Tag Archives: learning

Largest Collection Of Educational Apps

iTooch Elementary School, Math, Language Arts and Science worksheets for 3rd, 4th and 5th grades is not only and App you can try for FREE , it is the LARGEST COLLECTION OF EDUCATIONAL APPS AVAILABLE based on the US National Common Core Standards on the App Store! iTooch is not only user friendly, it is a lot of fun for parents and children.

The app offers over 18,000 exercises in Language Arts, Science and Math. iTooch integrates with Game Center, with more than 35 achievements to unlock.

The virtual blackboard feature allows players to draw various things like graphs and problems. The blackboard even lets you save a snapshot of the screen to your pictures! The math exercises even have a built-in calculator for players.

Downloads for the app are broken down by subject, grade and ages. The app offers a help section which gives players answers to questions like…

How do I use iTooch with my children?

How do I use iTooch in the classroom?

How does the app work?

The questions in each chapter allow players the ability to give user feedback which is rarely offered by app developers. The app even publishes a newsletter, so users always know when updates are made and what they are. There is a lesson summary offered at the end of each chapter, and is an excellent summation of the content covered and is broken down in layman’s terms. iTooch can track each players progress and has a grading system built-in for players.

iTooch is genuinely one of the best educational apps I have ever used. The content alone makes the app a must-have for any parent or student. To sum it up, iTooch is a no-frills get down to business app that is actually fun and easy to use. I never thought I would use those terms together in one sentence!

Find out more about iTooch here, or go ahead and download it for free here!

*This post was sponsored by iTooch. All thoughts and views expressed are my own.

Posted in Apps, Children, Education, Kids, Parenting | Tagged Educational App, elementary, English, iTooch, Language Arts, learning, math, science | Leave a comment

Macy’s 7th Annual Spelling Bee!

Calling All Kids Age 8-11! Join me this Saturday, September 8th, 2012 – Braintree, MA – Braintree Mall @ 2PM (Kids, 2nd Floor) at Macy’s!

This year, Macy’s is celebrating their 7th Annual Spelling Bee! Recently, I was asked to be a part of this wonderful event! Of course I could NOT say no! Macy’s has been a part of my life since childhood. Between the Macy’s Thanksgiving day parade (yes, I watch it every year), to the Macy’s Fourth Of July Fireworks (I watch those too), and everything that Macy’s does to support amazing charities, both locally and nationally, I didn’t need any convincing to say yes with a big smile!

During my youth, I remember begging my parents and their friends to ask me how to spell different words. I would sit at our kitchen table, my piggy (really a dinosaur) bank in front of me, and expect coins in return for properly spelled words. Most of the time, they complied. Whether they went along with me because I was cute, or because I sounded like a broken record until I got my way, didn’t matter one bit. The result for me was simple… I would spell words correctly and they would pay me. Regardless of whether they gave me a penny or a quarter, I just loved the way my piggy (dinosaur) bank sounded after I depleted their wallets.

In today’s world, instead of Spelling Bee participants answering questions with a piggy bank in front of them, the prizes they will receive are a little more in tune with today’s times. That said, clearly you cannot have a contest without prizes! Macy’s is awarding 27 fantastic prizes, for the 27 stores participating!

The winner from each store will receive a prize which includes… drum roll please… one (1) year of online learning from Kaplan Tutoring, a $150 online gift card from Scholastic, and $100 Macy’s Gift Card, and an Apple iPad 3. The Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”) for each Prize is about $1,650! It would have been so dreamy If Macy’s sent representatives to pose as my parent’s friends during my youth with goody bags similar to the ones that competition winners will receive! I would have forgotten about my piggy (dinosaur) bank for certain!

For more information about Macy’s Spelling Bee, how you can enter, contestant rules and regulations, as well as spelling bee locations and times by accessing this link!

Don’t forget to join @macys and @trendingmom using (hashtag) #MacysBee as we live tweet during the event!

