Rhodesian Ridgebacks

We have a 92 pound Rhodesian ridgeback named Kinte.  Rhodesian ridgebacks are strong muscular dogs.  They originated in Rhodesia, Africa to hunt lions.  Rhodisia is now Zimbawe.  Kinte has received a lot of dog training. He started dog training class when he was a puppy and I have continued to train him.  Kinte is a sweet dog and like most ridgebacks, he needs a lot of exercise.  I take him to open space areas where he can be off leash.  We will be out for two to three hours.  When we’re out in the hills, his come command is not performed at the highest level.  In the house, he comes. in the backyard, he comes. But once he’s outside in wide open space off leash, it’s another story.

When we hike, Kinte is, of course, faster than me.  He may be 100-200 yards in front of me.  Last Saturday when we were out walking, I saw horses in the distance.  I blew my whistle for Kinte to come.  He turns and looks at me.  “Good Dog!” But he just stood there (200 feet away).  I knew what he was thinking “What?”  I raised my hand like I was trained in class and said “Come.” Again, I knew what he was thinking, “Horses are more interesting than that piece of hot dog.” So I had to turn around and walk the other way.  Then he comes because his job is to guard and protect!  Sometimes turning and walking away doesn’t work.  I’ve had to hide and yell, “KInte Koo Koo.” Then he comes running and I know what he’s thinking, “Guard and Protect! Guard and Protect!” I am 61 years old. I am too old for these shenanigans.  So I called a dog trainer and told her my problem.  She asked, had I practiced the come command with Kinte on a thirty foot lead in the park? When he’s distracted tell him to come.  If he doesn’t pull on his leash.  Off to the park we went.  I put him on the 30 foot lead.  He immediately knew something was up.  He kept his eyes on me.  Fortunately, a man came with his dog.  Kinte became interested in the other dog.  Good.  “Kinte, come.”  Kinte came and I gave him a treat.  We have gone to the park several times to practice.  Each time he knows, it’s treat time and he only has to come thirty feet to get a treat.  I’ll keep practicing.  He’s two and half years old.  I can always call the trainer and asked for more advice.

Our workbooks provide great practice for Spanish-speaking teens and adult who want to learn how to read, speak and write in English.  Visit our website at www.Fisher-Hill.com to see all of our workbooks for Spanish-speaking teens and adults.

Happy Holidays!

I hope you’re all enjoying a happy holiday season.  In our family we celebrate Christmas.  This year my husband and I bought two trees not taller than five feet.  My husband said he did not want to carry and lift a heavy tree.  We put the two five foot trees on tables and now they look like tall trees.  One is in the living room and the other in the family room.  My husband not only put lights around the trees but also lights around the ceilings so our house looks very festive.  Oh, he is also into those colored lights that you can control with your iPhone.  So we have red, orange, blue, and green recessed lights in the living room and family room.  So lots of colored lights this year.

I am enjoying the holiday season.  It’s been a relaxing one.  I’ve been walking the dogs at night and enjoying the neighbors’ holiday lights. I’ve not bought so  many gifts this year which means less presents to wrap. I’m still sending out the photo Christmas card with the holiday family letter (it’s only one page with large print) and we’re still going on the Christmas brunch cruise. But no baking this year.  Instead, I am relaxing on the sofa with my feet up, enjoying the Christmas trees, colored lights, and a good book!

I wish you all a relaxing holiday season.  If you know someone who wants to learn English, our books make excellent holdiay gifts.  English for the Spanish Speaker series provides a whole language approach to learning English.  English Reading and Spelling for the Spanish Speaker series gives instruction on how to read and spell English.  English Reading Comprehension for the Spanish Speaker series provides practice with reading comprehension.  English Writing Composition for the Spanish Speaker series helps to enhance writing skills. English Vocabulary for the Spanish Speaker series helps increase English vocabulary.  United States of America Stories Maps and Activities series is for people who want to learn about the United States.

Visit our website at www.Fisher-Hill.com to see all of our workbooks for Spanish-speaking teens and adults.

Remembering Nelson Mandela

I was sorry to hear about the passing of Nelson Mandela this week but I am glad to see so many countries honoring this great man.   Three years ago, I had the opportunity to visit South Africa.  It’s a beautiful country; and Nelson Mandela brought the people of South Africa together to fight poverty and promote peace and reconcillliation.

Did you know that July 18^th is Mandela Day?  On this day people are asked to devote 67 minutes of time to helping others as a way to mark Nelson Mandela International Day.  Mandela Day began in 2009 and July 18 is the day Nelson Mandela was born.

