homeschooling, move-in day, pandemic, parenting

Helping your Student During the Pandemic

pandemic

We’re living through some pretty strange times right now. Just a few months ago, life was on track and routine. We were living day to day life to schedule – dropping the kids to school, heading to work or completing tasks around the house, socializing with our free time or heading out for fun days out. But since then, the unprecedented spread of coronavirus – a contagious and potentially lethal virus – around the world has turned many of our lives on their heads. The majority of governments have asked us to remain at home as much as possible. Schools have been closed. People are working remotely or not working at all. Socializing outside of your household isn’t really an option. This has posed many of us with a variety of difficulties and problems. But for those of us with kids, school tends to be a main concern. Here are just a few different ways you can maintain your children’s education during the pandemic!

Reduce Pressure

First and foremost, reduce pressure on yourself and your little ones. These are difficult times for everyone and all children are going to be falling behind on their education right now. When schools reopen, all kids are going to find themselves in the same position and teaching will recommence from where it was left off. So, don’t be too hard on yourself or your kids. Instead, focus on this time for bonding.

Look Up Your Child’s Curriculum

If you do want to help to introduce your little one to a few of the things they’d currently be learning at school if there wasn’t a pandemic, you can always look up their curriculum and see what they would be being taught right now. Remember that curriculums vary from one school to another, so ensure you’re focusing on the right one. If in doubt, you could always contact the school and ask.

Use All Resources Available

There are so many great, free online resources out there that can prove educational for your child. Watch a few educational Youtube videos for their age group and determine whether any are good for your child to watch. Use sites like PennyDell Puzzles to challenge them with logic and numbers. Stimulate their creativity with arts and crafts projects or writing projects. Encourage them to read books. Watch kids shows on history, science and other areas with them. Consider investing in language learning software for them. There are so many different options out there!

Set Your Own Tests

Basic spelling and maths tests are easy to set up yourself when you have little ones. Challenge them with simple maths and spellings. Many kids find this fun and enjoy the element of competition.

These are just a few suggestions when it comes to educating your kids at home during the pandemic. They’ll be back to school soon enough, but hopefully, these steps will really help for now!

homeschooling, online learning, study tools

Using Online Learning to Supplement Education

online learning

Most schools have been closed over the past few months, and continue to be closed, but this does not mean that learning has to stop. Online lessons have proven to be a great help.

You can find all types of resources online to help your student continue the learning process. Beginning in the early grades like third grade writing worksheets, and continuing as your student moves into junior high and high school. 

Online learning websites are widely available. With so many to choose from, there are many factors to consider when looking for the best. One of the main decisions you need to make is whether to pay for access to a learning website or whether to only use free resources. 

There is no right or wrong when determining whether to pay for lessons online. It is all about deciding what is right for you. If you are currently not in a position whereby you can afford to spend money on such lessons comfortably, then, of course, start with free resources until you can. 

Aside from this, you need to consider how motivated you are. If you are not a self-starter, you may struggle to stick with a free program. However, if you are paying for a service, it will certainly give you the extra push you need to study regularly. Moreover, if it means gaining access to a much better pool of online lessons, it may be worth paying for a learning website, especially if your time is precious. You could get to the same skill level, in the end, no matter what website you use, but with free resources, it may take a little bit longer, unless you find one that ticks all of the boxes, of course. If that is the case, then great! Also, if you need personalized help, you can get access to a live teacher and so on with some paid websites.

Supplementing learning with online music education

Online music lesson websites are widely available for those who want to learn from the comfort of their own home and have the freedom to practice as and when suits them. There are many benefits associated with this approach to learning an instrument or how to sing, as you will discover below.

One of the main reasons why so many people choose online music lessons is because they are much more cost-effective. Rather than paying a fee every time you have a lesson, you are more likely to pay a one-off cost for access to the website in question, or in some cases, you may need to pay monthly or annual fees. There are also free resources on the web for you to make the most of, meaning you are bound to find the right solution for your budget. 

