Problem of the Week - Some Good Old Mind Stimulation

Just as physical exercise is needed for the body, mental exercise is needed for the mind. In fact, research has shown that giving the mind a good workout regularly not only keeps those neuronal passageways clear and efficient but also mitigates against the age-induced problems that come with senescence. For this reason, a crossword or two, perhaps some sudoku--even some plain old number games--will do both you and your mind a lot of good. The feature on my website called Problem of the Week will help you achieve this mind-stimulating objective.

When I started building my site, I wanted to create a place where web-surfers could go to find informative articles to read, great ebooks to buy, and educational services to obtain. The site http://www.mathbyjoe.com was the result of over twenty years of my efforts in compiling educational techniques and methods which would help a wide range of students. The special feature on my site, Problem of the Week, was born out of the desire to challenge minds--both young and old--with some good old-fashioned problem mind teasers. Moreover, you can learn a thing or two about mathematics and indeed life. Come visit here http://www.mathbyjoe.com/Problems.html">Math Problem of the Week
and challenge your mind to some creative problem solving. Some of the problems will require some mathematical knowledge while others will only require a sturdy resolve and an "I can lick it" attitude.

Every week a new problem will be added. There is a separate solutions page to check your answer against or to get help when you feel you can no longer entertain the problem. Come back regularly to try some of these mind-benders, and be sure to share them with your family and friends, particularly your children. Please email me with your comments, suggestions, and feedback. Who knows? You just might end up becoming a master problem solver, and your mind might end up being one less, victimized by the ravages of old age.

Living a Youthful and Longer Life

With the advancements of modern science, a lot of techniques have been found to aid individuals to keep their physical looks in a youthful way. The key to a youthful look is to amend the not so good habits in your lifestyle. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle creates a huge distinction between keeping a younger look and the feeling of old age.

You have to remember that the most essential part of a healthy lifestyle is not to smoke. If you are presently under the spell of nicotine, then it is now time to stop. Smoking has been proven to increase the level of free radicals that can lead the healthy cells to die and further destruct your lungs. Furthermore, it can result to difficulty in breathing which may impede the much-needed exercise your whole body needs. Cigars are now made up of damaging chemicals and not just 100% pure tobacco.

Another important part of keeping a younger mindset is by taking in different kinds of fresh fruits and vegetables that are vital in our health. You have to eat orange and yellow vegetables as they are known to be a good source of high beta-carotene. These are also comprised of antioxidants that combat free radicals in our bodies. Moreover, they assist in maintaining healthy body cells that can resist cancer. The beta-carotene from these fruits and vegetables is transformed into Vitamin A that is beneficial to both the skin and the eyes.

In addition, keeping a well-maintained weight is a crucial factor for ensuring a healthy and longer youthful looks. People who are horizontally challenged would suffer from obesity, joint pains and heart stress. If you are overweight, there is a high risk of complications that may arise in your health. This may include diabetes, heart diseases, increased cholesterol and high blood pressure. Individuals who are underweight are not exempted from possible health risks. Although, it is not positive to your body, medical experts would suggest that it is more advantageous to be a little underweight than being overweight. The only possible risk when you are underweight is the fact that the person is not as energetic as a normal individual. Plus, it may also cause damage to the kidneys that can lead to osteoporosis or early menopausal stage.

Any healthy individual will prioritize to do regular exercise as they find it an essential part in keeping themselves healthy and younger looking. Apart from the fact that exercise causes the heart to function well, cardiovascular exercises initiates the heart to pump more and promote stronger heart muscles. This way, you are far from having a heart stroke or any heart-related disease. Moreover, regular exercise causes lower blood pressure as it assists the blood flow to easily get through the skin, brain, digestive systems and vessels to create a young and healthy body.

If you intend to build up your muscles, then have yourself go through a routine of weight training a couple of times in a given week. This will result to stronger muscles and can lead to stronger bones as well as reducing risks of fracture and bone problems. You have to be aware that your bones are more susceptible to break as you get older. Therefore, you have to maintain well-built muscles and bones to keep a solid yet youthful body.

It is expected that you may lose your sense of balance as you age. You may prevent this from happening by having dancing or yoga sessions. There is an exercise specific to neuromuscular that can assist the brain and body to remain the linkage and promote interaction between them. These are just possible problems related to balance which manifests during old age.

Lastly, it is also important to keep an active brain and sharp memory. This can be attained by throwing yourself to solve crossword puzzles, math problems and read books to keep brain stimulation. Studies have shown that old people who get to do activities to keep their brain stimulated are impervious to possible mental deterioration and loss of memory. These are just guaranteed ways of living a youthful and longer life ahead of you. It also helps that you fill your life with laughter to keep you younger and think positively about life!

Why Use Spelling Games for Kids?

Spelling games for kids can be an important part of your language arts program. Since spelling is a crucial skill for elementary students to acquire, you'll agree that we need to find as many ways as possible to teach and reinforce it.

