Knoxville Parent Magazine- February 2015

Fe b r u a r y 2 0 1 5 F r e e

February 2015Volume IV • Issue II

2 Knoxville Parent • February 2015


February 2015Volume IV • Issue II

In This Issue...

Contents

K N O X V I L L E

Contact Info:Phone: 865.622.9680Fax: 888.457.9602E-mail: [email protected] Parent is published twelve times a year and is distributed throughout the city of Knoxville and surrounding communities. Knoxville Parent is available free of charge, limited to one copy per reader. No person without written permission from the publishers may take more than one copy per monthly issue. Knoxville Parent may be distributed only by authorized distributors.

Knoxville Parent, LLCPO Box 52605Knoxville, TN 37950,phone 865.622.9680 • fax 888.457.9602The entire contents of this publication are copyrighted and property of Knoxville Parent. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of the publishers. Knoxville Parent utilize freelance writers, and the views expressed within this publication are not necessarily the views of the publishers or editors. Knoxville Parent takes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or other materials.

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Parent publications are GREAT places to advertise! For more information,

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Advisory BoardSr. Mary MartaAbbott, RSMThe Diocese of Knoxville

Marie AlcornUnited Way of Greater Knoxville

Mike BaileySmall Business Representative

Paul ParsonEast Tennessee Children’s Hospital

Tracey MatthewsKnox County Schools Family and Community Engagement

Elizabeth PooleyMarketing Professional

Lee TramelKnox County Sheriff ’s Department

Liza ZenniThe Arts and Culture Alliance of Greater Knoxville

Contributing WritersAmerican Red CrossEast Tennessee Children’s HospitalJeff ComasAdam KalwasTracey MatthewsJim McIntyreErin NguyenEliza NorrellMichael K. Smith, Ph.D

Visit us at KnoxvilleParent.com

Michael Kull and Eva Nations, PublishersAdam Kalwas, Managing Editor


Look At What’s Changing: The SAT College Admissions Test

A Classical Evening With Hanser-McClellan

Understanding The Developing Teenager

Dear Knox County Schools’ Families

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Teens and Technology: Truth or Consequences!

Safety Tips From East Tennessee Children’s Hospital

Teach Your Children About Home Fire Safety

10 Terrific Books: Printz Award-Winners For Teens

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Knoxville Parent Magazine

Understanding The Developing Teenager“If you give them good information and let them make an informed decision, they may surprise you with a good choice.”

PAGE 6

Look At What’s Changing: The SAT College Admissions Test“...test preparation for this new SAT/PSAT will be just as important as it has been in the past (and also equally important for the ACT).”

PAGE 4

Teens and Technology: Truth or Consequences!“As children enter their teenage years, parents should be aware of the advantages and disadvantages that media present.”

PAGE 9

@KnoxParentMag


years, the College Board seems to have decided that this was a mistake and that it needs to start over from scratch.

The documents supplied by the College Board do provide more detail about the test specifications of the new SAT. “We will make the redesigned SAT the most transparent exam in the assessment field…What the test measures will be no mystery. How we go about measuring students’ reading, writing, language, and mathematics skills will be widely known.” Once again, these statements suggest the irony behind the decade’s old struggle to get ready for the SAT: it has been a mystery. It has been such a mystery that students have sought special test preparation programs to prepare for the exam. Alternatively, they have taken the ACT, the other college admissions test.

The Reading Test will now have students read and analyze challenging prose passages drawn from a range of content areas. These content areas will include not only literary passages but also texts drawn from science, social studies, history, and current information. Sentence completions have now been discarded. Therefore, now all those SAT vocabulary-building workbooks are obsolete! The Writing and Language Test will test students’ ability to revise and edit texts particularly using conventions of standard written English. Instead of standalone questions, this test will measure writing and language skills in the context of longer passages. The SAT Essay will now be optional. The Math Test will undergo the most dramatic changes. Math questions will now focus more on algebra, statistics, and trigonometry. Finally, the new SAT will revert to its “old” scoring scale: 200 to 800 for Math and 200 to 800 for the combined Reading/Writing and Language Test.

