Weekends Count Magazine - Helping you maximize your weekends through travel and DIY experiences.: Let's Learn

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5 Essential and Engaging Learning-to-Read Books from Amazon

We are preparing for an amazing Christmas season by purchasing a few educational items for my little one. Here's a secret, we usually like to open one (or sometimes two) presents before Christmas to engage my little one when we are on a trip in November or December.

This post contains affiliate links to help you build your shopping list and travel list for your family. We are passionate about the product and the experiences listed in this post, but we also wanted to provide easy links you can click to purchase products for your busy lifestyle.

1 - Learn to Read with Tug the Pup and Friends! Box Set 2: Levels Included: C-E (My Very First I Can Read)
This seems like an amazing book to engage our preschooler in sight words and reading before she enters kindergarten!

2 - Bob Books: First Stories

Yes! There are 12 books in this pack and each of them are easy-to-read! I cannot wait to write a review after Christmas!

3 - Reading Adventures Sofia the First Level Pre-1 Boxed Set

Oh, my little one loves Sophia and she will definitely love the learning-to-read process from the Disney Reading Adventures!

4 - Si llevas un ratón a la escuela (If You Give a Mouse a Cookie)
We love to incorporate Spanish for my little one's "learning at home" sessions each week! She will definitely love the Spanish version of "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie"! This is a great easy tool for your children to learn Spanish!

5 - Movie Night Magic! (Shimmer and Shine) (Step into Reading)
Oh, my little preschooler loves Shimmer and Shine! In fact, she sings the song almost every day! I like the fact that we can incorporate sight words with characters that she watches almost every day! This will be great for hotel nights away when our family travels throughout the year!

I cannot wait for these books to arrive! I plan to wrap them as soon as we receive them and place them under the tree (that I plan to trim as soon as possible). Surprise hubby! Have a great week and plan for the weekend!

Just in case you missed it, here's our "10 Ways to Read 1,000 Books a Year Before Kindergarten" infographic!

Remember, we will have posts each Monday at 9am CDT! Remember to come back and to subscribe to our YouTube Channel - Subscribe.

Have a great week and plan for the weekend!

Sincerely,

The @WeekendsCount Family!

About Weekends Count - Weekends Count Magazine is focused on helping people navigate travel, build their family business, and manage their money. We provide tips, printables, and easy-to-understand infographics to help people learn amazing ways to make their lives easier.

We are located in the Dallas-Fort Worth and East Texas areas. based in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas and the Shreveport Metroplex area.

Authors - Jennifer and Tony Edwards

Here's a link to our press kit/media kit - http://www.weekendscount.com/p/our-media-kit.html

Contact Information:
Weekends Count

Box 501
Beckville, TX 76048

weekendscount@gmail.com
(817) 382-8475
Send us an Email! We are PR friendly! - weekendscount@gmail.com

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Remember to Purchase or Download Our Family Travel Book on Amazon! - Family Travel Hacks and Tips for Any Budget!

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Book Review - Look, See the Farm! - Teach Your Kids about Nature Through Reading!

We were very excited about reviewing the "Look, See the Farm" book written by Bill Wilson and Katie Fallon. Our daughter LOVES reading books and we encourage her to reflect on the books she read by "telling us about the book" though a video or by drawing something from the book.

This time, mom and dad had a chance to ask the authors some questions. Here we go!

Why is it important to teach kids about nature?

I have two young children, and they love being outside — they turn over rocks, wade in streams, look for birds, and are curious about everything. In addition to allowing kids to investigate and explore their world, being outdoors in nature promotes healthy physical activity. It helps them realize that they’re a part of a big world, where everything fits together and every piece is important.

Where can people get more information from you?

My colleagues Bill Wilson and Leigh Anne Carter and myself have another children’s book called Look, See the Bird! that was published by Hatherleigh Press last year. It’s a book about the kids in North and Central America who are connected by migratory birds. I’ve also written two nonfiction books for adults, Vulture: The Private Life of an Unloved Birds(2017) and Cerulean Blues: A Personal Search for a Vanishing Songbird (2011). My website is www.katiefallon.com.

This week,

Have a great week and plan for the weekend!

Sincerely,

The @WeekendsCount Family!

