Showing posts sorted by relevance for query after school. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query after school. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query after school. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query after school. Sort by date Show all posts

Introducing Tracey and her Tempo


Tracey's Tempo

His, Mine, and Ours 
Our Life as a Big Blended Family   
Every parent knows that raising a family of any size and structure is a challenge. Every child has their own personality and the bigger the family,the more of a Master Schedule/Juggler you become.Then there are mixed families; couples that marry, or remarry, partners that have children from a previous marriage or relationship. This is the case for our family. In fact, in our case, things are even a little more complicated.


When I was introduced to my (now) husband, Mark, I had two young children, a five year-old son, Garrett, from a previous relationship (one of those short-lived “what was I thinking” relationships that change the course of everything), and a three year-old daughter, Ainsley, from a previous marriage.


Mark also had two children of his own, eight year-old daughter, Emma, and six year-old son, Alex, both from a previous marriage. Almost six years later, we now have a four year-old daughter, Olivia, and one more on the way, due in late September.


As you can imagine, schedules often overlap and clash and it is just something we have to work through. Sometimes it is asking for help from one of the kids other parents, sometimes it is Mark leaving work early to help, and sometimes we just have to let something slip through the cracks, which is always a disappointment but sometimes just needs to be done.

Homeschooling During the Coronavirus?

School Closure Home Learning


Have you unexpectedly been tossed into the throes of homeschooling since the Corona virus pandemic? If you've suddenly had to to become the school teacher, cafeteria lady, and janitor during these school closures, you're well aware that home learning is more difficult than it looks. So, how do you do homeschooling during the coronavirus pandemic? As seasoned homeschoolers, we're here to help. Below is a list of our favorite homeschool resources and some articles specifically addressing these troubled times and how to help your kids cope. What a life lesson this is, right?

This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

For more on our personal journey scroll to the end.


Homeschooling During the Coronavirus?



Worried how school closure and remote learning will affect your child? Love them, support them, build them up, and they'll be fine. Think homeschoolers are weird? Maybe, depends on your perspective, but we're more normal than you think. We only had 7 months of brick and mortar school, but our previously homeschooled kids made the best of their first year of brick and mortar school. They miss school so much. When this is all over your kids will look forward to going to school too! I've added a photo album for our long time readers and fans. Enjoy!


homeschool success stories
I love this post! We have a similar experience.
Keep scrolling to see our homeschoolers' success in public school!

Tips for Home Learning and Coping during School Closures and Covid19 




Coronavirus Memes Covid18 Memes Apocalypse
These are scary times, so here's a Coronavirus meme to lighten the mood.

Educational Resources for Homeschooling during the Coronavirus

  • Many of our older homeschool resources that target elementary students are listed in the homeschool tab on this site: Homeschool Learning Lessons for Elementary Age You can also do a search on our site for specific types of lessons like, grammar, math, and science.

  • BrainPop has the most fun videos; I love them as much as my kids do. BrainPopJr. is great for the younger set. They are a paid service, but offer a free movie of the week and other free lessons.


  • Mobymax has free options for remote learning and homeschoolers. The great thing about this website is they find and fix learning gaps. Kids can take assessments to see where they fall and then do educational activities based on their grade level in different subjects. It's a great way to see if your child has been falling through the cracks in public school.



  • Khan Academy is not for the faint of heart. If you're all in to the homeschooling thing, give it a try. We used it for several years. It's a free learning resource originally targeted toward middle schoolers and high schoolers, but now offers lessons for elementary too. It feels a lot more like "real school" than some of the other online options and keeps track of your progress and grade level.

  • Why not give this difficult time a fun spin? Our Summer Camp Handbook is edutainment at its best! Enjoy science experiments, PE Activities, and more disguised as fun! 

  • We also love CrashCourse with John and Hank Green. (Yes, that John Green!) You'll even find some of their lessons on Khan Academy. These are super fun, especially for older students.

Best Homeschool Blogs











First day of public school 2019.

We hope these resources help ease your mind and put you on the right track for remote home learning during the Coronavirus pandemic situation. Remember, homeschooling isn't easy and not all parents nor all kids are cut out for it. 



Bowling allows for socialization and physical activity. During the quarantine,
bowl with your game console or set up milk jugs to knock down with a basketball.

