Education: Integrating Social Media into Schools (Part 1 of 3)

With the rising technology, social media is becoming increasingly more integrated within our everyday lives. Even businesses are capitalizing on social networking and other forms of social media to engage current customers and gain new ones. Social media is having a profound effect within our work and social lives but one area where it is still being somewhat rejected is within our education system. Some teachers embrace the use of technology and social media within their curriculum, others avoid any use of it at all. 

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Many schools, if not most, even have the use of sites such as Twitter and Facebook strictly prohibited on school computers. Many schools and teachers are fully aware of the negative aspects of social media but few have knowledge of the benefits that come with social networking. Instead of shying away from new technology and social media, schools should learn to embrace it. The continued growth of social networking and its prevalence within society is inevitable, so simply ignoring it or banning it within schools is becoming increasingly ineffective. 

Many teachers aren't completely opposed to using social media within a classroom setting, they just don't know how to integrate it into their teaching. 

Teachers can utilize social media sites in four critical ways: to connect, to notify, to teach, and to curate. 

One of the most popular social media sites used within a classroom is YouTube. 40% of teachers report that they have used, or often use, YouTube during lessons. Teachers can capitalize on YouTube in countless ways. The most common way YouTube is used by teachers is to search for videos that tie in the current topics being learned to use during class time. This brings the lessons to life and the visual stimulation helps further engage the students -- especially those day dreamers! 

Learn more about educator, acclaimed author and Mompreneur Eileen Wacker, click here 

Another way YouTube can be integrated into education is by recording lessons and posting them on YouTube. This way students will be able to access them from home and review them whenever they want. This is very helpful come test time when the students need to study.

Teachers can take this videos to the next level by adding quizzes to the end of the recorded lesson. Another way to utilize YouTube is by putting together a series of videos on your YouTube "channel" that are relevant to current topics being taught. This way students will be able to access related, and approved, topics with the click of a button. An idea much more appealing to students than only having access to a text book for outside-the-class learning. 

Find out how Facebook and Twitter can be integrated into education in the upcoming part two!

Powerful Moms in Social Media (Part 2 of 5)

Joanne Bamberger

Social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter are continuing to grow in popularity, but a new social media sensation is quickly catching up -- blog pages. And women balancing motherhood with work, marriage, and life are leading the way. Countless mothers are reaching out to one another, offering support and advice on how to tackle the daily events motherhood brings. Working Mom's list of the fifteen "Most Powerful Moms in Social Media" started earlier this week and continues with three more of the most influential writers in the world of mommy bloggers.

To learn more about Modern Moms and The Mom Code, please visit ONCEKids Publishing website, Facebook and Twitter

Mother of one, Joanne Bamberger earned her way on to Working Mom's list, and our list of Super-Moms, with her impressive blogging career. Bamberger started out her career as a radio and television reporter before entering law school. After spending fifteen years in private and government practice, Bamberger decided she needed a change in her life. This led to her embark on another career path as a political and media strategist and analyst. Her role in the political world and knack for social media led to her creation of a blog in 2006. Her blog, called "Pundit Mom", focuses on balancing work and family, something she refers to as a "constant moving target". Since then, it became a finalist for the best political blog at the Webblog "Bloggies" Awards in 2011. She also just released a book, titled Mothers of Intention: How Women & Social Media are Revolutionizing Politics in America, and has a new online magazine. This mommy blogger isn't slowing down anytime soon! 

Kimberley Blaine

The next mom rising in social media fame is Kimberley Blaine. This mother of two has something unique to the other mothers on the list to bring to the table. Blaine is a licensed family and child therapist. She uses her website, TheGoToMom.tv, to offer advice through online segments. Her great advice and expertise in the field has gained her a large audience of parents with children in their younger years spanning to their early teens. She has acquired 13,000 followers on Twitter and is now the author of a book, The Go-To Mom's Parents' Guide to Emotion Coaching Young Children. Blaine's thoughts regarding a successful blog page is that in order to be successful, it is crucial to expand it with video, radio, social networks, and message boards. 

