Tips for Saving on School Supplies

Unfortunately, most schools do not have the budget to afford supplies for the students. Parents are relegated to buying school supplies every school year. There are ways parents can save on school supplies by utilizing the following suggestions.

If you belong to a one of the many stores chains, such as Costco or BJ, you can load up on supplies by buying in bulk throughout the year, especially when there are sales and coupons offered.

In addition, the office supply stores always have sales during the summer months and also have give-a-way supplies such as calculators, as well as discounts if you spend a certain a certain amount. In fact, you can save lots of money by purchasing the store brand of supplies, especially paper, pencils, pens and other items needed for school. Also, most office supply stores offer recycled paper as well, and is very inexpensive to purchase.

In some states, there are certain days or perhaps a week in which school supplies are tax free. This would be a great time to save money on basic supplies.

There are a chain of 99 cent stores which also have some school supplies available. They have incidental items as well which can be purchased, such as: tissues, handy wipes, zip lock lunch bags, school bags, and other items wherein you can save quite a bit of money.

Another item which you can buy ahead of time are the white boards used for exhibiting art work, science projects, or used for any subject where the student has to showcase his or her work. These are expensive items, and while some schools have a budget for them, others do not. You may need three or four, depending on your child’s curriculum.

Tip: If you have purchased any school supplies online, you will no doubt receive emails from office supply stores offering $25.00 or more discounts on purchases of $100.00 to $150.00. In addition, when new chains of office supply stores open, you may also receive a circular in the mail or in your Sunday newspaper offering a discount and free items if you visit their store.

Supplies are expensive, and taking advantage of every promotion, sale, and coupon offered will save you a great deal of time and money.

Setting Rules Before the School Year Begins

Before teens begin to prepare for the new school year, it is important to set boundaries beforehand so they know what is expected of them as they continue on with their high school studies.

Curfew: A specific curfew should be set on school nights and weekends, especially if there are tests involved or they haven’t caught up with homework assignments, reports, or papers. If the teen does go out with friends, the parent should be told where he or she is going, and who will be accompanying them.

Homework: A certain amount of time should be allotted to homework and studying. No TV, video games, music, telephone conversations, or any other distraction should be present when teens study and/or work on their homework assignments.

After-School Employment: There are some teens who would like to earn extra cash, and working after school for a few hours a day might be considered. However, if it interferes with school work, or they begin putting in too much overtime, an alternative arrangement has to be made so that high school studies come first before anything else.

Sleepovers: If your teen asks to stay at a friend’s house on the weekend, a curfew should be set in place and the parents of the other teen should be informed as well. In addition, unless a parent is present it is recommended that your teen not be allowed to spend the night.

Report Cards: If a teen brings home a report card that signifies he or she is not doing well in all subjects, perhaps it would be time to discuss the reasons why the grades are low and find ways they can be improved. In the course of the discussion, perhaps your teen will open up and tell you about a certain problem or issue.

The teen years are fraught with self-image problems, physical and emotional problems, and anger and frustration. It is recommended that parents keep the lines of communication open with their teens. To let them know they understand and will always be available to listen or give advice if asked.

Remembering what it was like being a teenager, some may say it was great while others may say “it was no picnic.” Either way, teens need to feel safe, yet have room to breathe and grow. Preparing and setting boundaries for the new school year is one way in which parents can help, even though a teen would never openly admit they prefer parameters.

Reinforce Their Learning at Home Without Overloading Them

When children reach elementary, middle, and high school, they will be bombarded with homework assignments, reading, papers, reports, and a myriad of tests. It is important for preschoolers to be able to learn at their own pace. The pressures in later years will come soon enough.

In order to reinforce your child’s learning experience and help them to absorb what is learned in preschool, you can utilize some techniques at home in a fun and unique manner.

Reading to them at bedtime is a great way to increase their listening skills. Let them choose the book they wish you to read to them, and mix it up by reading the entire book one night, and asking them to either tell you what the outcome will be or to complete sentences they may remember.

To help them with their motor skills, purchase some drawing paper and crayons and have them create pictures in whatever genre they choose. To aid them in their listening skills, play a game such as Simon Says. This enables them to follow directions which can enhance their skills at preschool as well.

Another way to increase their skills is to ask them what they learned in preschool and to show you either verbally or through drawings. Mix up the discussion by asking if they made any friends, what are their names, and if they got along. Let the child lead the conversation, and if you find he or she doesn’t want to talk about it, let it go for a day or two.

Above all, experts advise parents not to overdo it by constantly asking questions or direct them to do a particular task. They are children, after all, and they should be allowed to play as children in order to clear their minds and just enjoy being a child.

Preparing Your Preschooler for Their First Day at School

With your child’s first day of preschool approaching, there are ways to make the transition smooth and easy. While your child will be somewhat ambivalent about leaving you, experts advise to follow particular guidelines which will not only help your child feel secure in their new environment, but help you cope with it as well.

A few weeks before school, it is advised to go through the child’s closet and let him or her select what outfits to wear. You may even want to take your child to the mall to pick out a few additional outfits as well. Perhaps buy a new lunchbox or backpack. Let the child choose the color and design. In addition, a trip to the office supply store is indicated so your child can pick out crayons, pencils, and other supplies she will use in preschool.

It is also recommended to discuss with your child what to expect in preschool. Some preschools allow you to visit with your child to get them use to their new surroundings. Tell your child about preschool, how long he or she will be there, and establish a route to the preschool so the child will feel comfortable before the first day.

Begin a bedtime routine a few weeks before in which you start with a bath, reading time, and going to bed early. Experts recommend reducing each routine by 20 minutes until your child becomes use to the schedule. Make a list of things to do in the morning, by creating a colorful sign with pictures for your child’s bedroom, so he or she can the routine which may include: washing face, brushing teeth, getting dressed, eating breakfast, and the like.

On the first day of school, walk or drive your child using the route you had previously outlined. Accompany your child to the classroom where you can meet the teacher and introduce your child as well. If there any needs the teacher should be aware of, discuss it with her.

Before you leave, give your child a big hug and kiss. Tell the child how proud you are and that you will return at a specified time. Experts advise not to make the goodbye a long one, but a reassuring one. After you leave, you can have a good cry. Remember you can always call the school to inquire how your child is doing and relay any information you forgot to previously tell the teacher.

Kids After School Activities: Family Movie Time

Sometimes it’s the simple things in live that bring a family together for a fun and enjoyable evening. One of those simple things is spending an evening watching a family movie.

Considering all of the technology available which allows anyone to watch a DVD, VHS, or record a movie on TV for later viewing, watching a family movie with the family is as important as sitting down to a family meal. It’s all about being together and enjoying each other’s company while watching a favorite movie on TV.

Putting a bag of popcorn in the microwave, or making snacks is the perfect way to enjoy family movie time. Have you ever seen Gilmore Girls? The theme throughout this show was mother and daughter watching movies on TV. While no on would buy as many snacks as they, it brings home the point that watching different genres as the kids grow older invites discussion, banter, and increases a kid’s awareness of certain events which may have happened long ago.

In addition, because there are such a wide variety of movies you can choose from, you will never run out of movies to watch with your family. While there are some great family shows on TV, nothing compares to watching movies which send positive messages and for which kids can reference later on in life. It’s also an educational experience for kids as well. Movies that send messages of inspiration to become involved in the environment, nature, music, the arts, or sports; and movies that provide adventurous themes such as Harry Potter also impart honor, friendship, integrity, and a few magic tricks to boot.

Family life is so hectic these days that it has become more difficult to spend quality time with family members. Putting aside one night a week to watch a family move with the kids will not only keep the family unit close, but will give the kids something to look forward to every week.

Kids After School Activities: Music Lessons

There was a time when most kids used to take piano lessons as an after school activity. Well, the times are a changing since synthesizers and a host of other musical instruments have become available. While some schools have pianos used in school plays and musicals, most schools today incorporate the latest musical technology which they can use to “take on the road” visiting nursing homes or perform at other functions.

Kids who idolize certain bands will want to take up instruments such as bass guitars, drums, violins, and the newest sensation - the piano synthesizer which functions as a complete band.

In fact, most kids today are able to compose their own works using the synthesizer, and may even have the full range of apparatus to record music at their disposal.

While piano purchases are on the decline, it is still considered a unique art form for classical music. What is on the rise is music that, while it doesn’t quite soothe the savage beast, nonetheless has engaged many kids to participate in its art form.

Music is a wonderful activity for any kid. It is as much a part of our culture as any other form of expression. Kids who take music lessons should be applauded for engaging in an activity that inspires creativity, invokes emotion, and creates new and exciting rhythms and sounds unique to the musician.