This redesign of the SAT must be put in context of the challenges posed by the ACT. The number of ACT test-takers has risen dramatically in the past decade, to the extent that, by 2013, the ACT had overtaken the SAT as the more popular college admissions option. Many states have adopted the ACT and are paying the fees for juniors to take the test. In this past decade, the College Board has seen the fortunes of its flagship assessment decline dramatically.

The College Board claims that “test prep” may not be necessary anymore: “The redesigned SAT will aid these necessary reforms by supporting a fundamental shift in k–12 education from a focus on ‘test prep’ in the limited sense to a focus on rich, challenging course work for all students.” After reviewing the dozens of sample questions for the new SAT available at the College Board website, I believe that test preparation for this new SAT/PSAT will be just as important as it has been in the past (and also equally important for the ACT). The importance of college admissions tests has not diminished. Most colleges and universities use these tests as part of their admissions’ criteria. I will continue to help students prepare for these tests and to achieve their best score for admissions and scholarships.

by Michael K. Smith, Ph.D.

Look At What’s Changing: The SAT College Admissions Test

Once again, the SAT, the oldest and most famous college admissions test, is changing. The College Board has

redesigned both the SAT and PSAT with the new PSAT starting in the fall of 2015 and the first new SAT in the spring of 2016. Why would the College Board change its most famous assessment? Does this change have anything to do with the challenges it faces from its major competitor, the ACT college admissions test?

The College Board feels that today’s students are ill prepared for college and for the workforce, given high rates of remedial work required in postsecondary education. The College Board states that it must do all it can “to help all students not only be ready for college and workforce training programs but also succeed in them.” To accomplish this herculean task, the College Board acknowledges that the SAT, its “flagship college and career readiness assessment,” needs to change. To measure what is needed, “the redesigned SAT has been designed for greater focus, relevance, and transparency while retaining the test’s tradition of being a valuable predictor of college and career readiness and success.”

What I find rather amusing are the implications that the SAT, for decades the flagship assessment and the most widely used college admissions tool, must now be more focused, relevant, and transparent suggesting that this assessment did not previously have these characteristics! The SAT underwent a significant revision in 2005, when the test added writing skills, an essay, and a change to its total scoring scale (from 1600 to 2400). At that time, the College Board claimed that the “new SAT” was more closely aligned with high and college expectations. In less than ten

Michael K. Smith, Ph.D., is owner of TESTPREP EXPERTS (www.testprepexperts.com ) which prepares students for standardized

tests such as the ACT and SAT. He is also a consultant to Discovery Education Assessment. He can reached at [email protected].

“...test preparation for this new SAT/PSAT will be just as important as it has been in the past (and also equally important for the ACT).”

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Hanser and John McClellan. The aspect I really enjoyed about the Knoxville Guitar Society was its intimate setting and the ability to speak with the

musicians. There are two concerts left for the 2014-2015 season (March 6th and May 2nd), and I plan on

attending in the future. For more information on concert dates and ticket details, head

over to www.knoxvilleguitar.org.

by Adam Kalwas

A Classical Evening With Hanser-McClellan

While attending my first Knoxville Guitar Society concert, I found myself embedded in

a quaint crowd of forty attendees sitting in the pews of the Episcopal Church of the Good Samaritan (located on 425 North Cedar Bluff Road). The evening’s entertainment featured classical guitarists John McClellan and Kirk Hanser performing as the Hanser-McClellan Duo. The event began with an introduction from the President of the Knoxville Guitar Society and fellow Knoxville Parent contributor, Michael K. Smith. After Smith’s warm welcome to the audience, McClellan and Hanser naturally entered onto the dimly lit stage.

What struck me right away was how incredibly light-hearted and amusing both Hanser and McClellan’s personalities were as they bantered back and forth, collecting quite a few laughs from the audience. Even their warm up melody clearly stated their playful nature. Once both guitars were finely tuned, the Duo dove straight into their anticipated repertoire for the evening.

