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How Do You Feel About Standardized Testing in School?

Yesterday a portion of the results were published surrounding a controversial public school standardized test in my state–in fact the headline in the newspaper declared these initial results were a “disaster.”

According to my local Florida newspaper, last year approximately 81% of the children passed this portion of the test (a writing test given to fourth and eighth graders).  This year only 27% managed to make the grade.  Educators called an emergency meeting, administrators are, for a lack of better words, freaking out.

Ever since my children were old enough to attend school in this state, they’ve had to take a standardized test called the FCAT (Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test).  The test measures math and reading, along with writing and science in certain grades.  The test is relatively new for this state as Florida used to be (and most likely still is) considered to be on the low end for educational excellence.  So rather than reorganize the overcrowded school system or provide funding to improve teaching skills the state instituted a standardized test.

Which is fine–standardized tests can be used as an effective metric to determine how well teachers and students are performing/improving, which can ultimately provide the school system with an idea of where improvements should be made.

However, instead of making true improvements in the schools, teaching and providing additional scholastic support; the state has used funding as a carrot to teachers and schools.  Schools that earned high marks on the test received more (meager mind you) funding. Those who didn’t cut the mustard received less support.

Additionally, even if your child received straight A’s on his/her report card throughout the year, but threw the test, he/she could be looking at repeating that grade.  Everything now rides on this test. In fact most of the year is devoted to having the teachers teach to the test.

In the past few years public school funding has been dramatically cut from very little to practically nothing.  Teachers used to earn more money if they received additional certifications–that money has been taken away.  Programs have been slashed and bonus pay for teachers is non existent.

However, because the state wanted to prove that Florida kids weren’t as dumb as they may appear to the rest of the country, government officials mandated this year that the test be made much more difficult.  Like college SAT/ACT difficult…for third and fourth graders.

The result has been over taxed, under prepared teachers threatening 9 year-olds with being held back, students passing out, throwing up or crying (even high school kids) mid-test because the pressure being placed on them was overwhelming.  And finally this…terrible scores that only demonstrate that their experiment failed. Less support in the schools plus harder test actually does equal an “F.” Obviously I’m no genius but I think I could have saved them time and money by telling them that up front.

Browsing the comments on my local newspaper’s site is also laughable.  Faceless, nameless simpletons comment that kids are either stupid or parents are lazy–or then it becomes a heated political debate.  I can vouch that nearly all of my mom friends, myself included spend hours in the evening helping our kids with school work.  Even those of us who work will put our job aside for as long as it takes to be present and helpful.  But an active parent cannot replace the talents a strong teacher brings to the classroom.  And if he or she is backed up against the wall without the necessary support, schools are just asking for failure.

So I’m wondering–what is standardized testing in public schools like in your state?  Are schools smaller and do your teachers, parents and administrators receive support in order to provide a more well rounded education or have we all gone crazy?

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How “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Has Made My Child Stronger

As a harried parent who works from home (what appears to be 24/7), I have to take those “teachable” moments when I can get them. From discussing a topic in the news to monitoring TV watching and Internet sites, being a parent today is completely exhausting.

Although, I’d have to say I’m a pretty liberal parent: I do not allow my children to watch violent programs, play aggressive video games or be disrespectful to adults — especially their teachers.

That being said, I have always tried to teach my kids to be freethinkers, accept everyone for who they are and to embrace and celebrate unique gifts in the people they encounter throughout their travels. I would think that most parents strive to do this for their children; however, they way I do this best is through humor.

I’ve always had a “thing” for drag queens. As a middle-aged women who never quite figured out the whole high heels and makeup thing, I’ve been fascinated with how men can look a million times better than most women and pull it off with such confidence.  More than that, I have a deeper admiration for the brilliant sense of humor delivered by many of these queens.  Sometimes biting, but always funny — you can count on leaving a drag show feeling happy and most likely bent over with a stomach ache from laughing too hard.

When “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” season 4 started in January, I thought this was the perfect time to introduce my daughter to the wonderful world of drag.  Two of the queens, Latrice Royale and Lashauwn Beyond, were local stars so we decided to root for them during the entire season.  I’ve never been one for beauty pageants, but “RuPaul’s Drag Race” is far from a typical swimsuit competition.

