Empower Your Child to Excel in Reading

  

Nothing can be more disheartening as a parent than watching your child struggle with reading in school. The frustration can feel overwhelming for both of you, but it doesn't have to be this way. With the right approach, you can support your child in overcoming reading challenges while also igniting a passion for literature that will benefit them throughout their lives.

Create a Reading Routine  

Establishing a daily reading routine is crucial. Designate a specific time for reading each day—whether it's after dinner or right before bed—transforming it into a cherished ritual. This consistency not only underscores the importance of reading but also fosters a loving environment they will look forward to.

Choose Engaging Materials  

Captivate your child's attention by selecting books that pique their interest. Whether they are drawn to exciting adventures, intriguing mysteries, or fascinating non-fiction, finding the right material can spark motivation. Don't overlook the power of graphic novels and age-appropriate magazines, which can be equally compelling for reluctant readers.

Read Together  

Making reading a shared experience can strengthen your bond while modeling fluent reading. Alternate who reads aloud and engage in conversations about the story. Ask open-ended questions to stimulate critical thinking and deepen comprehension, turning reading into an interactive experience.

Utilize Technology  

Leverage the abundance of educational apps and websites designed to facilitate reading practice. Many of these platforms present an interactive learning experience filled with engaging games and quizzes, turning reading into a fun adventure.

Set Achievable Goals 

Establishing clear, attainable goals helps foster a sense of achievement. Work together to set targets, such as completing a certain number of books each month or mastering key sight words. Celebrate these milestones to boost their confidence and motivation.

Encourage a Reading Environment 

Design a cozy reading nook that invites your child to explore books regularly. Ensure they have access to various reading materials in a distraction-free space. A comfy chair, good lighting, and a curated book selection can transform this corner into their personal reading haven.

 Partner with Teachers   

Stay connected with your child’s educators to gain insights into their reading progress. Open communication can reveal specific areas where your child may need support, and teachers often have valuable resources to share that can aid in your child’s reading journey.

 Be Patient and Positive   

Above all, practice patience. Celebrate every small achievement on your child’s reading journey and cultivate a positive outlook. Your encouraging attitude can make a world of difference, allowing them to build their skills at their own pace while enjoying the process.

 Sometimes Extra Help is Needed 

If you think your child is still not grasping the fundamentals, don't lose hope. There are proven programs that can be worked on from home. For one such program, click here.

In summary, with dedication and the right strategies and resources, you can empower your child to overcome reading challenges and develop a lifelong love for books. Together, you can transform reading from a source of stress into a delightful and rewarding adventure. Happy reading!  

3 Ways To Work From Home In Your Spare Time

 It seems like the economy is on everyone's mind. The world wide struggle to make ends meet is constant.  Pandemic recovery and wars raging in foreign lands are breeding inflation, food shortages and fuel issues. The fear of being able to afford to make it through a long hard winter is real and can really get you down.

  There are ways to give your income a boost and help you get through. These 3 income makers can be added to your 9 to 5 job easily.

1.  Crafting. I have been doing a lot of this myself. Yes, money is tight, but making things from scrap wood has been getting me a few extra bucks to finish out the end of the month. Working with wood and paint has been a little like therapy for me and it allows me to release my creative side. It is something you can do in your spare time at your own pace where the only deadline is the one that you make. It doesn't have to be woodworking, it can be sewing, painting, drawing, etc. Create and keep it or open up an Etsy shop or Facebook sell it.

2. Cooking or Baking. This can also be therapeutic.  Some people enjoy a home cooked meal but simply don't have time. Hire out your helping hands, recipes and ingredients.  Ready made meals that are home-cooked beat store bought anytime. If you are making food for yourself, make an extra and offer it to someone who seems to be working nonstop and has no time to cook, for a small fee.

 

3. Find a small online or phone job that you can do in your off time. There are many small companies looking for people to handle their social media accounts or phone customer service. Do you like to talk? There are a lot of those jobs too!

