Writing and Drawing

Drawing and Writing

Do you like to write? I love to write!! Writing is good for your soul! You can write down whatever you are feeling on paper, and it helps you deal with things in your life. So, go get that journal out and start writing! Write a story, a poem, or a biography! The possibilities are endless when you write. Write till the point on your pencil is gone!! Then sharpen it and write more or get a pen. Writing can take you on adventures you only dream of. Let your pencil be your guide! 

If writing is not your thing, you can use the pencil to draw your dream home, a magical land far away, or some fantastic cartoon characters. Whatever you choose to do with your pencil is entirely up to you! Just have fun and learn.

I have made a variety of printables for you. Check them out, they are free:

http://www.joeysavestheday.com/p/printables.html

Facts about Hummingbirds

Last week, we focused on expressing gratitude for items and experiences that begin with the letter G. Today, we invite you to participate by sharing something you are thankful for that starts with the letter H. Your contributions can foster a spirit of appreciation and reflection.

I'm grateful for Hummingbirds. What are you grateful for that begins with the letter H?

🌈 Winged Wonders: The Enchanting World of Hummingbirds

They’re tiny, they’re speedy, and they sparkle like flying gemstones. Hummingbirds are nature’s confetti, fluttering around gardens and forests with a buzz, a blur, and a whole lot of brilliance.

🚀 Fast Facts That Fly

• Hummingbirds can flap their wings up to 80 times per second. That’s faster than a blinking eye!
• They're the only birds that can fly backwards, yep, like little aerial ninjas.
• Some species weigh less than a pencil eraser and can zip around at 30 miles per hour.

Their heartbeats can soar to 1,200 beats per minute during flight. That’s like a tiny drum solo in the sky!

Facts about the Human Alarm Clocks

Human Alarm Clock Facts 

Learning is good for the brain, and your brain loves to learn new things!! So, I want to share a weird but interesting fact from history with you today.

Have you ever heard of the Knocker-Ups?

In the 19^th and early 20th century, in Britain and Ireland, alarm clocks were not cheap and unreliable. There was a profession known as the Knocker-Ups or Knocker-Uppers. The profession was to wake people up for their jobs so they could get to work on time. Yes, a job that pays a human to be an alarm clock. 

Usually, the job was performed by the elderly and sometimes constables. They would use heavy sticks to knock on their clients’ doors and long bamboo sticks to tap on upper windows. Some were known to have used dried pea shooters. Some would knock on doors or windows a few times and move on, and others would knock until they were sure the person was awake! The profession ceased by the early 1970s. What a weird but fantastic world we live in!! We sure have come a long way since then!! 

Now, we rely on alarm clocks on our cell phones or other electronic devices. You can choose from various sounds to set as the sound you want to be awakened to.

Books about alarm clocks:

1. The Noisy Clock Shop by Jean Berg

2. Maisy's First Clock: by Lucy Cousins

3. What's the Time, Clockodile? by Jonthan Litton

4. Clocks and More Clocks by Pat Hutchins

5. Telling Time: by Jules Older

6. Humble Math – 100 Days of Telling the Time by Humble Math

Parents, please be sure the books are child-friendly before reading them to your child/children.

 

Facts about the five senses!

Five Senses Facts

Name a food you absolutely love?

Did you know taste is one of the five senses?

 

The five human senses in ABC order:

1. Hear—Sound waves enter our ears and travel through our tiny ear canals, which lead to the eardrum.  

2. See- Light enters the eye through the cornea. That light passes through the cornea and hits the eye lens. The light moves to the retina, and the optic nerve transmits the visual information to the brain.

3. Smell—We inhale air that contains odor. That air binds to receptors inside our nose, and then the odor messages are sent to our brain.

4. Taste—When you eat, your saliva helps break down your food. The receptor cells located in your taste buds send messages to your brain through your sensory nerves.

5. Touch—Our skin is the biggest organ in our body, and every part has touch receptors. These receptors travel along the sensory nerves that connect to the spinal cord, and the signals are sent to the brain.

