I do have some good news though. "Clarinda Cloud" has been relaunched and is better than ever. Same great text encouraging young children to identify and share their feelings with more professional looking illustrations. Do you know a young child who would benefit from this important building block to wellness? Buy at Create Space Buy at Amazon.com Buy on Kindle Buy at Barnesandnoble.com Thank you. |
Hello everyone. You may have noticed that I haven't been doing the other blogs on the site. I am trying new things to try to get quality work out to you in the most effective way possible. So, please bear with me while this transformation takes place. I may be a bit short on the blog posts. Although, when it is all said and done, I hope it will be worth it for all of us. Thank you!
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Hello everyone. Do you understand all the texting terms in the poster? I have to admit that some of them are new to me. Actually, I will message people on Facebook, but I do not text. LOL! Yes, I know. I may be considered strange now. (It wouldn't be the first time and probably won't be the last time.) Why am I talking about texting on an education blog? This might not give me any brownie points, but I am not a fan of texting. The most important reason for my disliking it is that I think it is used while driving or working too much. It seems to come before safety and responsibility. However, the reason I am talking about it on this blog is that I also feel that it is helping to "dumb down society." Spelling is not a subject that comes easy to all people. With texting so prevalent and these terms used so frequently, it seems like correct spelling is even more difficult to learn. Sometimes these abbreviations are just the first letter of every word in the term. This kind of makes sense. However, sometimes the terms don't make sense and confuse people trying to learn the correct spelling of the word. For example, "tomorrow" is abbreviated as "2moro." The "2" in the beginning to stand for "to" when the number "2" is actually spelled "two" is bad enough. However, the abbreviated form also has one "r" whereas the correct spelling has two and the correct word also has a "w" at the end. How can people be expected to learn the correct spelling if they see the texting abbreviation so often? I can remember tutoring someone who was having trouble in spelling. The student's parent asked how the student could be helped at home with the spelling difficulty. One of my comments was to cut down the texting slang that is used around the student. However, it was so much a part of society and the family's daily life, the texting didn't stop and the texting abbreviations didn't stop. No wonder this student had a difficulty learning spelling. Sadly, it doesn't seem like correct spelling is appreciated or encouraged in today's world. So, what do you think? Is texting helping to "dumb down society?" I would love to hear your thoughts. Before I tell you about this activity... I just want to say that DUO Education has gone .com!!! You may have noticed that the website address has changed. It is now www.duoeducation.com. This is a big step, but.... I intend on doing big things! Okay, since we are talking about "big" things on this "blog".... I will tell you about the "Bb Bag" activity. This is a cool way to help teach children the "beginning" sounds of objects and the "beginning" steps of reading. It is also quick and can be done at home or at school. This can work for any letter. I chose "Bb" because I could think of things that started with "Bb" that made a nice display picture... and I could picture one of the "books" I wrote. (And, everyone who has or teaches young children has a copy of "Clarinda Cloud" right...or should?) Anyway, you give a child a bag and have him or her fill it with objects that start with a particular letter. (Of course there are rules... like... no touching that expensive and unique treasure, no sharp objects, no live animals, etc. We wouldn't want Bobby, the pet boa, in the bag... and Bobby probably wouldn't like it either! LOL! You know what I mean.) The child goes around and collects things in the bag, that he or she thinks start with the letter you chose. Then, he or she brings the bag back and you discuss it together. In some instances you may question why an object is in there. For example, you might think I placed a stuffed "rabbit" in my bag. But... I consider it a "bunny," so it would fit the category. I like this activity, because it is partially done independently allowing the child to think and partially done with an adult allowing for some valuable time together. The child also learns or reinforces beginning sounds and the first steps of reading. *Note: You may use the photo as is. If you use it online, please link back to DUO Education and give DUO Education creative credit. Thank you! Hi everyone! Instead of my regular blog post, I have some exciting news! I have been nominated by the wonderful Middle Grade/YA Author Lisa Orchard for the Liebster Award! Yay! Thank you, Lisa! The rules (which incidentally are made to be broken) for the Liebster Award are: 1. Each nominee must answer the 11 questions. 2. Create 11 questions for the next person to answer. 