Yeah, I know these don’t sound like much, but sometimes all you need is just a little extra for a little while. Give them a try, see if you like them. Who knows? You might be able to make a decent go of it. Or you may be able to get rid of some stress and help someone else out at the same time.

From My Kitchen: Vegan Brownies (Microwavable)

From My Kitchen: Vegan Brownies (Microwavable)

It’s that time of year when we start to look for ways to warm up when we come in from a blustery cold day. I like to warm up from the inside out. Okay, that sounds a little strange but hear me out. My favorite way is baking! What better way to warm up than by filling your home with the comforting sweet aroma of baked goods and the cozy chocolate taste of a nice hot brownie, or maybe an entire plate of brownies.

Yes, I’m a chocolate addict but even if I wasn’t my 15 year son would most certainly be willing to fill that role.  Brownies are a classic any time of the year but when the temps start to fall, my attention turns to those hot homemade treats fresh from the oven. In my case, my oven is on the fritz, so I have to turn to the microwave for my baking comforts.

In our household, we have switched to a more Plant-Based way of eating. This, however, does not stop us from indulging in the goodies occasionally. Brownies can be made with no animal products, thank goodness, and still turn out just as deliciously satisfying as the non plant-based version. So, without further ado, lets get to the baking.

It’s really very simple. In a small bowl, put 2 tablespoons of ground flax and 6 tablespoons of water. Stir them together and set them aside. In a mixing bowl, mix the dry ingredients, making sure to blend them together well. Next, add the wet ingredients and blend till smooth. Pour the mixture into a lightly sprayed microwave safe baking dish and microwave. Easy, huh? Okay, here is the full recipe.

Vegan Brownies (Microwavable)

1 1/2 Cups of All Purpose Flour

1/2 Cup of Cocoa Powder

1 teaspoon of Baking Powder

3/4 Cup of Sugar (I use Organic Raw Sugar)

2 Flax Eggs (See above preparation instructions)

1 Stick (or 1/2 cup) of a Plant-Based Butter melted (I used Country Crock)

1 Cup of Unsweetened Soy Milk

Lightly Sprinkle With Powdered Sugar (Optional)

In a small bowl, put 2 tablespoons of ground flax and 6 tablespoons of water. Stir them together and set them aside. In a mixing bowls, add flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and sugar. Blend these together thoroughly. While on the lowest electric mixer speed, add flax egg mixture, milk, and melted butter. Mix till the batter is smooth. Spray the baking dish with a fine coat of cooking spray. Pour the mixture into the baking dish, making sure to spread it evenly. Microwave on high for 10 to 12 minutes or until firm. Do the toothpick or fork test if you would like. They should come out clean. Let cool for at least 5 minutes. Sprinkle with a light dusting of Powdered Sugar before serving.

I hope you enjoy this recipe. I know we did. Check back for more Plant-Based recipes coming soon.

A Whole Foods Plant-based Breakfast In Five Minutes

Morning Relaxation: Watching the Clouds Pass In A Small Farm Town

Morning relaxation in the back yard watching the clouds go by and listening to nature. There is nothing like it. Grab your cup of coffee and join me!

Strawberry Nice Cream Recipe (No Bananas!)

Are you looking for a healthier vegan alternative to ice cream that does not require bananas?

My son has ADHD and Tic Disorder. Lately, I have been very conscious of the ingredients in the foods he eats. The addition of dyes and ingredients that can trigger both of my son's conditions seem to be in everything that is marketed towards kids. With very few suitable alternatives, I have taken up the task of making his snacks from scratch at home. This way I can control what is put in his snacks and what is not. Here is one of my son's favorite recipes.

My Strawberry Nice Cream

 1 1/2 Cups Frozen Strawberries

1 Cup Soy Milk 

2 to 3 Tablespoons Pure Maple Syrup

1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Freeze for at least an hour before serving.

How I Make Vegan Beans In My Instant Pot Mini

Dry Beans

Cooking dry beans, the thought of it seemed daunting and time-consuming. The thought that I would have to wait for hours while the beans soaked was just too frustrating to process. I want to be able to cook dinner in less than thirty minutes with the least amount of mess or effort. I mean, who has time to stand in the kitchen for hours? Am I right? 

