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Sweet Suite At Home Recap of Virtual Toy Fair

 

Sweet Suite At Home looked a little bit different than previous years, but I have to tell you that it was the most thought out and entertaining events that I have attended. The virtual Toy Fair was the ultimate toy party in my home office! Here are some of the top toys of the year. Be sure to watch WNEP this week for a review of our picks for Toys to help with Remote Learning for the school year.

 

Deer Pong by Hasbro

Really, why didn’t I think of this?! Deer Pong looks like fun for the entire family. Fill Your Team’s Cups It’s a buck-wild race as each team tries to fill their cups. Split into 2 teams: Red and Orange. Then bounce or throw the balls aiming for the cups with your team’s color. The first team to fill their cups wins!

Blockaroo Toys are a cost-friendly toy that kids won’t get tired of since there are so many possibilities for what they can create. No batteries required, which is another bonus and they are dishwasher safe and can even go into the bath tub.Some educational benefits is that Blockaroos promote development of essential STEM skills during the early years of your child’s life. Perfect for little ones 18 months to 6 and even could be beneficial for sensory development with special needs children. Blockaroos includes skills like fine motor, counting and sorting, problem solving and engineering. Don’t forget about imaginative play, which is so important at an early age.

Learning Resources Botley The Coding Robot 2.0 Activity Set, Coding Robot for Kids, STEM Toy, Early Programming

Botley was another toy that caught my eye because it was 100%screen-free play.  Learning Resources Botley 2. 0 the Coding Robot Activity Set is the next generation of our award-winning Botley the Coding Robot. With the innovative modes, features, and fun found in Botley the Coding Robot 2. 0, our smartest coding robot yet. Botley 2. 0 helps kids as young as five learn to code through 100% screen-free play.

3Doodler is another unique screen-free play option that we have been using for years. 3 Doodler even offers an EDU program for schools that includes lesson plans and support for teachers. There are even video tutorials for kids to follow along as they create.  There are sets for learners as young as 4 with Build & Play, the Start set for ages 6-13 and the Create for ages 14 and up. The EDU features sets for k-12. They also offer Learn From Home Sets, which are perfect for learning from anywhere! Paired with our free stencils, lessons, & webinars, students can explore STEM through tactile tech from home while having a ton of fun.

This year, they introduced 3D Build & Play for younger kids (pictured above).  Love the idea that younger kids can create and then play with their home made characters.

The kids were excited to unbox the swag box that was sent to us for some more play…They will be creating some review views on their new website that they have been building all summer. Can’t wait to share it!

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Blog Resources

What am I going to do with my kids all summer?

Are you thinking what I am thinking- What am I going to do with my kids all summer?

Bring on the summer days and no more school at home!

Whew!! We did it! Did you think it was never going to end? I am so thrilled we finished quarantine school!

While we may not yet be done with quarantine, we at least can create some resemblance of a summer break and plan for fun.

Although this summer will definitely look different than normal, I know that it will be one for the memory books!

2020 Summer Activities at Home List

Summer Printable Packet

I have created a Summer Printable Packet back out to help create a routine, a bucket list, and a schedule for the summer. Definitely wishful thinking, but it one thing that really helped us doing quarantine was having a schedule.

This summer we are adding non-traveling things to our bucket list. Like, Build an epic fort, Take some FUN classes, Maybe have some themed “camp weeks”. Don’t forget about Chores App For kids to Earn Money

We are still using to the  BusyKid App, which allows kids to complete Chores App For kids to Earn Money. BusyKid is the chore app where kids can earn, save, share, spend and invest real allowance. There’s NO SUBSCRIPTION FEE* to use BusyKid but plenty of features to help your kids build a strong financial routine.

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At Home Summer Resources

Outschool.com – Thee mission is to inspire kids to love learning. They provide small group classes that meet over live video chat where learners are connected with teachers and classmates who share their interests. These classes are offered through their marketplace and conducted on our remote learning platform. There are SO MANY other non-academic options on the website. You can click here to create a new account and receive a $20 credit on your first class. AND teachers can earn extra cash by teaching classes online, click here to create a teacher account. Teach online and earn up to $40 USD per hour taught.

That’s why we put together The Stay at Home Survival Bundle – to give you tips, tricks, and strategies to take care of yourself, your family, and your home (and keep your sanity in the process ;)).

Summer Camp At Home

Babysitters, Grandparents, Caretakers… If you are looking for week by week resources here are some wonderful At Home Summer Camp activities. And now the other 8 weeks have been released. You can pick and choose which weeks you purchase {$5.97 each} OR you can purchase the all-access pass which gives you instant access to all 8 weeks for $29.97! For a limited time, get free access to Space Week for FREE!

All 8 weeks include: fun, engaging, and educational videos, crafts, tutorials, hands-on activities, science experiments, themed physical fitness/workouts, dance parties, family movie nights, themed snacks, and so much more! I have also included a supplies list for each week, a printable themed certificate of completion for each week, and blank Summer Camp at Home planning pages!

These weekly camps are entirely self-paced. You can begin and end when you want and you have lifetime access to them!

Summer Camp at Home:Disney Week
Summer Camp at Home:Under the Sea Week
Summer Camp at Home:Dinosaurs Week
Summer Camp at Home:Olympics Week
Summer Camp at Home:Superhero Week
Summer Camp at Home:Pirates Week
Summer Camp at Home:Hawaiian Week
Summer Camp at Home:All-Access Pass to all 8 weeks

Each week day, you’ll journey through a variety of activities in the following categories:

  • Learn & Explore- engaging, educational videos and projects
  • Fun & Creative- a variety of hands-on crafts and activities designed to reinforce what you’re learning each week.
  • Get Moving- physical fitness, exercises, workouts, and dance parties all centered around your theme of the week.
  • Further Exploration: Watch & Listen- numerous suggestions for further exploration of the weekly theme through a family movie night.
  • Snack Time- fun and yummy snacks and recipes based on your weekly theme.