Hope to see you at the Spelling Bee this Saturday, September 8th, 2012 – Braintree, MA – Braintree Mall @ 2PM (Kids, 2nd Floor) at Macy’s! If you cannot make it, connect with @macys and @trendingmom on Twitter using #MacysBee during the event!

Disclosure: I am a member of the Everywhere Society and Everywhere provided me with compensation for this post about Macy’s Spelling Bee. However, all thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own.

Posted in Children, Education, Family, Kids, Uncategorized | Tagged albany, atlanta, aventura, back to school, braintree, california, chesapeak, chicago, Children, colorado, connectitcut, contest, coral springs, danbury, detroit, florida, garden city, georgia, houston, kentucky, Kids, learning, louisville, lunch, macys, miami, new jersey, new york, orlando, parents, pennsylvania, pittsburgh, radio disney, rancho cucamonga, reading, roseville, san diego, school, spelling, tampa, texas, united states, virginia bee, washington | 1 Comment

Below are a list of our families “Kid Tested, Mother Approved” apps that not only work, they keep my daughter’s engaged.

Our Top 10 Reading Apps For Kids… in no specific order!

#1 Word Wizard – Talking Movable Alphabet & Spelling Tests for Kids

The Word Wizard app is geared towards children who are just learning to read through 5th graders! Talk about an app that grows with your child!
Key Points: Learn To Write – Learn To Read – Letter Sounds – Voice Transformer With Speed Tone = FUN – Phonics – Voice Recognition – Hints Available – Colorful Animation And More!

#2 Bob Books #1 – Reading Magic HD

If you do not know about the infamous Bob Books, here is your chance to learn more! Bob Books are one of the most talked about books for children who are learning to read!
Key Points: Phonics-Based – Interactive – Full-Color Animation – Spelling – Sounding Out Simple Words – Connecting Letters And Sounds – 12 Scenes – Four Game Levels – Simply Fantastic!

#3 Bob Books #2 – Reading Magic HD

Another Bob Books app which is a great introduction to reading and phonics! The Bob Books apps are for pre-school children through early elementary readers.
Key Points: 12 New Scenes – Phonics – Reading – Animation And More!

#4 First Words Deluxe

First Words is an amazing app with a fun and interactive approach to teaching letters and words to readers! It is a word-building game which not only helps children learn to read, it even helps them learn to spell. First Words will help your toddler or elementary age child recognize letters and spell words up to 8 letters long!
Key Points: 174 Words – Animals – Vehicles – Shapes – Colors – Around The House – Settings Which Allow You To Control The Difficulty For Each Child – Great Games – Rewards For Children And More!

#5 Fish School HD – by Duck Duck Moose

The Fish School app is an interactive learning app! The app combines education with imaginationcreating a playful and colorful environment for children to learn in. Fish School is geared towards toddlers, pre-schoolers and early elementary age children.
Key Points: Learning Made Fun – Letters – Numbers – The ABC Song – Matching – Differences – Hand Eye Coordination – Mozart – Nursery Rhymes – Creativity And More!

#6 DotToDot numbers & letters

DotToDot Numbers & Letters is fantastic! Rather than focus on numbers or letters individually, this app combined the two. What a concept right (insert sarcasm here)? Connecting the dots has been a old favorite for many. Let your children get back to basics by learning how to write their letters while understanding numbers as well! DotToDot Numbers & letters is for childred between 3 and 6 but kind of fun for this mom too!
Key Points: Learning Fun – Puzzles – Phonics – Letter Names – Extensive Settings Available – Timers For A Little Competition Between Siblings Or Personal Scores – Rewards For Puzzle Completion And Much More!

