Online games teach computer skills, pre-reading, letter and number identification for preschoolers. Here are some great sites teachers can even use in the classroom.
Cash for Creations, Inc. - Educational Visual Aids
http://www.cashforcreations.com
Cash for Creations
How to be an Effective Leader
When thinking about the word leader, you can substitute the word for teacher, parent, boss or anyone who actually leads anyone. Think about the way you lead. Do you tell others what to do? Do you voice your views? Have you used fear tactics? How do you get others to do what you expect of them?
To be a good leader, an enlightened leader, you must stay in the background and become an astute observer of others actions. After making observations you need to ask yourself how you can create a learning environment that help everyone act responsible without noticeably interfering. Your job is to be as invisible as possible if you want to be effective. As a parent or teacher, one strategy can be for you to leave the room to allow everyone to react without feeling they need to live up to your standards. Then if there is conflict or an undesired behavior, perhaps you could suggest a way to resolve it or tell a story of how others have resolved a similar problem. Trust that they will be able to make their own right path and walk away. Your goal is to make others say, "I fixed this myself.” to empower others to take personal responsibility. If the outcome is desired, try a non verbal gesture of body language.
Fear tactics have proved over time to be ineffective. When others feel threatened, they might act a desirable way for the disciplinarian in their presence, however; after the disciplinarian leaves, studies have shown chaos in groups. Although being able to control others behaviors with fear can work, it is short lived and only feeds the disciplinarian's ego. Studies show that children usually detach themselves from a strict dictatorial parent or adult.
Instead of thinking that you know what is best for other people, trust that others know what is best for them. Let your feelings or desires be known, but trust them to make their own choice. When there is a desired outcome, give praise for them making their own choice even if it was not the way you would have chosen.
Don't take personal credit for the outcome or achievements of others. Let others take ownership of their actions. If you are an effective leader, the ones you lead will follow and become effective leaders.
Sponsored by Cash for Creations, Inc.- Classroom Visual Aids
www.cashforcreations.com
by Cindy Martin, NBCT
The Most Important Way Parents Can Help Children Learn to Read
The one MOST important ways to teach young children how to read is by reading to them. Parents should start by age two if not as soon as the child is conceived, for the greatest results. There should not be one day that goes by that a parent does not read to or with a child. This isn't hard or an "extra" chore for you or your child. It can be a simple book with only pictures, discussing how a story unfolds, a short picture book, the newspaper, magazines, one page of a chapter book or directions to a game. Parents can also read from a computer, ingredients on boxes while grocery shopping or street signs; however it is extremely important that they see text in book form.
When I taught Pre-K, I knew if a child had ever been read to prior to their first school experience. The students who were read to regularly, knew how to hold a book, which way the page turns, how to look at pictures for clues and to read from left to right. The other students had no clue how to hold a book. They became frustrated easy. This was a large percentage of my class. Whether it was lack of time, knowledge or the old belief of "That's what teachers are for." attitude; these students struggled for months. Many learned the basics but still had a negative first impression of reading which will impact them for years, if not longer.
Another technique for helping children develop a sincere love for reading is to let them choose their books. Even as adults, we can easily fall asleep if the materials we read are not on our interest level. Take them to the books store or the local library. Let them choose the book or find books on topics that your child has expressed interest in from other activities like dinosaurs, sports, boats, butterflies, etc... Pick up a book today and read with your child!
"Once you learn to read, you will be forever free." — Frederick Douglass
Sponsored by Cash for Creations, Inc. - Classroom Visual Aids
Flower Pot Craft Idea for Gifts
These make a great gift for a child to make and give away.
Materials: clay pot, paint, seed, soil
1. Provide each student/child with a clay pot.
2. Use different colored paint (acrylic) to paint the child's thumb.
3. Press painted thumb to the flower pots in different areas.
4. Use black marker or bubble t-shirt paint to add characteristics to the thumb prints.
5. Use the paint to write "Thumbody Loves You" on the flower pot.
For science, have the student germinate a flower seed in the window first and let it grow about a month prior to Mother's Day to give as a gift. You can make the thumb prints into insects like seen in the picture or flowers.
Cash for Creations, Inc. wins The 2009 Leading Mom's in Business Award
For Immediate Release
Contact: Cindy Martin
321-662-3184
cindy@cashforcreations.com
CASH FOR CREATIONS, INC. VOTED ONE OF TOP 200 LEADING MOMS IN BUSINESS IN STARTUPNATION COMPETITION
Daytona Beach, FL – May 4, 2009 – Cash for Creations, Inc. announced today that it has been recognized as one of the top 200 mom-owned businesses in StartupNation’s 2009 Leading Moms In Business Competition (http://www.startupnation.com/leading-moms-2009). The competition, sponsored by VerticalResponse, recognizes the achievements of mothers across the country who run outstanding businesses.
www.cashforcreations.com, is a web site where, free of charge, teachers can submit their original ideas of self-made signs, posters, pocket charts, games or other visual aids that they use or want to use in their classrooms, and expert graphic artists will turn their ideas into professional visual aids. They manufacture the products and the materials go up for sale on the Cash for Creations, Inc., web site. Teachers earn 10% from every sale generated by their ideas paid bi-annually. They have a new teacher-designed product line for parents. The company also donates a percentage of every sale to various charities.
