Abacus Prodigy! Be a fan of a Facebook page today and win a Giveaway!

It's my Birthday, an exciting new venture ...AND a Giveaway!

Can this day get any better? First off, I love birthdays! It's just so fun to have a cake...especially a big round, fudgy, chocolate one from Costco....hint hint to my hubby! Plus, it's a great excuse to indulge in such a delicacy! I also think chocolate just makes you feel young and makes the world go round! K....be prepared for a nice long post! It's only because we have such exciting news to share! Next up:

The past year has been nothing short of craziness. We have been trying to build up a new business - Inception Learning. We actually did come up with the name before the movie Inception came along. I guess great minds think alike! Christopher Nolan....we have the same ingenuity! :)  Our product is called Abacus Prodigy. We have since developed an electronic Abacus keyboard - Soropad that will be connected to our online digital platform. There, kids ages 3-8 (we be continually expanding to fit ages 9 and up) can learn Math with a strong Abacus foundation, along with a full Math curriculum, using top problem solving techniques from China, Singapore, and Korea! Our site: www.abacusprodigy.com will incorporate virtual tutors, practices, games, music, animations, videos, and assessment tests. We're still fixing a minor glitch on Mozilla Firefox. So for the next few days, it's best viewed in Google Chrome. Doesn't most of everyone use Chrome anyways? Maybe this is the PC vs. Mac talking in my head! lol... It's definitely exciting as we have been HATING the school system for a very long time. I think in Asia, it was way too academic and here-way too much focus on play and sports. I feel there's needs to be a good middle for the children to be well-rounded and be academically, physically, and socially capable! Hopefully, our products will help close up that gap! I believe that Math should be fun!!!  Why not? It can be fun solving difficult problems. Math also teaches children to solve problems creatively...which I feel is SO important in everything we do nowadays! Yes! Creativity is a MUST. The great thing about Abacus learning is that it teaches children conceptual skills at a very young age. I see the kids who have gone through my program approach things in a very different light. I LOVE the innovative spirit such kinds of learning helps instill in young children!!! 

Plus, we'll also be launching our ONE Revolution campaign the next few days! Stay tuned for that one! You'll LOVE it!

Our new Facebook page is also up: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Inception-Learning/128128180594552. Please please please do help us spread the word through your very own Facebook, twitter, blogs, emails, whatever it is!!! Keep following our Facebook and blog as we will keep launching new and exciting things the next couple weeks and months!

If you become a fan, you get entered into our Giveaway! Plus, if you refer a friend to be a fan, post this on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, etc... you get an additional entry for each thing extra you do! So basically if 10 friends of yours become fans, you will get 1 entry plus 10 additional ones. Please comment on either our blog or Facebook page to let us know what you did to help spread the word to ensure your entry! The Giveaway will end May 15...which equates to PLENTY of chances for you to have multiple entries!  Here's what you stand to win:

A Melissa and Doug Wooden TOY Abacus

Waiting for Superman DVD, which comes with a $25 DonorsChoose.org Giftcard

1 REAL Soroban/Abacus Instrument

On a side note, I would be lying if I didn't admit that starting a business takes up a lot of time and energy - both physical and mental. It's also been difficult juggling as a mom, wife, and starting a new venture. The nice part is I get to do this with my husband which definitely makes things easier. We take turns doing developing the business and taking care of our sweet boy Talon. Talon definitely gets a great amounts of attention of both momma and da-da because of this arrangement. We get to work from home too so that helps with the juggling! In addition, I was recently called to my church's women's organization as a secretary! Talk about double duty! But, I know with hard work and sacrifice comes great blessings! As tired I am by the end of the day, it is so exciting and fulfilling to know that Abacus Prodigy will help a great deal of kids start LOVING Math! 

Japanese Kindergarten by guest blogger Beverly

When we found out that we'd be living in Japan for the next three years, our first thought was that our 2 kids (then 3 yrs and 8 months) could be going to school in a Japanese school. We live on a military installation and had the option to choose the American style school system or the Japanese style school system.

In my mind I thought Japanese kindergarten would be rigorous and focused on academia. Because everyone knows that in Japan math is top priority and discipline is expected. Right? Aren't the teachers all certified ninjas or samurai?

I took a tour of a Japanese kindergarten and was amazed to see 3-5 yr olds sitting in their little chairs listening to the teacher, singing songs, painting pictures, and playing nicely. How on earth do you get kids this age to sit still with their hands in their laps, wide eyed, with full attention to their teacher? I thought this must be a strict school.

Then we sat down with the principle and after a chat about what they do at school, I asked what their belief in discipline was. He said, in his simple English, "No discipline, we teach them what they need to do". Really? That's it.