My 10-year-old daughter, Catherine, took to the show like a duck to water.  She marveled at the pretty gowns, enjoyed the silly competitions, and absorbed whatever the men were saying during the show. In addition, many of the contestants had been bullied in the past (some had even been rejected by their families), which had my sensitive 10-year-old feeling concerned and upset.  She watched closely as they dealt with their past and present lives with humor and dignity, taking in the funny comebacks when the room became a little too catty.

Towards the end of the season, one stand out queen — Latrice Royale — became our house mama.  No matter what was hurled at Latrice, you could could always count on a rich, hearty laugh and a shake of the head.  You could see this person was sensitive but wasn’t going to let anyone “drag” her down. In fact, it almost seemed like the other queens sought her counsel during vulnerable moments and that Latrice enjoyed every single moment while being part of the show.

Sadly, she was eliminated toward the end of the season (I blame Wynonna Judd) during an unfortunate “lip synch for your life” competition where this commanding African American queen had to lip sync a delicate country song.  As she sashayed away she delivered a powerful speech about what the show had taught her. I looked over and Catherine was sobbing.

Following that show Catherine urged me to write to Latrice.  She had been dealing with two girls in her class who have decided to pick on her.  They called her names when the teacher wasn’t looking and tried to intimidate her on the playground.

So I told Catherine to think about what Latrice Royale would do if someone called her a name.  Catherine instantly thought about how she would laugh and tell those girls to “eat it” and walk away with pride. When I dropped her off in the morning I would remind her to “be fierce” (which means “awesome” in drag speak) and off she’d go.  As the week wore on I heard less and less about those girls because whatever Latrice magic she was using, it was working.

At this point I decided I would send a quick private message to Latrice via Facebook.  I thought it would either hit a spam folder or be picked up by a PR person, but Catherine asked me to write, so I wrote — no harm done.  After hitting “send,” I received a reply in about five minutes.  Behind the message were the sweetest comments from Latrice herself saying how my note touched her and to tell Catherine that Auntie Trice wants her to be strong and kick those bullies to the curb.

When I showed the note to Catherine she was elated, thrilled beyond belief.  Of course not all moms understand the method to my madness, but if anyone has watched network TV in the last five years, RuPaul’s Drag Race is not as “outrageous” as some would think.

Throughout the show I’ve told Catherine, “If these gay men can fight extreme prejudice, stand up on national TV in a dress… looking pretty awesome, that’s what I’d call a strong human being.”  She’s learned from this show to be happy and embrace not only who she is, but the gifts others can bring.

Since sending Latrice the note the show has ended, but for us with a bang.  While watching the reunion show earlier this week, much to our surprise our letter was read to RuPaul on national TV!  Catherine and I stood there during that surreal moment, like a couple of zombies as I heard my words being uttered by the queen, Latrice Royale herself.

Unfortunately Catherine is too young to watch a real drag show, however I hope to connect with Latrice again so Catherine can meet her in person and get her hug.

Although my children have not endured the extreme pain and suffering so many actually do (like so many contestants on the Drag Race), it’s important that all children are aware of the damage bullying can do whether you are the bully, target or bystander.  It’s time we accept all our children for who they are and nurture their gifts instead of watching them tear each other down.  Now if one of these queens could teach me how to properly apply eyeliner, we’d be in better shape.

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Go Green, Save Green: Save Money on Organic Products

By Stephanie Nelson

Green may be the new black, but it doesn’t have to leave you in the red!

First, understand what you are buying. Ensure you are getting the real thing. Look for the USDA Certified Organic seal or Certified Naturally Grown label and read ingredient labels. “Organic fish,” for example, is a marketing label, not an official designation. Smaller farms utilize the Certified Naturally Grown label but the standards are the same as the USDA National Organic Program.

