15 Favorite Books for Emerging Readers

Tech Support for Virtual Learning

Whether your kids will be back in school in-person or you're staring down a full year of home-based learning, the majority of kids this school year will be virtual learners at some point.  In this episode we break down a couple of the most important factors to consider when setting up your kids to begin school as virtual learners. Join us for some laughs, but most importantly as we share practical knowledge for you to have in your mom toolkit. Links: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Microsoft Surface [https://amzn.to/30FIzLK]  (A Microsoft Surface is my favorite PC we've ever owned, and I'm usually a Mac girl!) Light Up Mouse  [https://amzn.to/2PAlpQq] Extra Large Mouse Pad  [https://amzn.to/2DsFohQ] 2 Pack Kids Wired Headphones [ https://amzn.to/2PBrEUj] Wireless Headphones  [https://amzn.to/31BHzaP] As always, together we mom better!  If you have any suggestions or resources regarding things we discussed in this episode please add them to the comments below, and while you're there, don’t forget to like and subscribe! Join The Mom Hive on Social Media: Instagram. @themomhivepodcast YouTube Channel. www.youtube.com/themomhive Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/groups/553964515545062/

Mom Hive Coffee Break with Special Guest: Stacia!

Grab a cup of coffee and join Lauren, Paige and special guest Stacia on this MomHive Coffee Break Episode.  We talk about the “summer slide” an idea that kids’ school skills regress during summer vacation, and the various ways we attempt to keep kids learning over the summer to prevent this from happening.   🕰Timestamps🕰  Intro:  Lauren asks Stacia and Paige about their thoughts on the “summer slide” as teachers and also as parents...  3:10:  Workbooks??  Sometimes “Summer Slide” spills over into “Life Slide”… Also, Paige tells us her trick for erasing old dried up dry erase marker that you forgot to erase a few days, weeks, maybe years ago...  8:25:  The importance of empowering kids with a Growth Mindset  11:25:  Paige talks about how she enjoys cooking with her kids and often uses that as a learning moment  12:52:  Nature walks are a great way to incorporate leaning in your normal day  15:53:  Stacia talks about making a game out of letting her girls online grocery shop, and how it is also important to remember to teach life skills!  21:00:  We discuss how we don’t always have the patience to invite our kids into the different jobs or tasks we are doing, and how we just need to be more open and aware of these learning opportunities when they present themselves. 26:50:  Final thoughts on summer vacation  31:42:  Lauren teaches Stacia and Paige a fun easy game to play with your family called Pterodactyl.   Links to some of the workbooks we talked about:  **As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying Amazon purchases**  Brain Quest Workbook:  https://amzn.to/33annzb  Comprehensive Curriculum of Basic Skills:  https://amzn.to/3k286pZ  Dot to Dot Dry Erase Activity Book:  https://amzn.to/2EupXWj  Activity Book for Minecrafters:  https://amzn.to/2PfOctr  Together we mom better!  If you have any suggestions or resources regarding things we discussed in this episode please add them to the comments below, and while you're there, don’t forget to like and subscribe!    Join The Mom Hive on Social Media:  Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/momhivepodcast/  YouTube Channel. https://youtu.be/ZPnAqWou6qQ  Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/groups/553964515545062/