Whether it is country, hard rock, pop, new age, jazz, or instrumental; kids who want to learn music should be afforded every opportunity to do so. Many kids have been inspired by such greats as Quintin Marsalas, Kiss, Purple, the Beatles, the Dixie Chicks, and other great performers throughout the years.

Music is to the soul what poetry is to the mind.

Kids After School Activities – Outdoor Play

On any given day in the school year, except very cold or rainy days, you will find kids engaging in outdoor sports in the schoolyard.

Whether it’s basketball, tennis, volleyball or soccer; kids are lining up and signing up to be able to participate in sports supervised and taught by teachers.

There use to be a time when the only sport we engage in as kids was jump rope. Today, it’s a different “ballgame.” While their lunch time is only 40 minutes, it only gives kids about 20 minutes of play time outdoors. But after school, there are kids waiting in the wings for their teacher to arrive to begin the lessons.

Some days, tournaments are held for kids who have advanced in a particular sport and members of the school staff. It’s a wonderful way to keep kids out of harm’s way and involved in friendly, sportsmanlike activities that keep them healthy and fit. The discipline they learn will help them achieve success in their studies as well.

Sometimes during the year, all the school kids are taken to the local park for the day and can really enjoy a great game of baseball or football with members of the staff. During the summer, some teachers offer sports clinics and droves of kids sign up for the opportunity to spend additional time with their teachers playing sports they love.

With the educational system still evolving, it is important to continue after school activities and provide funding for kids who, under most circumstances, would not have the opportunity to participate.

In addition, some states have a Boys and Girls Club which provide sports activities during the summer as well. But it is the after school activities that kids want and need and everything should be done to ensure these activities continue.

Back To School Articles

I'm a homeschooled kid, but I realize that not everyone who reads this blog is. So I am adding a bunch of articles for you guys who are going back to school in a couple of weeks. :) I hope you enjoy reading them.

Toshiba Satellite A135 S4527 15.4” Notebook PC

Description: This is a good notebook PC for any student to have. Lightweight with a decent size screen this notebook worked wonderfully for my college bound child.

Review: Toshiba has put together a notebook pc that is very affordable. Also being user friendly has been great. This has made it easy for even Mom to figure it out.

It only weighs 6 lbs. So your child can carry it anywhere. It has 1.73 GHz processor, 120 GB hard drive and 1 GB installed ram. It also comes preinstalled with Windows Vista Home Premium with media center so there’s no need to go out and by the most current software.

The 15.4”lbright LCD/resolution screen give you side by side viewing. This makes it so much easier for your student to see and use.

It is also very quiet while running. With kids in college who are trying to study with a room full of other kids this can be a great benefit.

The rechargeable lithium battery has a life of about 2.5 hours just right for a college class and 4.5 hours of recharge time.

There are also parental controls just in case. The tools to warn of hardware failures are a great asset too.

This notebook is very affordable which for me is the best feature. College can be so expensive so good quality at an inexpensive price is just what you look for. I believe we found it in this product.

Criticism: The only problem I found was that both memory slots are used. So you would have to upgrade to a 2GB memory if this notebook didn’t contain enough space for your purpose.

The School Savvy Parent 365 Insider Tips to Help You Help Your Child

Description: The School Savvy Parent is a 199 page paperback book that answers some of your questions about your child’s school experience. This guide, full of insightful and funny tips was written by teachers who are also parents, with 40 years of experience between them.

Review: This book is a must have for anyone who has children in school. It is a compact guide full of tips on common sense issues that happen everyday.

It is clear and concise and covers a wide variety of issues. From beginning the school year, health and safety, talking with teachers, helping your children set goals, personal responsibilities and more, this book gives you tips that will make the school year less stressful. The anxiety of a new school year can cause headaches for not only the child but the parent too. But with this book those problems can be alleviated from the very beginning.

This book will give some examples of how to get your child to start a conversation about how their school day went. This will in turn help you to catch any problems that may be arising before they get out of hand. It also will help you to know when your child needs to be praised for the exceptional job they are doing.

It is also a wonderful guide for new teachers. It helps you to understand where a parent may be coming from and how to help them to help their children.

Although this book won’t help with very serious issues you may have with your child, there is a handy reference guide within the book that refers to other books that may be helpful in these situations. Once the big problems are taken care of you can go back to this guide for your everyday school experiences.

Pexagon Personalized Thumb Drives

Description: The Pexagon Personalized Thumb Drive is a small circuit board in cased in metal or plastic. The USB thumb drive is a flash type data storage instrument that is integrated with a USB interface.

Review: This is a small lightweight device. It is easy to carry in your pocket, book bag or on a key chain. They are very sturdy, which is always good for your student. The only part of the Thumb Drive that is visible is the connector, which is covered by a study metal case.

The Thumb Drive uses a USB connection and can be accessed easily. You just plug into the USB port built into your computer or into a USB hub. It draws all its power from that connection.

This device is supported by most modern operating systems such as Windows. It also has an advantage over other storage devices because it is more compact, faster and holds more information than most others. With no moving parts it is even more reliable.

They come in many different colors so for the student who uses a few of them that will come in handy to determine what information is on what drive.

You can also have them personalized. Remind your college bound student to call home once in a while without embarrassing them. The personalization is so small only they will know what it says.

This is a must have for any student who needs to keep their school documents all in one place.

Criticism: The only drawback I see is that because it is so small it could be easily lost. So be careful where you put it when transporting it to and from. Better yet, give it with a key ring or chain attached!

Olympus S71 BLUE Microcassette Voice Recorder

Description: The Olympus S71 Blue Microcassette Voice Recorder is a mini tape recorder. This hands free voice activated recorder includes a cassette and batteries. There is also a built in front speaker, mic and an earphone jack.

Review: This recorder is perfect for the student in your home. It is very compact so it easy for them to carry in a book bag or even their pocket. Your student can carry this to class and be able to record the lecture for the day. Once the day is done and it’s homework time, the days lecture is right there for their convenience and they don’t miss a single word.

It is very easy to use. The buttons are large enough to make working them a snap. It is accurate because it records and plays clearly. There is no static noise to interfere with what is being recorded. Also the voice control allows for sensitive sound pickup. So if a teacher speaks a little low, this recorder won’t miss it.

The dual tape speeds are also great. With this feature you can take your 30 minute cassette put the recorder on ½ speed and be able to record a whole hour worth of material.

The color is navy blue so it doesn’t clash with anything, which will make your daughter happy nor is it an embarrassing color for your male student.

Criticism: There are a couple of set backs to this recorder though. It doesn’t have a standard size port for the headphones. You will need an adaptor to use regular earphones. It also does not hook into your computer. There is no tape counter and when you rewind the cassette the recorder will not tell you when it is fully rewound. If you are like me you’ll forget and then wonder why it’s been setting there so long and not doing anything.

Jansport Big Student Back Pack

Description: This backpack is designed to carry everything you need not only to school but also to work or play. Made of polyester the s-shaped straps make for easy carrying along with the webbed handle. It has 2 large compartments and a front pocket that contains an organizer and a headphone port. There is even a pocket on the bottom for hiding keys or money.

Review: This backpack is wonderful. It is large enough to carry all the supplies I need including all my books for classes.

We have a tendency to lay our book bags down anywhere and before you know it they are a mess. The polyester material makes cleaning this book bag very easy.

It is put together well, making for a very sturdy backpack. When you carry half of your life in it you don’t want the seams coming apart or zippers breaking.

It is also very comfortable to carry either on your back or in your hand. With the s-shape of the straps there’s very little sliding off your shoulders. It also helps in keeping the backpack centered in your back. This helps because all the weight is not shifting to one side or the other.

You just can’t beat this backpack for the student, businessperson, new parent or anyone else in your household.

Texas Instrument TI-83 Plus Graphing Calculator

Description: The Texas Instrument TI-83 is a powerful problem solving calculator. It features storing, graphing and analyzing up to 10 functions. With a clear LCD screen, great key layout and simple program lists working this calculator is very easy. It includes features for advanced analysis and displays graphs and tables on a split screen.

Review: This calculator is great for students in Algebra 2, Geometry, Calculus even Trigonometry. It allows your student to work with and analyze data numerically and graphically.

This calculator is as easy to program as a simple computer. It can also be used in conjunction with your computer. To change modes is very easy and there are millions of functions. This will help your student in studying for that big Math test making it much easier and less time consuming.

Programs can be typed into this calculator. It even has special Flash application programs. There are several plot types to help your child also.

Texas Instrument has upgrades for your convenience. This means that Mom and Dad won’t have to go buy a new calculator each year or for each new Math course.

