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Take Five for high schoolers for the summer

1. Learn a new language
http://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/lessons/lessons.htm
http://signing4you2.weebly.com/

2. Take an online course at Harvard, MIT and other universities/colleges
https://www.edx.org/
https://www.edx.org/course/rise-superheroes-impact-pop-culture-smithsonianx-popx1-1x#.VQTNrdh0zGi

3. Learn First Aid
Although you may not get certified. www.firstaidforfree.com

4. Khan Academy

5. Curious TV http://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthof/2015/04/23/are-you-ready-to-subscribe-to-a-netflix-for-learning-curious-com-thinks-you-are/

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Make Plans to See Makin’ Music 2016

makin'_music

I had an idea, but I did not really know what to expect as I sat in the audience waiting to see Freed-Hardeman University’s (FHU) production of Makin’ Music 2016: Brand New Beat. Tony Allen, Freed-Hardeman University’s Dean of Student Life, simply describes the production in one sentence:

“A musical variety show put on by the students at Freed-Hardeman University.” ~ Tony Allen

Yes, it is simply a variety show, but the talent of the student performers and creativity behind the production presents more than just a regular musical variety show. The student-directed production has been presented for almost 40 years on the campus and each year, the students work hard to produce a show better than the last.

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Makin’ Music 2016: Brand New Beat opened with the hosts and hostesses of the show, setting the tone for an almost two hour experience of good music and great singing talent. FHU students and masters of ceremonies, Savannah and Michael, picked up after that in a video of them going on a wild car ride that barely got them to the Loyd Auditorium in time to take their positions ready for the show. Their humorous interaction was enjoyable and during the show, I found myself either singing along, stomping my foot or with a smile my face.

Variety is what we got with performances of contemporary songs like “Brothers” and “The Eye” and some oldies like “Lean on Me”, “Aint No Mountain High” and the hosts and hostesses medley of “My Girl” and “My Guy”. New lyrics were put to other familiar songs from the 80s and other periods and the song mashups were a delight; how about a little Carly Rae Jepsen, Maroon 5 and Drake all rolled together?

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One could really tell the FHU students were having fun with their theatrics and dancing that brought their singing to life. I can imagine that many of them look forward to participating in the annual production that allows them to share their musical and theatrical talents that their majors may not otherwise allow. The audience, full of area elementary and junior high school students, were engaged throughout the morning performance.

The production is just one of the activities happening on the FHU campus for the Makin’ Music 2016 Weekend. Other activities include Maroon & Gold Day and campus tours for prospective students, story time for pre-kindergarten and elementary school students, softball and baseball games to attend and more. This is a good family opportunity to visit the campus and learn more about the university.

My children and I have already made plans to be sitting in the audience next year. I can’t wait to see what the students come up with for Makin’ Music 2017.

Makin’ Music 2016 “Brand New Beat” will be presented Friday, April 8 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, April 9 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. You may purchase your tickets online.

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©2015-2016 Kid Madison. Article by Jennifer Smeltser. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the publisher http://kidmadison.com/.

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Taste of Liberty: Teens in the Kitchen

Welcome to the Taste of Liberty. Picture courtesy of Taste of Liberty.

Welcome to the Taste of Liberty. Picture courtesy of Taste of Liberty.

Kids in the kitchen takes on a whole new meaning at Taste Of Liberty, a restaurant managed by students at Liberty Technical High School (LTHS) in Jackson. Taste of Liberty is a division of the Culinary Arts program at the school that has been offered since LTHS opened its doors in 2003. The program has also seen recent growth in its Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses it now offers.

Taste of Liberty students pictured on the first row (l-r): Jada Lovett and Katie Jones. On the back row (l-r): Montreanna Whiteside, Chasity Brown, Haley Fitzgerald and Taylor Spencer. Picture courtesy of Taste of Liberty.

Taste of Liberty students pictured on the first row (l-r): Jada Lovett and Katie Jones. On the back row (l-r): Montreanna Whiteside, Chasity Brown, Haley Fitzgerald and Taylor Spencer. Picture courtesy of Taste of Liberty.


“The program was created to be a part of the overall vision for Liberty Tech,” said Culinary Instructor Leslie Emerson. “The vision was for a state-of-the-art high school where students could receive strong academics and, at the same time, have the opportunity to acquire advanced technical skills.”

LTHS offers three levels of Culinary Arts:

• Culinary I – for freshman, which equips students with the foundational knowledge and skills to pursue careers in the culinary field.

• Culinary II – for sophomores, which is an applied- knowledge course.

• Culinary III – for juniors, which is an advanced course intended to further equip students for a career in the food service industry.

