This summer has been a wonderful one. I've spent quality time with my boys and my husband and we have dedicated time to take a few adventures together. While we were having fun, we were also creating opportunities for us to learn together. After all, you wouldn't expect anything less from an educator with over fifteen years of teaching experience in the classroom. I've noticed that no matter where we are or what we are doing, we can always use paper and paper-products to inspire learning beyond the classroom. You'd be surprised how many creative activities and writing exercises can arise from everyday events. My ten-year-old son's favorite thing to do is illustrate his experiences using crayons and his favorite drawing notebook. It is such a pleasure to watch him bring his drawings to life. It's a great way to foster his creativity and to allow him to use visualization to create images … [Read more...]
Extend Learning Outside The Classroom! #HowLifeUnfolds @HowLifeUnfolds #Ad
Kick Off A New School Year With Your Own Teacher Rewards Kit! #TeacherRewardsKit #Ad
It's hard to believe that it is almost time for back to school here in New York City. Not only will I be embarking on a new teaching journey as a high school reading teacher, but my boys will be starting fifth and eighth grade. There are lots of exciting things coming up this year including my son's graduation, searching for the right high school that he will attend, and our younger son's transition into middle school. As an educator, I cannot stress enough the importance of positive reinforcement when it comes to motivating kids to do their best academically and praising them for a job well done. Both of our boys are required to complete book reports over the vacation to support their summer reading. I knew that I would need to make this an enjoyable experience since getting kids to do schoolwork when they are off is like pulling teeth. That is exactly why I love the Teacher Rewards Kit. It is full of everything that I … [Read more...]
Inspire Love Of Reading With PreK12 Plaza! @PreK12Plaza #PreK12Plaza #Ad
Ever since my sons were little, I have tried to instill a love of reading in them. After all, I am a Literacy Specialist and have been a reading teacher for over fifteen years. During the school year, it's a little easier to get them to read and write because it is a natural extension of what they are doing in the classroom. However, it becomes a little harder to inspire them to read during summer vacation. That is why I love PreK12 Plaza, it allows me to engage my boys in educational activities to warm up before school starts in September. My ten-year old sometimes struggles with his writing stamina and with getting all of his ideas down on paper. The PreK12 site allows children to create their own eBook which is the perfect way for my son to see his writing come to life! My son created his very own eBook on the PreK12 website using some of the things that he has learned this summer as inspiration. … [Read more...]
Science Project Idea: Cloud Experiment
Those of you who follow me on social media know that, last month, I helped my twelve year-old son with his Science project for school. Although I am an educator, Science has never been my strongest subject and I struggled to find a project idea that I could help him with while enjoying ourselves at the same time. We eventually settled on analyzing food dyes in a variety of popular candies. Next year, when my younger son enters fifth grade, I will have to help both of my boys with their Science projects and I know that it is going to be a lot of work. As a result, I have already begun to experiment with some fun ideas that I have found online and I'm hoping to choose some of them next spring when it's time for my boys to submit their finished projects to their school's yearly Science Fair. This experiment is to teach kids how rain happens. Clouds form when water droplets from the earth evaporate into the air. They are … [Read more...]
Support STEM Programs In Schools! #YoungScientist @3M @TheMoms #Ad
Recently, I visited one of my teacher colleagues who teaches math at our middle school. It was fun to work out math problems with my students and to see them become excited when they got the correct answers. While most of the kids were engaged, I have noticed that some students struggle in math and often become disinterested in it. Math is extremely important to science as well as other aspects of life so I would love to be able to ignite their passion once again for working with numbers. After all, I know that you must have a strong math foundation to excel in any of the STEM fields. The Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge is the nation’s premier science competition for grades 5-8. Through the program, young inventors have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work closely with a 3M Scientist Mentor, compete for $25,000, and earn the title of “America's Top Young Scientist.” … [Read more...]
Spark Curiosity Through Early Learning! #SparkAMind #IC @HMHCo #Ad
*This post was sponsored by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central. When I was growing up, I was a reluctant reader and refused to read unless I was required to do so for school assignments or homework. This was very upsetting to my mother who had always been an avid reader and tried to instill a love of literature in us kids since we began our early learning. She knew that once I realized how wonderful books were, it would spark a lifelong love of reading in me. Finally, in fourth grade, a family friend gave me a box of old books that she had put away from when she was a young girl. I decided to start reading them and I immediately fell in love with reading! It was almost like a lightbulb went off over my head and I realized how wonderful it was to be transported into the worlds and adventures inside the books that I was reading. Unfortunately, in … [Read more...]
10 Presidents Day Activities For Kids
Are you excited to teach your children all about Presidents Day? Do you want them to have a deeper understanding of the holiday and how it relates to their lives today? If helping your child get a better grasp of Presidents Day is on your agenda, take a peek below at 10 Presidents Day activities for kids that you can try this holiday season! Teaching your kids about Presidents Day can be fun, informative, and even budget friendly. Here is how you can get started. 1. Create your own faux poll station. Understanding how our presidents are chosen is part of understanding Presidents Day! Talk to your child about the voting system, how one votes, and what age they have to be to vote. Create a faux poll station where children can cast their own vote to get an understanding of how democracy works. You can even look at pictures of ballots and stations online. 2. Look at examples of where presidents have been memorialized. Some of our most famous presidents have been … [Read more...]
Let Inspiration Fuel Your Dreams! #ForTheDream @CocaCola #Ad
*This is part of a sponsored collaboration with Dime Media and Coca-Cola. However, all opinions expressed are my own. I've been a teacher for almost twenty years and have tried to instill in every single one of my students the importance of going to college. I teach in an impoverished neighborhood in Bronx, New York and many of the children who attend our school come from homes where they experience financial hardships. Unfortunately, their budget doesn't always allow for aspirations to get higher educations to be nurtured which is very sad when you consider how bright and talented my students are. In the last few years, we have created a college and career readiness program to inspire our students to set goals for themselves of getting college degrees in the future. As part of this program, we schedule tours of local college campuses and even organize a career day every spring to introduce our students to Hispanic … [Read more...]
Ways To Advocate For Your Children Academically
Children need someone to be there for them in every way possible, but especially academically. If you would like to be an academic advocate for your child, here are some tips to keep in mind. Communicate with Your Child’s Teacher Make sure the communication lines are open with your child’s teacher. If you think they might be struggling or just want to know what’s going on, make sure you get in touch with their teacher. When it comes to your child, you can’t possibly over communicate. Help with Homework Sometimes it’s easy to brush off the fact that our children are self-sufficient and can do their homework on their own. Take time to help your child with his or her homework. It’s nice when you can sit beside them and answer any questions they may have about it. Ask Them How They Are Doing School can be difficult for children, which is why it’s important to ask them how they are doing. It may be hard to get a straight answer … [Read more...]
10 Homework Tips For Working Moms
Working moms have the best of both worlds, we get to work and be parents! However, it can be quite a rush when evening time rolls around and dinner, homework, and bedtime approach rather quickly. Homework is especially an important but difficult time because everyone is already tired, but it still needs done. Here are 10 homework tips for the working mom. Create a schedule and a timeframe in which the homework should be done in. This will give everyone peace of mind. Prioritize what needs done first. Is there demanding homework that your child needs to work on first? If so, help them with that first so there’s less pressure later. Know how your child learns. Another tip for helping your kids with their homework is knowing how they learn. Maybe they complete their homework better in a room by themselves. Don’t be afraid to work on big projects together. This can be an awesome bonding experience for you and your child. Do your “homework” as your children do … [Read more...]