Criticism: The graphic link cable is not included with this calculator. You can buy it separately at most electronic stores.

Reader Rabbit Learning System Preschool

Reader Rabbit is an aged based software set that will help your young child to learn patience and how to listen and apply what they hear to help them learn. It teaches developmental skills though a combination of learning techniques and aides.

Review: This 3 CD software set is perfect for your preschooler. It is very easy to follow and understand. Because it is completely oral (no reading involved) your child can listen and know exactly what they are being shown and how to apply it.

It has 3 CD’s that include games and lessons, printable activities and original song sing-a-longs. It also includes flash cards and stickers.

It has wonderful animation to help keep your child’s attention while they are learning. If you plan to home school your children this is the perfect way to start your preschooler. It is also age appropriate so you can begin at a young age and work your way up into school age children.

There are demonstrations of all activities along with child participation. A correct answer will receive positive feedback and a wrong answer will follow up with helpful hints for your child so they can find the right answer on their own. This also gives your preschooler the satisfaction of “getting it right”.

Criticism: This software works wonderful on Windows based PCs, but when used on a Mac you can have some issues trying to get it to work properly.

Palm One Zire 31 Handheld Organizer

Description: The Palm One Zire 31 Handheld Organizer is just that. It is a small organizer with many features to keep you up to date on your life. It also has a built in MP3 player and 16 MB memory.

Review: This organizer is great especially for a beginner like myself. I didn’t have a clue about handheld organizers but felt one would come in handy. Because this organizer was low priced I felt it would be worth trying for my first time. It’s great.

It is very user friendly. I had no problems understanding how to make it work. The software is also very easy to download and can be downloaded quickly.

I can plan my day and never forget a meeting, one of the kid’s practices, my grocery list or the phone number of my plumber. It is also compatible with Outlook. I can just plug it into my desktop and go. This Zire 31 is designed to be used with Windows or MAC.

The screen is just the right size. It has contrast and brightness controls so the picture is clear and precise. You can even put your favorite pictures in it. So I can see my kids and grandkids at a touch of a button.

The sound is pretty decent too. When listening to my MP3 player I don’t get a lot of cracking noise.

Another great feature are the games. This is a great feature if you have children. It helps keep them occupied so you can take care of the necessary things.

This organizer is perfect for your student too. Keeps them up to date on their day to day routine. You can also put in important phone numbers for your child. That way when they want to call and chat with Grandma they have the number right at their fingertips.

The best thing about the Palm One Zire 31 is that if you decide you need to upgrade, maybe your child is going from high school off to college and need the extras, you can do a trade in with Palm for exactly what you need.

This is a great organizer with a lot of fun extras.

Criticism: There are just a few minor things I found that I wasn’t real thrilled with. It can’t read expansion cards over 1GB.

There is no vibrating mode for the alarms. This can be a little bit of a nuisance if you need to be somewhere and you’re in a library or hospital and don’t have it turned on.

Also, the MP3 runs the batteries down quickly. There is no indicator light to tell you when the battery is getting low. I just plug it in every night to recharge for the next day.

Microsoft Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse 3000

Description: The Optical Mouse 3000 is a practical mouse with a tiny snap receiver that will plug directly into your laptop or snaps into the mouse for easy storage.

Review: This mouse is a must have for anyone who has a laptop. Lightweight, cordless and with soft easy to use buttons this mouse is the perfect addition to your computer equipment.

The optical sensor for movement makes for better durability, speed, accuracy and performance. I have never had a problem with it freezing up or loosing the signal. I have used it on many different types of surface and never had a problem with it. The small size makes it easy to maneuver in either your right or left hand. The finger grooves allow you hand and fingers to rest comfortably while moving it around.

It’s so easy to install too. Just plug it in. No downloading or installing drivers involved. You can also use it on your desktop or even with Mac. I have never had an issue with this mouse and my internet connection either.

This mouse is so easy to transport. Just place the tiny snap receiver into the bottom of the mouse and go. It’s small enough to carry in your laptop case even.

There is a power saving feature too that shuts the battery down while not in use. This extends your battery life up to three times longer. The 1 AA battery is easy to remove and install.

This mouse comes in 4 great colors. What a great product for a good price. Perfect for the student in the house.

Criticism: I only have two complaints with the mouse. It doesn’t come with a carrying case. Even though the receiver will snap into the bottom of the mouse it would be nice to have a case to put it in for extra protection.

Also this mouse is very sensitive. This can make it hard to get used to in the beginning.

Insulated Kids Animal Lunch Box

These adorable kids lunch boxes are great. They are made of Insulated PVC and come in various animal designs.

Review: Your child will love taking this cute lunch box with them wherever they go.

The lunch box itself is made of PVC making it very easy to fold and store. Cleaning is a breeze also. Just use a damp cloth and wipe clean.

It is very lightweight so it’s easy for your child to handle. There is a shoulder strap or a handhold to make it even easier for your child.

There are six different animal designs. They come in a duck, frog, dog, ladybug, elephant or penguin design. So, if your little one has a special animal they like you will probably find the right one just for them.

It is also great for those first graders who can be a little skeptical about taking their lunch to school. Being able to take an “old friend” like a dog with them will relieve some of the leeriness they can feel.

It is also well insulated to keep things cold. That makes it great for taking snacks and drinks on a long drive or even to Grandma’s house. They are wonderful to take on a picnic too. Your kids will love this lunch box made just for them.

Why I Like To Homeschool

I'm going to turn 9 years old tomorrow. I've been doing homeschool all my life. And it's really fun. My favorite subject is Science or Math. Or both, I don't know.

I like to homeschool because you can take breaks. You can't do that in regular school until recess. And plus I've heard stories of kids getting beaten up, so I wouldn't really like school if I was there.

But the thing I like most of all is that you can do it in your pajamas. You can't really do that in school. So, my favorite thing is that Mom goes easy on me and we don't use grades! I think I'm around a 3rd grade math level, but I read better than the girls who sometimes babysit me. And they're in High School. Mom has to get on to me because sometimes I stay up really really late reading. She has a hard time getting me to put my book down and go to sleep.

A lot of people say that I'm extremely smart because I'm homeschooled. Trust me, I've heard it like a trillion times. Mostly what I do is math. Mom gives me more math than anything else. And I like that. But sometimes I get bored of math. My favorite subject is math even still.

For fun I like to build with Legos, play my guitar, skateboard and play games with Mom. I can beat her at Checkers, Monopoly and Scrabble. I skunk her every time!

I really want to be a professional skateboarder when I grow up. Or an electrician.

How The Moon Regained Her Shape

How The Moon Regained Her Shape is about the moon being taunted by the Sun, and the Sun was saying mean things to the moon. The Moon lost her shape when the Sun did that to her. She began to shrink. And then the Moon went to earth, and she learned some lessons from Round Arms about the people that loved the Moon. And then she felt better.

This book is a good one for teaching a kid how to deal with bullying.
You can buy How The Moon Regained Her Shape on Amazon.com

Curious George Rides a Bike

The Curious George series are some of my favorite books. In this story, Curious George starts off riding a new bike that the man in the yellow hat bought him. Then he met up with a newsboy and the newsboy had to go to school, so he asked George if he would help him by delivering the papers. Now everybody knows that Curious George is very curious! And while he was delivering the papers, he saw a little river and was curious. Instead of turning around, he went to the river. That led him on to some crazy escapades.

Get Curious George Rides a Bike on Amazon.com

Don't Laugh At Me

Don't Laugh At Me is a book about children that nobody wants to play with and that people laugh at. One boy has glasses, one girl has braces, one boy is in a wheelchair. And there is a kid on the playground who is always chosen last and who is slower than the others in the class.

The message this book is trying to say is not to laugh at people that are unusual. Because nobody likes being laughed at. Would YOU like being laughed at?

The Mice of Nibbling Village

The Mice of Nibbling Village is a book of poems. One of my favorites is "Morrikin". It's about a mouse who wants to be an engineer. Once he took apart a clock and tried to build a new one. The book is about a community of mice.

The Mice of Nibbling Village has really cool illustrations. It shows the mice doing all sorts of different things. Eating peas, reading books, sewing, cleaning, and making bread.

The Berenstain Bears' Trouble with Money

The Berenstain Bears' Trouble with Money

This book is about the cubs and how some people spoil them - and sometimes they got money as a present or for doing a chore, and they were just spending it all.
Their Papa got upset, he shouted: "You must think I'm made of money!" And he also said: "You must think money grows on trees!". The Bears had to learn that they should save their money and that there is more to life than earning and spending money.