The first half of the program contained pieces written by Paulo Bellinati, Ida Presti, and Kim Portnoy. The musical genres ranged from contemporary Brazilian folklore to Spanish and French themed pieces. Hanser and McClellan brilliantly moved their fingers across the fretboard as they played. The dynamics were mostly soft with a dreamlike melody. A mixture of consonant and dissonant sounds filled the church, especially during Presti’s two pieces Danes D’Avila (1957) and Berceuse a ma mere (1957). As I observed Hanser and McClellan perform Allegro appassionato and Andante cantabile (Portnoy), I was moved by the jazzy rhythms and occasional dark tones.

The second half of what already has been an inspiring performance, began with the historic sounds of G.F. Handel, most famously known for composing his oratorio known as Messiah. The more I listened to the seasoned maestros, the more I was in awe of their chemistry and zeal for classical guitar. I greatly enjoyed the moments when Hanser and McClellan closed their eyes, slightly tilted their heads back, and got lost in their own beautiful sounds. Next up for the Duo was the suite Juegos de Manos (Game of Hands) written by Jeffrey Comas, Director of the Knoxville Academy of Music and fellow Knoxville Parent contributor. Juegos de Manos was Comas’ reflection of the Catalan region of Spain, where his father was born. The suite is divided into three parts and each part painted a picture of the Catalan rolling hills, fishing villages, simple beauty of the farmlands, and the pure excitement of the Barcelona nightlife. The last piece of the program was Delta by Roger Hudson, American composer and dear friend of Hanser and McClellan. Delta was originally a solo guitar piece, but Hudson added in a completely new part to complement the solo version. This piece most definitely reflected Hudson’s unique sound with its Blues and Jazz flavoring.

The audience heartily applauded the Duo and brought them back for an encore performance. Once again, we were all swayed by Hanser and McClellan’s humor and their impressive rendition of Boliviana (from their album Jongo). Afterwards, Michael K. Smith encouraged the crowd to attend the free reception, where we had the privilege to speak with Kirk

Adam Kalwas is the Managing Editor for Knoxville Parent Magazine and current student of the University of Tennessee’s School of

Advertising program.

“ The more I listened to the seasoned maestros, the more I was in awe of their chemistry and zeal for classical guitar.”

McClellan (left) and Hanser (right) performing on Feb. 7, 2015

www.gsmit.org/parent.html (865) 448-6709 @GSMITremont

is worth two in the booksIt’s hard to ignore lessons on nature when you’re holding it in the palm of your hand.

Parents, have your kids ever spent 3-5 days living and learning in the best outdoor classroom -- Great Smoky Mountains National Park? Ask their teachers how your students can experience hands-on environmental education that will impact their lives for years to come.

A bird in the hand


Jeff Comas started playing music at 5 years of age. He is the owner of Allied Music Instructors. He has been a music

educator since 1989, and has given over 40,000 music lessons.

The Imaginary Audience Adolescents become better students of observation and interpretation. They begin to observe other people’s behavior, expressions, comments, and appearance. They make speculations about what others may be thinking, wanting, needing, or feeling. They also begin to wonder what other people are thinking about them. The Personal FableMany teens believe they have unique abilities and/or unique problems. On one hand may feel as though they are better, smarter, or stronger than others. On the other hand, they may feel as though they are dumber, weaker, and inferior to others. This can lead to dire consequences, because they may take dangerous risks when they over-estimate their abilities or adopt dangerous behaviors if they dwell on their problems. For better or worse, as our children become young adults their new cognitive abilities appear at the same time that they are struggling with insecurities about their changing appearance, identity, and life experiences. Most parents of teens have heard their kids say things like: “I hate you.” “You just can’t understand.” or “Get out of my life.” (maybe we even remember saying such things). These statements are easier to take if we remember that they come from the onset of an adult mind without the benefit of adult experience.

Even so, parents may also struggle with the changes. The child you have been very close with may be distant. They used to listen to your guidance, but now question everything you say. This is also a time where they may fiercely embrace or completely reject religion. These are natural occurrences in the individual’s pursuit of autonomy. You will have to accept a change in your role as a parent. However, it is still important for parents to continue to monitor behavior, choices, and decisions.

