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4 Ways to Interact with Your Kids After School

October 1, 2015 by admin

After a long day at school, the last thing most kids want to do is more schoolwork. Some scholars argue that keeping kids in the “school” mindset immediately after coming home is beneficial, however others believe it is better to let your kids have time to free their minds and relax. Regardless of when it happens, everyone can agree that it is important to allow your children free time every day, after school.

Making sure a family spends quality time together is key to strengthening emotional bonds and creating trust within the family. Spending just a few hours together a day can help you create fun family memories as well as influence your kids to make better decisions and stay out of trouble. So, how can you spend more quality time with your family? Here are 4 ways to hangout with your kids after they come home from school:

Games

Playing games with your family helps you create fun memories and allows you to share laughs together! Family games will also teach your children good sportsmanship, communication skills, and will help them understand the importance of following directions.

Game Ideas:

Card games like “Close Call” or “Quick Stop” can help build math skills.
Board games such as “Scrabble” can advance your child’s spelling and literacy skills
Interactive games like “Mother May I?” will teach children basic social skills such as asking permission.

Dinner

Eating dinner together as a family allows you all to relax, tell stories, and laugh together while also building your child’s communication skills and vocabulary. Creating healthy meals that are “family style” allows for picky eaters to decide which foods they want on their plate and will put them in a better mood for conversations!

Conversation Ideas:

Ask your children their favorite and least favorite part of the day.
Ask them to tell you their favorite joke, and from where they heard it.
Ask what kind of super power they would want!

Crafts

Crafting with your kids can be especially fun because it allows kids to be creative and take pride in their artwork. When creating art there is no right or wrong way to do it, therefore your children can express themselves in any way they want! Creating art has been found to boost children’s ability to problem-solve and think with an open-mind (something they do not often get to do while in school).

Crafting Ideas:

Finger painting is not only fun, but also it strengthens hand and finger muscles, which will improve motor development.
Playing with chalk promotes thinking “outside of the box” and the best part is it’s not permanent!
Scrapbooking helps kids remember the fun times they’ve had and they create family heirlooms.

Exercise

They say a family that plays together stays together! Allocating time to exercise together with your family will not only help your health, but it gives you time to talk to each other about your lives and strengthen your family bonds. Exercising with your children emphasizes the importance of playing sports for fun and not for competition.

Exercise Ideas:

Sports like football, softball and soccer will teach children skills like teamwork and adherence to rules.
Walking your dog together as a family will give you time to talk to each other and can teach your children to be responsible for a pet.
Having a dance party with your kids will not only be fun but it lets your children release all of their build up energy in a positive way.

Remember, when you’re interacting with your children make sure you all put technology away so that you can give each other 100% of your attention and avoid the negative consequences of technology use. Your children look up to you so set an example and keep the phones and tablets out of family time.

Although some days can be long and stressful for parents, it is important to remember that your kids have had a long school day too. So use these tips to make your child’s day brighter while having fun and strengthening your family bonds!

Are Your Kids Reaching Their Full Potential?

August 31, 2015 by admin

It’s a thought that almost certainly crosses every parent’s mind, “am I doing everything in my power to help my child reach their full potential?” Often times parents think, am I paying my child enough attention? Am I making enough money to provide them with what they need to succeed? Am I doing something that will hurt them later on in life? And on, and on with the questions. Chances are that if you’re asking these questions in the first place, you’re probably doing a great job providing for your children, but have you ever thought to ask these questions of their school?

Is my child’s school providing the right environment to help them learn? Are they learning all the vital skills they will need to succeed later in life? Do they enjoy going to school, and do they view it as a positive environment? These are all questions you should be asking of your child’s school. After all, they spend six to eight hours there a day, sometimes more! If you can’t answer these questions, or if the answer is no to a lot of them, it might be time to take a closer look at what you can do to find a school that is the right fit for your child.

Many parents believe that they don’t have any other options when it comes to where their child goes to school, other than the public school in their district, but this is not always the case. There are many options families have to remove their child from a school that simply isn’t the right fit, and put them in one that is the perfect fit! One of those options, school choice, is one that isn’t talked about all that often.

