teacher Archives - Saving Time & Money l SamiCone.com

TeachHub.com provides the latest resources for teachers & parents

April 22, 2013 By sami

To be completely transparent, I get approached frequently by brands, organizations & websites looking to me to help promote their material. But I take this platform very seriously and still imagine it’s just me writing to my best friend on here…even though I now have the privilege of interacting with thousands of you on a daily basis.

In that same light, I would only tell my best friend about something that either:
A. I loved
or
B. I think she will love
or
C. I think we should get involved with

So I guess it’s no coincidence that when I learned about TeachHub.com, I wanted to share it with you all. My best friend was a teacher for many years, I taught for five years and as a mom, I believe every parent is a teacher at home!

At its heart, TeachHUB.com is a great free resource for all teachers and parents who want the latest in education technology, news
and tools.

According to the teachers at TeachHUB.com, success in education starts with curiosity…and curiosity starts at home. If we expect our kids to get excited about something, then we first have to get excited about it ourselves!

Even though I have never technically ‘homeschooled’ my kids, I started ‘learning time’ with them when they were very young. I’ve always tried to be very purposeful about pouring certain concepts into my kids, including French, piano, math and of course, a love of reading.

But even in the midst of recognizing the need to pass on my passions to my kids, I also recognize the need to get help from the experts when it comes to how to best convey those concepts. From interactive whiteboard resources and App reviews to tips on how to organize teacher binders and community forums, this website equips not only teachers, but those of us who have been blessed with the role of parent to fulfill our calling as teachers in our own homes.

In honor of National Library Week, why not take the prompting of TeachHub.com to encourage your kids to explore a topic they’re interested in learning more about? Sit down at a library and read together – and ask them what they learned!

I was selected for this opportunity by Clever Girls Collective, and content and opinions expressed here are all my own. To learn more about the TeachHUB.com, visit their website. #CleverTeachers #NLW13

Filed Under: Family, Kid Tip Tagged With: parent, teacher, TeachHub.com

Teacher Gift Ideas for Christmas 2012

December 14, 2012 By sami

Looking for teacher gift ideas for Christmas 2012? The holidays are the perfect time to say a special thank you to the only other people that most likely spend as much time with your kids as you do – their teachers!

There are so many simple, yet special ideas for gifts to thank our teachers, but here are just a few that will mean a lot without breaking your budget either:

Coffee & Tea

I mean really, who doesn’t love it when someone gives you a Starbucks card? Starbucks continues its tradition of being the perfect destination for holiday gifting needs – from stocking stuffers and hostess gifts, to the ideal presents for coffee and tea lovers – and a seasonal beverage or treat.

As a Starbucks family, we add to our Starbucks mug collection every Christmas, including their matching holiday mug ornaments. This year they’ve created the Holiday Red Cup Snowman Mug ($8.95). We especially love the Red Reusable Cup Sleeve so you’ll never be without one when you need it – The set includes a red recycled leather sleeve and a gold sleeve. (only $4.95). You can also add in some festive Starbucks VIA Peppermint Mocha Flavored Coffee to complete your set. Of course, if you’re not sure what to give this holiday season, give the gift of choice with a Starbucks Card. You can even dress it up with a selection of fun and festive Card holders. Everyone can find something to enjoy at Starbucks

Ornaments, Cards & Such

Hallmark has always been my one-stop shop for meaningful gifts that last well beyond Christmas. Sometimes a thoughtful card goes much further than a gift, especially when it has a keepsake ornament attached to it!

Red & White Gable boxes ($3.49), Holiday memo caddies ($12.49), & Keepsake Ornaments (All shown on Talk of the Town were under $20).

Bath & Beauty

A perennial favorite for teacher gifts are bath and beauty items, but sometimes it can be hard to match scents and brands with personal preferences. One brand I’ve found to be universally welcomed is Philosophy. The Philosophy Christmas Morning Gift set is the perfect gift not only for teachers, but for anyone special that you want to bless this Christmas.

Chocolate!

Who doesn’t love chocolate?! A sweet treat is always a special way to tell your teacher you love them and speak directly to their heart Not only is it something they can enjoy, but it’s easy for them to share it with others, both in their own home and at school.

Hershey’s is a classic favorite known for their quality and affordability as well! There are not only great chocolates for gifting (like the Hershey’s Pot of Gold Premium Collection), but they’ve also dressed up some of their classic treats for the holidays (like my personal favorite – Reese’s Peanut Butter Trees, as well as York Peppermint Pattie Snowflakes).

Candles

Another favorite little ‘happy’ to give teachers (& anyone for that matter) is candles! As someone who helps people save money, I have a hard time advocating buying something that will literally burn away, but I LOVE candles nonetheless…especially the way they make my house smell.