The Berenstain Bears And The Sitter

The Berenstain Bears and The Sitter is a book about Mrs. Grizzle, who babysits Brother and Sister Bear. At first they didn't like the idea of having a sitter, especially when they found out it was Mrs. Grizzle! But then they played lots of games. They played Cat's Cradle, Go Fish and Tiddlywinks.

I'm not going to tell you the end, it's a surprise. You can see if the Bears changed their mind about the Sitter.

Quick Kids Rooms Organizing Tips

Quick Kids Rooms Organizing Tips

The time has come for all good mommies to come to the aid of their kids. Organizing their room can be a bit chaotic. Kids accumulate so many toys, games, dolls and stuff animals that you hardly know where to put everything. Fortunately, here are quick kid’s rooms organizing tips for you to use as a guide.

Depending upon the type of furniture in their rooms, you may want to add a few more pieces that will turn the chaos into calm. Today, there are more unique and colorful bins and containers for kids than ever before. In addition, your kids will probably be even more excited to help you organize their rooms, especially if it’s new and shiny!

If your son or daughter has been collecting stuffed animals or toy soldiers, planes, or dolls; you can buy wall boxes. Affordable priced, they can be hung vertically or horizontally and make for a great showpiece in your child’s room. Moreover, all the toys will be relegated to one area of the room.

Another wonderful item is a large container featuring swivel casters and handles. This would be a great and inexpensive method for your children to pick up their toys by wheeling the container around the room. It will also be useful when transporting their toys to the family room.

How about some round containers in various colors? These are sure to be a hit with the kids. You’ll be able to choose colors that compliment each room. Affordable and handy, you may want to check these out as well.

Go online and research the various bins and containers you can buy for your children’s rooms. Then schedule a special shopping day with the kids. While at the store, you may just happen to find a few items to organize their closets as well.

Fun Things To Do Outside When It's Cold

My Mom says you can't stay inside all day and turn into a Vampire, even when it's cold outside. Here are some fun things to do even when it's cold out.

Winter Outdoor Fitness Activities

Does your family have the winter blues? Get them moving with some fun outdoor activities! Here are some ideas for you to try:

Outside Workout
Gather the entire family and go outdoors for a family workout. Mom or Dad can lead the group in a fun outdoor exercise routine. Or better yet play a game of tag football.

Jogging/Power Walk
If you’re tired of being stuck inside, get outdoors for a good jogging or power walking session. Jog around the block or walk a mile or two. You can add light hand weights to work your arms while you’re walking.

Ice Skating
Ice skating is a fun form of winter exercise. When lakes are frozen, ice skaters come out of hiding and get out on the ice for lots of fun. Most kids really enjoy ice skating too.

Snow Shoeing
If you’re tired of jogging and walking, trade your sneakers for snow shoes. Snowshoeing works your leg muscles even more because you have to really lift your legs to be able to walk around.

Hiking
Many people associate hiking only with the summer months. However, winter hiking is a totally exhilarating fitness activity. Don’t forget to bring along your digital camera so you can take pictures of the beautiful winter scenery as you explore!

Why Labels Can Be Destructive To Children

My Mommy says that it's a bad idea to call children names, even if they're acting badly. This is an article that tells why that is true.

Why Labels Can Be Destructive To Children

“Mommy,” your child cries, “Daddy called me stupid.” This form of humiliation can have lasting effects on a child. Whether it was said in the heat of the moment, or perhaps daddy had a bad day; it’s no excuse. Words hurt; it is an indelible rubber stamp of disapproval. Therefore, it is important to fully understand why labels can be destructive to children.

Every child needs to feel loved, accepted and respected. Using negative reinforcement to discipline a child will only yield unsatisfactory results. Labels produce negative reactions; and when used often, can become emotionally damaging to the child. Children look up to their parents; thus, there is no justification which motivates any parent in belittling a child. Addressing the child’s behavior in a negative manner can lead to a myriad of problems. The child may develop low self-esteem; increased erratic behavior; and affect their inter-relationship with siblings and peers.

A parent who loses their temper is a common occurrence. However when it is directed towards the child, who may not understand the reasons behind the outburst, it can produce devastating effects. It is vital for the parent to immediately apologize; using words which positively impact on the child’s psyche. As a parent, it is your duty to ensure the child knows he or she is loved, at that very moment, and not put off for another day. The fear and disappointment the child feels must be addressed with an apology, and/or an explanation.

Disciplinary action of a child must never be accompanied by harsh words. If necessary, take a break and collect your thoughts. Think before you say anything further. Then have the child take a time out. Later, talk to the child about why the behavior was disciplined; then hug the child in a reassuring way. Let the child know you still love him or her. Words can impact a child’s life; positively and negatively. If you, as a parent, cannot control the emotional abuse; seek help. It is the very least you can do to ensure your child’s psychological state is not compromised in any way.

My Amazon Store

I put together a list of some of my favorite books and stuff and you can see it by visiting my Amazon store.

Rikki Tikki Tavi

Rikki Tikki Tavi is about a mongoose that protects a boy named Teddy. The author is Rudyard Kipling, who wrote the Jungle Book. Rikki Tikki Tavi also protects a bird and protects the boy from getting bitten by a snake. At first his Mother wasn't sure if she wanted the mongoose to stay with the boy, but after he proved to be a good friend, she let him sleep with Teddy.

Captain Underpants and the Perilous Plot of Professor Poopypants

This book is the 3rd funniest I've read so far by Dav Pilkey.

It is about a bad mad Scientist named (well he wasn't bad at first, actually) Professor Pippy P. Poopypants.

I especially liked the flip-o-rama, that was the funniest part of the book. And it began when Professor Poopypants come when George and Harold do another prank. They attempted to turn the teachers into snowmen by using styrofoam wormy things, and powderded paste. They sprayed the teachers with water.

I won't tell you what the P in his middle name stands for, you'll have to read the book!

The Adventures of Captain Underpants

This is the second funniest book I've ever read by Dav Pilkey. It tells about how George and Harold turned their mean, mean, mean Principal into Captain Underpants. His name was Benny Krupp.

They used a 3D hypno-ring to hypnotize him. George and Harold got into lots and lots of trouble. One time they put frogs in the teacher's Jello. Another time they glued the bathroom door shut. And gluing the bathroom door shut was part of the biggest prank they've ever done. But, Mr. Krupp caught them. He did this by using small video cameras all around the school.

Read more about the Adventures of Captain Underpants here:

I got glasses

A week and a half ago I got glasses. They're not sunglasses, they're prescription glasses. I didn't get the pair I wanted though, because I have astigmatism. That means that my eyes aren't shaped like a basketball, they're shaped like a football.

I like to read with them a lot. They help me with my vision.

Dav Pilkey Captain Underpants

Captain Underpants is an incredibly funny book. I've read 3 of the Captain Underpants books so far. One is called The Big Bad Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy Part 2, the Revenge of the Ridiculous Robo-Boogers

This book is the funniest one I've read by Dav Pilkey so far. It's about the RoboBoogers, which are monsters packed with boogers. Their names are Carl, Trixie and Frankenbooger. The funniest part is when the battle of the RoboBoogers and Captain Underpants fight.

White Fang

White Fang is a book about a cub who is half wolf, half dog. The mom is a dog. She married a wolf. The mom and cub got captured by Indians. The father died. The Indians took good care of the dog and cub.

p.s. The dog belonged to a Indian. p.p.s. I will not tell you the end.

Runaway Ralph by Beverly Cleary

Runaway Ralph is also one of my favorite books. It's about a mouse that lives in a hotel and he runs away because his little cousins and brothers and sisters and relatives are trying to get his motorcycle, and they actually loosen a certain part of it, so Ralph went to school with his friend. And at school, he feels lonely. Especially on Sundays and Saturdays. There's no mice to play with, it's too clean for mice. I can't tell you the end.

Runaway Ralph is a book and it was also made into a movie. You can get it on Amazon.com
Runaway Ralph

Ramona Forever

Ramona Forever is just as interesting as Ramona the Pest. But now, I think Ramona's in 2nd or 3rd grade and she has a new teacher, but I didn't tell you something about her sister Beezus. (That's what they call her but it's not her name - it's Beatrice.) Beezus is sometimes really bossy, and sometimes she's real sensitive too, and in Ramona Forever their cat dies.

I like Ramona Forever because it teaches you not to be bossy that much. Also, look for Runaway Ralph by Beverly Cleary.

Ramona the Pest

I'm going to tell you about a book called Ramona the Pest. It's one of my favorite books, other than Farmer Boy. It starts out when Ramona goes to Kindergarten, she's about 5 years old. Ramona loves kindergarten, she had a teacher named Miss Binney. And she mostly loves her friends, Davey and Joey, Howie, and Susan.

