It’s not often that I talk about my cultural background.  I’m actually embarrassed that most of you probably don’t know I’m Puerto Rican. I grew up with parents who wanted to “mainstream” me.  They wanted me to have as many opportunities as possible.  It wasn’t until I entered high school that I even thought about learning our native language.  I’m 32 years old and disappointed that I had the opportunity to be bilingual, but am not (but I can still learn!).

Learning a second language can only help your child.  Having spent some time living overseas, I was surprised at how many children speak more than one language.  Because my husband is Caucasian, my children will have that much more difficulty learning a second language because they won’t grow up hearing it spoken.  This is why it’s so important to me to start teaching my son basic Spanish at an early age.

Many months ago, I learned about a program called Boca Beth.  I actually had no idea that I could start teaching my son Spanish at a very young age.  I thought he had to master English first. Boca Beth products offer parents a fun way to introduce Spanish AND English to their children.  This is one of the only programs that teaches language in this way.  Bilingual education is optimal for children learning their native language.

The program is fun…which is important to me.  I wasn’t always thrilled about learning a second language as a child.  I didn’t see the need for it (how ironic!).  My son loves to learn.  We read and complete mini phonics lessons, so starting this program was something exciting for him.  The program seeks to teach children in a variety of ways by tapping into many of their senses.  They can watch the DVD, listen to the CD, color and complete the activity book, and touch the puppet and maracas.  Best of all, I don’t have to know a single word of Spanish to teach my children with this program (did you hear that hubby?).

Boca Beth has won several awards and was created by a teacher.  It’s been used in preschools, public schools and homes for over six years. Some of the benefits of the program include early reading skills and advanced communication abilities.  And best of all, it’s very affordable.

My son received the Boca Beth Beginner Set, which includes their first bilingual music CD, their first bilingual DVD, BOCA the puppet, a coloring book, and an easy reading How to Guide.  We try to do something each day (whether it be listening to the CD, watching the DVD, etc.). The only basic Spanish my son had coming into the program was familiarity with Spanish numbers (up to number 10).  Right now, he’s imitating several of the words in the program. We still need lots of practice matching the English and Spanish words.

One of my questions was, why a puppet?  I learned that puppets help to bring out native and new language in children.

Boca Beth is an effective, easy-to-use program that makes learning Spanish fun for both parents and children.

Win It! One of you will win a Boca Beth Beginner Backpack (ARV $49.99).  Simply leave me a comment with something you learned on the site.  Comments will close on April 1, 2010 at 11:59 PM PST.  One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.

Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.

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I did not receive compensation for this post.  Product samples were provided to facilitate this review and giveaway.

Some days, when I’m reading to my son, I think that I could do it…I think that I could home school.  No preschool is going to give him the one-on-one attention that I can.  In just two short years, my little boy is having full conversations with us, knows his alphabet, and can spell dog.  As a mom, I want to do everything I can to foster his growth and development in all areas.  One of the most important things I can do for my son is to teach him to read before he enters kindergarten.

I grew up hearing about Hooked On Phonics.  I even remember the commercials with children stating, “Hooked On Phonics worked for me!”  So, I had to check it out for myself.  I had been perusing the internet, looking for a reputable program I could do at home with my son.  Hooked On Phonics offers a new Learn to Read program which gives children a strong foundation in phonics and reading readiness skills.  The program focuses on helping children learn letter names, letter sounds, uppercase letters, lowercase letters and blending sounds…all of the phonemic basics for learning to read.  Here is a bit more information from the site:

Designed in conjunction with leading educators, award-winning authors, teachers and parents, the new Hooked On Phonics Learn to Read gives children the fundamentals to become confident readers. The instructional approach and techniques used in this program are based on research and address each stage of the child’s reading development. Hooked On Phonics Learn to Read systematically builds from introducing letters to sounds, then to words and sentences, incorporating more complex sounds and blends with each step.

