OPP Family and Parenting 2021

Family & Parenting RESOURCE GUIDE January 27, 2021

inside:

VISION & SCHOOL SUCCESS How to study

USING YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY

& More!

A special publication by the Owatonna People’s Press © ADOBE STOCK

PAGE 2

Family and Parenting

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Vision & school success

Students need to have the best possible vision to do their best work. Parents and teachers are eager to help improve school performance. As 80% of learning depends on vision, issues like eye fatigue, headaches, poor attention span, focusing problems can interfere with the ability to learn.

The causes of these issues can be detected in a comprehensive eye exam. If underlying vision problems are discovered, they may be eased by the use of appropriate lenses even if a student has 20/20 vision.

Lenses that keep eyes comfortable while doing school work can improve learning and

enable higher-quality study time. Blue light from digital devices may affect sleep by throwing the body’s biological clock out of balance leading to poor quality sleep.

Blue light filtering lenses can reduce that risk and allow more restorative and healthier sleep. Sleep can also be improved by avoiding looking

at screens for two to three hours before bed.

Students, like the rest of us, may be required to wear masks for in-person classroom settings. This may cause fogged-up glasses. Special lens treatments and special lens cleaning methods can minimize lens fogging. Another

See What You Love, Love How You See!

Professional eye care for all your vision needs.

Dr. Nick Vincelli * Dr. Penny Vizina * Dr. Eric Dillinger Dr. Shawnee Sovell * Dr. Beth Gilthvedt retired Optometrists We welcome any doctor’s lens prescription

Member of

2560 Harvest Lane NW 507-451-3072 l eyecareowatonna.com

Hours: Mon. 8-7; Tues. 9-5; Wed. 8-5; Thurs. 7-7; Fri. 8-5

option to avoid the While many things lens fogging problem have been altered is by wearing singleby the current crisis, use, daily contact vision and eye health lenses that are continue to be discarded at the end of important regardless each day. Single-use of the pandemic. contacts ensure that Don’t skip your or your children and teens family’s annual eye have guaranteed clean, exams just because sterile lenses every of the distractions of morning. The safety these difficult times. message tied to single- Call to schedule eye use contact lenses has appointments for always been powerful, everyone in your but has never more family and learn about important than during the latest solutions this pandemic. to your and your children’s vision needs.

Horizon EyeCare Professionals is a member of Vision Source, a network of independent eye doctors.

The doctors and staff at Horizon EyeCare have access to the knowledge and resources of more than 3,300 locally owned practices and are dedicated to maintaining the special relationship between you and your family eye doctor.

Decisions regarding your care are made by you and your Vision Source eye doctor based solely upon what is best for your eye health and vision. For more information go to www. visionsource.com or www. eyecareowatonna.com

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

FAMILY AND PARENTING

Virtual Learning

PAGE 3

For many people, school is back. But, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, it doesn’t look like it ever has before.

More students are learning at home via virtual platforms and apps, often alongside parents who are also working from home. It’s a situation that can test even the best of parents. Here are some ideas for making the best of the situation.

ROUTINE MATTERS

SET UP SHOP

Have a dedicated place for school in your home. It should be a well-lit area with convenient electrical outlets and minimal noise and distraction.

Make sure it’s an area of the home you can easily see and keep an eye on, even if you have your own work to do.

GET YOUR Kids are more comfortable and at ease TECH TOGETHER Make sure your with routines. Set one electroni cs are all and stick to it. Wake up at the same time, have a charged and ready to go every day. Check good, nutritious that everything’s breakfast, and set up for working, including school at the same headphones, before time. It’s also important that they go to sleep at school starts. Speaking the same time. Plan for of headphones, make sure to invest in a the day in setting class quality pair so that your times, breaks and children can hear the lunch. Set timers and teacher. alarms to help them (and you) stay on task.

MAKE TIME FOR FUN

Get your child during moving during any breaks, even if it’s just running up and down the stairs a few times.

Outdoor time is also important for mental health as well as physical health. When the day is over, shut

FAMILY AND PARENTING 2021 A special publication of the Owatonna People’s Press Publisher Steve Fisher REGIONAL ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Tom Kelling

Media Consultants Amber Casterton Crystal Hobart

Look for this section on Family and Parenting January 2021 is distributed to subscribers and readers of the Owatonna People’s Press at no additional charge. All rights reserved. ©2021 All advertising contained herein is the responsibility of the advertiser.

your children. Ask down the devices and teachers. Talk to them get the kids out of their regularly about what’s them to teach you the working and what’s not day’s lessons and help seats and get them working both on your reinforce their learning moving. end and on theirs. by helping them apply Make your adjustments what they learned to HAVE GREAT as necessary. every day life, like COMMUNICATION writing letters, cooking Establish clear, open Also have great or doing laundry. lines of communication communication with with your children’s

Good Shepherd Preschool 2500 7th Ave NE, Owatonna

• Christian Curriculum • Classes for 3, 4, 5 Year Olds • Extended Care & Transportation Options • Scholarships Available

Registration NOW OPEN! goodshepherdowatonna.com • 507-451-6821

PAGE 4

Family and Parenting

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Using your Local Library

Libraries are more than just the Dewey decimal system. You can make great use of your local library this school year, especially, when more classes are online and kids may not have access to their school libraries.