• Work-Based Learning – for seniors, which was added this school year.

Katie Jones holding pound cake, which is one of the special desserts. Picture courtesy of Taste of Liberty.

Katie Jones holding pound cake, which is one of the special desserts students make. Picture courtesy of Taste of Liberty.

“The Work-Based Learning: Career Practicum is a capstone course intended to provide students with opportunities to apply the skills and knowledge learned in previous CTE and general education courses within a professional work environment,” said Emerson. “The course allows students to earn high school credit for select models of work-based learning. Students are able to interact with industry professionals in order to extend and deepen classroom work and support the development of postsecondary and career readiness knowledge and skills.”

Emerson continued to share that once students complete the practicum, they will be prepared for postsecondary and career opportunities aligned with their interests and be able to demonstrate professional, quality and employable skills relevant to their chosen career paths.

“Standards in this course are designed to reinforce Tennessee State Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy in Technical Subjects and Tennessee State Standards in Mathematics,” said Emerson.

The program collaborates with other academic and career and technical classes at LTHS, like purchasing its vegetables from the “award winning” agriculture department at the school.

Students follow the program that begins with Culinary I, which is a one semester course. They continue through Culinary II and Culinary III courses, which are one year courses each. Through working at Taste of Liberty, students are able to acquire hands-on experience while applying what they have learned in their basic courses like English, math and science.

Pictured is student Elijah Harris talking about the taste of Liberty program. Picture courtesy of Taste of Liberty.

Pictured is student Elijah Harris talking about the taste of Liberty program. Picture courtesy of Taste of Liberty.

“Preparing recipes demands knowledge of math in order to measure, figure portions and calculate costs. Cooking is nothing if not a chemistry project where you put different ingredients together that lose their individual properties to become a delicious new compound. As wait staff, students apply the grammar rules they learn in English and use them to be effective communicators,” said Emerson. ‘In addition to these academic skills, they learn the soft skills that often do not get taught in a regular classroom setting. They learn cooperation, professionalism and the importance of being a productive member of a team. They also learn the satisfaction that comes from producing a superior product when they put in the extra time and effort.”

At Taste of Liberty, students are involved in all aspects of the restaurant business. By the time they complete the program, they have a number of the skills required to manage a restaurant.

“Our students learn hands-on culinary skills that range from knife use and care, cutting skills, baking, cooking methods, seasoning, customer service, team work, restaurant careers and responsibilities, menu planning, recipe conversion and desserts to plating a dish and portion size,” said Emerson. “It is our role to teach the students the culinary basics and prepare them for a food service career or culinary college. We are part of SkillsUSA, which is a Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO).”

Diners in the taste of Liberty restaurant. Picture courtesy of Taste of Liberty.

Diners in the taste of Liberty restaurant. Picture courtesy of Taste of Liberty.

Students who join SkillsUSA compete against their culinary peers for the opportunity to attend the state culinary competition, where they compete against top students for scholarships. Several students who have completed the culinary program have gone on to careers in the food service industry. Some of the current LTHS students in the program also work in food service.

“We have at least two students who have gone to college for this profession in the last three years,” said Emerson. “We teach the students the culinary basics; help them achieve personal goals, perfect their skills and focus on their passion for culinary.”

Taste of Liberty offers dine-in and carry-out options for its customers. The restaurant is open on Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and reservations are not required, but are recommended. Word of mouth of the service and quality of food keeps the 48-seat dining room at capacity on most Wednesdays. The menu, which changes weekly, is available on the LTHS and the Madison County School District websites. You may sign-up to receive e-mail updates of the menu and also follow Taste of Liberty on Twitter.

A tilapia plate. Picture courtesy of Taste of Liberty.

A tilapia plate. Picture courtesy of Taste of Liberty.

“We always welcome catering events,” said Emerson. “We have a set menu of items that we are able to cater as well as a price list. Last school year, our students accumulated 235 hours of volunteer work serving school groups and small businesses in the area.”

If you need a suggestion for a lunch destination on Wednesdays, consider dining at Taste of Liberty and supporting the students and the culinary arts.

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©2015-2016 Kid Madison. Article by Jennifer Smeltser. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the publisher http://kidmadison.com/.

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Free bowling and skating summer fun for children

kids_bowl_skate_free01

Summer is not far away and it is already time to start thinking about activities for our children to do. For many children, summer signifies sleeping in and spending the remaining waking hours on electronics playing video games, watching television, texting and anything else that can be done while in a reclined position. If figuring out ways to keep your children physically active during the summer months is challenging, I have got some ideas for you and both are free.

