Celebrate Earth Day with Tips from Little Passports

As Earth Day approaches, we wanted to share some of our favorite projects from around the world to help keep our planet green.

Here at Little Passports we know that global adventure wouldn’t be possible without a globe to explore. It’s up to each of us to learn about our planet and keep it healthy. It should be no surprise, then, that Earth Day is one of our favorite holidays! This year, people all over the globe will gather in their communities to celebrate. 



Photo Credit: Shutterstock.com
In light of Typhoon Haiyan, which hit Southeast Asia in 2013, young people in the Philippines are holding a convention called “Sulong! Power Shift Pilipinas.” "Sulong" means "forward" in the Filipino language of Tagalog. They want everyone in the Philippines to talk to their friends, neighbors and leaders about using sustainable energy sources instead of fossil fuels like gas, coal and oil.

Sustainable energy sources are ones that can replenish themselves (such as wind and water) and would have a lesser impact on the environment. There are many Earth Day celebrations around the world which focus on helping cities switch to these sustainable energy sources and becoming “green” cities.

In Kenya, they are organizing a number of “green-city” events such as city cleanups and tree planting ceremonies at schools. In Uganda, they will hold special raffles, football matches, and competitions to bring awareness to conservation projects in the country.

With a focus on sustainable energy, the Saskatchewan Environmental Society in Canada is holding the “25 Acts of Energy Conservation” campaign. They are challenging people at home and in schools to take 25 steps to save energy and water and to reduce waste. In an effort to help people stay on track, the society will be posting daily tips. They are even holding a contest for the top 25 acts!



Photo Credit: Shutterstock.com
In the United States, schools celebrate Earth Day (April 22) by planting trees and cleaning public parks to create public awareness about ways we can keep the Earth healthy. Here are a few simple ways Sam and Sofia (the cute Little Passports characters) try to keep Earth clean.

• Reduce - use less electricity and water
• Reuse - use things like aluminum bottles to carry drinking water instead of buying plastic bottles
• Recycle – dispose of paper and plastic in “recyclable” baskets so they can be made into new materials, using less energy

If you loved this information, check out the Little Passports Blog for more fun learning opportunities to share with your kids and maybe even get them started with a subscription of their own! 

15% Off New Subscriptions at Little Passports Now - 4/8 with code: HAPPY5

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

Celebrate Little Passports 5th Birthday & Save 15%

 
Did you know that Little Passports was co-founded by two moms who believe in raising our children to be compassionate and knowledgeable on world cultures and people? Pretty sweet business philosophy! Each month, the imaginary characters of Little Passports, named Sam and Sofia, travel the globe on their magic scooter and share their experiences with your child. This birthday sale, which allows you to take 15% off your total subscription package, will give your child a personalized package in the mail that includes an adventure letter, fun souvenirs, activities and access to their online Boarding Zone full of activities and games. (with that sort of deal, I feel like it's my birthday!) Click on the link or banner below to sign up for your subscription today and get 15% off by using the code: HAPPY5 from today through Tuesday, 4/8.


15% Off New Subscriptions at Little Passports Now - 4/8 with code: HAPPY5



**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

CTC Math review

This post may contain affiliate links.You can read more about affiliate links under my disclosure policy tab, or by clicking here.

Struggling with Math?

Most often it's for this reason. Something has been missed or not understood earlier.

Since the rules and principles of math build on each other step-by-step, if some of these crucial building blocks are missing, then it's very tough for your kids to really understand math going forward. 

What happens then is the age-old problem.

Kids fall further and further behind until finally they convince themselves they're "no good at math."
But here's the good news...

This can change. And it can change for you and your kids without the pain normally associated with change.

Proven to Raise Grades Fast

CTCmath guides kids through math, lesson by lesson.
It allows them to pause, rewind and repeat all or part of any lesson until they get it.

• Learn math at their own pace - no stress, no pressure
• Pause, rewind or repeat a lesson until they really get it
• Increases confidence in class
• Catch up on lessons missed or concepts not fully understood
• Preview lessons at home before school
• Gain understanding and confidence especially in areas where they struggled before
• Gives your kids the freedom to learn without stress at home in their own time
• All results are recorded so that progress can easily be seen
• Above all, this really does work!

