Absenteeism - Absences Add Up

Depending on where you are – your kids have likely been in school for a month or two already. Have they missed any days during that time? How many? Is that even something you think about regularly? When they did miss – you probably did everything you needed to do to ensure that they stayed caught up, right? Unfortunately, there are kids out there who do not have that luxury and they are falling behind. A student who misses just two days of school each month — 18 days total in the year — is considered to be chronically absent. However, many parents don’t realize that, even when absences are excused or understandable, absences add up and can greatly impact a child’s education. In the United States, more than 6 million children are chronically absent from school each year. Key Takeaways for Parents

• Every absence matters.
• Absences matter as early as elementary school.
• Absences matter whether they are excused or unexcused.
• Students who miss just two days of school each month, or 18 days in a year, are more likely to fall behind in reading, writing and math and less likely to graduate from high school.

Tips and Suggestions

• Keep track of how many days of school your child has missed.
• Figure out why your child is absent from school.
  • Are they dealing with a chronic illness like asthma?
  • Are they being bullied or struggling at school?
  • Are they staying home to help care for a family member?
• Visit AbsencesAddUp.org to find help addressing the underlying cause of your child’s absences.
  • Ask teachers and community leaders for advice and specific resources in your area.
  • Don’t be afraid to reach out to other parents in your area to ask for help and share tips.
• To prevent absences in the future, consider enrolling your child in a mentoring or afterschool program.
• Understand the impact of each absence on your child’s future.
  • A student is chronically absent even if they miss only two days of school each month (18 days per year), whether the absences are excused or unexcused.
  • Chronic absenteeism can affect students as early as elementary school.
  • Children who are chronically absent in preschool, kindergarten, and first grade are much less likely to read on grade level by third grade.
  • Students who cannot read at grade level by third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school.

One third of parents surveyed admit that they could do more to ensure that their child attends school every day. There are many reasons why students miss school when they don’t have to. Some are struggling in the classroom, while others may be having trouble with bullies, or dealing with challenges at home. Children who are chronically absent in preschool, kindergarten, and first grade are less likely to read on grade level by the third grade. Students who cannot read at grade level by the third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school. Your child’s daily, on-time attendance is critical to their success in school. And while some challenges to your child’s school attendance are unavoidable, it’s important to understand the impact of each absence. SPREAD THE MESSAGE! The best way to ensure success for our kids? Get them to school every day. Visit AbsencesAddUp.org for tips #AbsencesAddUp Every day in class = 1 day closer to graduation. Learn more about ensuring our kids' success at AbsencesAddUp.org #AbsencesAddUp

The Best Standing Desks

Lift 24




Standing desks are tending now, and for good reason!  They are so versatile and you can step to you desk, do what you need to do and move on to you next task.  ErgotronHome sent me two standing desks to try out and I love them both.   


Lift 24

The Workspace™ Lift24 is an adjustable-height laptop stand that converts any surface into a standing desk. Want to sit? No problem! Just detach the tray to bring with you to your favorite chair where it can rest on your lap, providing extra space for a mouse, touch pad or notebook. This desk retails for $199.95


Hub 27




The Workspace™ Hub27 is a slim cabinet with a channel to plug in & charge all your devices—laptops, phones or tablets. A true space-saver, this organizer also doubles as a wall-mounted standing desk: just flip its door down to create a handy worksurface. Sort mail, make notes or do some computing, then close it up to conceal its contents. Retail: 349.95

My favorite things about these two desks are that they are compact, easy to use, and fold away for easy storage! 

Which desk is your favorite?

This giveaway will have two winners!  Please use the Rafflecopter form below.  Winner has 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen.




a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks to The Mommy Island and The Kids Did It for hosting this hop!  Make sure to check put these other bloggers and your chance to win more prizes!

Heroboys Gift Pack

 Finding quality toys for boys can sometimes be difficult. Boys toys all seem to be the same, they lack that qualities we are all trying to teach our boys to have. Crissi and Ed Boland, an entrepreneur duo knew there was a need for a product that is a positive model in the boys’ toy market. After seeing the encouraging influence American Girl dolls have had on young girls, the couple with two young boys of their own created an equivalent toy for boys, Heroboys. HeroBoys are a collection of six 18-inch action figures (the same size and structure as American Girl dolls), and each has his own back story of the transformation into a superhero. Unlike other Superheroes, their powers focus on positive things like helping the environment, having manners and being kind to others. Their story is told with a periodic comic book subscription delivered right to kids in the mail. With honorable values and upstanding morals, the HeroBoys line is unlike any other toy currently on the market for 3-10 year old boys. They are meant to use children’s love of superheroes to celebrate adventure, imagination, and limitless potential, while reinforcing positive values, values we learned from our parents: honesty, loyalty, humility, compassion, and diligence. The HeroBoys brand is part of Whimzy Entertainment, a company founded by parents dedicated to providing quality, developmentally meaningful content to children through toys, games and media. They are dedicated to creating products and brands that foster joy, creativity, learning, and development in children and producing products that are fun and useful for a child or parent. They won’t make anything just to try and sell it. They are available at HeroBoys.com or on Amazon.. The Goal of Heroboys is to let young boys know: “There is a hero in every boy.” One lucky winner will get a HeroBoys set of their choice which includes one 18-inch hero, with corresponding t-shirt, cape & mask and HeroBoys issue 1 comic. The retail value of the prize is $107.Giveaway is open to US only and ends on 10/23 at 11:59pm EST. Good luck!

