At Within Reach Learning Center we focus on learning through a fun environment. We have math classes, reading classes, and writing classes all taught with kids having fun!

In addition to learning, we love happy, loving, healthy families!

I saw this 30 day challenge for moms, and I thought this was such a great idea.

For each day of the month, find the corresponding number and follow the tip. So, start today at #18, and move on from there. Be sure to share with me how you do and have fun! http://imom.com/pages/30-day-mom-challenge/

What was the most fun challenge on the list? What was the hardest challenge on the list?

We are super proud of Eryn and her continued success! Happy 100 days!

Here is a great article from Conde’ Nast Traveler Magazine that highlights great apps for traveling.

http://www.cntraveler.com/daily-traveler/2012/03/travel-apps-for-kids-031212?MBID=social

Best apps for long plane rides

PBS Kids Video | Free | Ages 2–9 | iPhone & IPad
Save money (and time) downloading videos to your iPad before a trip. The PBS Kids Video app has several clips from your child’s favorite shows like Dinosaur Train, Sid the Science Guy, Sesame Street, Curious George, The Electric Company, Martha Speaks and more. Use the browse function to see a list of what’s available, including a smattering of full episodes.

Draw and Tell by Duck Duck Moose (HD) | $1.99 | Ages 2–9 | iPhone & iPad
This is the ultimate coloring book. From the same award-winning children’s app developer that brought you Wheels on the Bus and Word Wagon, this coloring book is more extensive than others you’ll find in the App Store. There are 27 colors and you can use crayons, paints, or pencils to color your drawings on a blank page, or ready-to-color scenes. The patterns and stickers are good fun, and you can even record your voice to tell a story or to send your creation as a greeting card.

Monkey Preschool Lunchbox | $1.99 | Ages 1–4 | iPhone, iPad & Android
A squealing, jumping, silly monkey teaches your child how to count fruit, build shapes, match objects, and more. This is a fun way to learn the basics for your youngest of travelers. A great game for your child to start playing even before they start preschool.

Best apps to help kids explore a new city

Alfred | Free | iPhone, iPad & Android
Alfred the robot concierge will be your guide through U.S. travels. In the beginning Alfred will ask questions about what kinds of restaurants you like. Then he’ll start recommending places so you can approve or deny. The more you use Alfred, the better he is at choosing places you love. Then, when you get to a new town, you can trust his picks based on previous favorites. This is a clever travel app for the whole family to use together.

Viator Tours & Activities | Free | iPhone & iPad
Let your children participate in what the family will be doing when you get to your destination. This app has 9,000 tours, tickets and activities in more than 750 destinations around the world. From double-decker bus sightseeing tours to tickets that get you to the front of the line at popular attractions like the Vatican in Rome, or the Louvre in Paris. Includes user submitted photos and reviews.

Roadside America | 3–adult | $2.99–$5.99 | iPhone & iPad
Quick, stop the car! Roadside America is a thorough guide to all that’s weird and story-worthy. You can find unusual attractions near to wherever you are, or look for something by city or state. Search by themes like “big,” “movies,” “animals,” and even “freaky hoo-ha.”

Best apps for car trips

Tales2Go | Ages 3–preteen | Free for 30 days, $9.99 monthly or $99.99 per year
Stop the kids from fighting over your device and turn on an audio story for the long road trip. There are more than 1,700 stories divided into age-appropriate categories for 3+, 5+, 7+, 9+, and preteen kids in Tales2Go. There’s Clifford and Curious George for the younger set, while the older crew can switch on Diary of a Wimpy Kid or How to Train Your Dragon. Something like Black Beauty could take nearly two hours to get through, which just might give you a break from hearing “Are we there yet?”

Road Trip Bingo HD | Ages 4+ | $1.99 | iPhone & iPad (similar apps on Android)
If your child is sitting up high enough to see out the car window, they’re old enough to play this fun game where you look for signs and vehicles to complete a bingo card. Share between two kids in the back seat with the two-player option. Keeps them busy.

