You are finally going to do it — you decided that it’s about time that you purchase your first home. While this is a big decision in your life that may seem a little scary, there are ways to alleviate any stress so that your home purchasing journey is the best that it can be.

Check Your Credit Report and Score

One of the most important aspects of your home buying experience is going to be the credit score that you currently have. This important number indicates how trustworthy you are at paying back money that has been lent to you. The higher this number indicates your ability to pay back lenders in their specified periods of time. When your credit score begins to dip, it shows that you’ve been tardy and less reliable at paying back your debts.

620 is the minimum score that you’ll need if you decide that you want to use a conventional loan to fund the purchase of your new house. If you don’t have the larger down payment that a conventional loan requires — 10 to 20 percent –you can see if you qualify for an FHA loan. In that case, the lowest that your credit score can be is 580. Unfortunately, if your score drops under this number, you won’t qualify for your new home.

Another reason to keep your credit score as high as possible is that you are rewarded with a lower interest rate when you have a credit score that is considered excellent. This score is typically in the 720+ range and requires you to have perfect credit. You will also want to check your current credit reports to make sure that they are free and clear of any debts. You can do this for free once a year by visiting annualcreditreport.com

Evaluate Your Assets and Liabilities

At this point, you’ll want to evaluate the assets and liabilities that you currently have. Your assets will include any free cash that you can use to cover the down payment for your new home. If you’ve been saving for this moment for a while, you should know how much you have in your bank account. You will also need to evaluate your income and liabilities. The cash flow that goes in and out of your household each month is important to a lender. It shows if you are able to make monthly payments and not get into trouble with other outstanding debts. Typically, the ratio for the house payment that you make each month should not be higher than 28 percent of your monthly income and 33 percent for your house payment plus any other outstanding debts if you are attempting to obtain a conventional loan. These numbers will be more forgiving if you are trying to qualify for a government-backed FHA loan.

Get Your Documents In Order

To qualify for your new home, you’re going to need to show a lender specific items that relate to your income and taxes that you pay. Typically, you’ll need to provide tax returns and W-2’s for the past two years. In addition, they will probably ask for a couple of recent pay stubs and bank statements too.

See What You Qualify For

Now it’s time to see how much you can spend on your new home. Use a new house calculator to determine how much house you can afford. This will estimate a monthly mortgage amount that can pay. You can’t go over that 28 percent debt to income figure if you are trying to obtain a conventional loan. The calculator can run you through different scenarios by inputting different down payment figures, loan terms and interest rates. If you plan on spending a considerable length of time in your new home, use 15 to 30 years for the loan term. If you know that you’ll be moving in a few years, an adjustable rate mortgage may suit you better and you’ll want to use 3 to 5 years for your loan term. Talk with a mortgage lender to see what current rates are and get a better idea on closing costs.

Searching For Your Dream Home

It’s finally time for the best part of the home buying process — you get to search for your new home. Pull up a site that lists available homes for sale in your area. Plug in the criteria that matches the features that you want in your new home and be sure to filter for the maximum price that you can afford. After you’ve found a few houses that look like possibilities, compare agents and find a local real estate professional that can help you with the purchase.

After you’ve done all of these steps, it’s time to sit back and wait for the process to move along at its own pace. An appraisal will need to be performed as well as a title search on the property and evaluation of your financials. If all goes well, this may take between 20 to 60 days. This depends on the location that you are shopping for your new home and the current volume of sales. After that, if all goes well, you’ll be spending time in your new home.

The business world is quite literally that – a world. But like most things, there are always hubs of concentrated activity, and America is one of the biggest when it comes to business. With a high-level of business-related activity being in the USA, it’s no wonder that so many conventions are likely to be found there. If you have any interest in business at all, it can be well worth a visit. So grab your passport, look into getting a Visa if needed at esta-visa.org.uk, and take a look at some of the best conventions going on in the business world in America.

The Small Business Expo

Small Business Expo is America’s largest business-to-business trade show, conference and networking event, and so it’s a must-visit for anyone traveling to America for a visit. With around 18 events all over the USA each year, there’s no shortage of opportunity to attend and join the mission to help small business owners and entrepreneurs help reach any and all of their business goals. Whether you’re a small business owner yourself and wish to exhibit, or you simply want to attend to get a feel for the market and what’s out there and available, or you even want to take part in one of the valuable workshops available to you, there’s no shortage of things to do or opportunities to take while you’re there.