#7 Martha Speaks Dog Party

If you have not seen Martha Speaks on PBS kids, you are missing out (yes, I mean that for adults too)! Martha Speaks is a witty and educational show with fantastic lessons. Ever since my daughter’s and I first watched the show, we became hooked. Having an App that stars Martha from the TV show makes this app an easy sell initially! Once you delve into it though, it becomes a fan favorite!
Key Points: Martha Martha Martha (almost sounds like “Marsha Marsha Marsha” From The Brady Bunch Huh?) – Self-Leveling Game – Builds Listening Skills – Teaches Children How To Take Direction – Introduces Some Fun And Interesting Words Which Are Not Typical Of Early Learning Apps – Balloon-Popping Quiz – Vocabulary – A Doggy Dress Up Game With Pictures That Can Be Saved And More!

#8 Word Wagon HD – by Duck Duck Moose

Word Wagon!!! Hop Aboard this app for sure! The educational content offered in Word Wagon is phenominal! The Word Wagon app is simple to understand, has amazing illustrations, fantastic animations and sounds which make this app pretty great! Unlike many apps I have purchased for my children, Word Wagon is one of the few that do not require parental guidance during game play. Word Wagon has 4 levels for Preschool through first graders. The recommended ages are 1-7.
Key Points: Letters – Phonics – Words – School Readiness – More Than 100 Words – Play Hide And Seek While Learning – Dress Up Games – Drawing Picture – Talking On The Phone… Did I Mention All Of This Is Done While Your Child Is Learning!

#9 Montessori Letter Sounds HD – Apprendre l’anglais avec Tam et Tao

Montssori Letter Sounds for pre-readers! This is a fantastic app for children who are learning their letters. It is based on the Montessori methos which works in 4 steps. First, “i spy” to play sound games. Second, letter sounds and memorization. Third, bringing the first to steps together with a little mix and match. Fourth, learning to write their first words by sounding them out. Montessori Letter Sounds is yet another fantastic approach to early learning which works!
Key Points: A Phonetic Alphabet – A Notebook – A Sandbox For Tracing – An Image Box For Vocabulary – Sensory Learning – Progressive Learning And More!

#10 Phonics Easy Reader 1 HD

Phonics Easy Reader offers stories in Rock ‘N Learn phonics! Music, fun, reading and great stories make this app another favorite! The use of sight words, memory words and great stories never grow dull!
Key Points: Read To Me – Let Me Try – Sight Words – Memory Building -Great Tunes – Animations That Excite – The Option To Read Yourself And Then Press The Play Back Option For Accuracy – Moving Through Each Story At Your Child’s Pace And More Make This App Another Great Learning Tool!

Posted in Apps, Children, Education, Girls, Kids, Media, Mom, Motherhood, Parenting, Uncategorized | Tagged alphabet, applications, bob books, books, childhood, educate, elementary, first words, fish school, fun, i-stuff, iPad, iPhone, iPod, learning, letters, martha speaks, montessori, numbers, phonics, preschool, read, reading, school, sight words, spelling, tech, toddlers, word wagon, word wizard, write, writing | 2 Comments

Learning To Read With Rusty And Rosy

Learning To Read With Rusty And Rosy?

The first time I heard about the Award-winning Rusty and Rosy Reading™ software, my first thought was… Oh great, another learning to read software program that claims to be better than all the rest. The past two years, I have spent ample amounts of money on the “next best” software programs for my children, only to be disappointed. After learning my lesson (for the 10th time), I was not about to jump into yet another educational tool that would be used one or two times.

This time around, before making another bad decision, I decided to do my research. After reading many parent testimonials and watching different demo videos, I realized that the Award-winning Rusty and Rosy Reading™ software not only had great reviews, it even kept my attention. It seemed like a great tool for learning to read.

The next test… my little girls. I had them view the demos to make sure the software would hold their attention. Fortunately, they both loved it! I just bought the software and cannot wait until my girls try it out! They are both determined to learn how to read. This software just might do the trick!

Give the gift of learning. Save $50 on Rusty and Rosy Reading™ software.

Click Like ↓ If you Liked!

