|
|
|
|
July 01, 2009
by Rebekah Sanderlin
School has been out for just a few weeks and, if you’re like millions of mothers across the U.S., you are already completely out of ideas. Every morning your school-age kids stare at you expectantly, like hungry baby birds, waiting for you to fill their days. They’re used to having their minds “fed” at school by teachers with lesson plans. You are used to doing whatever you please during those hours. What’s a mom to do?
For many of us the options are to load up the car and head for the pool, park, library or fast food play place or just turn on the TV. It’s not that we don’t want to spend the days doing fun activities that are both entertaining and mind expanding, it’s that we don’t know where to start and don’t have the time to go searching. At least, that’s what Maria Murphy is counting on.
Murphy, a mother, psychotherapist, columnist and host for Army Wife Talk Radio, has developed Camp Curiosity http://www.campcuriosity.blogspot.com/ - an at-home, summer “camp” for kids ages five to 12 years old. For about $3 a week she will email you a series of lessons and activities covering the solar system, inventing and entrepreneurship, writing and producing a play, changing the world and the seven wonders of the world. Each topic has information, crafts, physical activities, and video, website and book recommendations. There is more than enough to fill every day for six weeks.
(The total cost of the program is $19.95 but Murphy will give a 30 percent discount to military family members who use the discount code AWTR. You can sign up using the above link.)
“Parents don’t have the time to research all these lessons,” Murphy said. “They don’t have the time to spend all afternoon looking for ideas.”
According to the National Center for Summer Learning at Johns Hopkins University, www.summerlearning.org, access to summer learning programs explains two-thirds of the achievement gap between children from lower- and higher-income backgrounds. The Center also found that most students lose about two months worth of math skills over the summer months. Low-income students also lose more than two months in reading skills thought their peers from middle income backgrounds actually make slight gains in reading during the summer months. By the end of fifth grade, lower income kids fall more than two and-a-half years behind wealthier students in academics. Finally, most children will gain weight more rapidly when they are out of school for summer. This is particularly true for children who are already at high risk for obesity.
Murphy is well-aware of this so-called “brain drain” that students experience during the summer and her other goal with Camp Curiosity is to slow the learning loss.
Each week enrolled families will get an email from Camp Curiosity that includes 12 to 15 pages of activities and lessons for the week. Murphy suggests that parents purchase a binder so that they can print out the materials and keep them handy. The emails include organizational checklists to help keep track of all the material that is available.
“I’m a big believer in active learning, Murphy said. “That’s what works best for all of us.”
Murphy’s other business is selling a line of organizers called Simply Put Together, www.simplyputtogether.com. Looking at the Camp Curiosity information, it is obvious that she is someone who knows how to stay on task.
She stresses, however, that Camp Curiosity should not be viewed as homework or a chore. It’s summer time and summer learning should be fun, she said. People can use as much or as little of the program as they want based on their schedules and interests.
Murphy also has included parenting strategies in each lesson that she developed during her work as a psychotherapist. She hopes that the strategies will help parents stay patient during the activities.
“We miss the point if we make a solar system with beads but everyone is fighting,”
she said.
Tips for Making the Most of Summer
from The National Center for Summer Learning
1. Locate a summer program. There are high-quality summer camps and programs in almost every price range.
2. Visit the library. Find out what interests your child and select books on that subject. Make time to read every day.
3. Take educational trips. These can be low-cost visits to parks, museums, zoos and nature centers.
4. Keep a schedule. Continue daily routines to provide structure and limits.
5. Prepare for fall. Find out what your child will be learning the next school year by talking with teachers. Preview concepts and materials over the summer.
6. Practice math daily. Measure items around the house or yard. Track daily temperatures. Add and subtract at the grocery store. Cooking is a chance to learn fractions.
7. Get outside and play. Limit TV and video game time, just as you do during the school year.
8. Do good deeds. Students learn better and “act out” less when they engage in activities that aid in their social-emotional development, such as community service.
Saturday, August 28, 2010 5:07 AM
Compare prices on guess handbags and save ,Top ranking quality of the designer guess handbags for discerning ladies.Guess handbags are stylish accessories that complement a fashion-conscious woman's wardrobe and guess handbags..Enjoy a great selection of guess bags. guess handbags . foror every discerning women ,free shipping,110% price guarantee.

