StudyJams! a new online learning experience

StudyJams! is a new online, subscription-based learning experience for kids in grades 3-6. Developed by Scholastic, StudyJams! is dedicated to helping kids learn math and science in ways that are fun, relevant and rewarding.

StudyJams! was designed to introduce and reinforce key math and science concepts. Whether your child needs help to better understand a challenging topic or simply wants to learn more about a subject they already enjoy, StudyJams! can help. StudyJams! was created in conjunction with leading educators nationwide and all of their content is based on state curriculum standards.

Every kid learns in a unique way. That's why we they multiple learning paths to match different learning styles. By using videos, interactive lessons, karaoke, music and more, StudyJams! empowers kids to learn the way that works best for them. All the while, the StudyJams! Crew — RJ, Mia, Zoe and Sam — are there to guide your kids through every topic.

Kids love StudyJams! because on top of being fun, with each Jam they complete they earn Jam points. Jam points are redeemed in the recording studio, where kids can create their own original music. When a song is finished, it can be downloaded as an mp3 file and shared with friends.

They make it easy to sign up and even easier to use. When you sign up for a "parent account", you get three "child accounts". Each child account has its own username and password (created by you), so each child has a unique and personalized learning experience. With the parent account, you can monitor how your kids are doing.

StudyJams.com is fully password-protected, ensuring that your kids will always be safe on StudyJams!

Visit STUDYJAMS!

GameStop/Grand Theft Auto IV

If there's one thing gamers hate, it's being the last to know the scoop on their favorite game. They've analyzed and reanalyzed Grand Theft Auto IV trailers and leaked footage, hoping to discover a cool new feature they can brag about in gaming circles for at least the next 15 minutes. That is, until someone trumps them with a cooler, newer find.

How would you like to be that "someone?" GTA IV maker RockStar Games and exclusive partner GameStop are set to level the playing field all over again, making this the perfect time to jump in and impress everybody. With the highly anticipated release of GTA IV on April 28 still weeks away, they're throwing gamers a really meaty bone with GameStop's new feature-rich commercial, now on YouTube.com.

To sweeten the pot, GameStop is also sponsoring a sweepstakes with a $10,000 cash prize and a trip to "Liberty City" for the winner. And, naturally, everybody can preorder in-store and online now, too. If there's another thing gamers hate, it's standing in lines with the masses.

Visit GameStop/Grand Theft Auto IV

Warning: Mature Content. You must be 17 years of age or older to view the YouTube video.

Free Games - Win Prizes!!

Gamesville.com is the premiere purveyor of fine, free online games and is famous for its uncanny ability to waste people's time for hours on end.

What kind of games do they offer? Free games such as bingo, cards, puzzles, board games, and more. You can even create your own stylish Gamesville Avatar to capture your unique essence.

But what really sets them apart from other game sites is that they specialize in online game shows, not just online games.

What's the difference?

Most game sites focus on games you play by yourself or games you play against a couple other people. While Gamesville has those kinds of games too (they especially proud of their Spades game and Hot Streak Solitaire), they excel at massively multiplayer games where it's you versus hundreds—or even thousands—of people all competing, in real time, to get the highest score or win the cash jackpot.

Gamesville game shows, such as Three-Eyed Bingo and Magic 21, run on a continuous basis, 24 hours a day, and last for a specific amount of time. Between one game ending and the next game starting, there is a brief intermission (aka, the Gamesville Emercial®) which features commercials — that is, advertisements that the sponsors have paid to display to you. These commercials help pay for the games and prizes that they offer.

In a very real way, their games are online — and interactive — game shows, operating on a similar kind of model to our TV counterparts. Except, instead of you watching a handful of contestants vie for a prize, you actually get to compete and win!

It's a little unusual-but given that they are in their twelfth year of being in business they must be doing something right. So go play today! Visit Gamesville

Improve your Brain

Unfortunately, science has shown that around age 30, all of our brains are going to start (or have already started!) slowing down. But there's hope! Train your brain and fight back with daily games and exercises from Lumosity.com.

It may seem hard to believe that games could help improve your cognitive abilities, but it's true — well, for the scientifically designed games and exercises found on Lumosity, at least. They're created by some of the country's leading scientists in cognitive psychology, bioinformatics and neuroscience and are made specifically to develop your memory, processing speed, attention and cognitive control.

Lumosity users have experienced:
Clearer and quicker thinking
Improved memory for names, numbers, directions, etc. Increased alertness and awareness
Elevated mood
Better concentration at work or while driving

I know what you're thinking — "Processing speed? Cognitive control? Just how boring are these games?" But that's the best part. They're fun (and, I'll admit, slightly addicting). Monster Garden, Moneycomb, Lost in Migration, Chalkboard Challenge — visit Lumosity.com to check them all out and sign up for a free 14-day trial. Your brain will thank you later.

Visit Lumosity

Messages we send to children

In my house watching TV is a privilege that must be earned with good behavior and completion of all school work and chores. The reward is 1 hr of “screen” time. Our child can choose between computer, TV, game system, or supervised Internet play. Very rarely is TV chosen and as parents, we are elated that this is “given up.”

Pre-teen programming has many issues that send our child into rages. Violence, disrespect for adults, picking on other children, and the list continues. This is just speaking of the programming and not the commercials. The commercials promote a “want” atmosphere with a sedentary life of playing games via “screens”, eating and drinking unhealthy products filled with high fructose corn syrup, dyes, and other substances that a growing mind and body can do without.

Britain is taking a step in the right direction by discontinuing all commercial that promote Junk foods with high fat, sugar and salt. Below are a two UK links on this topic:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=JZGLP4G0WRRVJQFIQMFSFFWAVCBQ0IV0?xml=/news/2006/05/18/nbeans118.xml

http://media.guardian.co.uk/site/story/0,,1951310,00.html

What lead up to this ban? Who is responsible? We need to bring those people into the US and strive for the same outcome. We would still have to deal with many other issues surrounding poor children’s programming and commercials, but promoting healthy eating for this young generation may enable these young people to live a longer and healthier life.

Many schools are stepping in the right direction by banning junk on campus. Again, Britain is taking the lead and banning all junk foods in all schools across the country.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4287712.stm

Students are still able to bring junk food to school with them. In reality, this problem needs to be more closely monitored by concerned parents who are striving to raise emotionally and physically healthy children.