2017 Workplace Summit

Out & Equal Workplace Advocates are running a three-day global conference in October in Philadelphia, and this isn’t one to miss. With hundreds of opportunities from workshops and panels, to networking and plenaries, this LGBT heavy convention is a 4,000 strong gathering or employees and experts that is worth attending. With sponsors from T-Mobile, to AT&T, and even Campbells Soup, the 2017 Workplace Summit is highly thought of and supported, and worth the travel to visit.

NCAI 74^th Annual Convention and Marketplace

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) is the largest and most represented organization for American Indians and Alaska Natives, and serves the broad interests of tribal governments and communities. The Annual Convention and Marketplace offers the opportunity for leaders and business owners to come together to discuss agendas and present ideas for how to improve and put across different ideas on current issues in business. If you’re willing to pay the joining fee, and are a member of the American Indian or Alaskan Native community, it could be well worth a visit, if only to help you keep up to date with the business world.

Imperial Session 2018

The Imperial Session 2018 is a fun, fraternity-like event held for 5 days in July. The event offers a chance to showcase products, and is open to “men of integrity from all walks of life”. The event not only gives you a chance to showcase your wares, but the casual networking opportunities can help you create connections that are deeper than simple small talk and a coffee. The 10,000-attendees-strong event will be filled with many fun, family-friendly events that are also open to the public. Live music, parades and charitable events aren’t uncommon during the Imperial Session, and you can find the complete line-up for the event online.

Exercising might be one of the best ways to lose weight and get fit, but it comes with risks. Your chance of injury goes up if you don’t respect a few safety measures before, during, and after exercising. Fortunately, they aren’t difficult to implement and follow; you simply have to be mindful of them. Here are seven tips to keep you safe when you want to work out.

Warm Up and Cool Down

Doing stretches before exercising can help keep you limber and avoid injury in the future. It also assists in keeping you flexible, and stretching after the workout is beneficial for blood circulation. You can also cool down by doing a little walking. While it isn’t always necessary to stretch, it’s nonetheless good to incorporate ten minutes of it into your workout regimen.

Include a Friend

In the event you get hurt or need something you don’t have, an exercise companion can be invaluable. Having a partner makes it easier to stay safe as a result, besides keeping you motivated and having fun. There’s a reason classes are widely available, and letting others in on your workout experience can give you both accountability and an opportunity to connect with people on similar fitness paths.

Stay Hydrated

It’s well-known that drinking water will keep your body cool and functioning properly, but hydration also contributes to a painless, well-balanced exercise experience. Water is indeed the most important thing to drink, but you can also replenish lost electrolytes through sports drinks and fruits. Even a small amount of dehydration can make it harder for you to move, so keep tabs on your liquid intake and have some at regular intervals. The moment you feel thirsty, have a drink.

Watch Your Body

You know yourself best, and if something doesn’t feel right when you’re exercising, it’s okay to stop. While it’s normal – and often recommended – to feel some “burn,” pain is your body’s way of saying something’s wrong. If you’ve been injured before or recently, it might be wise to talk to your doctor about how safe it is to perform certain activities. Also take care not to overexert yourself with exercises that are too strenuous.

Seek Help

If you do feel that an exercise you’ve completed has had a negative effect on you, don’t fear seeing a professional about fixing it. From major to minor injuries, fractures to foot blisters, it’s not a bad idea to get the problem treated as soon as possible. This includes mental health care professionals, as your reasons and environment while exercising can have a major effect on your experience.

Watch Your Surroundings

Even when you’re in an enclosed environment with others, it pays to be aware of where you are and what others are doing. If you’re outside, make sure you have access to communication and transportation, as well as food and drink. Have IDs and bright clothing, alongside lights, if you’re somewhere dark or secluded. As with exercising with others, consider a training buddy for when you’re in potentially unsafe or unfamiliar areas.

Mind the Weather

You don’t want to go out improperly dressed for wet or cold weather, so bring jackets and dry clothes if you have to switch up your workout outfit. More importantly, if it’s hot, bring liquids and mind how much work you’re doing. Exercising in uncomfortably high heat is a quick way to get yourself sent to a hospital; extreme conditions can earn you heat exhaustion or hypothermia for all your efforts. If anything begins to feel off, take a break from the exercise.

There are many exercises that don’t require additional safety or care, but it still pays to know how to be careful no matter what activity or sport you join. Take care that you aren’t aggravating any conditions you have before taking up an exercise regimen. Once you’re ready to go, heed the safety tips above to ensure your workout sessions are as worry-free as possible.

