Back-To-School: Volunteering {Guest Post}

We are nearing the end of our Back-To-School series, but before we it's over, I wanted to have my friend, Amy, share with you about volunteering in the classroom. 

I have always wanted to volunteer, and I have been able to on occasion.  But what I really want to do is volunteer on a regular basis.  In the past, time has never allowed it because I have had a younger one at home.  But now that she is starting Kindergarten, I am hoping to volunteer regularly!

If you have a child starting back, you will soon be asked to volunteer at your child's school, and I wanted you to know why this might be an important decision.  So, I wanted Amy to share her experiences with us.  Here she is... 

When Ricki asked me to help with her Back to School posts I was super excited!  (Mainly because I know that means my kids will be back to school soon!  Just kidding, just kidding!)  I am actually excited to share with all of you why I love working in the classrooms of my kids.  

My husband and I have a conviction for sending our kids to public schools.  I know there are those that frown on this and think Christian/private school or homeschooling are best.  Which is fine, I have friends that do both.  (And this post is not about that.)  However, because our kids go to public schools it is very important to us that we know what is going on in the school and classroom and that we “be the light” in this dark place. That is where the helping in the classroom fits in.  I started working in my sons Kindergarten class and have continued to do so for him and my daughter.  I love it!  (Ya see, if I worked, I would probably be a teacher.)  Teachers love it…the kids love it!  It is truly a win/win situation!

Helping out allows you to form relationships with the teachers.  (You can read about how God worked in an AMAZING way here http://amyforhim.blogspot.com/2011/04/thankful-thursday-my-friend-lisa.html.) It is also a great way to get to know the kids.  There are some students that I still see and they will say “Hey Broderick’s mom” and give me a great big hug.  It makes my heart smile.  Your own kids will love having you show up and help out in their class.  Assisting your child’s teacher allows you to see first hand what is going on in the classrooms…what they are learning, how all the kids interact with each other, how the teacher interacts with them, and better understand how your child learns.  The benefits of developing a special relationship with the kids and students are endless!! 

When Broderick was in Kindergarten I did various things:

Helped with stations

Sorted books

Went on field trips

Played learning games with the kids

In first Grade I:

Cooked

Went on nature hikes

Helped in the library

Helped in the cafeteria

At my daughters preschool

I subbed for teachers

Aided the teachers in art projects

Worked in the office

Another great way to help is classroom parties.  They are not very often and they are only for an hour or so.  This is a great option for working parents.  (Helping is not limited to Moms only.  Kids love when their Dads show up!)  As the kids get older I don’t think the teachers need as much help, but always offer it.  You never know when they will take you up on it.  If you can’t help in the classroom check into helping in the office, library, art teacher, gym class, and cafeteria and for sure get involved in the PTO.

As you can tell there are many ways to get involved.  (Even more than I mentioned.) 

So, when your child comes home that first week of school with stacks of papers for you to read, find the one about helping.  Fill it out and send it back…you won’t regret it!

Thanks Amy for sharing your heart with us on helping in the classroom!  Make sure to follow Amy's blog and read all about her daily adventures with her BEAUTIFUL kids! 

Back-To-School: Homeschooling {Guest Post}

My daughters attend public school.  We live in a great school district and we have had a wonderful experience! 

But I have lots of mom friends who homeschool their children and also have wonderful experiences.

I felt it was important to include them in the back-to-school series because I think that sometimes, those of us who send our children away from the home to school misunderstand why some families choose homeschooling.  And also because in many ways, homeschool moms are preparing for back-to-school in the same ways we are.

So, I asked one of my friends who homeschools to guest post today on her experience as a homeschool mom.  I wanted to know why she chose it and also what she is doing to prepare for back-to-school time.

Let me introduce you to my friend, Jenny!

Hi!  My name is Jenny and I am a stay at home mom of two kids, ages 6 and 4.   If you would have asked me a few years ago if I would consider homeschooling I would have said "no way!". 