Learn the “Clean 15” and the “Dirty Dozen.” The Environmental Working Group, a non-profit public health advocacy group, provides a free Pesticides in Produce Shopping Guide (ewg.org). Download the list or the app to see which items contain pesticide residue. I stretch my dollar by selectively purchasing conventional versions of the “Clean 15” such as onions, avocados, sweet corn, asparagus, cabbage, broccoli, watermelon and purchase organic versions of the “Dirty Dozen.”

Shop the bulk Department. Stores provide containers and let you scoop out the perfect amount of an item that you desire to purchase. Look for organic beans, teas, grains, flour, oatmeal, or spices to buy this way and you are less likely to waste food. Don’t assume every item in bulk is cheaper — bring your calculator and compare prices by the ounce or pound to pre-packed items.

Use Coupons. Start with the “Grocery Coupon Database” at couponmom.com as a guide by searching for the term “organic.” Pick up in-store coupon booklets. Check out manufacturers websites. We found printable coupons at more than 50 organic online sites. Earth Day is soon. Be on the lookout for “Go Organic for Earth Day” coupon booklets.

Grow your own savings. Nothing beats the price — and the taste — of a tomato you harvest from your own backyard or even your deck. Short on space? Purchase cheap plant containers at garage sales or flea markets. Or, make your own container out of old buckets, jars, plastic trash containers, ceramic pots, or other cleaned containers you have around the home. Growing staples like lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, and herbs can provide the most bang for your buck.

I can’t promise you will be able to get cartloads of free food every week, but it’s still possible to trim your costs.

Stephanie Nelson is the Coupon Mom. Her website, www.couponmom.com, has 6 million members, and she is established as the nation’s top expert in couponing across the country. Stephanie has been on every major national television talk show and taught millions how to save money for the past 11 years. She has been called ‘”the rock star of the recession” by the Washington Post and her book, The Coupon Mom’s Guide to Cutting Your Grocery Bills in Half, is a New York Times best seller.

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Is your child going to attend a summer camp this year?

If that’s a yes, then you’ve probably already started the process of finding the right one for him to attend. And, let’s face it, that’s not an easy thing to do.

There are just so many options these days: A quick Google search will turn up scores of different camps that specialize in nearly every activity or hobby.

There are camps that specialize in horseback riding and paintball, and even extreme action sports like skating and wakeboarding. There are even camps that prepare kids for their potential future careers. For instance, there are camps that focus on web design, journalism, and even espionage tactics (just in case your little one has dreams of becoming the next James Bond).

So, if you’re having a bit of trouble picking a camp, you should check out our article, Choosing the Right Summer Camp for Your Child. The article has some great info and it links to a great site that can help you book a summer camp for your child. Good luck!

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Minimize Your Tax Liability, Don’t Do Your Own Taxes

Did you know your taxes are your single largest expense?

Trying to create financial security for my family, I’ve been so focused on things like couponing, meal planning and living on a budget. I spent years educating myself about how to get out (and stay out) of debt even setting up the right insurance plans.

But taxes, I left that up to our “tax lady.”

Now I hear that’s not such a wise move. Even financial planners are known to give out incorrect information when it comes to taxes and even the best tax preparer may not know all the ins and outs.

And believe me, there are many ins and outs to preparing your taxes.

So now I find myself knowing pretty much nothing when it comes to my taxes. Of course my paperwork looks pretty and I have a solid system to keep my expenses and income all organized.

However, I haven’t the slightest clue about tax code, strategies or even AGI for that matter.

Did you know there are ways to plan and structure your return in such a way that your tax bill is minimized? Unfortunately, the only way to minimize it is by educating yourself. Unless, of course, you already have a tax preparer who is totally on top of it (don’t assume that though).

You’re thinking, oh great! Like I have time to learn a whole other language (basically). I hear ya. That’s what I’m thinking. But, I’m also thinking it will likely be worth it. Especially considering the outcome.

You can have your previous three years of taxes reviewed.

I’ve read about people having their taxes reviewed and redone. Some of these people have had tens of thousands of dollars returned to them. This doesn’t even include the money that’s saved in the future by knowing how to minimize your tax liability today.

Not all tax preparers are created equal and personally, the geekier the better! Someone who loves this stuff and knows tax code and forms inside and out is your best option.

