Years ago when I first started teaching school in Texas, I taught an Early Childhood class for two hours in the morning. I taught the rest of the day in the Resource Room, working with K-4th graders in small groups. Two children in the Early Childhood class had cerebral palsy. They were three years old when they started the class and such sweet children to work with. They amazed me because even though they couldn’t talk much and required special seats so they could sit on the floor during group time, they understood so much. They had the cutest sense of humor and would smile the sweetest smiles when they thought something was funny. And they always loved everyone. I think I learned as much from them as they did from me. If you know a child who has cerebral palsy, then you probably know what I mean.

If you’re looking for a great Christmas gift for the “scientist” at your house, check out Elizabeth’s Discovery Exclusive Tornado Lab. And for the non-scientific students, it would be so much fun that they wouldn’t know they were learning. When I used to teach first grade, we would do a science experiment with a two liter bottle and make our own twisters. Sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn’t work very well. This would have been so cool to have!

The Jungle Store carries animal inflatable items, stuffed animals, animal print bedding, and animal print party supplies. In fact, they have the largest selection of stuffed animals on the web and are always adding new animals. They even carry animal greeting cards, gift wrap, and stationary. If you are looking for animal inflatable items or stuffed animals to decorate a child’s room, or maybe you’re a teacher teaching an animal unit, then check out The Jungle Store. If you’re wanting to decorate a bedroom with an animal theme, visit their website and look at the unique bedding they have available. I did and was amazed at all the different animal themed products they carry!

The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame is a beautiful museum dedicated to the women of the American West, and in fact, it is the only museum in the world dedicated to honoring those women who were really courageous and had trail blazing spirits that wouldn’t quit. The museum is actually famous and is known nationally for its educational exhibits, library, and photographs.  It’s a great resource to people all over the country and probably in other parts of the world as well. Our family enjoyed learning about the West and these extraordinary women through neat exhibits and hands-on experiences. Make sure you allow enough time when you go because you don’t want to miss any part of it.    Bring the whole family because it’s great for kids of all ages.

We had been hearing about this museum, finally got to visit it a while back ,and really enjoyed it.  I imagine Lori, who blogs about being the wife of a cowboy at A Cowboy’s Wife, would really enjoy it, too!

I do private tutoring in my home, using my nearly twenty years experience as a public school teacher as a resource. Different kids learn in different ways, and it just depends on the child. What works with one child might not work with another. So I have to figure out what works for each individual child and what they consider to be a fun way to learn (sometimes so fun they don’t even realize they’re learning).
If you’re wanting a fun way to help your kids reach their academic potential, then an Innovative Tutor is probably what you’re looking for. SCORE! Educational Centers use a customized approach for each child and try to instill a lifelong love of learning which is so important. SCORE!’s leaders have appeared on Good Morning America and The Today Show to name a few, have been around for 15 years, and have a great track record. So do your research, check them out, and then give them a call.

This past spring, I helped a friend’s son who was in second grade at the time and having problems. He should have been in third grade. I went to his classroom and worked with him one or two mornings a week and some days we would work out in the hall. I could tell he was having trouble processing info, so one day I asked to speak to someone in the office about him. I talked with a counselor and told her there was something wrong with his processing skills. They had given him tests before and had sent him to another place for further testing and found no reason why he was having trouble in the classroom. I knew they thought his problem was all behavioral. I explained to the counselor that I had worked for six years as a Resource Room teacher and knew something was wrong. They just hadn’t pinpointed it yet. I asked if they had tested him for dyslexia. They had not. (Why hadn’t they tested him for dyslexia before he was nine yrs old! I don’t understand that. When I used to teach first grade in another district, we were told to start watching for signs of Dyslexia at age six or seven.) Well, I talked to his mom, she requested dyslexia testing, they tested him, and the test showed that he was dyslexic. Now he goes to a dyslexia class every day. I just wish the school had figured this out a couple of years ago or at least one year sooner.

I have talked to someone else since then whose son is having problems in school also. Again, there have been no tests for dyslexia. From what the parent told me, it sounds like their son is dyslexic. They have requested dyslexia testing and I’m anxious to find out the results. I don’t understand why schools are waiting so long to test, and in these two cases it’s only after the parents’ request the testing that the testing is actually done.

If your child is having a lot of problems in school, it might not hurt to ask the question, “Have you tested for dyslexia?”

If you’re traveling west in Texas on I-20, make sure you stop in Abilene and visit Frontier Texas for a great educational experience. It made the New York Times recently. We heard about it a couple of years ago and decided to stop and check it out. I thought it would probably be the average historical type of museum. But I was mistaken. It is not your average museum. I was impressed and highly recommend it. I don’t want to tell you too much…I want you to experience the state-of-the-art technology yourself. Visit the links below for more information.

Lisa at Lisa Reviews recommends Leap Frog Math Circus.  She says that her young daughter, Madison, really enjoys the music and doesn’t realize that she’s learning.  When I was teaching in the Resource Room years ago, I would use a multiplication tables song that helped the students learn their multiplication facts.   Make something fun and children learn faster!

Go to the link below to learn more about Leap Frog Math Circus.

http://lisareviews.com/2007/08/15/leap-frog-math-circus/

My family enjoys going to Austin, TX, for a short vacation now and then.  The last time we were there, the new Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum had opened and we decided to check it out.  It’s within walking distance of the Texas State Capitol Building.   You know they say everything is big in Texas, well that’s true of this museum.  It’s three stories tall and even the outside of the museum is impressive.  But the neat thing about the museum is all the interactive exhibits it contains as well as an IMAX Theater.   We not only enjoyed going through all the exhibits and the IMAX but we also enjoyed eating in the museum’s Cafe.   This is such a fun place to go as well as an exciting learning experience not only for the kids but for adults as well.  We were really impressed with it and plan to go again when we’re in Austin for a family get-a-way.

Click to read more about the museum.

I was just reading at MomReviews about some neat toys called “Noah’s Pals.”  They have boxes that contain cards with interesting details and info about the animals, whether the animal is endangered, etc., which countries they come from, and what kind of environment they live in.   And you also get info on which Animal Family they belong to and their scientific name.   When I was teaching first and second grades, I would have loved to have had these educational toys for all my students and especially for the Gifted and Talented students.   We had a unit on animals and did extended research on them.   “Noah’s Pals” would be absolutely great to have in the classroom.  Also, as a Bible class teacher, I would love to have these for teaching about creation.  All the amazing details about each animal would help open the children’s eyes to the wonders of God’s creation.  So, whether these toys are being used for just the educational aspect at home and in the classroom or used in a Bible class setting, they would be great to have.  I am impressed!  I will hopefully remember to look for them next time I’m in the gift shop at the zoo or at Fossil Rim, TX.    Thank you, MomReviews, for sharing!