I think at the time I had a lot of misinformation about it.  We sent our son to pre-school, but when it was time to sign him up for Kindergarten I had a feeling it wasn’t the right thing for him.  We started praying about homeschooling and doing a lot of research.  Now, here we are at the beginning of our second year.

Yes it is hard in some ways, and time consuming, but the rewards are great!   We belong to a local homeschool group, which is wonderful.  The kids take art, music, and gym classes.  They make friends in the group and I am able to spend time with other homeschool mom’s. 

When we prepare for the upcoming school year we start in the winter.  I begin researching curriculum and going over what has worked well that year and what we possibly need to change. 

For example my son’s math program didn’t fit well with his learning style so we changed it and now he loves math!  I have a great support system of other homeschool mom’s so I bounce a lot of ideas off of them.  We attend our local homeschool conference in the spring and there we are able to look at so many different curriculum companies it is overwhelming at times. 

Once we decide what we will use for each subject I write out lesson plans to give me an idea of what we will be doing each week.  One thing I have learned is to be flexible in this area because things will come up and kids do get sick.  We usually start school at the beginning of August and end the last week of April.  A couple weeks before we start I take the kids and let them pick out school supplies.  I think that is a fun part of school and I don’t want them to miss out on it just because they are homeschooled.  

We are really enjoying the journey we are on and we feel it is where God wants us to be.  We know that homeschooling is not for every family or every child.  We decided to take it one year at a time and pray that God would continue to guide our decisions. 

Thanks so much, Jenny, for sharing with us!  I am always amazed at how much work homeschool moms do and all they accomplish!  Plus, that schedule of getting out at the end of April sounds AWESOME :)

Winner of The Facebook Fans Giveaway!

You Like me, You REALLY Like me!!!!

A Big Fat Huge Squish-you-until-you-can't-breathe Hug and "Thank You" to all of you for becoming Facebook Fans of Family Fun Mom!

My first *little* goal was to get 100 fans and last night WE DID IT!!!!!

And as promised, to celebrate, I am giving away a $25 Gift Card to Chili's.

Why?  Because I love it there and it's one of my favorite places to celebrate!

And the Big Winner Is.......

Blake Engler-Garrett!!!!!

Thanks for 'Liking' Family Fun Mom Blake and I hope you enjoy the Gift Card!

Hmmm, so I guess now I need a new goal.  I think I'll think a little BIGGER and go for 500!!  WE CAN DO IT! 

But first, I want to know....

-What do you think the giveaway should be for 500 'Likes'?

-What kind of stuff do you want to see on the blog and on the Facebook page?

More fashion?  More crafts?  More recipes?  Have an idea for something new?  I'm all ears!!!

(or eyes I guess because I will be reading your suggestions)

You know what I mean...

Again, an ENORMOUS THANKS to everyone for Liking me :)

Things I Love Thursday: CubWorks {Guest Post!}

I have this wonderful friend, Tricia, who just happens to have developed this AWESOME method for teaching kids how to correctly write their letters and numbers.  Both of my girls have used this program and I absolutely LOVE it! 

The company's name is CubWorks.  The method she developed uses these cute pictures and stories to help children remember how to properly form the letters.  My girls benefited greatly from using the CubWorks products, and so I thought that with school starting back up, now would be there perfect time to tell you about this great product and give you a chance to try it too! 

(Psssst....there's a GIVEAWAY!)


So, since Tricia knows *a little bit* more about her product, I thought I would let her tell you about it herself.  Without further adieu, my friend, Tricia!

Sloppy. Messy. Illegible. As a pediatric occupational therapist, I have heard these comments (and more) describing children’s handwriting over the past 17 years. Many students struggle with the basic tasks of controlling the pencil to form letters and numbers in a neat manner, and positioning the letters and numbers appropriately on lined paper. 

If you are a parent who has a child who has had difficulty with handwriting, or know someone who has had difficulty, then you know the frustration that can come from dealing with this issue. That’s one of reason’s I developed CubWorks. It is an easy to use, real life tool that both parents and kids love.

How is CubWorks different from the traditional method of learning how to write their letters and numbers?  

