Conquer Math and Make it Fun with Go Math! Academy {#HMHAcademy}

I received compensation from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for writing this post.

While I'd love to claim that I am continually teaching and providing my children with learning opportunities in everything that we do, sometimes it's just all about play (which is fine, too).

However, when it comes time to focus on educational aspects, I'm always on the lookout for sites that my kids are going to find enjoyable while also being beneficial for them (not that they have to know that).

Which is exactly why I was happy to be introduced to Go Math! Academy, an at-home math learning website featuring practice problems, help videos, games and rewards. It's time to make math fun!

An online learning program based on Houghton Mifflin Harcourt's enormously successful GO Math! textbook curriculum, Go Math! Academy is used by over 7 million kids worldwide. The lively, engaging online experience lets children select a theme to launch their own personal math journey and the independent learning allows kids to practice the specific skills that they want to work on.

Add to that the entertaining help videos that feature expert, engaging instructors who make math concepts clear, the fun math games and the motivating awards and rewards and it's no wonder that this site is a favorite of kids and adults everywhere!

Although my children are young enough that they don't need specific homework help, I knew that they would enjoy the colorful graphics and kid-friendly design of Go Math! Academy. Plus, why wouldn't I want to encourage them to try some of the hundreds of practice exercises available to boost their math knowledge?

Setting up my account was easy, as I simply entered a bit of information into my dashboard and set up a profile for each of my girls.

I appreciate that Go Math! Academy allows parents or teachers to set up an account with profiles and access for up to five children, as that lets each child to focus on their own individual skills and grade-level curriculum.

No frustration over problems that are too difficult or not being able to pick up where you left off when you simply tap your name to get started!

As well as being easy to select between each child's profile to continue their work, I like that I have a parent dashboard that clearly lays out the progress and rewards that each of my children have received. There is even a Quick Progress Report email option to keep me even more up-to-date on how the girls are doing and what they have completed.

In terms of actually completing the work, the girls love it! I was initially concerned as to how Little Sister B would be able to proceed on her own without being able to read the questions, but we immediately found that there is a speaker icon next to each one that, when pressed, leads to it being read aloud. Although the robotic voice is a little difficult to understand, it gives Little Sister B so much pride to be able to do the work on her own!

While this is definitely math practice, the way that Go Math! Academy makes everything simple to navigate and fun for kids (they are able to choose a Space or Under Sea theme depending on their interests) has kept them very motivated to return time and time again.

As each of my daughters complete journeys at their own pace, they not only earns awards ("Oooh! I got a gold coin!") but more and more entertaining (and secretly educational) games are unlocked. The fun and learning never ends!

While Little Sister B has yet to encounter a topic that has been too difficult or confusing for her, Big Sister E has been challenged a few times — making the Math Help Video Library (a great resource for visual learners) and the Math Help Tips perfect for helping her to succeed without being frustrated.

In all, we've been really happy with all that Go Math! Academy has to offer and that the independent learning and skill-boosting approach are just right for letting kids work at their own pace. Whether they choose to work on grade-level curriculum and practice the skills that mirror those in their classroom or they choose to challenge themselves and work ahead, the result will always be beneficial.

Whether used in the classroom, as part of a homeschool curriculum or simply for math enrichment and support, Go Math! Academy is one website that can keep entertainment mixed in well with learning. Currently, the program offers grades K - 6 and is available in three payment plan options:

• Monthly: $9.99/month
• 6-months: $49.99 ($8.33/month) – a 17% savings
• 1-year: $79.99 ($6.67/month) – a 33% savings

Are you ready to bring a little fun to the mathematics in your household? Visit Go Math! Academy today to find out much more about all of their wonderful options and stay connected with them on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Kmart Playdate Place Overall Thoughts: Thumbs Up!

Somehow I blinked and it is nearly the middle of July. How is it possible that the days seem to keep going by faster and faster?

With all that we have planned in the upcoming month and a half, I have no doubt that it will be autumn before I know it. However, until that happens, we are still going to make the most of our summer and the fun that we will have with our family and friends.

And a perfect example of that is the amazing outdoor playdate that we were able to host recently thanks to the playdate planning tips and information that I found when introduced to Kmart Playdate Place.

With so many ideas laid out to inspire parents to easily plan the perfect playdate, Kmart Playdate Place is a resource I will be returning to time and again. Beyond just this summer (although there is a great article on Summer Playdates), I'm looking forward to finding help and ideas that will be useful all year long.

What happens in the fall when I need to come up with ways to be both indoors or outdoors? Or when the kids are finally tired of having peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and I am struggling to come up with what else to pack? What if we meet some new friends and want to invite them over but their ages aren't the same as those in our current group?

Who knew there was so much to think about when it came to playdates?

However, after reading through the information from the panel of expert parents and bloggers at Kmart Playdate Place and then finding out just how fast and easy it was to shop for toys right online, I really was impressed with the simplicity and convenience of it all.

I have to admit that the impression of Kmart that I had in my mind back from when I was young wasn't 100% positive, so I'm glad that I was able to have this experience and give it the "update" that it deserved. Not to mention what a great time that my kids and their friends had...

Ideas, tips, and shopping right at your fingertips to ensure you and your kids have a great time? What is there not to love? We had a wonderful experience with Kmart Playdate Place and now I know that I can return there to find ways to involve my children in fun, constructive playtime with their friends anytime.