School choice is a program that allows students and their families the option of attending a private school of their choice, often partially- or fully-funded by a scholarship. These scholarships are available through programs such as the AAA Scholarship Foundation, are funded by tax-credit donations, and awarded based on a variety of criteria. Currently, approximately 190,000 students across the U.S. are using tax-credit scholarship programs to help pay for tuition and 14 states have enacted tax-credit-funded scholarships programs. There’s no doubt that these programs are helping a lot of children reach their full potential, and there’s no reason they can’t help your child!

Children who attend school in an environment that causes stress, anxiety or depression are less likely to learn and grow to their full potential. Instead of focusing on the lesson, they are focusing on their environment and how badly they wish to be somewhere else. As a parent, you can help your child by providing them with an environment where they can truly learn and thrive. In fact, one of our most recent scholarship recipients, Ky’mier Bowie, experienced just this, when transferring from his volatile public school, to a private school of his choice. His struggles (and successes) are highlighted in our Scholarship Spotlight; “’Before I started attending Fruitful Ground, my family was constantly leaving work to come up to my assigned school because I was frequently getting into fights,’ admits Ky’mier. Expectations of success and thriving were a new concept for Ky’mier at school. Before, he had just hoped that he survived each day. In a short time he did a complete turnaround.”

Stories like Ky’mier’s, of children being given the opportunity to reach their full potential, are becoming more and more common in the U.S. and this can be attributed to the success of the school choice program! If you would like more information on how we can help your child reach his or her full potential by going to a private school of their choice, contact us today!

How to Help Your Kids Handle the Stress of Going Back to School

August 24, 2015 by admin

If your kids have already gone back to school this month, or are getting ready for their first day, it’s no secret that the stress of making that kind of major change is nothing to be ignored. Waking up early, meeting a new teacher and students, learning new and unfamiliar subjects, and in some cases, starting at a completely new school can all help contribute to anxiety and stress that can be expressed through behavioral issues, lack of sleep and/or appetite, or even illness. As a parent, it might be hard to understand what you can actually do to help combat the effects of stress on your children. After all, you’ve got your own stresses like work, bills and family schedules to worry about, and your kids have to go to school. So, what can you do to help keep your kids calm and stress-free as they make the transition back to school?

Start with SLEEP! School-aged children and pre-teens need approximately 10 – 11 hours of sleep a night! Teenagers can get away with a little less, at a recommended nine hours a night. Getting enough sleep at night is one of the best things we can do for our bodies. This period of rest helps our bodies reset and repair from the day’s stresses and many experts believe that when children don’t get enough sleep it can affect their growth and immune system. Sleep also helps us humans deal with stress better. Having a well-rested mind means having a clear mind, one that is ready to take on the day!

How do I ensure that my children get enough sleep, you ask? Start with a bedtime routine, if you don’t already have one. Establishing a routine that they can rely on will help make bedtime easier for all involved. They key is consistency, children need consistency in their lives before any kind of habit can be established and it’s up to you as the parent to enforce it.

Next, set aside some time, every day, to allow your kids to exercise! Physical activity, whether it’s guided or not, can help release pent-up energy, help build strong muscles and bones and even help balance hormones – leading to better performance on a stress test. This time for physical activity can be something as simple as running around on the playground, playing sports with other kids in the neighborhood, playing tag in the backyard or even doing some family workouts! In fact, kids are more likely to want to exercise if they see you doing it, so lead by example and get moving!

While getting more sleep and exercising are both great physical actions you can take to help your children combat stress, ensuring mental stability is just as important. Young children experiencing stress or anxiety for the first time might not fully understand what they’re feeling, and certainly won’t know how to handle it. Taking the time to talk with your children about what stress is, and helping them understand how to deal with it can go a long way! The American Psychological Association has these tips for talking with you children about stress:

Be Available
Listen Actively
Respond Thoughtfully
Consider
Seek Help if Necessary

And finally, make sure you laugh! Spend some time joking with your kids, tell them a silly story, or let them tell you one. Laughter is a great way to release some of the stresses of the day, and who knows, it might even help you relax too, Mom and Dad! In fact, according to the Mayo Clinic, laughing can have both short-term and long-term positive effects on us! If you’re looking for some laugh-spiration (laughing inspiration, get it?) here are some family-friendly jokes to try at the dinner table tonight!

Stress can be a serious factor in the success of your child, so use these tips to help keep your children happy and healthy this school year!

