I did not know Jasper could hop the garden fence… stinker!
Share your own pictures this week at Wordless Wednesday HQ!
Before you leave, have you entered all of my giveaways?
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Wordless Wednesday- In the Yard, Yesterday
Share your own pictures this week at Wordless Wednesday HQ!
Before you leave, have you entered all of my giveaways?
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
White House Commencement Challenge
President Obama has pledged to speak at one high school graduation each year he is in office. This year there are six high schools vying for the most impressive commencement speaker in the US. Watch and rate their videos at whitehouse.gov to help decide which school deserves this honor.
Monday, April 26, 2010
BioGaia Children's Probiotics Giveaway
***CONGRATULATIONS, #8 IndependentMami!!!***
her comment...
I would most likely use the chewable tablets
Probiotics are live active cultures thought to promote intestinal health. They're found in a variety of foods, most notably traditional yogurts, but kids often miss out on their benefits due to persnickety tastes or food allergies. BioGaia offers a range of probiotic products that are specifically designed for kids in easy-to-take forms like straws, chewable tablets and drops that can be mixed into bottles or food.
A while back, Roo woke up in the middle of the night with an upset stomach. After she got everything out, I gave her one of the BioGaia probiotic chewable tablets. I'm not sure what caused her vomiting but she was fine by the time she woke up in the morning. She is notoriously anti-vitamin and healthy stuff, in general, but she has asked to for the "tummy pills" a couple of times since. Jasper sometimes has some, uh, runny diapers and I've substituted the BioGaia probiotic straws in his juice box without detection. It seems to help. We haven't had a chance to try the BioGaia probiotic drops yet but studies have shown colicky babies using them daily had significantly reduced crying time after one week and a continued reduction after four weeks, which I imagine was a lifesaver for their parents! My kiddos were cranky enough without the colic…
For more information on BioGaia Children's Probiotic Products, check them out on Facebook or YouTube or Twitter.
To enter and win your choice of BioGaia Children's Probiotic Products (Drops, Straws or Chewable Tablets), please comment on this post with which you would be most likely to use. Feel free to share your bad tummy stories, too!
Entries will be accepted through May 12th and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible.
For an additional entry, post my button on your blog (see code on sidebar), follow my blog, follow me on Twitter, fan me on Facebook, fave me on Technorati or subscribe via email or subscribe via reader. Leave an extra comment letting me know what you did for each additional entry.
Make sure you leave an email address in your comment or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win!
Disclosure: I received samples of the products mentioned for this review, thanks to BioGaia and MomSelect.
***Click Giveaways on my sidebar to see what else you could win!***
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Yiddish for Babies
Yiddish for Babies is the perfect shower gift for your expectant semitic friends. Seriously. Who doesn't like cute kiddos and finally learning exactly what all those comedians are yammering about?! Silly but fun and actually educational, even.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book to facilitate this review.
Friday, April 23, 2010
What I Learned at the NCFL
There was a lot of information to absorb at the National Conference on Family Literacy, which might be why it's taken me so long to process it all and write down my thoughts. I've been home for a little over a week and mulled over the messages I heard from educators from across the country and from the excellent speakers.* One consistent theme emerged: parents are a child's first and most important teachers. They need to be reminded of that and given the tools to help them become more engaged in that role.
I truly believe that is why the NCFL invited me to experience their annual event: parents need to realize that they are teachers. It's a simple message and perhaps obvious to some of us, who were lucky enough to grow up in families that cherished books and school and the concept of lifetime learning. It's easy to take that for granted but many don't have that background. Some parents may have struggled in school and don't think they have anything to teach their child in the realm of academia. Other parents might speak English as a second language and feel insecure about their contributions in American schools. Many children don't have parents in their lives and their caregivers are uncertain of their place in the classroom. The NCFL works with families to raise the collective bar of achievement. By empowering parents and caregivers to become active participants in the community of learning, the children are given a better opportunity to succeed. It's a win-win situation. Confident, engaged parents make for happier, more engaged kids and also stronger, more educated communities. The concept of family literacy is explained on the NCFL website:
In addition to their many community projects and initiatives, NCFL hopes to reach out to individual families in their own homes. They are a major resource for the Thinkfinity.org website, which offers a wealth of educational and literacy resources for students, parents and after-school programs including lesson plans for K-12 as well as interactive tools and reference materials. I love that they have harnessed the power of the internet to bring resources such as the Smithsonian archives to younger kids and make it fun. One example is using the speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to make word art. I was tickled to see a demo of this at the NCFL conference and surprised at how many audience members had not used Wordle before! Obviously, we have to get the word out about online literacy resources.