Your kids still need your love, guidance, and support to help them through these difficult circumstances. If you tell them what to do they may (probably will) reject your advice. If you give them good information and let them make an informed decision, they may surprise you with a good choice. Nonetheless, you must allow them to make some mistakes because that is how they (we) learn.

You may have to take a step back, but do stay involved with your child. Ask them about their life (this shows you care), but be prepared to get little response. Don’t pry too much or they may cut you off completely. Pick your battles, and don’t sweat the small stuff. Chances are they will be okay. After all, you survived adolescence, right?

Since 1989 when I became a music educator, I have worked with many hundreds of children and

adolescents. While I hold no specialized certification outside of my license as an instructor of the Childbloom Guitar Program, I do consider myself somewhat of an expert in child development. I have made it a point to educate myself through observation and the study of child psychologists such as Jean Piaget.

While some of Piaget’s findings have become disputed, I find his observations to be right on the money and still quite relevant nearly 100 years after his first publications. Piaget identified four stages of cognitive development and considered the fourth stage the final stage. He thought the personal changes one experiences beyond the final stage to be a result of acquired knowledge and experience. He identified five characteristic indicators of this final stage: 1) mental operations, 2) hypothetico-deductive reasoning, 3) propositional thought, 4) the imaginary audience, and 5) the personal fable. This final stage is typically referred to as the Age of Formal Operations and begins as the child reaches puberty, usually between the ages of 11 & 14. This stage of development brings new abilities to the child’s mind, and most struggle to reconcile these new talents. Mental OperationsAdolescents become able to logically use symbols related to abstract concepts, such as algebra and science. They can think about multiple variables in systematic ways, formulate hypotheses, and consider possibilities. They also can ponder abstract relationships and concepts such as justice.Hypothetico-deductive ReasoningIn addition to the ability to perform abstract mental operations, teens become more scientific and logical in the way they think about problems. They can now consider a problem or situation and can identify the many variables that may influence or affect the outcome. This ability is useful because it enables them to select logical/sensible solutions to problems.Propositional ThoughtAdolescents can determine whether a statement is logical based solely on the wording of the statement rather than having to observe or re-create the actual scenario to determine if it is logical.

By Jeff Comas

Understanding The Developing Teenager

“If you give them good information and let them make an informed decision, they may surprise you with a good choice.”

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The Imaginary Audience Adolescents become better students of observation and interpretation. They begin to observe other people’s behavior, expressions, comments, and appearance. They make speculations about what others may be thinking, wanting, needing, or feeling. They also begin to wonder what other people are thinking about them. The Personal FableMany teens believe they have unique abilities and/or unique problems. On one hand may feel as though they are better, smarter, or stronger than others. On the other hand, they may feel as though they are dumber, weaker, and inferior to others. This can lead to dire consequences, because they may take dangerous risks when they over-estimate their abilities or adopt dangerous behaviors if they dwell on their problems. For better or worse, as our children become young adults their new cognitive abilities appear at the same time that they are struggling with insecurities about their changing appearance, identity, and life experiences. Most parents of teens have heard their kids say things like: “I hate you.” “You just can’t understand.” or “Get out of my life.” (maybe we even remember saying such things). These statements are easier to take if we remember that they come from the onset of an adult mind without the benefit of adult experience.

Even so, parents may also struggle with the changes. The child you have been very close with may be distant. They used to listen to your guidance, but now question everything you say. This is also a time where they may fiercely embrace or completely reject religion. These are natural occurrences in the individual’s pursuit of autonomy. You will have to accept a change in your role as a parent. However, it is still important for parents to continue to monitor behavior, choices, and decisions.

Your kids still need your love, guidance, and support to help them through these difficult circumstances. If you tell them what to do they may (probably will) reject your advice. If you give them good information and let them make an informed decision, they may surprise you with a good choice. Nonetheless, you must allow them to make some mistakes because that is how they (we) learn.

