Charlotte Smarty Pants
Charlotte Smarty Pants – Daily Scoop for Savvy Charlotte Moms
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From the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library: Celebrate the wonders of science this month at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library
From our Smarty friends at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library
The North Carolina Science Festival is a statewide, month-long celebration of STEM – science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library locations are proud to host official NC Science Festival events for children, teens and adults, like kitchen chemistry, 3D printing, rookie science, coding, the science of home brew, the great egg drop, astronomy and much more.
Here are just a few ways you can get your science on at the Library this month: Read More →
From the Smarty Education Corner and The Fletcher School: Everyday Tips and Tricks to Prevent the ‘Summer Slide’
Recommendations for Gr K-5 students provided by Trina O’Connor, The Fletcher School Academic Affairs Coordinator, Grades K-5
Summer is right around the corner, and while children are counting down the days until their much-deserved break from school, many parents are considering ways to keep their child engaged in learning throughout the summer.
Photo/Mike McCarn
For many children, a break from learning over the summer means that skills in reading, math, and writing don’t always pick up where they left off at the end of the previous school year. In fact, studies have shown that without continued practice children can lose one to three months of academic growth. This phenomenon, often referred to as “summer setback”, “summer brain drain”, or “the summer slide”, is oftentimes a concern for parents and teachers, especially those of students with learning and attention issues.
At Fletcher, we highly encourage parents to engage their child in routine learning experiences over the summer. Practice and repetition of learned skills are critical, especially if your child struggles with memory issues, confidence, or has specific learning gaps. This doesn’t mean that summer must be all work and no play! Below, we’ve provided a list of daily or weekly tips and tricks that allow your child to practice academic skills while enjoying the fun and relaxing days of summer. Read More →
Smarty Mom: Kelly Superak
By Smarty Guest Blogger Anne Willette
Smarties, meet my friend Kelly Superak. I first met this powerful mama-of-two when I was a client in one of her amazing, take-no-prisoner athletic training classes at the Y. She’s got a HUGE fitness following for a reason: she’s fierce, passionate, powerful and can somehow finagle her class into doing endless sprints, burpees, box jumps, or any other athletic endeavor at 110%. You’ll leave a class with Kelly feeling strong in mind, body, and spirit – I promise.
Kelly is truly superwoman. Whatever she does, so does big – whether it’s fitness, her Beauty Counter business, or loving on her sweet kids, Kelly is all-in. So, I wasn’t surprised at all to learn that she’s taking her passion and enthusiasm for one of her favorite organizations, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, to the next level. She has decided to jump into the running for the LLS’s Woman of the Year 2018. It’s a huge challenge, but I know Kelly is ready. She’s here today to tell us more about it and how we can get involved.
Enjoy getting to know Kelly, truly one of the Smartiest women I know!
Smarty Mom: Kelly Superak
Married to: Aaron Superak
Children (names and ages): Luke (5) Sadie (3)
Hometown: Born in NJ, but Charlotte over half my life!
Years in Charlotte: 18
Occupation: All things health- group fitness instructor, holistic health coach + Beautycounter
Alma Mater: NC State
Meet the Women behind Mosquito Authority
By our Smarty friends at Mosquito Authority
Behind our successful business is… These Amazing Women!
As our team heads into our 9th season serving families in Charlotte, we can’t help but look back at some of the key team members that really helped elevate our team to a customer service focused business first and a pest control service business second. In the early days, we lacked some attention to detail, organization and systems for running a smooth operation. Quite honestly, we didn’t know who we really were or what our focus was. However, we soon found out.
Smarty Summer Camp Guide 2018: Boys thrive at Let Me Run Summer Camp
About Camp:
Let Me Run is a nonprofit wellness program that inspires boys to be themselves, be active, and belong.
With a comprehensive curriculum, the program helps develop boys’ emotional, social, and physical health. Summer Camp is an extension of the LMR program for rising 4 th – 8 th grade boys. Campers bond while running, exploring the Sugar Creek Greenway, experiencing life lessons, learning from guest presenters, completing a service project, and participating in an “Amazing Race.”
June 18th – 22nd & July 30th – August 3rd
8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Freedom Park
Read More →
Our Devices Are Telling Us We Should Turn Them Off… And Embrace The Silence
By Tom Holland, Director Wilderness Adventures
This morning, the podcast I was listening to on my smartphone was playing a story about disconnecting from our devices. The irony of the moment was not lost on me. As I worked out and listened to the story about how we should take breaks from technology, I looked around and observed that everyone else in the gym was also listening to their headphones or staring at a device. It was in this moment of awakening that I began to miss the silence.