Ramona often didn't usually get what she expected to, and sometimes she was very impatient. And Willa Jean and Howie's mother's name is Mrs. Kemp. Ramona the Pest is an interesting book.

p.s. I still can't tell you the end!

Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Farmer Boy

I'm going to tell you about a book called Farmer Boy. It was written by Laura Ingalls Wilder, and it was about a boy named Almanzo Wilder. This boy lived on a farm and he was also a very good help to his Dad, like just about all kids are. And also, he just loved farming. And usually he was very hungry. Sometimes he ate rye 'n injun bread. Other times he ate other stuff like turkey, bacon, pie, ham, and pumpkins.

Sometimes Almanzo helped spread the seeds while his Father spread the other seeds that were harder to spread. He liked to brush the colts and horses, he also liked to drive the two horses, his Father let him, named Bess and Beauty. And also, he helped harvest the food. He also helped with the wolf that came after the sheep. He even bought a little pig he named Lucy.

p.s. I won't tell you the end, it's a secret. You can get Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder on Amazon.com.

Save $10 at Amazon.com food

Right now until November 30th, you can save $10 off of your grocery order at Amazon.com. Just enter the code GROCERY3 at checkout. You also get free shipping when you spend $25!

Here is a yummy place to start: Cascadian Farms Organic Chewy Granola Bar, Chocolate Chip, 6-Count Boxes (Pack of 6)

Dinner Planning

Mom says that getting dinner on the table is an issue whether you are homeschooling or not, so she wanted me to put this article on dinner planning here. I hope you enjoy reading it. Please leave a comment if you do.

Dinner Planning For School Days


Another summer has quickly passed us by. The kids have reluctantly gone back to school. It stands to reason that life should be a little less hectic, right? Unfortunately, that’s usually not the case. Between all of your daily ‘Mom obligations’, helping with homework and providing transportation to every extra-curricular activity under the sun, you probably have little time to devote to dinner planning.



Many times busy parents resort to hot dogs and macaroni and cheese, frozen pizza or frequent trips to a fast-food restaurant. That’s not healthy for you or the kids – not to mention its pretty rough on the family grocery budget.



Kitchen time savers

There are things you can do to cut down on time spent in the kitchen. Pick one day a week and prepare several freezer friendly meals. You can even go the extra mile and package them in individual serving size containers. Doing so will provide your family with a larger variety of entrée choices, on any given day.



Do you have friends that are intrigued with the idea of a one-day a week cooking spree or a meal planning service? Get together with 2 or 3 of them. Each of you decides on 2 main dishes you want to prepare. Buy enough ingredients to make the entrees for each family.



You need to plan ahead

One simple thing that you can do is keep an ample supply of fresh fruits, salad ingredients, soups and fresh sandwich fixings, on hand. Quick meals such as this are nutritious and don’t require a great deal of preparation time.



If you take on the task of meal planning and want to get in the habit of consistently putting together weekly menus yourself, you may be surprised at how much time it involves. Did you know that the typical family meal planner spends roughly 3 hours per week combing through cookbooks, choosing recipes and compiling a grocery list? That translates into 156 hours, per year. Yikes!



A menu service can help

You can say goodbye to last minute thrown together meals and eliminate the stress of dinner planning for your family by subscribing to a meal planning service. This type of service is very affordable, usually costing only a few cents per day. Menus are often designed to be family friendly and easily adaptable.



When you purchase a subscription to a service such as this, your membership will typically feature a weekly menu emailed right to your inbox. This includes seven main dish recipes, side dish suggestions and dessert ideas. As an added benefit, you receive a detailed shopping list, categorized by aisle, which makes your trip to the grocery store that much easier. Simply cross off items already in your pantry, add any other products you may be in need of and you’re off!



If you enjoy planning your own menu, you may want to consider a dinner planning service, in addition to your own choices. Why? It will still save you time, in the long run. Use the membership menu as a base. Then, search for recipes that will deliciously compliment that weekly plan.



Remember, nothing is more important than family time. Don’t let dinner planning get you down. Consider the suggestions we’ve made and you’ll spend less time
slaving over hot stove and more time with the people you love.


For a free one week trial of a family friendly meal planning service, visit www.dinewithoutwhine.com

Pinky and Rex and the Bully

Pinky and Rex and the Bully is about a boy named Pinky and a girl named Rex and one day while Pinky's riding on his bike after school, a 3rd grade bully knocks him off his bike.

Then the bully starts teasing Pinky. He calls him a sissy and then he says only a girl would ride a pink bike and have a name like Pinky. Pinky's favorite color is pink. But his real name is William.

I won't tell you what happens in the end, that way you have to read it yourself.

Little House In The Big Woods

My mom and I are reading Little House in the Big Woods. It is the true story of a woman named Laura Ingalls Wilder. She lived over 200 years ago. She wrote about her life as a farmer's daughter. The books tell what it was like to live a long time ago in America before there were things like TV, computers, even cars. Laura only got one piece of storebought candy every year usually. My Mom reminds me of how happy she and her family were even without a lot of stuff.

Little House in the Big Woods is the first book about Laura's life when she was a little girl.




Note from Mom:I'm really excited about delving into the Little House series with Caleb and the kids. I've read the books a couple of times myself and have always loved them. I even sat on the couch last night and completed The First Four Years, about Laura and Manly's experiences as newlyweds. My mouth waters when they talk about the food they ate. It was so simple and so tasty! But I wouldn't trade her hardships for my own. Although, I wonder if things are really that much different now as far as economic uncertainty. And the experiences of her unrelenting nausea and the difficulties she had doing housework during her pregnancies sure sounded familiar. :)

I'm doing home school, but that still requires some organizing according to my Mom. She thought you might like this article about getting organized now that it's back to school time.

Back-to-School Organizing

Tips for the Mom-On-The-Go

Back to school can be a stressful time of year. Families must change from
the laid-back summer schedule to the non-stop school and activity calendars
that keep moms jumping from one activity to the next without a moment's
rest. Fortunately, today there is help.

GO MOM !NC, a leader in products to help you organize your busy life,
provides its latest advice to keep Moms organized as they get their families
back-to-school this fall. "Across the nation, busy parents are focused on
easing their children into the new school year," states Molly Gold, founder
of GO MOM !NC. "My role as a Family Scheduling Expert is to help Moms focus
on how they can better organize themselves to be ready for all that change
and be mindful of how their own workload will evolve alongside of their
family."

Want the cliff notes on how you can get organized for Fall 2006? Take a
look below:

. Plan Ahead - The only way you can command your time is to consciously map
it. Simply put, use a family-oriented planner that enables you to track all
family members' schedules in one place. When you monitor your family
schedule, you can then plan how and when to accomplish important
back-to-school tasks, such as replacing clothes, purchasing school supplies,
and attending back-to-school night. Stock your kids' homework stations with
pencil and paper basics while purchasing classroom items. Take it one step
further by creating an emergency project box full of grade appropriate tools
that will hold the night before anxiety at bay. Visit Target stores for an
ample supply of poster board, report folders, markers, glue sticks, and an
assortment of interesting arts and crafts items in small quantities to allow
your child's creativity to shine, one project at a time.

. Plan for Paper - Before you start stacking all those important school
papers in a long forgotten corner of your kitchen, or on top of last month's
bills, put your paper trail in place beginning with in/out boxes for each
family member. Show everyone where to place their papers and then sort them
daily with your planner at hand to note important deadlines and tasks. When
setting up your own filing system, check out the new GO MOM!® School
Organizer. With monthly pockets for everything from school-related projects
and fundraisers, to teacher newsletters and activities rosters, you can't
help but be ready for the first round of parent/teacher conferences at the
end of first quarter. If it's your house that keeps you buried, you'll find
the GO MOM!® Home Organizer to be equally as effective in helping you
categorize and sort the most important papers as you manage your family's
busy days.


. Plan to Purge - We all do better with a clean, organized environment. If
you haven't yet gone through everyone's closets, dressers, and bedrooms
while evaluating wardrobes for school, do it as soon as you have your
routine in motion. Make room for the year ahead by rounding up all outgrown
items, discarding everything that can't be repaired, both in the toy and
clothing departments. For items in good condition, arrange for a charitable
donation or enlist your kids' help and plan a yard sale in late September.
Take advantage of your clean slate and give each room a quick cleaning with
an all-purpose cleaner like Mr. Clean Extra Power Multi-Surface Cleaner for
even the toughest jobs. From scrubbing baseboards to replacing air filters,
flipping mattresses and cleaning windows, Fall is a great time to freshen
your home and welcome the change of seasons. And for Moms of older kids,
enlist their helping hands as you plow through this process. Respect and
responsibility for both our possessions and environment are life skills
worth teaching.