I was so honored and excited to be given this chance to learn more about the NCFL and hope to work with them more in the future. Hopefully more parent bloggers will be in attendance at next year's conference to learn more and spread the word about family literacy.
*I mentioned many of the speakers in my NCFL recap post but the final day's speakers were fabulous, too. Sir Ken Robinson was erudite and drily hilarious in a way that only British people seem to be. He spoke about the perceived rift between intelligence and creativity and the importance of realizing that they have a symbiotic relationship. Monica Holloway managed to simultaneously elicit giggles and tears with the story of her son's diagnosis of autism and the puppy who helped change his life. I was sorry to have to leave for the airport before her book signing.
Disclosure: My travel, lodging and conference expenses were provided. I am grateful to Collective Bias and the National Center for Family Literacy for this opportunity to keep learning.
I truly believe that is why the NCFL invited me to experience their annual event: parents need to realize that they are teachers. It's a simple message and perhaps obvious to some of us, who were lucky enough to grow up in families that cherished books and school and the concept of lifetime learning. It's easy to take that for granted but many don't have that background. Some parents may have struggled in school and don't think they have anything to teach their child in the realm of academia. Other parents might speak English as a second language and feel insecure about their contributions in American schools. Many children don't have parents in their lives and their caregivers are uncertain of their place in the classroom. The NCFL works with families to raise the collective bar of achievement. By empowering parents and caregivers to become active participants in the community of learning, the children are given a better opportunity to succeed. It's a win-win situation. Confident, engaged parents make for happier, more engaged kids and also stronger, more educated communities. The concept of family literacy is explained on the NCFL website:
What is family literacy? Essentially, it’s a practical solution that addresses the root of devastating social problems: low literacy rates and poverty.
The family literacy approach offers whole families educational opportunities so that every member is able to improve literacy and life skills. It is based upon the simple, but powerful premise that parents and children learn best when learning together. The benefits span generations: both parents and their children build essential skills to learn and compete in today’s economy.
Breaking it down, literacy is the catalyst that inspires families and communities to raise the achievement bar. Families act as the conduit for long lasting, meaningful change. By intertwining these two concepts, NCFL has developed a winning strategy to work with families, communities and dedicated partners that brings about change to ensure that parents and children achieve their goals for success.
Time and again, family literacy proves to break down other barriers to success, such as poverty, unemployment, poor health and inadequate housing. When parents struggle with literacy and basic life skills, their children have fewer chances for success. Family literacy reverses this destructive cycle by giving families the tools they need to thrive today, and most importantly, by helping them educate generations of tomorrow.
In addition to their many community projects and initiatives, NCFL hopes to reach out to individual families in their own homes. They are a major resource for the Thinkfinity.org website, which offers a wealth of educational and literacy resources for students, parents and after-school programs including lesson plans for K-12 as well as interactive tools and reference materials. I love that they have harnessed the power of the internet to bring resources such as the Smithsonian archives to younger kids and make it fun. One example is using the speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to make word art. I was tickled to see a demo of this at the NCFL conference and surprised at how many audience members had not used Wordle before! Obviously, we have to get the word out about online literacy resources.
I was so honored and excited to be given this chance to learn more about the NCFL and hope to work with them more in the future. Hopefully more parent bloggers will be in attendance at next year's conference to learn more and spread the word about family literacy.
