens who eat fewer than 3 meals per week with their family report that there is a high level of stress between family members compared to only 7% of teens who eat 5 or more meals with their families.

*The simple act of eating dinner together is shown to reduce the chance that teens will become involved in alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs. 

*Kids who do not eat with their families are more likely to be overweight.

*Research has shown that the family activity with the most positive benefits is eating dinner together.

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