Do the best you can. Don't overdo it! If you take it too seriously, your kids won't enjoy it and neither will you. Make learning fun, make it light, and focus on those skills that are best learned at home: writing letters, sending emails, tying shoes, telling time, how to follow a recipe, chores (consider doing laundry a PE activity,) working on cars, putting together puzzles, dice games, Minecraft Uno or any Uno game, and anything that brings your family closer together.



Dress up day.

Note:
This past year, my kids decided to go back to public school. My 15 year-old was placed as a high learning junior taking all senior and college level courses, my 13 year-old is a well-rounded, straight A, school loving eighth grader. 

In previous years, we spent a maximum of 2 hours a day on book learning. The rest  of our day was focused on healthy outdoor activities, field trips to museums, special events at the library, and a local homeschool group for "socialization." Turns out, it was more than enough. 

Take it easy, don't stress out, and remember that YOU CAN DO IT!









Made the grade, first semester honor roll.


Never played football in his life. Made the team!


Loving the school band.

My son was looking forward to performing in the high school play, finishing building a home for Habitat for Humanity, trying out different sports and clubs, and now, that will have to wait until next year. My daughter was on an academic team, loving art club, playing in the school band, and appreciating school for its many wonderful opportunities. I took great pride and joy watching them try new things. My heart aches for their loss and for the loss of those long time public school seniors who are missing out on their last school dance, possibly graduation, and all the joys of being a high school senior. If nothing else, this experience will teach us not to take life for granted. 

Never forget, no matter how stressful it gets, getting to stay home with your kids is a gift.

Good Luck, go hug your kids!



What are the Best Ideas to get Kids to Exercise

 How to Get Your Kids Interested in Exercise



Nowadays, with all of the video games and gadgets available, it’s difficult to get kids to put away their screens and try something active. This has led to a huge rise in childhood obesity and health problems related to sedentary behavior. As a parent, you want your child to be as happy and healthy as possible, so how can you encourage them to become more interested in exercise rather than playing video games or watching TV? Here are some of the best ideas to get kids to exercise to give you inspiration.


This post contains Amazon affiliate links.



how to get your child to exercise


Ways to get Children to Exercise:


Try out a sport

If your child finds exercise ‘boring,’ then maybe they just haven’t found a sport they like yet. Sports are both lots of fun and a great way to burn extra calories, and team sports can also teach your child vital life skills like teamwork and cooperation. 


Volleyball is a fantastic, fast-paced sport that your kids will love. If you buy volleyball equipment to play this sport at home, then you’ll need to make sure you look after it so it doesn’t get damaged. In particular, volleyball ball pumps are essential for keeping the ball in perfect condition.


Go to after-school clubs

If you don’t have the space or equipment for your kids to play sports at home, then you can sign them up for after-school sports clubs instead. These clubs will have much better facilities and will be able to teach your child more about the sport, helping them reach their full potential. Additionally, your child will participate with other children at these clubs, which will help them make new friends and learn how to collaborate.


Walk to school

A small change you could make to your child’s routine is walking them to school instead of driving them there (or letting them walk alone if they’re old enough). This will get them used to moving more and will reduce their total amount of sedentary behavior. 


Try sports and dance games

A fun family activity that’ll get you all moving is sports or dance games. Although video games often reduce your child’s activity levels, these games actually make them get up and move around in order to win. Games like Just Dance are also extremely fun and competitive - you’ll be having as much fun and getting as much exercise as the kids!


Just Dance Nintendo Switch


Ask them what activities they like

Most importantly, you can’t get your kids interested in exercise if you don’t listen to what they’d like to do. Forcing them to take part in sports and activities they hate will only make them resent exercise. For example, you may find out that your child prefers competitive team sports, solitary sports like running, or simply going for long walks. You may also find that your child isn’t very interested in sports but loves creative activities like dance. Try out a variety of activities to see what works for them.


Once you’ve found a form of exercise that your child enjoys, it’ll be so much easier to establish healthy habits and avoid harmful sedentary behaviors. Whatever you choose, make sure you enjoy the ride!



Recommended:


Family Field Trip Ideas Indiana


Try Doing Summer Camp at Home






Throw a Birthday Party or Summer Camp with these 11 Minecraft Games and Activities

11 Minecraft Games and Activities for a Birthday Party, After School Activity, or Summer Camp Program

These Minecraft activities are fun and easy, plan a party or a theme day for summer camp or even an after-school program with these hands-on, tech-off Minecraft games for kids. You know we used marshmallows for our minecraft building.  Enjoy!

