Who wants a free ipad app?

I've reviewed Shake-a-phrase and am starting to use it in my tutoring.  I work with a 14 year old boy who has Down Syndrome and he enjoys the game.  He enjoys playing this engaging game.  It has recently gone through a few changes and will offer a bit more for our kids.  I have the pleasure of being able to give 5 codes away for this app.  Shake-a-phrase will get your kids laughing, wanting to play along, and not realizing they are learning!

To enter this give away, you need to 

1.  Follow my blog and leave a message in the comments section that you did.

for additional entries you can

2.  Follow Artgig Apps on facebook.  They are the makers of this amazing app.  They also have made a few others that my boys enjoy as well.  Please leave a comment to let me know you did this.

3.  Follow Artgig Apps on twitter and leave me a comment to let me know you did.  

4.  Search my blog to see what other apps Artgig Studio has created and let me know what you have found by a comment.

I'll end this give away a week from today.  

Marble Math

My boys have been playing our ipad a lot lately.  We bought the pad to help with Chris' communication skills but added tons of educational apps on for them.  The boys love Alien Buddies by Artgig Apps so naturally I jumped at the chance to add Marble Math Junior for them.  Marble Math Junior is for grades K through 2 but I have to admit that my 4 year old was playing along with the level 1 with minimal support!

I played this with the boys and was able to use this for my tutoring as well.  Not only did MY boys love this game but the one kid I tutor in math loved it as well.  This game convinced his mother to buy him an ipad!

Marble Math Junior uses math concepts from identifying shapes, counting, to indentifying money, time, addition, and subtraction.  Chris was able to do the shapes and counting on his own.  Jon and Matthew have been able to do all of level 1 with no support!  With today being the first day of summer break for them, we will be using this game often to reinforce skills that they learned in kindergarten and maintain what they have.  

The boy I tutor was able to do the harder level on Marble Math Junior with ease.  Every time he had an  correct answer he would jump up and cheer!  

Marble Math Junior is able to make learning fun.  My kids didn't realize they were learning ; they simply thought they were having fun.  While playing the game, the boys were so eager to have their turn they were actually fighting over the game!  

For today only Marble Math Junior will be free as a kick off to summer.   Hop on over to Artgig Apps to get more details!

PYHO: Broken

I thought I was going to die on Monday.  I really did.  I have something called Wolff-Parkinson-White which has lead to another condition called SVT where my heart rate will go up to 150 beats per minute or so and stay there.  It started being this way for 5-10 minutes.  Monday it lasted 45 minutes.  Monday, while my children played I passed out.  My husband found me on our bed as I lay with my cell phone in my hand texting him telling him I needed him home.

I need to have a procedure called a cardiac ablation.  I am scared something will go wrong.  What will my babies do without their mama?  I live for my babies!  I can't leave them now.  They are too young!  I am afraid to have this done but more afraid to NOT have this done.  If left untreated it CAN kill me.  I have much more to do here and am not ready to go yet.

I need more time with my boys!  I know some may wish their time away *and I do at times too* but cherish every second with them.  I want more times like these  

I want more sweet little boy hugs, more sweet little boys saying "I lub you mama to the moon and back and to infinity and beyond!", more snuggles, more kisses, more play time, just more....more of everything....

I need these boys as much as they need me and I can't let them down.   

Sharing pictures

Please help

"Shithead", "Have a shitty day", 'Your breath smells like diarrhea", "Have a bad day", "YOU'RE STUPID!"

Did that make you a big uncomfortable?  It should. Now imagine all of that being said to a little boy.  This boy.

This is MY son.  This amazing, beautiful, smart, caring, mellow boy has heard the likes of another boy telling him he's a "shithead" all year.  

My amazing boy, my loving child has become such a different kid!  He now cries at the drop of a hat, is moody, and is fearful of going to kindergarten.

All year I have asked the school to not only stop the bully from attacking my sweet boy but to get help for the child doing the bullying.  

Instead I was told that the bully violated a code of conduct policy.  According to the Hillsborough's 6 Pillars of Conduct “As a student of Hillsborough Elementary, I will display the six pillars of character.

I will show TRUSTWORTHINESS by:

• being where I am supposed to be, when I am supposed to be there.

• telling the truth.

• keeping my word and doing the things I say that I will do.

I will show RESPECT by:

• using good manners when speaking.

• listening to teachers, staff members, and other students.

• accepting others for who they are and what they believe.

• taking proper care of school property and the property of other people.

I will show RESPONSIBILITY by:

• working to the best of my ability within my classroom.

• completing both schoolwork and homework.

• keeping track of and assuring the proper care of my personal belongings.

I will show FAIRNESS by:

• sharing with others.

• following the same rules that everyone else is required to follow.

• waiting my turn.

I will show CARING by:

• making sure that I include others in the things I am doing.

• using kind words when speaking to others.

• helping others when they need help.

I will show CITIZENSHIP by:

• following the laws of society and the rules of the school.

• helping to make school a safe place.

• doing what I can to help the community and those around me.”

And the Bully Policy states: 

1. a reasonable person should know, under the circumstances, that the act(s) will have the effect of physically or emotionally harming a student or damaging the student's property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of physical or emotional harm to his person or damage to his property;
2. has the effect of insulting or demeaning any student or group of students; or
3. creates a hostile educational environment for the student;
4. by interfering with a student’s education or by severely or pervasively causing physical or emotional harm to the student.

This is also defined in the NJ state law for bullying.

Call me wild and crazy but being the target of multiple "shithead" etc during the year, my child is a victim of bullying.  What makes it worse is that the principal is now acting as if I am doing something wrong!

What I am asking is that anyone who cares about stopping bullying join me in sending a message to Hillsborough Elementary School saying bullying isn't ok! 

Change.org|How to Start a Petition

He thanks you.