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About Weekends Count - Weekends Count is a Millennial Family Travel, Fun, Food and Activities blog based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in Texas. We review hotels, travel and household items, and millennial family experiences!

Authors - Jennifer and Tony Edwards

Here's a link to our press kit/media kit - http://www.weekendscount.com/p/our-media-kit.html

Mailing Address: 1030 East Highway 377 Suite 110; Box #145; Granbury TX 76048
Phone Number - 817-382-8475

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Attention Parents - We Need to Take Time for Ourselves (As an Educator and Higher Education Mom)

I'm a higher education mom. In my profession, if there are no guts, there is no glory for individuals in my field. This is especially true for higher education mothers on the tenure track. We teach, we research, we provide service for the community and the profession, we commute, we raise children, we cook, we clean, and we experience life. As our little ones learn how to navigate life on their own (at the wee ages of two or three) we are writing papers, grading papers, and discovering new ways to incorporate our higher education life with our home life.

Some of us teach in-person, while others teach online and hybrid courses (both face-to-face and online), but all of us have the ultimate goal of reaching our students without neglecting our families. I've commonly referred to this balancing act in higher education as the marrying process. We are married to our work and our home lives.

As part of this blissful matrimony, we need to find ways to keep our married lives fresh! Ultimately, this freshness comes with a long-term expiration dates (when our littles ones become mature adults). Think about this - when your child(ren) turn/s eighteen (18), will you regret NOT spending an evening, cherished activity, or helping them study for an upcoming test? Have we (as millennial and higher education mothers) become too busy to focus on our families through the tenure (and post tenure process)? I am guilty of this.

With my right hand up, I made the pledge that I would not miss out on my little one's activities (even if it meant grading an assignment later than intended). However, I do not want to neglect my students as well.

1 - Integrate time with your children in your electronic calendar (including Saturdays and Sundays).

2 - Make time for YOU in your schedule.

I am very guilty of this and I neglect myself often.

3 - Find your higher ed (or educator) mom hacks.

Even if it includes a new pair of shoes or a new way to a meeting location OR find something that makes you feel better about your daily walk around campus.

4 - Discover your mommy friends in education

I've discovered new mother friendships with students and other faculty/staff while enabling other friendships to wither away because of different interests or different life expectations.

5 - Determine your non-negotiables

What are you willing to "take on" and what are you willing to "let go"? If you determine these aspects, you can live life without regret. For example, if you did not apply for a job, 60 days later would you regret not submitting an application?

6 - Eat healthy foods, but incorporate them on your terms.

Even if it includes including a sandwich bag of baby carrots, black grapes, and a Special K bar, I always pack a snack, or two, or three in my bag!

7 - Plan a family trip months ahead of time!

If you plan your family trip months ahead of time, you can usually obtain a good rate, great seat selection, and amazing hotel deals. Always this will give you for which you can look forward.

8 - Keep everything organized. Make Excel spreadsheets your friend (especially Google Sheets).

Here's the link to Google Docs - http://drive.google.com/

I like the fact that you can access everything from your telephone!

9 - Make monthly and annual goals for your tenure, research, and service responsibilities.

10 - Take a snapshot of your successes and document them in your e-portfolio!

By iPhone, YouTube, or simply pen and paper, write down your successes. If no one knows about your successes, did they really happen?

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How the State Fair of Texas Can Help You TEACH Your Children

We were fortunate to attend the State Fair of Texas in Dallas last year (prior to COVID19) and we were VERY excited to experience this event. From the State Fair Midway and the barns (where they are preparing their livestock for show) and cultural experiences to shopping and creative arts experiences, you can experience almost everything that the state has to offer!

State Fair of Texas attendees travel from each corner of the state and beyond to attend this annual event.

We are all about learning and we use the State Fair of Texas materials to teach learning throughout the year (especially in the summer). Here are a few State Fair of Texas items that YOUR family can incorporate this summer!

1 - State Fair of Texas Idea - Dairy Discovery Zone (Presented by Dairy Max)

How to Make Dairy Dice (from milk cartons)!

How to Make a Moola Bank!

2 - State Fair of Texas Idea - Summer Cooking!

Your children can try a New Dairy Recipe (for Different Age Groups!

Make a Garden Veggie Pizza!

Funtastic Cheese Snacks

3 - State Fair of Texas Idea - Printable Games!