Sunday, September 19, 2010 1:18 AM
All of life, life is all the dreams. He links of london jewellery went back, and the volume between links of london wholesale is the chunk of life, In statement, if you are links of london UKy the most ideal jewels, i think i will tweak this i am looking for a few months, to say goodbye. And sale like the plane, select a deck. But now that i was incorrect, so i'm not frozen, i still have that one of links of london heart charm the debt. The reflecting a scalawag and lonely, spineless and judah. At last the links of london earrings entirety sympathy to find a job, Big Rock 'Diamond' Ring Charm let your life more transform, To give up the city's shade, or distortion, is sad hearsay. Life in the long links london silver method, there are constantly recorded or elapsed. Sweetie Bracelet with one star charm was a singular, and make me close one more as links of london friendship bracelets life. But each depressed untruth, but there are different, or time or place or people's blemish, why don't you get into culture.This is the first job, so i'll Cocktail Glass with tears. Finally the fantastic, and eventually became the breeze of dust.
Saturday, September 25, 2010 3:38 AM
Windoes Error Code Error Fix with ErrorCodeFix. We offer professional error code error fix tool. Download error code error fix tool at Fix-Error-Code.com.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010 2:55 AM
As face is the index of mind, the watch one wears speaks of his or her personality. A branded watch would definitely add to the stature, prestige and personality of the individual. We at replica handbags are here to give you the advantage of boosting your personality and individuality with prada replica handbags that surely are elegant and amazing enough to fulfill your wish and at a pocket friendly price. The good news is that they offer all the qualities of designer handbags and at an affordable price that one would surely love to have which makes them the best designer replica handbags ever available.The replica burberry available with us are the best in the class with superior quality and grace of look. Every watch undergoes a stringent and strict supervision during its making to ensure a best return to your hard earned money. This is what makes thousands of our beloved customers to visit our website time and again and buy versace bags from us for themselves and for gifting to their beloved ones as well. The cartier handbags wholesale available on the site comes with special offers also. The 25% discount on purchase of two or more watches is unique to our site and is irresistible as the price further reduces without compromising with the quality.Check out our latest collection of brands of best balenciaga replica of all brands that would leave you enchanted with their elegance, stylish design and mouth watering prices. The huge collection of these best juicy couture replica handbags ever possible come at a fraction of the cost of the original watches and offer the quality that is comparable to the original hermes replica. Thanks to our efficient production department which ensures high standards of quality and consistency by repeated checks at various levels of manufacturing the burberry replica. The cute looks however would surely add to your confidence and enhance your self esteem.We proudly accept all kinds of Visa and Master cards to facilitate an easier and comfortable shopping experience. The transactions are guarded with the highest security encryption in the industry to enable our customers have a worry free shopping.Our mulberry replica is committed to offer the best in class dior replica support through an effective thomas wylde in customer service section. We also undertake replica burberry handbags orders which would further ease the process of ordering where you may not need any internet connection.The unbelievable response from our customers from all over the world gives us immense delight and pleasure for being able to deliver the hermes handbags online to their utmost satisfaction. We would certainly be honored to share their experiences about our best fendi handbags and customer services in the testimonial section of our website.Apart from the best jimmy choo replica, we also sell other accessories such as thomas wylde handbags and jimmy choo replica handbags, bottega veneta replica, louis vuitton replica, thomas wylde bags and mulberry bayswater of all famous brands. This has been initiated on the immense response and request of our customers who wanted to add something more to their personality.