You may have to take a step back, but do stay involved with your child. Ask them about their life (this shows you care), but be prepared to get little response. Don’t pry too much or they may cut you off completely. Pick your battles, and don’t sweat the small stuff. Chances are they will be okay. After all, you survived adolescence, right?


Response to Intervention, a state-mandated program that was implemented in the Knox County Schools seven years ago. RTI2 provides high quality differentiated instruction for all students along with prevention and research-based intervention for students who need it. In 2014, we saw promising improvement for our students in early literacy and math, with all schools seeing increases of at least one percentile point and some improving up to 18 points.

• Early Literacy: A strong foundation in education and preparation for college, career, and life begins with learning to read then reading to learn. With funding supported by Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett, the early literacy program saw encouraging results last year, especially in the primary grades. Leading indicators, especially in this grade band, demonstrate that this focused early literacy effort is having a positive impact on ensuring a strong academic foundation that will support the success of our students throughout their Knox County Schools experience and throughout their lives.

These and many other strategies from our five-year strategic plan will be part of the focus of the fourth annual State of the Schools Address scheduled for Tuesday, February 10, 2015, at 6 p.m. at Austin-East Magnet High School. I and special guests including a student, teacher, and principal, will provide our community with an overview of academic progress in the Knox County Schools, give an update on implementation of our five-year strategic plan, and outline our educational goals, aspirations, and challenges for the coming year. This report to the community will give me an opportunity to share the work needed to prepare our students for transitions they will face as they engage in today’s global and competitive society. I hope you will join me as we showcase public education in our community!

As always, I look forward to sharing our progress, goals and challenges with you as we work together toward our ambitious goal of Excellence for Every Child. I am excited about the bright and promising future for our students, and I thank you for your support.

Sincerely,Jim McIntyreSuperintendent

Knox County was honored recently to have the President of the United States visit our community. President Obama

spoke about his desire to offer community college education free of charge to students in the U.S. This innovative idea began in Tennessee and underscores a prominent strategy in the Knox County Schools to prepare students for post-secondary learning opportunities, a rewarding career, a meaningful role in American democracy, and an enlightened and fulfilling life.

President Obama’s America’s College Promise proposal is similar to Governor Haslam’s Tennessee Promise, which offers free tuition and valuable mentoring to students in Tennessee who wish to attend a community college. Tennessee Promise has its roots in the KnoxAchieves program, which started as a mentoring program and last-dollar scholarship to community college for Knox County Schools’ high school graduates! What an honor it is to have the innovation of school and community leaders recognized and replicated at the state and national levels.

We believe deeply in the importance of preparing our students for college, career, and life. Over the past year, we have implemented important strategies to enable them to do just that:

• Multiple pathways to success: This means giving students educational options to best fit their needs in order to help them succeed. In 2014, we opened the Career Magnet Academy at Pellissippi State, our ninth magnet school and an innovative high-school-within-a-community-college initiative. Also, the Board of Education recently approved the progressive idea of offering the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme at Bearden Middle School, which will prepare students to be creative, critical, and reflective thinkers…helping to pave the way for entry into the IB Diploma Programme at West High School.

• Personalized Learning Environment: In 2013, 11 schools integrated personalized learning into their daily structure through our School Technology Challenge. In 2014, these and other schools began moving from simply using laptops and iPads to creating personalized learning environments where instructional technology elevates curiosity, accelerates learning, and transforms teaching both inside and outside the four walls of the classroom.

• RTI2 (Response to Instruction and Intervention) builds upon

Dear Knox County Schools’ Families “We believe deeply in the importance of preparing our students for college, career, and life. ”



Individual tutoring and group classes at reasonable prices.

Get higher scores on the

ACT / SATPSAT

Call Dr. Michael K. Smith at 865-694-4108In Knoxville since 1983. Convenient location at 308 South Peters Rd.

T E S T P R E PEXPERTS

It’s no secret that many of us are hooked on technology whether it’s our cell phone, tablet, laptop, or video game console.

Teenagers are no exception to our media-obsessed culture. According to a 2010 study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, today’s teens spend more than 7.5 hours a day using technology devices to watch TV, connect with friends on social media, play video games, or listen to music. The amount of time teens are looking at screens has both advantages and disadvantages. Read on

to learn facts about teenage technology usage that all parents should consider.