GO MOM !NC is based in Apex, NC and promotes the use of The GO MOM!®
Organizer and GO MOM!® Planner, unique day planner systems for everything
that is family. Founder Molly Gold is a 40-year-old mother of three and
the creator of the GO MOM!® product line, which will grow this September to
include The GO MOM!® Wall Organizer, The GO MOM!® School Organizer, and The
GO MOM!® Home Organizer. All products in the GO MOM!® line are produced via
license partnership with Mead Westvaco Consumer and Office Products and sold
at major retailers nationwide, including Target, Staples, and Office Max.

GO MOM !NC helps mothers make positive mothering a daily reality within the
structure GO MOM!® Schedule. Organize. Grow.® Gold is known for her keen
insights into Family Scheduling and has been featured both in print and on
air media alike and is currently available for media interviews.

Attention busy Moms! The time is now to get both you and your kids
organized for an exciting and successful school year ahead. To learn more
about how you can stay ahead of the game, go to http://www.gomominc.com.

Molly Gold currently serves on Proctor & Gamble's Mr. Clean Team Expert
Panel, Cartoon Network's Tickle U Advisory Board, and as Family Scheduling
Expert at both http://www.BlueSuitMom.com, and http://www.NewBaby.com. Her
work has been featured in Parents and Parenting Magazines, Better Homes and
Gardens, The Washington Post, ABC's Good Morning America, and most recently
NBC's Today Show Weekend Edition. Contact her today at
http://www.gomominc.com or via publicist Diana Ennen at
diana@virtualwordpublishing.com, (954) 971-4025.

Why mom doesn't let me watch much TV

My Mom doesn't let me and my brother and sister watch much TV at all.
She says it's articles like this that say it all about the disadvantages of kids watching TV.

She encourages us to do things instead of tv.
We play with Legos and Bionicles a lot. We do crossword puzzles, we play outside. We play board games. We do our chores and we read a LOT.

I'm an internet based kid

I thought you might like to listen to me talk about my internet business.

My Mom interviewed me and asked me questions about my blog.

Click HERE to listen.

Bionicles

In this post you can listen to me talking about my Bionicles, which are some of my favorite toys.

Bionicles:

Arthur Makes The Team

Arthur makes the team is about, as you probably know, an Aardvark named Arthur. Arthur tries and tries with the help of Francine, the coach assistant, to catch a ball the right way, and soon he's good at it, and he teaches Francine how to throw a ball straight.
Because she always throws it over the fence!

Get Arthur Makes The Team:

Too Much Noise!

Too Much Noise is a book about a man that thinks his house is very, very noisy. He wants some peace and quiet so he goes to a wise man and asks how his house can be quiet. But the wise man tells him to get more animals. The end is quite surprising.

Get Too Much Noise:

SuperFudge

Superfudge is a book, sometimes a funny book. And it's about a boy named Peter and a boy named Farley Dexter Hatcher. But everyone calls him Fudge. I've read this book a few times and quite enjoyed it.

Would you like to know about Peter's friends? One is named Jimmy Fargo. Another is named Alex Santo. And a half friend named Daniel.

Peter's mom is going to have a baby in this book and Peter worries that it's going to be just like Fudge and make his life miserable.

Get Superfudge on amazon.com:

Kid Spelling Help

Help Your Children Be Better at Spelling

She insisted that her daughter not be penalized for misspellings--but spelling counts even out of the classroom, whether we like it or not. And millions don't like it, and it's no wonder. After all, English is not only loaded down with ninety spelling rules, they're accompanied by about 3,500 exceptions! And forget about spelling a word the way it sounds. The first lines of this poem prove that:

I take it you already know
Of tough and bough and cough and dough.
Others may stumble, but not you,
On hiccough, thorough, laugh and through . . .

I'll start by asking which of these words are correctly spelled. segue, dicotomy, bouillion, scissars, brouhaha, begger, shepard, lieutenent, calander, guaruntee. Are you sure? Remember that you can't look them up. This is a test--just like the ones your child takes in school. Answers come later; for now, it's enough if you're starting to sympathize with the spelling-challenged.

Spelling demons abound-troublesome words loaded with silent letters (ache), and words that sound alike but are spelled differently (allowed/aloud). Then there are those troublesome double consonants where only one is sounded (allowed). Ever wondered about them? Educator James Cornish offers this explanation: During the Early English period, printers were paid by the letter. Adding an unnecessary one here and there increased their earnings-and messed with our heads forever after. As for those ninety spelling rules, the only one most of us recall is the "i before e, except after c," but then weird neighbors come calling.

So now that you've taken a spelling test, been reminded of the vagaries of English, and are either a bad speller yourself or know one-perhaps your child--read on for some tips:

1. Talk often about the importance of spelling and play spelling games, such as Scrabble, Hangman, and Boggle.

2. Explain that all final copies, even worksheets, should be well-spelled.

3. Carelessness accounts for many misspellings, so remind your child to double-check by rereading the piece backward, starting with the very last word.

4. When unsure about a spelling, your child should circle it as she writes and look it up later.

5. Since looking up a hard-to-spell word can be a problem, consider investing in How to Spell It. Here, you find the word as you think it's spelled, as in numonia, and right beside it is the correct spelling, pneumonia.

6. When asked to look over written work, don't make the corrections yourself. Instead, place a light checkmark in the margin beside the line with the misspelling.

7. Frequently misspelled words should be recorded in a personal dictionary for easy reference. Just jot down the letters of the alphabet, each on a separate sheet of paper, together with several of their spelling demons.

8. For confusing words, encourage your child to come up with a mnemonic. (dessert: "Strawberry Shortcake is my favorite deSSert.")

9. For repeatedly misspelled words, try VAKT (Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic, Tactile). On a long sheet of paper, slowly write the word in cursive, saying it at the same time. Your child then traces it with a finger, while also saying the word. When ready, she turns the paper over and spells the word. If incorrect, these steps are repeated.

10. Help your child "hear" how some words are actually spelled, like "choc-o-late," and "la-sag-na."

11. Remind your child that a computer spell checker can reinforce correct spelling but also mislead. It doesn't know, for example, that there's a difference between then and than.

Answers: segue is correct. Correct spellings of the others: dichotomy, bouillon, scissors, brouhaha, beggar, shepherd, lieutenant, calendar, guarantee

Carol Josel is a teacher and learning specialist. Her books offer expert advice, activities, and lessons to help parents and their children both at home and at school. Vist http://CarolJosel.com for free parent resources.

5 Ways To Help Your Kids Do Math

Uh oh. Your kids arrive home with their school reports and it's poor marks from the math department. Now what do you do?

You may not be a math teacher, but thankfully there are ways you can help your kids improve their grades.

Studies have shown that children are much more likely to perform well in a subject that interests them. So here are 5 ways to get your kids excited about math and actually looking forward to the next math class:

1. Inspire them.

Some kids don't enjoy math because they just can't see the point of it. Unlike reading or painting, all those mathematical symbols and numbers don't seem to mean anything.

What you need to do is show them how important math is in the real world.

Tell them stories about the great engineering feats throughout history. From building the great pyramids of Egypt, to the Hoover dam, to the latest space missions to Mars, nothing would have been achieved without mathematics, and mathematicians.

2. Get practical.

Involve your kids in some real world math away from the classroom. Find something your child is interested in and relate it to math in some way.

For example, do they like baseball? Terrific. During a game, ask them how many points the losing team has to score to beat the other one. And how many games do they need to win before they have enough points to win the league?

If they enjoy helping around the home then let them do the "clever stuff". Ask them to work out the sizes for that wood you're going to cut. Or get them to measure out the ingredients for the cake you're about to bake.

When you're in a store, ask your kids to add up the prices and keep a running total while you shop. Then ask them how much change you should expect at the checkout.

3. Take life "step-by-step".

Success in math - as in life - is largely about breaking large projects down into manageable, bite-sized pieces.

Many kids feel overwhelmed when they see a list of math questions, and it's at this point they may decide that math is "boring" or "hard".

Show them the magic of taking one question at a time, and breaking it into tiny steps that make it easy.

4. Encourage creativity.

Kids may become mentally "stuck" on a topic because they're only looking at it in one way. Perhaps they need to step outside the box and see it from a different angle.

Show them the beauty of alternative viewpoints. Help them to see situations from other people's perspective.

Get them into the habit of exploring different ways of solving a problem. Even something simple like tidying up a room can have several possible "solutions" or ways of approaching it.