Due to the importance of writing a good resume, the prospect can be a daunting one. This can lead to a development of writer’s block. When you’re looking for a job, writer’s block is a delay that you can’t afford. Thankfully, there are a myriad of useful tips that you can use to overcome your writer’s block and get back to writing your resume.

Take a Break

The key to a good resume is to sell your accomplishments and reasons as to why you’d be a good fit for the job in question. It’s essential that you don’t use too many words to do this. Because brevity is so important, writing a high quality resume can be more difficult than it first seems. If you notice that you’re simply not able to get in the writing mood, take a small break and see if that helps. Doing something else during this break helps to transition your mind to a point where you’re able to write the resume. This break can be anything from making a sandwich or getting a cup of coffee to walking your dog or talking to a friend. Keep the break to five or ten minutes. Don’t forget to stretch your legs during this time.

Find a Better Setting

A setting for your writing is undeniably important for being able to properly put words to paper. Going to a quieter area of your home at the right time of day can bring out your creativity in ways you didn’t know. Instrumental music can also do wonders in getting you in the right mood for writing. You can also travel to a coffee shop to write the resume there if the hustle and bustle is better suited for your creativity.

Write the Resume in Portions

It’s wise not to try and write all of the resume in one single sitting. Breaking it up into portions can help to alleviate any writer’s block you’re currently going through. This allows you to place your focus on one section at a time. For instance, consider filling out the Objective portion of the resume at the beginning. This section is designed to provide the tone for the remainder of your resume, which assists with the writing of the rest of the sections. If you’d rather start with portions of the resume that are easier to write, the sections for filling out any education you’ve received or relevant dates should be worked on first. No matter how simple the section is to write, just getting something down on paper helps to alleviate writer’s block.

Utilize the Free Write Technique

One of the best ways to move past a case of writer’s block is to simply write about anything until you’ve got yourself into a bit of a flow. Free write is a technique where you take a sentence that you’re writing and write an entire paragraph about that sentence. This helps to loosen up your writing and get into a rhythm that you can transmit to the writing of your resume. Do this until you feel as though you’ve progressed through the writer’s block. You can even write paragraphs about things around you, so you don’t have to keep it centered solely around the resume. In general, just write about whatever comes to your head.

Create a Rough Draft

One of the very best tips for overcoming writer’s block is to write a rough draft. This allows you to stay away from needing everything to be absolutely perfect with the first draft. In fact, perfectionism is one of the largest causes of writer’s block. In most cases, you would need to edit the resume anyways. Once you create a rough draft, you can edit it down and create enough rough drafts until you’ve settled on a final draft that you believe represents your best work. Throughout this process, your writer’s block will gradually lessen until it all but disappears. A rough draft provides you with the opportunity to write without having to focus intently on every word. If you follow each of these tips, writer’s block should be a thing of the past.

When you own your own home, taking care of it is a top priority. There are a handful of systems that are crucial to its operations, including the plumbing, electrical wiring and HVAC components. Being able to troubleshoot these systems with some authority gives you a chance to fix them without expensive bills every year. Discover some of the basic issues that you might confront in your home so that you can deal with them as necessary.

No Heat From The Furnace

You turn on the furnace as a cold night settles in, but the warmth isn’t being generated. A malfunctioning furnace might have a simple resolution. Check the thermostat for basic operations. The fan may be on instead of the furnace itself. Alternatively, the thermostat’s sensors might be malfunctioning. Narrowing down any system problems to this control panel ensures that a fix will be easier than expected. Almost any homeowner can repair or replace the thermostat that resides on a common wall. Several wires connect it to the furnace, which has other components to consider as you learn more about the parts.

Constant Electrical Outage

Some professionals would argue that the electrical system is the most important part of the home. When you experience electrical outages on a regular basis, it’s time to focus on simple, troubleshooting concepts. Take a look at each outlet within the home. There shouldn’t be a handful of items plugged into one wall, especially if there’s a surge protector involved. Rearrange your plugged-in items to see if that alteration resolves any issues. Adding high-current items, such as blow dryers, to a busy circuit can also trip the home’s breakers. If you’re having any complex issues beyond these basics, contacting a professional is usually necessary.