Because math concepts build upon each other, sometimes it's necessary to go back and revise a particular concept before moving on to a new topic. 

By being able to review all lessons no matter what grade your kids are in, they get the chance (maybe for the first time ever) to finally understand math properly.

Which greatly lifts their confidence. Not just in math, but in themselves.

So no matter what grade your kids are in, this program helps. They can go back if they need to. Or even look ahead if they want.

Who Is It For?

All ages, K-6 students studying Pre-Algebra, Algebra I, Pre Calculus, Calculus, Algebra II, Geometry and Trig

Review 

Math has never been my strong suit, so when I was asked by the Educent teams if I wanted to try out CTCmath in exchange for an honest review, I was all over it. I decided I would use CTCmath with Poppy and Yang.  I started Poppy on Algebra I since she completed Pre-Algebra with K12 before Christmas break. Clearly Poppy is good at math so I'm really looking for something to actually challenge her at this point. Luckily I'm able to move her around as need be and I plan to move her up to Pre-Calculus next week to see how she does. 

I started Yang out on the third grade level.  She is pretty good at math but she likes things to move along and not spend 20 minutes doing the same type of problems. You start out each lesson with a short 3+ minute audio/video lesson which is followed by 10 online questions on the material just covered. If the student gets the answer wrong it gives them the correct answer, otherwise they will receive a green check. At the end students have the option to print off their score along with the test questions and their answers. If they did not master the concepts they are able to do the lesson again. 

The lessons are in depth so that the students can learn the materials but they are not long and drawn out so the student loses interest. Owlet has always had a hard time with math so once she gets done with her OGT testing at the end of next week I am going to try some lessons with her to hopefully get some missing concepts to click for her.

We are all looking forward to continuing to use CTCmath!



Disclosure: CTC Math was provided to me to try out and review. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

Essential Skills Advantage’s online Reading & Language Program ~ Review

This post may contain affiliate links.

 

For the past decade, Essential Skills Advantage has been changing the face of education across North America. Up until now, ESA has primarily been used in 20,000 schools, where it helped countless students. Due to its profound success for boosting students’ learning potential, many of our members began to ask about using ESA at home, as a supplement for homeschooling and tutoring. The demand for a home-ready learning supplement continued to grow, and we are proud to announce the next incarnation of our innovative learning system, fully optimized for use at home!

To successfully use Essential Skills Advantage, you’ll need:

• Internet Access
• Java Script enabled
• Flash Player 10 or higher
• Volume - make sure that your speakers are turned ON and UP

In your Parent Portal you can:

• Manage login for students: you can change each student’s username and password at anytime.
• Learning Measurement: you’ll have complete access to your child’s progress with the ability to access marks, number of attempts, mastery, date, and time stamps.
• Download certificates: on completion of all units, your student can be awarded a certificate.  You simply download and print. 
• Access freebies and giveaways to help motivate and reward your student(s).

 

For your convenience, each parent is assigned a unique URL so that their student(s) can access any grade at any time, independently. Student can select the grade level icon of their choice, enter their unique username and password, and begin.

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/skillsadvantage

Pinterest - http://www.pinterest.com/skillsadvantage/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/skillsadvantage 

 

 

 

REVIEW

 

As a member of Educents Blogger Program, I was asked if I would be interested in reviewing Essential Skills Advantage. After taking a look at the program I decided to give it a try. We stopped using T4L a few months ago when we got off track. Yang hasn't said anything about it so I was sort of looking for a new program anyways. 

ESA is bright, colorful, fun and inviting. When you get an answer correct you get a little "triumph" victory sound. If you get the answer wrong you get a different sound. At the end you get little dancing puppy with your score and time (I love that there is no timer during the actual lesson as those tend to make Yang panic). Yang laughed the first time and said, "Look at the fat puppy!" 

Yang has always had a little trouble of reading comprehension. I think it is mostly because the story passages are dry and boring, so she tunes out and then is never able to answer all of the questions. I know she has a great memory because she can tell you almost everything there is to know about My Little Pony. We began by working in the Complete Reading for Third Grade - Reading Comprehension. The stories were fun, upbeat and help her interest so that she was able to answer all of the questions correctly, the first time.