After the story ended (and I was anxious about living in a world where silence no longer exists), I unplugged and let my mind wander. And it felt great. Running on a treadmill with no sounds or videos, my brain took a few moments to remember what to do… and then it just wandered. Read More →
Smarty Summer Camp Guide 2018: Charlotte Prep
Summer’s Coming—Are You Ready?
Maybe this recent burst of warm weather has you dreaming of summer. Perhaps you long to give your kids a summer like you had—full of fun, new friends and time to play. Now is the perfect time to consider Camp Prep for your rising 1st-rising 7th grader and to make plans to join us this summer.
We designed Camp Prep with busy families in mind—those who may be looking for a week or two of summer fun or those who need full-time summer care. Each week we focus on a different theme and offer developmentally appropriate activities that give campers an opportunity to play and experience new things in a safe and nurturing environment. From Hawaiian Luau to Galactic Adventures—there is a week that will appeal to every child. Each session includes Pizza Friday, a field trip, and the ever-popular excursion to Rama Swim & Racquet Club for swimming fun.
Click here for all the Camp Prep details and start planning your summer of fun right now. Read More →
Smarty Summer Camp Guide 2018 & Charlotte Latin School: Why Should Kids Go To Camp?
By Laura Walker, Charlotte Latin Summer Day Camps Assistant Director
When kids are asked, “Why do you like camp?” the answer is typically the same, because it is fun! But what really makes camp fun? Is it the counselors? The activities? The water balloon toss? Pie Friday? Or making slime? It’s all of these things and more! At Charlotte Latin Summer Day Camps, exploration and excitement meet our campers’ willingness to take on new challenges, dive deeper into things they love and try new things. Camp is much more than just a service to parents; it is an opportunity for children to develop new friends and explore new interests and places. Camp is also about good, old-fashioned fun and games!
From the Smarty Education Corner: Meet Lake Norman/Davidson’s newest IB School, Coddle Creek Elementary
By Guest Blogger, Cindy Johnson
I don’t know about you, but when I was growing up, kids went to their home school. In other words, where you lived determined where you went to school. There were few, if any, charter schools, IB schools, magnet schools, etc. Fast forward to now and my, how things have changed! The options are infinite. Now, as parents, we have to make that decision too (because we don’t already have enough responsibility on our shoulders, right?) Thanks to the abundance of options, it is practically a full-time job to research the various schools in our area. Who has time for that, though? (Insert subtle reminder of the copious amounts of responsibility we have). Worry no more, though, because I have you covered (at least a little bit). I did some of the legwork for you on one of the best new school options in the Davidson/Lake Norman area: Coddle Creek Elementary School (CCE). Full disclaimer: I have a son in 4th grade at CCE and am ridiculously in love with the administration, teachers, staff, and the philosophy of the school. Let me illustrate why…
Coddle Creek Elementary (CCE) is on its way to making history in the Iredell-Statesville School District by becoming the first International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP).* According to the International Baccalaureate website, “PYP students learn how to take control of their learning, teachers collaborate to deepen student- learning and increase their confidence and self-motivation. The whole school community, including parents, are viewed as partners in learning, and actively contribute to a holistic educational experience.”
To elaborate on these concepts, I interviewed Coddle Creek Elementary Principal, Susan Fail. As an administrator of CCE, it has always been her philosophy to develop the whole child. Given the opportunity to become an IB School has allowed her, the teachers, and the staff to do just that. As an IB school, they focus each month on a different Learner Profile (see image attachment below). According to Principal Fail, “This allows us to make better humans. We are celebrating humans.” With that being said, can you think of any argument where creating “better humans,” especially in our world today, could be a bad thing? I know I sure can’t! Read More →
From the Smarty Health Corner and CEENTA: The Truth About Tongue-Tie
By our Smarty friends at Charlotte Eye Ear Nose & Throat Associates, P.A.
Have you or someone you know ever been called “tongue-tied” after stumbling over your words? Sure, it’s a light tease, but did you know it’s also a real condition that can affect your baby? 
Tongue-tie – or ankyloglossia – is a condition in which a band of tissue, known as the frenulum, is too long or too tight and ties the bottom of the tongue to the floor of the mouth. At birth this can cause difficulty latching on while breastfeeding, pain for the mother while feeding, and overall decreased feeding time. At older ages it can cause children to mispronounce words while saying certain sounds.
Tongue-tie can be present at birth. While some doctors are able to identify it right away during a newborn’s exam, it may be missed and be present for many years. You can you tell if your baby is tongue-tied if they have: Read More →