Another benefit is that you have more control over your learning experience. You will be able to find resources suited to areas you feel you need more practice, and you can decide when you take the lessons, and how long for. You also have a much wider scope of music lessons online to choose from, including variation in the way these lessons are presented, from the written format to demonstration videos. You can also continue your lessons no matter where you go, which is ideal for those that travel a lot with work. Finally, you will be more inclined to experiment and take risks when you only have yourself to answer to.

move-in day, Sponsored posts

Campus Arrival Helps Students Prepare for Move-In Day

campus arrival

My goal here is to help parents navigate the college maze. Part of that process is to find and recommend products and/or services that will help parents as they navigate the process.

With college move-in day approaching in the fall and parents using the summer to shop and gather items to send with their college students, I’ve found a FREE service that can help: Campus Arrival. This service makes it easy for parents and students to view and check off all the items the college either requires or recommends for students to move on to campus.

All you need to do is sign up for an account which lets you save your supply checklist. By doing this, you can mark items as done. You’ll also be able to set your school as a favorite so you can link to it quicker. Also, if any other family members want to help and buy you something for college, they can see what you need and what you already have.

Once registered, type in the name of your school (or search on the list by state), and you will see a curated list of college-ready items to pack based on the college’s official recommendations. They have also included items from other schools’ suggestions and expert advice compiled from around the internet. All their recommendations are based on a balance between quality and value.

You will also notice a checkmark next to an item that indicates it is included as an official recommendation from the college. According to their FAQ section:

Our recommendations come in three flavors.

  • First are specific item recommendations. These include an explanation for why we are recommending the item along with a link to that specific product.
  • Second are ‘Starter Pack’ recommendations. These are lists of items that are similar. We added the lists for items that are small and don’t require significant concern about reviewing the product – things like toiletries, desk supplies, etc. Lists provide an easy way to grab a bunch of things at once.
  • Third are search recommendations. For some items, there can be a lot of personal preference involved – things like bedding, posters, bikes, etc. The search recommendations provide a link to Amazon with many options that meet the need but you can personalize for your personality.

For example, here is a screenshot from a college in Texas: Texas A&M University.

For those parents who are concerned about the coronavirus, Campus Arrival has also included recommendations for Covid-19 prep:

Sincelaptops are a major asset while you’re at college, their recommendations help you with the specific hardware requirements for your school and major. They search the school’s official site. Each school is different in terms of the info they provide. Some schools provide general specifications. Some give major’s specific needs. And some schools don’t provide any recommendations.

Campus Arrival includes the links to the official school recommendations so you can reference them (in the Sources section of the school page). With the hardware specifications, they use CNET extensively to make product recommendations. They also consider Amazon reviews and will search other technology sites to make sure the products are high quality.

Campus Arrival also provides a list of prohibited items and posts the links to the sources they used to compile their lists. This takes the guesswork out of trying to prepare for move-in day and helps parents shop confidently and easily for their student.

If you don’t see you your college on their sight, you can make a recommendation for them to add it their list. While you wait for your specific school to be added, you can check out their General Recommendations list. This list is a combination of all the items they have collected from all the schools completed. It’s a good start and provides everything you’ll need.

If you have a college-bound student, take advantage of Campus Arrival’s convenient service to help you and your student prepare for move-in day.

This is a sponsored post

empty nest, Guest Posts

Offering Students a Taste of Home

When I come across a product that can help parents of college students, I’m happy to share it with my readers. For parents whose students will be heading off to college this fall, this product will you stay in touch and show “love” for your students.

Do you have a student entering college for the first time? How about a student returning to school?  Either way, they’ll be working hard and missing home.  For those that are leaving home for the first time, being away will be exciting and scary.  They will be trying to keep up with their work, while at the same time balancing a new social dynamic.  Thoughts of home will be a safe haven from the hectic schedule they will now be keeping.  For those students who are returning, they will be trying to maintain the school lifestyle they’ve become accustomed to.  However, they too will look to reminders of home for solace when things get a little too crazy.