 

I love that I am able to select grade level based on the different parts of the program based on my child's abilities vs so standard grade level.

 

While the background sounds of birds and crickets chirping can be soothing to some, with Yang's sensory issues it became overwhelming after awhile. 

All in all we have enjoyed ESA and are eager to work our way through more of lessons.

Little Passports Fundraising For Your School!

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Planning a fundraiser at your child's school? Little Passports is the perfect partner, with an award-winning educational product that kids and parents love.



Here's how it works: your community shops at Little Passports and we donate 15% back to your school. They even have a flyer to help you spread the word. Get more information here: www.littlepassports.com/schools

15% Off site-wide at Little Passports until 12/17

This post may contain affiliate links.You can read more about affiliate links under my disclosure policy tab, or by clicking here. 

Little Passports is offering 15% off all of their subscriptions, which means you can buy a 1 year subscription and save almost $20! If you place an order before December 17th, you qualify for holiday delivery, meaning you can have your first package arrive by December 24th or before! (Hello stocking stuffer!!) This offer also applies to the monthly and 6 month subscriptions so you can choose whatever option you want and get this great deal when you use this code at checkout: MERRY15 

In case you don't already know what Little Passports is, let me give you the highlights: 

-Monthly subscription kit for your children that teaches them (and sometimes us parents) about new states and countries around our world

-Your child gets their own faux passport to update with stickers included each month so they get to remember all of their "trips around the world"

-Wonderful activity sheets that keep kids stimulated for hours and a beautiful world map to help them visualize everything they are learning about!
  
And one more important note about Little Passports...
 

This Holiday, Win Your Family A Trip to Belize From Little Passports!
Can't believe it? Neither can I! Little Passports is partnering with Luxury Link to give away a trip to Belize, worth $5,000, to one very lucky family. It's easy to enter, and they’re offering bonus entries for participating in fun games, trivia questions, and more. Take 1 minute to enter this giveaway, and maybe YOUR family will win the trip of a lifetime! Win a trip to Belize from Little Passports!

Save 20% off entire order at Educents & 12 Days of Giveaways

This post may contain affiliate links.You can read more about affiliate links under my disclosure policy tab, or by clicking here.

Back in October Yang became ill and we had a few family emergencies. We ended up taking almost the entire month off. November came and my back injury from March came back, although luckily not in full force but enough to put me down a bit - along with some other health issues. December is here now and we've just decided to continue to take it easy until the first of the year.

With the holidays around the corner we are all trying to save as much as possible while preparing for the 2nd half of the school year. From now until December 31st you can save 20% of your entire order by using MARIETTA20 during checkout! With already drastically reduced prices from Educents, how can you go wrong?

Personalized Letter from Santa

$2.99

Introduce kids ages 3 to 12 to the world of baking with this Baking Around the World Kit and Apron- 45% OFF

$24.99

Give your child the bilingual edge with Complete Spanish for Kids Total Learning Book Set from BookLingual! 50% OFF

$39.99 

 Be sure to enter the 12 Days of Giveaways!

Win A Trip to Belize From Little Passports!

This post may contain affiliate links.You can read more about affiliate links under my disclosure policy tab, or by clicking here.

This Holiday, Win Your Family A Trip to Belize From Little Passports!
Can't believe it? Neither can I! Little Passports is partnering with Luxury Link to give away a trip to Belize, worth $5,000, to one very lucky family. It's easy to enter, and they’re offering bonus entries for participating in fun games, trivia questions, and more. Take 1 minute to enter this giveaway, and maybe YOUR family will win the trip of a lifetime! Win a trip to Belize from Little Passports!

Giveaway Rules: Little Passports Giveaway Rules

WOW! So many opportunities! I'd love to see the Mayan temples. What about you?

 

 30% off first month of monthly subscription

 

Click here to order now for Christmas.

1 Year Blogiversary Celebration

Tuesday was our one year blogiversary and to kick off the celebration we are giving away a signed copy of Millicent Marie Is Not My Name from kids lit author Karen Pokras Toz.  

