Wizz Kids

I have just updated the following pages from the Whizz Kids website

Homework help

Fun and Games

And the latest Whizz Kids ezine is now online.

kids, homework

4UREADERS

http://www.4ureaders.net/welcomev2/

This site was developed with East Ayrshire and South LanarkshireLibrary Authorities for readers aged 11-16.The site divides into three separate sections to appeal to different audiences within the age group.The Girls with Attitude section was developed specifically for girls between 14-16.School and Children's librarians worked with youngreaders to help plan the content of the site. Further funding from SLIC/CILIPS enabled six other Scottish library authorities to participate.

Thanks to Mylee Joseph from the State Library of NSW mjoseph at sl dot nsw.gov.au

family, children's reading

Express Media is now accepting entries for the 2006 John Marsden Prize for Young Australian Writers.

In 2006 there are four categories:

1) Short Story / First Chapter of a Novel – under 18 – $500

2) Short Story / First Chapter of a Novel – 18 to 24 – $2000

3) Poetry – under 18 – $500

4) Poetry – 18 to 24 – $500

Entries close Thursday 31 August 2006. Download the submission form and read the guidelines carefully for full details on how to enter.

Winning entries will be judged and announced by John Marsden in December 2006 and published in the summer issue #67 of Voiceworks magazine. All entries will also receive prize money donanted by John Marsden himself.

John Marsden launched this year's competition at the Emerging Writers' Festival on 7 April. Here's what he has said it:'A long time ago the novel fought its way to the top of the publishing heap, to dominate western literature. Short stories, exquisite, funny and/or powerful as they may be, have been no match for the novel. Consequently there are far more aspiring novelists out there than there are short story writers. For this reason we have decided to expand the John Marsden Writing Competition to include first chapters of novels. In practical terms this may not make much difference to many of the people interested in entering. Many short stories could well be first chapters of novels; and for years now novelists have published chapters from unfinished novels as short stories in literary magazines and in newspapers. But by changing the conditions of the competition we are recognising the primacy of novels, and offering extra support to those who are labouring in garrets or penthouses, with 150,000 words under their belt and still only halfway through, looking enviously at the many competitions for short stories in Australia, and wondering why they are excluded.'

Get writing for your chance to be read by John Marsden himself and published in Voiceworks Magazine!

writing, writing competitions, families

Storm over gay kindergarten books

NSW Premier Morris Iemma has criticised a Sydney kindergarten for teaching very young children about gay and lesbian families.

Mr Iemma said toddlers were being confronted with adult issues at an age when they should just be having fun.

"Personally, I believe it's inappropriate for a childcare centre to be a battleground for gender politics,"

But Marrickville Mayor Sam Byrne said books used in the kindergarten were approved. Read on ...

children's books,failies, parenting

Express Media is now accepting entries for the 2006 John Marsden Prize for Young Australian Writers.

In 2006 there are four categories:

1) Short Story / First Chapter of a Novel – under 18 – $500

2) Short Story / First Chapter of a Novel – 18 to 24 – $2000

3) Poetry – under 18 – $500

4) Poetry – 18 to 24 – $500

Entries close Thursday 31 August 2006.

Download the submission form and read the guidelines carefully for full details on how to enter.

Winning entries will be judged and announced by John Marsden in December 2006 and published in the summer issue #67 of Voiceworks magazine. All entries will also receive prize money donanted by John Marsden himself.

John Marsden launched this year's competition at the Emerging Writers' Festival on 7 April. Here's what he has said it:'A long time ago the novel fought its way to the top of the publishing heap, to dominate western literature. Short stories, exquisite, funny and/or powerful as they may be, have been no match for the novel. Consequently there are far more aspiring novelists out there than there are short story writers. For this reason we have decided to expand the John Marsden Writing Competition to include first chapters of novels. In practical terms this may not make much difference to many of the people interested in entering. Many short stories could well be first chapters of novels; and for years now novelists have published chapters from unfinished novels as short stories in literary magazines and in newspapers. But by changing the conditions of the competition we are recognising the primacy of novels, and offering extra support to those who are labouring in garrets or penthouses, with 150,000 words under their belt and still only halfway through, looking enviously at the many competitions for short stories in Australia, and wondering why they are excluded.