While it’s common for parents to send their students care packages to help them stay fed, most of these care packages are filled with junk food.  Processed, unhealthy junk food.  Why not give them a true reminder of home each month by ordering them a subscription to A Taste of Home Cake Crate by Kentastic Cakes?  A Taste of Home Cake Crate is a monthly subscription of homemade, from scratch baked goods that are shipped directly to their door(or school Mailroom) each month.  All items within A Taste of Home Cake Crate are created from scratch using only fresh ingredients.  Nothing is processed and everything tastes AMAZING!!

A Taste of Home Cake Crate can be ordered by the month or in longer durations at a discounted price. We also offer our COLLEGE PLAN, which is specifically meant for your student and follows a typical school year.  With the COLLEGE PLAN, your student will receive a Cake Crate from September through November and from January through May.  They will NOT receive a Cake Crate in the month of December, as most students go home for the holidays.  Crates are shipped on or around the 20th of each month, with the exception of May.  May crates will be shipped the 1st week of the month to be sure your student receives it before leaving school for the summer.  We also offer a First Semester and Second Semester Plan.  A NUT FREE option is also available.

taste of home

Each month, your student will receive:

  • A Large Cake In A Cup (almost a full pound of moist cake and creamy buttercream frosting)
  • 4 Yummy Cake Pops – Flavors change each month.
  • 3-6 Fresh Baked Cookies(dependent on size and type)
  • A Mystery Item – Past Mystery Items have been French Macarons, Baklava, S’mores Bars and Chocolate Covered OREOS.

Kentastic Cakes has been creating beautiful, delicious custom cakes since 2012.  In addition to weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs and birthdays, Kentastic Cakes has been enjoyed at high profile events, such as the Boston Strong Benefit Concert after the marathon bombings and the Vans Warped Tour 20th Anniversary BBQ.  Our cakes have been eaten by members of NKOTB, Aerosmith, celebrity chef Ming Tsai and more.  We’ve even made cake pops for legendary rock band, Motley Crue on their Farewell Tour.

A Taste of Home Cake Crate just celebrated its 1 Year Anniversary and is excited to send your hard working student awesome treats each month.  Please visit mycakecrate.com for more detailed information and pricing, as well as some FAQs at our College Plan page. 

Orders received by July 1, 2020 will save, as prices will increase on July 1.  Save even more by using Code: COLLEGE to save an additional 5% off your order.

As we always say, “Just because they can’t be at home, doesn’t mean you can’t send them A Taste of Home.”

PLEASE SHARE!

life lessons, parenting, Uncategorized

Is Your Student Prepared for College

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prepared for college
American Housewife

These are tough times we live in. From the coronavirus to the widespread protests, families have had to cope with some difficult circumstances and answer some tough questions.

My grandsons have asked questions–many questions about what is happening in their world. We try to prepare our children for foreseeable difficulties as adults, but sometimes life slaps us in the face and we face obstacles we did not anticipate and would rather avoid.

The question we should all be asking our students is: Are you prepared for college?

I’m not talking about academic, extracurriculars, or standardized tests. I’m talking about the “real” college prep: adulthood. Because this is the most important college prep of all. If your student isn’t ready to study without being constantly nagged, attend class without a wake-up call, or make wise choices when every negative influence in the world bombards them, then he or she is not ready for college.

We must, as parents, prepare our teenagers for independent living. That means they must know how to self-advocate. They must know how to say “no” to behaviors that have negative consequences. They must be responsible with their time and their money. It’s no easy task and in today’s world, we have to add the ability to make wise social and economic choices.

I love “American Housewife” for the examples of good and not-go good parenting techniques. Their daughter, who will be attending college in the fall, was required to complete a massive to-do list before they would agree for her to attend her senior prom. Some of the items seem simple to most, like changing a tire; but the goal of this parenting was to prepare her for independent living.

Do you have a to-do list for your future college student? Can they live within a budget? Do they understand the importance of study and class attendance? Do they know how to choose the right friends? Will they make wise choices about alcohol, sex and other risky behaviors. Preparing them for college is so much more than academics.

life lessons, parenting

10 Lessons a Pet Can Teach Your Children

pet

Families with children are known as the highest demographic to most likely own a pet. Children have numerous gifts to offer a pet, with countless hours of attention and play, cuddles, and a life-long companion. However, the rewards work both ways.  

