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GIVEAWAY: Math Blaster 6 month membership (Gift Guide Winner)

November 3, 2011 By

math blaster

As new recruits at the prestigious Blaster Academy, your kids will play arcade-style math games and race through high-speed missions with the help of a cast of characters that are out of this world! After learning the ropes in Blaster Academy, new cadets will join the Intergalactic Space Patrol (ISP), an elite team of Blasters sworn to explore and protect even the furthest galaxies and deepest black holes of the universe. Armed with the most advanced gadgets and fine-tuned math skills, the cadets of the ISP will travel to exotic new planets, discover bizarre alien races and face extraordinary challenges!

Are your kids ready to blast into an intergalactic adventure that adds up to total fun? Click Play Now and let the adventure begin!

One lucky 3 Boys and a Dog Reader will win a 6 month membership to Math Blaster – a $47.97 value!

REQUIRED COMMENT:  Visit the Math Blaster site, look around, then come back and tell me something you learned!

BONUS #1: Follow @momof3boys3702 on Twitter and RT this contest. The easiest way to retweet is to simply click the green ReTweet on the top right of this post. YOU MAY TWEET ONCE DAILY

BONUS #2: Like MathBlaster on Facebook and 3 Boys and a Dog on FaceBook then share this post by clicking the FaceBook share button at the bottom of this post.

Other bonus entries:

  • #1. Spread the word about this review by: email, forums, blogging, Digg, or putting the link in a meme. (one entry per thing done)
  • #2. Sign up for my NEW Weekly Newsletter.
  • #3. Subscribe to my RSS feed.
  • #4. Put my button on your blog.
  • #5. Leave a comment on any other post (excluding giveaways!) Be sure to leave a comment here saying which post.
  • #6 – Vote for me at Picket Fence by clicking the button on my sidebar. Be sure to leave a comment saying you did! YOU MAY VOTE ONCE DAILY!

CONTEST ENDS: at Midnight CST on November 17th

OPEN TO: USA Only

*DISCLAIMER: I was sent items by JumpStart to help facilitate my review. Any opinions stated are strictly my own.*

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Filed Under: Giveaways, Homeschooling, Just for Kids Tagged With: , , , ,

GIVEAWAY: Kumon Thank a Teacher Contest ($25 Barnes and Noble)

November 2, 2011 By

Kumon is hosting a Thank a Teacher contest on Facebook. In celebration of the upcoming holidays, the contest’s aim is threefold, to thank teachers, to show them how much their hard work is appreciated, and to make note of the many contributions they make to children’s lives. Many routinely go the extra mile to ensure that their students are being challenged academically, are fully engaged in the learning process and on course to master those skills necessary to excel in college and beyond.

Parents are instructed to submit a single nomination for the teacher in their community they feel deserves Kumon’s top honor. Three teachers will be awarded the top prize. Each winner will receive $1500. Parents that would like to nominate a teacher will be required to write and submit an essay of 200 words or less, which explains why they believe their nominee deserves the top prize.

After the submission period has ended, the Thank a Teacher contest judges will choose the 10 best entries. Kumon Facebook fans will then have the opportunity to vote for their favorite contestant. As mentioned above, the top three winners will receive $1500, which is designated for the purchase of classroom items.

The submission deadline for the contest is November 8th. All essays must be submitted by this date in order to be eligible. Voting will start soon after, on November 10th. The three winning teachers will be announced via Facebook on November 21st. Contest participants will only be allowed to submit a single entry.

Mom Says:  I, personally, have had some AMAZING teachers in my lifetime.  When I entered 5th grade, I came from a Private School to a Public school.  They were on different schedules, so I missed a few things (like Multiplication Tables and Cursive Writing).  Mrs. Sherlock took the extra time to help me learn them without making me feel dumb or “less than”.  If it weren’t for her, I would have never made it to advanced Math in 6th grade!

About Kumon

Kumon is one the biggest after-school, educational enrichment programs in the world. Students are tutored in the subjects of math and reading. Kumon a well-respected company that has helped more than 20 million students worldwide, improve their academic performance. The company’s Thank a Teacher contest fits perfectly with Kumon’s aim to improve the educational experience of students. By saluting those teachers that help make the learning experience a positive one, they help to support students and education.

Remember, the submission deadline for the contest is November 8th. All entries must be submitted by that date in order to be considered. Only one entry is allowed per person. In 200 words or less, do your best to explain why the teacher you nominated deserves to win $1500, which will be spent on items for his or her classroom. Winners will be announced on November 21st. Good luck!

Be sure to visit the next blog in this awesome blog hop!

http://www.survivingateacherssalary.com/

Not only can you win $1500 from Kumon, but in honor of this, they are offering one $25 Barnes and Noble Gift Card to a lucky 3 Boys and a Dog reader!

REQUIRED COMMENT: Tell me about the teacher you would honor with this gift card!