Entry-Form

Disclosure: All opinions are 100% mine. This giveaway is in no way associated with, sponsored, administered, or endorsed by Facebook, Twitter, Google, Pinterest or any other social media network.All opinions and experiences are Conservamom‘s. Open to Continental US residents only , must be 18+. Confirmed Winner(s) will be contacted through email and have 48 hours to respond before a new winner will be drawn. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. The sponsor will be responsible for product fulfillment to winner(s) of the giveaway. The disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. For questions or to see your product featured in an Event you can contact Elia At Conservamom Save

Hallmark Crafters & Co "Celebrate Fall" Giveaway

Welcome to Hallmark Crafters & Co Giveaway, you can read more about my review ONE WINNER wins a Crafters & Co. Candle & Warmer, Wax Melt Cubes Sponsored by: Hallmark Hosted by: Night Helper Open to: USA only 18yrs. + Start date: 10/04-10/14 12am est. The winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to reply. a Rafflecopter giveaway Disclosure: We reserve the right to make revisions, to cancel, or suspend this contest for any reason. We are not associated with any of the companies named above. The odds of winning are based on the number of entries received Open to the US 18+ only. Confirmed Winner(s) (by Random.org) will be contacted by email. Winner(s) have 24 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. The sponsor(s) will be responsible for product shipment to winner(s) of this giveaway. Night Helper Blog (and any other blog participating) is not responsible for product shipment/delivery. This event is in no way administered, sponsored, or endorsed by, or associated with, Facebook and/or Twitter, Google, Pinterest. This disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements. Entrants must only enter with either one email address, IP address and/or Facebook account, anyone found violating these rules will be disqualified. It is at the sole discretion of the admin of the giveaway if the winner has met the rules or not.

Digital Media Academy

The Pre-Season Sale has been extended 24 hours! 

Don't miss out on Digital Media Academy's BIGGEST discount of the year - Save on everything from summer camps to overnight housing to DMA Online courses!

The best part? Pre-Season vouchers are fully refundable until March 31, 2017 and can be transferred to friends or family in case your plans change. The Pre-Season Sale vouchers also make great gifts for the holidays!

It's never too soon to start planning your summer. Lock in this early bird pricing today when you purchase your Pre-Season Voucher and redeem it as early as November 1st when we announce our 2017 camp lineup! Limited space available.


Spark Curiosity, Build Confidence, and Foster Teamwork

Digital Media Academy's immersive courses bring like-minded students together to inspire one another and to explore their passion through creating.

Students at DMA engage in project-based learning, which results in students gaining knowledge, skill and experience. DMA's instructional staff empowers students with this tool set by acting as their role models as they create meaningful projects with them.

Courses at Digital Media Academy are designed to encourage teamwork and provide students with the opportunity to celebrate their creative accomplishments by presenting and sharing them with their class.


Create Your Perfect Camp Experience

Need help picking the perfect camp experience for your young creator? We are ready to help, just call (866) 656-3342 or email info@digitalmediaacademy.org.

For more information, visit (Link URL) https://www.digitalmediaacademy.org/promotions-digital-media-academy/

PeachSkin Sheets October

Welcome to the PeachSkin Sheets October "color of the month" giveaway.  Every month PeachSkin Sheets have 2 colors on sale for $55, (normally $69.95).  We do not know exactly what the color of October's 2 color choices will be yet, so it is a surprise for now.

You can enter from 10/1-10/15 11:59pm est  You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure:

We reserve the right to make revisions, to cancel, or suspend this contest for any reason.  We are not associated with any of the companies named above. The odds of winning are based on the number of entries received Open to the  US 18+ only. Confirmed Winner(s) (by Random.org) will be contacted by email. Winner(s) have 24 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. The sponsor(s) will be responsible for product shipment to winner(s) of this giveaway. Mom Blog Society (and any other blog participating) is not responsible for product shipment/delivery. This event is in no way administered, sponsored, or endorsed by, or associated with, Facebook and/or Twitter, Google, Pinterest. This disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements. Entrants must only enter with either one email address, IP address and/or Facebook account, anyone found violating these rules will be disqualified. It is at the sole discretion of the admin of the giveaway if the winner has met the rules or not.

