Book Review: SUCCESS SKILLS: For High School, College, and Career by Cary J. Green, PhD.

SUCCESS SKILLS: For High School, College, and Career by Cary J. Green, PhD.


Many of us older folks start stories by saying, “If I’d known then what I know now.” For high school seniors and others who are getting ready to start a college career, SUCCESS SKILLS: For High School, College, and Career by Cary J. Green, PhD. is a way to know now what us older people wish we had known when we were going to college.

By now most high school seniors have determined where they want to go to college and what they want to study. This book will actually help these young people obtain their goals. This book really should be given to any high school senior you know because it can help them know what they don’t know, before they know they don’t know it.

Success Skills is well-written and very well-researched. The author gives students a lot of great information regarding how to take a test and how to prioritize what they study. We give it all five stars.

Potential college students will want to read and re-read their copy many times over. Make SUCCESS SKILLS: For High School, College, and Career by Cary J. Green, PhD. the gift you give to the graduating seniors you buy gifts for this year and every year.

We were sent a complimentary copy of this book. We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative. We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.
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Book Review: Unplowed Ground: Cultivating the soil of your challenging child’s heart by Lee Anne Cooper

Unplowed Ground: Cultivating the soil of your challenging child’s heart by Lee Anne Cooper

Unplowed Ground is meant to be a workbook to accompany a series of video lessons aimed to help foster and newly adoptive parents help challenged children.

The workbook is helpful in reinforcing the message from each video.

It is what it is. If you like the idea of having blanks to fill in to assist you in remembering the message, then this is a great tool.

However, if you hate the idea of simple fill-in-the-blanks and would rather have a fork driven through your hand than to have to deal with them, then this workbook isn’t for you.

Unplowed Ground is designed to be a tool to help the viewer remember the key takeaways from the video. It accomplishes that goal. If this is what you need, then buy the workbook.

We were sent a complimentary copy of this workbook. We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative.

We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.

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Press Release: Thumbtack Announces Scholarship Program in Support of the Next Generation of Skilled, Local Professionals

Thumbtack Announces Scholarship Program in Support of the Next Generation of

Skilled, Local Professionals  

SAN FRANCISCO -- JANUARY 30, 2018 -- Thumbtack, the app that finds you a local professional for 
any project, today announced the Thumbtack Pro ​Scholarship, in support of the next generation of local 
skilled professionals pursuing careers in any of Thumbtack’s nearly 1,000 categories including 
plumbers, caterers, personal trainers, math tutors and wedding officiants.

With this scholarship, Thumbtack will award one student $2,500 biannually and is currently accepting 
applications for 2018-2019 school year. High school seniors and undergraduates currently enrolled or 
planning to enroll in undergraduate or vocational program located in the U.S., 18 years old or older, are
 invited to apply at www.thumbtack.com/scholarship.

The application deadline for the Fall 2018 scholarship is June 1, 2018. Winners will be announced in 
June 2018.

Of the professionals currently on Thumbtack, about 82 percent graduated from a vocational, two-year 
or four-year university. With the introduction of this scholarship, Thumbtack hopes to grow this number 
over time. A platform that helps connect customers with local skilled professionals, Thumbtack 
operates in all 50 states and in nearly every county in the United States. Below are the states that are 
the best ranked states for small business owners to run their business. 

For the full rankings, visit www.thumbtack.com/survey.

		States		Cities
Top Ten Best-Ranked		1. Wyoming (A+) 2. Delaware (A+) 3. Idaho (A+) 4. Louisiana (A+) 5. Maine (A+) 6. Texas (A+) 7. Utah (A+) 8. Indiana (A+) 9. New Hampshire (A) 10. South Carolina (A)		1. Boise, ID (A+) 2. Worcester, MA (A+) 3. San Antonio, TX (A+) 4. Austin, TX (A+) 5. Grand Rapids, MI (A+) 6. Memphis, TN (A) 7. Louisville, KY (A) 8. Lawrence, MA (A) 9. Salt Lake City, UT (A) 10. Houston, TX (A-)

Powering the businesses of over 250,000 local professionals per quarter, Thumbtack is already 
one of the largest local services providers in the U.S., offering nearly 1,000 categories, with a 
working professional in every county, except for two, in the U.S. Helping customers complete 
millions of jobs -- from plumbing, to catering, to personal training to math tutoring -- meant well 
over $1 billion in earnings to professionals from Thumbtack customers in 2017.

