By Sarah Anderson

With Labor Day behind us, almost every child in the United States is back in school, and let’s face it: going from the lazy days of summer to getting up and getting ready for school each morning can be a bit of a hassle. Even the most organized and energetic families have difficulties getting back into their daily routine. Sound like something you can relate to? Take a look at these ten tips for making back-to-school time a little easier.

1. Wake up at the same time every day. Getting up early can be a pain for all ages. If you and your kids spent the summer sleeping in, it will be especially hard to rise to an alarm clock each morning. However, the more often you do it, the easier it will be. Stay away from that snooze button!
2. Go to bed at the same time every night. Just like waking up in the morning, establishing a bedtime will go along way for both kids and parents. According to WebMD, three to twelve year olds need about ten hours of sleep each night. This may not always be possible, but going to bed around the same time every night will make for a better morning and healthier kids.
3. Pack lunches and book-bags at night. If you’ve ever spent a large portion of your morning looking for your keys or that important paperwork that you need to turn in to your boss, you know it can make you late, prevent you from completing other necessary tasks, and throw your entire day out of whack. Preparing lunches, lunch money, homework, and backpacks before bed and putting them in a special spot near the door will leave your kids with more time for breakfast, showers and may even keep them from missing the bus.
4. Keep extra supplies in the car. From lunch money to pencils, kids are always running out the door without some of the important things they need for the school day. Keep a few extras in your purse if you carry one or in your car’s glove compartment so that you don’t have to rush home or stop by the store or ATM on the way to school.
5. Write down your schedule. Too much to do in the morning? Make a list and post it on the wall. If your children are old enough to read, let them get involved. From eating breakfast to brushing your teeth, make a list of everyone’s morning responsibilities and check them off or have the children check them off as they’re completed each day.
6. Plan your outfits ahead of time. Planning your outfits the night before can also shave a good bit of time off your morning routine and planning a whole week’s worth of outfits on Sunday night can help you even further. Make sure your laundry is done, matching items are chosen, and accessories are laid out before morning. No wants to spend ten minutes looking for a shoe that’s buried in a closet or trying to figure out if their favorite jeans are clean or dirty.
7. Put together a breakfast menu. Once a week or once a month (whenever you do your grocery shopping), sit down with your kids and figure out what kind of breakfast they would like to have before school. Make a menu for the upcoming school week and be sure those choices are readily available for your kids. Even if you cook elaborate, nutritious meals every morning, be sure to have something quick and easy on hand for those days when you oversleep or have some other kind of catastrophe.
8. Take some time on the weekends to organize. Weekends are generally a time to rest, but they should also be a time to prepare for the week ahead. Catch up on your laundry or be sure the kids have a clean area for doing homework. A few extra steps on the weekends can make the week move a little more smoothly.
9. Ask your children if they have homework every day. How many times have moms and dads heard “I forgot” when it comes to homework? Asking your children if they have homework after school can be a gentle reminder to do it the night before instead of trying to cram an hour’s worth of spelling words and math problems into a fifteen minute car ride. Also, make sure there are no notes from the teacher about big projects that are due or extra supplies that need to be brought to class. You don’t want to wake up one morning only to have your child remember they were supposed to bring a snack for the entire class that day.
10. Allow your children some independence. Don’t become the household dictator in order to establish a routine. It make take a little while, but by letting your children make some decisions and do things on their own, they will eventually become more inclined to do things without being told. Allow them to pick out their own clothing for the week. Have them prepare a special place for homework or decide what time they want to do their homework. Let them put together their own breakfast and lunch plans (within reason, of course).

How does your family manage to stay sane during school mornings?

By Sarah Anderson

This morning I turned on my computer like I do every day, and just like any other day, I found myself going to Google to look something up. Today’s Google “doodle” immediately caught my eye. It featured puzzles, blocks and manipulatives – items that anyone who has ever worked in education is familiar with. As it turns out, today would be Maria Montessori’s 142ndbirthday.

It didn’t take me long to figure out that most people (including myself) do not know much about who Maria Montessori is or what she has contributed to our society. Sure, we hear about and drive by Montessori schools throughout the United States and maybe even take our kids there, but how much do you know about the woman whose name is featured prominently in our education system?

