Ready Set Go 2020: Week 3
Hello,
I recently read an article that started with a question: Do you begin your day with an endless to-do list or acknowledging what is working well? The article went on to say, that we can focus our attention on the things that are within our control rather than on circumstances and events we cannot change. The way that we begin to do this is through Gratitude. Gratitude can be a family practice. The article stuck with me because of our current circumstances and I thought I would share some of the gratitude practices that you can add to your family routine (a little secret – some of them are educational too):
Family Gratitude Practices
Gratitude Journal: Encourage everyone to keep a gratitude journal each day, record at least three things you are grateful for.
Gratitude Box: Decorate a “Family Gratitude Box” so members can record their grateful thoughts and store them in the box. Review the messages regularly.
Gratitude Glasses: Find an oversized pair of fun looking glasses and call them “Gratitude Glasses.” Use these as a prop to focus everyone’s attention on what they are grateful for.
Community Giving: Children feel empowered when they understand that their actions positively impact others. Look for ways to become involved in community giving.
Books: Books help children make sense of new ideas; read books about what it means to be thankful.
Gratitude Books: Keep a “Gratitude Book” about each child, in which you record the many reasons why you are grateful for them. Share this with your children on a regular basis.
Personal Stories: Tell your children about people in your life for whom you are grateful, and the important impact they’ve made.
Kareemah
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Kareemah Williams
Parent of Two Breakthrough Alum
Former Board Member of Citizens Academy
Former Board Member of Breakthrough Schools
Current Director of Enrollment & Engagement
Office: (216) 367-5720
Email: kwilliams@breakthroughschools.org
Activities & Resources
Here are a few resources for family & youth activities you can do at home.
Breakthrough Public Schools is providing carryout meals for students 18 and younger at all school locations except for Citizens Leadership Academy. Meals are provided on Tuesday and Thursday between 11:30 and 1pm. A supply of five breakfast and lunch meals are provided at a time.
The Greater Cleveland Food Bank will continue to provide food for families in need. You can call the Help Center at 216-738-2067 if you need food assistance or visit here to find the nearest food pantry or hot meal site.
Great Lakes Science Center Virtual Science Activities
Curiosity Corner LIVE! on YouTube is a daily show where the Science Center’s STEM educators provide informative, interactive videos live for your enjoyment. Want to learn more about human spaceflight, or perhaps see how chemical reactions occur? Or, do you want a sneak peek at Body Worlds Rx, the newest exhibition coming to the Science Center? They've got you covered with all of these and more, every day at 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Cincinnati Zoo Live Animal VideoÂ
To watch The Home Safaris live, just visit the Zoo’s Facebook page at 3pm. The Zoo will also post the safaris on its website and on YouTube so everyone can view. The goal with the daily live sessions is to provide fun and educational content to people who are stuck at home
Read with Michelle Obama
Every Monday at noon, the former First Lady reads a children's book that is live-streamed on PBS Kids’ and Penguin Random House’s Facebook page along with PBS Kids’ YouTube channel.
Additional resources and activities can be found at readtogetherbetogether.com or on pbskidsforparents.org.
Reading Ideas for Fun - eBooks
The Cuyahoga County Library and Cleveland Public Library are closed until further notice. Fortunately for all of us both libraries are offering continued access to their digital and streaming services. You will need a library card to access these materials. If you do not have a library card you can apply for a library card online here for the Cuyahoga County Library or here for the Cleveland Public Library.
Grades K-3
The Name Jar
by Yangsook Choi
The new kid in school needs a new name! Or does she?
Being the new kid in school is hard enough, but what about when nobody can pronounce your name? Having just moved from Korea, Unhei is anxious that American kids will like her. So instead of introducing herself on the first day of school, she tells the class that she will choose a name by the following week. Her new classmates are fascinated by this no-name girl and decide to help out by filling a glass jar with names for her to pick from. But while Unhei practices being a Suzy, Laura, or Amanda, one of her classmates comes to her neighborhood and discovers her real name and its special meaning. On the day of her name choosing, the name jar has mysteriously disappeared. Encouraged by her new friends, Unhei chooses her own Korean name and helps everyone pronounce it--Yoon-Hey.
Grades 4-6
P.S. Be Eleven
One Crazy Summer Series, Book 2
by Rita Williams-Garcia and Sisi Aisha Johnson
New York Times bestselling author Rita Williams-Garcia won Newbery honors and the Coretta Scott King Award for One Crazy Summer. In this sequel set in 1960s Brooklyn, Delphine is just starting sixth grade, and she's self-conscious about being the tallest girl in class. Her mother's advice? "Be eleven"—but that doesn't make much sense to a girl who's just turned twelve.
Grades 4-8
Clayton Byrd Goes Underground
by Rita Williams-Garcia
Clayton feels most alive when he's with his grandfather, Cool Papa Byrd, and the band of Bluesmen—he can't wait to join them, just as soon as he has a blues song of his own. But then the unthinkable happens. Cool Papa Byrd dies, and Clayton's mother forbids Clayton from playing the blues. And Clayton knows that's no way to live.
Armed with his grandfather's brown porkpie hat and his harmonica, he runs away from home in search of the Bluesmen, hoping he can join them on the road. But on the journey that takes him through the New York City subways and to Washington Square Park, Clayton learns some things that surprise him.
Staff Spotlight
Before we moved to online learning, Z1079's Ro Digga stopped by our schools and got to know the principals, teachers, and students!
In this video, Ro sits down with E Prep Woodland Hills Principal Lynesha Richardson to learn how she empowers her students and builds community.
Get Involved
If you are interested in getting involved at your school specifically, or with me at the citywide level, let me know. We always welcome parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents interested in volunteering and getting involved in several ways. Email me here or call me at 216-367-5720 and ask for Kareemah. I look forward to hearing from you!
Refer Your School!
If you know someone who might want to enroll their child/ren in our schools, please let them know we would love to have them. We will be here for new scholars as we have space!