Weekday mornings are hectic and can leave us scrambling to get out the door but that’s no reason to miss breakfast, the most important meal of the day. This year’s Fill the Backpack theme of Healthy Children, Healthy Minds theme resonates with me because of having the experience of trying to teach kids who came…
Education
Dinosaur Train’s Dinosaur Big City Premieres Today on PBS
If your kids can name all of the dinosaurs and the prehistoric time periods thanks to Dinosaur Train, then chances are they’re looking forward to Dinosaur Big City, the Dinosaur Train movie that will air on PBS Kids today. Check your local listings to determine what time you will be able to join Buddy and…
Fill the Backpack Back to School Giveaway Worth Over $750!
We’re back from vacation and with only two short weeks left until school starts, we’re planning to enjoy the last of our unstructured days. I could be lamenting the fact that our youngest is starting kindergarten or that our oldest, now 8, is going to be a big second grader as I race to the…
Back to School Toys and Camouflauge Learning Trend
Toy Industry Association trend experts have identified some of the many educational toys identified as “camouflage” learning – where kids learn essential skills such as reading, science and math – while playing. These toys promote learning, but are so much fun kids don’t realize they are doing work – they are just busy having fun….
Friday Faves: 6 Stories to Fuel a Child’s Imagination
Imaginative play is part of childhood. Dressing up and pretending to be characters from faraway lands, favorite characters in stories, and community helpers all help children make sense of the world around them. Building forts out of sheets in the yard and creating caves under the dining room table are part of the magic that…
Back to School Netbook and Laptop Shopping Resources
It’s back to school time and many families are scouring the Sunday ads and online deal sites looking for the best prices on technology including cheap netbooks and cheap laptops from all the major manufacturers like Toshiba, Dell, Sony, Samsung, and HP. Before you purchase a laptop, be sure to ask yourself how you’ll be using…
Super Diaper Baby 2- A video review by Little Miss Techie (w. giveaway)
We’ve been keeping up with our summer reading by devouring books ranging from historical fiction, Harry Potter, old favorites, and new books like Super Diaper Baby 2: The Invasion of the Potty Snatchers. In this video review, second-grader-to-be Little Miss Techie explains why she loves Super Diaper Baby by Dav Pilkey. Watch the entire…
LeapFrog LeapPad Explorer- Tablet for the younger generation
Recently a friend asked me about tablets for her children. While you could get an iPad or a Motorola Xoom, chances are you want something a little less expensive and more child friendly and durable. I’m not saying that those options aren’t good for certain ages but with the plethora of features, constant internet access,…
Is there a place for Twitter in the classroom?
Ok social media mavens and teaching friends, this morning’s headline on CNN proclaims that Twitter has a place in the classroom. 8th grade teacher, Enrique Legaspi encourages students in his East Los Angeles classroom to BYOT- bring your own technology– or use classroom computers in their history class. In their study of World War I,…
iPod Touch as an Educational Tool for Reading
Reading an eBook on the iPod Touch as part of classroom instruction Usually used as a device to play Angry Birds or listen to music, the iPod Touch is a highly sought after tool for classroom instruction. Today’s guest post from MomswithApps is about the use of iPod Touch devices in an elementary school. Learn…