Play the A-Maze-Zing Dairy Maze!

Play the Shake-It-Up Word Scramble

4 - Engage with the Texas Discovery Gardens

Guess what? They are open during the State Fair of Texas AND they also have activities during the summer! From Butterfly Tea Parties to Storytime, the Texas Discovery Gardens has activities for everyone! Check out their schedule! - https://txdg.org/kids

5 - Prepare for Next Year's Youth Contests!

We always like to view the youth projects to give our child something to experience in the future. We love to view the different youth entries, because we have some TALENTED YOUTH in Texas!

Check out the Arts and Crafts Categories - https://bigtex.com/get-involved/creative-arts-competitions/youth-contests/

6 - Learn about Cows and Dairy Farming from Southwest Dairy Farmers

Time to Color - Downloadable "Milk: From Cow to You" Coloring Book

*Here's the Black and White Version - "Milk: From Cow to You"

7 - More Exciting Educational Materials from the State Fair of Texas!

These are organized by grades (4th through 8th and 9th to 12th). Each activity has a student PDF and a Teacher PDF. Check it out!

These are some of the student PDFs for 4th grade:

Go with the Flow: Procedures and Consumers at the Fair

Energetic Tex: Art on the Move

An Amazing Race! From Local Farms to Texas Tables

Have an amazing time exploring the fair in the summer time!

The expos are great ways to experience the state fair and to discover new products that are available in your local grocery store. The products can range from

Have a great week and plan for the weekend!

Sincerely,

The @WeekendsCount Family!

Box 501

Beckville, TX 75631
817-382-8475
Send us an Email! We are PR friendly! - weekendscount@gmail.com

Our Social Media Channels:
Check Us Out on YouTube! - http://www.youtube.com/weekendscount/
Become a Fan of Facebook! - http://www.facebook.com/weekendscount/
Follow Us on Twitter! - http://www.twitter.com/weekendscount/
Look for Us on Instagram! - http://www.instagram.com/weekendscount/
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Remember to Purchase or Download Our Family Travel Book on Amazon! - Family Travel Hacks and Tips for Any Budget!

Enjoy a Day of Science at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science!

If you are in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and you are looking for something EXTRAORDINARY to do with your family, please check out the Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas, Texas. This museum is truly a GEM for Texans and visitors to Texas!

Also, this museum has a reciprocal partnership with other museums in the area (as well as museums around the nation). We had FREE admission as a result of our membership with the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. YES!

As a mom, I love the fact that they have themed activities. In fact, I thought that these were JUST for the children, but parents can enjoy the activities as well! I sure did! From art activities and reading to science trivia and "science on the spot". These are themed-activities that the entire family can experience.

When you enter the museum, you take the MULTI-STORY escalator from the main lobby. This escalator allows your family to have a superb view of the downtown Dallas!

The first rooms that you experience are the solar system-focused rooms! These are SUPER engaging!

Then, after you learn about the planets and stars, you learn about our prehistoric past by examining FOSSILS! This collection is TOP NOTCH and very engaging for ALL AGES!

Did I forget to mention that the exhibits are VERY interactive and learning through touch is ENCOURAGED! Look at this exhibit on bird bones!

After you learn about bird bones, you can BUILD your own bird! Seriously, where else can you BUILD your own bird???

Now, back to those dinosaurs - mammoth style! You can also discover WHERE these fossils were found throughout Texas. Who knows - maybe you are walking on history when you walk to school and work!

Next, let's learn about gems and rocks. This part is always engaging for me (as mom), because my father always used to take me to a museum in East Texas that was focused on oil and rocks. I know my rocks! :) Plus, through the Perot Museum, I can teach my daughter about the importance of natural resources. SUPER important!

The interactive exhibits focused on the human body are MEMORABLE! I actually learned a lot about my OWN body!

Yes! ROBOTS! We need our young scientists to learn about the importance of robots so our children can design the technology we need for the future. Think about it. Children need this experience!

Did I mention that our family was ENGAGED in Science Trivia? It was great and we learned a lot! Who knew that we would continue to use the knowledge that we gained in our science classes....from 30 YEARS AGO!

We even WON our prize! This was FRAMED!!!!

Have a great week and plan for the weekend!

Sincerely,

The @WeekendsCount Family!

