*This is a compensated campaign in collaboration with Momtrends. All opinions are 100% my own. Since even before both of our sons were born, my husband and I were concerned about how we were going to save for the college educations. We value education tremendously but we are also realistic about the growing costs associated with going away to college. One of the savings options that immediately became appealing to us was the 529 college savings plan. It is a type of investment account that can be used for higher-education savings which is particularly beneficial for families. Just about anyone can open a 529 account, including parents, grandparents, other relatives, and even friends as long as they are a United States citizen or resident alien. This is very convenient because, very often, loved ones are more than willing to contribute to saving for the education of the young people whom they care for. Giving to a 529 plan for holidays and birthdays … [Read more...]
Start Saving For Higher Education Now! #NY529Event @NY529Direct #Ad
Investing In The Next Generation Of Leaders! #RemakeLearning #Ad
Photos courtesy of Remake Learning and Ben Filio *This post was written in partnership with The Motherhood and sponsored by The Grable Foundation. Photos courtesy of Remake Learning and Ben Filio. One of my greatest sources of pride over the last twenty or so years has been my work as a public school educator here in New York City. It is so rewarding to see the impact that I have had on the lives and minds of my students. In turn, they have also taught me many new things while in my classroom. I have also had teaching colleagues over the years who have branched out to teach in other public school systems across the country. Some have shared with me that Pittsburgh is also an amazing place to teach and to raise children. Its museums, schools, libraries, and after-school programs make it a center of innovation and excellence in education. HundrED is a global organization based in Finland that aims to research and share education … [Read more...]
Game-Based Learning Is Changing Student Learning! @LegendLearning #LegendsOfLearning #Ad
Imagine a classroom where students are actually having fun while learning at the same time! As an educator, this is a challenge that I have faced many times over the years. It can often be a balancing act to create fun and engaging activities while, at the same time, addressing the learning standards that are required for my students to master. Most teachers will tell you that students often have a better grasp on material and content that they learned while having such a good time that they didn't even feel like they were learning. Legends of Learning is a game-based learning platform that offers science-based games for grades 3-8. Although their educational games currently only focus on science content, they will be rolling out other subjects and levels in the near future. Those of you who are science teachers will also be thrilled to find out that all of their games are compatible with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Teachers and students alike will find … [Read more...]
Bloom Teacher Gift Tag Printable
It's almost surreal to think that the end of the school year is almost upon us. Wasn't it just yesterday that we were all getting ready for Back to School? The good news is that this means that warmer weather is coming along with all of the other wonderful activities that signal the beginning of summer. This past Friday, I was driving to school when I received a phone call from a former teaching colleague and dear friend of mine. She was contacting me to let me know that she had run into the parent of one of my former students. This particular parent also worked as the pupil services secretary at my former school so I had the pleasure of having two of her children as my students. Her older son is currently attending college in Westchester County and she wanted to let me know that he will be graduating in June with a degree in English. He told her to let me know that I inspired him to become an English teacher when he was in my English Language Arts class in middle school. … [Read more...]
It Is Time To Get Active! #LetsPlayHSMakeover @DrPepperSnapple @LetsPlay #Ad
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Let’s Play, an initiative by Dr Pepper Snapple Group that provides kids and families with the tools, places and inspiration to make active play a daily priority by building and improving playgrounds and donating sports equipment to groups in need. Although I received compensation for this post, all opinions are my own. It's no secret that we a huge basketball family. My older son has been playing competitively since he was in the third grade. Being an athlete has give him the tools to stay confident in all areas of his life and it has allowed him to be active on a regular basis. Even though our younger son plays basketball only for enjoyment, he understands that it is also important for him to engage in active play. As an active family, we were really excited to find out about the Let's Play initiative by Dr Pepper Snapple Group. They are committed to making sure that kids and their families have all the resources that they need to … [Read more...]