Mandela Day is a global call to action that celebrates the idea that each individual has the power to transform the world, the ability to make an impact.  The Mandela Day campaign message is: “Nelson Mandela has fought for social justice for 67 years.  We’re asking you to start with 67 minutes.  We would be honored if such a day can serve to bring together peope around the world to fight poverty and promote peace and reconcillliation.”

If you’d like to learn more about this great man, Mandela wrote a autobiography call Long Walk to Freedom.

 I will remember Nelson Mandela as a remarkably intelligent and kind man.

In our workbook English Reading Comprehension for the Spanish Speaker Book 6, there is a story about Nelson Mandela.

Remembering Nelson Mandela

Do you know what apartheid means? It was a system of racial segregation in South Africa from 1948 to 1993.   In 1994, Nelson Mandela was elected president in the first democratic election in South Africa’s history in which all races were allowed to vote.

Nelson Mandela’s real name is Rolihlahla Mandela. At the age of seven, Mandela was the first member of his family to attend school. A Methodist teacher who found Mandela’s native name difficult to pronounce gave him the name “Nelson.”  When Mandela was nine, his father who was a counselor to the Thembu royal family died of tuberculosis.  Nelson was placed in the care of the acting Regent of the royal Thembu family.  Nelson received a good education and was destined to inherit his father’s position as privy counselor.  However, when his guardian announced that he had arranged a marriage for Mandela, Nelson chose to flee the comforts of the Regent’s estate and go to Johannesburg. Mandela worked at a law firm and completed his B.A. degree at the University of South Africa via correspondence courses.

In 1943, Mandela joined the African National Congress.  After the 1948 election victory of the National Party with its apartheid policy of racial segregation, Mandela was prominent in the ANC campaign against apartheid. Education, medical care, and other public services were segregated, and those available to black people were of an inferior standard. Resistance to apartheid grew when blacks were told where they could live and work.  In 1960 the ANC was outlawed.  Eventually, Mandela was arrested and charged with attempting to violently overthrow the government.  After twenty-seven years in prison, the pressures from the world community against apartheid produced results, and in 1990 the president of South Africa lifted the ban on the ANC; and Mandela was released from prison. Following his release from prison in 1990, his switch to a policy of reconciliation and negotiation helped lead the transition to multi-racial democracy in South Africa.

In 1993, Mandela won the Nobel Peace Prize. His policy of reconciliation and negotiation with people who he had fought against has been widely praised even by former opponents.

Visit our website at www.Fisher-Hill.com to see all of our workbooks for Spanish-speaking teens and adults.

Red Product Initiative

For Christmas this year, I am getting a mini iPad. I will get a red (Red) case for it because a percentage of the profit is donated to the Global Fund.  The Global Fund supports programs that fight against AIDS, Tubercuosis and Malaria.  The musician Bono and Bobby Shriver started the Red Product initiative.

In our workbook English Reading Comprehension for the Spanish Speaker Book 5, there is a story about Bono.

Bono

Bono is the lead singer and writer for the band U2.  His songs often deal with social and political themes. He and his band are from Ireland.  Bono got his nickname from a hearing aid shop called “Bono Vox” which he and his friends often passed in Dublin. His friends said he sang so loud it was like he was singing to the deaf.  At first, Bono did not like the nickname; but when he found out it loosely translated to “good voice,” he began to like his new nickname.  Since the late seventies, even prior to the formation of U2, he has been known as Bono.

Bono is almost never seen in public without wearing sunglasses.  He says his eyes are very sensitive to light.  Without sunglasses, if someone takes his photograph, he will see the flash for the rest of the day.  His right eye can swell up if there is too much light.  His eyes also get red.  So he wears sunglasses to protect his eyes.

Bono’s real name is Paul David Hewson.  He was raised in Dublin, along with his brother, by his mom and dad.  Unfortunately, his mother died of a cerebral aneurysm when Bono was fourteen.  Some of his songs focus on the loss of his mother.

For over twenty years, Bono and U2 have been involved in humanitarian work.  Since 1999, Bono has become very active in bringing aid for third world debt relief and raising awareness of the plight of Africa including the AIDS pandemic.  Bono and Bobby Shriver have started an initiative called the Red Product.  Red Products raise money for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (often called the Global Fund).  Red Product is a brand which is licensed to partner companies.  Some of these companies are Apple Computer, Converse, Motorola, The Gap, Girogio Armani, and American Express.  Each company creates a product with the Product Red logo; and a percentage of the profits from the sale of these labeled products will go to the Global Fund.  So the next time you’re at The Gap, buy a shirt, bracelet, necklace, pin, or candle with the Product Red logo, 50% of the proceeds will go to help prevent HIV/AIDS in Africa.  Or if you’re planning to purchase an ¡Pod nano, buy one with the Product Red theme so a percentage of the profit from its sale will go to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis, or malaria.