Minecraft Games and Activities for a Birthday Party, After School Activity, or Summer Camp Program
Craft a Minecraft house from Marshmallows and design your own skins too!
  • We decided to get in on the Minecraft crafting fun with Marshmallows! These days marshmallows come in all different sizes and colors  We used the giant ones to build houses and walls. We painted "glued them together" with a dab of water and colored them with markers and paint. We have recipes for edible paint if you'd like to keep your minecraft characters edible for toddlers.
Does Minecraft have any Educational Value?  Well, we sure hope so. What a great way to turn our kids into zombies... if only I were an evil, super villain from Batman.

Looking for Minecraft Printables?

Minecraft Squares Sheets

Minecraft Paper Cube Printables

How about a Minecraft Birthday Party Theme?

These Minecraft Creeper Lanterns from Play Dr. Hutch are my favorite birthday party decoration! She also has a roundup of Minecraft gift ideas for boys and girls, but don't forget our Minecraft Wood Puzzle. Dr. Hutch's Minecraft construction paper masks are an easy preschool activity.

Minecraft Creeper Lanterns for a birthday party.
Minecraft Creeper Lanterns for a birthday party.

Parties4ever blog has some great Minecraft birthday party ideas! I love the idea of play parody songs, and her food is spectacular!

Edible Art: Minecraft Snacks and Appetizers.
Edible Art: Minecraft Snacks and Appetizers.

Games and Activities for a Minecraft Party






ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products.

*We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)


Most Likely to Become a Racecar Driver

Most Likely to Become a Racecar Driver


Tracey is guest posting today for Meijer's most likely to... you still have time to enter the contest ends Sept. 8. 2013.

We all have big dreams for our children. We imagine them growing up to be actors and musicians and, if we are lucky, taking care of Mom and Dad after they become rich and famous! I try not to disillusion myself with these types of thoughts, but lately I’ve started to entertain the idea that maybe, just maybe, I have a future racecar driver on my hands.

Garrett has always loved sports! When he was just a year old, he would play, for easily an hour at a time, just shooting basket after basket after basket into his mini basketball goal in the kitchen. When he was 4, he started t-ball. He is now 12 and has played in Little League every season since then (even 2 seasons one year!). When he was 5 he played his first year of Flag Football and over the course of about 5 years, Garrett was able to put a few seasons of basketball under his belt, as well. In the winter, he plans to play again and is also considering his first season of Track & Field. But even with his wide array of sports interests, there is one sport that stands above the rest. It’s more than just a sport, it is a passion and it is his life. And that is racing.






Garrett’s obsession with racing began at an early age. At just 2 years old, he could easily identify and name many well known Nascar drivers, their numbers, and their sponsors. Of course, over time, his knowledge of drivers grew, as did his drive to become one of them. At 6 years old, it was evident that, if he were to realistically pursue this consuming desire to speed around turns at an alarming rate, and maneuver through tight packs of cars and thrill-seeking drivers at speeds nearing 200mph, that he would have to begin perfecting his craft at a young age (what were we thinking!??).




It just so happened that his father and I both had ties to a local race track that starts children (as young as 7 years old) as drivers of Junior Faskarts, an entry level racecar designed to allow beginning drivers an opportunity to gain racing experience at a young age. And so began his journey into racing, with a real car, real gear, and real sponsors.

It isn’t the cheapest endeavor, and at this level of racing no prize money is awarded, so he hasn’t been able to race in every season. But he definitely seems to have a natural ability behind the wheel and has placed well in the heats and features that he has participated in. Some even ended with the honor of driving the track with the coveted checkered flag in his proud, determined hand.





Garrett doesn’t just work hard on the track. He also works hard in the garage, helping his dad tweak and repair his car between races. And most importantly, he works hard in school. In order to race, he has to keep his grades up and do well in class, which he has done an excellent job at maintaining. Meijer has also been there to help us in keeping him successful in school. We always know that we will be able to find the supplies he needs for the coming school year, his after school sports, and even those Nascar shirts he loves!
As Garrett climbs the ladder of racing divisions, he will gain knowledge and experience that will help him succeed on the track. He has even begun dreams of going to college to learn the science behind the sport and we will have Meijer beside us every step of the way to help with whatever he needs to become successful on his journey.