Here are five things you may not know about Maria Montessori:

1. Love of Math and Science: In the United States today, we seem to have a shortage of women who are willing to enter the world of math and science, but in the late 1800’s, in Italy, Maria Montessori was ahead of her time. At the age of 13, she entered technical school, where she studied a variety of mathematic and scientific topics. She considered studying engineering upon graduation but opted to go to medical school instead.

2. First Female Physician: Because she was a woman, many of her med school classmates and professors protested her attendance, but Maria didn’t let this bother her. She was forced to do her human body dissections in a room alone, because it was unheard of for a man and woman to be together in the same room with a naked body. She eventually graduated as an expert in pediatrics and became the first female in Italy to complete medical school.

3. Inspired by Mentally Handicapped Children: Upon graduating from the University of Rome, Maria continued to work with the school’s psychiatric clinic. After much time spent observing children in asylums, she began to advocate for special classrooms and teachers for children with mental disabilities. She eventually joined the National League for the Protection of Retarded Children and directed training for teachers. The students these teachers worked with were soon able to pass the same tests that students without any type of disability took.

4. A New Way to Learn: Maria eventually returned to the University of Rome to study psychology, anthropology and philosophy. While she did not earn another degree, she did conduct numerous experiments and observations in elementary schools and developed her own pedagogy. She practiced her new methods when she was asked to oversee the education for a group of low-income families in Rome. Maria set up a non-traditional classroom with furniture that was comfortable and accessible enough for children to move on their own. The children were taught personal care, grooming, how to take care of their homes and pets, how to cook and garden, and even gymnastics. They were allowed to move about freely and work for uninterrupted periods of time. Eventually, Maria noted that the students were more independent and self-disciplined than other children their age. She began traveling around the world to lecture and help set up these types of schools in numerous other countries.

5. Still practiced today: Today, Maria’s teaching methods are practiced in over 20,000 schools worldwide, in countries like the United States, France, Japan, Russia, India, Australia, Germany, Indonesia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. These schools usually feature mix aged classrooms, student choice of activity, materials developed specifically for the Montessori style of learning, and uninterrupted segments of work time.

Not everyone agrees with Maria Montessori’s style of education. Both during her lifetime and today there has been much debate over whether Montessori methods are the best way for students to learn.

What do you think? Do your children go to a school that uses Montessori’s style of teaching?

1. Make Your Own Bookmark

What you will need:  

Card Stock

Scissors

Ruler

Decorative items of your choice, such as markers, glitter, paint, stickers, etc.

If you’ve ever been to a bookstore, you know that bookmarks come in all shapes, sizes, and colors and are made of all types of materials, but did you know that they often encourage children to read? Making your own bookmarks can be lots of fun and really inexpensive.  All you need are a few craft supplies that you probably already have around the house.

Simply cut the cardstock into any shape you’d like. Most bookmarks are rectangular and around 2 x 6 inches, but feel free to use your imagination. Once you’ve got the shape you’d like, let your little one go to town. Bring out the markers or even paint (just make sure it dries before using it)! Add stickers featuring your favorite characters. You can even cut photos from magazines to make a collage. The possibilities are endless, and your child will be excited about using their new bookmark next time they read a book.

2. Write a Letter

What you will need: 

Paper

Pen or pencil

Envelope

Kids get excited about books when they can share them with the people they love. What better way to do that than by writing a letter?

Once your child has read a book, have them write a letter to a grandparent, teacher or any friend or relative. If they are unable to write, have them dictate to you what they would like to say. Have them retell the story in their own words or talk about their favorite parts of the plot or favorite characters. Once the letter is finished, have them sign it, stuff it into an envelope and let them help mail it or deliver it to its intended recipient. This will also encourage writing skills and can be a great way to teach children about mail and the way the post office works.