15 Favorite Books for Emerging Readers

In this episode Lauren and Paige talk about reading with their littles.  From Bob books to Shel Silverstein, you will hear about lots of different favorites and what reading aloud looks like in each of their homes. It’s not just for little kids who can’t read, reading aloud benefits the whole family and these girls are here to hook you up with lots of resources so you can see what works best for your family! Remember:  Together we mom better!  If you have any suggestions or some favorites of your own please add them to the comments below, and while you're there, don’t forget to subscribe! We love hearing from you! Links: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 1. Bob Books, Set 1: Beginning Readers [ https://amzn.to/30ofumK]    https://amzn.to/30ofumK 2. The Big Fat Cow That Goes Kapow [https://amzn.to/2CRT8Sg] https://amzn.to/2CRT8Sg 3. Pinkalicious: Pink-a-rama (I Can Read Level 1) [https://amzn.to/3fMsqJy]    https://amzn.to/3fMsqJy 4. Where Do Diggers Sleep at Night? [https://amzn.to/2WAyPjr]   https://amzn.to/2WAyPjr 5. Roadwork (Construction Crew) [https://amzn.to/30nHZkt]  https://amzn.to/30nHZkt 6. Little Bear Boxed Set: Little Bear, Father Bear Comes Home, and Little Bear's Visit [https://amzn.to/39bSET7]  https://amzn.to/39bSET7 7. Fancy Nancy: Nancy Clancy's Ultimate Chapter Book Quartet: Books 1 through 4 [https://amzn.to/39bgZZs] https://amzn.to/39bgZZs 8. In a Dark, Dark Wood [https://amzn.to/2WB6TvI]   https://amzn.to/2WB6TvI 9. Olivia [https://amzn.to/3jljxZx,]  OLIVIA Loves to Read: Olivia Trains Her Cat; Olivia and Her Ducklings; Olivia Takes a Trip; Olivia and the Snow Day; Olivia Plants a Garden; Olivia Goes Camping (Olivia TV Tie-in)  [https://amzn.to/30sveFl]       10. Bear In Underwear [https://amzn.to/30jzAys]        11. The Moon Shines Down [https://amzn.to/2WtqKx1]        12. Ocean Life Dictionary  [https://amzn.to/2ZJdKW9]       13. A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein (2005) Hardcover [https://amzn.to/3jpn1KT]        14. Where the Sidewalk Ends: Poems and Drawings [https://amzn.to/2CS6BJR]        15.  The Mischievians  [https://amzn.to/32xq65u]

Turn off autopilot and embrace your mom brain

In this episode we explore what it means to us to mom on autopilot, and how now more than ever, we need to be aware of the things we say and why we say them.  Lauren and Paige step out of their comfort zones a little to weigh in on current events, but before that they have fun discussing some of Lauren's favorite idioms, and the stories behind why we say them.   🕰Timestamps🕰   00:00 - 00:30 What’s up with Lauren and Paige?  Things continue to worsen regarding the Corona Virus in the Houston area they call home.  They are very concerned about what that means for their kids regarding the next school year…   2:00  All about masks, and how they are becoming a part of our everyday lives and events.  Paige talks about how she is planning to decorate wedding themed masks as a part of a bridal shower she is hostessing.  8:00 Lauren and Paige discuss how it seems like they should have more free/me time right now because they are stuck at home, but they don’t…  Where does all time go!??  Lauren talks about how she sometimes finds herself on autopilot when it comes to conversations she is having with her kids while she is trying to clean house or work on something by herself.  In an effort to bring awareness to this phenomenon, Lauren thought it would be interesting to explore some of the things we say all the time without knowing what they actually mean.  These are grammatically known as idioms.  14:00 Lauren and Paige discuss various idioms and where they came from, to illustrate the idea that we say things all the time without thinking about why?  34:00 We talk about taking a hard look at ourselves and our values and beliefs and making sure that the things we say and the people we vote for align with our heart and mind.  That no matter what the issue is:  from the importance of wearing masks, or the Black Lives Matter movement and systemic racism.  We are working hard on ourselves right now to make sure that our words are grounded in truth and that our hearts are open and ready to love all people, not in spite of the fact that their ideas/opinions/philosophies are different from our own, but BECAUSE of it.  Diversity makes all life on earth stronger, and it exists all around us:  Race, Culture, Sex, Religion...  I believe that every time we choose to turn towards diversity and ideas that challenge our own that we truly start to mend the great divide we find our country in today.      Together we mom better!  If you have any suggestions or resources regarding things we discussed in this episode please add them to the comments below, and while you're there, don’t forget to like and subscribe!   Join The Mom Hive on Social Media: Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/momhivepodcast/ YouTube Channel. https://youtu.be/ZPnAqWou6qQ Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/groups/553964515545062/

How to Incentivize Your Kids in the Summer

In this episode, we dive in to how to incentivize your kids. We have a big range between the 2 of us (4-14), and we have different approaches. None of them are perfect or right, but I think it’s important to provide the incentives because it teaches kids about positive reinforcement. We aren’t just raising kids, we’re trying to raise successful, productive adults, and we start by teaching them that working hard and contributing to the team/cause/goal is the way to do that. We do NOT think this is the only way this works, we are not trying to one-up, The Mom Hive is not a place for judgement, it’s a place to lift each other up and share what helps make this mom job a bit easier!