Do you have a child that is “Most Likely to…..”? Then enter them in Meijer’s “Most Likely To” Photo Sweepstakes for your chance to win 1 of 25 $100 Meijer Gift Cards! Simply visit http://bit.ly/MeijerMostLikelyTo and submit a photo showing what your child is most likely to be when he/she grows up.

Meijer most likely to photo sweepstakes
Meijer most likely to photo sweepstakes.




This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

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YA Fiction Online: Moon Magic Chapter Six

Moon Magic Chapter Six: Online Fiction for Teens


Teen Fiction Online: Moon Magic Chapter Six. Haven't been following along? Start here: Moon Magic starts here. In Chapter Five, Aurora got some bad news. What happens next? Enjoy!

This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

Get the Published YA Novel, Allegedly Mystic.


YA Fiction Online: Moon Magic Chapter Six


This post contains affiliate links.




Moon Magic: Unfulfilled Wishes


By Lora Langston

_____________________________________________________

The material is not in the public domain. It is copyrighted. Do not share it on other sites or reproduce in any way. 
           __________________________________________________


Copyright 2017

Moon Magic: Chapter Six



Pain meds have a way of making the mundane insane. Aurora’s days in the hospital had melded together into one blurred, boring vision. She had been confined to a bed for four weeks, but time stood still.

Television was constantly blaring in the background, but she didn’t pay it any attention. The t.v. was just another fixture in the room- a companion of sorts. The only thing Aurora was able to accomplish was sleep. Even food wasn’t important. The meds gave it all a metallic taste.

When she was finally able to get out of bed, Aurora stayed at her mother’s bed-side flipping through Herbal Remedy Magazine. All the while, she was really trying to make telepathic contact. She didn’t want any of the doctors or nurses to catch on to her psychic experiment. If only some inherent natural instinct would surface. She tried everything that she’d seen in the movies.

Nothing worked.

During these visits, Aurora kept her constant companion tuned to Entertainment Today. Serenity liked to refer to it as, ‘watching the news,’ which had always made Aurora laugh. Serenity knew who was dating who in Hollywood, as well as, what herbs would enrich their lives. It seemed out of character, but, watching and learning about the rich and famous had always given Serenity a sense of hope.

Everyday, after-school, Todd popped in to the hospital for a quick visit. Todd. Aurora wasn’t a fan. He wasn’t just her mother’s current significant other. Nope. Nothing is ever as simple as that. Todd was also Aurora's teacher. Sophomore History. He had tried to comfort Aurora, but she refused to befriend him... again.

*    *     *

Thanksgiving was a bust. Lucas’s Mother had saved the holiday by bringing in homemade, Caramel Apple Crisp. The aroma had reminded Aurora of helping her Grandmother in the kitchen. Happy times. Wondering if her father had similar experiences, Aurora tried to re-imagine the memory with her father in the picture, but she always drew a blank. No amount of cinnamon and caramel could make him magically reappear.

Dec. 2
Thanksgiving came and went. I described the hospital’s savory turkey and gravy tray to my mother- she’s a captive audience. More like, a captured prisoner. Thankfully, Lucas’s mom, brought dessert.

*        *        *

At sixteen, it’s got to be a parental crime to make your kid ride the bus. Isn’t their some kind of law against cruelty to teenagers? But, Aurora had to grin and bear it, otherwise the truancy officer would be up her butt. The whirr of the fat rumbling tires and the rhythmic bumping of the green pleather seat against the window, lulled Aurora to sleep. ‘Joe,’ the bus-driver, liked to make chit-chat. Sleeping all the way home was a convenient way to get out of conversing.

“Blarp!” The bus horn sounded like a cow in labor. No chance of sleeping through that.

“Hey Lightning, wake up, it’ your stop.” shouted Joe.

Grumbling, Aurora tossed her book bag over her right shoulder. Her left arm wore a navy-blue sling to remind her not to use it. It also served as a reminder to everyone else of what had happened on Halloween.

“It’s true, eh, you really the kid that got struck by lightning?” asked Joe. You’d think he was talking to a celebrity.

Aurora wiggled her sling around to show him. “Yep, that’s me; the walking miracle.”

“Well, good luck at school today, I sure hope your mother gets well soon.” chimed Joe.