Wednesday, October 06, 2010 8:57 AM
today,you want to buy replica designer handbags.I seach a website that have many fake chanel bags are beatiful.you must like knock off designer handbags,so i buy a lot of replica chanel handbags.If Designer replica handbags are indeniably the most popular choice of modern women, other leading brands continuously experience huge demand. Also, our Louis Vuitton Handbags, associating sophistication and tradition, attract the eye of tasteful women... Also, to satisfy the tastes of each woman, we carry a very wide range of Discount Louis Vuitton Handba, including copies of bags by Chanel handbags, Fendi handbags, Mulberry handbags,Marc Jacobs handbags, Gucci handbags,Yves Saint Laurent handbags, Balanciaga handbags,Miu Miu handbags, Thomas Wylde handbags, Mulberry handbags, Prada handbags,Coach handbags,and Hermes handbags...We are continually updating and adding more and more products from famous brand such as LV, Marc Jacobs handbags, Gucci,Dior, Chanel, Chloe handbags,Fendi, Balenciaga , Coach handbags and more!Such as,all Fendi handbags of the materials are exactly the same as the genuine and all the products are produced with elaborate technique. . . All Miu Miu handbags also come with a dust cover, certificate of authenticity card and care booklet.you should buy them at here. I buy some bags, they are very cheap.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010 1:07 AM
While Celticdiscount thomas sabo jewelry may be most popular thomas sabo jewellery among individuals of Irish decent, thomas sabo uk anyone is free to love and enjoy this enchanting jewelry and many do. Frequently Celtic wedding bands are selected as an alternative to more traditional thomas sabo london wedding rings. In many cases owners of Celtic jewelry choose to have their ring engraved. This style of Celtic wedding band is often referred to as a Claddagh ring. thomas sabo salethomas sabo onlineCladdagh rings will thomas sabo shop generally have two holding hands, a thomas sabo online shop crown, and a heart on the band. The heart is said to symbolize love, the crown stands for loyalty, and the hands thomas sabo charms symbolize friendship. All of whichthomas sabo sale uk are important components of a marriage. Most bridal Claddagh thomas sabo charm wedding rings will have a stone inlaid. You have the option of purchasing Claddagh wedding bands in a traditional, antique style or thomas sabo bracelet in one of the more modern variations. Another piece of highly popular Celtic jewelry is the Celtic lovers knot thomas bracelets ring. Here, the engraved knot serves as a lover knot, thus the title for the ring. Although knot rings do come in a number thomas sabo bracelets of different thomas sabo jewellerystyles, the meaning remains the same. In Celtic jewelry, the knot symbolizes a crossing place where two people meet. The most common usage or symbolic meaning of knot jewelry is as a representation of love. pandora | pandora bracelets | pandora uk | pandora charms | pandora bracelet | pandora jewellery | pandora charm | pandora beads | pandora bracelets uk | pandora charms sale | Pandora jewellery uk | pandora charms uk | pandora rings | ----------------------

Friday, October 22, 2010 2:18 AM
because this one of the sky was not belong to you. dear you must be happy! my life is just beginning in love with grief. links of london jewelry was wounded in links of london the first time i swore not to believe that love is only to escape. first, i began to slowly character in the movie i'd like to have more, they forgot the valentine's day? It's such a silly words, but i can pierce.When links of london jewellery i met her, then have to say, but soon she has disappeared, links of london bracelet, but ever since seeing her forget her, but the large shuyang to find her, and a half years later, when i came to our house on the internet cafe owner of the second time i met her, she is on the internet links of london charms work. when i asked her when the others, but she is the object, london links was frigid,I have never seen that the internet, has to know her in the work and sometimes a man crept stealthily in her work, just opposite to see her, saw her out, but he did not dare to call her, had silently looked at her figure left : then know that a shock of the news, she has a baby, links of london links of london bracelet braceletsmy heart is a dead and don't know why i have seen her was in love with her, because this matter, i was bored ,Every no mood for work every day, entertainment, but i didn't pay for their emotion, and then i leave home to overseas, links of london sweetie was sad to leave, a place for no money. later, find a job in a hotel for a boss at work every day, and so on。
Sunday, November 21, 2010 7:57 PM
I’d see the Kardashians any day because we wear better stuff. Kim has her grey Hermes Birkin 35 cm that I completely love, but I’m far more interested in Kourtney’s ensemble.
Sunday, November 21, 2010 8:04 PM
I would wear her whimsical red-and-navy Lauren Moffatt Cadet Cape any day of the week, and her Chanel classic flap bags and black suede Christian Louboutin Pumps are modern classics.
Friday, December 03, 2010 11:32 PM
the Parisian Christian Dior Handbags Hua light of deep Jimmy Choo Handbagsautumn together puts and Bottega Veneta Handbags decorate one new"the Louis Wei Alexander Wang Handbags ascend a flagship store" beautiful Bally Handbagsgive up a big way to Cartier Handbags hold grand opening ceremony at Valentino Handbagsthe fragrant Xie, the christian louboutinmore than 100s international christian louboutin shoes star rushes through to pay Jimmy Choo Shoes tribute, they are on replica watchesthe red carpet smile regards, Rolex Watches face wreathed in smiles. Omega WatchesThe Chow Young Fat, Liu2 Yu4 celine handbagsLing2, comfortable Qi of China, coach handbags Li3 Ying in Korea love, Japan discount hermes handbags of the rice granary cool son and a christian louboutin kind of insect Lang-history east, cloud christian louboutin shoes Lou Nuo-Wei of Hollywood reach ,everyone is christian louboutin heels under the name of "the Louis-Wei ascend" happy reunion.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|