Category: Education

Education, Holiday Gift Guide 2017, STEM Learning

Pet Me Multiplication and Division Math Board Game for Kids

Erin Sluka

I have partnered with Logic Roots for samples and feature

Logic Roots Pet Me Multiplication and Division Math Board Game

Anthony is in the 4th grade and knee deep into multiplication and division, They have been working on dividing 2×4 digits and multiplying large numbers as well. Having tools to practice at home is crucial. The first week of class he was so bummed when he kept bringing home homework papers filled with 1×1 multiplication problems. “Mom! This is easy. Why do we do like hundreds of these problems every week?”

Last week as he was doing his multiplication homework I reminded him about how upset he was wit the redundant work he had the beginning of the year. “The reason you did those over and over again was to make multiplying 1 digit at a time easier. Now that you are multiplying 3-4 in one problem it makes it faster and bit easier to learn to solve.” Now he got it.

division practice

It’s a lot of work sorting out those long division and multiplication problems at this age. Pet Me is here to help. It makes it so much more fun to practice math then those boring white sheets of papers with letters in black to solve with a pencil. He still has to do his homework sheets but just before bedtime we do our “fun” learning time.

math game

Pet Wonderland is full of adorable puppies, kittens and parrots. The theme of the game is a walk in the park. You will win many hearts as you feed them and meet them all. The goal of the game is to win the most hearts. It is about dividing food and love up equally.

Other players check the math and make sure each player is distributing evenly to the animals they encounter. Then sometimes you get an uneven equation and have remainders left over. It is all about landing on spots where the animals are not already adopted (fed) and claim them with hearts earned.

Pet Me game

Pet Me is one of several math games by Logic Roots and is great for ages 8+. There are more choices for this age and younger. You can find math sheets too for age-appropriate and subject practice.

You can buy on Amazon too!

Education, Holiday Gift Guide 2017, Kids, Reviews by Anthony

IXL Online Learning Program for Kids

Erin Sluka

I have partnered with IXL for the feature

IXL Online Learning Program for Kids

IXL Online Learning Program for Kids

Every night since Anthony was an infant I grab a book, sit on a chair and we read. By the age of 2 I was pointing to letters and teaching him a focus letter a day. By 4 he was reading 2-3 letter words. He is 9 and an advanced reader. It sounds cliche to say a child who is read to is at an advantage, but it is true and we are proof. Never was I too tired or didn’t have time. Unless I am apart from him we read. Traveling? We looked up books online.

ixk war

However, the past few weeks our reading routine began to change. We started our membership at IXL. IXL is an online education site with different skill packages to choose from by grade from K-12. We are in Fourth grade and have the Core Subjects Package which gives up Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies. Anthony is addicted to the Social Studies section. A history lover at heart like his Mama!

He now wants to log on and choose a new learning topic to do together before we read. So at age 9 we learn AND read before bed and he is really into it. He loves that one on one time with me and I am not pulling him from playtime or relax time to learn. It is a time of day that works for both of us and it becomes fun.

Here we are doing a lesson. This one is

  • IXL Learning Features
  • K-12th Grade Learinng
  • Focus on 1 subject or all core subjects
  • Spanish lessons are another option
  • Unlock achievements
  • Parent progress reports and certificate alerts
  • Personalized skill recommendations
  • Mobile Ap option for on-the-go learning

Setting Up Online Learning for Your Child

As you can see, there are so many advantages of online learning for your child. Whether you’re homeschooling, or you’re supporting their learning outside of their in-person curriculum, it’s so important to take the time to set up online learning properly. First and foremost, you need to research the most appropriate programs and read reviews on their success rates. Every child will have unique needs, so it’s important to find a learning platform that is going to suit them, and help them to get the most out of the process. You should also ensure you are fully equipped to support their learning at home but finding reliable internet options by address. Having a secure, fast and consistent internet connection at home means that your child can enjoy their learning programs online without being interrupted. All in all, online learning is extremely beneficial for children, so find a well-suited program for their needs and get everything set up at home so that their experience is smooth, positive and enjoyable.

Start your online learning today at IXL.

Books Reviews, Children's Books, Education

The Nocturnals Book Series for Tweens about Bullying

Erin Sluka

Sample copies for the book series were sent for feature

The Nocturnals Book Series for Tweens about Bullying

The Nocturnals Book Series for Tweens about Bullying

Book 1 – The Nocturnals: The Mysterious Abductions

The 3 friends: Dawn, a serious fox, Tobin, a sweet pangolin, and Bismark, the loud mouthed, pint sized sugar glider work together to find the mystery of disappearing animals at night. Wit the helps of some other nocturnal friends they use teamwork, friendships and some humor in their journey to solve this mystery.

Book 2 – The Nocturnals: The Ominous Eye

The 3 friends set out again to find the source of violent jolt that fractures the earth. Turns out it is a giant beast who is likely to attack again. They find an animal that can help, but isn’t easily trusted.

Book 3 – The Nocturnals: The Fallen Star

All of the forest’s pomelos have been mysteriously poisoned! Dawn, Tobin and Bismark need to find the cause as other animals are falling ill including Tobin! It is suggested it is monsters from the moon, but the 3 are doubtful. It is a race against time to find the mystery illness source.

Nocturnals (1)

My advice? Just buy all 3 books at once because they are so engaging you want more. It was hard for Anthony to put the books down as he got into the story. They are very well written leaving the reader so curious and really wanting to know the end result. To have book 2 and 3 waiting will encourage this excitement and keep them reading. Anthony is 9 and in the fourth grade. He followed along very well.

If they want even more make sure they visit the Nocturnals website. It is full of so much fun related to the stories. There are videos, discussions, games and more.

About the Author, Tracey Hecht

Tracey Hecht

Tracey Hecht is a writer and entrepreneur who has written, directed and produced for film.  Her first middle grade series, The Nocturnals was launched in 2016 with The Mysterious Abductions and The Ominous Eye. The American Bookselling Association chose The Mysterious Abductions as a Kids’ Indie Next List pick. Her third book, The Fallen Star was released in May 2017. 

In partnership with the New York Public Library, Tracey created a Read Aloud Writing Program in 10 schools around New York City. During the year, she continued to conduct this program in over 35 schools, libraries and bookstores across the country.  In June 2017, she launched a partnership with The Ryan Seacrest Foundation with The Nocturnals program at the broadcast media centers within pediatric hospitals.  The first hospital was the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington DC.

When Tracey isn’t writing, she can be found hiking, reading or spending time with her family. Tracey currently splits her time between New York City and Oquossoc, Maine with her husband and four children.

 

Books Reviews, Children's Books, Education, Parenting

Freddie the Fly Motormouth: A Story About Listening – Book

Erin Sluka

I have partnered with Boys Town Press for this feature

 

 Freddie the Fly Motormouth: A Story About Listening - Book

Freddie the Fly: A Story About Listening

By: Kimberly Delude

 
When I hit middle school I was told by my parents and some friends that I was a motormouth. I talked and (perhaps it’s the Italian influences from my Grandparents who were the same way) I talked fast! I would here “Calm down, you’re talking too fast” or “My! You have a lot to say!” I learned and grew put of it in High School and like, Freddie the Fly am better off for learning to control my speech.

 
Kimberly Delude is a Certified Speech and Language Pathologist and this is her first children’s book. Freddie is told he is a motormouth and after meeting other just like him they work together to learn ways to pause and listen. It is in learning these new skills he finds out some pretty neat stuff about his friends all because he stopped to listen.

 

 
Freddie the Fly will be available in October on Amazon and you can preorder it now.