Taylor Swift Makes History and Wins Big
November 15, 2009 by Kim
Filed under Entertainment, Young Voices
By Chloe Anello
November 14, 2009
Editor’s Note: Singing sensation Taylor Swift made music history when she became the youngest person ever to be named ‘Entertainer of the Year’ at the Country Music Awards last week.
The 19-year-old also took home awards for Female Vocalist of the Year, Music Video of the Year for her song “Love Story,” and Album of the Year with “Fearless.”
Kid Reporter Chloe Anello recently attended a Taylor Swift concert at Madison Square Garden (see blog post below). A year ago, Kid Reporter Sydney Rieckhoff had a sit down interview Swift. Check it out by clicking here!
But first, relive Chloe’s concert experience in New York City.
—Editor Suzanne Freeman
Concert Sensation
Going to your first concert is a whole different musical experience from listening to recorded music. For me music came alive when Taylor Swift preformed in Madison Square Garden recently. The sold-out crowd was a sea of tween and teen girls, all fans of 19-year-old singer/songwriter.
The night started off with videos of Swift and her friends Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, and Lucas Till talking about their definition of the word fearless. After all it was the Fearless tour!
Swift took the stage in a marching band uniform singing the song “You Belong with Me.” In the middle of the song she pulled off the band uniform to reveal a sparkly fringe dress.
After a couple songs everyone noticed that only the band was on stage. Swift was missing. Then the screams began. I looked to my left and there she was, standing in the aisles. Fans were climbing on seats to get pictures, while others were running to get close to her. It took a while for her to get back to the stage with all the fans trying to hug her or take a picture with her. Once she was on stage she was surprised with a seven-minute standing ovation from adoring and appreciative fans.
For her hit song “Love Story,” the stage transformed into a castle scene. Swift performed in a red dress until back up dancers pulled it off of her revealing another dress, this one white. Swift took off her tiara and gave it to a little girl up front. That sure made one little girl’s day!
Taylor gave two encores. On her last one, there was an amazing special effect that I’ve never seen before. She was singing her song “Should’ve Said No” and at the end water cascaded right on top of her. The water rained down in sheets with the lyrics of the song reflected on it. It was an amazing way to end the show. I’ll never forget it.
—Chloe Anello
Editor’s Note: PHOTO: Taylor Swift with Kid Reporter Sydney Rieckhoff. (Photo courtesy Sydney Rieckhoff)
We would like to know what you think. dan@youngchronicle.com
Source: Scholastic News Online
My Best Friend Rocco
November 15, 2009 by Kim
Filed under Encouragement
By Danielle Azzolina
November 15, 2009
Rocco Fiorentino heads a foundation to help people like him who are blind.
After getting to know my friend Rocco Fiorentino, I have gained a new awareness and appreciation of what a visually impaired person can do.
When I am hanging out with Rocco, I sometimes forget that he is blind. We made a music CD together for fun and it was amazing to watch the way Rocco handled all the equipment. He was the sound engineer and worked the sound mixers and recording instruments with skill and confidence. He also beat me in Wii bowling 171 to 172!
Rocco is only 12 years old and he is already an accomplished musician. He plays the piano, drums, and saxophone. He also sings!
Knowing Rocco has shown me that one person’s life story can make a huge difference in the world. He has also shown me that the resources to help blind children be as accomplished as he is are scarce.
Rocco and his parents started an organization called The Little Rock Foundation to help kids who don’t have access to the education they need to live fulfilling lives. To me, Rocco, has the same spirit, strength, and determination as Helen Keller, who did so much in her lifetime to help the blind community.
You can read more about Rocco and check out an interview I had with Helen Keller’s great grand niece Keller Johnson-Thompson, who is continuing Helen Keller’s legacy:
• Helen Keller’s Legacy: Keller Johnson-Thompson discusses the life and contributions of her Great Grand Aunt Helen Keller.