Smartphones Used “Smartly”Truth: Knowing that your child has a smartphone can be a huge comfort when they get into crisis situations. For example, if your son’s car breaks down, his smartphone will enable him to look up the number of a mechanic or even tell him how to perform minor car repairs like how to change a tire. A smartphone’s GPS will prevent teens from getting lost in an unknown part of town. Thus, technology can be a major problem-solving tool for teens. Consequences: Because smartphones are so “smart,” teens often do not memorize their parents’ or emergency phone numbers or other important information. Lesson: Be careful when deciding to take away your teen’s cell phone as a consequence for misuse or other misbehavior.

YouTube and Other Online “Classrooms”Truth: Teens can use technology to learn skills that might otherwise be unavailable to them. For example, by viewing specific YouTube tutorials, teens can learn the basics from how to solve a complex math problem to an introduction to playing a musical instrument! Pinterest even teaches teens how to prepare simple meals. Through Kindle’s downloadable app, your teen can have access to thousands of books. Pieces of classic literature often cost less than a dollar to download, and some are FREE! Along the same lines, Netflix offers a variety of documentaries. This ability to allow self-teaching can make the Internet a powerful educational tool for teens.Consequences: Posts on YouTube, Wikipedia and many other sites are not monitored for accuracy. Also, while the Internet can provide valuable educational time for your teen, it also can provide inappropriate material.Lesson: Most social media sites should be used as a starting point for learning about a new subject, NOT as official sources, particularly to cite in a bibliography. Parents should monitor what their teens view on the Internet, and ask their child’s teacher for recommendations on tutorials to use outside of classroom time.More Consequences:1. All that screen time leaves little room for exercise. If your teen is at school from

8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and then spends several hours outside of school surfing the net and/or watching television, there is not much time left for physical activity. Also, the Internet and TV can encourage unhealthy eating habits by exposing your child to endless advertisements for fast food. If your teen is logging several hours a day using electronic devices, he or she is cutting into time that could otherwise be spent developing physical fitness and healthy habits.

2. Social media can lead teens to over-share. Teens do not always use websites like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter responsibly. This can leave teens vulnerable to Internet predators. Even the wisest teen might post personal

information or inappropriate images to “fit in” with friends who are engaging in this behavior. Even if the teen later removes the questionable content, the digital imprint of it will remain on the Internet.

3. Online distractions sidetrack teens from school work. Time management can be difficult enough for teens without the virtually infinite distractions of the Internet. Homework might not remain a priority. For this reason, it is essential that parents set limits on the amount of time teens are allowed to use technology for entertainment.

As children enter their teenage years, parents should be aware of the advantages and disadvantages that media present. To today’s adults, it might seem strange that teens are comfortable spending so much time gazing at screens. Remember, however, that today’s young people are “native speakers” in the Internet language and culture. They have never experienced a world without ever-present connectivity, so it seems natural to document and share their lives through technology. When it comes to parenting our techie teens, “everything in moderation” seems to be the wisest approach.

On behalf of the Knox County Schools Family and Community Engagement Department, thank you for reading our monthly article! For more information on the resources available to Knox County Schools’ students and families, visit us online at knoxschools.org/fce.

The Knox County Schools Family Resource Center’s Community Resource of the Month

Tamekia Jackson, Directorknoxschools.org/frc

Through April 15, 2015: Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) will be available through April 15 through the Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee (CAC). VITA provides free tax preparation and filing services for low-to-moderate income individuals and households. IRS-certified volunteers are on site, offering free information, tax preparation and electronic filing for the previous year.Contact CAC for more information on VITA locations and hours:

Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee (CAC)L.T. Ross Building, 2247 Western Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37921

865-546-3500

Teens and Technology: Truth or Consequences!By Tracey Matthews, Ed. S, Supervisor, Knox County Schools Family and Community Engagement Department

Contributing Writer: Eliza Norrell, Communications Intern, Knox County Schools Family and Community Engagement Department


