Attn: hardworking, busy middle school teachers! Grades 5 - 9 are the age group at the highest risk of trying tobacco, as you probably know. Research shows that kids between ages 11 and 15 are most likely to try smoking for the first time. Yikes! BIG GIVEAWAY!!--> To say thank you for all your hard work, Right Decisions Right Now, my partner on this post, is giving 4 WINNERS a $500 Staples … [Read more...]
Play with Green Toys Playsets
Guess what? Your favorite open-ended, eco-friendly toy company, Green Toys, now has two new and totally impressive Playsets! Both the Fire Station and Farm are brand new kid-approved Playsets that come with a building, vehicle, characters, and accessories for kids 2 - 6 years old. Scroll down for a chance to win a Playset! Play is linked with empathy according to play researcher Stuart Brown. … [Read more...]
Holiday Gifts From National Geographic Kids (+ 3 Book Giveaway)
Weird But True! 8, The National Geographic Kids Almanac 2017, and 5000 Awesome Facts (About Everything!) 3 will make great holiday gifts for kids this season. When we got the latest Weird But True! 8 in the mail last week plus The National Geographic Kids Almanac 2017 and 5000 Awesome Facts (About Everything!) 3, my kids POUNCED. Why? Because they're so interesting & well-designed! And, me? … [Read more...]
Create the Perfect Study Space for Your Tween
Your tween is at the age where she doesn't want to do homework in the kitchen anymore. Which is exactly why my daughter, AJ, made her own special study space in our basement. Her design includes many elements you can adapt for any tween's study area. Create the Perfect Study Space for Your Tween 1. Start with a desk or table. Ours is an inexpensive IKEA table that previously had her LEGO … [Read more...]
Owl Eyes eReader Offers Free Texts for Classrooms
Owl Eyes is a free, easy to use, user-friendly e-reader site designed to give teachers texts to use and annotate in their classrooms. Owl Eyes is a cool site that will streamline your students' close reading experiences, track students' reading progress, and provide a meaningful way to kids to interact with text. The reading choices are classic and Common Core texts. Owl Eyes continues to add … [Read more...]
Teacher Appreciation Day at Staples August 17
Teachers, do you need classroom tools and supplies at the best prices? The first 100 teachers at each Staples store location on Teacher Appreciation Day, Wednesday, August 17, will receive a free sample kit with special coupons plus every teacher with ID will get 10 percent off of their purchase. NICE, right?! Find the closest Staples store to you HERE. Besides the 10 percent discount, … [Read more...]
New Books for Summer 2016
I can't wait to tell you about the latest new books to get your kids excited about reading. So for this summer vacation 2016 or any time, browse through these reviews and see what will appeal to your child. See also my summer book lists by grade and age. New Books for Summer 2016 Nick and Tesla's Solar-Powered Showdown by Bob Pflugfelder, Steve Hockensmith ADVENTURE (ages 7 - 10) I LOVE … [Read more...]
Make a Wish Jar! DIY Origami Stars
Inspired by the Star Darlings positive messages, my daughter and I created our own Wish Jars -- with our wishes written on colorful strips of paper which we made into origami stars. Star Darlings are star-charmed girls who encourage and help others to fulfill their heartfelt wishes. Now with nine books, dolls, music and apparel, along with a mobile app and animated shorts, Star Darlings … [Read more...]
Renewable Energy Virtual Field Trip
We all rely on energy. But how can we get the energy we need without harming nature? Virtual Field Trip Students, teachers, and homeschoolers, join scientist Alex Wegmann to answer this question (HINT: renewable energy) by exploring two amazing places: the Palmyra Atoll (coral reef) and the Mojave Desert. Take a virtual field trip Friday, May 20, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. EST on YouTube. Registration … [Read more...]
Hands-On Science Experiments for Girls: Subscription StemBox
Get your girls interested in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) with a subscription StemBox powered by Green Works. Each box provides monthly at-home experiments designed to open up a new world for girls in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Hands-On Science Experiments for Girls: Subscription StemBox Each box contains all the necessary components … [Read more...]
STEM Education Classroom Resources and Sweepstakes
CITGO Fueling Education just launched a website & program to celebrate STEM education, imagination, and innovation in classrooms across America. K - 8 Teachers, this website is for YOU! Want STEM classroom resources? Freebies? A cool sweepstakes? Then go to the CITGO Fueling Education site. The sweepstakes is how you use STEM in the classroom. Which you do so GO, YOU! Now … [Read more...]
New! Star Darlings Grant Wishes: What’s Yours?
STAR DARLINGS, the new fantasy middle grade series by Ahmet Zappa and Shana Muldoon Zappa for ages 8-12, follows the lives of twelve very unique, sparkly Starling girls who live on a star called Starland. The girls attend a special school to learn how to make a wish come true for girls from Earth who are called Wishlings. Normally, the girls would have to wait until graduation but for this group … [Read more...]