• In Helen Keller’s Footsteps: Rocco Fiorentino talks about how Keller inspires him to continue her legacy of education and assistance for the blind.
You can also find out how you can help by checking out Rocco’s website, The Little Rock Foundation. Thanks!
PHOTO: Rocco Fiorentino (left) and Kid Reporter Danielle Azzolina (right) at the New Jersey State Library Talking Book and Braille Center in Trenton, New Jersey. (Photo Courtesy Danielle Azzolina)
Source: Scholastic News Online
Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com
National Zoo – Meerkat
November 15, 2009 by Kim
Filed under Human Interest
By FNZ
November 15, 2009
Suricata suricatta
After emerging from their cool underground burrows, meerkats start each day with a sunbath.
Description
About 12 inches long, meerkats have a tan or gray coat, with a pale underside. Their eyes are ringed with black, and their tails have a black tip. Their slender body is typical of mongooses.
Home Range
Angola, Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa
Habitat
Grassland, scrub forest, and desert
Diet
Insects, primarily, but also lizards, small reptiles, eggs, and vegetation
Reproduction
After a two-and-a-half-month gestation, a meerkat gives birth to a litter of two to five young. The young, called pups, are weaned at seven to nine weeks.
Social Structure
Meerkats live in groups of two or three families, with as many as 30 individuals. The groups are called mobs. Throughout the day, adults take turns serving as sentries, looking out for predators. When a potential threat is seen, the sentinel will make an alarm bark, and the meerkats will flee to their underground burrows.
Source: National Zoo
Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com
Grade 3 Math
November 15, 2009 by Kim
Filed under Parent's Advice
By Dale Beltzner
November 14, 2009
Third-graders take big steps as they add, subtract, and multiply bigger numbers, and work with word problems
In third grade, your grandchildren’s math skills will grow, as will the size of the numbers they calculate. Third-graders begin working with numbers through the hundred-thousands place. They also learn how to estimate solutions to large problems, and how to round numbers up or down to the nearest 10, 100, or 1,000. Teachers introduce multiplication this year, explaining it first as “repeated addition” (8 + 8 + 8 + 8). Students learn multiplication facts from 0 x 0 to 10 x 10, but teachers will not demand that they memorize these facts yet. Learning to solve word problems is an important skill for third-graders, as they explore various strategies, including making charts, drawing pictures, and breaking complex problems down into smaller, simpler parts. Students explore the metric system of measurement and begin to understand which units of measure best apply to certain problems. For example, what unit of length would be used to measure the distance between two cities? (Miles.) Toward the end of the year, expect your third-grade grandchildren to get a taste of working with simple fractions and decimals, most likely in problems involving money.
Calculators in Class. Since pocket calculators first came onto the scene in the 1970s, educators have debated their role in the math classroom. Most teachers agree that a calculator has little educational value before third grade. But starting in third grade, as students come to understand the processes of addition, subtraction, and multiplication, calculators can become useful tools for solving multipart word problems and for double-checking handworked calculations. Calculators cannot, and should not, replace the memorization of basic facts, or the learning of fundamental procedures, but the tools can help students complete more math in less time.
• Denise Schmandt-besserat’s The History of Counting (HarperCollins, 1999) leads children through the marvelous and rich history of counting and numbers.
• Susan Lingo’s The Scholastic Success With Math Workbook – Grade 3 (Scholastic, 2002) offers engaging exercises that reinforce essential math skills. Keep it on hand for when grandchildren visit, so they can show off what they’ve learned in class.
• You already know that Hasbro’s classic board game Battleship is a lot of fun. But it’s also perfect for helping grandchildren develop skills they will need when they learn to coordinate points on a graph in future math classes.
Show Them Your Money. In third grade, children begin to make estimates, and make calculations using decimal points, often in problems about money. Help grandchildren practice by taking them to the convenience store. Before making any purchase, show the kids the bills and coins you have, and ask them to decide which you should give to the cashier and how much money you should get back.