No Airflow With Air Conditioning

On a hot day, your air conditioning becomes the most important system in the world. It converts the hot air into cool breezes with swift ease. You may notice that there’s no airflow with your system one day, however. Air-conditioning problems don’t have to be difficult to troubleshoot. Look for the vents around the home. Remove any obstacles surrounding those vents. Pull the air filter from the system too. Dirty filters block the moving air, which creates poor airflow through the home. Fixing these issues will ensure a cooler home in only a few minutes.

No Hot Air In Laundry Dryer

A frustrating issue that can occur in your laundry system is drying malfunctions. You set the temperature to “high,” walk away for an hour and your clothes are still cold and damp. Your dryer requires some maintenance basics so that it can keep on working each day. Pull out the lint catcher, remove the debris and set it aside. Take the vacuum cleaner extension and place it into the dryer’s opening. Although the catcher normally secures the lint into its mesh, it’s not unusual for debris to make it past this point. A dryer that’s clogged with lint won’t be able to dry your clothes effectively so cleaning it out is the easiest answer to your problems.

Dripping Water From Hot-Water Heater

A serious problem that must be addressed as soon as possible is a leaking, hot-water heater. These tanks hold and heat your household water for years on end. Water is corrosive, however, and it will eventually rust out the heater’s base components. Leaking water tells you that the tank has damage in some area. Verify the leak’s origination point so that you can decide on a fix or replacement right away.

Working with professional contractors should always be a resource in your back pocket because many issues will require advanced training. Simply learn how to handle the most basic concerns so that this maintenance can complement a professional’s visit. Your home becomes a reflection of your dedication as every system works in harmony with the next one.

Being able to avoid big repair bills is a valuable ability for any car or truck owner. However, many don’t know what they can actually do in order to stave off many common repair costs. To help you spend more time on the road and less in the repair shop, here are five great tips to help avoid big repairs and repair bills.

Pre-Purchase Research

One of the very best and chronologically first steps to avoiding lots of repair costs is through educated vehicle shopping prior to ownership. Being an informed shopper helps to prevent future regrets in the form of price-jacking, scams, poorly performing products, and more. This is especially true in a high-value purchase such as a car or truck.

So, how does one go about being an informed consumer here? Do research on the vehicle seller as well as the vehicle you may potentially buy. Kelly Blue Book, CarFax, and Edmunds are three reliable online sources for vehicle information. Meanwhile, word-of-mouth and social media platforms are good ways to check out the history of most sellers.

Preventive Maintenance is Priceless

You may have heard the sage advice before, and we can’t help but to continue to drive home its importance – stay on top of your vehicle’s maintenance needs. Even when it may seem silly, from a mechanical standpoint, such preventive maintenance catches problems in their earlier phases, thus leading to fewer subsequent problems and repair costs. This applies to all areas of the vehicle, whether you plan to physically address them yourself or not.

Research Repair Provider

Here, we can revert back to the concept discussed above of being an overall informed consumer and becoming educated about a purchase before actually making it. This is also true of the purchasing of repair services. Not all mechanics are created equally, and you want to be sure that the one you hire is up to the job and at a reasonable cost.

It’s also important to understand your potential mechanic’s terms and conditions should their work fail once you’re back out on the road. Again, social media and word-of-mouth can often provide a fairly clear picture here. In addition, the business lookup resources of the Better Business Bureau can also be extremely helpful.

Provide Your Own Parts

Not all, but many repair shops actually make a considerable percentage of their profits on the price markup of parts to be used in their customer’s repairs. Just like you can, they go to a parts supplier and purchase parts for the best prices they can possibly get. Then, at repair time, they resell those same parts at a much higher price. To avoid this particular addition to your repair costs, simply purchase the necessary parts from a parts supplier yourself and then provide them to your mechanic for use in your repairs.

Trade Out Early

Finally, if none of the above options provide quite the remedy you need, you can consider trading out your vehicle early. Trading when repairs are already needed will typically drop the price offered for the vehicle. However, in situations where you know that many repair and maintenance benchmarks are just over the horizon, you can often trade out or sell your vehicle for a decent price before actually reaching that dreaded point. As a rule of thumb, some drivers even faithfully cycle out and seek new transportation at a pre-designated mileage so as to always be rid of a vehicle before it becomes a regular problem to maintain.

In the end, it’s not a realistic expectation to completely abstain from some repair bills at some point in vehicle ownership. However, one can truly limit their time and money spent at this crossroads by following some of the valuable, above-mentioned suggestions. By avoiding more of those big repair bills, you keep more of your hard-earned money when it’s all said and done.