Posted in Children, Education, Family, Girls, Kids, Media, Mom, Motherhood, Parenting | Tagged learn, learning, read, reading, rosy, rusty, school, teach, teacher | Leave a comment

An App For Children And Parents In A Digital World… ZillyDilly

Our children are growing up in a world of digital media. Understanding the tech world is innate for most of them. This new breed of children are not only tech savvy, they love the latest gadgets and advancements. Innovators and developers are well aware of this and in turn, design new technology with our little ones in mind. Because of their technical abilities, it is no surprise that an iPad and apps are a favorite amongst many.

When my girls were first-born, I used to worry that they would want to watch too much TV. Although they do like watching television, there are other things that interest them much more. My iPad for instance, is a favorite amongst both of my daughters. With the amount of fun apps available for my girls to play and learn from, it is difficult for them to ever get bored. Unfortunately, it also makes it difficult for them to put down the iPad. Recently, I was introduced to a new app called ZillyDilly. Although reluctant to let my girls get their hands on my iPad in the past, ZillyDilly has helped me hand over my favorite device without feeling like it would be abused by my four and five-year old. Ok, so part of it is also knowing that I too, will get to use my iPad sooner than never…

ZillyDilly is an app that has been created by a leading child psychiatrist focused on teaching families about healthy media consumption. The app allows you to build a media plan for each child based on age, interests, time allotted using the iPad and more. The websites that are featured on the app not only engage your child, they promote growth, teach children in a positive manner and are safe.

The app is set up so the parent must register and is the first user. Once the parent is set up, they can add children based on age and identify and manage a unique media plan for each child. The media plan incorporates websites the parent would like their child to use. The app alone has a variety of websites to choose from that are geared towards the age and even gender of each child. By doing this and more, parents are able to set up a growth opportunity for each child, monitoring progress and ensuring that they do not overuse or misuse digital media. Although still new to using this app, I genuinely believe that ZillyDilly and I are well on our way to a long and prosperous relationship.

Posted in Apps, Children, Education, Family, Girls, Kids, Mom, Motherhood, Parenting, Uncategorized, Women | Tagged Apps, blogging, Children, dad, digital, Education, i-stuff, iPad, iPhone, iPod, learning, Mom, Parenting, review, tech, Technology, write, zillydilly | Leave a comment

An iPad App That Spins?

Just when you thought that apps could not get more interactive, an even more, highly interactive app, may hit the streets real soon! The app is called PotteryPrint. The best way to describe PotteryPrint is creative, educational, 3D, tangible (yes, tangible), fun and rewarding!

Think of this… virtual pottery wheel… fun colors… creating fantastic art… validating your art work… sending it off to a 3D printer… and… drum roll please… sealed and delivered to your doorstep! That pretty much sums it up. Now, your child, or you, can create a fantastic and original piece of work, and have it shipped right to you! All of this done in a seamless manner! Not to mention, the paint is not going to be all over your walls! What’s great, is that a child cannot only create something they are proud of, but, before it is shipped in 3D form, they have an opportunity to review it, and make sure it is up to their specs. Talk about feeling accomplished when it arrives! I would most definitely have to place the work of art on my mantle!

You can find out more information about this app on its Kickstarter Campaign page. The campaign only has a few days left! Click on the link and check it out! The video alone is enough to make you love it!

I would love your vote! It only takes 2 clicks! One on the link and the other, thumbs up Trending Mom!

Posted in Apps, Children, Family, Girls, Kids, Mom, Motherhood, Shopping, Uncategorized, Women | Tagged best, blogging, business, buy, Children, computer, create, creative, Education, google, i-stuff, iPad, iPhone, iPod, learning, Mom, momblog, mommy, moms, Parenting, parents, photography, pottery, presents, school, tech, today, trend, trending, trends, twitter, website, wordpress, write | Leave a comment

Educational Resources For Your Children At Your Fingertips

Sharing great tools for children with other parents is always fun to do. Our children have been born into this world more tech savvy than I ever imagined. Because of this, I have found that educating them through the internet has been beneficial, and more interesting for them. The educational websites listed below, are some of my favorites for a variety of reasons. Overall, the material in each is great and the presentation is as well. Feel free to message me if you have others that would be of interest to readers.