Your children can learn a lot from owning a pet, whether it’s compassion, empathy, or the responsibility they may need to take them through college and into adulthood, these 10 valuable life lessons are what they could learn: 

Responsibility

Whether you choose ot have a dog such as a chocolate lab from https://chocolatelabradorretriever.ca/ or a smaller pet like a guinea pig, pets need to have daily food, affection, and exercise as well as potty time and grooming. Older children can learn these skills and use them and even younger children can help to feed them and play with them. 

Trust

It’s easy to confide in your pet, they will offer you unconditional support in return. Pets make trusted companions for children and can be an important step to helping your child build trust in other relationships they may have through their life.

Compassion

Caring for a living creature requires compassion, empathy, and understanding, Kids learn to be kind and how they can take care of another’s needs. 

Bereavement

You child will inevitably feel the pain of any loss of a pet, but it will also teach them how to cope through a bereavement period. A lesson not many get to learn when young. 

Physical Activity

If you own a dog, your children can learn how to have fun physical activity through games like fetch or tug of war. And enjoy going for walks. Research suggests that children who own a dog spend more time being physically active than children who don’t. 

Patience

It can take time to bond with a new pet, so your child will learn patience whilst your new pwr becomes comfortable and starts to feel at home during training. 

Respect

Owning a pet is a great way to teach children how to respect others. They much tend to their needs, touch them gently, and learn not to disturb them when they are sleeping or eating. 

Self-Esteem

Pets will show them unconditional love, which can be a wonderful boost to a child’s self-esteem. So, too, can the proudness and satisfaction from having the responsibility of caring for a pet’s needs. 

Loyalty

A pet’s loyalty toward its owner is hard to match. With this, children can learn the importance of showing loyalty to their furry friend. 

Social Skills

A dog can be a fantastic way to break the ice in social situations. This means taking your dog on family walks can help to improve your children’s social skills as they see you interact

Guest Posts, Student debt, student loans, Uncategorized

How to Borrow Wisely for College

borrow wisely

With a new school year quickly approaching, many parents are figuring out how their child is going to afford college. According to CollegeBoard, the average student budget for the 2019-20 academic year was $26,590 for students attending a four-year university. This figure includes the cost of living on campus, which may be required of incoming freshman students.

This means your child’s education could cost well over six figures. And no parent wants their child to start their adult life with that amount of debt.

As a parent, you can help guide your child to make smart decisions that will impact their finances for years to come. This begins with choosing an affordable school.

There are also other ways to help pay for the cost of attendance and living expenses. Here’s how to help fund college costs and ways to borrow wisely.

Apply for financial aid opportunities before borrowing

Before you or your child take on debt to pay for college, you should exhaust all other available resources.

Your child can access financial aid opportunities, like grants, scholarships and work-study programs, by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The FAFSA filing window is October 1 to June 30 for each upcoming academic year. Keep in mind that some financial aid is available on a first-come, first-serve basis, and cutoff deadlines vary by state. Encourage your child to complete their application as early as possible.

Also explore third-party scholarship opportunities through your employer, local community organizations and online databases. Each additional scholarship or grant — even if it is only for a few hundred dollars — can prevent your child from taking on more student loan debt.

How to borrow wisely for college

Once your family has explored all financial aid opportunities and pooled existing resources (e.g. 529 college savings plan and other family contributions), your child may still need to turn to student loans.

Whether your child is taking out loans in their own name or you’re borrowing on their behalf, it’s important that your family only borrow what is needed to fill the remaining financial gap.

The first way to approach student loans is through federal loans. Federal loans have more flexibility and have certain protections and benefits. This is why it’s best to maximize federal loan opportunities before taking out private loans.

For example, your child can enroll in a repayment plan that matches their financial situation and may be eligible for loan forgiveness opportunities.

Your child should borrow funds in this order:

  1. Direct Subsidized Loans. Subsidized loans typically have the lowest rates, and the government will cover any interest that accrues while your child is in school.
  2. Direct Unsubsidized Loans. Unsubsidized loans aren’t need-based, so any student can qualify for them. However, your child is responsible for the interest that accrues during school.
  3. Private loans. Your child will likely need a cosigner to qualify for a private loan. Shop around with various private lenders to find the lowest rate and best terms for your credit.

