What you think does matter

Games can be powerful teaching tools. These dynamic, educational video games engage kids while teaching them important money skills. Money Metropolis allows kids ages 7–12 to navigate a multi-dimensional world, making life decisions that will affect whether their virtual bank account shrinks or grows. And in Peter Pig's Money Counter, kids ages 4–7 can practice sorting and counting coins with the help of wise Peter Pig. "Children love to play games, and these colourful, creative games teach financial skills in a motivational and meaningful way. " –Gary Rabbior, President of the Canadian Foundation for Economic Education Money Games Cash Puzzler Money Metropolis Peter Pig's Money Counter Road Trip to Savings For centuries, play was considered a diversion rather than a means for education. But in the early 20th century, scholars like Swiss philosopher Jean Piaget began challenging these notions. He pioneered an educational theory that people build knowledge...

Always looking for interesting stories - here is a good one: 'Bare Knuckle Babe' wrestles in a 72-pound catfish Personally, I wouldn't stick my arm into a gigantic monster fish's mouth - at least not for fun or sport. Also not sure if the bikini calendar helps in moving women's rights forward? Lucy Millsap's bare-handed grab of monstrous flathead beats a field of about 200, mostly men, to claim prestigious Okie Noodling Tournament title! For years, Lucy Millsap kept her hidden talent as a catfish noodler to herself. “I went through my entire high school career and no one ever knew,” the 19-year-old Texan told The Oklahoman. But these days Millsap is anything but secretive about her passion, which entails wading through rivers and lakes and wrestling monstrous catfish from their cavernous dens—bare-handed. Millsap is a calendar girl for the Bare Knuckle Babes (Miss May 2014), and on Saturday she served the Babes proudly by wrestling a 72-pound flathead...

7 Ways to Encourage Reluctant Readers Reading is a tremendously appealing, satisfying activity, and children will become hooked once the adults in their lives consistently build it into their daily schedules. The key is getting children started. The following seven strategies will help even the most reluctant reader become more enthusiastic about the endeavor. By employing the strategies described below, reading will become something that students do willingly, even eagerly, and the adults in their lives will not have to resort to trickery, bribery, manipulation, or any other tactic that will, at best, lead to temporary compliance. After all, we’re striving to make reading a joyous lifelong habit. 1. Start with the child’s passions. Children will be more excited about reading when they can choose books or magazines related to their interests. This suggestion is far and away the most powerful one when it comes to encouraging those who are reluctant to read. When kids own the choic...

FaceBook wants me to “PAY” for likes? Considering that FaceBook is called a social network where the society of its members vote up or down by the votes they give people (votes as in –LIKES) I find it surprising and disturbing that I am bombarded with emails, notifications and the likes by FaceBook to pay for page "likes". Don’t get me wrong – I am all for business, capitalism – Go American entrepreneurism! I just find it odd that a website called a “social” website where people gather to share stuff is not only offering members to pay and purchase likes but it seems – at least by my test, to be restricting its members from sharing freely in order to entice people to advertise on what should be an open social site. For example: I currently have 57 likes on my FaceBook fan page. My understanding is that people who like your page will be able to see what you are posting “status update” – correct? My Page: www.facebook.com/dowellinschool But on numerous occasions I h...

My kid is not perfect, I and my wife are not perfect parents – but I want, I desire a better future for my children and I believe most parents feel the same way. And it makes me feel good when I see the subtle positive changes in my children. I surprised a Teacher today. As I walked across the school campus a former fifth grader in daycare came up to me and gave me a hug. I asked her what she was doing and she quickly said: nothing, I’m bored. So I broke out the speech I give my own children with a twist, I asked her: Is this not a school? Practice your math, read a book, keep your brain active. This quickly prompted the teacher standing near us to say: Yes, why not read a book that is on your summer reading book list? The young girl gave her this – are you crazy look. I quickly reacted by explaining to my young friend that my nine year old son has been practicing his math everyday this summer – why, because I bribe him, no video games, TV, nothing if he doesn’t compl...

Successful Children - I love sharing stories with my children about successful children in order to motivate them to learn and to succeed. 10 yr. old CEO, Entrepreneur Hannah Altman Business – Selling Pencil Toppers Only 10 years old (yes, you read correctly!), Hannah Altman is the founder and CEO of Hannah’s Cool World where she and her parents sell cool toys all over the world. In business since 2009, her site has sold more than 250,000 pencil toppers. She comes from a family of entrepreneurs – her Mother Lauren Altman started Cool Zips when Hannah was only six years old. In fact, the idea to start Cool Zips was Hannah’s – a really creative and practical thinker at such a young age, one must say! Her Dad, Rick Altman, left his full time job in 2010 when the Cool Zips business really took off. Once the family was out dining when Hannah spotted pencil toppers in a nearby vending machine and Hannah forced her Dad to buy them. Hannah, when reaching home, asked her Dad wheth...

Math: cool way to teach my son math with YouTube? Here is a question: what is an integer? How do you teach a 9 yr old “fourth grade math” and more over the summer, when all he wants to do is to play video games late into the night? Let me tell you – he doesn’t make it easy. But I did make it interesting for him: I found this interesting math tutorial on YouTube. My 9 yr old loves watching You Tube videos about MineCraft and other games – so it was a no brainer. I sit with him and I watch the videos with him and then I create questions and/or math equations that go along with what we learned in the video. (Check one video out below) As of today we are up to video seven where the lessons start on multiplication and division – considering we have heard everything from natural numbers, whole numbers, unit numbers and integers which to my – is a bunch of different ways of saying: numbers. But according to the videos – integer is positive and negative numbers and zero.  ...