"Moms across America were honored in this year’s ranking, showing that they’re capable of starting and running successful businesses while managing to balance family, career, home and self," said Rich Sloan, co-founder of StartupNation."Well over 600,000 votes were cast in support of several thousand contestants. What an incredible achievement to be named a winner, and what an inspiration for anyone looking to start their own business.”
"It’s challenging for anyone to start and run a successful business – particularly in this economy. These women are setting the standard for innovation and creativity," said Janine Popick, founder and CEO of VerticalResponse.
StartupNation (www.startupnation.com) launched the first annual Leading Moms in Business Competition in January with the support of VerticalResponse (www.verticalresponse.com) to recognize the achievements of mom entrepreneurs across the US. Winners were selected and ranked according to public votes accumulated from January through March, 2009. The elite 200 win bragging rights, promotional support, and digital winner’s emblems recognizing their achievements as the Leading Moms in Business.
Earth Day Ideas for Teachers and Parents
Earth Day serves as a reminder that we can all make a difference by working together toward a healthier planet. Here are some "Green" ideas and activities for you to do with your children or students.
Ideas:
* Separate your recyclables with your child
* Practice saving water by turning it off while brushing teeth or only watering the lawn on certain days of the week
* Recycle paper (find out how to make paper at http://www.make-stuff.com/recycling/paper.html
* Make a compost and put lunch or dinnertime scraps in it
* Only use eco-friendly cleaners in your home
* Make a vegetable garden
* Pack your child a healthy lunch
* Use energy saving light bulbs
* Join http://ww2.earthday.net/ and find local events going on in your area
Activities:
* Make a class book by having each child contribute one page on how to save the planet
* Give Earth Day Awards to students who pick up trash around the campus
* Have an essay contest
* Teach your class outside and enjoy the fresh air
* Wear Green to show support of Earth Day
* Plant flowers or a tree
* Plan a lesson on endangered species
Sponsored by Cash for Creations, Inc. - Educational Visual Aids
Tutor Match helps Teachers Add to their Income
http://www.tutormatch.com/ is a fantastic web site that connects students with tutors. Tutor Match helps students easily connect with qualified tutors nationwide. Today, Tutor Match offers a directory of thousands of tutors waiting to assist students with homework help. They are dedicated not only to matching the right student with the right tutor, but also protecting the privacy of all the tutors and students.
This is a great way for teachers to earn extra income and provide their expertise to children anywhere. Tutors can create their own personalized tutor profile which is then made available to students searching the Tutor Match database. You may choose between a basic FREE listing and a Preferred Subscription service.
Tutors specify their level of education, tutoring experience, tutoring style, hours of availability, hourly rates, and desired tutoring commitment levels. Check it out!
Sponsor: Cash for Creations Inc. - Educational Products
This is a great way for teachers to earn extra income and provide their expertise to children anywhere. Tutors can create their own personalized tutor profile which is then made available to students searching the Tutor Match database. You may choose between a basic FREE listing and a Preferred Subscription service.
Tutors specify their level of education, tutoring experience, tutoring style, hours of availability, hourly rates, and desired tutoring commitment levels. Check it out!
Sponsor: Cash for Creations Inc. - Educational Products
Budget Cuts Hurt Education
The economy is in a crisis which means we all need to pitch in and tighten the purse strings. Unfortunately our schools are the area that gets cut out of the budgets dramatically. Last year we had to cut 200 teachers, remove every plugged in appliance from our classrooms and if you were Nationally Board Teacher Certified in
Sponsored by Cash for Creations, Inc. - Educational Visual Aids
President Obama and Vice President Biden's Zero to Five Plan - Early Childhood
The Obama-Biden comprehensive "Zero to Five" plan will provide critical support to young children and their parents. Unlike other early childhood education plans, the Obama-Biden plan places key emphasis at early care and education for infants, which is so essential for children to be ready to enter school prepared for kindergarten. Obama and Biden will create Early Learning Challenge Grants to promote state Zero to Five efforts and help states move toward voluntary, universal pre-school. This plan will help children who may not have the skills, meet the requirments that many schools have in place in kindergarden.
Cash for Creations, Inc. -Educational Products
Obama and Biden's Agenda to Put Education on the Right Track
The Agenda for Education
"President Obama and Vice President Biden believe that our kids and our country can't afford four more years of neglect and indifference." This is how "The Agenda" begins. The decisions they make about education in the coming years will shape our children's future. They feel that the last eight years have been a challenge, to say the least. The future for education will demand more reform and accountability. This plan will ask parents to take more responsibility in their child's education.
For early childhood, Obama and Biden will create Early Learning Challenge Grants to help states move toward voluntary, universal pre-school. They will expand early Head Start programs and provide high quality child care to increase access to affordable high-quality child care for working parents.
They will reform the No Child Left Behind Act. Obama and Biden believe that teachers should not spend academic time preparing students to fill in bubbles on standardized test. They support high-quality schools and will close low-preforming charter schools. Math and science will be a national priority. They will pass legislation about the dropout crisis to provide funding to districts to invest in intervention strategies in middle school. These are just a few points in the Agenda for Obama and Biden's education plan for reform. Looks like education is finally getting on the right track!
Read Full Agenda
Cash for Creations, Inc. - Educational Visual Aids