Bono is not only a famous singer and songwriter but also a humanitarian.  He has used his fame and fortune to help people around the world, especially in Africa.

This year you might want to get a RED Product for someone on your Christmas list. 

Visit our website at www.Fisher-Hill.com to see all of our workbooks for Spanish-speaking teens and adults.

Image courtesy everymac.com

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a national holiday we celebrate in the United States.  If you’re an immigrant to this country, do you celebrate Thanksgiving?  Do you enjoy the turkey, mash potatoes, dressing, cranberries and pumpkin pie?  My son who recently moved to the Netherlands, will he be eating Thanksgiving dinner on the last Thursday in the month of November or will he be going to work?  For many people in the United States, Thanksgiving is their favorite holiday.  It is a time when friends and family get together.  Many people get four days off from work, Thursday through Sunday. 

Thanksgiving is a time to think about what we are thankful for.  When I walk my dogs around my neighborhood in the early evenings, I am thankful for such a peaceful neighborhood.  I am thankful for the beautiful homes that have not been damaged by wars or weather.

I am thankful for the parent volunteers in my classroom.  As I’ve said before, I am a kindergarten teacher.  This year we started with 39 children in our all day kindergarten classrooms with no help from hired aides.  Now, we are down to 32 kindergarten children in our classrooms.  I am thankful for the wonderful parent volunteers.  They make this overcrowded situation doable and enjoyable.

And of course, I am thankful for my wonderful family.  I am thankful that they are healthy and safe.

One of my favorite activities is reading, I am thankful to have the skills to enjoy reading.  Fisher Hill workbooks are geared to help Spanish-speaking teens and adults develop reading and comprehension skills so they can enjoy and use the gift of reading.

Visit our website at www.Fisher-Hill.com to see all of our workbooks for Spanish-speaking teens and adults.

Image courtesy usatoday.com

Children with Reading Difficulties Part 2

In Part 1, I talked about my older son who had a reading difficulty.  Now, I will talk about my younger son.  He too had difficulty learning to read.  Like my older son, Peter also went to Mommy and Me classes starting at the age of six months.  At four, I enrolled Peter in a Montessori school which he attended for two years.  Having a late birthday (October) I did not enroll him in kindergarten until he was 5 years 11 months.  I gave him the extra year because he was not interested in the ABCs.  Being a teacher, I had tried teaching him his letters.  I tried doing it in fun ways but he was not interested.  Having difficulty learning the ABCs is an indicator that a child may have difficulty learning to read. 

In first grade, Peter could read the basal reader which was a whole language book (not phonetic).  He could read those stories!  But when it came to Hop on Pop he could not read it.  He had memorized the stories in his basal reader.  Peter was never very interested in school.  In high school, he dropped out.  We took him to a private school where it was one on one but he still was not interested.  When he should have been a junior, he took the High School Proficiency Test and passed.  Now, he could go to junior college.  He did that for a couple of years but what he really enjoyed were computers.  He had part time jobs starting at age 16 working at different computer places.  At nineteen he got a full time job at Talend and then at 22 he got hired at Twitter.  After two years at Twitter, he is now working for Books.com and living in the Netherlands.  He very much enjoyed both Talend and Twitter and I am sure he will enjoy working for Bookings.com.

Both boys are now avid readers, especially Peter.  He’s always got his nose in a book whether its fiction or a computer book.  Steven always has his nose in a science book. The last two trips we went on: one to the Amazon rainforest and the Galapagos; the other to Africa, Steven brought a big heavy chemistry book that he was constantly looking at.

It’s amazing the adults your children become.  Both of my boys had difficulty in school but now they are doing fine.  I have seen the same with their friends who also had a rough time in school.  Most of them are doing well.  What’s the secret?  I believe it’s parents!  The parents who continued to give support to their kids through thick and thin, their kids are the ones who are now doing well. 

Our series English Reading and Spelling for the Spanish Speaker is an excellent place to begin for Spanish speakers who need to learn how to read and spell in English.  This series uses a very systematic and explicit approach in teaching the English speech sounds which are necessary in learning to read.

Visit our website at www.Fisher-Hill.com to see all of our workbooks for Spanish-speaking teens and adults.