Mad Libs | Ages 6–adults | Free | iPhone & iPad
This is another fun game for the whole family to play whether you’re stuck in the car or waiting for your food to come at a roadside restaurant. Just like in the hard-copy versions, you enter funny nouns, verbs, and plural nouns, and adverbs to create a laugh aloud story. Even in the free version I found topics on Vacations, Driving in the Car, and Letter to a Friend Back Home.

Best apps to educate kids on geography

Stack the States | Ages 6+ | $0.99
Kids will learn about capitals, state shapes, and map locations in this four-in-one game populated with cartoon states that stack, drop, tumble, and slide around like puzzle pieces. Once you complete a level, you earn a state to add to your country map. You can also tap on states to learn about them before you play. This company also makes Stack the Countries, and both are available in a free lite version.

Kids Maps | Ages 4-8 | $1.99–$2.99 | Android and iPhone
A colorful, interactive, map puzzle for kids.

Not all games have to have a million bells and whistles.This one has a simple premise: See the state and drag it to its correct place on the map. But the interface is colorful and interactive, and it offers quirky comments like, “North Dakota. North Dakota is where lots of geese live.” All in all, this puzzle makes learning states more fun than a text book.

Fotopedia National Parks | Ages 5–adult | $0.99 | iPhone and iPad
All of the Fotopedia apps are brimming with photos of startling beauty from renowned photographer QT Luong. Inspire your kids with otherworldly blue-white glaciers from Glacier Bay, starry night skies from Yosemite’s Indian Rock, or red-hot molten lava flow from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. You can use the pictures to plan a future trip and even get directions via Google Map if you are using the app while already on the road.

Happy 100th day at Within Reach. We have loved each day with him. He brings happiness and excitement to our center each week! He has been taking reading and math classes at Within Reach Learning Center for over a year, and it has been a joy to watch him grow and progress.

Highlights:

Why Preparation is so Important

Steps to Take Before the Conference

How to Make the Most of your Conference Time

What to do After the Conference

14 Great Questions to Ask the Teacher

Why preparation is so important

A conference with your child’s teacher is similar to a visit to the doctor’s office. You have a lot that you want to talk about, and a limited amount of time. The better prepared you are going in, the more beneficial the meeting will be for both you and the teacher. Here are some tips for a productive parent/teacher conference, along with a list of good questions for you to ask the teacher.

Steps to take before the conference

Schedule your appointment early
If you’re one of the first parents to sign up for a conference, you’ll be more likely to get a time that works well for you and your partner. If possible, go to the conference together. This lets the teacher know that both of you are involved in your child’s education. And you can compare notes on what you heard and talk over how to deal with the information when you get home.

Ask your child how things are going at school
Several days before the conference ask your child some very specific questions about school. What would he like you to ask the teacher? What does he like best about school? Are there any subjects at school that he’s having trouble with? If he could change anything about school what would it be?

Write down your questions
Once you’re in a meeting with the teacher it may be hard to remember what you wanted to talk about. Jot down your questions beforehand and bring them to the conference.

Ask if you’ll have an opportunity to speak with your child’s other teachers
It’s not unusual for even first graders to have separate teachers for subjects such as art or computers. Often times, your only chance to meet these teachers is open house night. But if you’re particularly interested in talking to one of them about your child’s progress, ask your child’s primary teacher when you make your conference appointment.

How to make the most of your conference time

Stick to talking about your child
Most parent/teacher conferences last only 20 minutes. Don’t use this time to ask questions about basic school policies. That kind of information can usually be found in the school’s handbook, on its Web site, or by calling the office during business hours. This is your chance to get detailed feedback on your child, so grab it while you can. If you have a specific question or issue that doesn’t come up, don’t hesitate to ask. The teacher may be inexperienced or shy, or just not realize that you’re concerned about a particular thing. You know your child better than anyone, so take the initiative.