If your child is unhappy or under-performing in their school, contact us to see how we can help you and your family have access to a private school that’s right for them!

Arizona’s Disabled-Displaced Scholarship (aka Lexie’s Law)

August 7, 2015 by admin

Ten years ago, Lexie Weck, an Arizona 14-year-old living with autism, cerebral palsy and mental retardation, was enrolled in a public school that didn’t have the resources necessary to meet her physical or educational needs. “Basically, they were offering not-great babysitting,” said Lexie’s mother, Andrea Weck Robertson. Unable to afford the high cost of tuition to a private school that could support Lexie’s needs, Andrea was inspired to make a change.

Fast forward 10 years and Lexie is now enrolled in a private school that teaches kids with disabilities and has the resources to better meet their needs. Even though she is non-verbal, she is now able to communicate through an iPad and sign language. This was made possible through the Arizona Disabled-Displaced Scholarship program, also known as Lexie’s Law – in honor of Lexie herself! Andrea’s dedication to helping families in a similar situation as hers is was lead to the passing of Lexie’s Law in 2009. Since then, the scholarship program has helped hundreds of children with physical, mental and educational disabilities, and even children in Arizona’s foster care program.

The law, which expanded on Arizona’s existing scholarship program, allows corporations to donate funds to nonprofit, school-tuition organizations that provide school choice scholarships, in turn, these businesses receive a tax credit for that donation. This year, small businesses were given the opportunity to donate and receive tax credits as well, and many think this expansion to small business donations is what lead to this years’ increase in donations. With 13 of the 28 total donations coming from small businesses, the program reached its maximum of $5 million in donations within weeks of the fiscal year!

“I feel very proud and very grateful to help other families that need the scholarships to be able to change their lives as much as it changed my daughter’s life,” Andrea said. Lexie and her Mom dedicate time each year to speaking with families about the scholarship program. They want families to be aware that they not only have the right to choose, but they have the opportunity to as well. A lot of families do not know that there are resources to get their child out of public school and into a place that is better suited for their needs; there is money available.

Since 2012, the AAA Scholarship Foundation has worked with schools and families in Arizona to help distribute scholarships, giving children, with disabilities, the opportunity to receive an education best suited for their needs. This year, with funding coming in from multiple sources, and at a record pace, AAA Scholarship Foundation is happy to have the opportunity to help more families than ever before. If you or someone you know could potentially benefit from the Arizona Disabled-Displaced scholarship program, please fill out our application to see if we can help!

For more information on how our scholarship foundation is helping low-income families and those with children experiencing learning disabilities, or physical disabilities in Florida, Georgia, Arizona, Alabama, Pennsylvania and Nevada, visit our website.

Best Books for Back to School Reading!

July 28, 2015 by admin

Summer is supposed to be a time full of fun with family and friends! But the school year tends to creep up quickly and sometimes, it’s easy to forget some of the skills we gained the previous year. To avoid losing any knowledge, it’s important to keep your brain working, and reading is a great way to give your brain some exercise! With a good book in hand, the rest of summer can be fun and relaxing, and no matter what age your child is, they can learn and have fun.

Kindergarten Reads: When the hot summer days become unbearable, hang out inside with your little ones and cool down with the book, Ice Cream Summer! Author Peter Sis has written an adorable, humorous, short story for kids around ages five or six. With colorful illustrations, this book focuses on family, learning, and of course ice cream and summertime! This youthful story teaches kids that learning can be made fun with a touch of your favorite things and your imagination. So grab the carton of ice cream and dive into a great book with Ice Cream Summer.

Elementary Reads: Bring some humor to your summer, with the N. Griffin book, Smashie McPerter and the Mystery of Room 11.This mystery read may be the perfect story to keep your little ones entertained (and learning) all summer! What seems like a perfect classroom, in this book, turns out to be quite an abnormal place. Take a trip with Smashie and her best friend as they try to solve the mysteries that are causing the craziness in room 11.

Author Dianna Hutts Aston has a series of children books, for your lower-elementary student, that will keep them busy and using their imagination all summer! Her newest addition to her series is A Nest Is Noisy. This story is all about animals and their nests, teaching kids about nature with words and colorful illustrations. With a poetic tone, this book is one of many that can spark the imagination of your child, all while teaching them about creatures of the world! A Butterfly is Patient, An Egg is Quiet, and A Rock Is Lively, are a few other books of Aston’s that may be fun for your young reader and just might inspire them to get outside and explore nature first hand.

