Reading

A LeapReader “Ready, Set, Read & Write” Party!

October 31, 2013 by Sandra 2 Comments

A special thanks to LeapReader and MomSelect for the party kit I received to put together a fun party!

What’s better than throwing a party?

Throwing an EDUCATIONAL party. That’s what. 🙂

I recently had the opportunity to throw a LeapReader “Ready, Set, Read & Write” party that both kids and adults alike enjoyed. Partygoers had fun using the fantastic new LeapReader system that’s available right now. This new system not only helps kids learn to read, but it also helps them learn to write in a fun and interactive way.

Don’t worry, the special paper involved is mess-free, and even younger kids can practice their letters with ease…and guidance from the talking pen.

At the party, the kids enjoyed getting to know the new line of LeapReader products including the LeapReader Reading and Writing System. It’s pretty amazing.
With this new system, kids can learn to read, learn to write, and learn through listening to songs, games, and trivia that build their comprehension skills and vocabulary.

We’ve already started using the new system as part of our homeschooling routine, and my boys are definitely enjoying it. From the 3-D books that come with their own 3-D glasses to the “talking” flash cards, this way of learning is awesome and effective.

It’s just what I need to make teaching my own kids less challenging. I remember how helpful the LeapFrog videos were when my two oldest kids, Nathan and Breanna, were in kindergarten and first grade.

I’m excited to see that we’re incorporating even more practical and powerful LeapFrog products into our schooling. They really do work and make life easier for the teacher. 😉

Seeing Improvement
Isaac and David, my four and six-year-old boys, are already reaping the benefits of using the LeapReader system. Their handwriting skills are improving, and they actually enjoy learning with the LeapReader pen and audio books.

Back to the party, the kids enjoyed engaging in some fun printable activities that involved scissors and glue. As you can tell from the pictures, they were very focused.

Overall, the party was tons of fun; I hope my guests enjoyed it as much as we did.

Have you tried the new LeapReader Reading and Writing system yet? What’s one thing that’s effectively helped your kids learn to read and write? *Or, tell me about other LeapFrog products you love! 🙂

The Importance of Reading to Your Child 20 minutes a day and a LeapFrog Giveaway!

March 18, 2013 by Sandra 39 Comments

It pretty much goes without saying that reading to your children is important. It’s valuable, special, and one of the greatest gifts that you could ever give your child.

What Reading Does for Your Child

Reading builds relationships, character, imagination, critical thinking skills, and the bottom line is that reading makes our children smarter. Specifically, reading to our children 20 minutes a day helps them be better able to excel academically and grows in their hearts a lifelong love of reading, which leads to our children becoming lifelong learners.

Better Readers become Better Writers

I had a fierce love of reading as I grew up, and I know it all started because people who cared about me took the time to read to me. I want the same for my kids. I want them to see the importance of books in their lives and how it can help them to be better in everything they put their minds to do.

I know that for me, reading eventually led to a love of writing. As I read my way through school and came to love the stories and characters I read about, I became a better writer and excelled in my creative writing class and pretty much all of my English classes.

Math, on the other hand…that’s another story (pun intended). But let’s get back to the point of this post. 😉

When you read to your child, you show them that reading is not dull and boring

Children who are read to 20 minutes a day learn to see that books are not a chore but rather an adventure….an entrance into another world even. Because you’ve spent time reading with your child, you’re likely to find them wanting to explore books on their own. Or you may find them always asking you to read “just one more book.”

What if you haven’t been reading 20 minutes a day to your child?

Don’t feel guilty. No way. You can start today. All you need is a book, after all. One thing I know is that you won’t regret one single minute spent reading to your child.

Tip: You can visit LeapFrog’s website for free resources and ideas to help get you started.

And now for the GIVEAWAY!

One of my readers will win one (1) LeapFrog Prize Pack!

The Prize Pack includes:

Tag Leap and the Lost Dinosaur

Tag Get Ready for Kindergarten

Tag Junior Toddler Milestones

Tag Junior Animals Around the World

{Approximate value of prize pack items is $50.}

Here’s How to Enter the Giveaway:

Just follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter. I’ve included options for extra entries, too!