'Get writing for your chance to be read by John Marsden himself and published in Voiceworks Magazine!

writing competitions, families, writing

The sport of Tiddlywinks

The North American Tiddlywinks Association (NATwA), founded in 1966, is an organization which sponsors tiddlywinks tournaments, distributes winks equipment, recruits new players, and promotes the game in general.

NATwA publishes an informal newsletter, Newswink, to keep winkers informed of recent events. NATwA maintains close ties with ETwA, the English Tiddlywinks Association, and ScotTwA, the Scottish Tiddlywinks Association.

One of the most fascinating aspect of this sport is the various terms used to describe situations! Scrabble players, take note: the game begins with each player performing a squidge. If a wink is covered by that of an opponent's, it is squopped.

Those are some serious Scrabble points!

I also learned that the game is not simply flipping winks into a pot. In fact, the strategy and tactics involved are more similar to chess than the children's game you may think of when you hear the word tiddlywinks.

The sport of tiddlywinks was first patented in 1888. However, the strategy-loaded modern-day version goes back to a group of Cambridge (the British one, not ours) undergrads meeting in January, 1958. Three years later Oxford challenged Cambridge's position as tiddlywinks champion, and the competition was on.

Learn all the details about this fascinating four-person game at today's FamilyFirst site. And remember to use squop in Scrabble!http://www.tiddlywinks.org

games, tiddlywinks, families

Website supports those dealing with breast cancer This website is aimed at all those who are dealing with breast cancer - either themselves or in their family or friendship circle. We hope that some of what you'll find here will ease your path or lessen your worries about breast cancer treatment. The views expressed here are our own. We are from medical and nursing backgrounds but are by no means specialists in breast cancer or in breast cancer treatment. We can only tell you what we've gone through and what we've learned along the way. This is cutting-edge stuff. I mean, it takes real courage to put these very personal experiences online so soon after having the bad news delivered to you. The authors give you details about what is involved in taking on this hated scourge. The goal (which I believe they will reach) is to show you what it takes to whip it. So read this brand-new (but already well-populated) blog and remember, there's someone in Scotland who could use a little prayer action. http://www.twinkletwinkles.com breast cancer, families

Parents urged to reject new report cards

Australian parents are being urged to reject a new report card system that grades their children from A to E.National bodies representing parents of government school students and teachers are encouraging parents to refuse to accept the new cards, The Australian newspaper reported on Saturday. Read on ...

education, assessment, reporting

parenting

Marriage, a History: From Obedience to Intimacy, or How Love Conquered Marriage by Stephanie Coontz Politics, economics, greed, sex, cars—without them, matrimony wouldn’t have caused the historical revolution ensuing today, concludes social historian Stephanie Coontz, in Marriage, a History. Modern marriage is in crisis; but don’t pine for a return to "the good old days," when men earned money and women kept house. Don’t even assume the crisis is all bad. Coontz details how society’s attempts to toughen this institution, have actually made it more fragile. Her rich talent for analyzing events, statistics, and theories from a myriad of sources—and enabling the reader to put them all in perspective—make this provocative history book an essential resource.--Liane Thomas Based on extensive research (hers and others'), Coontz's fascinating study places current concepts of marriage in broad historical context, revealing that there is much more to "I do" than meets the eye. In ancient Rome, no distinction was made between cohabitation and marriage; during the Middle Ages, marriage was regarded less as a bond of love than as a " 'career' decision"; in the Victorian era, the increasingly important idea of true love "undermined the gender hierarchy of the home" (in the past, men—rulers of the household—were encouraged to punish insufficiently obedient wives). Coontz explains marriage as a way of ensuring a domestic labor force, as a political tool and as a flexible reflection of changing social standards and desires. She presents her arguments clearly, offering an excellent balance between the scholarly and the readable in this timely, important book. Agent, Susan Rabiner. (May) She writes in a very readable style. You will find yourself quickly having read large passages of this book effortlessly. The book is informative, eye opening, and definately well worth the read. I recommend this book if you want to see what the institution of marriage has been through out time and different cultures Stephanie Manley More information marriage, books

YOUNG AND WIRED

Computers, cell phones, video games, blogs, text messages -- how will the sheer amount of time spent plugged in affect our kids? Read on ...

kids

families

kids and technology

Do moms make better managers?