And if you’re considering doing your taxes yourself, I wouldn’t recommend it. Unless you’re already a seasoned pro at minimizing your tax liability, this isn’t something I’d mess with. Having a dedicated CPA might just be your best bet.

What has been your experience with preparing taxes? Do you agree or disagree?

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How to Kick One Bad Habit, Today

You know it’s time! There’s something that has been eating away at you. Morning and night you find yourself thinking about it. You keep telling yourself, “Now is the time. I need to quit it!”

It could be anything. Something minute or something huge.

Biting your nails, yelling at the kids, unhealthy eating, smoking, drinking alcohol/soda, spending money mindlessly, making excuses, a bad relationship, whatever… you’re done!

Pick one that’s eating at you most and kick it to the curb. Remove this bad habit from your life immediately.

Imagine how nice that inner voice will be once it shuts up — no more nagging at you! Ahhh, finally. No more judging yourself and feeling bad. It’s so over.

One bad habit at a time.

Pick which habit you’ll wanna kick to the curb. Are you ready for a big one or would you rather start slowly? Are you ready for major change or are you okay with taking little steps towards a better life?

Now that you’ve decided on the bad habit to remove, you’ll need to replace it with something. So, instead of drinking alcohol to relax after a long day, try tea or some other soothing beverage of choice. Or rather than buying new things you don’t need, make it your mission to become your families new CFO (Chief Financial Officer) and educate yourself.

You’ve really got to want change in order to succeed. And my guess is, if something has been nagging you, it’s time to get going on making a better life for yourself.

I’ve kicked bad habits left and right throughout my life (only a few left). I found replacing them with something positive has helped me. But what’s far more important is wanting that change… knowing it’s time to give it up.

Sometimes it’s easy to put yourself on the back burner, especially being a mom. But wanting to be healthy, successful or simply a great mom who never loses her cool are habits worth shooting for. Maybe your bad habit is never prioritizing your own needs.

With a lot of faith, determination and action anything is possible.

Doesn’t that inner voice bug you sometimes? Or have you mastered not listening to it so well, that it has been blocked out entirely?

Maybe a quiet afternoon or some “down time” could help bring to light some changes that are in need of happening. Striving for a good life is one habit I will never break… I hope you feel the same way.

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How to Handle Between-Project Stress

There are numerous advantages to working from home. You have the freedom to work at any time of day from any location. You can spend time with your child and take breaks as needed, without someone looking over your shoulder. You can handle household chores, make yourself a delicious drink to savor, or even work with the TV on and music in your ears. There is a reason that freelance and remote work has become so popular in recent years.

But there is a downside–most work at home jobs are temporary or project based. When the project is over, you’re out of work. Sometimes, you’ll find there is a long period of time between projects where it doesn’t look like any work is coming in. For anyone that needs this work at home money, that time between projects can fill up with a great deal of anxiety.

Between Project Stress

Most work at home moms try to ease this stress by spending time with their child, focusing on the family, or finding in-home projects to fill the void. But this may not always be a good idea. The stress of not having work is often on the back of your mind, and often times, the more you try to ignore it, the more it spills out into your personal life.

There’s no quick fix for reducing this type of stress, but there are some strategies you can use to make it less pronounced. Here are several tips to employ.

1. Create a Work Buffer

Unfortunately for most freelance workers, a large portion of the stress comes from erroneously assuming that work will arrive quickly. Clients–especially clients that seek freelancers–are notoriously unreliable. Many of them are eccentric entrepreneurs or companies that poorly plan their projects.
So before you’re even out of work, create a work and financial buffer. By the time one project is over you can already be working on another, and the lag time in between will be minimal, if it exists at all.

Always start looking for more work long before a project is over. The more companies you’ve contacted, the more you’ll have people interested in your services. You may need to overwork yourself on occasion if projects overlap, but you’ll be making extra money and your work from home life will be better for it.

2. Create a Financial Buffer

If you depend on your work from home income, make sure you save as though you don’t expect to find work. One mistake that work from home moms can make is spending as though money is going to immediately come in. The best “freelance mindset” is one that mentally and financially prepares for the idea that you won’t find work again, so you create enough of a financial buffer to withstand any drop in recurring income.