Learn more about acclaimed author and Mompreneur Eileen Wacker, click here 

Beth Blecherman

Our sixth mommy blogger, mother of three Beth Blecherman, made it on the list with her creation of TechMamas.com in 2007. She has amassed 15,000 followers on Twitter and was named one of the 140 Twitter feeds to follow in Time Magazine in 2010. She offers advice and support for the intersection of work and life regarding social media. Blecherman consults with companies on social media strategies and blogger outreach. In addition to her personal blog, Blecherman is also an advisor to Nukutoys.com and the Chief Technologist at Cool Mom Tech. She says that her best support comes from her husband and sons. 

If you missed part 1, you can find it here.

Powerful Moms in Social Media (Part 1 of 5)

Heather Armstrong

With sites like Facebook and Twitter, social media is a trend that just keeps getting trendier. Now, there is a relatively new addition to the social media scene that is also rising in popularity. Moms are now taking the social media world by storm with their popular social media sites and blogs. Some of these blogs center on their life as a mom, while others write and speak about the balance between business and motherhood. Over the last few years, a group of these moms have risen to become powerful influencers, reaching large audiences across all social media platforms, including FaceBook, Twitter, YouTube, and more. 

To learn more about Modern Moms and The Mom Code, please visit ONCEKids Publishing website, Facebook and Twitter

Working Mother has created a list called the Most Powerful Moms in Social Media, consisting of fifteen mothers who have risen to the top of social media. 

Jill Asher

The first on the list has sometimes been referred to as the 'Queen of Mommy Bloggers'. Heather Armstrong, mother of two daughters, has made tremendous strides in the social media world since the creation of her website, Dooce.com, in 2002. She has managed to acquire 1.5 million followers on Twitter to date and it is reported that her blog has around 100,000 visitors a day. She has also written books and participated in many speaking engagements. It is estimated that she is making up to $1 million a year from ad revenue alone! One of the stories that got her to the top of the Powerful Moms chart was when she expressed her disappointment about the new Maytag washing machine she'd recently bought- and not only did the company deliver a new one to her door, but they also donated one in her name to charity. Wow, that is one powerful mommy blogger!

Amy Lupold Bair

Learn more about acclaimed author and Mompreneur Eileen Wacker, click here 

The next most influential mommy blogger is Jill Asher. This mother of two says that her career in blogging began in 2006. She says she noticed there were no blogs tailored to moms specifically in her area Silicon Valley. Upon this discovery, she created a group known as the Silicon Valley Group, filling a significant gap with the creation of a regional community of moms. This community has since grown substantially, buying up regional blogs all over the United States. The group also works to promote video conferences and books clubs, with the purpose of feeling like a monthly meeting for moms across the country. 

Mother of two and Powerful Mom number three, Amy Lupold Bair, was a middle school English teacher until her invention in 2008 that would shake up the social media world, the Twitter Party. A Twitter Party consists of an online conversation through Twitter. It often includes panelists and giveaways. This invention has opened up the doors of communication between companies and their customers. Bair has personally hosted over 150 Twitter parties for big name brands such as Pampers. Her Twitter has amassed over 30,000 followers. This super-Mom has also formed The Global Influence Network and runs a personal blog. The Global Influence Network was formed in 2009, working with public relations agencies with the purpose of developing interesting content and contests for bloggers and members of the network to share with their readers and Twitter followers. Her own blog, appropriately titled "Resourceful Mommy", get more personal with parenting advice based on her own personal experiences as a mother. 

Minimizing Morning Meltdowns [PART 2 of 2]

Continuing from this week's earlier post, mornings can be an extremely stressful time for everyone involved. Getting yourself out of bed, dressed, and ready to go and then doing the same for the kids, all while being on time and remembering everything, is a seemingly impossible task. All of this chaos can make the chances of a meltdown much more likely, especially due to the early morning hours. Luckily, there are some strategies to minimize the likelihood of those morning meltdowns- whether they are from you or the kids! 

1.  Just relax. When you have kids and a busy schedule, not everything is always going to go according to plan, but that's okay. When you feel yourself getting wound up or frustrated over something, just step back for a minute and take a deep breath. Getting angry and upset over situations aren't going to make them get accomplished any faster or go any more smoothly.