You may also have the option to take out a federal Parent PLUS loan in your name to help fund your child’s education.You’ll be solely financially responsible for the loan — not your child.

Make a debt repayment plan

Student loan borrowers should always be aware of interest charges that will accrue during school and after graduation. These charges should be included in their overall financial plan.

Your child should also start making a debt repayment plan as soon as possible. Popular student loan repayment methods include enrolling in an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan or refinancing student loans after graduation to get a lower interest rate.

When considering refinancing federal loans into private student loans, it’s important to understand the consequences of losing out on federal benefits and protections, like loan forgiveness and forbearance.

The earlier your child plans for their educational costs, the more likely they can save money during their college experience and beyond.

____________________________________________________________________

Our guest post today is by Travis Hornsby, CFA, and Founder and CEO of Student Loan Planner. He lives with his wife in St. Louis, MO, where he loves thinking up new student loan repayment strategies and frequenting the best free zoo in America. As one of the nation’s leading student loan experts, he has consulted on $500 million of student debt personally.

in the news, parenting

Teachable Moments About Racism

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racism

This has certainly been one of those years. It all began with news of a virus in China. Then it began to spread and the world was in the midst of a pandemic. As time progressed it made it to our country and everyone was frightened and scared. People were dying. There seemed to be no hope. Schools closed. Businesses closed. Churches closed. We all stayed home and waited.

Just when it seemed the outlook was improving, a senseless and cruel act of murder occurred at the hands of a policeman—someone we trusted to protect us. I kept remembering the words spoken in Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner: “All hell done broke lose around here!” Truer words were never spoken. 

I’m certainly not a psychologist or pretend to understand what it’s like to live as a person of color in this country. But I have children and grandchildren and it’s moments like these when they are watching us. They watch how we respond and how we treat others. Raising an independent adult should also involve raising a compassionate human being. 

These are teachable moments.

Violence is not the answer

On September 20, 1958, Izola Ware Curry walked into a Harlem department store where King was signing books and asked, “Are you Martin Luther King?” When he replied “yes,” she stabbed him in the chest with a knife. King survived, and the attempted assassination only reinforced his dedication to nonviolence:

“The experience of these last few days has deepened my faith in the relevance of the spirit of nonviolence, if necessary social change is peacefully to take place.”

Look for the helpers

Mr. Rogers’ mother had the best advice for a time like this—look for the helpers. We looked for the helpers during the pandemic at its worst. We should look for the helpers in the midst of this civil unrest.

Policemen, sheriffs and mayors speaking to the protestors and asking to “walk with them” in solidarity and as a promise to do better. People showing up to help business owners clean up after the damage from the riots. Protestors protecting the police when surrounded by an angry mob. A protestor bringing a case of water to the policemen standing watch. Helpers put all of this into perspective. 

Which brings me to the next teachable moment…

Love one another

Nothing good ever comes from hate. Our children are innocent and loving when born. If they are taught to hate, they will hate. If they are taught to love, they will love. Teach them to unconditionally love their fellow humans. Martin Luther King Jr. said, 

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

Stand with those who are hurting

Every single person who viewed the video of that policeman kneeling on George Floyd’s neck was outraged. There’s no question that he used his position of authority to murder that man and showed no mercy when the man was crying for help. Your teen should know you are outraged and understand why. It should open a discussion about how you feel about racism and give you an opportunity to talk about this issue. If you feel moved to act, allow your teenager to participate if they ask. Nothing will change if we don’t teach our children to be color blind. Martin Luther King Jr. explained it clearly, 

“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”

college prep, parenting

Helping your Student With Dyslexia

dyslexia

Dyslexia can affect one in five people, according to the National Institutes of Health. Once you have noticed the symptoms such as laboured or inaccurate reading and/or spelling. As well as difficulty rhyming, associating sounds with alphabetic symbols, sequencing and ordering sounds you can take the next step to be diagnosed. There are many ways to help Dyslexia. 

