Moms Inspire Learning

Friday Photo Fun: Happy Halloween!

 

©iStockphoto/Gary Martin (tirc83)

Can't you just see the excitement?! I hope you and your children have a happy, safe Halloween.

I also have a favor to ask of you. In my effort to serve you better, I need 100 readers to participate in a brief (4 question) survey. So, if you could possibly spare a couple of minutes sometime this weekend, I'd really appreciate it if you would help me out. Please click here to take survey.

Thank you so much!

Are You or Your Teenager Interested in Writing a YA Novel?

So many people are writing these days, but we've all heard how hard it is to market a book and get it published. Well, if you or your teenager have a passion for young adult literature, and have a burning desire to write a YA novel of your own, now's your chance!

Not only is November National Novel Writing Month, when you actually write your own 50,000 word novel in 30 days, BUT there's also a Young Adult Novel Discovery Contest going on as well. What an exciting way to kick off the new month!

Moms Inspire Moms: My Interview with an Entrepreneurial Mom, Renee Sirulnik

Did you ever dream of creating a homemade product that became so popular that you were able to launch a business out of it? That's exactly what Renee Sirulnik did, and she did so while she was still juggling baby bottles, diapers, and a full-time job!

It was actually before Renee even had her first child that she designed and created a "6-pack" of homemade baby blankets as a gift for her friend's baby shower. Right off the bat, they were a hit; and with a little encouragement from friends, and a lot of determination, she launched a full scale business (and a family) a few years later.

How did Renee find the time and energy to become a successful entrepreneur while she had two young children and a full-time job? Please read on for some wonderful advice and inspiration:

Nonfiction Monday: The Incredible Life of Ben Franklin, Part 2

I'd like to wrap up my Trip to Philadelphia series with one more book about Ben Franklin. Isn't it amazing how one trip can inspire so many different pathways to learning? Well, today I'd like to share a book that will spark the interest of many different types of learners, but particularly those who enjoy hands-on activities.

Children (in grades 3 through 5) will love Amazing Ben Franklin Inventions You Can Build Yourself, by Carmella Van Vleet. Not only will they get to know even more about the many contributions he made to a country he helped create, but they will see connections among a wide variety of subjects: history, geography, science, math, reading, writing, art, and even music.

Friday Photo Fun: The Many Colors of Autumn

It's Friday Photo Fun - a day early!

 

 

 

Life is so much better when you take time out to notice the colors that surround you every day.

Finding Books for Boys

For some reason, it seems we have to work a little bit harder to find books boys will love. Well, I just wanted to share some posts and a video to show you that there certainly are many books out there for even the most reluctant of readers. Here they are:

The Snowy Day in New York City

 
There may be no snow yet, but it is getting cold here in the northeastern USA! A great way to get your child to warm up to literacy is to read some extraordinary books by Ezra Jack Keats together.

It's always fun to read a variety of books by the same author, but how can you take your reading activities to the next level?

Here's one way:

If your child is between the ages of 2 and 7, and you will be in the New York City area this weekend, you can attend this Saturday's multimedia event, Ezra Jack Keats in Story and Song. A powerful combination of literacy, music, and technology will bring this award-winning author's children's books to life, and there will even be live readings by Sonia Manzano ("Maria" from Sesame Street) and Dominic Colon ("Manny Spamboni" from Electric Company)!

Since there's no chance of a snowy day (ha, ha) keeping you from getting to this event, please don't miss out on it! Symphony Space is so generously offering discounted tickets for $10 each. You can use the code RAC102 when you place your order.

Enjoy!

The First 5 Years Matter

As a parent, you are your child's first and most influential teacher. How you interact and learn with your child MATTERS, especially during the first five years.

When children do not receive the love and guidance they so desperately need, the negative effects can last a lifetime, as per this video from Ounce of Prevention Fund:

Nonfiction Monday: The Incredible Life of Ben Franklin

After a trip to Philadelphia, you can't help but want to learn more about the amazing life of Ben Franklin. I found three children's books, as well as some online resources, that I'd like to share today.

Most people know Ben Franklin best as a politician and an inventor, but did you know that he was an avid reader and writer as well? Even though he left school when he was only ten years old, he had such a thirst for learning that he found ways to teach himself anything and everything through books.

Friday Photo Fun: A Trail of Jellyfish

Jellyfish are amazing creatures. They have no brains, yet they've found a way to survive for more than 650 million years! They were here before the dinosaurs, and yet most of them live less than a year.

Nature works in mysterious ways, doesn't it? No matter how much scientific research is done, its true magic will never reveal itself. Do we really want it to?

I missed Blog Action Day 2009 Climate Change yesterday, and unfortunately it's too late to see the many wonderful blog posts that were written in honor of the cause, but there are small things each of us can do every day that will contribute to a much healthier planet.

Pollution can be as deadly as a box jellyfish. What steps will you take to stop it?