10
Jun

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As a Language Arts teacher, I can testify to the dreaded “summer slide” though currently in our district only 8th graders heading to honors classes have summer reading requirements. From preschoolers to high schoolers, all students would benefit from a program to stay sharp and continue the skills they’ve begun to build on during the school year.

With a four and five year old at home and the older one heading to Kindergarten in the fall, I will turn into “homeschool mom” this summer, designating a “Learning Time” each day to work on reading, writing and more. Making it easier for me to stay structured,  the experts at PBS KIDS and Scholastic with their Summer Reading Challenge will send daily emails with literacy-building tips and activities. In addition, you’ll also receive book suggestions and discounts, free downloads of PBS KIDS shows and a daily chance to win $1,000 and other great prizes.

Last evening we kicked off our own Summer Reading program during a Reading Party complete with Super Why notebooks, “There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Chick” from Scholastic Publishing, Word Girl stickers, bookmarks and more. And while I’m a pro with 8th graders, teaching little ones is still new territory to me, so it’s great to know our Summer Reading Challenge coach is none other than Angela Santomero, Creator, Executive Producer and Head Writer of SUPER WHY!

Join our family this summer and share your progress by using hashtag #summerslide on Twitter where I’ll be chronicling our daily Learning Time and hopefully getting ideas from readers as well.

Disclaimer: We received sample products for review purposes; all opinions are 100% our own.

Cool Resources

Filed Under: Education Corner, Family Activities, Toddler & Preschooler · Tagged With: , , , , , ,
27
Feb

Top 5 Lakeshore Educational Software Picks

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Can Do! Phonemic Awareness Interactive Games

Why We Love It:This game show is out of this world as learners spin the wheel and answer questions promoting phonemic awarness. Users get practice in beginning, middle and end sounds guided by a cool robot appropiate for ages 6-7 yrs.

Numbers & Counting Adventures Interactive Activities

Why We Love It: As a Language Arts teacher I focus on reading and writing skills and sometimes neglect mathmatical ones. This is a great games for learning numbers, sequential order and more. Ages 4-6.

Tiki Challenge: A Blends & Digraphs Interactive Game

Why We Love It: Learning blends and diagraphs are an important part of reading instruction. This fun game for future "Survivor" viewers gives feedback and printable assessment for progress monitoring. Ages 6-7 yrs.

Beginning Operations Adventures Interactive Activities

Why We Love It: The audio instructions make this software a perfect independant learning excersise in beginning math. The drive through diner is a huge hit with my son, and I love the pre and post assessment worksheet included. AGes 4-6 yrs.

Phonemic Awareness Interactive Games

Why We Love It: From syllables to rhyming words, this game show creates phonemic awarness while fun characters interacte with learners in three games for kids age 4-6 years with feedback for positive reinforcement.
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A sample product was provided for review purposes; all opinions are 100% our own.

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Filed Under: Education Corner, Toddler & Preschooler · Tagged With: , ,
09
Feb

LeapFrog Numberland DVD Review & Giveaway

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Scout and friends are baaack! As a Language Arts teacher, I favor an approach to learning which incorporates a variety of contest and multiple modes of delivering that content. We read, play games and utilize educational toys and technology such as the LeapFrog DVD learning series. My son, age 3, can already read which I absolutely attribute in part to the fantastic line of LeapFrog products ranging from Fridge Words to Phonics Farm.  This new release focuses on numberacy skills as Scout plans a surprise birthday party along with friends Violet, Eli, Penny and Axle. We use reward charts to reinforce our house rules and used Numberland as the Pirate Ship surprise. The kids were as excited about it as any prize they received and couldn’t wait to watch the newest LeapFrog release. To me this speaks volumes; when learning masks as fun everyone’s a winner! I would highly recommend both LeapFrog Numberland and other LeapFrog DVDs which are listed below to any parent looking to reinforce skills taught in the home.

Cool Giveaway:

Enter to win a LeapFrog Numberland DVD, also available Digital and On Demand, by commeting on this post with how you teacher nunbers to your little ones. For extra entries, complete any of the following leacing a seperate comment on each:

Check out even more entry possibilities if you’re really determined to win. Read the prize claim information; we announce winners on Prizey.net. Contest ends 2/23/12.