DVD and record players for checkout.

Artwork

If you’ve got a child studying art or art history, see if your local library allows you to check out artwork for students to study at home.

Tools

Got a science project to build? Your local library may let you check out tools to help with that.

Technology

Most public libraries these days have desktops hooked up to the internet for you or your kids to apply for jobs, do research or complete schoolwork. But many also allow you to

check out electronic devices such as laptops and tablets or even WiFi hot spots.

They also have printers you can access to print out schoolwork, materials or other items, often for free.

Classes

If you’re watching your kids try to do virtual school or you get confused by using your computer, turn to the local library.

Most libraries have free or low-cost classes on things like using a computer, learning foreign languages or even chess or yoga. You can check your local branch’s schedule either online or at the library itself.

Event Space

Want to hold a study group or another gathering? Your local library has meeting spaces set up just for this, WiFi included.

Audio/Visual Resources

Most libraries have a robust collection of CDs, DVDs, records and other resources you can use for your learning. Studying the history? Look up documentaries or copies of period music to enhance your children’s learning. The library may also lend CD,

Ready to take advantage of these great benefits? All you need is a library card — that’s free! Call or visit your local library’s website to find what you need to get a card and pay a visit today. It’s usually some proof of address, like a photo ID or a utility bill.

Keep in mind that with your local card, you may also be able to use neighboring library systems.

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Family and Parenting

PAGE 5

How to Study School’s back in and it’s time to hit the books. Studying can raise grades and confidence levels, but it’s not something that people just know how to do.

Good studying is more than just rereading the texts and notes. Reading is an important part of the process, but it isn’t the only one.

Studying involves the active engagement of the material, making connections, forming examples and regulating learning.

Here are some effective studying tips from the University of North Carolina.

• Organize study materials and begin by reviewing the topics covered.

Some examples of good study materials are textbooks, notes, PowerPoint presentations and homework.

• Create a study guide by topic. Think of questions and write complete answers.

• Teach someone else this topic.

• Make and take a quiz on the material. Say amount of time spent the answers aloud studying is the same, and rework incorrect but more information problems. is retained.

• Make up examples that relate to your own • Plan short, intensive study sessions of 30-45 experiences. minutes, or up to your children’s tolerance.

• Study in terms of question, evidence • Know what and conclusion.

What is the question? environment works best for your children.

What is the evidence presented? What is the It may not be complete silence. Try playing conclusion? calming music at a low • Understand the study volume. cycle: Previewing, • Don’t plan on attending class, multitasking. It doesn’t reviewing, studying, improve efficiency and checking your understanding. Resist can negatively affect results. Mute social the urge to skip any media, ignore text one of these steps. messages.

• Space out your • Switch up the studying over time, settings. Study at working a short different times and time on each class places to help engage every day, rather with and retain the than cramming in information. marathon sessions • Teach your children right before the test. to organize their The cumulative

time carefully and set a time each week to plan for the next week. Set times to study and complete assignments and set times for breaks. That’s

important, too.

If your children are still having trouble in a particular class or on a particular topic, it’s time to turn to the teacher or the

school counselor. Ask if there’s more work that can help them understand or if there are opportunities for tutoring or extra help in that area.

Let’s Smile, Inc.’s purpose is to change lives by improving access to oral health care, increase oral health literacy, and raise awareness about the importance of oral health’s impact on overall health.

We provide outreach services to daycare centers, preschools, schools, and community organizations.

Let’s Smile, Inc. provides preventive dental care for children and adolescents up to the age of 19 that have state insurance MHCP (MA, South Country Health Alliance, Ucare, & Blue Plus) or no dental insurance at no cost to families.

Schedule an appointment by calling or texting 507-363-3023 • letssmileinc.com non-profit 501(c)3 organization since 2013

PAGE 6

Family and Parenting

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Building Writing Skills Writing is a skill that Even though will benefit them as they there’s been a grow and are assigned lot of emphasis projects like essays and research papers. on science, Communicating easily and efficiently will technology, benefit your students far math and beyond school. engineering, Before Writing even as early The process of writing as primary begins before fingers hit keyboard. The first thing school, it’s still to do is to ask a series of questions. These important to include: learn how to • Who is the audience?

• Why are they write.

interested in — or why should they be interested in — this topic?

• What does the audience need to know?

• How would the audience’s own experience influence them on this topic?

• What do you hope the audience will gain?

Next, write down all the ideas that come to mind regarding the topic.

This is a brainstorming exercise, so it doesn’t have to be precise.

Keep in mind the

Relax. It’s Main Street Dental We want you and your family to see what comfortable, neighborly dental care is all about.