Pressure Cookers

Pressure cookers are no longer as complicated and dangerous as they used to be. Used correctly, they give us the quick-cooking option that we all long for. In this fast-paced world we live in, where time seems to be limited and there never seems to be enough to get everything done, they are a valuable tool.

Enter the Instant Pot Mini

Fortunately, pressure cookers have changed a lot since I was a kid. (Yes, I am old!) I absolutely love my Instant Pot Mini! The beans are not daunting to me anymore. The Instant Pot Mini is probably the easiest appliance in my kitchen. There are new safety features that were not offered on conventional pressure cookers which make cooking with them so much easier and safer.

Vegan Or Whole Foods Plant-Based Diet

In November of 2018, my doctor was giving me a hard time about my cholesterol. Even though I thought I was eating healthy, my cholesterol was a scary 262. The first thing to come out of her mouth was about medications. The second was a healthy diet which included the things I was already doing. It wasn't working. I asked her to give me a few months while I tried to take care of it on my own. Up until February of the following year, I continued to try to get control of my diet while eating meat and dairy. I started to experience a lot of headaches, backaches, shoulder issues, knee pain, and this strange pain in my side that I couldn't shake. I was frustrated, to say the least. I was looking on Youtube one day to find a solution or at least a reason for my aches and pains, the doctors couldn't find any, and stumbled upon a video by Dr. Michael Gregor about the health values of a Whole Foods Plant-Based Diet. I figured, what the heck, it can't hurt to try. I didn't want to take medication for the rest of my life so, why not?

2 Months To Lower Cholesterol

After two weeks, my body stopped hurting. The headaches went away. No more pain in my side, knee pain, backaches, shoulder pains, and I started losing weight. My cholesterol was checked on April 29. I was so happy that I cried right there in the doctor's office. It had dropped from 262 to 191. I was stunned, the doctor was stunned. She asked me what I had done to change it so drastically. I told her that I had adopted a WFPB diet. I honestly can't wait to go back for the next cholesterol check. I will let you know how that goes.

On To The Beans

My WFPB diet includes a lot of beans which I include with a lot of other veggies in various recipes. They have a great deal of nutritional value on their own but I like to throw in herbs and spices that add different flavors to them. Here is how I make beans in the Instant Pot Mini.

Step one is to put your dry beans in the stainless steel pot that is included in your Instant Pot. Any kind of dried beans will do.  Next, check your beans for rocks, debris, or any beans that you may not think look right. Rinse your beans at least twice and drain them. Now, cover your beans with twice as much water as you have beans. (One cup of beans, two cups of water.)

 Place the pot with the beans and water into your Instant Pot Mini. Plug it in and make sure the pressure release valve is set to the center as indicated in the picture below for pressure cooking.

Turn the lid clockwise to lock it in place. The machine will make an ascending noise to indicate it is locked.  Press the Rice button to the right side. It will display that it is on.

When the Instant Pot reaches the proper pressure for cooking, the timer will begin. Don't worry about setting the time, the Rice function will do it for you. When the time is up, it will beep at you. This starts the slow pressure release time.

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO OPEN!

You have two options here. You can turn off the pressure cooker and use the manual release valve on top by turning it to the left or let the pot continue the slow release until the indicator button behind the manual release valve drops on its own.

Release valve to the left for quick release. Watch out for hot steam to come out quickly so you don't get burned.

The slow-release option.

Either way, do not attempt to open it till the pressure indicator button drops. Mine is silver.

Only after the indicator has dropped may you open your Instant Pot by turning the lid counterclockwise. It will make a descending noise to indicate that it is open. Now you should have perfectly tasty, too hot to eat, beans. After a little cooling, add the herbs and spices of your choosing and enjoy them.

See, that wasn't so hard! Enjoy your easy to make beans!!


Disclaimer: Always read the instructions of your machine to make sure you are familiar with the safety and cooking instructions. Don't just follow my or anyone else's instructions. Always go by manufacturer's instructions.