To learn more about Modern Moms and The Mom Code, please visit ONCEKids Publishing website, Facebook and Twitter

2. Give up some of the decision making. This is especially true for kids with a tendency to rebel against your decisions. Giving kids options and making them feel like they have some input is a great way to minimize the meltdowns. Let the older kids choose their own clothes for school, as long as they are laid out the night before. Give the younger kids a few options of what outfit they'd like to wear. Even if the outfit wouldn't be your first choice, let some of that freedom go and it will feel like a huge weight off your shoulders. This freedom of choice extends beyond just clothes, like what they would like for breakfast. Do they want apple juice or orange juice? A bagel or cereal? When kids feel like they have some control they are much less likely to complain. However, it is important to make it clear that there are certain things that are just not up for discussion- like if they can skip breakfast or pack whatever they want for lunch. If they know ahead of time that these things are nonnegotiable, they are less likely to argue about it.

Learn more about acclaimed author and Mompreneur Eileen Wacker, click here 

3. Prioritize! Having priorities that are clear and fair will help to de-stress your mornings on those days where things don't go according to plan or you're running late. Brushing teeth and getting dressed must come before watching t.v. or going on the computer. Even having priorities for yourself if important, like making sure everyone is up and ready before checking Facebook or your phone. Kids tend to follow by example, so if you are still in your pajamas and texting on your cell phone, they are going to complain about having to get dressed and ready. 

4. Make mornings fun! Just because it is the morning and people are trying to get out the door, doesn't mean it has to be stressful. Keep the mornings light-hearted and fun -- maybe even make getting ready into a game. Have a contest to see who can be ready the fastest. Offering rewards or praise for good behavior can also go a long way to keeping kids happy and well-behaved during those busy mornings. 

Make Mornings Easier [PART 1 of 2]

Every busy mom knows that mornings are hectic, chaotic, and just plain stressful. Getting yourself ready for the busy day ahead, getting the kids off to school and daycare, and making sure you remember everything can seem like an impossible task. Luckily, there are a few strategies to get everyone up and out of the house on time -- and in one piece -- each morning. The key to keeping mornings stress-free for everyone is to plan ahead and stay organized. Make sure these three things have been done each night before you go to bed:

1. Homework has been completed and put into backpacks along with the books they need for school the following day. This will prevent frantic searching for them in the morning or having the kids be unprepared in class. This goes for moms too -- have all your work essentials laid out including your purse and keys. Keeping items in the same place each night is also a good time saver and stress minimizer because you'll always know where they will be.

To learn more about Modern Moms and The Mom Code, please visit ONCEKids Publishing website, Facebook and Twitter

2. Lunches and snacks have been made and put in the fridge. Having everyone's lunches made, including your own, is one of the best ways to de-stress your mornings. That way you and the kids can just grab it and go. Also, labeling the lunches or having a unique lunch box for each kid will prevent any confusion, and perhaps even preventing a potential meltdown if the wrong lunch is taken. 

Learn more about acclaimed author and Mompreneur Eileen Wacker, click here 

3. Have a backup breakfast ready for those extra hectic mornings. Every family has those mornings where it seems like everything is going wrong- maybe you overslept or one of the kids is feeling particularly stubborn. For those days where time is running short, have a quick and easy breakfast solution prepared. Maybe some trail mix or granola? Fresh fruit, such as bananas, apples, and oranges are perfect for an on-the-go, but still healthy, meal. 

Click here to see part 2 of this series, Morning Meltdowns!

K-pop Gaining American Fans [VIDEO]

Gangnam Style's Psy with Simon Cowell and Britney Spears

The popularity of K-pop music is steadily increasing in the United States, with Psy's 'Gangnam Style" leading the way. With over 734 million views on YouTube, the comical dance moves and memorable lyrics have become the subject of dozens of parodies and remakes. Since the release of 'Gangnam Style' this past July, interest in the K-pop genre has increased tremendously, especially in those in their teens and early 20s. Other K-pop groups, such as Girls' Generation, are also gaining a larger fan base. Their synchronized dance moves and charm are getting them a lot of attention from young people around the world. 