Kids Bowl Free and Kids Skate Free are two individual summer programs that provide an opportunity for children to get up, get out, exercise and have some fun. Children registered in the bowling program receive two free games per day at the participating center. The skating program allows participants to skate free during specified hours using issued program passes.

Both bowling and skating can be enjoyed by children of all skill levels from the first-time player or skater to the more skilled in either sport. Participation in one or both programs will provide regular exercise, help your child burn calories and give them an alternative to being sedentary during summer vacation.

There are several locations throughout the United States participating in both programs with centers and rinks across the country. You must register with the locations you want to use. Below is a list of participating bowling centers and skating rinks in Tennessee. Check the participating location to learn the days your child may bowl and skate for free, as well as the age of child that may participate in the programs. A skate or bowling shoe rental fee may apply.

BOWLING CENTERS
Tennessee (see participating bowling centers)
Cities: Chattanooga, Clarksville, Collierville, Cookeville, Cordova, Dickson, Hendersonville, Hermitage, Johnson City, Knoxville, Lexington, Memphis, Murfreesboro, Nashville, Savannah, Smyrna and Tullahoma.

Currently there is no listed participating center in the Jackson area. See how you may change that.

SKATING RINKS
Tennessee (see participating skating centers)
Cities: Clarksville, Cookeville, Cordova, Greeneville, Jackson, Johnson City, Memphis, Milan, Murfreesboro and Tullahoma.

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©2015-2016 Kid Madison. Article by Jennifer Smeltser. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the publisher http://kidmadison.com/.

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WLJT Holds PBS Kids Writers Contest

wljt_writers_contest

Do you have an aspiring young writer? WLJT is holding the PBS Kids Writers Contest for children in kindergarten through third grades. All eligible children are encouraged to participate in the contest for the chance to author a winning piece as well as win a number of prizes that include Walmart gift cards, books, arts and crafts supplies and more. The teachers of the First Place winners and the teacher with the largest class submissions will also be winners.

This is an opportunity for children who already have a passion for writing and love to bring their stories to life on the written page. It is also a chance for a student who may not enjoy writing, but loves art and can bring their pictures to life with words. When given some time, putting words together to tell a story, is not as difficult as it may seem.

Authors may submit a story (fact or fiction) or prose and poetry. Students in kindergarten and first grade must use a minimum of 50 words and a maximum of 200. Second and third graders must use a minimum of 100 words and a maximum of 350. Submissions must have at least five original illustrations. This is a great writing and fine arts exercise for children.

Contestants will be graded on the following criteria:

40% Creativity and originality of plot and/or themes,
40% Story structure and use of literary devices,
20% Relevance, quality and originality of illustration

So, start working on that story, prose or poetry now, because all submissions must be postmarked by Friday, April 1. Read the complete contest rules. Call (800) 366-9558 for more information.

PBS Kids Writers Contest
Postmarked submission deadline to WLJT, P.O. Box 966, Martin, TN 38237 is Friday, April 1.

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©2015-2016 Kid Madison. Article by Jennifer Smeltser. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the publisher http://kidmadison.com/.

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SM Museum Day Live!: Free Museum Admission

free_museum_day

The Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day Live! returns this year again giving you free admission for one day to more than 400 museums across the country. Yes, there are a lot of museums in the United States and that number only represents the ones participating in the event. The annual event will be held on Saturday, March 12 and there are seven participating museums in Tennessee.

In order to visit a participating museum of your choice, you will need a ticket, which is free. Although the tickets and admission are free, only one ticket may be used per household, per address. The ticket allows admission for two people to one museum. Additional museum guests from your household must pay to enter with you. You may register online and download your ticket. That sounds like a really educational way to spend the weekend and free always sounds really good.

If you know you will be in another state that weekend and would like to take in a museum tour, see what museums are participating where you will be visiting.

Participating Tennessee Museums
Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum, 30 Casey Jones Lane, Jackson, TN, 38305
West TN Delta Heritage Center/Tina Turner Museum, 121 Sunny Hill Cove, Brownsville, TN, 38012 (free everyday)
Museum of Appalachia, 2819 Andersonville Highway, Clinton, TN, 37716
Homesteads Tower Museum, 96 Highway 68, Crossville, TN, 38555
Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, 700 Hall of Fame Dr., Knoxville, TN, 37915
Dixon Gallery and Gardens, 4339 Park Avenue, Memphis, TN, 38117
Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, 546 Hwy. 360, Vonore, TN, 37885

Find a participating museum near you.

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©2015-2016 Kid Madison. Article by Jennifer Smeltser. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the publisher http://kidmadison.com/.