So that’s why I’m thrilled (and a little obsessed) with the new Energizer flameless candles. Not only do they come in a variety of scents, but you can also set a timer for when you want it to go off AND it flickers in different patterns…just like a real candle…but safer and without melting away

But my best advice is to actually ASK your teachers what their favorite things are! My kids’ school sends around a questionnaire at the beginning of school for the teachers to fill out their favorite restaurants, magazines, coffee drink, color, etc. Each family then contributes a certain amount for a gift and we pool those resources to buy gifts that we know they’ll love (because they’ve already told us so!).

Buying teacher gifts doesn’t need to be stressful. I’d love to hear your ideas with how you bless your kids’ teachers at Christmas…please feel free to leave a comment below!

Watch the video from Talk of the Town on December 14, 2012:

Disclosure: There are some compensated links used in this post so you can find some of my favorite products from today’s segment!

Filed Under: Deals & Freebies, TV Tagged With: Christmas, gift, teacher

Staples Teacher Appreciation Day Event 2012

July 22, 2012 By sami

The Staples Teacher Appreciation Day Event for 2012 is coming back! Teachers, make sure to mark your calendars for these free teacher appreciation day events to get a free bag, staples coupons and other free office supplies and perks from Staples.

Dates vary based on your state & Staples location, but most will be happening either Saturday, August 4, 2012 or Saturday, August 11, 2012.

Click the Staples Teacher Appreciation Day Event website to find out if a store near you is participating. (Free gifts for the first 100 teachers)

Filed Under: Back to School, Deals & Freebies Tagged With: 2012, appreciation, day, staples, teacher

Quaver Music Mondays Week 4: Middle C & the Grand Staff

July 2, 2012 By sami

Quaver Music Mondays 300x300 Quaver Music Mondays Week 4: Middle C & the Grand Staff
It’s week 4 of Quaver Music Mondays on SamiCone.com and we’re finally getting to meet Middle C & the Grand Staff this week.

If you’re following along each week, you’ll notice we took a week off last week. I got sidelined due to Tropical Storm Debby while on a blogger trip in Florida, so didn’t make it back in time for our weekly lesson, so we’re picking right up where we left off

I have to admit, this has been my favorite week thus far: The DVD is one of my favorites (both in terms of knowledge & entertainment), the lessons are very practical and the worksheets were exactly what we needed to drive the message home.

Take a sneak peek at this episode:

Our favorite worksheet actually laid out the keyboard on a piece of paper with the names of the notes on the keys! The ironic thing is that just the other day, our daughter was asking us how to play “Jingle Bells” and she was trying to sound it out by ear. Now, she’s been able to learn “Mary Had a Little Lamb”, “Jingle Bells” & “When the Saints Go Marching In”…all while driving in the back of the van!

Now some people may wonder why it took 4 weeks to finally learn about Middle C, but I think that’s the problem with many music education systems: they rush right in to teaching kids to play without laying the foundation and teaching the important of music theory that will be build on for the rest of their lives. It’s just one more thoughtful piece of Quaver Music that I appreciate

Of course, the DVDs really make Quaver Music, but even if you don’t have the DVDs, you can check out these fun online activities at QuaverMusic.com this week:

Exploring Middle C & the Grand Staff with QuaverMusic.com
Free Activities:

Go to the Studio and to QComposer. Click File – Open – QDo’s. Try QDo’s Level 1-01 through 1-03 to get acquainted with Middle C and the Staff. Carry on to use the Musical Alphabet to create a melody!

Premium Features:

Use 25 QuaverNotes to make your QComposer piece into an MP3! Then you’ll be able to find it in your Music Room Boombox.

Now I will say that my 6 year old tired easily of the QComposer – it was a little over his head to do on his own (he doesn’t have a great attention span!). If I had been right there next to him the whole time, I think he’d really get the hang of it, but I wanted to see what he could do on his own.

SummerFun Quaver Music Mondays Week 4: Middle C & the Grand Staff

We’re now halfway through the summer and our kids have gotten a great musical foundation to build on. How do you feel your kids are progressing?

Filed Under: Education, Family Tagged With: dvd, education, grand, homeschool, Kids, Middle C, monday, music, quaver, staff, summer, teacher, website

Quaver Music Mondays Week 3: Duration & Pitch

June 19, 2012 By sami

Quaver Music Mondays 300x300 Quaver Music Mondays Week 3: Duration & Pitch
Welcome back to Quaver Music Mondays on SamiCone.com! It’s week 3 and we’re studying duration & pitch this week.