This giveaway will run from today, March 18th, until next Wednesday, March 27th. The giveaway is open to US Residents only, ages 18 years old and above. The winner will be randomly chosen. I will promptly send the winner an email notifying the winner that they’ve won, and the winner must respond within 48hrs. of the giveaway’s end, otherwise I will have to draw a new winner. Now go ahead and enter below! 🙂

a Rafflecopter giveaway

More Good Stuff from LeapFrog

JOIN THE LEAPFROG “READ 20 MINUTES A DAY” PLEDGE TO GIVE BOOKS TO AMERICA’S SCHOOLS

In honor of Reading Month, LeapFrog is donating $2 million of books to America’s schools, and you can help! Go to Facebook and share the “Read 20 Minutes a Day” pledge, and LeapFrog will donate 5 books for every pledge!

GET TIPS, ACTIVITIES AND MORE TO GET YOUR CHILD READING ON LEAPFROG’S READING MONTH PAGE

LeapFrog is raising awareness of the importance of reading with your child 20 minutes a day to help kids reach their potential. Discover how to keep your little learner engaged in reading on LeapFrog’s Reading Month page, where you can get tips, videos, activities , and printables!

GET $3 OFF TAG BOOKS:

LeapFrog is offering special deals on reading products all through March, in honor of Reading Month, including $3 off of Tag and Tag Junior books.

CHECK OUT LEAPFROG’S LIBRARY OF LEARN-‐T0-‐READ BOOKS AND GAMES:

LeapFrog has a huge library of learn-‐to-‐read content for its best-‐selling, award-‐winning learning platforms including Tag and LeapPad2:

• Tag and Tag Junior: the #1 selling reading system has a leveled library for children age 1-‐8, with 80+ interactive books, maps, games and more! Check out these new releases: Leap and the Lost Dinosaur and Toddler Milestones.

• LeapPad2/LeapPad1: ultra e-‐books automatically adjust to a child’s reading ability and keeps them learning. Check out the recent ultra e-‐book release: Mr. Pencil, which teaches reading AND writing!

I was selected for this opportunity by Clever Girls Collective but content and opinions expressed here are my own. To take the LeapFrog Reading Month pledge, please visit their Facebook page. #LFReadingMonth #spon

Getting Started with WordPress ebook

March 22, 2012 by Sandra 2 Comments

If you are new to WordPress or were thinking about starting a self-hosted WordPress blog, I recently came across a new ebook that will help you to get started. The ebook is called, Getting Started with WordPress, and it’s put out by the folks at iThemes. I personally LOVE the plugins that iThemes has developed, and I love attending their webinars. I’m signed up for their email updates and came across this ebook that way.

I wish I would have had access to this book when I was first starting out with WordPress. That would have made my life SO much easier, but sometimes learning the hard way and making mistakes is a great way to learn, too. 🙂

This book will save you lots of time, though, and perhaps less banging your head against the wall. You can visit the iThemes website to download it.

P.S. I don’t make any money if you download the book. I just thought I’d pass along a handy WordPress resource.

Book Review: WordPress Web Design for Dummies

March 18, 2012 by Sandra 1 Comment

I finished reading WordPress Web Design for Dummies by Lisa Sabin-Wilson and wanted to do a quick review of it.

What I thought, overall:

I thought this book delivered on exactly what it promised. It shows you how to build WordPress themes, and throws in so many tips, short-cuts, and great recommendations that this book is worth picking up even if you skip the chapters that talk directly about how to build WordPress themes (These chapters happen to be VERY code-heavy (PHP, HTML, & CSS)).

Because this book uses a lot of code and assumes that you already know how to use WordPress, this book is NOT for beginners. For this reason, I would recommend checking this book out from your local library before you buy it.

I did like the fact that I could skip around and read some of the later chapters while at the same time reading the chapters that were packed with a lot of code. This is the way “Dummies” books are designed. You don’t have to read them cover to cover unless you want to. My favorite chapters were the ones that talked about plugins. The author made several good plugin recommendations (both free and premium) that I ended up installing on The Sensible Mom.

What I liked about the book:

:: the website recommendations that give me more tools for my blog design business

:: breakdown of how to create a portfolio gallery using WordPress

:: detailed explanations of helpful plugins

:: the showcase of beautiful websites built on WordPress

:: the pieces of code in the book that you can use to give your theme more functionality, even if you don’t want to build a full-blown theme

What I didn’t like:

:: all the code! 🙂 and that the chapters with code were so long, but I KNOW this was necessary

There really isn’t anything else that I didn’t like.

If you are new to WordPress or just want to learn how to use it better, I recommend reading the author’s first “Dummies” book, which is called WordPress for Dummies. After you’ve read that book, I would recommend reading this book even if you aren’t going to be a WordPress web designer, because you will glean so many helpful ways to make your blog better. Just skip the chapters will the code, mainly chapters 11-13.

What books have you read recently?

Reading

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