Nothing better than free advertising. Aurora was a walking pity party. Maybe Scary Girl would be touched too. With that thought, Aurora skipped off the bus anxious to walk the halls and try out her new social status. From invisible to enigma- this might get interesting. Hopefully, Todd would honor her wishes and pretend like he didn’t know her outside of class.

Dec. 5
School... I couldn’t have been more wrong. Well, I sure wasn’t invisible. People saw me. They pointed, whispered, and stared. Some of them even trashed me to my face, “Look at the freak!” or “That’s what you get for playing witch in the woods on Halloween.” and  “Hope you got the hint, skank.”

Oddly, Scary Girl never came near me. I overheard some kids on the bus saying she wasn’t going to mess with that voodoo witch. Whatever. I hate school!

And.. Somehow, everyone knows Mr. Lowder is dating my mother! I’ll be sleeping in the bathtub tonight.

*     *     *

After a week of battling the bus and the halls at school, Joanie a.k.a. Ruby Red, helped Aurora withdraw from school. Lucas’s mother had offered up homeschooling. At sixteen, Aurora could legally quit anyway, but Red had encouraged her to continue.


It wasn’t new. Aurora had been homeschooled until the third grade. She and Serenity were always running from one thing or another. To be fair, Serenity would say they were chasing dreams. They never stayed in one place long enough to settle down and register for public school. Aurora never caught sight of any dreams.

Red had become an excellent surrogate Mother. Aurora had confessed her troubles at school and Red decided they could kill two birds with one stone. This way, she could remain at her mother’s bedside during the day and avoid the ripping from relentless teenagers.

“I think this will be easier on you,” encouraged Joanie.

“Are you kidding? I was hoping Ralinda would take my tray up for me.” Aurora winced, “You just want me to become a full-blown recluse! Don’t you think I’m eccentric enough already? I was struck by lightning and survived; do you know  how cool that is?” she shouted.

Joanie grabbed her clipboard and stuck a pencil behind her ear. “I do, Shoog. I’m just not certain that you do.”



You might like, Young Adult Fiction.










Preparing Teens for Life after High School

How Your Teen Can Prepare for Post-High School



Your teen has spent the majority of their childhood getting an education. Deciding what they're going to do post-high school is often a challenge. However, to ensure that the senior year is less daunting than they expect and that they're ready for whatever the world throws at them, here are some of basic ways to prepare teens for things to come.

This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

preparing for future life roles after high school teens career choices


Look at College Options
Around 67% of high school graduates enrolled in college in 2017, and so it's extremely likely that your teen is looking at college as a viable future option. While this is an important stepping stone toward their careers, it's vital that they spend time considering the right college options. 


To do this, you should consider looking at Cornell University GPA requirements on CampusReel, among others, as this will help your teen find a college where their application is likely to be accepted. You should also take them to open days and apply for brochures that can help your teen find out what each college can offer them.

Take AP or Honors Classes
If your teen wants to stretch themselves academically and be in a good position for the level and type of learning that college offers, consider enrolling them in AP and Honors classes. Not only will these types of classes assimilate the types of projects that they'll commit to at college, but they can also help boost their qualifications and grades so that they can apply for higher ranking colleges and job positions in the future.

Visit Their School’s Career Team
One of the benefits of establishing your teen’s plan for the future while they're still at high school is they will have access to their school’s career team, who can help them plot their goals and long-term dreams. Not only can the team discuss a number of careers with your teen, but they'll also be able to give high school students advice for their college applications and help them find future work experience within the job sector holds their interest. Our local college career center offers things like: building trades, welding, nursing, childcare, broadcasting, and graphic design.

Study online to get a certificate in Early Childhood Education.

Get a Part-Time Job
Is your teen lacking in real-world experience? If you're concerned about how your teen will cope with their sudden entry into the real world, you should consider encouraging them to take on a part-time job. Not only will this force them to improve their time management skills by having to balance this job with their studies, but it will also allow them to boost many of the necessary skills for adulthood, such as independence and communication. It also allows them to experience working for and learning to follow the rules of other adults. So, it can change their attitude toward following your intstructions too.

Study for Exams

However, the most important thing your teen should do before they leave high school is study for exams, which gets them in a good position for their future, whether they want to go to college or go straight into the world of work. To help teenagers achieve their full potential, there are many resources online that can help teens study and excel at their end of high school tests. CLEP tests are great tests for college.


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