Here is a tasty recipe for salmon lovers. I hope it pleases your taste buds. Enjoy!!! 

If you have any allergies to any ingredients, please don’t eat them! Please get your parents' permission and guidance.

Salmon Burger Recipe:

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons of olive oil; divided

8 cloves of garlic minced

1 onion diced small

3 6oz cans of skinless, boneless Pink Salmon, drained

6 tablespoons of Mayo

1 tablespoon of mustard

1/4 cup Italian breadcrumbs

2 slices of bread ripped into tiny pieces

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1/2 teaspoon of pepper

2 eggs

Directions:

Get all your ingredients together. Mince the garlic and dice the onion. Fry the onion and garlic with 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large frying pan on medium-high heat for about 7 minutes or until golden brown, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and set aside. In a large bowl, put the drained salmon, mayo, mustard, salt, pepper, Italian breadcrumbs, ripped-up bread, 2 eggs, and the cooked onion and garlic; mix up well with your hands or a fork and form into 6 burgers. In the same pan that you cooked the onion and garlic in, add 2 more tablespoons of olive oil and let heat up. Add the 6 salmon burgers to the pan and cook on medium-high heat for about 8 to 10 minutes on each side or until the desired level of doneness is achieved; be sure not to burn them. Remove the burgers from the pan and set them on a plate with paper towels to drain excess oil off them. Serve on a multi-grain roll or bread of your choice with lettuce, pickles, cheese, mayo, mustard, ketchup, or whatever your heart desires.

 

Books about the five senses:

1. Look, Listen, Taste, Touch, and Smell: by Pamela Nettleton

2. My Five Senses by Aliki

3. Baby Loves the Five Senses: by Ruth Spiro

4. Our Amazing Senses by Jodi Wheeler-Toppen

5. Taste (The Five Senses Series) by Maria Rius

Parents, please be sure books are child-friendly before reading to your child/children.

 

Success and Kindness

Happy Mentor Monday!! 

May you find the keys to your success 

and a mentor to help you get there!

Does anyone need any help with anything? Do you need a mentor to help you achieve a goal? Do you just need to talk to someone about something but don’t know who to go to? Let’s all help each other out. Let’s engage and learn from each other!

Mentoring is for you if you have a special talent and love helping others. If you can share your wisdom with us or someone else, please do! Help someone out with the kindness of your heart!

I can mentor and give you ideas on writing and how to get a book published for anyone interested. I can also give you ideas on how to homeschool your child. I can also listen and be a shoulder to cry on if you need a friend.

Definition of mentor= "advise or train (someone, especially a younger colleague)."-by Oxford Languages.

Definition of kindness= "the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate."-by Oxford Languages

Books on mentoring and kindness:

1. Spread Your Sunshine With Acts Of Kindness by Cheryl Shyne

2. Kindness Starts With You by Jacquelyn Stagg

3. Our Class is a Family by Shannon Olsen

4. Kindness Rocks by Sonica Ellis

5. Make the Most of Mentoring by Susan Colantuono

6. Mentoring My Elementary-and Middle-School Students by Todd Feltman

Parents, please ensure books are child-friendly before reading them to your child/children.

Joey says to always help out when possible and be kind to others. There is nothing like the love of a friendship to get you through! 

 

Fruit Facts

🍎 Fruitful Facts

How Nature’s Juicy Treats Keep Us Strong

Fruits aren’t just delicious, they’re powerful! Each colorful bite is packed with vitamins that help us grow, think, and feel our very best. Whether you're munching a mango or savoring a strawberry, you're fueling your body with goodness from nature.

Let’s take a tasty tour through some fruit-powered health facts!

🍌 What Are Vitamins, Anyway?

Vitamins are tiny nutrients found in food that help our bodies work well. They protect us, give us energy, and keep our hearts, brains, and skin happy.

Think of them as little helpers, and fruits are full of them!