BONUS #1: Follow @momof3boys3702 on Twitter and RT this contest. The easiest way to retweet is to simply click the green ReTweet on the top right of this post. YOU MAY TWEET ONCE DAILY

BONUS #2: Like Kumon and 3 Boys and a Dog on FaceBook then share this post by clicking the FaceBook share button at the bottom of this post.

Other bonus entries:

  • #1. Spread the word about this review by: email, forums, blogging, Digg, or putting the link in a meme. (one entry per thing done)
  • #2. Sign up for my NEW Weekly Newsletter.
  • #3. Subscribe to my RSS feed.
  • #4. Put my button on your blog.
  • #5. Leave a comment on any other post (excluding giveaways!) Be sure to leave a comment here saying which post.
  • #6 – Vote for me at Picket Fence by clicking the button on my sidebar. Be sure to leave a comment saying you did! YOU MAY VOTE ONCE DAILY!

CONTEST ENDS: at Midnight CST on November 16th

OPEN TO: USA and CANADA

*DISCLAIMER: I was sent items by Kumon to help facilitate my review. Any opinions stated are strictly my own.*

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Giveaway: Babar Best Friends Forever DVD

October 22, 2011 By

My kids have always loved Babar (and animals), so I was very excited to let them watch this DVD!

About the Movie:

Based on the beloved children’s books by Jean and Laurent de Brunhoff, this DVD
Collection features four endearing tales that explore core family values including: cooperation, sharing and teamwork.

Episodes:
City Ways
Between Friends
Friendly Agreement
An Elephant’s Best Friend

Bonus Features: 8-Page Coloring Book

My Thoughts

This was one that I really wanted my children to watch!  We are working hard on cooperating together and being a team!  I think it will take more than one time watching, but Babar and crew are a fantastic way to bring in the ideas that I want my children to learn, so it is easier to teach cooperation and teamwork to them.  The coloring book was okay, but I was a little sad about it being the exact same one as the other DVD.  My girls were excited though!  That way they both got the exact same thing!  Phew!  Either way, the DVD is fantastic (with or without the coloring book)!

Buy it!

You can buy it on Amazon here for only $10.99!

Win it!

Two lucky winners can win one copy each of the Babar School Days DVD (worth $14.98)!

REQUIRED COMMENT

Your first comment (before you can do any bonuses) is to tell me what you remember about Babar!

BONUS #1: Follow @momof3boys3702 on Twitter and RT this contest. The easiest way to retweet is to simply click the green ReTweet on the top right of this post. YOU MAY TWEET ONCE DAILY

BONUS #2: Like 3 Boys and a Dog on FaceBook then share this post by clicking the FaceBook share button at the bottom of this post.

Other bonus entries:

  • #1. Spread the word about this review by: email, forums, blogging, Digg, or putting the link in a meme. (one entry per thing done)
  • #2. Follow my blog.
  • #3. Subscribe to my RSS feed.
  • #4. Put my button on your blog.
  • #5. Leave a comment on any other post (excluding giveaways!) Be sure to leave a comment here saying which post.
  • #6 – Vote for me at Picket Fence by clicking the button on my sidebar. Be sure to leave a comment saying you did! YOU MAY VOTE ONCE DAILY!

CONTEST ENDS: at Midnight CST on November 5th

OPEN TO: USA and Canada

*DISCLAIMER: I was sent the Babar DVD to help facilitate my review. Any opinions stated are strictly my own.*

 

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Filed Under: 3 Boys & A Dog General Posts, Giveaways, Homeschooling, Parenting and Family, Review and Giveaways, Reviews, Teachable Moments Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Giveaway: Babar School Days DVD

October 15, 2011 By

My kids have always loved Babar (and animals), so I was very excited to let them watch this DVD!

About the Movie:

Based on the beloved children’s books by Jean and Laurent de Brunhoff, this DVD
Collection features four endearing tales that explore core family values
including: acceptance, honesty and patience. Includes a bonus 8-Page Coloring
Book.

Episodes Include:
School Days
Kings of the Castle
Every
Basket Has a Silver Lining
Peer Pressure

My Thoughts

I remember loving the Babar series when I was younger and my kids LOVE the old reruns, so I was not surprised that they loved this DVD!  My daughter even watched it before I woke up, so it wasn’t a case of “Watch this, because mommy has to review it!”  My daughters also LOVED the little coloring book that came with it (although it didn’t last long)!  I enjoy the Babar Series and this DVD concentrating on School Days issues is fantastic!  My favorite part was the part where he gets helped across the street!  It’s great to teach children acceptance, honesty and patience!  It’s something I could use help with as an adult, so I don’t mind watching it with my kiddos and having an open conversation!  This is a must-have!

Buy it!

You can buy it on Amazon here for only $9.99!

Win it!

Two lucky winners can win one copy each of the Babar School Days DVD (worth $14.98)!