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Cold-weather safety

When the temperature drops, there are some important things you can do to help your child stay warm, safe, and healthy. Here are some tips to protect your child during the

colder weather.Dress your child warmly for outdoor activities. Use several thin layers to help keep your child dry and warm. Don’t forget about boots, gloves, and a hat. Keep in mind that scarves and hood strings can be choking hazards.Set time limits on outdoor play to prevent hypothermia and frostbite.• Hypothermia occurs when a child’s temperature falls below normal due to exposure to colder temperatures. It can happen when a child is playing outdoors in extremely cold weather without wearing proper clothing or when clothes get wet. • Frostbite happens when a child’s skin and outer tissues become frozen. It often happens on the fingers, toes, ears, and nose. These areas may become pale, gray, and blistered, and your child may complain that his skin burns or is numb. Use a helmet for activities such as ice skating, skiing, sledding, or snowboarding.

Helmets prevent or reduce the effects of head injuries suffered by children who fall while doing these activities. Any sports equipment for activities such as hockey should be professionally fitted.Keep your child hydrated. In drier winter air, your child can lose more water through his or her breath. Consider giving your child warm drinks and soup to help stay hydrated.

Stay clean, stay safeTaking a bath is something your child does every day—and that’s why it’s important to make sure every bath is a safe bath. This helps prevent drowning or injuries such as falls or burns.Because accidents can happen in a matter of seconds, you should stay with a young child when he or she is taking a bath. While doing so, avoid distractions like using your phone for talking, texting, social media, or games.To prevent burns, always test the water before putting your child in the tub. Wait until you’ve finished running the water to test it, as the water temperature can change rapidly while the faucet is going.Think about the tub and its surroundings; things like slip-resistant mats can help prevent falls. Also, make sure there are no sharp edges nearby or on toys your child may use in the tub.


At East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, we are leading the way to healthy children through exceptional, comprehensive family-centered care, wellness and education. We are located at 2018 W

Clinch Ave Knoxville, Tennessee. For more information go to www.etch.com.


The American Red Cross responds to

nearly 70,000 disasters a year -- one every eight minutes -- and most are home fires. You can reduce your family’s risk of being harmed by a home fire by

talking with your children about home fire safety, developing a fire escape plan, and practicing it with them several times a year. Fire experts agree that people may have as little as two minutes to escape a burning home before it’s too late to get out.In partnership with Disney, the Red Cross recently created the Monster Guard App, a free app for smart devices available through any app store. Children can play games that teach what to do in the event of a house fire. They can also learn how to create their own fire escape plan for their home.In addition to creating and practicing a fire escape plan with your whole family, the Red Cross recommends that adults:• Keep matches, lighters and other ignitable substances in a

secured location out of the reach of children.• Always dress children in pajamas that meet federal

flammability standards. Avoid loose-fitting, 100-percent cotton garments.

• Familiarize children with the sound of your smoke alarm and teach them what to do when they hear it.

• Teach your children not to be scared of firefighters. Take them to your local fire department to meet them, see the gear they wear, and learn about fire safety and prevention.

• Teach your children to tell you or a responsible adult when they find matches or lighters at home or school.

• Check under beds and in closets for burnt matches; evidence your child may be playing with fire.

• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms, and outside sleeping areas. Having a working smoke alarm reduces the risk of dying in a home fire by nearly half.

Download the Red Cross First Aid App at redcross.org/apps to get access to life-saving information on what to do for common, everyday first aid emergencies including burns.FormoreRedCrossfiresafetyandpreparednessinformation, visit redcross.org/homefires.

By American Red Cross

Teach Your Children About Home Fire Safety

The American Red Cross responds to

nearly 70,000 disasters a year -- one every eight minutes -- and most are home fires. You can reduce your family’s risk of being harmed by a home fire by

talking with your children about home fire safety, developing a fire escape plan, and practicing it with them several times a year. Fire experts agree that people may have as little as two minutes to escape a burning home before it’s too late to get out.In partnership with Disney, the Red Cross recently created the Monster Guard App, a free app for smart devices available through any app store. Children can play games that teach what to do in the event of a house fire. They can also learn how to create their own fire escape plan for their home.In addition to creating and practicing a fire escape plan with your whole family, the Red Cross recommends that adults:• Keep matches, lighters and other ignitable substances in a

secured location out of the reach of children.• Always dress children in pajamas that meet federal

flammability standards. Avoid loose-fitting, 100-percent cotton garments.

