Summer Learning Fun!

Summer is knocking at our door, literally!  We are on the downward spiral, countdown....to SUMMER VACATION!!!  

Who is ready?

Wait...put the BREAKS ON!  We have spent the past 9 months learning, listening, working on behavior, our manners, and learning how to read...and now we are going to halt all that FUN for the next two months: UGH! 


Parents dread this, losing ground on our kids education. But: keeping your child's brain sharp doesn't require thick packets, boring drills or block walls.  



 


Below are BOREDOM BUSTERS that help offer a great way to work in some skill-building during the exciting Summer Break!!







Hold a YARD SALE!
Kids get a MATH WORKOUT when you have them price items, give change, and calculate the costs of everything sold, by say....3 PM by offering a 25% discount.  For younger ones, they get to learn about the value of a dollar and they will simply LOVE using the Calculator or adding machine.

BONUS: Your child will also be able to discover the value of recycling and hopefully be able to gain a new perspective on shopping when he/she see the toys they put in selling for 75 cents!




Keep 'Em READING!
Check out Scholastics website to discover the Scholastics Summer Reading Challenge (login at Scholastics.com/summer) to get kids reading!  They can also unlock one story out of a series of 12 by authors like R.L. Stine.  Each of the illustrated tales features a read-aloud option. 

BONUS: While your child waits for the next story, they can pick out great reading prizes and win prizes!  You can also introduce the library programs in your area to get them excited to READ!!!















 
 
Work the CAMERA!
Recognizing patterns is a skill that kids need for spelling and math.  Challenge your child to spot images in unexpected places, like faces in tree bark, and SNAP A SHOT!  They can then email the finds to Nana, or turn the pictures into a cool collage!

BONUS: This will allow a child to focus on an object/subject despite other distractions.



Make a MOVIE!
Have your child tell or write a simple script. Then, using LEGOs or Action Figures (Barbies work too!), they can pose the characters and shoot them in sequence. Upload the photos into an app like STOP MOTION STUDIO (iOS, free) or Stop-Motion Lite (Android, free) and there you go! They just created a stop-motion animation!

BONUS: Kids pick up storytelling tricks, which improve their writing skills, too!



Get into GARDENING!
Let your kiddo have a spot in the yard (or a cool Garden Box). Let them pick out what they want to grow. Take them to the library to research how to grow what they pick out, how much space those plants need to grow and how many plants (or seeds) to plant. Get them started and remind them (or put a spot on their charts) to water and tend to their garden daily!

BONUS: This will deepen your childs understanding of where healthy foods come from and they will also have a sense of pride for caring for their plants!




 

Tiny Tid-Bit!
70% of kids ages 6 to 17 look for something that makes them LAUGH when picking out a book. [source: Kids & Family Reading Report: 5th edition, from Scholastic's] 





HERE are some GIGGLE BOOKS to introduce to young readers:



The Pre-Reader: 

  

Llama Llama Sand & Sun by: Anna Dewdney

The Beginning Reader: 

  

Monsters love Underpants by: Claire Freedman

The Independent Reader: 

 

The Tapper Twins Go To War (with Each Other)  by: Geoff Rodkey

  

 

Should you...or shouldn't you : that is the question

We all have faced the Great Big Decisions Ahead signs within our lives.  Some decisions are good, great even.  But, we have all made bad decisions.  

What do we do when we make a bad decision?  

Move on, right. We learn from those bad decisions, we pick ourselves back up and try again. 

Sometimes we make irrational decisions, impulsive, which lead us astray.  Could a bit of procrastination help us to make better decisions? 

Bad decisions can come from not seeing the WHOLE picture.  If you are not bouncing your path in front of others, paying attention, or seeing the road that lies ahead, it could leave to a blind spot. 

So, the art of making is decision is what you would call "practical science."  Basically, you find out how to make the decisions through complicated feats of the mind.  If we took some time, procrastinate, we would make better decisions by observations of the problem that lies ahead and how we respond and those around us respond.  If we make a fast decision to important, life changing circumstances, we can end up with regret, remorse and even a negative attitude.

But, what happens when we do nothing for a tiny amount of time: we give our brains an opportunity to process and execute.  We can look at our situation and decide our next action. 