3. Find Personal Projects

You should also find personal, for-money projects you can do in your spare time. There are numerous affiliate-style marketing ideas you can do online, and various types of writing you can complete. For instance, you can start a blog–the Internet is filled with low-income money making opportunities. You can become an article writer for voices.yahoo.com, a website that allows you to post informative articles and get paid based on views. The pay is lousy, but it exists, and it will give you something to work on in your spare time.

Personal projects keep you active while you’re waiting for work, and help you feel productive so you don’t experience the stress of your down time.

4. Develop Relaxation Strategies

Finally, there are numerous daily relaxation strategies you can employ. Examples of some of the most common include deep breathing, meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, and visualization. Each of these can help calm down your mind and body when you’re experiencing a little too much stress. By implementing them regularly you’ll help cut back on some of the anxiety symptoms you would otherwise likely experience.

5. Plan Ahead and Stay Mentally Active

It’s easy to feel stressed when you aren’t able to find work like you expected, especially as there is a considerable lag between projects. Productivity is the key to reducing anxiety between jobs. If you remain productive, change your mindset, plan a buffer, and employ some effective relaxation strategies, you’ll find that the between-project time period becomes far less stressful, and you are able to better enjoy the time you have.

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Don’t Hit Snooze on this WAHM Business Opportunity

Sleep Coaching is a business option for mothers who want to maintain their own flexible schedules while helping parents and children, many of whom otherwise would not reap the benefits a good night’s sleep offers. Many current coaches site their career as being “extremely rewarding and exhilarating when they help children get on a path to success.”

Most moms prepare for their babies for months, sometimes even years. Diapers, clothes, classes, books, child proofing, bottles, medicine, toys… the list goes on and on and on.

We moms pour over every book known to man (and woman) so we know exactly what to do in every circumstance that may happen in a baby’s life. We’re ready for labor, midnight feedings, illness, diapering, and doctor’s appointments, but what happens when baby sleeps all day and is up all night? Or worse, when baby won’t sleep at all? Mom and dad’s lives are turned upside down by sleep deprivation, which eventually can affect job performance and parenting abilities, maybe even a marriage or relationship. It can get really frustrating when baby’s sleep problems last through kindergarten or worse, through grade school. Most doctors don’t have good solutions.

To fill this void in the parenting world, a newer field has cropped up in the past decade –

Sleep Coaching

Trained professionals consult with moms and dads in person, by phone, or via Skype to create a workable plan for getting children to sleep. Oftentimes, parents see improvements in as little as 2 to 3 days to a week. Sleep coaches don’t just help babies. Many coaches can help children with long standing issues, including children up to age 6, with gentler methods than the old fashioned “ferberizing” technique, which leaves children in their cribs to cry until they eventually give up.

One of the first programs to teach this profession is from Kim West, LCSW, known as The Sleep Lady to her clients. She is also the co-founder of the International Association of Child Sleep Consultants. The result of Kim’s four month course is a certification as a Gentle Sleep Coach. These Gentle Sleep Coaches help tired parents all over the world who are desperate for help. Dozens of coaches have already graduated from the program and are located in various cities in the United States as well as Ireland, Turkey, Canada, South Africa and the UK.

This is a business startup, so there are costs associated with the training, business setup (such as websites and marketing materials), and ongoing education. Coaches report being able to charge hourly rates of up to $200 for coaching after their initial training is complete. Depending on which education program you choose (there are only a few for now), the tuition ranges from around $2,000 to nearly $8,000.

If you are interested in becoming a Gentle Sleep Coach, visit www.gentlesleepcoach.com for more information. A quick search also found programs by Deborah Pedrick, www.familysleep.com, and Dana Obleman, www.sleepsense.net.

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Mompreneur with a Little Buyers Remorse

When I first began building my website, I found resource after resource. Some helpful, some not so much. Some were free, some cost money. There were guru’s upon guru’s and I felt like I knew nothing.

I was confused, in need of support and on a tight budget.