Fifth Grade Reads: Gone Crazy in Alabama is a story of three Brooklyn sisters who travel south for the summer — and it’s a really interesting read for a fifth-grade reader! A story of exploration, learning, and family, Rita Williams-Garcia’s book has won the hearts of many young girls. Through tragedy and family craziness, the sisters learn about family bonds that are both broken and repaired.

Linda Mullaly Hunt has a great read for kids finishing or about to enter fifth grade. Fish in a Tree has a special way of connecting with any child who has been left out or felt that they had something wrong with them because of their differences. The main character, Ally, is nothing short of a troublemaker. She is constantly causing chaos in the classroom, often in an effort to hide a secret. As she and her family make another move to a new home, Ally’s new teacher helps her to accept herself for who she is and manage her struggle with dyslexia. This book helps teach acceptance, courage, and confidence, and is a great read for kids around age ten and eleven.

Middle School Reads: While you and your children may have already seen these books recreated for the big screen, it’s never too late to pick up the first installment of The Hunger Games and experience this young adult series as the author intended. Katniss Everdeen’s journey to becoming a courageous woman is even more valiant in the book and this read is perfect for both boys and girls!

The Diary of a Young Girl is a story about a girl Anne Frank who lived during the time of the Holocaust. This story is a compilation of 13-year-old Frank’s, thoughts and experiences from this time she was faced with hunger, deprivation, restlessness and fear. This book will give your child a look into what life was like for Frank and others in the early 1940’s when Nazi’s occupied Holland. Besides, this book is likely to become assigned reading, so why not let your kids get a head start this summer!

High School Reads: New York Times bestseller The Secret Life of Bees, has been the talk of the town when it comes to high school reading. Focusing on love, family, and divine female power, this story captures the hearts of girls as it leads you on a journey to South Carolina with a young girl and her stand-in mother. Set in the 1960’s, segregation was extremely present in the South. Take a look at how women move beyond racial segregation and love one another for the women they are on the inside. True adventures can teach many lessons, and many are taught through this award-winning novel.

One last great pick for your high school student would be Avi’s Nothing but Truth. The main character, Phillip Malloy, explores freedom and respect as he attempts to switch teachers. He soon finds himself as the focus of a national crisis, all after humming during the National Anthem. Find out more about Phillip’s quest for freedom with this read!

Reading might not be on the top of your children’s to-do list this summer, but these books just might help change their mind. It’s never too late to dive into a good book, so the next time a summer storm is keeping your kids indoors, try encouraging them to pick up one of these books and get lost in the wonder of reading!

4 Easy Application Tips for Parents

June 5, 2015 by aaascholarships

AAA Scholarship Foundation wants you to take advantage of the variety of online applications that we offer for parents and students to fill out. We want this process to be simple for you, as we have hopes that we can continue to reach more students and help children. The application is the first step towards a positive change for many children.

To assist you and your child with application process we’ve included some simple but specific guidelines below. Take a look at these to help you get started on your application.

Getting Started: There are several ways to get to the application page, the easiest of when is on the home page of our website. On the right hand side you will see two options, begin by choosing, “Parents > Apply Now.” This will lead you directly to the application page.

How It’s Organized: Once you’ve selected to apply as a parent you will see that the page is organized by state. Our scholarships are offered in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Arizona and Pennsylvania. Some states offer more than one type of scholarship, so you’ll see multiple scholarships listed for the same state. Select the type of scholarship that best applies to you in your state.

Breaking It Down: Most of the states listed on our website include an application for an income-based scholarship, while others also include applications for other types of scholarships. Under the colored banner of each state with their specific scholarship title, you will be able to access various helpful documents, including the application, a handbook, FAQ’s and payment calendars.

What to Do: For some of the states, applications are only available online at certain times of the year. All of these applications, which are listed by year, are only available for a certain time frame, so when this window closes the application will no longer be accessible. However, there is a handbook to access more information on this application, at any time.