Many things which cannot be overcome when they stand together yield themselves up when taken little by little.

I have faced a few tough decisions in the past two months. Life changing decisions.  I have been opened and honest about my work situation.  I was demoted to part-time with company set backs and it has been devastating to say the least.  I was an equal earner in my household, able to hold us above water in an event that something happened to my Hubby's job and then: BAM!  I barely bring home half. 

This brought on a more determined ME.  I started hunting for a career.  I wanted more than what I have now, but with this has brought on sacrifices that are, to be frank, heart wrenching!  I must go from working at home, being here for my kids... to working outside of the home, having less-than-flexible hours and having to depend on others. 

I have been marketing myself, successfully.  I could not be more proud. I have been on several interviews. I have done well, and have been offered four positions. The turmoil comes from making the decisions to accept or decline. That is a difficult road to walk, one that I am grateful for, but it does not make it any easier. 

Decision #1: I had a great offer on the table a week ago, big money, a position close to home, long term career type position. I had to think, I had to talk it through, I had to make a decision.  

Decision #2: I had another position on the table, less money, more stability, an opportunity to take back some time I had vested, a great retirement plan and really good benefits. 

The heat was ON!

I feel blessed, that needs to be said. I know that it is not easy to find a job in Ohio right now. I see others struggling. Especially in the Admin. field. I have found some gems and acted. 

I had the interview with Decision #2 and thought I failed miserably, and that is no lie. The interview was a series of questions and I honestly did not leave feeling confident. Especially when the gentleman walking me out posed the comment of continuing to look through this entity for positions due to a lot of retirements taking place. EEK!  

After this interview, it was my Mom who said that I probably got the job, because it is usually the ones that you don't think you did well on that you are most impressive.

Lone Behold...Moms know everything!

So, I pose to you this question...What would you do?

I took my time in my decision making.  

I made a list. 

A very impressive list of my Pros and Cons, naturally! 

And here is where you can see what made my decision for me!  I took the time to really think it through, to talk to my family, to figure out what is truly important to me! (My Kids! My Hubby! My Family!) 

I am excited to move into this new position, this new role and a little excited to be able to get out of the house, which is incredibly scary, and giving me intense anxiety.  

I am fortunate to have my family, who are willing to be here for the girls and able to work with us to work this all out! 

Making a decision is nothing short of exhausting! 

We are moving onto another chapter in our lives. It is scary, but with the help of understanding if I should...or shouldn't, I was able to make an educated decision, one that has left me feeling peaceful, excited and eager to find my way. It will be complicated, tough and stressful, that much I am sure of, but with the help of my supportive family, I think it will be a step in the right direction for a long term career, leading to...hopefully: Retirement!  (if I don't croak first!)

To happy decisions, well thought out plans and taking the road less traveled!

[Personal Post] May 3rd...a special day

I would love to take a post here and dedicate it to my Hubby, who is having a Big #36th Birthday today.  I can not believe that I have had the honor of sharing 14 of your birthdays with you in our lifetime together so far and want to let you know how much you mean to me. 

Have you ever met someone and knew they were the one for you. It sounds so silly, especially to think back on our Love Story, but in the first moment that I saw you, I knew that you were the one for me. 

It was a long wait until we would meet, and as the saying goes...First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the babies in the baby carriage!

Fast forward...and here we are, celebrating your 36th birthday on this amazing, gorgeous Sunday, with 80 degree weather, which we have not seen since last year, and the sun shining from the heavens!

I am so thankful for you, for being by my side through out the years. I am still, as much, if not more, in love with you today than I was so many years ago. We have created life together and worked hard and keeping it safe and sound and steady.  It has not always been easy, the path has definitely been a weeded one with new career paths, houses, children, cars, bills and businesses, but we are still standing, taller, happier and more in love than we could have ever imagined. 

Today, I hope you had a great day, with presents, cake and family. We all love you so much and want this to be the most special day for you to show how much we care!

Happy Birthday Baby.  You are my world and I am so glad that I get to be your Co-Pilot in this life, you best friend in this world and your Wifey in this love.  

To our co-Hobby and all that life and the future brings our way and 36 more years to come!

Love~