What I’m loving and reading in September
What I’m loving
XtraMath
XtraMath is a free online program for parents and teachers to help kids master their math facts. I have tried a few math drill-type programs, but this one seems to have stuck. I like that it keeps track of what facts the kids have mastered and what they still need to work on. XtraMath really is helping my kids improve and it only takes them 5–10 minutes a day to complete what is asked of them.
Random tips
My 6-year-old son does not like that XtraMath shows him the answer if he doesn’t answer fast enough. He typically knows the answer but isn’t as fast as they want him to be. I put a post-it note over the spot where the answer will show up when he takes more than 3 seconds to respond. I also will let him say the answer while I type it; he found it frustrating that he was taking too long to answer because he was slow at typing the number.
Amazon Photo Printing
I am so excited about Amazon’s new photo printing service, Amazon Prints. If you have Amazon Prime then you have unlimited photo storage through Amazon Drive. (If you don’t already have Prime, you can get a 30-day free trial). We back up our photos automatically on Amazon Drive through their app, which works on all devices — including your desktop computer. We have been doing this for a long time, but now I can order prints right from my Amazon photos page.
I ordered photos this past Sunday and received the prints on Tuesday. It only took me a few seconds to select what I wanted to print, and they showed up at my house 2 days later. I finally printed out photos that have been on my phone for ages! I love that I don’t need to spend the time uploading my photos to another photo printing service like I did in the past. Amazon Prints makes it so much faster and more convenient.
Post-it Flags
I have no idea why I haven’t been buying Post-it Flags for years; they are so helpful! I use them in my planning and to mark sections in books I am reading. I love taking notes on what I am reading but sometimes I just want to be able to read a chapter and come back to take notes later, and these make my life so much easier.
What I’m Reading
‘Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World’ by Kristen Welch
Right now, I am reading the last chapter of “Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World.” The book has given me a lot to think about. The writing style isn’t necessarily my favorite so I didn’t love it, but overall I am glad I took the time to read this book. It has challenged me to think about what I am teaching my kids about gratefulness. It also helped me to be aware and intentional about the culture of entitlement we live in. Honestly, it made me think just as much about my own attitudes as my kids’ attitudes.
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