Funbrain
http://www.funbrain.com/

Funbrain is a great website filled with different learning games for your child. Having different games that target reading, math and more makes learning fun for your children. With our children being digitally programmed from birth, computer games are a must. Children barely realize these are useful tools for parents to encourage positive educational growth.

PBS Learning Media
http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/

Simply a great digital resource for your children. PBS Learning Media offers learning material for all grade levels. From Preschool and beyond, you can utilize their interactive programs, videos, audio materials, images and documents. The website also offers different search capabilities so you can easily narrow down what interests your child. Overall, one of the best resource websites I have seen to date.

Kids Know It Network
http://www.kidsknowit.com/

I just got hooked on the Kids Know It Network. The website is filled with all sorts of games and activities for your children. Their influx of games, activities, and animations make this website robust! Through their main site, you can link to other websites they have, which are more subject specific.

Edhelper.com
http://www.edhelper.com/

Edhelper.com is another learning website without the excess graphics on the main page. It may not look as exciting as some of the others but the content is fantastic. The site offers puzzles, teacher tools like charts and worksheets. It even offers spelling word help as well as critical thinking exercises.

Discovery Education
http://www.discoveryeducation.com/

Discovery Education offers free teacher and parent resources that are excellent. Along with that, you and your child can go on virtual field trips and watch some fascinating movies and videos right on their website.

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Posted in Apps, Children, Family, Girls, Kids, Mom, Motherhood, Parenting, Shopping, Uncategorized, Women | Tagged Children, computers, digital, Education, Family, i-stuff, internet, iPad, iPhone, iPod, learn, learning, Parenting, preschool, school, tech, toddlers, tools, websites | 2 Comments

Meet Lilup… A Sweet Bedtime Story App

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/around-the-world-with-lilup/id419075416?mt=8

Description: The perfect bedtime story for your little ones. Lilup is a fluffy white dog who travels around the world. The app is interactive in a sweet peaceful way. The music is gentle. The storyteller’s voice is soothing. Like many book apps, the story can be read to your little one or you may read it. If you do allow for the app to read to your child, the words will be highlighted along the way, thus, creating a learning environment as well. An adorable app for any young child!
Please don’t forget to vote for me! You can vote every day, once a day, until April 10th! I really need your votes and it takes only just a moment!

Posted in Apps, Children, Family, Girls, Kids, Mom, Motherhood, Parenting, Uncategorized, Women | Tagged Apps, bedtime, i-stuff, iPad, iPhone, iPod, Kids, learning, learntoread, night, Parenting, read, sleep, tech, Technology | 1 Comment

Giving – More than Me Foundation – Beautiful Cause

I AM A MOTHER. MY CHILDREN ARE MY WORLD. I HAVE BEEN TOUCHED BY THE MORE THAN ME FOUNDATION… FORTUNATELY.
I HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS
I thought about what I would feel if my daughters weren’t given the chance to receive an education or, if they walked the streets in fear, not knowing what may happen to them. What if they had to watch their backs constantly, worrying they may be abused or violated, even in daylight? That is something I could not imagine being faced with. Unfortunately, the girls MTM support are faced with just that every day.

Let’s start with some statistics …

LIBERIA, WEST AFRICA

85% UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

60% OF THEIR POPULATION IS UNDER THE AGE OF 25

FERTILITY RATE WAS 5.9 BIRTHS PER WOMAN IN 2009

20.4% OF CHILDREN UNDER AGE 5 WERE MALNOURISHED IN 2007

ONLY 17% OF THE POPULATION HAD ACCESS TO ADEQUATE SANITATION FACILITIES IN 2008!

THE POPULATION IS APPROXIMATELY 3.5 MILLION

AREA – 43,000 SQUARE MILES – SLIGHTLY LARGER THAN OHIO

West Point is one of the poorest slums in the country of Liberia.