Yes, I know, I know – it’s Tuesday…but such is life in the Cone Home It seems the minute I set a schedule in our house, something happens to derail it. But that’s ok, that doesn’t mean we’ve given up on our plan. So on that note (pun intended), we pick up Quaver Music Mondays today (If you really want to be technical about it, my kids still studied music with Quaver yesterday, but I just didn’t have time to actually post it on schedule

This week, we really dug into the online world of QuaverMusic.com.

I’ve admittedly kept my kids off the computer more than most parents might at this age. Call it an aversion to screen time or call it mommy blogger syndrome (meaning the kids can’t play on the computer because mom is always on it)…whatever it is, I realized my kids need to start learning their way around the keyboard – hence my excitement for the Quaver Music Education system.

20120619 135357 Quaver Music Mondays Week 3: Duration & Pitch

Now granted, I haven’t been around the online educational world for a very long time, but I have never seen an educational website that is so complete, easy to understand and fun to play along with! Quaver himself (in cartoon form) literally walks around the screen with you and points you where you need to go and what you need to do next. Of course, you can navigate without Quaver’s help…it’s just up to you.

20120619 135409 Quaver Music Mondays Week 3: Duration & Pitch

I was amazed that after watching the DVD just one time, my 7 year old was able to play games where she successfully identified pitch, major/minor/augmented chords & note duration. One minute she was playing carnival games in EarIQ and the next she was writing her own sheet music on the Grand Staff with QComposer. Take a look:

I love that you’ve been following us along the journey. Remember, even if you don’t have the DVDs, you can check out these fun online activities at QuaverMusic.com this week:

Exploring Duration and Pitch with QuaverMusic.com
Free Activities:

Visit EarIQ, located behind the organ in Quaver’s Lab! Try the Clown Pitch game and see what score your kids can get. Then go to the Intervals Ball Toss and see who can get the highest score. Users can earn Awards by playing well!
Work through the Step by Step Helps in QComposer (located in the Studio) to prepare for putting pitches on the lines and spaces.
Try the QArcade game QMeasureUp to reinforce the durations of notes. This game (located in your Music Room) is a little tough for younger kids but would be a good challenge for older students!

Premium Features:

All music is created using different pitches so the best thing to do is learn a song! Hop the Metro to Quaver’s Disco Venue for just 5 QuaverNotes. Click Menu and then Music to open the Pop Music Boombox. Listen and learn the Disco Penguin Song and create a Disco Penguin dance.

SummerFun Quaver Music Mondays Week 3: Duration & Pitch

What did your kids learn from last week? Do you feel QuaverMusic.com is a viable online resource for helping teach kids about music?

Filed Under: Education, Family Tagged With: duration, dvd, education, homeschool, Kids, monday, music, pitch, quaver, summer, teacher, website, week 3

Quaver Music Mondays Week 2: Tempo & Rhythm

June 11, 2012 By sami

Quaver Music Mondays 300x300 Quaver Music Mondays Week 2: Tempo & Rhythm
Welcome back to Quaver Music Mondays on SamiCone.com! It’s week 2, which means we’re exploring tempo & rhythm this week.

We found ourselves on the road unexpectedly today to visit a sick family member in Florida, so our weekly music lesson is already turning out to be atypical. But still, since I brought our Quaver DVDs in the van, the kids were able to watch the second DVD (containing lessons 3 & 4) while we were on the road!

I also photocopied some of the worksheets from the Teacher’s Guide for the kids to work on after watching the DVDs and in typical Cone kid fashion, they got creative as always.

One thing I love about Quaver is that the passion behind the product is equal to the quality of education contained in the product. What this means is that these lessons are equally applicable and adaptable for kids as young as pre-schoolers all the way through secondary education. There are also so many practical suggestions for putting the lessons into action that often require little else besides your own two hands and some imagination!

Case in point this week:

When learning about tempo, you can play a variety of music tracks and have your kids clap to the beat or even hold up cards in a race to announce the correct tempo. Of course there are great games and activities on QuaverMusic.com (see below) that coincide with everything they’re watching in the DVDs.

Another reason why I think music education is so important, regardless of if you ever think your child will become a ‘musician’, is that it introduces them to and gives them a foundation for a multitude of other worthy areas of study, including linguistics, mathematics and so much more! Even though I graduated from high school 20 years ago, I can still remember specific instances throughout a variety of classes when I thought to myself, “I’m so glad my parents started me in music education when I was little!”

If you’re following along with our Quaver Music Mondays, why not let your kids check out these fun online activities at QuaverMusic.com this week:

Exploring Tempo and Rhythm with QuaverMusic.com:

Free Activities:

Go to the Studio and to QGrooves. Work through the interactive help menu, then do QDo Number 1 to learn how to use QGrooves!
Take the Metro from the QuaverMusic.com homepage to the Pop music venue at Wembley Stadium! Click the boombox and learn one of the songs using the karaoke machine. Sing it while stepping or dancing out the beat.