Sample products were provided for review purposes; all opinions are 100% our own.

 

 

Filed Under: Cool Picks, Editor's Picks, Giveaways Galore, Toddler & Preschooler · Tagged With: , , ,
29
Dec

Wordless Wednesday: Fingerprint Kids’ Apps, PlayMaker & Big Kid Life Firefighter

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Cool Tip: Looking for cool new iPhone and iPad apps for the kids? Look no further than Finger Print and their all new Play Maker and  Big Kid Life Firefighter which are kids (and their parents) adore! Follow on Twitter and Facebook too.

Filed Under: Toddler & Preschooler · Tagged With: , , , ,
29
Nov

Holiday Gift Idea:LeapFrog Peek-a-Shoe Talking Octopus *Giveaway*

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As a huge fan of anything that LeapFrog makes, I knew which section to head directly to in the toy store to shop for my 10 month old nephew.  My 2 and 3 year olds already play with and love the maracas to the Leapster  Explorer and now our newest addition the LeapPad, so I knew that I would find the perfect gift in the LeapFrog section.

Why We Love It

The LeapFrog Peek-a-Shoe Talking Octopus caught my eye and is a great gift for ages 9 – 36 months and at a reasonable cost of $29.99. It offers unlimited fun for a curious child while teaching them colors and numbers. The reason I always gravitate to LeapFrog when gift shopping is because they are both fun and educational.  The toddler takes the colorful balls and places them in one of the 2 spots at the top of the octopus and then lifts up the shoe to rediscover the disappeared ball.  The game helps to develop hand eye coordination and allows the child to learn basic colors.  The Peek-a-Shoe Talking Octopus is fun and entertaining with a peek-a-boo surprise that every child is sure to love.

Written by Karen, Cool Baby Kid Team

Disclaimer

A sample product was provided for review purposes; all opinions are 100% our own.

Details

Ages: 9-36 months

Retail Price: $29.99

Purchase at:

LeapoFrog.com, Amazon

Cool Giveaway:  Sometimes I wish I had lots of arms like an Octopus! If you had an extra hand, would would you accomplish with it? Comment on this post to win a LeapFrpg Peek-a-Shoe Talking Octopus. For extra entries:

Check out even more entry possibilities if you’re really determined to win. Read the prize claim information; we announce winners on Prizey.net. Contest ends 12/11/11.

 

 

Filed Under: Editor's Picks, Education Corner, Giveaways Galore, Toddler & Preschooler, Top Picks · Tagged With: , , , , , ,
18
Nov

All New LeapFrog Learning: Phonics Farm & 3-DVD Set

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It’s not a surprise that LeapFrog’s Phonics Farm DVD was an instant hit for my son who loves every LeapFrog toy he’s ever got his hands on.  I think his favorites are Fridge Phonics and Text & Learn which followed him everywhere for about a year.  It’s possible he enjoyed the DVD so much because he had a stuffed Scout when he was an infant. In any case, he was instantly engaged in the DVD, answering the characters and conversing with the television.  The story involves Scout, Violet, Eli, & Penny who take a trip to the farm and meet a lot of new animals.  It’s great when a cartoon can help reinforce information critical to early reading.  Our son is already very interested in the alphabet, letter sounds and sight words so the DVD was a great fit.  At 35 minutes, Phonics Farm is great for car trips and helps reinforce the sounds of the letters we are currently teaching.

With the holidays next month, the newley released LeapFrog 3-DVD Learning Collection makes a great gifts for youngsters ages 2-5. It includes  The Amazing Alphabet Amusement Park and Number Ahoy which we reviewed when they were first released. Lily, Tad and friends teach numbers, countings the alphabet and more. In  Learn to Read at the Storybook Factory our favorite  friends combine learning (to read) and fun in true LeapFrog fashion. We keep the LeapFrog DVDs in the car for travel; even a fifteen minute trip can be an opportinity to learn!

Written by Mr. Cool Baby Kid

Disclaimer: Product samples were provided for review purposes; all opinions are 100% our own.