*I mentioned many of the speakers in my NCFL recap post but the final day's speakers were fabulous, too. Sir Ken Robinson was erudite and drily hilarious in a way that only British people seem to be. He spoke about the perceived rift between intelligence and creativity and the importance of realizing that they have a symbiotic relationship. Monica Holloway managed to simultaneously elicit giggles and tears with the story of her son's diagnosis of autism and the puppy who helped change his life. I was sorry to have to leave for the airport before her book signing.
Disclosure: My travel, lodging and conference expenses were provided. I am grateful to Collective Bias and the National Center for Family Literacy for this opportunity to keep learning.
Another Triple Play Weekend!
Weekend looking a bit lackluster? Why not take advantage of the Triple Play promotion at Blockbuster Express?
Rent two DVDs and get the THIRD free with this code: G14D3. It's good from now through Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 11:59 PM, so carve out a little time for yourself and catch up on the movies you ran out of time to see in the theater. I know I have a gigantic list I've been wanting to see. The top three new releases for me this weekend? Crazy Heart, The Lovely Bones and Sherlock Holmes. Avatar is renting for $2 tonight but will be $1 each night starting tomorrow, too! Gotta love the blue guys.
Get the skinny on new releases by following Blockbuster Express on Twitter or becoming a Blockbuster Express fan on Facebook! You can save time by pre-ordering online and picking them up at a Blockbuster Express kiosk near you.
Disclosure: I am one of the "Couch Critics" in the Collective Bias community but I did not receive any compensation for sharing this information.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Earth Day Savings
Just wanted to pass this remarkable deal on: today and tomorrow, everything at Neela Bags is 50% off with code EARTHDAY10.
I have been using my Neela Bags Market Pack every week for the last two years (yes, really) and it is perfect for our regular grocery shopping. I keep it in the trunk of my car so I never forget it. At $28, the Market Pack is an everyday bargain, including five Fold-Up Market Totes (they usually retail for $7 each) in a handy mini-tote. Using the 50% off code is a downright STEAL. Go save the Earth and buy something nice for yourself, too.
Disclosure: I received a Market Pack to review two years ago and I still love it. I wrote this because I think it's a good deal.
I have been using my Neela Bags Market Pack every week for the last two years (yes, really) and it is perfect for our regular grocery shopping. I keep it in the trunk of my car so I never forget it. At $28, the Market Pack is an everyday bargain, including five Fold-Up Market Totes (they usually retail for $7 each) in a handy mini-tote. Using the 50% off code is a downright STEAL. Go save the Earth and buy something nice for yourself, too.
Disclosure: I received a Market Pack to review two years ago and I still love it. I wrote this because I think it's a good deal.
Tiny Prints Twitter Party and Giveaway
***CONGRATULATIONS, Domestic Diva!!!***
her comment...
I like the Japanese Garden card. I'd send it to my friend as a thank you.
Tiny Prints already makes sending personalized invitations, announcements and holiday cards easy, even for me. Now they're upping the ante with Tiny Prints Greeting Cards, individual cards which can be personalized and then scheduled in advance to be mailed directly to special people in your life. So you never have to send a "belated" card again!
If you're actually organized, you can have them sent to your home address to be signed and mailed at your own discretion. In my case, the former is MUCH more practical. (Happy birthday today, cousin Lauren! Yes, I should have sent you a card…) Tiny Prints Greetings will also send you reminder notices for big holidays and special occasions to give you a heads-up. If you're super anal-retentive or incredibly forgetful, you can even schedule a queue of personalized greeting cards to be sent automatically up to a year in advance. No one will ever know you can't remember what day of the week it is! Right now, you'll receive three free cards just for registering with Tiny Prints Greetings and the first year's membership fee has been waived.
Tiny Prints is having its first-ever Twitter Party celebrating the launch of their greeting card program tomorrow night, Friday April 23rd at 9 pm ET/8 PM CST. There will be tons of prizes awarded, including:
• 4 sets of Address Labels
• 4 sets of Personalized Note Cards and matching address labels
• 4 sets of 50 Business Cards, perfect for blog conferences!
