October 1999 Issue

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An Online Educational Community

A newsletter that educates parents, teachers, and
students.

October 1999 Issue #4
Tracey Powell, Editor, mailto:editor@innovamultimedia.com
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Welcome to the fourth issue of "An Online Educational
Community". To read past issues of our newletter, visit
http://www.innovamultimedia.com/archive1.html
or to learn more about us, check out our website at
http://www.innovamultimedia.com

If you think a friend might be interested in reading this
newsletter, pass it along in whole or in part.

You are receiving this newsletter because you requested a
subscription.

To subscribe or unsubscribe to this newsletter, fill out the
form at
http://www.innovamultimedia.com/newsletr.html

Each month we will focus on a different educational theme
and base our feature article and learning tips around that
particular theme.

Wow, can you believe our kids have been in school a month
already with Halloween fast approaching and Christmas just
around the corner? As these kids approach mid-term, with
homework, assignments, and tests coming out of the woodwork,
why not practice ways of "Helping your child succeed in school".

Our feature article,"Steps You Can Take To Improve Your
Children's Education," offers suggestions to parents and families
on how to help their children do better in school. Our section
"Learning Tips" offers tips on helping your child with homework.

While researching material for this newsletter, I came accross
an excellent site which contains activities to help your child
succeed in school. These activities build skills, attitudes,
and behaviours children need for good study habits. They are
designed to help develop personal maturity, enthusiasm for
learning, and the ability to concentrate. They are easy to do,
cost little or no money, use materials found at home, and
don't take much time. Check them out at
http://www.ed.gov/pubs/parents/Succeed/pt4.html

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IN THIS ISSUE
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=> What's New at innovamultimedia.com
=> Feature Article
=> Lesson Plans
=> Education Sites
=> New Releases
=> Upcoming Products
=> Learning Tips
=> Whale Stuff
=> Feedback

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What's New at innovamultimedia.com
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INNOVA is in the process of redecorating its home. In the
coming weeks we will incorporate several new sections with
more great information for you, as well as design a new look
and overall feel for the site.

One new section that we will be setting up is a download site
where customers can pick and choose between any of our
available lessons. Instead of buying one complete CD, you
can now purchase individual lessons that are curriculum-specific
to meet your student's needs or the needs of your child.

At INNOVA, we also have some great projects up and on the go
which may be of interest to teachers and students around the
globe. A description of one of these projects is as follows:

INNOVA and Miksike of Estonia are involved in "Straight into
Politics," an Internet project involving teachers and students
in Canada and Estonia. The project is aimed at children aged
13-18. If you would like to get your class involved or would like
further information please contact shawnm@innovamultimedia.com

Visit our website at www.innovamultimedia.com to find out more
about some of these projects or to learn more about what is up
and on the go at INNOVA.

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FEATURE ARTICLE - Steps You Can Take to Improve Your
Children's Education at
http://ed.gov/pubs/PFIE/families.html
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1. Read together

Children who read at home with their parents perform better in
school. Show your kids how much you value reading by keeping
good books, magazines, and newspapers in the house. Let them see you
read. Take them on trips to the library and encourage them to get
library cards. Let children read to you, and talk about the books.
What was the book about? Why did a character act that way? What
will he or she do next?

Look for other ways to teach children the magic of language,
words, and stories. Tell stories to your children about their
families and their culture. Point out words to children wherever
you go -- to the grocery, to the pharmacy, to the gas station.
Encourage your children to write notes to grandparents and other
relatives.

2. Use TV wisely

Academic achievement drops sharply for children who watch more
than 10 hours of television a week, or an average of more than
two hours a day. Parents can limit the amount of viewing and help
children select educational programs. Parents can also watch and
discuss shows with their kids. This will help children understand
how stories are structured.

3. Establish a daily family routine with scheduled homework time

Studies show that successful students have parents who create
and maintain family routines. Make sure your child goes to school
every day. Establish a regular time for homework each afternoon
or evening, set aside a quiet, well lit place, and encourage
children to study. Routines generally include time performing
chores, eating meals together, and going to bed at an established
time.

"The American family is the rock on which a solid education can
be built. I have seen examples all over this nation where two-
parent families, single parents, stepparents, grandparents,
aunts, and uncles are providing strong families support for
their children to learn. If families teach the love of learning,
it can make all the difference in the world to their children."