Webinars, courses, memberships… they all looked so enticing. I couldn’t resist. I bought in. And kept buying in. Knowledge is power, right?

Sales pages would hook me every time. I jumped from this expert to that expert, filling notebook after notebook with little bits of insight on this subject and that. Some things I learned I actually put into use.

After many courses and the like, I found myself looking for the next thing. I was always trying to figure out what else I might need to know. A light bulb finally went off — I was an addict.

An addict to marketing, could it be so?

Maybe I was too afraid to make my own products. Fear of failure, fear of success, whatever. I simply wasn’t moving forward with the business I set out to create. I wasn’t looking inside myself for the uniqueness and value I could offer others.

It finally came to a head when I started to think, I could totally do better than this… or something along those lines. All those “guru’s” weren’t THAT impressive to me any longer.

I read somewhere how Microsoft started out in a garage and the initial beginning start-up was something so minor. It evolved, of course, but it didn’t start out as the Microsoft giant it is today. Reading about this caused something in me to click.

I’ve decided I’m finally going to put together my own stuff. Sell my own things that I create. It won’t be easy, I know. But, I’m convinced it will be great. With all I’ve learned, it has to be.

I know it’s inside you too. Time to let it out.

Do yourself a favor and unsubscribe from those 9,000 guru’s you’re following. Pick your favorite one or two, and start getting to work. If you haven’t already, come to a decision on the first product/service you’re going to offer.

If you don’t have all the answers, that’s okay. No one really ever does.

There’s a chance you’ll only make a few dollars from your efforts. There’s also a chance you could make several hundred or thousand. The important thing is, your momentum will have started.

And you have to start somewhere, right? Just like Microsoft did.

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Double your Recipe for Work at Home Efficiency

Experienced cooks know that making a double recipe isn’t much more work than making a small portion. Chopping an additional carrot or onion takes minimal time compared to the overall work of making a pot of soup.

Our work at home ventures are similar. Regardless of what you do to earn money at home, if you can do it in batches—grouping similar tasks and making a “double recipe” of that task—you will discover greater productivity.

Doubling Recipes: An Example

In my case, I am a blogger and content writer. These are some of my recurring tasks:

• Dealing with photos:  taking the photos, downloading and editing the photos, uploading photos online
• Writing articles and posts:  brainstorming, drafting, editing
• SEO:  researching keywords, tagging articles and posts, updating and pinging articles
• Social Media:  scheduling tweets, bookmarking

Instead of writing a single blog post by taking a linear trip through all the steps one by one, I can make a “double recipe” at each step and increase my productivity. The completion of that single article may be delayed a bit, but overall I will complete more work relative to my time investment.

Here is how that would look:

• Brainstorm multiple ideas for different platforms
• Do keyword research on lots of ideas at once
• Spend a whole hour on photos and images for a variety of projects
• Focus attention on drafting several different articles

Set up Takes Time

Think of the time it takes to get ready to work before you even begin—getting your materials arranged, finding passwords, remembering how to use a certain computer program, setting up a camera, etc. These necessary precursors to our work take precious time away from the more important tasks.  You can minimize the negative effect of set up time by working in batches.

Shifting Gears Wastes Time

I have found that distractions are most apt to creep in when I am between tasks. It’s too easy in those in between times to be lured away by something that is not on my to-do list. By continuing on a single task, making that double recipe of it, I prevent the downtime of shifting mental gears.

How to Apply Working in Batches

Look at the work at home tasks that you perform regularly and group them into categories. Think about how you could do a double or triple recipe of a task before moving to another, especially when you find yourself in the flow.

In your day to day goal setting, focus on time management instead of fully completed projects. With this batch method, there may be days of working at home when you don’t bring any single project to completion because you have been working on batches of preliminary steps. For example, I may spend all day working on photos and drafting but not publish a single blog post. Since I know I have used my time most efficiently by working in batches, I don’t lack a sense of accomplishment. I know the payoff is coming when I have a huge burst of completed projects to show for my investment.

Working in batches is a strategy that pays off in the long run. Take the holistic approach to your work at home goals and give it a try.

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