This is how it works: Each letter and number has pictures and a story to guide the child’s hand through the formation. Some of these images are clouds, apples and trees. Children are better able to remember how to form each letter and number because they can relate to & understand these familiar objects.

 

This is an example of the story and picture method use for letter “c".

1. Start at the dot.
2. Go up to the cloud.
3. Pick an apple.
4. Put the apple in the basket.

You might say, my child already knows how to write and “c” but they start at the bottom. What’s wrong with that? The way letters are formed is important and it’s best correct formation become automatic or second nature. When correct formations become automatic, children are better able to focus on the sentence development i.e, spelling, grammar, ideas etc.

So,

Correct letter formation = Helps with penmanship and can lead to better sentence development.

Incorrect letter formation=Can lead to poor penmanship and sentence development.

Improving fine motor skills is another area of focus in CubWorks. These skills are important because they help develop good pencil control, which is something else that leads to good penmanship.

Now you’re thinking, I’m in. How do I make this work for my child? That’s the great thing about CubWorks. We have a lot of options. If you have a younger child who is starting to write or needs help with forming letters, CubClub is an excellent choice.

http://www.cubworks.com/cubclub.html

Customized name worksheets, like the one below, have been a big hit with CubClub subscribers. It’s an easy way for children to learn how to write their name. They form correct formation habits for each letter using the pictures and stories.

CubClub also provides numerous printables to improve fine motor skills.  These skills are important because they help develop good pencil control, which is something else that leads to good penmanship.

Here’s an example of a worksheet printed from CubClub. You can do this activity at home with your child. He or she will learn the correct formation pattern and build the fine motor skills at the same time!  

Dotted Block Worksheet

Activity:

Secure 1.5” thick foam core to easel or vertical work surface such as a wall. Worksheet taped to foam core. Student uses pincers finger to push toothpick into each circle of letter. Place cheerios or colored beads onto each toothpick to show letter/number.

Develops:

Arm, wrist & finger strength, skilled side of hand, in-hand manipulation, open web space, eye-hand coordination, & letter/number formations.

And here is Ricki's daughter, Faith, working on fine motor skills and letter “F” with a Dotted Block Worksheet from CubClub. She participated in a Kindergarten readiness group I did this summer. Faith did a great job!

We also have a student workbook that is geared for children who are in Kindergarten or older student’s who need additional help.

Here are two links for more information on the method and purchase of a workbook.

http://www.cubworks.com/method.html

http://www.cubworks.com/cart/index.php

I hope that you get to visit the site and look around.  CubWorks is my passion because I know from experience that it can make all the difference between a child having a positive and fun experience learning to write and form letters and numbers, and a very frustrating one!  I  hope that you try it out and see the difference it can make for your child!

__________________________________________________________

Isn't this product AWESOME?!  I never knew how important good letter formation was until my girls started using this.  It has been an excellent foundation for them as they learn all of their writing skills! 

I’d love for all of you to try this out. And for one of you, today is you lucky day!  We are doing a GIVEAWAY for a one year subscription to CubClub, (where you can get all the worksheets etc.), AND One workbook, a $40 value!

Here's How you can win: (And you can enter more than once!!!!)

-Follow the Family Fun Mom Blog, and leave a comment letting me know you did!

-Follow Family Fun Mom on Facebook and leave a comment here!

-Follow Family Fun Mom on Twitter and leave a comment here!

-Visit the Cub Works site, look around, and leave a comment here telling us how you would use this product.

-Post about this Giveaway on your FB and Twitter pages and comment here!

The winner will be announced next Thursday on the blog!  Good Luck! 

As always, I am linking up with The Diaper Diaries for Things I Love Thursday!  Be sure to click over and check out what else is getting some blog love today!

WFMW: Back-To-School Bread Recipe

We all have back-to-school traditions that we do with our kids. 

For some, it's going to see their classroom before school starts.

For some, it's having a special meal the first day.

For some, it's picking out a special first day outfit.

The list could go on...

FOR US, one of our favorite special traditions is Back-To-School Bread.

It is one of the things my girls look most forward to each year.