Richard W. Riley
U.S. Secretary of Education

4. Talk to your children and teenagers -- and listen to them, too

Talk directly to your children, especially your teenagers, about
the dangers of drugs and alcohol and the values you want them to
have. Set a good example. And listen to what your children have
to say. Such personal talks, however uncomfortable they may make
you feel, can save their lives.

5. Express high expectations for children by enrolling them in
challenging courses

You can communicate to your children the importance of setting
and meeting challenges in school. Tell your children that working
hard and stretching their minds is the only way for them to
realize their full potential. Expect and encourage your children
to take tough academic courses like geometry, chemistry, computer
technology, a second language, art, and advanced occupational
courses. Make sure they never settle for doing less than their
best.

6. Find out whether your school has high standards

Your school should have clear, challenging standards for what
students should know. For example, what reading, writing and math
skills is your child expected to have by fourth grade? By eighth
and twelfth grades? What about history, science, the arts,
geography, and other languages? Are responsibility and hard work
recognized? If your school doesn't have high standards, join with
teachers, principals, and other parents to set these standards.

7. Keep in touch with the school

Parents cannot afford to wait for schools to tell them how
children are doing. Families who stay informed about their
children's progress at school have higher-achieving children. To
keep informed, parents can visit the school or talk with
teachers on the telephone. Get to know the names of your
children's teachers, principals, and counselors.

Parents can also work with schools to develop new ways to get
more involved. Families can establish a homework hotline,
volunteer on school planning and decision-making committees,
help create family resource centers, serve as mentors, and even
help patrol school grounds.

8. Use community resources

Activities sponsored by community and religious organizations
provide opportunities for children and other family members to
engage in positive social and learning experiences. Family-
oriented community resources may include health care services,
housing assistance, adult education, family literacy, and
employment counseling. Families can reinforce their children's
learning by going to libraries, museums, free concerts, and
cultural fairs together.

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Lesson Plans
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Teachers, check out free "A Whale of a Tale" lesson plans on
our website at
http://www.innovamultimedia.com/lesson1.html

Surf into Science 3 - "Weather Fun" at
http://www.innovamultimedia.com/Sci3b.html
gets kids to observe and record weather conditions and to make
their own daily weather chart. Students also observe cloud
formations and note the formations that usually precede certain
types of weather.

Leap into Language 3 - "Pictures in the Mind" at
http://www.innovamultimedia.com/Lang3c.html
encourages students to visualize characters, setting, and situations
while reading. Children draw these "pictures in the mind" and share
them with classmates discussing how the text was visualized in
different ways.

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Education Sites
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Check out some of these INNOVA recommended resource sites:

Students, join Discovery Kids at
http://www.discoverykids.com/
and you'll be challenged to do all the things you ever imagined
and more! Over 60 different adventures to discover!

While you're at it check out Nickelodeon at
http://www.nick.com
where you'll find games, TV shows, jokes, chat rooms, contests,
safety tips and much, much more! A very popular site with kids!

Parents, visit Nick Jr. at
http://www.nickjr.com
where your child can play to learn with Blue's Clues, Franklin,
Kipper, Maisy, Little Bear, and more! Games, activities, pictures,
sounds, lessons, and colouring pages are parts of this
educational website.

Also, moms and dads check out KidsBank.com at
http://www.kidsbank.com
a fun place for children to learn about
money and banking. KidsBank.com was developed to provide
parents with an informative and fun place to bring their children for
answers to money related questions.

Teachers, looking for some interesting educational books for the
classroom? Well, look no further. Enter the Book Hive at
http://www.bookhive.org
where you can check out reviews on a hive-full of children's books.

Also, check out the Gateway to Educational Materials at
http://www.thegateway.org
where you will find high quality Internet lesson plans, curriculum units,
and other valuable educational resources.

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New Releases - A Whale of a Tale: Swim into Social Studies 2
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A Whale of a Tale: Swim into Social Studies 2 is an interactive
multimedia Social Studies program designed to help students,
ages six to eight, learn basic social studies skills.

The program covers the following curriculum topics:

1. Community: Using a map, Percy the Penguin locates buildings
in his neighborhood and city. In her plane, Penny the Puffin
locates different areas of Anchor Island, questioning why
people settle in certain areas or locations. Upon landing,
Penny researches the different types of jobs people work at
in her town.