Main Street Dental Clinics are locally owned and operated

Mankato Blooming Prairie 405 East Main Street 287 St. Andrews Drive 507-720-0250 507-583-2141

New Richland 132 N. Broadway 507-463-0502

Rochester Owatonna 1170 E. Frontage Road 3110Wellner Dr. NE 507-536-7700 507-455-1000

mainstreetdentalclinics.com

purpose of the writing sentence for each assignment. Finally, paragraph and smooth organize those ideas transitions between into an outline or other ideas and paragraphs. map for your writing.

Each sentence in the This can include source paragraph should build material, questions to be on the topic sentence answered in more. and any unnecessary sentences should be Writing taken out.

Using the roadmap, start to write. Use clear, Editing concise language. Don’t Grammar and use more words than mechanics are still you need to and don’t important. Students use bigger words to try need to carefully to make the writing proofread their writing sound smart; it really before they turn it in, does the opposite. checking for typos, Write a strong topic spelling errors and

punctuation errors.

Some common errors include runon sentences, comma splices, incomplete sentences and subject/ verb agreement errors.

A good tip is to read the work out loud; it’s easy to catch unnecessary sentences or errors that way.

Plan writing assignments so that there’s time to take a break and come back to the work for editing before it’s turned in.

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Family and Parenting

PAGE 7

Applying for Scholarships Scholarships are great resources when it comes to planning for and paying for college. is legitimate. Real scholarships don’t require payment.

the information cannot be more than the cost of attendance they’ll need. Some at the college or scholarships start their application cycle up university. Scholarship Applying for money is usually to a year early, so it’s Scholarships almost never too early awarded directly to Choose a handful of the college, where it is to start looking. scholarships to go for. applied to tuition, fees Make careful not of Winning a and other amounts their deadlines and Scholarship owed, then leftover Congratulations! The read the application funds are sent to you. information carefully. first thing to do is to let Some scholarships the university financial are paid directly to the You may need aid office know so that student; make sure to things like letters of reference; get in touch it can prepare a total ask how the money financial aid package. with those people will be awarded.

All of the student aid as soon as possible a student receives and give them all

Unlike student Other scholarships are Types of loans, scholarships aimed at particular Scholarships are gifts that do not groups of people, Scholarships can need to be repaid. such as the children be merit based, There are thousands of law enforcement community based of scholarships or military families or or based on of all shapes and people from a certain financial need. Or sizes offered across town. a combination of the country. They all of those. MeritFinding come from schools, based scholarships Scholarships employers, private are awarded based Start by asking the companies, nonprofits, on academic school counselor communities, achievement, or the financial aid religious groups sometimes combined office at the college and professional with a talent, trait or or university the organizations. With interest. Scholarships student plans on a little research and awarded on financial attending. You can by keeping on top of need use the student’s also look online or deadlines, this free income or the income check the public money for college can of their family to library. But make be yours for the taking. decide whether or sure the scholarship not to award money.

Celebrating Life and Learning

Parents are their children’s first and most important teachers.

Community Education is a program of Owatonna Public Schools, and has exciting early learning experiences for children between the ages of birth to kindergarten entrance and their families.

• Early Childhood Family Education Parent/Child Classes • Bright Beginnings (a school readiness) Preschool • ‘Lil Learners Preschool • Early Childhood Screening

Community Partnerships Roosevelt Community School Celebrate Life & Learning

Roosevelt Community School 122 E McKinley Street, Owatonna

507-444-7900

• Amazing Newborn Clinic • Early Learning Network • Owatonna Early Childhood Initiative • Steele Co. Children’s Mental Health Collaborative

PAGE 8

Family and Parenting

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Choosing Extracurriculars An important, but often overlooked, part of the school experience is choosing extracurricular activities.

This means more than Pick Something soccer or baseball.

Enjoyable and Extracurricular that You Care activities also include About clubs, such as those In today’s overloaded focused on robotics lives, any time or debate; religious outside of school is activities; part-time precious. Fill it with jobs; volunteering enjoyable activities and more. Here are that can also further some important things your experience and to consider when education in ways that picking extracurricular school can’t. If the activities.

activity ticks both of those boxes, you may soon find yourself in a leadership position.

Pick Something Challenging Growth is important, and it’s hard to get growth without challenges. You’re bound to learn something about yourself as well as a new topic. Plus, it looks great on college applications.

Celebrate the Moments That Matter.

Order online at jostens.com

extracurricular Pick Something With Younger activities in the future.

Useful to You Children First and foremost, or Others For parents of younger

A job can be useful children, remember to you because you not to overload them can contribute to or you. Look at their your family or save for interests, strengths college or another goal and weaknesses — you set. Or you can and your schedules learn a lifelong skill.

— before choosing Something useful to activities. Don’t push others usually include your kids too hard a service element. or let them push Remember, not every themselves into student gets the overdoing it. Parents, chance to participate realize when you’re in extracurricular making them do the activities. Use your activity for you and privilege to give back. not for them. That can cause a dangerous level of burnout that may keep your children from enjoying

they’re kids, and they need plenty of time for play, without schedules or expectations.

Extracurricular activities are important, but equally as important is to know when to walk away. If an activity becomes too much for either parent or child, or if the student just plain loses interest, it’s important to let that happen without penalty. There’s plenty of activities in the sea.