REQUIRED COMMENT

Your first comment (before you can do any bonuses) is to tell me what you remember about Babar!

BONUS #1: Follow @momof3boys3702 on Twitter and RT this contest. The easiest way to retweet is to simply click the green ReTweet on the top right of this post. YOU MAY TWEET ONCE DAILY

BONUS #2: Like 3 Boys and a Dog on FaceBook then share this post by clicking the FaceBook share button at the bottom of this post.

Other bonus entries:

  • #1. Spread the word about this review by: email, forums, blogging, Digg, or putting the link in a meme. (one entry per thing done)
  • #2. Follow my blog.
  • #3. Subscribe to my RSS feed.
  • #4. Put my button on your blog.
  • #5. Leave a comment on any other post (excluding giveaways!) Be sure to leave a comment here saying which post.
  • #6 – Vote for me at Picket Fence by clicking the button on my sidebar. Be sure to leave a comment saying you did! YOU MAY VOTE ONCE DAILY!

CONTEST ENDS: at Midnight CST on October 29th

OPEN TO: USA and Canada

*DISCLAIMER: I was sent the Babar DVD to help facilitate my review. Any opinions stated are strictly my own.*

 

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Filed Under: 3 Boys & A Dog General Posts, Giveaways, Homeschooling, Just for Kids, Parenting, Parenting and Family, Review and Giveaways, Reviews, Teachable Moments Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

5 Solutions to De-stress a Hectic After School Schedule

October 1, 2011 By 2 Comments

In a recent KidsHealth survey, almost 90 percent of students said they felt stress day in and day out.  And when kids are stressed, their parents are as well.  Some of the stress is from school, classes, etc, but just as much pressure can be felt after school.  If your after-school schedule feels more hurried, stressful, and complicated than you would prefer, try the following the solutions to make life a little simpler for you and your child.
· Reassess the After-School ScheduleI’m sure we can all agree that each child is different – some thrive on hectic schedules, whereas others crave downtime.  Listening to our kids is the only way we’ll know how they feel.  Take time to ask your child if his load is too stressful, or just right.  The flip side of this equation is your personal situation.  Perhaps more than children, parents feel overextended and exhausted.  Managing kids, a job, transportation to sports, and of course, homework, is enough to put even the most organized and efficient parent through the wringer.  If this feels too familiar, consider reexamining your children’s schedules.  Can one activity go by the wayside?  Is there a sport or lesson that your child doesn’t truly enjoy, but you insisted upon so that he doesn’t miss out on an opportunity?  These are the activities you might want to reconsider.
· Create a Predictable ScheduleAlthough each child in your household is likely to have a different schedule, it helps to create a family policy that homework must at least be started before leaving for an after-school activity.  Getting a jump start on homework significantly reduces procrastination and stress later in the evening.
· Use a White BoardIt’s easy to keep track of assignments with a white board. Hang a large white board near an area that will be used for homework. When your children return from school each day, insist that they write their assignments on the white board.  By using this tool, you or any other adult in the home will know of the assignments each child has for the day, what has been completed, and what is still left to do. When the homework assignment list is visible, unfinished work is less likely to slip through the cracks. This is a great solution for busy households.
· Conduct an Audit
Busy parents know that it’s difficult to check every assignment each child has night after night. The Internal Revenue Service keeps taxpayers in line with random audits. You can do the same in your home by auditing homework a few times per week.  Let’s say that you have a family policy that all homework must be done by 9 p.m. otherwise privileges are taken away the following day.  At that time, ask to see your child’s homework.  Praise him or her if the work is done.  If it’s not done, rescind privileges such as leaving the house after school the following day to see friends or watching television.
· Take a One-Hour Time OutA one-hour time out is meant to be time away from anything that flashes, beeps, or has a screen. Choose 60 minutes every weekday (the hour immediately following dinner works well) and make that a mandatory quiet time. In our fast paced world, we’re bombarded by loud noises which can cause over-stimulation, agitation, and anxiety. During this time, there should be no iPods, televisions, video games, computers, or phones. Instead, consider activities such as reading independently or together, doing a puzzle or playing cards. You may find that simply leaving craft supplies out encourages creativity. A one-hour time out also forces kids who would usually be glued to electronics to go outside to play or get together with neighborhood friends.
It takes a concerted effort to manage stress.  Choose one or two of these strategies that might work for you and implement them for at least 21 days to see change.  Remember, research shows that it truly takes 21 days to modify a habit. 
Guest Article written byAnn K. Dolin, M.Ed. who is the founder and president of Educational Connections, Inc., a comprehensive provider of educational services in Fairfax, VA and Bethesda, MD. In her award-winning book, Homework Made Simple: Tips, Tools and Solutions for Stress-Free Homework, Dolin offers proven solutions to help the six key types of students who struggle with homework. Learn more at anndolin.com or ectutoring.com.
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