From the Award Winning Author of the Nate Rocks Books:

**GOLD MEDALIST 2013 READERS' FAVORITE BOOK AWARDS - CHILDRENS/PRE-TEEN CATEGORY

**2013 GLOBAL EBOOK GOLD MEDAL AWARD WINNER: PRE-TEEN CATEGORY

Twelve-year-old Millicent Marie does not like her name. After all, she was named for a woman who died more than fifty years ago and was not the most loveable member of the Harris family. Her friends call her Millie, but when she writes in her diary she refers to herself as Amanda - the name she always wished she had.

When Millie's younger brother finds her diary on her computer, he decides to publish it as a blog for the entire world to see, including the boy Millie has a crush on. In the midst of all the mayhem, Millie/Amanda discovers she is suddenly Springside Elementary's most sought after sixth-grade mystery gossip and advice columnist.

But not all is fun and games, as Millie quickly learns, once she realizes feelings are at stake. Nobody, least of all Millie, expects things to turn out as they do in this tale of friendship and respect.

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Unfortunatley, my sciatic nerve has been pinched again so I haven't been able to sit up much to blog or promote the giveaway or post the other rafflecopters. I am going to extend the Millicent Marie giveaway. 

We have several other prizes we will have up for grabs from our wonderful generous sponsors:

• 2 printed copies of Wonders of  Creation Lapbook from Knowledge Box
• Signed copy of James Saves the Moon from Wendy's Book Case (Wendy Nystrom)
• $10 gift certificate to use at Green Kids Crafts
• Crocheted pencil shaped pouch from Jennifer's Crochet Hooks and Unlimited Sewing  
• $25 gift ceterficate to use at Educents  
• $5 amazon gift card from MHZ Book Reviews and Giveaways

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Making the best of a road trip with Little Passports Travel Tips

 

Making the best of a road trip with Little Passports Travel Tips

“Are we there yet?” was a term coined by the family road trip! While new technology and toys may have silenced backseat conversations, spending time together in the car can still be a great opportunity for family bonding and learning. Even if you plan on bringing the latest gadget to pass the time, try saving them for the end of your trip when everyone is tired and cranky!

Here are some ideas from Little Passports that are sure to make the time fly by (or at least go by a little faster):

Save your most recent Little Passports delivery from Sam and Sofia for your road trip so your kids to learn and explore during the car ride. Say goodbye to your trusted GPS! Bring back the memory of car trips as a kid and use a map! The night before your trip bring out an actual map (if you can find one!) to show your intended route to your child. Even better, copy the map and pull out a highlighter so your child can follow along – and let you know when you missed a turn. Build in time for pit stops – and if time allows, make short stops that incorporate fun activities along the way. Everyone will need a bathroom break and a meal, but if that happens at a place right off the highway and near playground it can be better for everyone! The kids will get fed – and burn off some energy. Hit up a dollar store before you leave and stock up on small toys and activities to give to your kids along the way. Every hour let your child choose a surprise – a great incentive for good behavior! You can even wrap the toys for an added element of excitement. Use this link to make your next road trip educational: Little Passports Travel Tips

                                               

This post may contain affiliate links.You can read more about affiliate links under my disclosure policy tab, or by clicking here.

3 Month Little Passports Giveaway

We've posted a couple of times about Little Passports in the past. From a Hot Apple Cider recipe, Lunches Around the World to using Little Passports in our classroom. Enter below for your chance to win a 3 month subscription, so you can join us in traveling to distant lands and all without leaving your home!

Sponsored by:

Little Passports

Hosted by:

NYSavingSpecials

Co-Hosted by:

Simply Sherryl and Barbara's Beat

 

One lucky winner will win

3 months subscription to Little Passports

Details:

October 24 to November 7

US Residents only

All entries are optional

We appreciate the support of our sponsor and co-hosts, please show your support by following them on their social medias pages.

