Education

Webspeak part 1 - become fluent in one of the online languages your children use

Posted 2 days 19 hours ago by Paul Michael

Social Skills, Culture, Relationships, K-8, High School, Higher Education

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Once upon a time, it was Pig-Latin. These days, the Internet has created several ways for both children and adults to communicate with each other. In part one of this series, I'll give you a list of the most common acronyms or "initialisms" that your children are using daily, via the web and phone. Some of these you will be familiar with already; some may shock you.

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Hug Your TV, Part 2: A biased, opinionated and not even very scholarly review of PBS Sprout.

Posted 1 week 2 days ago by Katherine Turner

Entertainment, Learning Tools, Culture, Pre School

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I’ve spent the past month watching every show PBS Sprout dishes up and man am I pasty. Crib my notes for what to let the kiddies watch and keep your summer glow!

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Computer-based Homeschool Curriculum Worked for Us!

Posted 3 weeks 2 days ago by Linsey Knerl

Education, Learning Tools, Home School, K-8, High School

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When I started homeschooling a few years ago, I was excited to order the materials – which included more books, manuals, worksheets, and supplemental items than I could possibly store on our bookshelf. The practicality of “traditional” text-based curriculum soon wore thin. Read on to see how software saved the day.

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On Education Part 2 - Our Experience with Waldorf Schools

Posted 4 weeks 2 days ago by Fred Lee

Education, Learning Tools, Home School, Pre School, K-8

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The Waldorf experience is a lot different than what you’ll see at a Montessori School.

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Please Stop Giving Advice. It isn't Helpful.

Posted 4 weeks 6 days ago by Corina Fiore

Safety, Discipline, Home Life, Education, Pregnancy, Social Skills, Birth, No Children Zone, Etiquette, New Parents, Conflict Resolution, Work Balance, Culture, Relationships

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The picture represents how I feel about unsolicited or absolute advice: angry and annoyed. I often ignore advice, shake my head in agreement, and move on my way. I wasn't always that way, and I was reminded of the havoc unsolicited advice can reap on a family when reading a message board this week.

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Hug Your TV Part 1: Turning it on won't suck your kids' smarts any more than making it a planter will get them into Stanford.

Posted 6 weeks 1 day ago by Katherine Turner

Entertainment, Learning Tools, Culture, Pre School

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Like any form of art or entertainment, TV runs the gamut from the horrendous to the sublime, and with only a little initial channel-surfing in the name of research, you can learn to enjoy the medium guilt-free and eventually advance to using your former nemesis for the betterment of your children.

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Should Homeschooling Be Illegal?

Posted 7 weeks 9 hours ago by Linsey Knerl

Education, Culture, Home School

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Wow! What a question. As a mother who homeschools, this was quite an odd question to see in the middle of my most recent issue of Parade magazine. I had to take a closer look.

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What College Admissions Officers Won’t Tell You And More

Posted 7 weeks 12 hours ago by Julie Rains

High School, Higher Education

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College admissions officers try to position their colleges as selective by spouting statistics that make acceptance seem elusive. They may tell you, for example, that the university received 12,000 applications for 1,600 openings in its freshman class. You may assume that the university has an acceptance rate of 13.33% but your math (though reasonable) would be wrong. I’ll tell you what college admissions officers won’t tell you and more.

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Subway Promotion Dismisses HomeSchoolers

Posted 8 weeks 20 hours ago by Linsey Knerl

Education, Culture, Home School

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I receive a lot of activist-type emails, especially those which call for action to be taken in matters of educational discrimination in the homeschool arena. While I usually take much of it with a grain of salt, this latest news regarding a Subway promotion rubbed me a little wrong.

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Exhausted? Frustrated? Rx: Strong Dose Of Make Believe

Posted 8 weeks 4 days ago by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer

Home Life, Social Skills, Learning Tools, Wellness

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Exhausted? Frustrated with work? Needing a change of scene? Your toddler might have just the right medicine. Call it a placebo, call it new age but a big dose of Make Believe might be just what you need. Here’s how it works.

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Success in High School: 4 Ways to Help 9th Graders

Posted 8 weeks 5 days ago by Fred Marmorstein

High School

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High school can easily become overwhelming for any teenager. Starting high school from day one with a solid foundation can ensure success and continued constructive development for an entire four years.

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Poo Poo in the Potty!

Posted 9 weeks 1 day ago by Sonja Stewart

Social Skills, Learning Tools

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Poo poo in the potty is almost too good to be true. What to do while still basking in the glory of accomplishment.

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On Education Part 1 - Our Experience with Montessori Schools

Posted 9 weeks 4 days ago by Fred Lee

Education, Learning Tools, Home School, Pre School

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Montessori schools offer an excellent program for pointing your kids towards academic excellence, though their approach might not conform to every parent's idea of what it means to be a carefree child.

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Hilarious Sermon-Free Picture Books to Tame the Tantrum and Ameliorate the Meltdown

Posted 10 weeks 17 hours ago by Katherine Turner

Discipline, Shopping, Entertainment, Etiquette, Learning Tools, New Parents, Conflict Resolution, Culture, Pre School

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Want a novel tack to take the next time your kid flings himself face-down in front of a Tonka Truck display or blows a gasket because her “very pink” underpants are in the wash? Try making them laugh at what makes them cry!

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It’s Not About Shacking Up…

Posted 11 weeks 3 days ago by Linsey Knerl

Education, Social Skills, Sex Ed, Relationships, Higher Education

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A recent Associated Press article discusses the growing trend of U.S. colleges to allow for mixed company in dorm living arrangements. This new acceptance of coed cohabitation isn’t what disturbs me; It’s how the parents continue to teach an age-old lie about relationships and what truly matters.

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Parenting Bucket List

Posted 12 weeks 5 days ago by Sherry Pardy

Health, Social Skills, Relocation, Entertainment, New Parents, Culture, Relationships, Wellness, Extra Curricular

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In thinking about all the things I want to do before I die, I realized there were just as many, if not more, to do with/for my kids before I kicked the bucket.

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Are Mothers Of Boys (Only) Considered Real Moms?

Posted 12 weeks 5 days ago by Julie Rains

Culture, Extra Curricular

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I’ll admit that as the mom of 2 male children and no female ones, I sometimes feel invalidated in my motherhood. Am I being overly sensitive or is there a bias against moms with sons?

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Celebrating Earth Day

Posted 13 weeks 3 days ago by Lori Kerrigan

Chores, Entertainment, Learning Tools

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With Earth Day approaching on April 22nd, take the opportunity to celebrate with your kids, while educating them on the importance of this green holiday!

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Errands Without the Stress!

Posted 14 weeks 1 day ago by Lori Kerrigan

Finances, Shopping, Pregnancy, Entertainment, Learning Tools, New Parents, Time Management

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Do you know that taking care of errands can actually be relaxing? Check out these top online shopping "hot spot" sites, cozy up to your computer, and get those errands done!

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Don’t, Won’t, Can’t, Nope, Noooooo: A 4-Step Action Plan For Communicating Better With Your Child

Posted 14 weeks 4 days ago by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer

Discipline, Learning Tools, Conflict Resolution

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You tell your daughter not to walk in the puddle. She walks in the puddle. You tell your son, “Please do not throw the fork.” He throws the fork. Not getting the behavior you’re asking for? Here’s one reason why, and four ways to improve your communication with your child.

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