The normal weekly routine in spelling class goes something like this: Take a pretest on the new spelling words, write the new words 10 times each, write the definition for each word, use each word in a sentence, take a post test, and so on. If that gets a bit dull for you as the teacher, think how much more boring it must be for your students.

Adding spelling games for kids just two or three times a month is a great way to add some pizzazz to your spelling program AND to motivate your students. We all know that some students are just great spellers. Others struggle with spelling and don't seem to care if they improve or note. And others can learn and will improve when given enough practice and motivation.

Most spelling games require students to work in teams and to spell words in front of other students. What kids don't want to shine and succeed in front of their peers? By planning spelling games from time to time, many students will want to do well to help their team and to be seen as successful in front of others.

With all that said, here are some important tips for using spelling games for kids in your classroom:

1. Always announce when you're going to play spelling games, at least a few days in advance. This builds excitement and motivation to learn.

2. Tell your students which words you'll be using. After all, the goal is not to trick your kids, but to teach them to spell and to give them lots of great practice learning important words.

3. Use different kinds of spelling games. Spelling bees are great, but there are lots of other fun formats, too.

4. Use games in which students can compete individually, in pairs and in teams. Generally speaking, the more students in a group, the less each person participates. When kids compete in smaller team units, they'll get more practice.

5. Keep track of the games that work best for you. Write down which games you've used with which spelling units, the strengths of the games, and ways that games can be improved. Don't be afraid to make up your own games or variations.

6. Share your best game ideas with your colleagues. Share ideas for your students to play spelling games with family members at home.

7. Remember the ultimate goal of all your spelling games for kids is to reinforce spelling skills.

Daily Crossword Puzzles Online

Activities that get your mind off of things especially online crosswords are a great way to unwind after a long day. When I get home from work, I love to open my lap top and search online for daily crossword puzzles. Online crosswords are a great way to get your mind off of that frustrating day you've had, or that person that annoyed you, or the bills that need to be paid.

Online crosswords keep you occupied in a good way. They are fun and relaxing. One good thing about daily crossword puzzles is that no two will ever be alike. Each day there is a fresh, new online crosswords puzzle waiting for you to solve.

Since I was a little girl I have always loved the daily crossword puzzles that would run in the daily newspapers. I couldn't wait to come home from school and unwind with a new and exciting puzzle. As times have changed, so have I and no instead of putting pen to paper, I now choose to online crosswords puzzles. Not only are they easy to find, they are so much fun. The best part is that you no longer need to search for a pencil to use. You simply type your answers in the screen. If you make a mistake, just back-space to erase. Gone are the days where you try to write over the letter you accidentally filled in or erase and get the shavings all over you.

Daily crossword puzzles can be found almost anywhere online. I I urge you to "crosswords online" in a search engine right now and not find you got more than 100 results, dass Most of this is that it will never solve the mystery. Although solve puzzles more than a day , you never run out of puzzles.

Here you can find so many different kinds of puzzles while searching online. There is a very difficult puzzle that you did your hair pulled, thenthere are the very easy which even your child could solve. No matter what type of puzzle you are looking for there is something out there to be found for everyone. So why not look for one today and get started solving! For an unlimited amount of crosswords just visit Daily Crossword Puzzles.

How to Create Your Own Search Word Games

Puzzle games are not only for kids. There are also word puzzle games that are great for the adults. This is because there are a lot of advantages for any age when it comes to playing these word search games. There are different types of word puzzles that you can play today and among them are the crossword puzzles, word search and hangman. These are all beneficial for both the young and old as it expands the vocabulary as well as the mental capacity of the person who is playing the game. Search word games are said to have the ability to boost the intelligence of the individual. Aside from having fun while playing, you are also learning. This is why these games never grow old.

Now, making your own search word game is quite easy. As we can see today, there are online games that provide endless hours of entertainment for those who would like to try the word search games. There are also offline types that can be downloaded on your computer which you can play even if you are not connected to the Internet. Of course, you can find those that are on magazines, newspapers, books and other reading materials. Quite obviously, they are very popular and one method that will allow you to enjoy even more is to make your own puzzles. In order to do this, you will need a puzzle generator. But first, you should list all the words that will be on your own game.

Then, you will need to find the puzzle generator for your search word game. This is quite simple because there are also a lot of options for you. Most of which can be done online so you can have the puzzle you want in a few minutes. You are required to provide a name for the puzzle that you are working on after you have entered the list of the words that will be in your word game. You can also put your name and the description of the puzzle that you are creating. Later on, you can specify other information for the puzzle including the color, the background, the font face for the puzzle grid, the font for the list of words and many others. You can choose whether the type of case that you want namely all caps or lowered.

You will also have to define the size of the puzzle along with its format. In the format, you can select whether you will allow the players to enter games diagonally, forward and down or all the available directions. Make sure that after you have created the search word game you have saved a copy of it in your hard drive. This way, you can print it or even publish it online. The game that you have created will work just like the puzzle or crosswords that you can see on the Internet today. Therefore, you can let your friends play with it since they can interact with the puzzle. Indeed, it is fun to create and to play the search word games.