50 Ways. In third grade, teachers ask students to come up with multiple methods to reach the same number. For example, they may be asked to think of five ways to add up numbers, all of them totaling 89. This game will help kids develop this skill: Give your grandchildren a page from an old calendar, ask them to cut out all the number squares, and challenge them to put numbers together in such a way that the sum of each group is 50. Then, shuffle the squares and challenge them to come up with more combinations.
Editor’s Note: Dale Beltzner has been a teacher, principal, and freelance educational writer for the past 30 years. He has worked in public and private schools in Oklahoma and Pennsylvania. Dale currently teaches fifth grade in Coopersburg, Pa., and serves as the district’s elementary math subject leader.
We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com
Source: Grandparants
SHANIYA NICOLE DAVIS
November 15, 2009 by Kim
Filed under Missing Kids
| Case Type: Endangered Missing | |
| DOB: Sep 27, 2004 | Sex: Female |
| Missing Date: Nov 10, 2009 | Race: Black |
| Age Now: 5 | Height: 3’0″ (91 cm) |
| Missing City: FAYETTEVILLE | Weight: 40 lbs (18 kg) |
| Missing State : NC | Hair Color: Brown |
| Missing Country: United States | Eye Color: Brown |
| Case Number: NCMC1135194 | |
| Circumstances: Both photos shown are of Shaniya. She was last seen on November 10, 2009. Shaniya is believed to be in the local area. | |
JAMES PATRICK CAROL
November 15, 2009 by Kim
Filed under Missing Kids
| Case Type: Family Abduction | |
| DOB: Sep 27, 2004 | Sex: Male |
| Missing Date: Jun 4, 2009 | Race: Biracial |
| Age Now: 5 | Height: 3’2″ (97 cm) |
| Missing City: CARY | Weight: 40 lbs (18 kg) |
| Missing State : IL | Hair Color: Brown |
| Missing Country: United States | Eye Color: Brown |
| Case Number: NCMC1126055 | |
| Circumstances: Andrea and James were allegedly abducted by their mother, Sonia Leon De Carol, on June 4, 2009. A federal warrant for Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution was issued for Sonia on September 15, 2009. They may travel to Mexico City or Villahermosa, Mexico. Andrea and James are Biracial. They are Hispanic and White. Andrea’s ears are pierced. She has a scar on her upper left arm. James has a scar on his abdomen. He may be in need of medical attention. When Sonia was last seen, her hair was dyed blonde. She may go by the alias last names Leon-Castillo or Leon. | |
SONIA DEL CARMEN LEON DE CAROL
(Abductor)
| Case Type: Family Abduction | |
| DOB: Jul 5, 1966 | Sex: Female |
| Missing Date: Jun 4, 2009 | Race: Hispanic |
| Age Now: 43 | Height: 5’7″ (170 cm) |
| Missing City: CARY | Weight: 130 lbs (59 kg) |
| Missing State : IL | Hair Color: Brown |
| Missing Country: United States | Eye Color: Brown |
| Case Number: NCMC1126055 | |
| Circumstances: Andrea and James were allegedly abducted by their mother, Sonia Leon De Carol, on June 4, 2009. A federal warrant for Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution was issued for Sonia on September 15, 2009. They may travel to Mexico City or Villahermosa, Mexico. Andrea and James are Biracial. They are Hispanic and White. Andrea’s ears are pierced. She has a scar on her upper left arm. James has a scar on his abdomen. He may be in need of medical attention. When Sonia was last seen, her hair was dyed blonde. She may go by the alias last names Leon-Castillo or Leon. | |
ANDREA VANESSA CAROL
November 15, 2009 by Kim
Filed under Missing Kids
| Case Type: Family Abduction | |
| DOB: Aug 11, 2003 | Sex: Female |
