Literacy Activities
Get Cooking!
Going stir crazy? Get cooking! Cooking is a great way to tie reading in with a physical activity. In addition to reading the recipe, cooking with your kids helps strengthen fine motor skills needed to write by kneading, spreading, stirring, cutting, cracking, and pouring. Wondering where to start? Try this kid-tested recipe for whole grain banana chocolate chip muffins that are sure to please the pickiest palates.
Silly Monkey Muffins
Ingredients:
1 3/4 cups whole wheat flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 3 bananas)
3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
Directions:
1. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
2. In another bowl, combine the egg, oil, yogurt and vanilla.
3. Stir wet ingredients into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in bananas and chocolate chips.
4. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 350 degrees F for 22-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.
5. Enjoy!
Out on the Town
On March 19th, the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia is holding its 5th annual "Reading: A Family Affair" event in Falls Church, VA from 9:30am to 2:30pm. Meet Clifford the Dog and get a free book! Visit their website for more information.
Embrace it or not, there is no denying that the Internet plays an ever-increasing role in our lives, and the lives of our children. Our kids' immersion in the Internet helps them learn how to digest multiple sign systems -- print is no longer the sole message provider. When you go online with your kids, consider how many messages you must integrate to receive the whole picture. 21st century literacy is nonlinear literacy -- building new brain connections with every click of the mouse! 