Box 501
Beckville, TX 76048

The World of Wonders Museum in Longview, Texas is a MUST DO Activity in East Texas!

Recently, we celebrated our daughter's birthday at the World of Wonders in Longview, Texas. This was an incredible experience for our family, because it truly entertained my daughter for hours. As a 5th generation East Texan, I remember when an indoor play center existed in one of the shopping centers and it had a water ride, a ball pit, cars to ride, and a party space. This discovery center definitely exceeded my expectations!

The experience made our daughter's birthday complete, even if it just consisted on mom, dad, and daughter. We did not invite the entire family this time, because we did not know what to expect. However, I definitely wish that we would have invited her cousins to enjoy the discover experience with her!

The World of Wonders is DO NOT MISS experience for anyone living or visiting East Texas. It definitely incorporated elements of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics throughout the center.

Here's a video about her adventure in the World of Wonders in Longview, Texas. Enjoy!

"I liked playing with the items in the store and picking up the coal balls with the equipment. I also enjoyed milking the cows while sitting on a stool and seeing the hens lay the eggs. I really liked the stage and dressing up."

When asked by this discovery place is better than the other discover places that she visited in the past, she stated, "I liked this one because it was just for kids and it is fun. It had fun stuff in it like toys."

The Weekends Count kid was also amazed about the playhouse in the center of the Longview World of Wonders. "It was fun going down the yellow slide," she stated, "there were two ways to get in the house and there is a hidden chalkboard under the slide."

If you are interested in visiting MORE places in East Texas, check out this blog post:

The Best East Texas Locations for Families: 12 Hour Travel

The locations featured include:

1 - Longview World of Wonders Museum

2 - East Texas Oil Museum

3 - Longview Public Library

4 - Tyler Public Library

5 - Caldwell Zoo (Tyler, Texas)

6 - Ellen Trout Zoo (Lufkin, Texas)

7 - Discovery Science Place (Tyler, Texas)

Remember to subscribe to our YouTube Channel!

Sincerely,

The @WeekendsCount Family!

Travel Tips from Bloggers from @WeekendsCount and @Zanymomintx

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ksp1kOv0hJ5Smm8su8fb7-sV2myw-NXe/view

If you are planning to travel with your family this summer, you MUST look at this amazing set of tips from Texas bloggers! This is an amazing opportunity for parents to learn (and incorporate) several "Travel Tips from Bloggers".

Here's one - Pack a"travel cube" with kids, meds-bandaids, children's Tylenol, Benadryl, Neosporin, Dramamine, etc. because not all airports have the same meds available.Keeping them in a cube make them easy to find - KristinBarclay @Zanymomintx

Here's another one - "Watch YouTube Videos about Your Destination BEFORE Traveling. It Can Help You Become MENTALLY Prepared for Travel" - J. Edwards - @WeekendsCount

One more! - "Look for AAA, Veterans Advantage, & Student Advantage, Travel Discounts" - J. Edwards @WeekendsCount

Need more tips? Read and share the @WeekendsCount magazine! - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ksp1kOv0hJ5Smm8su8fb7-sV2myw-NXe/view

Enjoy the journey, but also enjoy the discounts and the experiences along the way. Embrace the innovative chances we have to make travel an easier experience for ourselves and our children

Sincerely,

The @WeekendsCount Family!

About Weekends Count - Weekends Count is a Millennial Family Travel, Fun, Food and Activities blog based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in Texas. We review hotels, travel and household items, and millennial family experiences!

Authors - Jennifer and Tony Edwards

Here's a link to our press kit/media kit - http://www.weekendscount.com/p/our-media-kit.html

Contact Information:
1030 East Highway 377 Suite 110
Box #145
Granbury TX 76048
817-382-8475
Send us an Email! We are PR friendly! - weekendscount@gmail.com

Our Social Media Channels:
Check Us Out on YouTube! - http://www.youtube.com/weekendscount/
Become a Fan of Facebook! - http://www.facebook.com/weekendscount/
Follow Us on Twitter! - http://www.twitter.com/weekendscount/
Look for Us on Instagram! - http://www.instagram.com/weekendscount/
Discover the Weekends Count Blog! - http://www.weekendscount.com

Remember to Purchase or Download Our Family Travel Book on Amazon! - Family Travel Hacks and Tips for Any Budget!

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