If you haven't yet, be sure to check out Kmart Playdate Place (you can even sign up to receive their e-newsletter for great information, special offers, and the chance to win fun prizes) as well as connect with them on Twitter. It's two thumbs up from us!

This post is part of a shop that has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Fun Outdoor Playdate Ideas from Kmart Playdate Place

With all the time off to play with friends over the summer, planning playdates to keep my children entertained is a must.

But, after a while, coming up with ideas of what to do, where to go, a theme, and more can get pretty difficult. It seems like there is a lot to coordinate just to get even a few young friends together, doesn't it?

Fortunately, thanks to the articles, tips, toys, and more available right online at Kmart Playdate Place (which I was recently introduced to), I felt much more prepared when it came time to plan for our recent get-together with friends.

In fact, the article that I found there titled Playtime on the Town: Frugal Fun was just what I was looking for.

Included in the list of affordable attractions and locations suggested for having a playdate (e.g. zoos, museums, and more), playgrounds and parks were mentioned as an option, particularly if you pack and bring extra items for more fun. Considering that we have a favorite park only a mile away, this sounded perfect!

Playdate Place even had an entire page of suggestions for what to pack in an Outdoor Playdate Fun Kit, so I made sure to take note of what would work well to bring along to share with all of our friends. Knowing that we had things like sand toys, sidewalk chalk, and sunscreen already, I then turned to the Toys category to see what might work well for the variety of ages and interests that we would have represented at our playdate.

With so many great choices and the convenient description and link directly to Kmart.com to make a purchase, the hardest part was making a decision. After all, there were just so many toys that looked like they would be a big hit with my girls as well as their friends!

After eventually making my final choices and placing my order, I was pleasantly surprised when I received automated emails over the next day or two letting me know that each item had been shipped. Within three or four days, our playdate toys had arrived and we were so excited to play with everyone!

With a lineup like this, I already felt like there was no way that we could not have an amazing time! I was happy seeing that these were outdoor toys that would work for all of the ages, interests, and abilities of the kids that we had invited to our playdate.

All that was left to do? A little assembly, a bit more preparation, and some finger crossing in hopes that the too hot/too cold weather we have been having this spring and summer holds off on the big day...


What a great time! The kids really did enjoy playing with all of the toys as well as the just soaking up the warm sun and the cool breeze.

And, as the slideshow indicated, when we returned home the girls were both extremely pleased after all of the fun they had yet very ready for a long nap (which always makes Mama happy). The dirt was really only a small price to pay for such delight for all of us.

Created to provide ideas, inspiration, and help to plan the perfect get-together, Kmart Playdate Place was a great resource for easing the stress of planning a fun-filled time for everyone involved. I'm looking forward to visiting again to prepare for our next playdate!

If you haven't yet, be sure to check out Kmart Playdate Place as well as connect with them on Twitter. It's time for fun!

By the way, for a little outdoor fun of your own, don't miss the Kmart Backyard Makeover Sweepstakes! Simply Like the Kmart Fan page through July 20, 2011 and fill out the entry form to be eligible to win amazing prizes likes a backyard makeover valued at $4,000 from Kmart, $250 Kmart gift cards and more!

This post is part of a shop that has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Plan Your Next Playdate with Kmart Playdate Place

In the months after Big Sister E was born and it was clear that we needed to find ways to get out of the house and interact with other parents and kids... to help preserve the sanity of both of us.

Although it took a little time to gain some confidence and, more importantly, to meet a group of friends that we love, here we are four years later cherishing each and every playdate that we go on. There is just something about the way that my kids can socialize and have fun with their peers while I can talk and confide in other moms that can commiserate, advise, discuss, recommend and, in general, be there for me as friends.

However, even after all this time, planning a playdate isn't an easy task. Coordinating the time, choosing a location... not to mention picking a theme or activity that will meet all of the interests of the various ages of each of the kids. What's a mom to do?

Fortunately, planning a playdate just got easier thanks to the articles, tips, toys, and more available right online at Kmart Playdate Place.

Created to provide ideas, inspiration, and help to plan the perfect playdate, Kmart Playdate Place is a great resource for easing the stress and burden of planning a fun-filled afternoon for everyone involved.

Together with a panel of expert parents and bloggers, you'll find information in everything from spending a day at the beach to great board games to playdate safety to so much more. I found the article Playdates with Siblings hit especially close to home, as trying to ensure that both of my girls are having a good time is something that I feel I am continually working on.

As well as articles for parents to show you how to involve your child in fun, constructive playtime with friends, there is much more to be found at Playdate Place. You can sign up to receive their e-newsletter and find their great information, special offers, and the chance to win fun prizes (Playdate Perks) right in your inbox...

...and of course it wouldn't be Kmart or a playdate without toys, right?

Playdate Place makes it easy to browse through a great selection of Kmart toys that can be enjoyed by one child or by many. You'll find a description, information, and a quick link right to Kmart.com when you're ready to make a purchase. Easy!

If that wasn't enough, parents can also sign up for the Kmart Birthday Club, which will get kids fun things like $5 in Birthday Bucks, a birthday crown, a certificate, and surprise goodies. And while the birthday boy or girl is enjoying their treats, Mom or Dad can find gift suggestions, party planning tips, and more to help celebrate the big day.

What are you waiting for? Before your next playdate, be sure to check out Kmart Playdate Place as well as connect with them on Twitter. It's time for fun!

This post is part of a shop that has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.