🍊 Fruit & Vitamin Match-Ups

Let’s explore how some of your favorite fruits secretly pack superhero nutrients!

Oranges and kiwis are full of Vitamin C, which helps your immune system stay strong and heals little cuts. Bananas bring Vitamin B6, a brain booster that helps keep your nerves relaxed. Blueberries are rich in Vitamin K, supporting healthy blood and strong bones. Sweet strawberries are another source of Vitamin C, protecting your cells and giving your skin a healthy glow. Apples carry a small amount of Vitamin A, which supports your eyesight and your body's defenses. Mangos offer a double dose of Vitamin A and C, making them great for keeping your eyes sharp and fighting off germs. And finally, papayas shine with Vitamin E, which protects your body and helps your skin sparkle.

Fun fact: The deeper the color, the more vitamins a fruit may have!

🍓Let’s Talk Gratitude

Ask your readers:
“What’s your favorite fruit, and how does it help your body?”
Encourage them to make a “Fruit Thanks” list, like:

• “Thank you, banana, for helping my brain feel smart!”
• “I’m grateful for oranges because they help me stay strong when I’m sick.”

✨ Extension Ideas

• Create a fruit rainbow with drawings or real slices, labeling each vitamin
• Design a “Fruit Superhero” with powers from vitamins (like “Captain C” or “Mighty Mango”)
• Make a gratitude smoothie: blend favorite fruits and say thank you for each one!

Here’s a list of fruits in alphabetical order with some of their nutritional information:

• Apple- Fiber, Potassium, Vitamin C, Vitamin K.
• Avocado- Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Vitamin B6.
• Banana- Copper, Manganese, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C.
• Cantaloupe- Calcium, Folic Acid, Iron, Vitamin K.
• Grapes- Copper, Manganese, Thiamine, Vitamin C.
• Oranges- Fiber, Potassium, Vitamin A, Vitamin C.
• Strawberries- Ellagic Acid, Fiber, Folate, Vitamin C.
• Watermelon- Amino Acids, Beta Carotene, Lutein, Lycopene.

🍍 Fruit Superpower Match-Up Activity

Activity: Meet Your Vitamin Heroes!

Instructions:

1. Draw seven fruits: one orange, a banana, a blueberry, a strawberry, an apple, a mango, and a papaya.
2. Next to each fruit, write:
   • The vitamin it’s famous for
   • The body part or health benefit it helps
   • A fun thank-you message to that fruit!

Example:

• 🍌 Banana → Vitamin B6
  💡 Brain Booster!
  🙏 “Thanks, banana, for helping me think clearly!”

Bonus Challenge:

Create your own “Fruit Superhero” character!
Give them:

• A name (like Captain C or Papaya Protecto)
• Their superpower (the vitamin)
• A catchphrase of gratitude (“I fight germs with fruity power!”)

Books about fruits:

1. Eating the Alphabet: by Lois Ehlert

2. Oliver's Fruit Salad by Vivian French

3. The Fruits We Eat by Gail Gibbons

4. Mrs. Peanuckle's Fruit Alphabet by Mrs. Peanuckle

Hey parents! Make storytime extra special by checking that the books you choose are perfect for your little ones. Happy reading!

 

Facts about Giraffes

Last week, we focused on expressing gratitude for items and experiences beginning with the letter F. Today, we invite you to share something you are thankful for that starts with G. It could be an item, a cherished memory, or a quality you appreciate in others. Contributing your thoughts can create a spirit of appreciation and reflection within our community. We look forward to hearing what you're grateful for!

I feel incredibly grateful for giraffes with their graceful necks and gentle demeanor. They remind me of the beauty of nature. What’s something you’re thankful for that starts with the letter G? Let's share our gratitude!

🦒 Head in the Clouds: Exploring the Wonderful World of Giraffes

With necks that seem to stretch to the sky and spots like a living work of art, giraffes are nature’s skyscrapers, and there's a lot more to them than height alone!