• 10 Greeting Card Packs - sample packs of 10 essential greeting cards covering all your basic emergency greeting card needs - birthdays, mother's day, father's day, graduations, congratulations. etc.
• 4 Sets of 10 personalized greeting cards.
• 4 Tiny Prints $25 Gift Certificates
• 2 $50 Visa cards
Follow Tiny Prints and RSVP for the Twitter Party today! Use hashtag #makeitpersonal to join the party.
To enter and 25 FREE Tiny Prints Greeting Cards, please comment on this post with your favorite card design and who you would send it to.
Entries will be accepted through May 5th and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible.
For an additional entry, follow Tiny Prints on Twitter, like Tiny Prints on Facebook, post my button on your blog (see code on sidebar), follow my blog, follow me on Twitter, fan me on Facebook, fave me on Technorati or subscribe via email or subscribe via reader. Leave an extra comment letting me know what you did for each additional entry.
Make sure you leave an email address in your comment or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win!
***Click Giveaways on my sidebar to see what else you could win!***
Cleaning Up on Earth Day
REMOVEEZ is a line of natural, citrus-based liquid skin cleansers made with homeopathic extracts of plants and flowers. Sticky messes sometimes seem like they need industrial-strength toxic goo to deal with them (when I worked at record stores, for example, the best way to clean bin dividers of all the sticker residue was with lighter fluid, ick) but REMOVEEZ proves that you can clean almost everything up in a healthy, safe, and earth-conscious way:
REMOVEEZ is gentle on the environment but, more importantly for parents, it is also gentle on skin. (The formula was actually created in response to those pesky temporary tattoos that kiddos are addicted to but screech in horror if you remove as directed with stinky, stinging, drying rubbing alcohol…) If your kids are particularly good at getting into stuff, you'll be happy to know that REMOVEEZ gently dissolves the hard-to-remove stuff like permanent markers, paint, temporary tattoos, tar, and more, without stripping skin of its natural oils. In fact, extra REMOVEEZ left on skin soothes and nourishes with ingredients such as aloe, calendula, bee pollen, and Hawaiian white ginger. Rub REMOVEEZ until it naturally dissolves the sticky stuff and wipe excess off or keep rubbing until it disappears into your skin! It smells heavenly, too, with four great scents, all blended with orangey goodness: lavender, eucalyptus, coconut, or clove.
"As a surfer and father, I want to make sure we take care of our world for both our children and future generations,” says REMOVEEZ founder Jeremy Alcock. "Choosing to use REMOVEEZ is a simple and natural choice among many others to live sustainably. Earth Day is a reminder of what each individual can do, from recycling to planting gardens to teaching kids to turn off the lights and playing outside.”
Follow REMOVEEZ on Twitter or Facebook or check out the Removeez Blog to find out more.
Disclosure: I received a sampler of REMOVEEZ products to facilitate this review.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Wordless Wednesday- Inside/Outside
Share your own pictures this week at Wordless Wednesday HQ!
Before you leave, have you entered all of my giveaways?
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Mrs. Prindable's Amazing Apples
Amazing is an understatement when describing the deliciousness that is one of Mrs. Prindable's handmade gourmet apples. Drenched in buttery caramel and then festooned with layer upon layer of chocolate (milk chocolate! dark chocolate! white chocolate!), the Triple Chocolate Jumbo Caramel Apple Gift that we sampled was unbelievably decadent while retaining the fresh, crisp tang of the granny smith hidden within. Even the box it came in looks indulgent! Look at the pretty purple box and tell me you wouldn't want to see what was inside! I must admit that I contemplated hiding this package away since it came while Roo was in school and Jasper was napping.
I did unwrap it but I was a good mommy and put it into the refrigerator to save for a family taste taste. It was rough, waiting.
Still, I thought the kids should get to see how pretty the Mrs. Prindable's Triple Chocolate Jumbo Caramel Apple was before their mother butchered it. Literally. Jasper had never seen such a thing so he was a bit skeptical. Apples are good by themselves. So is chocolate. Would it work together? He wasn't sure.