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Disclaimer: MARIETTA HOMESCHOOLING ZOO is not responsible for the awarding of the prize.  Sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment.  If you have any questions about this giveaway, please email the host at nysavingspecials@gmail.com</span>

Spirituality for Kids ~ Tools to Win the Game of Life REVIEW

For the past few weeks Yang and I have been working through the online lessons at Spirituality for Kids. Spirituality for Kids is a non-profit organization that provides online lessons via videos and a companion PDF workbook to teach kids to see challenges as opportunities, to reflect on their actions, to develop self-worth and instill a desire to make a difference in the world around them. Spirituality for Kids has simplified basic universal spiritual principles in the form of a game. Each video lesson/game has rules, goals, players and challenges, just like in the everyday "Game of Life."

"Give your children universal spiritual tools that help them realize their true potential and develop a sense of purpose in life."

As we start out we meet a young boy named Ari whom comes into a toy store, and like most boys and girls, Ari is idealistic, wide-eyed and even a little sarcastic. Upon meeting the toy shop owner, Mr. Why, Ari's sarcasm gets him in trouble. 

Fortunately for Ari, Mr. Why sees an eagerness to learn within Ari and gives him a special game called the Game of Life. After Ari rushes home to play the game, he soon finds himself trapped in an alternate universe where he needs to learn the rules of the game in order to get back home. 

Luckily for Ari, Mr. Why is there to guide him through the interactive game. Together with your boys and girls Ari discovers that everything he is learning in the game will help him in real life as well. 

Yang and I both enjoyed working through the lessons. I've already begun to notice changes in her behavior as she stops to think of her actions before reacting at times. Doing the lesson on spirituality fulfillment was an interesting one. It took her a while to understand how the things she wants and needed make her feel, and the difference between the two. At 8 1/2 years old, she thinks she needs everything! I think that can be hard one for a lot of us though.

Being the youngest with a significance age gap from her sisters, Yang didn't have to share a lot when she was younger. It has always been something we have struggled with since she usually prefers to play alone. She is slowly becoming more aware of how others feel when we don't share, and how it makes us feel when we don't share with us.

When I received the email to see if I wanted to do a review of Spirituality for Kids, the email stated that it was best suited for kids 6 - 12 years old. Since Poppy is 13 I thought that she would be a little to old for it but I now plan to go back and start at the beginning with her. I think it can easily be adapted for both younger and older children. The exposure alone would be good for the younger ones.

While we've only been able to work on a handful of lessons so far, I believe I can see a new leaf being overturned! I can't wait to work through more of these lessons and see how Yang and Poppy grow.

Follow Spirituality for Kids

This post may contain affiliate links. You can read more about affiliate links under my disclosure policy tab, or by clicking here.
I received monetary compensation for my honest review.

Hot Aple Cider Recipe from Little Passports

Fall is here and what better way to celebrate than making some Hot Apple Cider. Gather some friends and then make this quick and easy Little Passports Apple Cider Recipe. You will all be smiling and enjoying the wonderful aroma. ENJOY!

 This post may contain affiliate links.You can read more about affiliate links under my disclosure policy tab, or by clicking here.

Educents: $15 Frenzy Deals ENDS 9/30

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Educents is in a frenzy! 15 items are being featured for $15 or LESS, but you'll have to hurry - sale ends Monday, 9/30. Here are just a few of the great deals that are being featured.

_____________________________________________________________

Skeletal System Curriculum 
3rd - 5th Grade
Price: $14.95
Discount: 85%
Through fun and educational lessons, worksheets and stories, Human Body Detectives teaches kids about the skeletal system and its nutritional needs. A great combination of entertainment and educations,                                                                                       this curriculum engages students to learn and                                                                                                 understand about making healthier lifestyle choices!
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All About Animals Bundle
3rd - 4th Grade
Price: $14.00
Discount: 42%
This All About Animals Bundle contains three fabulous animal packs totaling over 330 pages of engaging activities including printables, graphic organizers, and more.
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Homeschooling and Loving It! Book
All Ages - Includes a Learning Style Quizz
Price: $5.00
Discount: 67%
Homeschooling at its best! Learn the art of stress-free homeschooling so you can homeschool your children without losing your mind, or your pocketbook!
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........see more deal here.

Christopher Columbus Lapbook and Link Up

We've updated our post from last year on Christopher Columbus and added a link up. Check it out and be sure to link up -  Christopher Columbus Lapbook and Link Up.