You Brexit Believe It! UK Vacations Are More Affordable Than Ever

It’s confirmed. The UK will be leaving Europe, and the news has reduced the value of the pound. This means that it now costs less to enjoy a vacation over the pond in the UK. And there is so much choice at this time of year too! If you’re looking to make the most of your hard-earned dollar, now is the time to finally see what Britain has to offer.

London

The capital of England remains one of the most popular cities in the world. If you’re visiting other parts of Europe, you have just a few months left to make the most of your Euros in the UK. There are very few areas outside of the capital that will accept them at all, so it’s best to invest in the pound while the exchange rate is so good.

There are so many attractions that are easy to get to using the London subway system. London Underground, or The Tube, is well mapped, and your day ticket can take you anywhere above or below ground on public transport. There is also a good level of disabled access and assistance if you need it. This means you can get around all the best tourist hotspots with ease.

The British Museum remains really popular, and most of it is free. The London Eye gives you a great view of the capital and is best on a clear, dry day. You can take a river boat to explore the Thames. You’ll see the Houses of Parliament, and the cultural center of South Bank opposite each other. But, of course, it’s Buckingham Palace that makes a visit to the UK extra special. Check out the Changing of the Guard!

Buckingham Palace pic from Flickr

North West

England’s North West is full of surprises for the visitor who wants to see more. There are Theme Parks, beaches, and vibrant cities to keep you busy for your entire vacation. The home of The Beatles is here. Liverpool remains a music epicenter to this day and is home to some of the best nightclubs in the country.

Blackpool pic from Flickr

Manchester is the city famed for its soccer team. Football is the national sport, but Manchester United is the team that won’t disappoint. Try to take in a match and see if you can fall in love with it too. The North West is also home to the most stunning landscapes the UK has to offer. If you love varied and rugged landscapes like the Great Smoky Mountains, then you need to spend a few days in the Lake District. The walks in the hills and around the lakes are very well documented. So grab your wet weather gear and hiking boots and see what incredible views you can see.

East

The East coast is vast and magnificent, whether you stay in the South or venture up to the North. There are many areas of outstanding natural beauty and several wildlife sanctuaries. They protect some of the most beautiful species of bird, fish and mammal in the world. Inland, you’ll find lots of quaint villages to explore with little tea rooms and interesting local delicacies to try.

Lincoln Cathedral pic from Flickr

Lincoln isn’t too far inland. It offers some of the most peculiar and interesting architecture, both new and old. It’s a popular student city as well so you can be guaranteed a great night out. Colchester, in the northern tip of Essex, has some of the oldest buildings you can find. It provides great access to some of the most interesting little villages too.

South

The south coast is also known as the Jurassic Coast. You can almost guarantee to find some fossils on the beaches as you walk through this area. Dorset is one of the prettiest counties in the UK. Road access isn’t the easiest, but it’s not impossible to navigate when you get used to the windy country lanes. The most populated areas here are Bournemouth, Poole, and Portsmouth. All offer a great English Seaside experience. You can also enjoy a lot of fun watersports from each area.

Midlands

Birmingham has become one of the biggest and most exciting cities in the UK. It is very multicultural and also prides itself as home to the great British Curry. But there is far more to Birmingham than just fun foods. You can enjoy some great shopping, and some of the best sporting venues too. And the nightlife is varied and vibrant.

There are great cultural centers with arts, music, and museums offering great days out. Nottingham offers many great venues for theater and the arts too. Both cities are connected by good road and rail connections. Each also has an international airport nearby.

Scotland

There are several amazing cities in Scotland. But the one that attracts the most visitors is Edinburgh. This city is home to the world famous Fringe Festival. It’s not cheap to visit at this time, but it’s certainly worth the extra expense to stay in the city. Further into Scotland’s landscape, you can find Loch Ness, home to the mythical monster that lives in the water. And up in the Highlands, you may even find some good skiing if the weather is right.

Scotland pic from Flickr

Wales

Cardiff is one of the best cities in the world to visit. It’s multicultural, and it’s one of the best places to find out more about Welsh history, culture and language. But it’s the small towns and villages in the Valleys that provide the most charm here. There is also plenty of coastline to explore, and some incredible views of the landscape.

Northern Ireland

No visit to the UK is complete without taking a short ferry crossing to Northern Ireland. Belfast is the biggest city, and it isn’t too far until you happen upon the Giant’s Causeway. This remarkable natural wonder is worth a visit even if your itinerary is full. Music is very important in Ireland too. You can find some interesting instruments and sounds on a night out.

If you’re looking for a fun-packed vacation of a lifetime, you can’t go wrong with the UK. It has everything you need, no matter what the weather throws at you. Will you make the UK your next vacation destination?