Each week also includes:

  • List of supplies needed to complete crafts and activities for the week.
  • Themed certificate of completion.
  • Blank Summer Camp at Home planning pages to help you organize your week.

Internet Safety Reminders for Summer Break

A few weeks ago, I shared with you some Internet Safety Reminders During School Closures and wanted to remind you of the Bark app.  It’s an absolute must for busy parents who are interested in knowing when and if their children come across something that could possibly cause a problem online. Bark app allows you to monitor over 30 platforsm from text messages to social media channels. When Bark detects an issue, you get an automatic alert via email and even includes expert recommendations to make it easy for parents to talk to kids about digital dangers and other sensitive online issues. It did take me some time to set up for my three children, but it’s already been worth the time. Bark app costs $50-100 annually depending on the level of functionality desired, for younger children it’s a monthly charge of $5 and can go up to $14 depending on your desired tools. You can also check out the special code below for readers to save 20% for annual subscription. Check out one of the alerts that was sent to my email last night due to profanity in a youtube video that my 13 year old was watching. Not only did it give me the alert, but look below for some of the expert advice to how I should talk to Lucas about the profanity.

SPECIAL PRICING – SIGN UP NOW FOR A FREE ONE-WEEK TRIAL OF BARK AND 20% OFF BARK FOR LIFE USING CODE 5X7FJ6N AT CHECKOUT.

Summer Reading

Amazon’s Kids Book Box Subscription – sign up for something fun and engaging to read this summer. Plus, it’s always fun for kids to get a box in the mail with their name on it. Check out the different age and box options here.

Prime Book Box saves you up to 40% off List Price, and provides the best value on hardcover books sold by Amazon.com.Each box contains 2 hardcover books or 4 board books. It’s based on age and reading level. 

Online Summer Resources

There are a ton of Learn at Home Resources that were free or reduced during the last couple months. Here are some other sites that I shared with my class over the last couple weeks.

Comic Book Websites

1. https://www.storyboardthat.com/storyboard-creator (this only allows you to create 2 free), try to draw outyour comic on a paper before going online.
2. https://www.makebeliefscomix.com/
3. For chrome books and tablets -https://toontastic.withgoogle.com/
4. Scholastic has some great resources on comic building -https://www.scholastic.com/parents/school-success/learning-toolkit-blog/creating-comics-online.html
5. Pixton has a free trial https://www.pixton.com/

Internet Safety Websites

Students can visit https://www.netsmartzkids.org/ to watch some videos and play games dealing withInternet Safety.

Lemonade Stand – Financial Literacy

iPad —-> https://www.hoodamath.com/games/lemonadestand.html

Desktop (this is what we use in school —> https://omsi.edu/exhibitions/moneyville/activities.php#getreal

Banzai Program sponsored by Penn East Federal Credit Union

Banzai is free, online financial literacy for students of all ages. It’s interactive and fun. Over 60,000 math, business, family and consumer science, and computer teachers have joined the program nationwide. Banzai focuses on building credit, borrowing, budgeting, spending, setting goals. This is a wonderful program that I have been using for years in my classroom with students in grades 4-6. They start by learning the important terms and with limited choices, but continue through the program to make decisions about saving for future.

Head over to the Banzai website and use code 8DEXBC to join as a student. More ideas to teach kids financial literacy.

 

Stay at Home Survival BundleThe Stay at Home Survival Bundle

DOES YOUR LIFE FEEL CHAOTIC AND OUT OF CONTROL?

2020 has turned into the year no one expected.

And many of us are still struggling to find a routine after our world has been turned upside down.

Whether you find yourself wondering how to entertain your toddler until lunchtime, coming up with creative meals from your pantry, or figuring out how to work from home, you can do this! And we want to help.

Would love to know what you are doing with the kids all summer, feel free to comment below or join the conversation on Facebook.

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Podcast

Finding Happiness in the Classroom Episode 11

 

 

Cristen Bowen Argust found herself back in the classroom following her divorce. Cristen shares tactical ways to get young kids to listen and how she uses psychology to help explain feelings to the kids. Talk about balancing many hats, Cristen is also a mom of three and shares how she is teaching her own children how to responsible for their finances, school and future. We also shared some back to school ideas to help you get your kids to be more responsible.

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Podcast Uncategorized

Finding Your Passion in the Green House Episode 8

 

 

 

Gwen Philmeck found her passion in life through The Green House Project. When she wasn’t busy raising her two daughters, Gwen volunteered to help build a community to connect food and health with The Green House Project in Scranton. The Greenhouse Project’s focus is to educate both children and adults about the relationship between the foods we eat and our personal and public health. The Greenhouse Project promotes a food ecosystem that is healthy for people, the environment and animals, and promotes disease prevention through diet, movement and active living.

As a public charity, their programs benefit education, wellness, nutrition, and local hunger projects. Additionally, they operate a 3000 sq. ft. greenhouse in Scranton’s Nay Aug Park and three thriving community gardens. The greenhouse teaches hands-on gardening & horticulture classes while we grow and sell plants and to help support our mission. The James Barrett McNulty Greenhouse is also used weekly with yoga, tai chi, creative gardening and other classes as well as school educational tours.

 

Website- https://scrantongreenhouse.org/
Follow The GreenHouse Project on facebook
email Gwen for more information- gphilmeck@gmail.com