Notice: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, 
we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank 
you for your support.
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Article: MU Team to Study Flipped Instruction in Missouri High School Algebra Classrooms

MU team to study flipped instruction in Missouri high school algebra classrooms

The National Science Foundation has awarded $450,000 to study how teachers use alternative teaching methods

Nov. 30, 2017

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The practice of “flipped instruction,” in which teachers send students home with lectures and videos and then use class time for problem-solving and discussion, is becoming more popular because it allows for flexibility in class and uses widespread technology resources. However, little evidence exists on the benefits of using flipped instruction with technology. Now, a University of Missouri team of researchers has received a nearly $450,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to explore how flipped instruction varies in Missouri algebra classrooms and discover what tactics help students learn math best.

“Flipped instruction is becoming more popular because technology is allowing it to become more widely available,” said Zandra de Araujo, assistant professor of mathematics education in the MU College of Education, and principal investigator of the study. “Ten years ago, most children in the classroom didn’t have access to internet connections or uploaded videos in the classroom. But now, our society has become so technologically advanced that most people are consistently video-ready.”

The team’s findings could help yield recommendations on what flipped instruction tactics work best for students and inspire the development of curricular materials designed to help with flipped algebra lessons. The team also says they are surveying students to see how they access video technology available to them at home and how teachers accommodate students without home internet access in an effort to make sure every student has the resources they need to succeed.

“Teachers have told us they don’t flip because it’s easier,” said Samuel Otten, assistant professor of mathematics education and Lois Knowles Faculty Fellow. “Actually, they say it is harder to flip because of the prep it takes to have videos ready. However, they want to try it because they believe it can help students learn material better and gives them more time to interact with students in the classroom.”

De Araujo and Otten are working with co-investigators Ze Wang, associate professor in the Department of Educational, School and Counseling Psychology; and James Tarr, professor of mathematics education and chair of the Department of Learning, Teaching and Curriculum. The team will spend two years visiting teachers and collecting data, with an additional year for analysis.

This study is funded by the National Science Foundation’s discovery research division for pre-K through high school. The NSF funds special projects and exploratory work for STEM use that has the potential to solve real-world problems that educators face. De Araujo and the research team are seeking Missouri algebra teachers to participate in this study. A summary of the study and the researchers’ work, along with a survey for teachers interested in participating in the study, can be found at flippedmathstudy.net.

Published by Mizzou News
Copyright © 2017 — Curators of the University of Missouri



Image source: Pixabay.

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Book Review: Workbook For Basic Phonics: Words & Reading for Pre-K1 By Melvine Groves

Workbook For Basic Phonics: Words & Reading for Pre-K1

By Melvine Groves

The Workbook For Basic Phonics: Words & Reading for Pre-K1 by Melvine Groves is an excellent guide for young children to learn numbers, colors, words, letters, and pretty much everything a pre-K1 student is expected to know, all in one book.

The colors are very bold.  The exercises are fun and engaging.

We give Workbook for Basic Phonics all five stars.  We think it will make an excellent tool for teachers.

We were sent a complimentary copy of this book.  We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative.

We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.
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Book Review: Lost Secrets of Master Musicians: A Window Into Genius By David Jacobson

Lost Secrets of Master Musicians: A Window Into Genius

By David Jacobson

If one is truly into music, Lost Secrets of Master Musicians: A Window Into Genius by David Jacobson is probably a book for you.

The first part of the book reads like an autobiography. We then switch gears to learning what master musicians used to be like and to an explanation of why we no longer have them.

Lost Secrets of Master Musicians takes a look at some observations Jacobson has made over his many years in the business.

This book isn’t for everyone.  However, if you are a serious musician, you will want to read it.

We give Lost Secrets of Master Musicians all five stars. It is well-written and very well-researched.  Jacobson has created illustrations that are simple to follow with only a basic understanding of music theory.

If you are a string musician, you simply have to read this. Any person with a curiosity about classical music will want to read Lost Secrets of Master Musicians as well.

We were sent a complimentary copy of this book.  We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative.

We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.
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Children and Veteran's Day -What Kids Should Know about Veteran's Day

Please check out this post and share it with your children today - 
 
What Kids Should Know about Veteran's Day

Here are some fun learning activities to help children learn more about Veteran's Day:

Today is a great day to talk to kids about their freedoms and what the military does, and this free download will help.

12 page Veteran's Day freebie will help young kids learn and comprehend this important part of our country.

This Veteran's Day social studies unit is a great way to compare and contrast with Memorial Day while talking to kids about what it all means.

This is a perfect Veteran's Day activity - learn and discuss vocabulary in the word scramble.

4th-6th grade printable Veteran's Day Unit - now is an important time to talk to our kids about government, military and our freedoms.


Please be sure to thank a veteran today!  They give so much, risking their lives for our freedom,  and get so little in the way of thanks most of the time.  Be sure that they know you appreciate what they have done for you. 




Please be sure to visit David over at Random Thoughts and Observations.  