Other Info: Below the scholarship information by state, you can take a look at “How Income Based Scholarships Are Awarded” and “Scholarship Values.” This information will give you a closer look at the AAA Scholarship Foundation and allow you to find out more about the types of students that receive these scholarships.

In addition to the available handbooks there are email addresses under that state banner that you can email with questions. Please feel free to contact AAA Scholarship Foundation with any questions or concerns by phone at 888-707-2465 or by email at info@aaascholarships.org.

4 Ways We Can Help Your School Now

May 13, 2015 by admin

AAA Scholarship Foundation is founded on the belief that no child should be deprived of a quality education. We believe that every child should have the opportunity to reach their full potential and being able to go to a school that suits their specific learning needs, is a huge step in the direction of achieving this goal. With the support of a quality education, children are more likely to not only graduate from high school, but eventually go on to earn a college degree, many of which are the first in their family to do so.

By working with high-performing schools in the areas where we offer scholarships, AAA is able to provide funds to those who need it most. Whether a family needs assistance with covering the cost of tuition, or a child is looking for the right school for which to use his or her scholarship, having a strong relationship with schools is vital to the success of our program. Here are four ways AAA Scholarship Foundation can help your school and work towards establishing a strong partnership.

Providing funding for students receiving partial As the 2014 – 2015 school year is drawing to a close, many families who are receiving partial scholarships may have an issue covering the difference in the cost of tuition and the amount of their current scholarship. Many of these families may be eligible for a scholarship from AAA. We are currently disbursing funds to students for the 2014 – 2015 academic year and still have donated funds that need to be used by June 30, 2015. Contact us now, to see how we can help your students.

Provide funding for students receiving school scholarships this year. If you have students currently enrolled at your school who are there on either a full or partial “school” scholarship, we can help with the funding of those scholarships. AAA works with schools all over the state to help provide funding for students who are currently receiving scholarships from private schools.

Add socio-economic diversity to your private Inviting students of different economic backgrounds can have a positive effect on the well being of the rest of the student body. Students to attend a school with a diverse student body will be better prepared to function on the diverse environment of our country. They are given the opportunity to develop and understand the perspectives of students from different cultural, and economic backgrounds.

Assist with By partnering with the AAA Scholarship Foundation, schools are given free banners and yard signs to be used over and over again throughout the school year.

Our main goal is to provide an opportunity for a brighter future for students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Working with great schools, like yours, is one way to get there. If you are interested in learning more about working with AAA, or how we can still help your students during the 2014 – 2015 school year, contact us here.

At this time, we have immediate availability of fund in Florida only. If you are a Florida private school and would like more information on how to partner with AAA Scholarship Foundation, visit our Florida Schools resource page now.

“Together we can make a brighter future, one child at a time.”

– AAA Scholarship Foundation

AAA Scholarship Foundation can help Your Students

May 6, 2015 by aaascholarships

The school year is winding down and that means parents don’t have long to figure out how to cover the balance of their child’s tuition. If you have students in your Florida private school, from low-income families, partially funded by a scholarship program, AAA would like to partner with you to help close the gap these parents, so often, can’t cover themselves.

The AAA Scholarship Foundation received a late donation and is required to distribute this money as a 2014-2015 scholarship to eligible low-income students attending Florida private schools. We have until June 30, 2015 to distribute this money, so time is not on our side. If your school has a student that you think would be a great fit for our foundation, we’d love to hear from you!

The deadline for our scholarship (similar to the Step Up for Students scholarship) is May 29, 2015 and right now, we are waiving the application fee. If you have students who missed a Step Up for Students deadline or received a partial scholarship, they should apply with us now. Applications are available on our website, or feel free to contact us directly for more information on how we could potentially help your students.

AAA is a customer-service driven, student-focused organization. We work to maximize the dollars available for scholarships by keeping our overhead low and focusing our efforts on our core mission, helping students succeed.

We believe that parents know their children best and we trust that they can decide the learning environment that best suits their children’s needs. We would love to partner with a private school that thinks the same way, and establish a partnership beyond just the 2014-2015 school year.

Since 2002, the AAA Scholarship Foundation staff has been working in the school choice movement to help eligible low-income students afford to attend the schools that best fit their learning needs. We do this by administering Tax Credit Scholarship Programs in Florida, Georgia, Arizona, Alabama and Pennsylvania.