Roo, on the other hand, knew instinctively that this was gonna be the bomb. The chocolately-caramely-appley bomb. I suspect her grandma had slipped her some Mrs. Prindable's before. Grandma tends to be the authority on fancy food gifts. Anyway, she knew she would like it. She was surprised I didn't eat it all by myself. (She certainly would have…)
Aside from the fact that Mrs. Prindable's handmade gourmet apples taste like heaven on a purple-ribboned stick, they slice up beautifully. Even with me wielding the proverbial blue steel, the apple and caramel and chocolate all stayed intact and presentable. Which means anyone could do it, basically, and get oohs and ahhs from the hungry crowd. Even fancy schmancy types.
If, for some incomprehensible reason you are apple-phobic, Mrs. Prindable's also offers an array of handcrafted confections that don't involve fruit. There are pretzel rods dipped in Mrs. Prindable's glorious caramel and assorted toppings as well as more traditional gourmet caramels and nut clusters. The object of myaffection lust is Mrs. Prindable's Triple Chocolate Caramel Favors which is essentially the same thing as we tried, only sans the apple and boosting up the caramel. Holy cow!
These gorgeous Mrs. Prindable's Gift Baskets would be great for teacher appreciation and– hello, family!– Mother's Day giving.
Follow Mrs. Prindables on Twitter and Facebook to learn more. They have regular giveaways, people!
Disclosure: Thanks to Mrs. Prindable's and Mom Impact, e received the Triple Chocolate Jumbo Caramel Apple Gift shown above to facilitate this review. If it wasn't totally delicious, however, we would have mentioned it. Do you think they'd send more if we said we hated them? Hmm… totally joking, FCC.
I did unwrap it but I was a good mommy and put it into the refrigerator to save for a family taste taste. It was rough, waiting.
Still, I thought the kids should get to see how pretty the Mrs. Prindable's Triple Chocolate Jumbo Caramel Apple was before their mother butchered it. Literally. Jasper had never seen such a thing so he was a bit skeptical. Apples are good by themselves. So is chocolate. Would it work together? He wasn't sure.
Roo, on the other hand, knew instinctively that this was gonna be the bomb. The chocolately-caramely-appley bomb. I suspect her grandma had slipped her some Mrs. Prindable's before. Grandma tends to be the authority on fancy food gifts. Anyway, she knew she would like it. She was surprised I didn't eat it all by myself. (She certainly would have…)
Aside from the fact that Mrs. Prindable's handmade gourmet apples taste like heaven on a purple-ribboned stick, they slice up beautifully. Even with me wielding the proverbial blue steel, the apple and caramel and chocolate all stayed intact and presentable. Which means anyone could do it, basically, and get oohs and ahhs from the hungry crowd. Even fancy schmancy types.
If, for some incomprehensible reason you are apple-phobic, Mrs. Prindable's also offers an array of handcrafted confections that don't involve fruit. There are pretzel rods dipped in Mrs. Prindable's glorious caramel and assorted toppings as well as more traditional gourmet caramels and nut clusters. The object of my
These gorgeous Mrs. Prindable's Gift Baskets would be great for teacher appreciation and– hello, family!– Mother's Day giving.
Follow Mrs. Prindables on Twitter and Facebook to learn more. They have regular giveaways, people!
Disclosure: Thanks to Mrs. Prindable's and Mom Impact, e received the Triple Chocolate Jumbo Caramel Apple Gift shown above to facilitate this review. If it wasn't totally delicious, however, we would have mentioned it. Do you think they'd send more if we said we hated them? Hmm… totally joking, FCC.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Help Clorox Connect Kids to Care
Last week I had the opportunity to learn about an amazing program. Karen Redlander, Executive Director of the Children's Health Fund and Dr. Delany Gracy, chief CHF pediatrician spoke to a group of bloggers about the impact that their organization has had over the past 23 years, establishing 50 mobile medical clinics (think "doctor-mobiles") and 24 permanent programs across the country. These programs provide medical care, including dental and mental health care, to an underserved population– children living in poverty.