Establish a rapport with the teacher
The first parent/teacher conference is a chance to get to know the teacher. If you’re both on the same page from the start, your child will get more out of his year in this teacher’s classroom. If you can make a connection early in the year, it will be easier to talk to the teacher in the future about any questions or concerns. To get off on the right foot, first listen to what the teacher has to say, and then base your questions on what is said. You may also want to ask her something about herself, her teaching philosophy, etc. to get a better understanding of who she is.

Try not to get defensive
Every parent wants to hear how wonderful his or her child is — and the teacher should tell you about your child’s special skills and achievements. But one of the main functions of these conferences is to point out areas where your child has room to develop. The teacher may even suggest testing, special classes, or some change in your behavior. Keep in mind that this is a part of all parent-teacher conferences. Fight the urge to argue with the teacher or dismiss her comments. She is not blaming you or your child. The point of this meeting is to get an assessment of how your child is doing in school and to look for ways you can help him do even better. Remind yourself that the teacher is on your side and the two of you have the same goal: to help your child learn all that he can.

Take a notepad and pen
After the meeting is over you may forget some of what you discussed. Jotting things down as you go along will help jog your memory later. Taking notes is also a good way to let the teacher know you’re really paying attention.

Size up the social scene
How well your child fits in socially can affect how well he learns. Ask the teacher how he gets along with the other students. Does he always hang out at recess with the same kids? Who are they? Is he bullying anyone? Is anyone bullying him? Is the teacher concerned about your child’s ability to get along with others and participate in class?

Give the teacher relevant information
Let the teacher know of any changes at home. A new baby, a divorce, or a death in the family can all affect the way your child behaves in the classroom. Resist the urge to talk about his successes outside of school, though. As much fun as it is to tell cute stories, this meeting is about assessing your child’s academic progress.

When speaking to other teachers stick to their area of expertise
If you have the opportunity to meet with your child’s other teachers, limit your questions to their particular subject. Discuss art with the art teacher, reading with the reading expert and so on.

Leave with an action plan
Before you shake hands and say goodbye, find out the best way to follow-up with the teacher. Can you call her? Does she have an email address you can use? You may think of other questions later so find out the best way to ask them. As you end the conference, review any decisions that you’ve made together. And if you feel it’s necessary, request another meeting.

What to do after the conference

Tell your child how it went
Your child will be interested to know that you met his teacher and talked about his school work Your first priority should always be to pass on praise — yours and the teacher’s — before bringing up any issues of concern. You should also follow up on anything your child talked about before the meeting. If your child was concerned about a bully, for instance, tell him that you talked to his teacher and what the two of you decided to do about the problem. Following up like this gives your child a sense that he is heard and that you will take his concerns seriously. Laying the groundwork now will make it easier for him to confide in you as he gets older.

Stay in touch with the teacher
Now that you’ve opened the door to communication, don’t wait for the next conference to talk. Call her in a few weeks and update her on something you talked about during the conference. Just like any budding relationship, this one needs to be nurtured.

14 great questions to ask the teacher

1. Is my child working up to his ability?

2. Is there anything we can do at home to reinforce the skills that you’re working on in the classroom?

3. How much time should my child be spending on his homework?

4. Do you grade homework assignments?

5. What are my child’s strengths and weaknesses?

6. What can we do to help develop our child’s weak areas?

7. What are my child’s academic talents?

8. How are grades determined — are tests weighted the same as homework and in-class assignments?

9. What is my child like in class?

10. What is my child’s learning style?

11. How does my child interact with the other kids?

12. Is there anything that I can share with you about my child and what he’s like at home?

13. What skills will my child be expected to master this year in key subjects like math, English, science, and history?

14. Which, if any, standardized tests will be administered this year?

http://www.babycenter.com/0_how-to-prepare-for-parent-teacher-conferences_67966.bc?showAll=true

Within Reach Learning Center offers tutoring in Mission Viejo, Ca.

Within Reach Learning Center offers reading, math, and writing classes in Mission Viejo.

At Within Reach Learning Center in Mission Viejo, we focus on having fun while learning, so I thought this was a great way to bring fun to reading.