Cool Tip: Purchase Phonics Farm and LeapFrog 3-DVD Learning Collection through our Amazon affiliate links.

Filed Under: Education Corner, Toddler & Preschooler, Top Picks · Tagged With: , ,
15
Nov

LeapFrog My Own Storytime Pad for Toddlers *Giveaway*

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Reminicent of My Pal Scout & Violet, the LeapFrog My Own Storytime Pad customizes play and thrills little ones with personalized favorites including their name. Let’s face it…kids want what we have. When Mom and Dad use smart phones and pads, even the youngest children want in on the action. A much safer alternative than handing over our tech toys, LeapFrog innovations like LeapPad for preschoolers and now the My Own Storytime Pad for toddlers fill a gap in the educational tech toy segment. With a cracked iPad screen–luckily it was Dad’s and not Mom’s–I can persononally vouch for the fact that even supervised it is not advisable to let youngsters borrow “the real thing.”  Styled similarly to adult pads, the LeapFrog versions give a sense of ownership over less educaional and child-friendly ones.

Here’s a run-down of some of the features:

  • Hold 5 stories, 10 songs and 3 emails
  • Customizable “emails” so you can say “I Love you!”
  • Teaches the alphabet and phonics
  • Personalize with child’s name, favorite songs and stories
  • Press the paw and letters make silly sounds
  • Play messages from favorite LeapFrog characters
  • Connect to LeapFrog Learning Path for progress monitoring

At $29.99 retail price geared for ages 2-4, the low price point makes My Own Storytime Pad a perfect gift idea for the toddler age group. The pad comes in both green and purple, though I would never suggest a gender specific color since my three year old son is asking for everything pink this Christmas. To each his own!

Disclaimer:A product sample were provided for review purposes; all opinions are 100% our own.

Cool Tip: Purchase LeapFrog My Own Storytime Pad from our Amazon affiliate link for $23.99.

Cool Giveaway: Enter to win a LeapFrog My Own Storytime Pad by sharing on this post your all-time favorite LeapFrog product. For extra entries:

Check out even more entry possibilities if you’re really determined to win. Read the prize claim information; we announce winners on Prizey.net. Contest ends 11/29/11.

Filed Under: Giveaways Galore, Picks & Tips, Toddler & Preschooler · Tagged With: , , ,
11
Nov

LeapFrog Solar System Adventure Pack *Giveaway*

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To prove my love affair with LeapFrog, check out the number of  toy reviews I’ve conducted over the years on one of my all-time favorite companies. From baby to preschooler and big kids, they are my go-to source for educational toys.  Last season I was first introduced to the Tag United States of America Map and Tag World Map. Since then my children have learned about places all over the world thanks to one of our favorites pasttimes. We have both Tag and Tag Junior located both upstairs for bedtime and downstairs for learning time. And now with the Tag Solar System Adventure Pack we’ve added to our collection of Tag activities. It includes over 40 activities teaching everything from planets to comets like the one we’ve been hearing about in the news recently. The adventure pack even includes  interactive stickers with the most advanced positive reinforcment system to date. As a teacher I’d love have the ability to use iteractive stickers. Maybe someday…

Here’s a quick look at the Tag Solar System Adventure Pack in action:

While one lucky winner is receiving our top pick this holiday season, LeapFrog LeapPad Explorer,  another will be able to learn about everything from seasons to our solar system on a two-sided board which allow users to both learn and play games. Enter our cool giveaway and be sure to visit LeapFrog.com on Black Friday where they’re sure to offer fantastic deals. Last year we loaded up on Tag Books, and it’s one of my first planned stops as I gear up for holiday shopping post-Thanksgiving this year.

Disclaimer: Product samples were provided for review purposes; all opinions are 100% our own.

Cool Tip: Purchase Tag Reader system and LeapFrog Tag Solar System Adventure Pack through our Amazon affiliate links.

Cool Giveaway:Enter to win a LeapFrog Tag Reader and Solar System Adventure Pack by commenting on this post with your favorite LeapFrog product of all time!

Check out even more entry possibilities if you’re really determined to win. Read the prize claim information; we announce winners on Prizey.net. Contest ends 11/25/11.

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