Cynthia McKay, the childless CEO of Le Gourmet Gift Basket, says it's common sense for employers to hire childless women

Denise Morrison, president of Campbell Soup's U.S. soup, sauces and beverages division, worked while her daughters, 27 and 25, were growing up. She says the most important leadership lesson mothers learn is dealing with shades of gray that children present.

The topic of mothers vs. non-mothers "pits one group of women against another. Would we ask, 'Do fathers make better leaders?'

The answer is some do and some don't," Innis says.

"Great leaders come from all walks of life," says Robert Keane, CEO of the online supplier of graphic design company VistaPrint. "Being a parent is wonderful, but it's not a prerequisite."

Do mothers make better leaders than women without children?

Most employees think so. Most employers don't.

Read on ...

mothers as managers, mothers, parenting

From Math-drills.com

"Hi Parents! I'm glad you found this website. Hopefully, the math worksheets on this website can be of some help to your child in his or her acquisition of basic math facts. Just so you know, math worksheets are not magic; they will not teach math; this is the job of your child, you, and your child's teacher. The math worksheets are an excellent resource for you and your child. Here are some ideas that you might find useful in helping your child learn math."

Visit the parents' page

homework, parenting

Many parents are teaching their babies to speak first with their hands

Experts tout the long-lasting benefits of early language skills

By CECELIA GOODNOW

At 11 months, Madeleine Campbell is about to say her first word, but her mom will believe it when she sees it.Because that word, when it comes, will be in sign language -- a new parenting tool that is shaking its faddish connotation as parents and baby experts sing its praises.

Read on ...

parenting

The Importance of Play for Children Why is play important for children? Why do we care what toys are children are playing with? Play is crucial for the social, emotional, physical, cognitive and developmental growth of children. Play is how a child learns about the world in which they live. Read on ... parenting"

INTERNET USE INVOLVES BOTH PROS AND CONS FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS, ACCORDING TO SPECIAL ISSUE OF DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY Some youth benefit from Internet use while for others it can exacerbate self-destructive behaviors WASHINGTON, DC - Between 75 and 90 percent of teenagers in the United States use the Internet to email, instant message (IM), visit chat rooms and explore other sites on the World Wide Web. According to the latest research presented in a special issue of Developmental Psychology, published by the American Psychological Association (APA), spending a lot of time on the Web can have both negative and positive effects on young people, i.e., the sharing of self-injury practices by some and the improvement of academic performance and health awareness by others. Read on ... parenting, internet safety

State of the World’s Mothers

In commemoration of Mother’s Day, Save the Children is publishing its seventh annual State of the World’s Mothers report. By focusing on the 60 million mothers in the developing world who give birth every year with no professional help and the 4 million newborns who die in the first month of life, this report helps to bring attention to the urgent need to reduce infant mortality around the world.

The report also identifies countries that are succeeding in improving the health and saving the lives of mothers and babies, and shows that effective solutions to this challenge are affordable – even in the world’s poorest countries. Read on ...

mothering, families,

Character Is Destiny : Inspiring Stories Every Young Person Should Know and Every Adult Should Remember (Hardcover) "McCain's latest volume uses biography as an illustration of virtue, but this time the senator broadens his palette significantly, telling 34 stories of heroes whose lives embody qualities ranging from honesty and loyalty to curiosity and enthusiasm. At the root of them all, he says, is a willingness to stay true to one's conscience against all challenges." "Although he is reaching out to a younger readership, McCain's plain but sincere language does not condescend to his audience." More information children's books, parenting,