Education Is Very Important for Your Little Star

One of the greatest regrets Oma has in childrearing
 is not taking her sons out of public school.

According to the Council for American Private Education (CAPE), there's a number of reasons some parents are choosing the pricier option. These include high academic achievement (the National Center for Education Statistics has found that private school students in grades 4, 8 and 12 score well above the national average in reading, math, science and writing), a safe environment, high parent and teacher satisfaction levels, a focus on civics, community service and a values-based setting.

If only I knew then what I understand now . . . . . . As a new Oma (Dutch for Grandmother), I do not wish to make that same mistake twice. After interacting with a child who has attended “Little Stars Academy Temecula,” Oma hopes that Reef Indy can someday attend this excellent learning milieu. 

Little Stars Academy Temecula

During her research, Oma interviewed Jessica, the founder of Little Stars. The best part of that interview will be presented in several installments. Please take the time to read what this innovative educator has to say. It will positively change your life and the lives of your children and/or grandchildren significantly. Much of her advice, covered in part three of this series, can be accomplished with little or no monetary cost.

Question One of Three:

Oma: How was your experience as a traditional teacher? 

 

Jessica: I have been teaching for eight years. Six years teaching public school kindergarten in a rural, program improvement (means the school had test scores that No Child Left Behind Act deemed as failing), low socio-economic, high English as a second language population school. I started teaching at the public school the first year that it was in its program improvement status, which meant that the school was in for a lot of changes. The school became part of a grant program called Reading First where we were given an academic coach and a lot of training. As teachers we were expected to follow the curriculum exactly as it was laid out with no deviations. The premise of the Reading First program was that if you follow the program, you would see results. So I set out to do just that.

I was fortunate to have a partner teacher who had many years’ experience teaching preschool and kindergarten and was very well known and respected in the community. In that first year together we changed everything about the way kindergarten was taught in that school. My partner was so supportive and open to every new idea that I had. We taught the program exactly as designed and definitely got results. Pretty soon our kindergarten was scoring some of the best test results in the district. In my 2nd year of teaching I became a model teacher. Other kindergarten teachers in our district would come to observe my implementation of the program. This was such a great experience for me. I enjoyed helping teachers, learning from them, and making their lives a little easier. I came to respect and understand how important it was for a teaching staff to work as a team and be on the same page. (More about this later & why I left public school 

I learned from him about our community and that the most important thing you could give to any student was love, understanding, and a safe place to be because the bottom line was that a lot of our kids didn’t get that at home. He had always done home visits as a preschool teacher because it was required and continued to do them in kindergarten. I watched the relationship that he developed with kids and parents, the way they trusted him, and let him in to their homes no matter what their home life was like. I learned that gaining the trust of your student’s parent was the best way to get results and make a difference for them. I learned early on that I loved kindergarten so much because you were laying the foundation of schooling for kids and parents in so many ways. I learned that I loved educating the parents and helping them help their kids just as much as I loved teaching.

(Part Two – Will be Published Next Week) 

Follow  Little Stars Academy on Facebook

America takes notice of Joey Prusak

Joey Prusak with Queen Latifah

Joey Prusak is only nineteen years old and already an inspiration to the youth of America . . . . well more accurately to Americans of all ages.

Just in case you missed it, Prusak’s name went viral when he displayed good morals and good manners while performing his job.

The Hopkins, Minnesota Dairy Queen employee saw a blind customer drop a $20 bill, which promptly found its way into the purse of another customer -- after she picked it up and slipped it in there. When the woman attempted to order her food, Prusak refused to serve her unless she returned the money. Claiming it belonged to her, Prusak asked the woman to leave.

The 19-year-old then gave the blind customer $20 out of his own pocket, and the world took notice. After another customer witnessed Prusak's kind act and sent an email to Dairy Queen, his story quickly went viral and caught the attention of mainstream media, who hailed the good samaritan.

Queen Latifah, a noted NASCAR fan had Prusak on her show to congratulate him for doing the right thing and to reward him for his courageous actions.

Kevin Harvick, winner of the 2007 Daytona 500, recorded a message for Prusak, played on Latifah's show.

NASCAR is proud of your recent acts of kindness and courage," said Harvick, "On behalf of NASCAR and the Daytona International Speedway, I'd like to personally invite you to attend the Daytona 500. As a past Daytona 500 champion, I look forward to seeing you at the Great American Race.

Many have reached out to Prusak, but perhaps none more high-profile than Warren Buffett, whose company owns Dairy Queen.

I started laughing (when he called). Who knew it was going to be the real Warren Buffet?" Prusak told Latifah that Buffet said to him, "I'm really proud of what you did and I'd like to invite you to our shareholders meeting in May, you can be Dairy Queen's guest.