The ability to engage patients is an essential aspect of healthcare. Without it, patient healthcare costs can rise as a result of increased hospitalizations or not adhering to a care plan. With outcome-based reimbursement becoming the norm, this may lead to a reduction in revenue. Harnessing the power and effectiveness of social media is one way to increase patient engagement in their own health care and reduce these issues.

Why Social Media?

During a speech at the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society conference, Dr. Kevin Campbell, a cardiologist made a compelling case for the use of social media in patient care using three tools. Facebook Live, Twitter, and blogging all have a visual or video component to them. These increase engagement by 6000% according to Campbell’s estimation.

Live chats can connect patients and physicians in a way that hasn’t been possible before. Likewise, blogs create an interactive patient experience. Patients can learn about disease and conditions and get information from experts that they might not otherwise have access to.

Engagement and Technology

Technology provides access to information and it also influences opinions and decisions. Dr. Geeta Nayyar, the chief healthcare at innovation officer at Femwell Group Health pointed to social media’s influence on people:

“Every Facebook update, every online community post and every Tweet has the potential to change minds and behaviors.”

Nayyar points to millennials and baby boomers and how they use technology to help them with their healthcare needs. Baby boomers are using it to search for information and to make health care decisions. This is a trend that will only increase over time. While millennials might not need a lot of health care services now, they will. As the first natively digital generation, they tend to be very discerning and value personal relationships with their physicians. If they do not feel that they are not being heard, they’ll switch.

Social Media and Outcomes

Social media is not just about improving patient loyalty to providers and giving them access to better information. They can also produce better outcomes. Better informed and more engaged patients can lead to empowerment and increase the likelihood of a patient to become more involved in their care plan and follow it.

Social media also leads to better outcomes for physicians. Doctors can also use it to connect with other colleagues and access continuing education and knowledge opportunities more readily too.

Tips for Engagement

To make patient engagement optimal, health care providers should be aware of and follow accepted standards of online engagement such as:

Sharing relevant health content- Patients often turn to the internet for health information. But as providers know, some of this information can be unreliable. By sharing health information that is reliable, providers increase patient engagement and encourage communication.

Initiate conversations- Often times, patients are the ones who initiate conversations with their providers. Sometimes these conversations also fall through the cracks and aren’t responded to. Social media allows providers to take control of communication with patients. By posting thoughtful comments and open-ended questions relevant to the particular practice, patients will feel like their participation is worthwhile and that they are being heard.

Respond to Feedback- Providers who respond to feedback from their patients often enjoy increased loyalty from their patients. By responding to mentions of a practice on social media, patients will feel like they have been heard. Discussing what will be done in response to this feedback also shows that what has been said actually matters.

Don’t Forget to Blog- Blogs establish authority and expertise. By taking the time to write regular blog posts, patients will get to know the practice better. Sharing real-life patient experiences also make patients feel more confident when seeking care.

Social media engagement is becoming increasingly important in healthcare. That is why employing a solid social media strategy will be nothing but helpful to healthcare providers going forward. In the end, social media is an important communication tool for patients and physicians. Using a cohesive and consistent strategy to encourage this function will increase patient engagement and active participation in the healthcare process. It will also establish expertise and knowledge and lessen the unreliability of internet health information that is currently so prevalent.

If you want to update your kitchen but don’t want to break the bank in the process, here is our guide to improving your home on a low budget. From painting your own furniture to doing installations yourself, there are plenty of ways to shave money off even the most complex kitchen improvement projects.

1. Paint Your Own Furniture

One of the easiest ways to update your kitchen furniture is to paint it a different color that better adjusts to the theme you’re going for in your home. Forget about hiring help! DIY is the future in repairs and remodels, a simple coat of paint should be enough to revamp your kitchen enough to make it pop.

2. Add New Mats or Carpets

A great way to make your kitchen seem more inviting is to add new mats or carpets to its decor. You can even place one by your sink to catch dripping water, or under your kitchen table to warm guest’s feet while they’re eating.

3. Install a Few Shelves

If you find yourself running out of room in your pantry or cupboards, try installing a few new shelves in your kitchen to fit your extra food. This way, you can add more storage space in your kitchen to either showcase new decor or costly kitchenware that you can show off to your guests.

4. Add a Backsplash

Replacing your old backsplash kitchen tiles and adding in new ones is simple and easy to do, not to mention, more visually appealing in your home. Plus, there are even some backsplashes on the market that peel-and-stick to your older ones, so there is no need to remove anything. Although this may be a more costly update than others, it can help improve the mood of your kitchen and increase the value of your home.