| Missing Date: Jun 4, 2009 | Race: Biracial |
| Age Now: 6 | Height: 3’2″ (97 cm) |
| Missing City: CARY | Weight: 40 lbs (18 kg) |
| Missing State : IL | Hair Color: Brown |
| Missing Country: United States | Eye Color: Brown |
| Case Number: NCMC1126055 | |
| Circumstances: Andrea and James were allegedly abducted by their mother, Sonia Leon De Carol, on June 4, 2009. A federal warrant for Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution was issued for Sonia on September 15, 2009. They may travel to Mexico City or Villahermosa, Mexico. Andrea and James are Biracial. They are Hispanic and White. Andrea’s ears are pierced. She has a scar on her upper left arm. James has a scar on his abdomen. He may be in need of medical attention. When Sonia was last seen, her hair was dyed blonde. She may go by the alias last names Leon-Castillo or Leon. | |
SONIA DEL CARMEN LEON DE CAROL
(Abductor)
| Case Type: Family Abduction | |
| DOB: Jul 5, 1966 | Sex: Female |
| Missing Date: Jun 4, 2009 | Race: Hispanic |
| Age Now: 43 | Height: 5’7″ (170 cm) |
| Missing City: CARY | Weight: 130 lbs (59 kg) |
| Missing State : IL | Hair Color: Brown |
| Missing Country: United States | Eye Color: Brown |
| Case Number: NCMC1126055 | |
| Circumstances: Andrea and James were allegedly abducted by their mother, Sonia Leon De Carol, on June 4, 2009. A federal warrant for Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution was issued for Sonia on September 15, 2009. They may travel to Mexico City or Villahermosa, Mexico. Andrea and James are Biracial. They are Hispanic and White. Andrea’s ears are pierced. She has a scar on her upper left arm. James has a scar on his abdomen. He may be in need of medical attention. When Sonia was last seen, her hair was dyed blonde. She may go by the alias last names Leon-Castillo or Leon. | |
AIDEN RAY HARVEY
November 15, 2009 by Kim
Filed under Missing Kids
| Case Type: Family Abduction | |
| DOB: Jun 20, 2006 | Sex: Male |
| Missing Date: Oct 28, 2008 | Race: White |
| Age Now: 3 | Height: 3’4″ (102 cm) |
| Missing City: WALDO | Weight: 40 lbs (18 kg) |
| Missing State : AR | Hair Color: Lt. Brown |
| Missing Country: United States | Eye Color: Blue |
| Case Number: NCMC1114716 | |
| Circumstances: Abigail and Aiden were last seen on October 28, 2008. They may be in the company of their father. Abigail has a birhtmark on her chest. She may go by the nickname Abby. | |
ABIGAIL MICHELLE HARVEY
November 15, 2009 by Kim
Filed under Missing Kids
| Case Type: Family Abduction | |
| DOB: Jun 20, 2006 | Sex: Female |
| Missing Date: Oct 28, 2008 | Race: White |
| Age Now: 3 | Height: 3’2″ (97 cm) |
| Missing City: WALDO | Weight: 32 lbs (15 kg) |
| Missing State : AR | Hair Color: Lt. Brown |
| Missing Country: United States | Eye Color: Blue |
| Case Number: NCMC1114716 | |
| Circumstances: Abigail and Aiden were last seen on October 28, 2008. They may be in the company of their father. Abigail has a birhtmark on her chest. She may go by the nickname Abby. | |
CHRISTY DANIELLE WILLIAMS
November 15, 2009 by Kim
Filed under Missing Kids
| Case Type: Endangered Runaway | |
| DOB: May 21, 1992 | Sex: Female |
| Missing Date: Aug 10, 2009 | Race: Black |
| Age Now: 17 | Height: 5’4″ (163 cm) |
| Missing City: BIRMINGHAM | Weight: 178 lbs (81 kg |
| Missing State : AL | Hair Color: Black |
| Missing Country: United States | Eye Color: Brown |
| Case Number: NCMC1129371 | |
| Circumstances: Christy was last seen on August 10, 2009. She is believed to be in Bessemer, Alabama. | |