3. Make a Puzzle

What you will need:

One or more sheets of poster board

Makers or crayons

Scissors

This one is super easy and works for kids of all ages. Once your child has read a book, encourage them to talk about their favorite parts. When you’ve established their favorite scene, have them draw a picture of it on the poster board. As an alternative, particularly for younger children, you can draw the picture and have them color it in. Try to cover the entire surface. When they have finished drawing and coloring, cut the poster board up into smaller pieces. You can cut them into squares or unique shapes, just so long as you are able to fit them back together. Once you are finished, you have brand new jigsaw puzzle.

4. Scavenger Hunt

What you will need:

Paper

Markers or pens

Bags or buckets for collecting items

Prizes (examples: small toys, a sweet treat, a trip to the park or playground, etc. – a dollar store is a great place to find inexpensive prizes)

This one probably works best with children who can read, but modifications can be made for younger children. Simply make a list of small items that the children can find around your house or yard that relate back to the story. (Example: if you read the book Corduroy by Don Freeman, you might send them to find a stuffed bear, a button, a bag from a store, a coin, etc.) If your child is unable to read just yet, draw, use stickers, or cut pictures from magazines that represent the items on the list. As your child finds each item, talk about how it relates to the story. When they find everything on the list, reward them with a prize. For older children, you can even hide items around the house and get creative by writing clues on how to find the items versus using the list. Your kids will have so much fun; they’ll want to do it all over again for the next book!

This post is nothing related to children’s books or early education. Its about life in general, about taking risks, building self-confidence and overcoming your fears. I guess my personal stories have intruded into the house of tales!

Last week I sold my car to the only serious, interested buyer who happened to be in Alabama. I live in Atlanta, so we decided to meet mid way. I tried to look for local buyers as I was hassled by this idea of an out-of-town transaction, but after a couple of no-shows I decided to give the AL party a shot.

This buyer had never seen the car and never had it checked from a mechanic, but assured me that she’ll buy the car when we meet. She even said she’ll reimburse me for gas if she didn’t buy it. Obviously this sounded really absurd. Why is she so interested in the car? Can’t she find anything else? Can’t I find anyone else local to ATL? I had my son’s 4th birthday the morning of the planned transaction and the thought of driving two cranky and tired kids some 3 hours just to taxi me around was a no-go with my husband.

So it was my decision, to go or not to go. After going back and forth several times, we agreed on a cash transaction. If I sold my car, I must be crazy thinking about walking around with all that cash on me, right? I had butterflies in my stomach and couldn’t sleep the night before.  A lot went through my mind. How will I return if I sell the car? What if the person is armed? What if I was mugged on the way? Or the worst – what if I was shot dead?

I decided to go, after all, if I did this successfully, I was done. No more thinking about it and I could happily move on.  I got there, the party was legit, they loved the car and everything went perfectly. Thank God that He didn’t ruin my faith in people, because I trusted a complete stranger. I then rode an airport shuttle from somewhere near the AL border and was picked up in ATL. My car was gone, and I felt very, very accomplished.

Three days back I did a ropes course where I had to walk on a cable some 50 feet off the ground. Scared as hell, drenched in sweat, my feet and hands trembling with fear, my first attempt was a failure. I stood around for quite some time overcoming my fear. I decided to give this another shot, did another course successfully and had the time of my life ziplining back to ground.

Overcoming fear and building self-confidence is sometimes all that you need to accomplish something. Analyze (not over analyze) the probabilities of events and weigh the pros and cons of your actions. In my car sale, the probability of being mugged was 1%. In the ropes course, the probability of the harness failing and me crashing to the ground was 0.01%. Just getting over the exaggerated “what ifs” in your head is all it takes to get ahead.

Have a blessed week and hope you accomplish something this week!

-Niv

As part of the August blog hop, here’s a little list of books we’ve been reading through summer.

These are mostly my 4 year old’s favs, the 2 year old is still enjoying her picture books and learning to recognize shapes, colors etc.

