The constellations are just patterns of stars seen from the Earth, as those who have been following the SkyWatch SkyTour know. Different peoples have discovered different constellations over the centuries. Other cultures have used different names and patterns and many times skygazers have looked upwards and complained, those stars don’t look anything like “a crab or a hunter or a beautiful woman. Well here’s your chance to improve things. The purpose of the SkyWatch Contest is to suggest new constellations. Read more.

I have thought of a great idea and I hope you will like this. I have started a subscription program, which allows your child to receive an interactive lesson by email. The interactive "activity" or lesson is created in PowerPoint. These activities, one per week, will help a child learn vocabulary, colors, shapes, comparatives, recipes and foods, etc. They are designed for children between 3 and 7 years of age. Join Turtle's mailing list to start.

Why not raise money for a school trip or a favorite charity or a new piece of equipment by starting a book club? “Fundraising Package” is a low tech solution for encouraging children to read while running a subscription club. In the “Shayne + Claire” series and “Fundraising Package” programs, students can make books in standard format, “fresh off the printer.” Both programs are specific strategies a school can employ to raise the achievement of the low-performing student and to enrich the curriculum for the gifted student.

Each book in the “Shayne + Claire” series depicts two children of different cultural backgrounds, coming together to discuss an everyday subject and to meet on common ground. Children identify with the characters and become interested in following their adventures. Because the same photos are shown in a different order and in new context in each book of the series, their familiarity help keeps the child comfortable with the tenuous, ever-changing word descriptions. The function of words becomes more important in the role of reading comprehension.

“Fundraising Package,” on the other hand, encourages older students to read classics. Members print (illustrated) books (in pamphlet format) in serial installments. Up to 20 great books, supplemented with electronic quizzes and other features on the Internet, are available.