Premium Features:

Use QuaverNotes to buy the hip-hop or techno drum loops from the Store for QGrooves. Using these, create 16 measure drum tracks at Largo, Moderato and Presto tempos. Create rhymes, raps, and useful mnemonics to the rhythm. See which tempos work the best for that kind of thing.

;

SummerFun Quaver Music Mondays Week 2: Tempo & Rhythm

What did your kids learn from last week? Do you feel QuaverMusic.com is a viable online resource for helping teach kids about music?

Filed Under: Education, Family, My Story Tagged With: dvd, education, homeschool, Kids, monday, music, quaver, rhythm, summer, teacher, tempo, website, week 2

Quaver Music Mondays: Beat & Meter

June 4, 2012 By sami

Quaver Music Mondays 300x300 Quaver Music Mondays: Beat & Meter Welcome to Quaver Music Mondays on SamiCone.com!

You remember me talking about Quaver, right?

Quaver Music was created as a supplement for elementary music teachers and homeschoolers as a way to pass on a passion for music through high-energy and entertaining DVDs that each cover an an essential music element. The 15 DVD set also includes full-color guides with teaching tips, hands-on student projects, and other tools that go along with each episode.

So when I realized school was ending, I wanted to be purposeful about spending time with my kids this summer…but I also wanted to make sure to accomplish a few very important things: learning more about music (specifically piano), working on the computer, teaching them tennis and reading more.

As a wife, blogger & mom who has never homeschooled (or thought anything of the sort was possible), my ideas for how to structure summer learning, yet make it fun, didn’t exactly come together as quickly as I would have liked. But that’s when it dawned on my: I realized I could accomplish several of these objectives with just one program: Quaver Music!

So every Monday this summer, our family will have Quaver Music Mondays where we’ll be going through different units and showing you how you can do the same thing with your family…even if you don’t have the DVDs! If you want a sneak peak of what Quaver is all about, you can check out a video preview (warning, you WILL get hooked!):

This week we’re starting with the basic building blocks of music, as found on the first DVD in Unit 1 (Music Theory) of Quaver’s Marvelous World of Music: Beat (Episode 1) & Meter (Episode 2).

After watching the 15 minute episodes (2 come on each DVD and we find it hard to stop after just one!), the kids completed the worksheets found in the back of the Teacher Guide:

Even if you don’t have the DVDs, we’ve come up with fun (& free!) activities for you to follow along our Quaver Music Mondays online with your family!

Exploring Beat and Meter at QuaverMusic.com:

Check out QBackBeat:

Go to Quaver’s Studio and click on the drums to find QBackBeat. Here, your kids can compose drum loops by interacting with Quaver’s drum machine. Build your own kit of drums, make a drum solo, or load a song and play along.
Start out with a QDo: go to the File tab at the bottom of your screen, Click OPEN, and then the QDo’s tab, and OPEN the first QDo to let Gwenda walk you through a QBackBeat project!
When you’re ready to take things up a notch, you can use QuaverNotes – the site’s virtual currency at less than a penny each – to purchase new drum sounds for your Drum Kit! Click Kit Lab or the Store Tab to access these Premium Features.
Try Quaver’s SuperSolo activity. Here’s a great idea for using QBackBeat in your lesson right from Quaver! Link to blog: http://quavermusicblog.com/2011/10/18/qtorial-6-improvising-supersolo-with-quavers-qbackbeat/

CM Qbackbeat 300x183 Quaver Music Mondays: Beat & Meter

Play QMeasureUp:

Head to your personal QArcade to play this super fun Mini-Game reinforcing Meter! Click the Music Room Tab at the bottom of your screen and then click on the Arcade Machine. Play this tetris-style game at the Easy Level to start, and dig into more detail with this Behind-the-Scenes blog post: http://quavermusicblog.com/2012/01/19/behind-the-scenes-qmeasureup/

SummerFun Quaver Music Mondays: Beat & Meter

So come back every Monday through the end of July for more fun & free music education activities with Quaver Music Mondays! What do you hope your kids will learn by the end of the summer?

Filed Under: Education, Family, My Story Tagged With: beat, dvd, education, homeschool, Kids, meter, monday, music, quaver, summer, teacher, website

Buca di Beppo Coupon Free Pasta for Teachers & Nurses

May 10, 2012 By sami

If you’re a teacher or a nurse, don’t wait to print these Buca di Beppo coupons for free pasta!

Now through May 11, teachers and nurses can both get get a free individual portion of pasta when you dine-in. Just print these coupons:
* Nurses Buca di Beppo free pasta coupon
*Teachers Buca di Beppo free pasta coupon

Buca di Beppo is also a great place to take mom for Mother’s Day this weekend!