I bought “Ruthie and the (Not So) Teeny Tiny Lie”  after I caught my son lying for the first time. I was thrilled to find this book where Ruthie is so miserable after lying, and she finally confesses to her teacher about her teeny tiny lie. The Giant Hug is my personal favorite, especially with grandparents living so far away, overseas. The book is a great opportunity to talk about, and bond with them. Finally, my son LOVES the three little pigs. Every one of the piggies is someone from real life (mom, dad, sister etc) and the boy’s taken the “huff, puff, blow your house in” a little too seriously. He huffs and puffs even when we’re not reading the story. “Are you my mother” and “I love you Daddy” are beautiful books that are just perfect to snuggle up and read with the kids.

What books do your kids love reading? Join us on this blog hop.

Blog Hop: Aug 13 – 20

I enjoyed participating in a couple of blog hops so much that I thought it would be nice to host one myself! What better way to get to know other people interested in children’s books and discover new books to read to your kids?

Do you have a list of all time favorite children’s books? What are the books your kids love? What books did you read to your kids this summer? Join in the hop with us! Few things to remember:

1. Add a link to the specific post in your blog in the linky widget below.

2. Tweet about the blog hop and help spread the word.

3. Please follow the host on twitter @houseoftales1 and FB with a comment. I’ll follow you back and will surely read your blog post. I’m genuinely interested in children’s books and in knowing you!

4. If someone else in this list follows you, follow back for good karma!

I can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with.

By Sarah Anderson

If you live in Virginia, we have something you can add to your list of reasons to be proud of the Commonwealth: you’re part of one of the most well-read states in the United States! At least, according to Amazon you are.

The popular website just released its list of the 20 most well-read cities in the United States, and Arlington and Richmond made the top 20 with Alexandria coming in at the top spot. Naturally, big college towns such as Cambridge, Massachusetts (home to Harvard and MIT), Ann Arbor, Michigan (home to the University of Michigan), Gainesville, Florida (home to the University of Florida), and Berkeley, California (home to the University of California, Berkeley) also made the list.

As a Southerner, I was pleasantly surprised to see several local cities on the list. We usually get a bad rap when it comes to education. Not only did my hometown, Atlanta, make the list, but Miami, Knoxville, Orlando and Columbia did as well. I was also surprised to see that New York City didn’t even crack the top 20.

The annual list is always comprised of cities with over 100,000 residents who purchased the most books, eBooks, newspapers, and magazines.

Here’s the rest of the list:

1. Alexandria, Virginia
2. Cambridge, Massachusetts
3. Berkeley, California
4. Ann Arbor, Michigan
5. Boulder, Colorado
6. Miami, Florida
7. Arlington, Virginia.
8. Gainesville, Florida
9. Washington, D.C.
10. Salt Lake City, Utah
11. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
12. Knoxville, Tennessee
13. Seattle, Washington
14. Orlando, Florida
15. Columbia, South Carolina
16. Bellevue, Washington
17. Cincinnati, Ohio
18. St. Louis, Missouri
19. Atlanta, Georgia
20. Richmond, Virginia

So, what do you think? Did your city make the list? Is there a city there that surprises you or one you think should have made the list?  Let us know!

I was thrilled to read this review on The Sage’s Daughter. Thank you Krista.

“This adorable Children’s book made my heart melt! The Sage wanted a child so he made a daughter from a mouse, when she turns 16 he wants her to marry. In the story the daughter takes the Sage on a adventure, the Sage then realizes his daughters destiny! I recommend this to everyone, All my little ones loved it. The illustrations were simple and lovely!!!!”

This is truly a beautiful, touching story – READ IT NOW!

Our $15 Amazon gift card giveaway is still ON. Enter to win!

Thank you Lollipops and Books for a sweet review of The Three Fishes!

Age Group. This Children’s Book has some bigger words and a great little lesson, perfect book for ages 5 and up

Illustrations. Lord Licorice really liked the illustrations they were cute and looked 3 dimensional. Which was good because most ebooks don’t catch our attention like this one did.

Rating. 4/5 Lollipops

Don’t forget to enter for a chance to win a 15.00 Gift Card HERE

The kind and gracious Krista at Lollipops and Books is hosting a $15 Amazon gift card giveaway sponsored by The House of Tales! Go enter the giveaway and share it with your friends!

All our ebooks are available for FREE download this week! We’d love to see some new readers and honest reviews.

-Niv