Here is a great way to bring books to life! This is a fun interactive way to read and get kids more interested. I saw this on a great blog: http://www.creativefamilyfun.net/2012/02/10-ways-to-bring-book-to-life.html

We love books in our house. We love to read them, look at the pictures, listen to them, and many times fall asleep with them. We also love to do crafts and activities based on some of our favorite books. Here are 10 fun ways to have fun with books!

1. Use props. You can use dolls or stuffed animals to help you tell a story. Story boards and flannel boards are also popular props for story telling.

2. Do an art project in the style of the illustrator. There is such beautiful art work in picture books. Get lost in the art work and try to create your own illustrations.

Just like at Within Reach Learning Center, we believe practicing spelling lists in a fun will make it more enjoyable for everyone! Try one of these great ideas! It will be a great way to reinforce your normal practice.

Here are some great ideas:

FUN Spelling Practice

 Rainbow Words – Write your words in three colors

Backwards Words- Write your words forwards, then backwards.

Silly sentences -Use all your words in ten sentences

Math Game:  Math War

Math concepts: greater-than/less-than, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, negative numbers, absolute value, and multi-step problem solving.

The game of Math War is worth more than a thousand math drill worksheets, letting you build your children’s calculating speed in a no-stress, no-test way.
• Materials needed:
You will need several decks of math cards (regular cards with the jack, queen, king, and jokers removed.)To give a greater challenge to older children, I make each player a double deck of math cards. This gives each player a 56-card deck full of the toughest problems to calculate.

War Variations: For most variations, the basic 3-down-1-up battle pattern becomes 2-down-2-up. For advanced games, however, the battle pattern is different: in case of a tie, the cards are placed in a center pile. The next hand is played normally, with no cards turned down, and the winner takes the center pile as well.

Addition War—Players turn up two cards. The highest sum wins.

Advanced Addition War—Turn up three (or four) cards and add them together.

Subtraction War—Players turn up two cards and subtract the smaller number from the larger. This time, the greatest difference wins.

Product War—Turn up two cards and multiply.

Advanced Product War—Turn up three (or four) cards and multiply.

Fraction War—Players turn up two cards and make a fraction, using the smaller card as the numerator. Greatest fraction wins.

Improper Fraction War—Turn up two cards and make a fraction, using the larger card as the numerator. Greatest fraction wins.

Integer Addition War—Black cards are positive numbers; red cards are negative. The greatest sum wins. Remember that -2 is greater than -7.

Integer Product War—Black cards are positive numbers; red cards are negative. The greatest product wins. Remember that two negative numbers make a positive product.

Multi-Digit War—Turn up two or three cards and create a 2-digit or 3-digit number.

Now grab your child, and go play Math Games! You can spend as little as 5 minutes a day and it will make a big difference!

What other math games do you play at home that you would recommend?

Homework should not be a battle. Here are some steps you can take to encourage your elementary-age child to take responsibility for his own homework assignments. Although lots there are lots of tutoring places in Orange County, it still does not solve the homework problem. Within Reach Learning Center has some helpful tips for you:

Remove distractions – Do homework in a quiet place that does not have distractions. Turn off the TV; don’t expect your child to do homework in a room where siblings are playing.

Establish a routine – Set a specific “homework time” such as right after supper. Require that homework be complete before your child can watch TV, use the phone, etc.

Prioritize – Encourage your child to work first on those assignments that are due tomorrow. Then tackle the tasks that are due later. Help your child plan his studying so that projects are not left until the last minute. An assignment book can be a big help with this.

Check understanding – Be sure your child understands new assignments before he or she starts working on them. This one can save lots of late-evening tears!

Guide, but don’t correct – If your child needs help, offer ideas that can help her sort out the problem, but don’t give her the answers.

Get organized for tomorrow – Remind your child to pack the backpack before going to bed. Even the best homework effort doesn’t do much good if it’s left on the kitchen table!

What are your best tips for homework help? Comment on this blog post and let me know what works best for your family.