3. Link back to who nominated them. 4. Choose 11 people and link them in your post. 5. Go to their page and tell them. 6. No tags back! Q&A Time: Favorite Breakfast? Ham, eggs, pan fries, and blueberries. Beer or Wine? Wine Dog or Cat? I don't have either... but I am an equal opportunity pet lover. Coffee or Tea? Tea Winter or Summer? Coming from a person who lives in a place that seems to have more winter than summer.... definitely summer! LOL! PC or Apple? I have had both and do not know if I have seen much of a difference. But... as I have an Apple now... I will say Apple. What are your goals for 2013? My goals are to illustrate and publish at least one more of my children's stories that are ready to be published, work on a YA novel, and grow this educational site! That also includes getting more online tutoring clients and starting the "Storyteller's Tale" webinar series for schools and libraries. What makes your day brighter? Being able to spend time with my husband What's your biggest pet peeve? I think one of my biggest pet peeves is people turning without using directional lights. How old were you when you stopped believing in Santa Claus? Hmmm! I am not sure. It was so long ago! What do you like to write about? I like to write about educational subjects, things to which children/people can relate, and things that have some sort of message or lesson. My nominees are: Virginia Wright Dennis Higgins Sherry Ellis Ingrid Hall Susan Wingate Candice Simpson Beverley Hoyle Please stop press on the names above to go to each author's blog. Stop by and leave a wonderful comment at each awesome author's blog! I hope to see a few comments here too! Thank you! I'm So Excited to be Back! Yes, I am so excited to be back! This was a case of making lemonade out of lemons. I was so sad to have that widget take over my site and to have no other choice than to delete the blog. Yet, good things have come out of it. Blog posts are planned to be weekly on Wednesdays! (I am still trying to find the schedule that works!) First of all, I have a new look! I hope everyone enjoys it. I also have a new "blog motto" I guess you would call it. I have come up with words to go with each letter in the word blog. The "B" for believe... believe that you can learn and will learn... and I will too! The "L" for learn..... I hope to facilitate a place to learn here! The "O" for optimize..... I hope to optimize your experience and learning opportunities here! The "G" for give.... I hope to give you the type of learning experience and knowledge that you desire! Secondly, I hope to get more people involved! As you can see, I included some links in this post. I will try to keep it educational and not just marketing. But, I won't fool you to say that none of it is marketing. Honesty is the best policy... and I uphold the DUO motto of following the Golden Rule.... do unto others as you would have them do unto you! As always, I want you to feel comfortable and inspired here! I want you to learn and to share! Feel free to comment or get in touch with me at any time! We can build this site together! Also, share, share, share! Give your friends, educators, homeschoolers, family members this website address. Let them get involved with the educational site that hopes to teach, learn from, inspire, and engage all people! (The Game Room /the-game-room.html is also safe for the little ones! I try to keep nonviolent, educational games that help with strategy, creativity, and academics on the site.) New things are in the works! I can't wait to let you in on all the new changes for me! I hear that it is "read an ebook week." Please check out the following site! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Read-an-E-Book-Week/193882590629749?group_id=0 That also means it would be a great time to get "Clarinda Cloud" on Kindle. It is a wonderful concept book that targets feelings and colors for ages 2-5. Please go to: http://www.amazon.com/Clarinda-Cloud-ebook/dp/B00BC2C38W. Thank you so much! This is a great way to promote reading in the 21st Century as ebooks seem to be the new trend! Other great educational books to check out include http://www.amazon.com/Learn-The-ABCs-Friends-ebook/dp/B00BJ4L1IQ by Sarah Bowman. It is a wonderful book with cute animals to help with learning the alphabet! And, http://www.amazon.com/Buzzzzzzzz-What-Honeybees-Do-ebook/dp/B004EYUD9G by Virginia Wright. This is a nonfiction book about honey bees... very informative! Here is a wonderful book to help children cope with loved ones with Alzheimer's Disease and dementia http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/green-kitty-alexandra-faer-bryan/1103826010?ean=2940014919036 by Alexandra Bryan. Also, check out http://www.amazon.com/Tori-Jeans-Busy-Day-Tori-Jean-ebook/dp/B00AMNSQUQ by Jackie Williams. This is book one of a series. It sounds like the two year old character has a bunch to do! Speaking of a bunch to do... how about checking out a book where five sisters work together for a great cause? Check out http://www.amazon.com/Mommas-Little-Helpers-ebook/dp/B00BCLD1SE by Angie Harris. Here is a free one http://brigantinemedia.com/compass/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Meet-Issy-FREE.pdf which I think is part of a series. This is written by Pat "Gigi" Calfee. I'd like to thank the authors for allowing me to post their links. I hope you enjoy all these books and more. Many of these authors have more than one title, including myself, so I hope you take time to check out all of the titles by these authors! Speaking of reading... there is a great new online book club, I would like to share. It is a weekly webinar series where authors and readers get together to talk about books. It is expected to be a new hit.... readers get to discuss books with the authors. And, the best part is that is is FREE! Yes, free for the author and free for the reader! Check it out at http://angieharris.weebly.com/weekly-bookclub-webinar.html. Notes: March Marketing Marvel! If I get 20 purchases of my book in the month of March, I will put everyone's name in a hat and send a free copy to the winner! Here is how it works. Buy a copy! It doesn't matter whether you purchase it at one of the online outlets or from me. It doesn't matter whether it is in book form or on Kindle. Just go ahead and buy a copy. Then, message me that you bought it or post it on my wall. On April 1st, I will count the entries. If I have 20, I will put the names in the hat and draw one out for a free copy to be mailed. I will even sign it if you want me to! (Please don't just add your name as it won't work. I can tell how many books have been sold. I just can't tell who bought them. If the names don't add up with the amount of books bought, the contest will be null and void!) Enjoy and good luck! |
Jodi DesautelsJodi Desautels is a wife and mother. She is a life-long learner, educator, author, illustrator, crafter, creator, and photographer. She lives by two rules: "The Golden Rule" and "Live. Laugh. Love." Archives
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