Start Organizing For Back To School! #BTSReady @SchoolSpecialty @KidzVuz #Ad
I can't believe that back to school is right around the corner! Some states have already started the new school year but here in New York City we don't return until the beginning of September because school ended on June 28th. Although we still have about a month left of summer vacation, it's never too early to begin organizing for the upcoming academic year. As a parent and an educator, I have to prepare on both fronts to make sure my sons and my students start off the year on the right foot. Every year, I depend on SchoolSpecialty.com to help me get all the materials that I need to launch a successful school year beyond just basic supplies like pencils and crayons. It takes a lot more than just these traditional items to transform our home into a command center to coordinate and prepare for our daily routine once we all go back to school and work in September. In our home, I have to be very strategic about how I set up our back to school command center because I … [Read more...]
Should Teachers Take Students’ Phones Away On School Trips? #SquashTheBeef #Ad
This past week, my son went on his eighth grade Senior Trip to Philadelphia. This was the first time that he was away from his father and I for the whole day in another state. As you all can imagine, I was a nervous mom all day wondering if he was having a good time and if he was safe. As parents we want our children to have many wonderful opportunities and experiences but we also want to protect them and keep them safe whenever possible. Sometime in the afternoon, one of the parents on the trip messaged me to let me know that all the boys had gotten in trouble and their teacher was going to take their mobile phones away for the remainder of the trip. Now, let me tell you, as an educator of over seventeen years, I am keenly aware of how distracting phones can be when it comes to the classroom. Had his teacher chosen to take my son's phone away in school, I would have been all in support of it but this was not the scenario and I felt she was completely wrong in taking away … [Read more...]
Are Your Kids Getting Enough Physical Education? #ProtectPE @Voices4HK #Ad
*This post reflects a compensated editorial partnership with Voices for Healthy Kids, a joint initiative of the American Heart Association and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. There are many factors that influence how children perform academically but I bet many of you did not know that students who receive physical education, or PE, do better when it comes to behavior, academic achievement, and emotional health. It's important for kids have frequent opportunities to engage in physical activity on a daily basis. Unfortunately, only 4% of elementary schools, 8% of middle schools, and 2% of high schools provide daily PE or its equivalent for the entire school year. Racial inequalities and socio-economic challenges leave many schools without resources for PE, but kids shouldn’t have to miss out on the benefits of PE because of where they live or because their schools lack financial resources. A good PE program is a crucial part of … [Read more...]
Ignite The Genius In Your Child! #eBookPlaza @PreK12Plaza #Ad
*This is part of a sponsored collaboration ̊with the PreK12 Plaza. However, all opinions expressed are my own. #eBookPlaza #PlazaBilingue I've always loved literature and reading. These were the very reasons why I became a Literacy Specialist. I just couldn't imagine anyone being deprived of the joy that comes from the written word and vowed to help anyone I could to become literate. As an educator who loves being one, I will only stand behind educational programs or apps that spark this love of reading in children. That is why I am so excited to share the launch of app eBook Plaza on PreK12 Plaza! eBook Plaza is a new, free, bilingual, multimedia resource, providing teachers with blended lessons supporting English-language standards. It gives young readers access to hundreds of eBooks in a variety of reading levels that are available in both English and Spanish. Integrating technology and reading is a match … [Read more...]
Lysol Back To School Science Fair Challenges Students To Expose Germs! #Lysol #Ad
I can't even begin to describe how many of my students are currently sick with colds. Along with the change of seasons and the spread of germs, most of them are really feeling miserable. It's the perfect opportunity to teach them how important it is to wash their hands regularly and to cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze. Believe it or not, millions of school days are missed each year due to student absences that are caused by illnesses like the common cold or the flu. Lysol® has partnered with Madison Square Boys and Girls Club of America in New York City to teach students about the presence of millions of germs that invade their classrooms every single day! The best part is that fourth-graders will be able to quantify these germs through interactive science experiments. They are learning how germs can flourish on desks, light switches, doorknobs, and school supplies and how they can protect their classroom … [Read more...]