To learn more about Psy, Gangnam Style and pop culture, visit ONCEKids Publishing on Twitter, Facebook and our website.

But K-pop music isn't the only thing grabbing Americans' attention. Korean dramas are also becoming increasingly popular overseas. Rosally Sapla, the vice president of communications of DramaFever, one of the most popular online providers of Korean dramas, says that each month over 3 million people tune in to watch Korea's most popular dramas, 85% of which aren't Asian. Sapla also reports that their website's audience has doubled every six months since 2009. 

Often featuring actors in their twenties and K-pop stars, these television shows have become very attractive to teens and college students. The Korean dramas are quite similar to American shows with their universal themes of love, friendship, heartache, and growing pains. Viewers have reported they love the shows so much because Korean dramas often end their shows at the moment of greatest conflict, leaving the audience in suspense. This nature of the show can lead it to become very addicting, from the viewers desire to see the conflict be resolved. 

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Despite the similar themes, watching Korean dramas and listening to K-pop music has proven to be more than just great entertainment, but also an eye-opening cultural experience that is linking people around the world together. 

Psy's 'Gangnam Style' takes over Glee [VIDEO]

K-Pop continues to rise in popularity, with Psy's 'Gangnam Style' leading the way. Just four months after its release, the music video has acquired over 605 million hits on YouTube. 

To learn more about Psy, Gangnam Style and pop culture, visit ONCEKids Publishing on Twitter, Facebook and our website

On September 17, the catchy beat and easy-to-learn dance moves, got 'Gangnam Style" nominated for Best Video at the upcoming 2012 MTV Europe Music Awards. Just days later,  "Gangnam Style" continued to make headlines with Guinness World Records recognition as the most liked video in YouTube history. 

Since its creation, countless parodies of the music video have been created. Even Fox's hit musical comedy "GLEE" is jumping on the 'Gangnam Style' train. The November 8th episode will be featuring a performance of the hit song and even a special teaser has been released for eager fans. 

Click here to find ONCEKids Publishing and Fujimini Island's full collection of award-winning E-books

With one hit single, the Korean pop star has quickly become one of the most recognized faces around the world. Since the release of the music video on July 15, 2012 Psy has watched all his dreams come true, from dancing with Britney Spears on the Ellen Degeneres Show to being featured on Saturday Night Live. 

During his recent concert in Toronto, before he began his performance of the wild, electro dance moves that captured the attention of the world, he stood still, looking out at the crowd and in one of his most revealing moments, announced "This is my first time in Canada, in Toronto. This a really touching moment of me."

In Canada, "Gangnam Style" has reached the number one spot on the Canadian Billboard charts, even beating out big-selling artists like Taylor Swift and Rihanna.

The atmosphere of Psy's concerts are exactly what one would expect at the usual K-Pop concert. On stage, Psy loves to make his wildest on-stage fantasies come true, everything from flying around wire to having a enormous inflatable caricature of himself. His hilarious dance moves and high-energy atmosphere create an unforgettable night for concert-goers.

Hey Mom, Do You Facebook?

Most people seem to think that mothers are only on Facebook to check up on their kids -- and that is why many moms initially get a Facebook -- but studies show that 99% of moms on Facebook are actually using it for designated "me time". 

Facebook has created a new outlet for moms to keep in touch with friends and family, find out about sales, look up recipe ideas, and more. Facebook has become especially popular with moms who are constantly on-the-go. It allows moms who lead hectic, busy lives to be able to constantly have access to what's going on and the ability to contact/stay in touch with friends. 

To learn more about Modern Moms and The Mom Code, please visit ONCEKids Publishing website, Facebook and Twitter

The study, conducted by marketing company Mums Now, also found that the majority of Facebook activity occurs between the hours of 8 and 10 pm. Activity is significantly lower during the weekdays from 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. 

Are you a mom on Facebook?  Why and how often do you use the site? Which of the 10 Types of Facebook Moms are you?