Top Holiday Gift Ideas For a Friend Who is Sick

Looking for gift ideas for a friend who is sick during the Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanza and holiday seasons? Unfortunately, hospital stays, bouts with the flu and chronic conditions like cancer and MS don't take holidays. But you can help your friend be included in the spirit of the season by sending a care package that lets him know how much you care.

Here are four gift idea groups to help you design a care package that will uplift her spirit this holiday.

Holiday gift idea #1: Bring the heat.
Warming body wraps, neck wraps and stuffed animals with a little aromatherapy like cinnamon and clove are great to send a friend at holiday time. There are many options available that simply pop in the microwave for 1-2 minutes and stay warm for several hours. Whether she is in the hospital or at home, it is so easy to get chilled during winter months and heating aromatherapy wraps feel so good, help relax muscles and smell great.

Holiday gift idea #2: Indulge with natural treats for skin.
Quality, natural personal care items make indulgent stocking stuffers that feel good and smell fresh. Give natural and organic lotions in regular sizes or handy travel sizes, organic lip balms in fun flavors like mint and tangerine, or natural body butters in luscious scents like mango orange. Try to choose items that have all natural and organic ingredients to avoid allergic reactions to synthetic fragrances, preservatives and chemicals.

Holiday gift idea #3: The 3 R's
If you have ever been stuck in bed for a long period of time, you know how boring it can get. Go back to school days and send a gift focused reading, writing or arithmetic. Books, journals and puzzle books help pass the time and keep the brain engaged. Books are always a holiday gift favorite. You can choose a self-help book with uplifting stories about others who have faced the same illness or struggle, you can try something light like a joke book, or you can go with a brand new best seller. You can also try a journal, which allows your friend to write down ideas, lists, memories... whatever he likes. Having a handy place to write notes and thoughts is great when you're stuck on bed rest. Journals come in several styles, with hard covers and soft, lined or unlined pages, inspirational quotes or blank. Or, try a book of puzzles like Sudoku, crosswords or math brain teasers.

Holiday gift idea #4: Cozy toes.
Slippers are a classic holiday gift and a perfect choice for a friend who is ill during the holiday season. Stores have multitudes of styles and colors available for holiday shopping, and you can choose the 'fuzzy factor' of the lining from super plush and warm to a thin cotton lining. If slippers don't seem quite right or you are unsure of sizing, try a pair of slipper socks or natural and organic bamboo socks. Bamboo socks are sure to be the softest socks you will find and unlike slippers, can be comfortably worn all the time to keep toes cozy and warm. Bamboo is also eco-friendly as it is grown without use of pesticides.

Finally, what to say on your gift card? Your gift message should focus on him -- how you are thinking about him, wish him well and how you send your thoughts and prayers during the holiday season. It is easy to digress into how busy you are during the holidays, but try to avoid talking about how busy your schedule is - that doesn't help encourage him when he's at home or in the hospital not feeling good. A simple, heartfelt message is sure to be a hit and will warm his spirit this holiday season.

Omega 3 Fish Oil And Brain Health - You Think With What You Eat

Omega 3 fatty acids are the building blocks of the brain. Understandably, the brain has enough appetite for fish oil when it is introduced into the body. These and other nutrients to keep your brain works well on important youth to old age.

If you skip a meal you ever feel dizzy? This is caused by a deficiency of glucose in the brain, because no food means a lack of essential nutrients. Of course, skipping a meal here and there will not hurt. In fact,it can give your digestive system a much-needed break. However, when it comes to brain health, omega 3 fish oil is one thing you should try to incorporate into your everyday diet.

Think of your brain as a muscle. There are two things that keep muscles toned, which are the right nutrients and exercise. Your brain requires certain kinds of food, like omega 3 fish oil, to have the right building blocks to stay sharp.

To exercise your brain, certain mental functions are necessary like performing math problems, learning a new language or doing a crossword puzzle. By doing daily intellectual exercises and providing your brain with omega 3 fish oil, you will be aiding the preservation of your brain health as you age.

Even though the brain comprises only 2% of your total body weight, it can consume up to one-third of the energy given to your body by the food you eat. When you ingest junk food full of trans-fat, sugar and other unhealthy substances, Your brain health suffers first.

Consider the fact that 60% is a brain healthy fats such as Omega, was produced in Omega-3 fish oil. healthy brains are 3 fatty acids are transported to happy people, as a "feel good" chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine is not as effective without the Omega.

What happens if you fail enough omega-3 fatty acids for your brain? Like any other part of the body, the brain will survive what he has. When omega-6 orTrans fats are, will be made to function normally, although this is difficult. In some parts of the brain, in fact, it is simply impossible.

Omega-3 fish oil without the help of some aspects of the functioning of the brain just stopped working as it should. The bottom line is that without proper health of the brain omega-3 fatty acids can be achieved.