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Grab Your Books for Read Across America

read_across_americaFor almost 20 years, the National Education Association and Dr. Seuss Enterprises has partnered to encourage children to read, read and do more reading through their Read Across America program. It is an annual event celebrated on March 2, which is the birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel, also known as Dr. Seuss. As you can imagine, the celebration is full of fun, quirkiness and the usual characters found in many of Dr. Seuss’ books. According to Susan Brandt, President Dr. Seuss Enterprises, Dr. Seuss “dedicated his whole life to ensuring that reading was engaging and fun for children.”

Read Across America has become the largest birthday party/reading event across the country. This is one that many elementary schools – public, private and homeschool – set time aside in their day to celebrate. I mean really, who does not love to read? This is displayed by volunteers from the community who come into the schools and read to the children. Many libraries, businesses and other community associations participate in the day or hold events sometime during the month of March.

According to the National Center for Education “twenty-six percent of children who were read to three or four times in the last week by a family member recognized all letters of the alphabet. This is compared to 14 percent of children who were read to less frequently.“

In 1999, the “Educational Testing Service reported that students who do more reading at home are better readers and have higher math scores; however, students read less for fun as they get older.1”

We need to keep reading fun for children, because it has been proved that children, who read more, perform better in school. Reading Across America is a good place to start and provides the promotional material you need to host your own event. Although, March 2 is the official date, you can host your event anytime. Keep reading fun throughout the year with these book lists and suggestions on how to inspire children to read. Grab a book and read to a child.

Learn the official Read Across America song.
Singing are Highland Elementary School fourth and fifth graders, Nashville.

Read Across America
©2003 Glenn Weiss
Read across America
We’re so proud of our whole school
We’re reading books across America
You know reading’s really cool.
Every book unfolds a world
That’ll take you far away.
Come join us young and old,
Boys and girls exercise your mind today.
Your imagination is something you should feed.
For growing inspiration let reading be your seed.
Read across America,
From sea to shining sea
Read across America
Will build a better you and me.
Read across America,
From sea to shining sea
Read across America
Will build a better you and me.
Will build a better you and me.

1 Educational Testing Service, 1999. America’s Smallest School: The Family.

Public Read Across America events in your community. This list will be updated throughout March as we learn of new events. Send information about your Read Across America event to Kid Madison.

Papa’s Pizza To-Go – Read Across America Family Fun Night, Monday, February 29 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., 12905 South 1st Street, Milan 38358, (731) 613-2362

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©2015-2016 Kid Madison. Article by Jennifer Smeltser. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the publisher http://kidmadison.com/.

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UT Martin Offers ACT Prep on its Jackson Campus

act_prep_jacksonJust like Christmas, test taking season comes every year. Granted, kids probably look forward to one more than the other. If you have a high school junior or senior who plans to continue their education beyond high school, ACT testing is somewhere in their future. The score your child earns on the ACT can make the difference between what school they attend to the amount of scholarship money they are offered. UT Martin is offering high school juniors and seniors ACT prep workshops on its satellite campus in Jackson. The workshops are geared towards helping them prepare for taking the ACT. Students may attend the one-day workshop that will cover English, reading and math to help them prepare for the exam.

If your student has already taken the ACT, they can still benefit from the workshop. Students are able to take the ACT exam more than once and may choose which score in each subject they want to use when applying for scholarships and college admission (see other benefits of taking the ACT). Attending the workshop could lead to your child scoring higher on the exam.

Although calculator use is not necessary, if your child wants to use one, it must be an approved ACT calculator.

The ACT test will be offered again on Saturday, February 11 (registration deadline Friday, January 13, 2017), April 8 (registration deadline Friday, March 3) and June 10 (registration deadline Friday, May 5) in 2017. Local test centers are Lane College for April 8 and Jackson Christian School, Union University and University of Memphis at Lambuth for all of the dates. See more test locations.

UT Martin Jackson
One-day Workshop
Date: Saturdays – November 19 and December 3, 2016 and January 28, March 25 and May 20, 2017
Time: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Location: UT Martin Jackson Center, 3031 U.S. 45 Bypass, Jackson, 38305
Registration Fee: $45 per student

Registration may be done online.

Call (731) 881- 7080 or (800) 482-5199 for more information.

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©2016 Kid Madison. Article by Jennifer Smeltser. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the publisher http://kidmadison.com/.

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Weekday Fun In/Around Madison: 2/22-2/26

The circus is coming to town! The circus is coming to town!

The circus is coming to town! The circus is coming to town!

Today is going to be a great day. This week is going to be a great week! I’m feeling really good today and I hope you are too. I’ve got some great ideas for you this week. Just so you know, warmer weather is coming and with that, more events. For now, if you decide you need to get out and go, there is always something for you and your children to enjoy. You may also find more to do on the Kid Madison Event Picks Calendar. Remember to always call to confirm the event.