MORE THAN ME FOUNDATION

If you have not had the opportunity to learn about the More Than Me Foundation, you are in for a really incredible story enhanced by some pretty amazing people!

I stumbled upon More Than Me by sheer luck! While researching and learning about the many organizations dedicated to helping and giving to others, More than Me stood out for a few reasons:

*MISSION

GETTING GIRLS OFF THE STREET AND INTO SCHOOL IN ONE OF THE POOREST SLUMS IN THE WORLD IN LIBERIA, WEST AFRICA.

Browsing through www.morethanme.org was a blessing for me. We all hear stories all the time about some person who experienced something that changed them forever and now they want to do something for others. Often, these are just stories or dreams. It is rare that people like Katie Meyler, founder of MTM actually turn these dreams and hopes into a reality. Katie has done more than that though, her dreams encompass their whole organization, making them quite a force! Reading everyone’s bio’s made my eyes well up. Here is a group of people, who have their own lives outside of the organization, whether families with young children, busy careers and more, they share a similar goal. They are truly helping those in need and are focused.

On so many occasions, I have given to charities and other organizations not really knowing if the money or any of my contributions are going towards the cause. Similar to a black hole situation. MTM is different. There is a strong purpose, and the purpose is achieved with each contribution. They don’t make promises they cannot keep. Their goal is to not only to educate these wonderful little beings but to keep them safe. They are a like a family. It is awful and causes heartache when things beyond the foundation’s control happen to these innocent children. Amazingly enough, the MTM foundation doesn’t try to hide anything. They say it like it is. Their words and website make us aware of the reality of living in Liberia, the slums, and the awful things the children living there are faced with daily. On the flip side, the organization gives one the opportunity to witness the love and hope the young girls have for both MTM and themselves. It is about giving them a chance they probably would not have had. After reading about MTM and learning more about Liberia and the girls that MTM support, the reality of all things we take for granted surfaces. One realizes how much these children do not have that many of us just could not dream of being without. It is hard to believe that even in 2012, children are deprived of educations. They consider receiving one a luxury. Although I am a strong believer in education, it has always been mandatory. It is hard to believe that while some of our children complain about going to school, girls in Liberia would give anything to have that opportunity.

After all of my reading and research, I decided to contact MTM. I sent an email and received a response fairly quick. The email I received was sent by Stephanie Hood, a member of their organization. A few things she wrote truly stood out. In my email, I asked how I could help. 90% of the time I have tried to get involved in an organization, the first thing I am asked to do is contribute money. This time, the response was quite different. This group wants to get the word out! They believe that educating others about their organization and making people aware of what they are trying to do and what the girls of Liberia are going through is just as important as collecting funds. Stephanie was not only pleasant to deal with but offered to let me use any of the information, including pictures posted on their website to spread the word. This may sound ridiculous to some, but genuinely, it is a rarity. Stephanie allowed me to feel like I was a part of something no matter what I contributed and she welcomed it. I wish more charitable organizations were like this but more so, that more people in this world had the same care and love in them like the men and women involved in MTM.

If anything, please take the time to view their webpage, read some stories, donate if you can and really, get the word out. Many people may not know about MTM, but if made aware, I genuinely believe they would want to help.

Educating these girls is so important! Why girls? Below are just a few reasons presented by The MTM Foundation on their website:

When a girl in the developing world receives seven or more years of education, she marries four years later and has 2.2 fewer children.
An extra year of primary school boosts girls’ eventual wages by 10 to 20 percent. An extra year of secondary school: 15 to 25 percent.
When women and girls earn income, they reinvest 90 percent of it into their families, as compared to only 30 to 40 percent for a man.
These statistics are pretty amazing if you ask me!

Donation Link:

http://morethanme.org/donate.html

Video Link:
http://vimeo.com/31349402
MTM also has a very active Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/morethanme
*direct quote from http://www.morethanme.org

photo credits: all photos contained in this post are from http://www.morethanme.org