On the first day of school, as the time is drawing near for them to get home, I get out all the ingredients for this special treat.

Once they are home, (and I have taken a sufficient amount of pictures), then the girls get to go to the table and start making the bread.

Once it's all mixed, we put it into pans and put it in the oven to bake.  While it bakes, the girls get to tell me all about their first day and how much fun they had.

The smell of the bread fills the house while it bakes and it isn't long before they are asking how much longer until it's done.

Once it comes out, and is cool enough to eat, we slice ourselves some pretty big pieces and enjoy the bread together as they continue to share their day with me.

So if you haven't already figured out exactly what Back-To-School bread is...

Well, it's actually zucchini bread :)  {But is a SUPER Yummy Recipe!}

This tradition started on Addy's first day of kindergarten.  I was going to make zucchini bread that day because my mom had given us some huge zucchini's, but I knew Addy would want to help.  She loves to assist in the kitchen...

So I went ahead and got out all the ingredients while I waited on her bus, and once she got home, she was so excited and said, "This is the BEST day ever!  I get to go to school and make bread in the same day!"  So, we re-named this bread back-to-school bread and now we look forward to it every year.

Sooooo, here is the recipe for our Back-To-School Bread.  Simple and Easy, but oh so good!


Back-To-School Bread

• 3 eggs
• 1 cup oil
• 2 cups raw zucchini, shredded
• 1 3/4 cups sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder 
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons Vanilla
• 2 cups flour

Directions:

•  Put zucchini into a strainer and press out excess liquid.

•  Beat eggs, sugar and oil together. 

•  Add flour, baking powder, soda, cinnamon, salt, vanilla, and nuts.
•  Mix together by hand.
•  Add zucchini (minus liquid).
•  Beat mixture.
•  Pour into 2 greased and floured loaf pans.
•  Bake 45 minutes at 350°F.

So tell me about some of your Back-To-School Traditions!  Any special Recipe's?  What do your kids like to do?

As always, I am linking up with We Are THAT Family For Works For Me Wednesday.  Click over to see all the other great ideas!

Top Ten Tuesday: Back-To-School Gifts For Teachers

I don't know about you, but I like to send in a little something for the teachers on the first day of school.  I think it starts the year off on the right foot, and lets be honest, a little bribery never hurt anyone!


Honestly, I just want the teacher to know that I appreciate the effort they have put in to getting the classroom and lessons ready. 


But while I enjoy getting a small gift each year, sometimes I feel like my gift card and box of tissues doesn't seem all that original.  I know that they still appreciate the thought, but I want to do something more creative.  So this year, I set out to get some cool ideas and I am sharing the ones I found with you!


10.  One idea I thought of was to buy some nice honey or a honey gift basket with a note that said, "I'm So Glad You're going To BEE My Teacher!".  Maybe I would include a small gift card to a cute gift shop too.

9.  Love this idea of wrapping a nice calculator with the message, "According to My Calculations, It's Going to be a Great Year!".

8.  A pack of seeds and gardening gloves with a note that says, "Teachers Impart the Seeds of Knowledge That Grow Forever."

7. This SUPER CUTE wreath made of crayons.  Who wouldn't Love that?!

6.  An insulated cup with a little flag attached that says, "Thank You for Quenching Our Thirst For Knowledge!"  maybe include some instant drink packs with it, (Crystal Light etc.)

5.  Gift Card to Starbucks, (or other favorite coffee shop), with a note that says, "Thanks a Latte for All You Do."

4.  A Miniature Hershey Bar, A Marshmallow and Graham Crackers in a small gift bag that has the message, "We Need S'More Teachers Like You!"  A gift card to Target or the Teacher Supply Store would be nice to include too! 

3.  A six pack of A&W Root beer with a note that says, "My Teacher Is AW-some!"  Maybe include a gift card or candy with it!

2.  A Coffee Mug with colored Pencils and the mug says, "I Hope you Have a Colorful Year!"

1.  A bouquet of Flowers with a note that says, "If Teachers Were Flowers, I'd Pick You!"

Most of these ideas I got from Pinterest...(are you sensing a theme to many of my posts lately???).  I have found bunches of cute ideas and I am sure that I will find at least ONE that will work for us!