Today, as part of its ongoing commitment to preventative healthcare for families, Clorox is donating half a million dollars over the next two years to the Children's Health Fund to help provide half a million health care visits to disadvantaged children across our country. In addition, Clorox is donating one dollar for each new ‘fan’ on the Clorox Facebook page, up to $100,000 (from April 2010 to January 2012).
Watch the videos below to see more about the great work the Children's Health Fund is doing in communities throughout our nation. Visit the Clorox on Facebook to learn more about their partnership and the Connect Kids to Care program. (You'll also find more information about how you can help to spread the word to friends and family by changing your Facebook status or displaying a Connect Kids to Care badge and learn how a $10 donation can help CHF provide health care to children in need.)
To enter and win a Clorox Children's Health Fund Gift Pack, please follow me on Twitter and tweet (or retweet) the following:
Help @Clorox help @chfund provide half a million health care visits to kids in need and win at http://tinyurl.com/superdumbCHF #CHFClorox
Leave a comment with your tweet link. You may tweet as often as you like.
Entries will be accepted through May 3rd and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible.
Make sure you leave an email address in your comment or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win!
Check out what other bloggers are saying about the Connect Kids to Care program (and get another chance to win!):
Consumer Queen
Plus Size Mommy
According To Rachel
My DFW Mommy
Dad of Divas
Mom’s Favorite Stuff
My SLC Mommy
West Michigan Mommy
Inside the Chatter Box
Organize With Sandy
Coupon Princess
Couponing to Disney
***Click Giveaways on my sidebar to see what else you could win!***
Today, as part of its ongoing commitment to preventative healthcare for families, Clorox is donating half a million dollars over the next two years to the Children's Health Fund to help provide half a million health care visits to disadvantaged children across our country. In addition, Clorox is donating one dollar for each new ‘fan’ on the Clorox Facebook page, up to $100,000 (from April 2010 to January 2012).
Watch the videos below to see more about the great work the Children's Health Fund is doing in communities throughout our nation. Visit the Clorox on Facebook to learn more about their partnership and the Connect Kids to Care program. (You'll also find more information about how you can help to spread the word to friends and family by changing your Facebook status or displaying a Connect Kids to Care badge and learn how a $10 donation can help CHF provide health care to children in need.)
To enter and win a Clorox Children's Health Fund Gift Pack, please follow me on Twitter and tweet (or retweet) the following:
Help @Clorox help @chfund provide half a million health care visits to kids in need and win at http://tinyurl.com/superdumbCHF #CHFClorox
Leave a comment with your tweet link. You may tweet as often as you like.
Entries will be accepted through May 3rd and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible.
Make sure you leave an email address in your comment or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win!
Check out what other bloggers are saying about the Connect Kids to Care program (and get another chance to win!):
***Click Giveaways on my sidebar to see what else you could win!***
Friday, April 16, 2010
Roo's Journal
When Roo gets on my nerves (which is often now that she is a petulant six-going-on-sixteen), I like to flip through her journals from school. Her teachers don't correct the spelling, so it's sometimes like deciphering a riddle, but they definitely give some insight and make me smile.
"Cheetahs are fast runners because they want prey to eat."
"I love you Sterling. I want to kiss you. I love you."
"We are going to sell cookies for money."
"Kaila, I miss you so much. Kaila girl I love you. Kaila I think you are good."
The last one is a shout-out to Kristin's daughter who Roo made friends with at the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. How cute is that? Almost makes me not cringe at the way she's being mean to her little brother tonight. Almost.
The last one is a shout-out to Kristin's daughter who Roo made friends with at the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. How cute is that? Almost makes me not cringe at the way she's being mean to her little brother tonight. Almost.
Triple Play Weekend!
Weekend looking a bit lackluster? Why not take advantage of the Triple Play promotion at Blockbuster Express?