Let’s Plan Your Week!
Monday: Special Needs Bowling will be at the Jackson Bowling and Family Center tonight at SNs children participants get to bowl two free game. Call (731) 668-2695 for more information and to confirm participating ages of bowlers.

Tuesday: Garden Bros Circus is bringing its big top to the Oman Arena (179 Lane Avenue, 38301) with two shows, 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The will be lions and tigers, but no bears, as well as a lot of acrobatic, clowning and exciting entertainment. Adult tickets are $9.95 (first 100 – regularly $22) while they last. Regular pricing offers free admission for children under two with a paying adult for each child. Passes are also floating around Jackson that offer free admission for children three and older with a paid adult. You may purchase tickets online until 10:30 a.m. on the performance day.

Wednesday: JMCSS Preschool Open Registration – Today is the first day that the Jackson Madison County School System (JMCSS) is accepting applications for preschool students for the 2016-2017 school year. Read for more information and learn how to register.

Thursday: It is Kids Skate Free (KSF) day at Magic Wheels for children, ages 10 and younger. Children receive free admission and skate rental with a KSF pass. Register your child for the Kids Skate Free program, which is recognized at a number of skating rinks across the country. Call (731) 664-2069 for more information.

Friday: The Sacred Heat of Jesus High School presents The Music Man at The Ned R. McWherter West Tennessee Cultural Arts Center at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. (Saturday night too). Tickets are $8 for students and $10 for adults and may be purchased at the school or at the door if available. The Friday, 1 p.m. performance is $8 each for children and adults. Call (731) 660-4774 for more information.

Do you need more ideas?
Check out the Kid Madison Event Picks Calendar!

Don’t miss a thing! Subscribe to the Kid Madison blog and get our articles in your inbox!

©2015-2016 Kid Madison. Article by Jennifer Smeltser. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the publisher http://kidmadison.com/.

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Weekday Fun In/Around Madison: 2/15-2/19

Famous N.C. & St. L. Railway Depot & Railroad Museum

Famous N.C. & St. L. Railway Depot & Railroad Museum

It is cold and rainy today, and all you probably want to do is stay at home. The fact it is a holiday, President’s Day, makes the idea even more attractive. If you decide you need to get out and go, there is always something for you and your children to enjoy. Find something on the Kid Madison Event Picks Calendar to do and calm that beast. Remember to always call to confirm the event.

Let’s Plan Your Week!

Monday: Tickets for Ballet Arts of Jackson’s (BA) production of Alice in Wonderland are now on sale. The performance dates are Friday through Sunday, March 18-20, at the Carl Perkins Civic Center. Tickets are also on sale for the Mad Tea Party on Saturday and Sunday, March 19-20. Get your tickets today. BA performances usually sell out quickly! Call 731-668-3240 for more information.

Tuesday: Did you know not far from downtown Jackson is the N.C.& St. L. Depot and Railroad Museum (582 South Royal Street, 38301). It is open six days a week and admission is free. Train lovers of all ages will enjoy seeing (and conducting) the HO scale model railroad layout with 500 feet of track and four trains running simultaneously. There are also two different style cabooses and a 1947 dining car on-site for you to step into and imagine riding in as passengers did in the past. Stop in and visit at any time. Call (731) 425-8223 for more information.

Wednesday: Casey Jones Village (30 Casey Jones Lane, Jackson 38305) Education Coordinator Judy Lafont presents a themed story time and activity, and serves refreshments. Children in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade are invited to bring their parents or grandparents with them to enjoy reading time at the museum. Call (731) 668-1222 to make your reservation and for more information.

Thursday: It is Kids Skate Free (KSF) day at Magic Wheels for children, ages 10 and younger. Children receive free admission and skate rental with a KSF pass. Register your child for the Kids Skate Free program, which is recognized at a number of skating rinks across the country. Call (731) 664-2069 for more information.

Friday: The Enchantment Under the Sea Father/Daughter Dance will be held at the Selmer Community Center (230 North 5th Street, 38375) in Selmer. This one will be fun for fathers and their daughters to spend an evening together dining and dancing. Pictures will also be taken for remembering the evening. Tickets are $10 a couple and $5 for each additional person attending. The dance is for all ages of daughters/girls. Call (731) 645-3866 for more information.

Do you need more ideas?
Check out the Kid Madison Event Picks Calendar!

Don’t miss a thing! Subscribe to the Kid Madison blog and get our articles in your inbox!

©2015-2016 Kid Madison. Article by Jennifer Smeltser. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the publisher http://kidmadison.com/.