5. Install Suspended Lights

Installing suspended lights can add a more modern taste to your kitchen that can greatly improve the look of it. Not to mention, it can add the necessary change to improve the atmosphere for your guests.

6. Purchase New Handles and Knobs

As a last minute detail, changing the handles and knobs in your kitchen can add the update it’s always needed. Whether it’s simplistic, classic, or colorful, adding this new improvement can help match the theme of your home and make it more suitable with the decor you have.

7. Paint Your Walls

Instead of painting your furniture, think about painting your walls. You do not even need to repaint the whole room to give it the upgrade it deserves. Focus on the trim or the area above your countertops. For a messy room like the kitchen, be sure to get a washable paint.

8. Update Your Faucets

This is a fairly simple and inexpensive improvement project that can make a big difference. Make your kitchen more stylish with a stainless steel faucet. You could also choose an attention-attracting faucet in a color like red or black.

9. Don’t Forget the Trash Can

Instead of hiding away your trash can, why not make it an important part of your kitchen decor? Consider choosing a fun color for your can or a unique shape. This will add character to your room and provide added functionality to an essential part of your kitchen.

10. Buy a New Dining Set

If you do not want to undertake any large home improvement projects, you can add new life to your room simply by getting a new dining set. Doing this can enhance the design of your entire kitchen. Opt in for standout pieces, bright colors, or simply some nice, comfortable chairs.

In the last two decades technology has become a major cornerstone in education as a whole. Technological tools are used in classrooms and workforce training sectors, and also used by home educators and/or self-educators. There are various digital platforms that learners seek out to gain new skills.

In particular, technology has proven itself to be very useful regarding children’s education. Technology helps to keep children engaged and also prepares them for their future as an effective adult in the 21st century Digital Age. Navigating our way into the future requires a strong technological foundation; therefore education should not lag behind in offering these core skills. It’s important for children to have an educational foundation that gives them the tools to be productive, effective, and competent adults in society, as well as give them the foundational skills they need to learn and engage in all human endeavors.

As you search for educational technology tools on the Internet, you’ll find that the options are virtually endless. Listed below are some that are particularly geared towards young and school-age children.

Scratch

Computer programing is a transferable skill because it teaches the brain strategies for problem solving, designing projects, and communicating ideas. The Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the MIT Media Lab developed a program called Scratch to foster this concept. Scratch (scratch.mit.edu) is a free digital platform that teaches young people computer programing in a fun, interactive way. The program is designed for children aged 8-16, but is used globally by people of all ages. Scratch nurtures the learners and leaders of tomorrow by “help[ing] young people learn to think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively—essential skills for life in the 21st century”. Scratch is a must-have educational technology tool for today’s learners.

YouTube

YouTube is a large digital platform that uses video and audio for various entertainment purposes; one of which is as an educational supplement. Children of today especially love YouTube videos because they are colorful, fun, and grab their full attention with ease. “Finger Family Songs Nursery Rhymes” is a child favorite. Finger Family characters use songs and nursery rhymes to teach young children various topics such as colors, numbers, and the alphabet.

For older children that are interested in science, a great YouTube video for them is “100 Amazing Science Experiments and Tricks That You Can do at Home Part 2”. Featured on the HooplaKidzLab channel, this video introduces young learners to scientific concepts that they can take a hands-on role in. HooplaKidzLab videos have over 73m views and offer hours of scientific fun.

A responsible adult should monitor YouTube usage, but when used properly it can be an excellent educational technology tool.

ABC Mouse

ABC Mouse is an award winning digital program that offers a full online curriculum for young learners. This program is designed for learners aged 2-8 or grades preschool through 2nd grade. ABC Mouse uses animated activities to teach specific learning topics, fun interactive games, to teach core educational subjects such as reading & language arts, mathematics, science & social studies, and arts & colors. The curriculum also features over 450 books and stories, songs, puzzles, and printables. ABC Mouse is a must-have educational technology tool, and highly recommended by parents and educators, alike.

Starfall

Starfall is another online curriculum for pre-k, kindergarten, 1st & 2nd grade, special education, homeschool, and English language development (ELD, ELL, ESL). This digital platform is an aged-based educational technology tool that teaches young learners the alphabet, phonics, reading, science, social studies, and mathematics. The site also features tools like customizable and downloadable printouts to add to the learning experience.