ALSO, I wanted to share this GREAT idea that a friend passed along to me a couple of years ago.  On the first day of school, your child will come home with bunches of papers for you to fill out.  I like to send one for the teacher to fill out on the first day to even the score a little :)

This paper is a list of his/her favorite things, like favorite pizza place, favorite soda, favorite color, his/her hobby, favorite candle scent, favorite candy, favorite place to shop, etc. 


That way, when it's time for me to send in a gift, I know exactly what he/she will appreciate!  Isn't that Genius?!  I did it last year and I loved knowing that the teacher would actually be able to enjoy what we were giving her.

***Check out this post for a FREE Printable of a cute little questionnaire that you can use!


And remember, even if you can't afford much, it really is the thought that counts.  Just let your teacher know that you are glad to be in the class and that you appreciate them!  That is what will really make their day!

As always, Linking up with Oh Amanda for Top Ten Tuesday!  Go ahead and check out all the other great Top Tens!

Mix It Up Monday: Back-To-School For Mom's

Last week we let kids fashion trends shine.  This week, it's all about the momma's!

Because, showing up to a school function in a hoody and ball cap once is okay.

Showing up Everyday in that same outfit is NOT!

And not because you need to impress anyone, but because you deserve to look good too!  Let's face it, when we take the time to put effort into how we look, we feel better about ourselves.  And when we feel like we look good, it gives us the confidence to be our best self!

Besides, who says soccer mom, (or cheer mom in my case), has to be a bad thing?  I see lots of mommas around me who look amazing standing on the side of those soccer fields!

Here are some looks I LOVE for Back-To-School time that mommas around the globe can rock out!

(NOTE:  See YESTERDAY'S GIVEAWAY to win a $20 Target Gift Card so you can shop some of these fun looks for yourself!)

I adore all of these looks!  Many of them come from pins I have pinned on Pinterest.  I am hoping to work each one into my wardrobe at some point, (or at least my take on the look!).

I also found some of these at Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, Lands End, and H&M. 

Now, my personal style tends to go more classic.   I try to find pieces that will last and that I can use season after season.  But I like to mix in trendy accessories to bring me up to date.

For example, we all KNOW I love my white skirt.  It's classic and I can wear it forever.  But I just found these AWESOME cowboy boots at Goodwill and

they.  are.  killer.

I mean seriously.  Rachael Zoe would be proud.

But these are a trendy item.  A couple of years from now, I might be wondering what in the world I was thinking wearing cowboy boots with a skirt. 

(I don't think that will EVER happen, but it's possible...)

Or take hair accessories.  I am in love with headbands right now with big huge flowers on them.

They are all the blogger rage.  But next year, who knows?!

But the great thing is, it doesn't matter.  I am spending very little on these trendy items and can change up my look next year by just replacing the accessories and pairing different colors.

BUT, if you *are* wondering what is on trend this fall, here's what I am seeing...

First, flare jeans are in.  Not that you won't see skinny anymore, but wide leg and flare are back and most likely people will be sticking to the skinny when they wear boots etc.

Also, pleats.  Now, this is not exactly welcome news to me because I can't really wear pleats.  So, this is a trend I will pass on!  But for those who can wear pleats, you will find them aplenty in skirts and pants this fall.

Another trend is fur.  I would try to go with the faux kind, and keep it simple.  A vest is enough...you don't want to be mistaken for an animal, you just want to be in style. 

A few other things you will see are:  Plaid, Big Bold Leather Belts, Scarves (which I am convinced is a new classic!), Corduroy, And anything that looks like it came from the 70's.

So, are you inspired? 

You should be!

Now tell me, what's your favorite look for Fall?  What makes you feel comfortable and good?  What new trend are you going to try this season?

As always, I will be linking up with Momma Go Round for Real Momma Real Style and The Pleated Poppy for What I Wore Wednesday.  Click on over and check out all the great styles these momma's are showin' off!