Rent two DVDs and get the THIRD free with this code: G14D2. It's good from now through Sunday, April 18, 2010 at 11:59 PM, so carve out a little time for yourself and catch up on the movies you ran out of time to see in the theater. I know I have a gigantic list I've been wanting to see. What about you?
Get the skinny on new releases by following Blockbuster Express on Twitter or becoming a Blockbuster Express fan on Facebook! You can save time by pre-ordering online and picking them up at a Blockbuster Express kiosk near you.
Disclosure: I am one of the "Couch Critics" in the Collective Bias community but I did not receive any compensation for sharing this information.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Wordless Wednesday- Outside/Inside
Share your own pictures this week at Wordless Wednesday HQ!
Before you leave, have you entered all of my giveaways?
Monday, April 12, 2010
NCFL Update
I'm taking a break between sessions at the National Conference on Family Literacy. Midway through the second day and I am already exhausted! There is such a wealth of knowledge and experience and a sense of communal purpose. Most of the attendees are teachers or community educators. Because my own limited experience with literacy programs has focused on children, I imagined much of the content would be related to early childhood initiatives but the broader goal of the National Center for Family Literacy is to reach entire families.
Many of the speakers have come from disadvantaged backgrounds, with English as a second language, and the effect that adult literacy programs have had on their lives, and the lives of their families is truly inspiring. Kay Brown, the 2010 Toyota Teacher of the Year Award winner runs the Union Parish Family Literacy Center in Monroe, LA underscored the need for parents' confidence to be built up so they can share their new skills with their children. Education empowers parents to help their own children to succeed and set higher goals for themselves. Everyone wants to be heard and to be acknowledged and it is important to give parents the tools to work with. These might look like ordinary schoolteachers lining up for a fajita bar, but they are absolutely extraordinary for their ability to empower people through literacy!
Yesterday's keynote speakers were Sean and Collins Tuohy, the adoptive father and daughter portrayed in The Blind Side. Their message was powerful, even though they kept the audience laughing with a light tone and familial banter. They emphasized the importance of what they refer to as "cheerful giving" and reflected on ways family involvement and simply understanding and acknowledging the need for different avenues of learning can aid in a child's education.
Today, Byron Pitts talked about overcoming being diagnosed as functionally illiterate as a child in East Baltimore. He spoke about how the courage and compassion of family literacy educators helped him beat the odds to become an award-winning journalist and correspondent on 60 Minutes. He also discussed his recent travels to Afghanistan, where 50% of adult men and 90% of adult women are illiterate and how the US must put "books before bullets" by combatting illiteracy before training Afghans as soldiers. "How can you expect a population to embrace democracy when they can't even spell the word?" he asked. Pitts also underscored the importance of reaching out to others in need whenever possible and shared personal stories from his own life to further his message. He also signed copies of his book, Step Out on Nothing, for four hours… I went to two other sessions after his and he was still there, talking to fans about his life! (FYI: If you purchase the book from NCFL partner Better World Books, 100% of proceeds will be donated to literacy funding.)
I attended a remarkable presentation by Partners in Development, about their Ka Pa'alana Traveling Preschool and Homeless Outreach program that serves houseless families along the Leeward Coast of O‘ahu. I was saddened to learn how much the homeless epidemic has grown in Hawaii since I was growing up on the Windward side twenty years ago. Their program has been going on for three years now and it seems like they have made great strides, building yurts as classrooms and providing much-needed outreach and peer mentoring to older kids, too. I was also impressed (but not surprised!) that the Hawaiians brought food for their audience. (Right on!)
There was also a really enlightening (seriously!) panel discussion about the newly-revamped Electric Company. I remember the old series fondly from my childhood and got a real kick out of hearing how it's been tailored for a contemporary kid viewership. Three of the performers from the show were on the panel, plus the website coordinator and producers and all of them had great things to say about motivating kids to want to learn to read and to love words and music.
And if that wasn't enough, I got to meet Clifford the Big Red Dog. How cool is that?!
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