Our belief always has been, and will continue to be that “access to quality education should not be dependent on a family’s zip code.”

AAA Scholarship Foundation has Florida Scholarships Available Now!

May 6, 2015 by aaascholarships

With the end of the 2014-2015 academic year nearing, it may seem as though scholarship opportunities have all but dried up. If your child is attending a private school in Florida, with a partial scholarship, there is in fact an opportunity to obtain another scholarship, helping your family close the gap between what the current scholarship covers and the full cost of tuition.

The AAA Scholarship Foundation received a late donation and has funds immediately available for distribution as 2014-2015 scholarships to eligible low- income students attending eligible Florida private schools. We have until June 30, 2015 to distribute this money, so act now to secure your student’s private school funding. Our goal is always to provide as much assistance as possible to those who need it most, the students.

The deadline for our Florida income-based scholarship is May 29, 2015 and right now, we are waiving the application fee. If you have a child who missed a Step Up for Students deadline or received a partial scholarship, apply with us now. Applications are available on our website, or feel free to contact us directly if you have any questions about how our scholarship program can help your family.

If your child receives a scholarship for the 2014-2015 school year, not only will the scholarship help cover tuition for this year, but it helps increase the chances of your child becoming a recipient of an AAA scholarship for the 2015-2016 school year.

Our belief always has been, and will continue to be that “access to quality education should not be dependent on a family’s zip code.”

Five Benefits of Donating to an Educational Scholarship Foundation

April 20, 2015 by aaascholarships

Giving a student a chance at a brighter future.
When students are awarded an educational scholarship from the AAA Scholarship Foundation, they are given a fair shot at success. Scholarship programs give children, from low income families the chance to decide for themselves which school to attend, one that is best suited for them. Take our very own Noah Allen, for example. Noah Allen, a high school junior in Georgia, comes from a low-income, single-parent household in a difficult neighborhood, and was underperforming in school. Since being awarded an educational scholarship and enrolling at The Dinoff School for the Gifted, Noah has become a leader both in school at at home. “Noah is a shining example of what our state can do for its future,” says Lesley Dinoff, the school’s Headmaster. “He will have options and choices that he never would have had without the AAA scholarship. Giving families access to educational opportunity will only reward us as a community, state and nation as we will see with Noah as he becomes an adult, able to not only survive, but thrive.”
Tax credit
When individuals or corporations make a redirected tax payment to a tax credit scholarship foundation, they may receive up to a 100 percent tax credit for every dollar they redirect. Your contribution can be used to fund scholarships for children in a specific region, or across a state.
Higher graduation rates
When students receive educational scholarships, allowing them to go to the school of their choice, results in a significantly higher graduation rate. An evaluation of the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program (DCOSP) — a voucher program for low-income children in Washington, D.C. — revealed that over 90 percent of DCOSP students graduated from high school, compared to just 70 percent of their peers with similar characteristics who remained in D.C. public schools.
Increases in public school achievement
Research has shown that greater degrees of competition are associated with greater improvements in students’ test scores at the public schools. This is also true for students with disabilities. A 2008 study conducted by the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, evaluating the impact of exposure to a voucher program for disabled students in Florida, concluded that “contrary to the hypothesis that school choice harms students who remain in public schools, this study finds that students eligible for vouchers who remained in the public schools made greater academic improvements as their school choices increased.”
Personal satisfaction
Of course many will say that helping those in need “is the right thing to do,” but there’s more to it than that. A 2008 study to examine if there is a direct connection between one’s financial and emotional wealth, conducted at the Harvard Business School by Professor Michael Norton and his colleagues, “showed that those who reported spending more on others, what the team called ‘prosocial’ spending, also reported a greater level of happiness, while how much they spent on themselves had no impact on happiness.” That’s right, spending money on someone else can make you even happier than spending it on yourself!

As you can see, there are many reasons to redirect your tax payments to an educational scholarship foundation. Everyone has different causes that are near and dear to their heart, but contributing to the future success of a student has many benefits that go far beyond your initial contribution.

The AAA Scholarship Foundation team has invested more than 15 years devoted to passionately advocating for the under-served, under-represented and academically disadvantaged members of our communities. Find out how you can contribute to change the future of someone in need through your redirected tax payment.