Author Archive

Four Ways the Internet Can Make You a Better Teacher by Jennifer Smith will help teachers and veterans use the Internet more effectively as they try to help students learn and engage in their own learning. Whether educators have time to attend a brick and mortar institution or utilize masters of education online to further their qualifications, there are always ways to improve as a professional. While it is written from the view point of a beginning teacher trying to jump start a career, it can help teachers and parents of any age. Jenna is a freelance writer who has been blogging since college. Her writing topics vary from frugality to fitness. When not writing you can find her walking her dog or playing tennis! Thanks Jenna

Follow Your Dream

• So you have dreamed of being a teacher since you were a little kid. Unfortunately, with education budgets being what they are, finding a school placement has been harder than you thought it would be. In the mean time, especially if you want to keep your teaching skills sharp, you can probably pick up a few tutoring gigs. You might even be able to parlay that into your own tutoring business.
• There are a few big benefits tutoring offers that traditional school placements do not:
  You can pick your own class size which is definitely not the case if you were planning on working in the public school system.
  You can set your own rates. Tutors can make more per hour than teachers.
  All of your classroom materials are completely tax deductible.
  To some extent, you can have class wherever and whenever you want.
  If starting your own tutoring business or just taking on a few tutoring clients is something that interests you, or if you already have a teaching job, here are a few things you can do to further hone your teaching skills.

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How and when to talk to kids about adult content on the Internet by Michelle LaRowe offers advice to parents who are about to let their children use the Internet for education and entertainment. If you haven’t opened a dialog on this topic it’s probably time. Thanks to Michelle we have some advice that will encourage you to get started.

Michelle LaRowe

• With over 20 years of experience in the nanny world as an award-winning nanny, agency director, and parenting author, Michelle LaRowe is considered a leading industry expert. A mom herself, she loves to educate parents and nannies on the importance of quality in-home childcare. Find out more by visiting her @eNannySource on Twitter.

It’s a Jungle Out There

• When it comes to the Internet, the content displayed isn’t always age-appropriate. If your child is a frequent Internet user, there’s no better time than now to educate him or her about appropriate and inappropriate content. Opening the line of communication with regards to adult content will help ensure your child knows how to safely use the Internet and how to handle situations that come up when exposed to more than one bargained for. Here are some tips to start the conversation about adult content on the Internet.

Start the Discussion Early and Often

• Parents are no longer encouraged to have the talk with kids regarding sex. Instead, sex educators have found that having multiple small discussions over the course of months and years not only allows children to process information in manageable portions, but strengthens trust and open communication with their parents. The same is true for discussing adult content on the Internet.

  Starting the discussion on adult content doesn’t have to be overly revealing or scary. In fact, many parents start this discussion well before the subject of sex education is brought up. By simply stating that there is some content that is inappropriate for children when a child accidentally stumbles on an adult site or finds they can’t access search engine results, parents can alert their children that there is adult content on the Internet, priming for a discussion on what constitutes adult content and why it is unsuitable for children. Be sure to discuss adult content on the Internet in age appropriate ways.

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Safe Science Crafts for Children by Ashley Hardway offers four safe scientific experiments you and your children can do at home. Once you get started with these activities, your children may not want to stop. Once you open the doors to scientific experimentation, your children just might never want to stop.

Intro

• Science can be an entertaining way to expose children to how the universe works. Through various crafts and experiments, you can open doors to a world that the child may never have realized. Each example here can lead to additional questions that need answers. However, you want to ensure your child’s safety when exploring the many facets of science. Here are some sample projects can you do at the home that won’t turn your child different colors or catch your kitchen on fire.

1. Understanding Xylem

• By using white flowers such as daisies, you can teach children how the xylem of a plant will transport water to buds and petals. This can be seen by using non-toxic food coloring such as those you would use in cake frosting. The xylem provides water and nutrients to the petals – including the dye itself. Over time, the daisies will actually begin to take on the color of the dye. This shows that even a cut flower can still reserve the ability to stay alive – for a short time. Do a Google search on “xylem diagram” to see how this works.

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Things Your Childcare Provider Absolutely Needs to Know by Rachael Cherry can help both parents and child care providers increase the probability of a successful experience. This is written from the view point of the parent, but can also be great advice for people who provide child care who are often known as baby sitters.

Experience Helps

• Experience can do a great deal to help a childcare provider prepare for the task ahead. Interacting with various children can provide an insight towards certain behaviors or assist in avoiding specific situations. Each child, however, is unique, and there could be things about him or her that the childcare provider should absolutely know. Even the child’s home environment can vary a great deal from one home to another. Parents should let the provider know what to expect as they give a complete tour of the home.

Disciplinary Actions

• Not every household views disciplinary actions the same way. Although everyone involved would like the experience to go smooth, kids will be kids. The care provider needs to know what is considered an acceptable method of interaction. Is a time-out involved? Do certain toys or electronics get taken away? Most importantly, is the parent going to enforce the disciplinary action for severe situations after the care provider has left for the day? If you don’t collaborate with your childcare provider in this manner, the child could grow to disrespect any child care provider as an authoritative figure.

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