My memories of my younger years in school were in Singapore where a slap on the hand from a ruler was acceptable punishment then. This was what I thought all Asian schools were like. I was very wrong. I've come to see that this kindergarten is a fun and loving place. Teachers hug their students. Lots of encouragement and praise is given. (*note: not all Japanese kindergartens are alike in their beliefs, this is just my understanding of the majority after talking to a few Japanese mom's about this subject matter)

But where are the books and pencils and math drills and academics? I thought Japan was top notch for it's math and they had to start teaching this from the womb right? Not so. Japanese believe children are children and should be allowed to be children. They should be exposed to culture and art and music at this age. They should be allowed to play in the mud once in a while. And collect bugs and acorns. It isn't until elementary school where the academics begins. Then it's common to see school age children going to school on Saturdays.

But childhood for the kindergarten age children seems to be scared in Japan. There are holidays and festivals dedicated to the wonders of childhood. At ages 3, 5, and 7 children are dressed in elaborate kimonos and taken to shrines to pray for their continual growth and blessings, and for expensive photo shoots. Everywhere you go, children under elementary school age are almost always admitted free to museums, amusement parks, and hotels and at restaurants they are catered to very well with special dishes and silverware and toys and candy. And why do you think cute, kawaii, things abound in Japan? The Japanese love the cuteness of childhood! (OK that's just my personal theory, but I think it explains it quite well. :) I watch Japanese mothers and they rarely scold their children, and if they do, it's in a quiet voice. And children are quick to correct when their mothers say something. How is this possible?

Here is where I learned something big about Japanese parenting culture. From a very young age children are taught to do things as a group. If the class is reading books, then everyone reads books, if the class is singing, then everyone sings, if it's rice ball day for lunch, then moms will pack only rice balls and nothing else, nothing extra. Why? Because you don't want to make someone feel bad or offend someone. If you got something extra in your lunch box, then the other kids around you would feel bad. And that would be bad. You don't want to stand out. Misbehaving makes you stand out.

I soon noticed that the children would tell other children when they were out of line and help to get then back in line. For instance, the children noticed that my son, didn't always understand what was going on. He would want to go play with clay, but it wasn't time for clay and the children would tell him that and take what he had and put it away. As if to help him save face from the teacher telling him it wasn't time for clay. But of course in my son's mind, they were keeping him from what he wanted to do; they were keeping him from being an individual. He's grown up with an American mindset.

This is the biggest difference in the two schools of thought, Japan vs the US. I don't believe one is better than the other because they both have their pluses and minuses. One teaches individualism, thinking out of the box, and being ahead. While the other teaches team work, mindfulness of others, respect, and self discipline.

I'm not worried about my kids missing out on an American style education. They will eventually go to an American school when we move back to the US. But I do want them to take with them the good parts of a Japanese education, and have the best of both worlds.

Be INVOLVED with your kids' education!

A lot of parents often ask me the age-old question: "What can I do to help my child improve in school?" The answer is a simple one. Take an active interest in their education. There are many ways you can do so. Here are some ideas:

1. If there is a PTA in your child's school, find out how you can be a part of it. It doesn't have to be a full-time job as many parents perceive being in the PTA to be. Often times, there is a parent who leads the group and is the one who is most active in running in. Being a part of the PTA and volunteering the hours you can afford to is the first step to knowing what's going on in your child's school. The PTA is also a great way to help turn things around in school. For example, if a certain subject is not taught up to par, the PTA, as a whole group, can be influential in encouraging the school board and administration to turn things around. In addition, the PTA is usually the first one to know of any activities or new trends going on in your child's school. Being a part of it will ensure that you are kept in the loop as well. It's also a great way to meet other parents who are similarily interested in their children's education. Having that mutual support is important.

2. Get to know your child's teachers well, if not VERY well. Teachers love parents who want to be an active participant in their child's education. Find a chance to meet your child's teacher(s) the first week of school and make sure you exchange contact information. Let the teacher know that you want to be involved and if there's anything you can do to help, he/she should feel free to contact you at any time. Of course, be careful of not skipping over to the annoying side of being a concerned parent. Be respectful to the teacher while communicating the fact that you are and want to be aware of what's going on. If you can afford the extra time, volunteer to be an aide in your child's classroom. This will give the teacher more time to spend one-on-ones with each child.

3. Get to know the parents of the kids your child hangs out with. Form play groups, extracurricular groups, or homework groups together. When your child has a good group of friends who all have the same goals towards studying, it helps generate a higher interest in learning for your child.

4. It's good to have your child be independent in taking charge of their own homework. However, it can be a huge mistake on the parents' part to not know what homework they have or when their tests/quizzes.projects are or are due by. Set a time each day after school to sit down with your child and go through what they have done in school. I find this most effective for kids kindergarten through sophomore in high school. It's bets to do so after lunch, a snack and a short break. Have your child do their own homework but it's always good to look (at least briefly) through their assignments after they have all been completed. This way, you will know what your child is learning and what he/she is having a harder time coping with in school. This goes for the same even if your child has a private tutor. Leaving everything to the tutor is not the most ideal, although having someone is supervise your child's work is sometimes better than nothing! :)

If you have any other ideas or comments, feel free to share with us!

Cool Events at Pottery Barn Kids