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Cool New Tools for Learning

Are you homeschooling your children? Then you need to check out these great products!  We home schooled for approximately twenty years and have dealt with our share of fidgety and inquisitive children.  Our youngest son, now a Corporal in the US Marine Corps, would have loved the electronics kit mentioned below.  All of the children would have welcomed anything to make math fun.


From fixes for fidgeters to DIY electronics, check out these awesome innovations to teach our next generation body, mind, and manner.

Tip: At Educents use the code CANDYCORN through 10/31 for Free Shipping. A sweet treat worthy of indulging.

Health & Beauty...For Kids

This adorable fall yoga book encourages kiddos to explore signs of fall outside, while stretching into the shapes they discover out and about. What's better than a walk on a crisp fall day, photography, and getting moving? Maybe some Pumpkin Spice coffee but that's about it. Best of all, the book includes a list of yoga poses for kids and a parent-teacher guide, so you can get your stretches in while encouraging health and learning.

A Fix for Fidgeters

I wish they had these when I was in school with fidgeters, and that we'd had them when our kids were small. This clever tool provides fidgeters with a quiet, non-disruptive way to keep their feet moving while their eyes, ears, and hands stay focused. And it's not just for learning time - if you have a family occasion or a dinner out, this tool can be your saving grace.

Lights, Motors, Action: DIY Electronics Kit

Imagine a world where your curious builder doesn't break open your cell phone or radio, but has all of the "let me figure this out" experiments right at their fingertips? From simple experiments to advanced, this DIY Electronics kit has all the experiments for your tinkerer: glowing LEDs, beeping buzzers, controlling lights & motors using a Multimeter automatic night lamp set up robotics motor-driver I've listed more than most can handle and that's just the tip of the iceberg in this amazing kit.  There are more than 50 different activities with step-by-step instructions waiting to be prototyped, tested, and built. Next up, teleporter!

Math Games for ALL the Rainy Days

Who doesn't love a game? Research shows that play increases creativity AND smarts - as well as longevity. Since math can become a struggle, removing some of the heft of this "serious" subject by making it a game works wonders! These math games encourage play and math learning in one fell swoop!

Give your kiddos the gift of having fun with math to build up their confidence! Whether your child is learning about fractions, perimeter, multiplication or division, this awesome Seller on Educents has a game for every level of math learning. The games are colorful, and plenty of fun for the entire family.

Not a Lost Art: Handwriting Visual Workbooks

Watching your child learn to write is so fun - from the charming shapes to the fully fledged sentences. It's one of the most important ways they'll communicate - and believe it or not, handwriting still matters! No matter what your child's level of handwriting - the art can use practice, practice, practice. Channie's Visual Handwriting Workbooks are super cute, and cost less than $10 each! Great prep for Thank You notes for Santa, for birthdays and all the wonderful occasions to come. :)

Note: The links in this post are affiliate links. If you click any of these links and make a purchase, our family will financially benefit. Thank you for your support!

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Monday Morning Musings

We have been a homeschooling family since 1997. Our oldest two children spent some time in the public school system. Our two youngest children were homeschooled from the start. I read an interesting article earlier today called Homeschool Myths Revealed. Here is the comment that I posted there:

The socialization question has always been a funny one to me. Generally, my children had just performed at a church and would be out conversing with various people (adults and children alike) in the congregation. Someone would bring up the question of schooling and socialization. My husband would challenge the person to find any one of our children that had not been out and about talking to the people. Some of my children are bold enough to initiate conversations without any prompting and one of them is like me, shy and reserved for the most part, but even he didn't shy away from talking to people of any age group that talked to him.

At one church, one of the state senators in South Carolina sought two of the children out to speak with them and was very impressed. The heart of the former mayor of Anderson, South Carolina was won over by our youngest child when she walked up to my husband at the podium during a presentation and carried on a conversation, then apologized to the people for interrupting and returned to her seat.

All of my children were home-school graduates, one in South Carolina and the rest here in Texas. The one that graduated in SC had no problems getting into the US Navy. We provided his transcript and he breezed right in. The other three had no problems getting accepted into the local college and a major university. All three have been on the Dean's List. The youngest graduated a year early, was the youngest student at the college when she entered, and is in the honor society called Phi Theta Kappa.

I think that, although many people think homeschooling limits their opportunities, the exact opposite is the case. It opens the world to them. They have developed the skills necessary to pursue what is important to them because we allowed them to study things that were of interest to them, not forcing them to study the same things in the same way as every other person in town.

Homeschooling helped them to better develop themselves as individuals.

I would love to hear about your thoughts and/or experiences concerning the way that you chose for your children to be educated, whether it is/was homeschooling, public schooling, or private schooling.