• Familiarize children with the sound of your smoke alarm and teach them what to do when they hear it.

• Teach your children not to be scared of firefighters. Take them to your local fire department to meet them, see the gear they wear, and learn about fire safety and prevention.

• Teach your children to tell you or a responsible adult when they find matches or lighters at home or school.

• Check under beds and in closets for burnt matches; evidence your child may be playing with fire.

• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms, and outside sleeping areas. Having a working smoke alarm reduces the risk of dying in a home fire by nearly half.

Download the Red Cross First Aid App at redcross.org/apps to get access to life-saving information on what to do for common, everyday first aid emergencies including burns.FormoreRedCrossfiresafetyandpreparednessinformation, visit redcross.org/homefires.

STEM Scouts puts boys and girls, grades 3–12, in labs led by volunteers and mentored by STEM professionals for fun, hands-on experiments. Kids will learn, play and lead, and they’ll do it in an environment that fosters teamwork and creativity.

STEMSCOUTS.ORG865-243-8057

START LEARNING:

A program being developed by the Boy Scouts of America. | © 2014 STEM Scouts. All Rights Reserved.

LET’S MAKE THEM EVEN SMARTER.

THEY’RE SMART.

10 Terrific Books: Printz Award-Winners For TeensCompiled by Erin Nguyen

Children’s Department, Knox County Public Library


For library information in your area visit:

www.knoxlib.org/

I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

2015 WinnerTwins Jude and Noah have always been close, but as they reach the

teen years they find themselves competing for entrance to an

exclusive arts high school and even their parents’ affections.

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta2009 WinnerAs seventeen-year-old Taylor leads her fellow boarding school students in an ongoing war with two other teen factions in their town, she also begins to uncover the answers to her mother’s abandonment of her years before.

In Darkness by Nick Lake2013 Winner

Fifteen-year-old Shorty is trapped in rubble following the Haitian

earthquake, fading in and out of consciousness as he waits for help.

Looking for Alaska by John Green

2006 WinnerBestselling author Green’s debut novel takes place at an Alabama

boarding school, where protagonist Pudge learns about life, death, and

everything in between through his infatuation with beautiful,

intelligent, self-destructive Alaska.

Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick2014 WinnerSeven intertwined stories take place on a mysterious Scandinavian island beginning in 2073 and going backwards for many centuries.

Going Bovine by Libba Bray2010 Winner

After being diagnosed with Creutzfeld-Jakob’s (mad

cow) disease, sixteen-year-old Cameron sets off with a video-game obsessed dwarf

on a wild, fantastical road trip to find a cure.

The White Darkness by Geraldine McCaughrean

2008 WinnerTroubled fourteen-year-old

Symone has always been fascinated by Antarctica, but

when a close family friend gives her the opportunity to

travel there with him, his own obsession puts her life in danger.

Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley

2012 WinnerOver the course of a summer, the lives of several characters become connected through a suicide, the

search for a missing teen, and the appearance of a woodpecker long

thought to be extinct.

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang2007 WinnerWriter-illustrator Yang explores the Chinese American teenage experience through three interrelated stories in this inventive graphic novel. Ship Breaker

by Paolo Bacigalupi2011 WinnerIn this postapocalyptic tale, copper scavenger Nailer discovers a wrecked clipper ship full of items he can trade in for wealth, but must first decide whether or not to save the life of a girl he also finds on board.


10 Terrific Books: Printz Award-Winners For TeensCompiled by Erin Nguyen

Children’s Department, Knox County Public Library

Knoxville Parent Magazine- February 2015

Documents

Transcript of Knoxville Parent Magazine- February 2015