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Living Math

Math is used every day. Living math is an aptly put term for teaching math through the every day uses of math. Children are taught how to solve real life math problems using real life scenarios or hands on manipulatives or simply through play. Push the worksheets and textbooks aside and see the equations you solve daily. A child will learn to understand math when he sees the connection to the physical world around him. Real world math scenarios to consider: Doubling a recipe. Cutting a recipe in half. Calculating change before the cashier hands it back. How much money … Continue reading →

Money-Saving Mom Moves

School starts here in just a few weeks. Never mind that Target and Wal-Mart erected their school supply displays on the day after Fourth of July. “Mommy, is summer over?” my 7-year-old asked as we strolled by the cases of new pencils, pens and binders on JULY 5th. For weeks, I’ve resisted going near those aisles. I’m dreading having to dig deep to purchase all new supplies, plus uniforms, shoes, and the 17,000 other accessories that students need to tackle a new academic year. Unfortunately, I’m going to have to snap out of my denial phase pretty soon. Sure, my … Continue reading →

Online Educational Program: BigIQKids.com

Product: Big IQkids.com Age Level: K-8th grade Format: Online Learning Program Price: Free through Premium Programs What is BigIQKids.com? (From the site.) BigIQkids.com presents a unique learning method designed to help each child develop the skills needed to perform to his/her full potential. Our award winning programs are designed for students in grades K-adults and promote spelling efficiency, vocabulary building, math fact mastery and US geography knowledge via multimedia reinforcement and independent learning. We offer both FREE spelling, math, vocabulary, U.S. states programs and spelling and vocabulary games. What does my family think? I have been familiar with the company … Continue reading →

The BFF

My daughter has a wonderful BFF. Make that 20 BFFs. At the end of each school day she tells me about all the fun she had playing with her BFF… du jour. My kid is an equal opportunity playmate and sees everyone as a potential best friend. She’s seven. At first I thought it was sweet that she rotated BFFs amongst the gaggle of girls and boys in her grade. Then, I wondered if she was the only kid in the class without a true blue pal. However, after reading a new report about bullying and the social ostracization of … Continue reading →

And So It Begins…

You know those moms doing a happy dance in the parking lot on the first day of school, then caravanning together to the nearest Starbucks to toast their freedom with Venti Java Chip Frappuccinos? I’m not one of them. I’m the mom rushing off to get as much work done before I have to navigate the car line for pick-up. I’m also the mom who feels like an amputee walking out of school after three straight months of summer vacation. Three straight months operating as my child’s social activities coordinator and she as my third arm. So, no, I’m won’t … Continue reading →

Teacher Accused of Changing Student’s Test Answers

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A teacher in California has been accused of filling in the answers on a standardized test for a student. The elementary school student was a child that has been described as “struggling”. It has been suggested that the teacher was trying to disguise the fact that this student needed special education help. This particular situation took place in 2009. The teacher was administering a Mathematics Assessment Resource Service (MARS) test. This is one of many standardized tests that are given to public school students across the nation. The student ended up with a score of 35 out of 40. The … Continue reading →

Edge Foundation Helps Students With ADHD

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Most public schools, and many private schools, have programs in place that are designed to identify students who have ADHD. The same programs often include ways to help the student to focus on completing school work, and arriving at class on time. Colleges and Universities, on the other hand, do not usually offer the same kind of help for students who have ADHD. Fortunately, the Edge Foundation can provide that kind of assistance. Often, the first time a child is diagnosed with ADHD, that child is in the later years of elementary school. It is also becoming increasingly common for … Continue reading →

More Recess, Mom

Ask my first grader what her favorite part of the school day is and in less than a nanosecond she will respond: “RECESS!” I don’t need to be a recess mom to know how much my kid enjoys running, jumping, cartwheeling, and horsing around with friends on the school playground. I just feel bad that we live in a part of the country where outdoor play in temperate conditions is severely limited. My daughter’s school mandates that students play outside for at least 30-45 minutes per day (two to three, 15-minute recesses) unless it is pouring, or if the temperature … Continue reading →

Back-to-School Budget Busters

What is the single most expensive back-to-school item on your child’s list? It likely varies depending on the age of your child, but according to a new report, backpacks are high on the list of back-to-school budget busters. Most kids insist that a new backpack is required back-to-school material despite what their frugal parents might think. However, if you want a backpack to last a couple of years it pays to invest in a good one. No offense to major discount retailers, but $3 clearance packs don’t often fare well against pricey, high quality bags. Prices for a high quality … Continue reading →

Back-to-School Supply Surprises

I could so relate to the recent New York Times piece on back-to-school lists. My daughter’s is nearly a mile long and includes items that left me wondering if I was stocking the school’s janitorial supply room instead of prepping my child for first grade. Tuition at my daughter’s Catholic school is insanely high (one academic year = price of a very, very good used car), so why is it that I am having to send my kid to school with cleaning supplies, Ziploc bags, anti-bacterial products and a myriad of paper goods, in addition to the standard pencils, notebooks … Continue reading →