Crosswords and lateral thinking puzzles are good for this kind of flexible thinking.

5. Be positive.

Eliminate negative statements like "math is hard" (even if you thought of yourself as a math dunce at school!).

Explain how everyone has a natural ability to do math and that solving math problems isn't so different from solving other kinds of problems in life.

Above all, inspire confidence in your kids. Teach them persistence and how there's always a solution to every problem.

We all perform better when we enjoy what we do, and getting kids interested in math is the real key to success.

They may not turn into mathematical geniuses, but they'll thank you in later life when they enter the world of work and start counting their salaries.

Now who said your kids couldn't do math?

Kenneth Williams is author of Fun With Figures at http://FunWithFigures.com

Brain Food For Kids

While mom's favorite line was, "You are what you eat," she should have added, "Eat well; what's good for your heart is good for your brain." After all, the two go hand in hand and both require good habits.. It takes a lot to think, learn, and remember.

Now, if your child has ever said, "I can't do that; it's too hard!" here are a few brainy facts to stop her in her tracks. Remind her that her brain uses 20-25% of her body's energy, so it's no wonder that thinking is as tiring as physical labor. She must feed it well. Then wow her with the fact that a computer built with her brain's capacity would cover the state of Texas and be 100 stories tall! Couple that with experts' suggestions that we use only between one and ten percent of our brain's capacity and out the window goes that "It's too hard" complaint. No more excuses.

What's called for instead are some mind-boosting suggestions to keep brains running smoothly and performing at their best--tips that are simple, beneficial, proven. You know now that thinking burns lots of energy-just ask your child after a test-filled day. To ward off further mental fatigue during homework/study time, turn off CD's and TV's and be sure he takes an exercise break between assignments and test prep. Researchers say that physical activity not only strengthens bodies, it also increases blood flow, hence oxygen, to the brain. In fact, says University of California's Carl Cotman, "Exercise stimulates the production of all kinds of wonderful molecules that keep neurons (brain cells) strong . . . and increases these molecules in the brain." Quite a pay off!

The right foods are essential, too, so here are a number of mind-boosting nutrition tips to take to heart:

1. To keep your child working faster, testing better, and being more creative, serve breakfast every day, like a bowl of cereal or plate of pancakes topped with berries.

2. Choose low-fat varieties of dairy products, soups, meats, etc.

3. Include calcium-rich foods, such as skim milk, low-fat yogurt, broccoli, and spinach to "clean" the brain.

4. Enjoy a daily serving of soy in one of its many forms. If tofu is distasteful, try edamame, soy milk, power bars, and nuts. (Heat a cup of chocolate soy milk in the microwave for yummy hot cocoa, topped with a marshmallow).

5. Folate is essential for a good mind, so include lentils, fortified cereals, wheat germ, papaya, asparagus, cantaloupe, and eggs in your meal planning.

6. Dish up beans and other legumes, like peas, black beans, and chick peas..

7. Serve seafood at least twice a week, including omega-3 rich tuna, salmon, and herring.

8. Replace chips and pretzels with seeds, nuts, and raisins.

9. Shop for whole-grains: cereals, breads, rice, pasta.

10. Aim for seven to nine daily servings of brightly colored fruits and veggies: tomatoes, strawberries, yams, spinach, and so on. Best of all is the blueberry, otherwise known as the brain berry.

Here are a few extras, too. Researchers say that learning how to read music and play an instrument helps kids with thinking in space and time, fractions, proportions, and the like-a worthy pursuit. Mind games also keep brains in top working order, so get your child reading, doing crossword and jigsaw puzzles, working on math exercises, playing cards, and enjoying board games like chess, checkers, Scattergories, and Monopoly.

Meanwhile, try following a map together into unknown territory, visiting exhibits, meeting new people, and by all means, playing words games. For instance, can you come up with the 200 or so smaller words embedded in TRANSPORTATION?

Carol Josel is a teacher and learning specialist. Her books offer expert advice, activities, and lessons to help parents and their children both at home and at school. Vist http://CarolJosel.com for free parent resources.

Helping Your Kids Love School

I thought these tips on how to help your child enjoy school were good whether you send your child off to school or homeschool.

Helping Your Kids Love School

To some, it's a magical place-one of discovery, camaraderie, empowerment. For others it's akin to a lock-up, a holding cell until real life can actually begin-and the wait seems endless.

School, to them, is little more than boring lectures, useless facts, teachers' dirty looks-and you've got to wonder why. How come some kids value the importance of a good education, while others see no point to it at all? In "A Letter to the World," the unknown writer speaks: "So world . . . teach him the wonder of books, give him quiet time to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun, and flowers on a green hill."

It all begins at home, always has. We have to stop paying mere lip service to the value of a good education-how it opens doors and is a means to a better end-and start backing it up with our words and deeds. We need to model the behavior and attitudes we want to see in our young, promoting the work of schools and making it our top priority. Homework should be viewed as an opportunity, not a burden, and study, the highest calling. Adulthood demands accountability and self-discipline-and it takes a parent, not a village, to prepare the way. Start by finding out what makes learning easier or harder for your child. Sometimes it's the teacher and/or the pacing of the material; sometimes, it's the subject matter itself; sometimes it's getting needed help and attention-or not. Then, keep building on that foundation:

1. Frequently tell your child how grateful you are to his teachers and how excited you are about what's being taught.

2. Remind her that every teacher has something new and important to share, so to be sure and listen well-and make a note of it.

3. Create an environment that supports and values life-long learning. Visit historical sites, be frequent guests in libraries and museums, be caught reading often, and converse about the day's events-at home, in school, locally, and globally.

4. Keep expectations and standards high, and don't accept 'good enough' as good enough.

5. Encourage him to work even when not in the mood-just like the rest of us- and set up a schoolwork schedule, starting with the hardest subject first.

6. Limit television, video games, and instant messaging.

7. Keep telling her that you believe in her ability to learn; eventually she'll come to believe it, too.

8. Rather than insisting on straight A's, insist on best effort.

9. Emphasize learning, not grades.

10. Help him feel proud of his efforts and celebrate accomplishments.

11. Praise only the praiseworthy. As someone once said, "Not every picture belongs on the fridge door."

12. Commend good grades and improvements; map out strategies to raise disappointing performance together.

13. Encourage friendships with kids who make academics a priority. Bill Gates adds, "Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one."

14. Instead of asking, "How was school today?" ask, "What did you learn today?"

And finally, keep on learning yourself, never losing your fascination with this world of ours, always sharing that wonderment with your child. I mean, did you know that your nose and ears will never stop growing, that women blink twice as much as men, or that Americans eat an average of eighteen acres of pizza every day? Remarkable, don't you think? Now, pass it on.

Carol Josel is a teacher and learning specialist. Her books offer expert advice, activities, and lessons to help parents and their children both at home and at school. Vist http://CarolJosel.com for free parent resources.

Rescue Heroes Movie

Have you ever seen Rescue Heroes the movie?

The Rescue Heroes are based on a group of heroes trying to save people from accidents. In one incident, a crazy Photographer flew into the eye of a storm and got stuck and almost died. He was in a plane. But the Rescue Heroes saved him with the QR Jet.

Max and Maggie in Spring

First I'm going to tell you about the second episode or story in Max and Maggie in Spring.

Maggie comes to Max's house, knocks on the door. Noone answers. So, she opens the door and says: "Max! Where are you?!" And Max says: "I can't hear you, I'm in the shower!"

Max finds out that when you take a shower in April, it doesn't bring flowers. That's what he thought though. He is very disappointed about it but Maggie has a gift for him. And when he opens it... I'll let you find out what she gives him.

Max and Maggie in Spring (Nice Mice)

The Story of the Orchestra

Have you ever heard an orchestra? I haven't. You may have heard one with a piano, a harp, or maybe a flute. But this story has more than just those instruments. Some of them are stringed, some of them you blow on with your mouth and some of them can be as tall as a two story building if it was straight like the contra bassoon. And there are more insruments!

There is the Harpshichord, which plays like a harp but looks like a piano. The Oboe, and there's the Triangle, the double Bass, the Cello, Violins, Violas, and more.

The Story of the Orchestra is a book all about music. And what you like to hear some of the people who played music's names?

One of them was named Beethoven. One was called Mozart. There was Brahms, Bach, Hayden, Vivaldi, Gershwyn, and Tchaikovsky. They all composed Classical music.

Note to parents: I was thrilled to find this book and CD set to help my kids learn about classical music. I am even learning a thing or two! The book prompts you to listen to a track on the CD so that your child can hear the specific composer you're reading about, and even the specific instrument that you're learning about. What a great way to begin your child's education and appreciation of fine music.