Schools that specialize in Dyslexia 

Schools such as CLOI’s Dyslexia PD offerings can often provide extra attention towards teaching them how to utilize, systematic and sequential instructional approach while reading and writing. The best method they use is a multisensory method. This can ensure that each plan is helping them to succeed with every journey with something like their writing and reading. They understand Dyslexia in a way that looks at it from different views to ensure that they choose the best method for them as every case is different. Having a personalized program is essential. 

What parents can do to help

If your child has Dyslexia, you can often feel helpless. There are multiple ways in which you can help at home. Start reading aloud of your child as young as you can, even six months and younger can make a massive difference to their vocabulary. If you are not comfortable with reading aloud yourself, then playing a recorded book with your child can be an effective method. Work side by side with your child’s school to ensure that you can proceed with the same techniques at home to avoid confusion. Scheduling in reading time each day can encourage your child to read that will improve their literacy skills. You could do this by reading something of your own while your child read their book. This shows that you are there to support your child, and they will see that reading is an enjoyable activity to do together. 

Support your child

Finding ways to support your child without being intimidating can be difficult. Expressing your love and support when they are reading or talking can help build their skills and show their strengths. This can be done by having conversations with your child regularly.

Designating a specific time of day to help them at home by organizing a place and time for your child to study. This space is then known as a place of work rather than play. This also means limiting the amount of time they spend on electronic screens and swapping them for reading practice.

If you are feeling alone at this time, then joining a support group can help you massively to provide useful information and emotional support. Building you and your child’s relationship to helping their strengths and weaknesses.

Hopefully, with this guide, you will be able to find different learning techniques to learn your child’s Dyslexia. Whether that is having support from a school such as CLOI’s Dyslexia PD. They offer comfort and personalized methods to help your child. And changing up your home environment to allow your child’s reading and writing to grow and improve.

graduation, parenting

Transitioning Toward Independence After Graduation

graduation

Whether your child is leaving for college soon or they are coming towards the end of their studies, ensuring you support your child in the right way, not just in a professional sense but in an emotional sense as well, can prove to be a wide-ranging subject. Ultimately, there is a massive transition from college to the real world. For anybody that has been through college education and has now come out on the other side, they may tell you just how much of a shock to the system it is to go into the real world. So what can you do to make sure that you support your child in the right way when they are transitioning toward independence after graduation?

Will Additional Qualifications Help At This Point?

Many people decide to move on to a master’s course after their degree. For some, this can be prolonging the eventuality of going into the real world. But it all depends on the degree that your child initially undertook. If they’ve got a very clear-cut career plan but they need to acquire a master’s in system design & management or a niche subject, it’s vital that they work towards this. The best thing you can do if your child is adamant about completing extra qualifications is to make sure that they’ve researched their career choice at every angle.

Encouraging Them To Find The Best First Job

Some parents feel that their child needs to get any job after they come out of college, but this can be a huge mistake. If your child is not continuing their education, you should encourage them to explore a wide variety of opportunities. Many people these days decide to accept a job for the sake of it, but this means that they could very well get stuck in a professional rut. And even if you, as the parent, have been in the same position before, it’s essential to encourage them to diversify their efforts. Encourage them to make strategic decisions from the outset. This could mean undertaking career questionnaires or helping them to realize what skills they have right now that lend to a specific profession.

Remember To Take A Step Back

They are your child, and you want the best for them, but you have to remember that you can’t force them to do something. If you feel the need to go down a particular direction, they will likely do the opposite. Think about your emotions and keep them in check. Manage their moods rather than trying to force them down a specific path. After college, your child can feel somewhat empty in-between that chasm of finishing their education to starting a career. There will naturally be bumps in the roads, and they may feel the pressure to get on to the “right” career right away. The best thing that you can do is to take a step back and also realize where you are helicopter parenting.

Even if you went straight into work, you have to remember just how much a shock to the system it can be going from years of education to the real world. They worked hard at getting their qualification, and now they want to make sure that it counts. The best thing you can do for them at this point is to be supportive of their decisions.

Helping parents navigate the college maze