2. Country: In a hot air balloon, Little Blue and Freddy the
Flying Fish explore the different regions of Anchor Island,
each regions' land or plants, weather conditions and natural
resources. Samantha the Seahorse, with the help of Old Tom
the Turtle and his map, investigates the differently populated
areas of Anchor Island. They study bar graphs depicting the
number of jobs and what people do for fun on the island.
Through the careful study of land, water, and air maps, Percy
the Penguin investigates the different ways to travel on
Anchor Island.

3. World: Little Blue is curious about the different countries
and the people who live there. Mommy Blue explains how people
from these countries communicate and take care of one another
through the global village concept. Come explore our world's
resources with Cedric the Starfish. On Anchor Island, Little
Blue plays with children from different cultures and has an
International Day where each culture's type of dress is
celebrated.

4. Maps: Cedric the Starfish learns how to read a map and learns
why carrying a map is much more convenient than carrying a
globe. Penny the Puffin explains to Little Blue how she stays
on course when flying her plane by following directions using
a compass. Percy the Penguin, Old Tom the Turtle, and Cedric
the Starfish get together to study maps. As examples, Percy
demonstrates his house plan, Cedric shows a street map of his
neighborhood, and Old Tom discusses different maps of Anchor
Island.

To find out more about our Swim into Social Studies 2 program,
visit
http://www.innovamultimedia.com/socstds2.html

Call our toll free number, 1-877-8INNOVA or 1-877-846-6682,
if interested in ordering this or any other product.

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Upcoming Products - A Whale of a Tale: Swim into Social Studies 1
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"A Whale of a Tale: Swim into Social Studies 1" is designed to
help students, ages five through seven, learn basic social
studies skills.

The program is based around the following curriculum concepts:
home, school, community and maps.

A more detailed description of this product will follow in the
"New Releases" section of our next issue.

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Learning Tips: Checklist for Helping Your Child With Homework at
http://ed.gov/pubs/parents/Homework/pt10.html
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1. Show You Think Education and Homework Are Important.

A. Do you set a regular time every day for homework?

B. Does your child have the papers, books, pencils, and other
things needed to do assignments?

C. Does your child have a fairly quiet place to study with
lots of light?

D. Do you set a good example by reading and writing yourself?

E. Do you stay in touch with your child's teachers?

2. Monitor Assignments.

A. Do you know what your child's homework assignments are?
How long they should take? How the teacher wants you to
be involved?

B. Do you see that assignments are started and completed?

C. Do you read the teacher's comments on assignments that are
returned?

D. Is TV viewing cutting into your child's homework time?

3. Provide Guidance.

A. Do you understand and respect your child's style of
learning? Does he work better alone or with someone else?
Does he learn best when he can see things, hear them, or
handle them?

B. Do you help your child to get organized? Does your child
need a calendar or assignment book? A bag for books and a
folder for papers?

C. Do you encourage your child to develop good study habits
(e.g., scheduling enough time for big assignments; making
up practice tests)?

D. Do you talk with your child about homework assignments?
Does she understand them?

4. Talk With Someone at School When Problems Come Up.

A. Do you meet the teacher early in the year before any
problems arise?

B. If a problem comes up, do you meet with the teacher?

C. Do you cooperate with the teacher and your child to work
out a plan and a schedule to fix homework problems?

D. Do you follow up with the teacher and with your child to
make sure the plan is working?

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Whale Stuff
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Check out these INNOVA recommended whale sites!

Take a look at Discovering Whales at
http://whales.magna.com.au/DISCOVER/index.html
where you will find information on almost any type of whale
plus view photos of your favorite whales.

Students visit Mrs. Connell's Fourth Grader's Sea Animals
website at
http://www.greeceny.com/ls/grade4/sea1.htm
Here you can learn about different types of sea animals such as the
octopus, sponges, sharks, angelfish, seahorse, etc.

Whale Trivia:

On land, animals must support their weight. In the aquatic
environment, water helps support an animal's body weight,
allowing for the potential for greater size.

Bowhead whales are dark gray to black except for a white chin.

When a whale throws its body out of the water and lands on the
surface, it is called a breach.

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Feedback
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If you have comments or suggestions concerning our online
newsletter or website, please direct them to
mailto:editor@innovamultimedia.com

Your comments and suggestions will be published in the feedback
section of future issues.

Online issues can be found at
http://www.innovamultimedia.com/archive.html

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Where Learning Comes First!