Anne of Green Gables

Anne of Green Gables was a little sad at the end. But first let's start at the beginning. There was this orphan named Anne and she got mixed up with a man named Matthew and a woman named Merilla. Merilla had actually wanted a boy. Matthew was Merilla's brother, but when he found out she was a girl he got really enchanted with her and he didn't want her to leave. So he talked her into letting Anne stay.

Anne had a few mistakes but she turned out great. She learned a lesson in every mistake. And Anne turned out to make a lot of friends.



Complete Anne of Green Gable Boxed Set (Anne of Green Gables, Anne of the Island, Anne of Avonlea, Anne of Windy Poplars, Anne's House of Dreams, Anne of Ingleside, Rainbow Valley, Rilla of Ingleside)

Easy Ways to Teach Your Children How to Spend, Save and Give

Mommy opened a Dollar Dog savings account for me today. I had $50 that I had saved and earned. Plus the bank gave me an extra $5! Mommy is always talking about how important it is for me to save money and that it's never too early to start.

Easy Ways to Teach Your Children How to Spend, Save and Give

It is never too early to teach your children about the value of saving and giving money. If you start when they are young, they will always have the practice of saving money, budgeting and giving to charity. No matter what their age from two years old to teenagers, there are some basic things that you can do to encourage them to do this.

Start by buying your child three piggy banks. If they are young, get them to help you pick one out. If they are older, you can help them make a bank or take them to a paint your own pottery place to decorate them. Label one bank save, one spend and one give. You should also open a bank account for them so that they can periodically deposit the "save" money into their account as well as larger gifts of money and they can watch their bank account grow.

Each time they get an allowance, you should help them break the money into three groups. You can do this however you want to such as breaking it into thirds or putting 10% in give, 40% in save and 50% in spend. As they get older, they can help determine how the money will be divided.

For the "give" bank, have your child help choose where they want to donate the money. They might choose church. If they love animals, they could give the money to a local animal shelter or use it to purchase food for the shelter. They could buy diapers for an agency that helps new Moms or food for a homeless shelter. Sometimes using the money to buy material items to donate helps children better understand how important their money is to different organizations and exactly how they have helped someone.

The "save" bank can also be broken into long term and short term saving. Some of the money could be saved for college or a car when they are older. However, it is also fun to have them save money for an item that they really want such as an article of clothing or a toy. This teaches them the importance of budgeting money. If there is something that they really want, they might choose to put more money in the "save" bank and less in the "spend" bank. They might also just choose to not use the "spend" money for a few weeks until they spend it on what the really want.

However you choose to spend, save or give, make it a family affair and make it fun for your children. Include them in all the decision making since it is their money, but don't forget that you are the parent and you have the final say if they are not saving or giving wisely. If you can start them on the spend, save, give process at a young age, it will be a habit and value that they will carry with them into adulthood and one that they can pass onto their children.

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The Renaissance Festival

I went to the Renaissance Festival last weekend and I had a very good time. There's fencing there, and they have a strength test, and they have a maze. You have to try to get to the tippy top and slide. And they even have real swords for sale. I saw one that was $76.
They had real live jousting and they had a King and Queen too. And they had a Junior Joust for kids. I split a roasted turkey leg with my Nannie. And I got my picture taken on a fake horse.

And they had real ponies there that you could ride. And they had bows and arrows and wooden swords that you could buy, and they had a tea room. And they had fire juggling . There were all sorts of rides too.

Alexander and the terrible horrible no good very bad day

Alexander and the terrible horrible no good very bad day is about Alexander, and he has a very very very bad day. He went to the shoe store, and he asked for blue shoes with red stripes but the clerk said that they didn't have any, so he had to get plain white ones. In the morning when he woke up he accidentally tripped on his skateboard and he went to sleep with gum in his mouth and got gum in his hair and he accidentally dropped his sweater in the sink while it was still running.

Lots of bad things happened to him that day. And he wanted to move away to Australia that day. But his Mom said bad things still happen, even in Australia.

Buy Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day at amazon.com

Nate the Great and The Lost List

Nate the Great and the Lost List is about, as you probably know, Nate the Great and a boy named Claude, who lost his list one day. And he tries to get clues from his friends. He drew a map inbetween Claude's house and the grocery store, and he tried to get help from Annie and Fang (the dog). And they finally find the list at Rosamond's house.

Buy Nate the Great and the Lost List at Amazon.com.

Nate the Great and the Lost List

Corduroy by Don Freeman

Corduroy is a book about a stuffed bear named Corduroy. And Corduroy lives in a toy department and he waits there day after day for someone to pick up him and buy him. But then a girl named Lisa came and her Mother and Lisa wanted Corduroy but her Mom said we can't get him today. And so they came the next day, and Lisa bought Corduroy and sewed a button on his overalls.

You can get Corduroy by Don Freeman at Amazon.com. Just click below.

Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes

The book Chyrsanthemum is about a girl named Chrysanthemum, and she gets teased by her schoolmates almost all the time.

And then one day they went to musical school and there was a woman named Mrs. Twinkle, and her name could scarcely fit on her nametag like Chrysanthemum's, and her name was named after a flower, like Mrs. Twinkle.

And then when Jo, Rita and Victoria learn about it, they stop teasing Chrysanthemum, and start being nice to her instead of bullies. And then one day Mrs. Twinkle had a baby and named her Chrysanthemum.

Note from Mom:
Kevin Henkes is one of our favorite kid's book authors, and this is one of his best. You just can't help loving Cyrsanthemum, as well as her parents! A great book to help teach kids to love their individuality.

Nate the Great On the Owl Express

Nate the Great On the Owl Express is about Nate the Great, as you probably already know, and his cousin Olivia Sharp. And he is being a bodyguard for an owl named Hoot. And someone wrote a note about Hoot. The note says: "It will be a happy day when Hoot the owl flies away." Your Neighbor

At the beginning, Olivia Sharp thinks that it is a bad note about Hoot, and at the end, Nate the Great realizes that it's a get well note.

Buy Nate the Great On the Owl Express on Amazon.com

Nate The Great And The Stolen Base

Nate the Great and the Stolen Base is a really good book! I read it twice. And that was my third Nate the Great book. I'm looking for more Nate the Great books. Now let's get to what it's about.

It's about Nate the Great and Oliver, and they are looking for a stolen base. A plastic gloopy octopus with 8 arms. And some of the characters were Rosamond, Annie, Nate the Great, Oliver, Harry, Claude, Finley and Pip and Esmerelda belong to Rosamond's Rangers. And first base is a tuna fish can, and third base is a large dog bone. Rosamond is a very strange coach!

Buy Nate the Great at Amazon.com.

The Phantom Tollbooth

I liked The Phantom Tollbooth. It was about a boy named Milo, a bug named the Humbug, and a dog named Tock. Milo went into a world that had Dictionopolis and Digitopolis. Milo used to be discontented all the time in his room and he always felt bored, but at the end of the journey, he learned that there are plenty of things to do in his room. And he wanted to go on another trip.

Note from Mom:
The Phantom Tollbooth was one of my favorite books as a kid. Although some of the allusions were a bit over Caleb's head, he still enjoyed it.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is a book about a boy named Tom, his real name is Thomas Sawyer. And he gets into trouble all the time. He loves to go on adventures with his friend Huck, Huckleberry Finn. You will enjoy reading this book, and if you get into trouble a lot of time you will really enjoy it.

Huckleberry Finn is the son of the town drunkard. Tom Sawyer lives with his Aunt Polly, and his half brother Sid.

One of their adventures was going into a graveyard, and while they were there, 3 people came, one was called Injun Joe, a murderer. And another one was Dr. Robinson. And the last one was Muff Potter. They dug up a grave and found a little box in it, and they opened the box, and then.... (you'll have to read it to find out!)

You can buy The Adventures of Tom Sawyer on Amazon.com. Just click on the picture below.

Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The

Where The Red Fern Grows

Where the Red Fern Grows is a very happy book, and near the end it is sad. You will like the all the adventures of this boy named Billy and his dogs Little Ann and Old Dan. The dogs are hounds. I read the book and I enjoyed it. My Mom read parts of the book to me. And there was a contest about who got the most raccoon hides, or skins. And Billy and his dogs won jackpot money, a gold cup, and a silver cup.

Note from Mom:Somehow I missed Where the Red Fern Grows while I was growing up, and so it was a real joy to read it with Caleb. Billy learns some important lessons about life and love and what's truly important in this classic coming of age novel. We're looking forward to seeing the movie now to see how it compares.

Buy Where the Red Fern Grows on Amazon.com. Just click on the picture!