@joey prusak currently only has 608 Followers
 Let’s get that number higher.

Please Follow @joeyprusak on twitter and ask your friends and family to do the same!  Leave me a comment if you started following this amazing example of American NASCAR Youth!

You can also connect with Joey on his Facebook page.

I will be sure to continue to follow Joey Prusak and hope my grandson will grow up  as ethical as Joey.

(Prusak is also an amateur racer, running some events at Minnesota's premier NASCAR Hometrack venue)

Reef Indy Goes Skateboarding

Yesterday was Reef Indy’s first real outing. Mom and Dad took Reef to the Pala Skate Park. Dad really loves to skate.

Since opening in April 2008, the Pala Skatepark has been providing skateboarders with a safe, fun place to skateboard.

The park was designed by award-winning skatepark designer Wally Hollyday and features rails, drops, ramps as well as a carved out bowl modeled after an abandoned pool that was a favorite of local skateboarders in the 80s and 90s.

The Pala Band of Mission Indians invested $570,000 to build the park at the Jim Banks sports complex off Pala Mission Road in Pala, CA.

Of course Reef was sporting his Van’s.

It was a long but fun day; Daddy and Reef found time for a nap.

Look Out Addy Pastrana - Reef Indy is already at the Skatepark. 

Two Free EBooks from Kite Readers

Not a deal to be missed!

 

Two of Kite Readers' best children's illustrated stories, are available Free for a limited time. Read them on iPad, Kindle Fire, Android Tablet, Mac or PC.

Click Here To Get Started

1. You will receive “Julio Bunny and the Foreign Lion” when you sign up for Kite Reader’s Newsletter
2. Receive your second Free EBook “Sleepy Hollow and the Road You'd Better Not Follow“after you invite 5 Facebook Friends to like Kite Reader.

Julio Bunny and the Foreign Lion

There's a new character in town! Meet Lenny the Lion! Join Julio Bunny and his friends as they graciously welcome Lenny to their town and learn about their new, foreign friend. This heart warming tale demonstrates the power of hospitality and kindness, and shows that even though you may not speak the same language, you can always make a new friend!

Sleepy Hollow and the Road
You'd Better Not Follow

Have you heard about the road you'd better not follow? Let's take a walk through the deep, dark hollow! Legend says a headless horseman wants your head. I don't think he's aware that he's actually dead!  The Legend of Sleepy Hollow comes to life and turns into a chilling nightmare. This fun and frightening adventure is a night like no other for two curious friends who go in search of the legendary Headless Horseman.

Why does Reef cry?

 

Seven Reasons Babies Cry 

1. I'm hungry
2. I just feel like crying
3. I need to be held
4. I'm tired and need a rest
5. I'm too cold or too hot
6. I need my diaper changing
7. I don’t feel good

 

 

What Can You Do 

1. Find a constant sound
2. Rock-a-bye baby
3. Try a massage or a tummy rub
4. Try a different feeding position
5. Don't demand too much of yourself

Sometimes, babies just cry. Relax, as Reef grows, he will learn new ways of communicating his needs.

Valley View Casino - Jackpot

Oma and Opa took a quick break from the bustle of everyday life and headed to the casino last night.

Valley View Casino & Hotel, Southern California's premiere gaming destination, combines the thrill of 2000 of San Diego's only Certified Loose slots and your favorite table games with beautiful luxury hotel rooms, seven delicious restaurants and impeccable guest service. Take a step away from the ordinary and take in every detail we offer, from free live entertainment nightly, breathtaking views, expertly-prepared meals, remarkable amenities and so much more.

Well the slots paid off well for us last night. The photo above is of my biggest jackpot of the evening – Oma won $172.00 on a 50 cent bet!

Valley View Casino -  It was a fun evening that included a “free lobster buffet!”

Free Children's E-Book by Spencer Cluff

Newt Newsberry Black Ops Campaign

Free Children's E-Book - Short description

An average kid, with average friends, takes on the extraordinary goal in becoming America's FIRST kid senator but he must first get through the evil and powerful mayor, Mort Axes, a man who has never lost a fight and will win at all costs. But Newt gets some help from some unlikely friends. Meet them all, starting with Hu Flung Pu, "T-Bone", Alistair Crumpet, and Brooke McVitty.

Author Spencer Cluff

Having a middle grade son that blows through the Wimpy Kid, Big Nate books I felt the market needed more books in that style. Those other books come out annually and a few books for an entire year just does not fill that need of even an average reader. My books are longer than the others currently out there (8-10,000 more words) and I also use a secret code throughout that the kids can use to see the messages between the characters not written in the book. I thought it would be fun to bring back the top secret decoder of the old days and makes the book unique.

Click Here to Get Your Free Children’s E-Book

 Use coupon code AF55C at the checkout to get it free