Apart from the fact that the program’s principles are well-researched,  my son enjoys it, which is extremely important.  The best program available won’t work if my son won’t participate.  Every day for the past two weeks, my son asks me to work with him on his “lesson.”  A “lesson” incorporates a variety of activities to reinforce a particular concept (in our case, the letters). The suggested time frame for completing each lesson is approximately 20 minutes (but it usually only takes us about 15).  Each day focuses on a letter (starting with A) and includes activities designed to help children understand the shape of the letter.  We then practice saying words that start with that letter and my son traces the letter with his fingers. A variety of senses are used, which I appreciate, since children learn in a multitude of ways.  Engaging multiple senses increases the likelihood that a child will retain the concepts being learned.  The lesson also includes a video clip, a story, flash card review, and online content to practice and reinforce the skills he just learned.  At the end of the lesson, we celebrate with a sticker.  My son’s favorite part of the lesson (besides the end where we get a sticker), is the online component.

My son is 33 months (just 3 months shy of 3) and the recommended age to begin this program is 3.  However, my son has always been developmentally advanced for his age.  He came into this program with a knowledge of the entire alphabet.  He knows his “ABCs” and can recognize all 26 letters on most occasions.  So in a sense, some of the aspects of this lesson are too easy for him, while others are definitely appropriate for where he’s at right now.  For example, right now he knows that a is for apple and b makes a “bah” sound.  But we’re working on rhyming (which he doesn’t really grasp at this point).  Here is a summary of what was included in the Learn to Read, Pre K version:

6 original storybooks written to promote the skills your child learns in the program, including 2 books by the award-winning children’s book author and illustrator, David McPhail
2 workbooks that will guide you and your child through all of the lessons and many fun activities
2 DVDs filled with music videos and fun introductions to each lesson, where letters come to life
Quick Start Guide
2 sets of stickers to proudly display in the workbooks and celebrate reading success
4 sets of letter and picture flash cards designed to reinforce letter names and letter sounds

Hooked On Phonics is a program that offers parents the tools to help their children learn to read.  It’s easy, fun, and effective.  My son has enjoyed reading since he was a baby.  Teaching him to read is a natural progression of our time spent reading.

The Pre-K version is suitable for children ages 3-4 and the program retails for $59.95.

You can keep up with Hooked On Phonics on Twitter, Facebook, or their blog.

Win It! One of you will win a Hooked On Phonics Learn to Read Program in the grade of your choice.  Simply visit the site.  Then come back and tell me what you learned and what grade level you’d choose.  Comments will close on March 25, 2010 at 11:59 PM PST.  One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.

Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.

Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest.

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Blog about this giveaway. It doesn’t have to be a separate post. Just include a blurb about it when you blog about other giveaways.

Click on one of the very cute buttons below and digg, stumble, fav, etc. Just let me know what you did in the comments!

I did not receive compensation for this post.  Product samples were provided to facilitate this review and giveaway.

The other day, my son asked me about Valentine’s Day.  He’s two…and a half.  And I started thinking about this day that we celebrate year after year.  While I’m not entirely convinced that we need a special day to show our loved ones that we love them (since we should do this every day), it is a holiday that I look forward to every single year.  The romantic movies and roses and chocolate just serve as reminders that we should do something special for the loved ones in our lives on a regular basis.  I also think that this day should celebrate all kinds of love, not just romantic love.  Love between a husband and a wife…a mother and a daughter…a brother and a sister…friends…

I couldn’t talk about Valentine’s Day gift ideas without talking about gifts for children.  Even at his young age, my son understands the basic concept of this holiday.  He doesn’t know the day, but he most definitely knows that it involves hearts and candy and hugs.  This week, the four of us are going to do something special.  I thought about waiting to give him this adorable, Great Big Heart Personalized Book, by Frecklebox.

But I can’t keep anything from him these days.  This is one of their newest books and begins with a simple question from a child about how to share love with other people.  The mother in the story then proceeds to share the many ways he/she can express love including drawing pictures, baking cookies and going special places.  The book “brings the meaning of love to life for children.”

My son can’t read yet, but when I read this book to him and he heard his name in it, he was absolutely delighted.  We then continued to talk about other ways to demonstrate love.  The illustrations are colorful and attractive to children.  The quality of the book is remarkable.  And I absolutely adore the personalized nature of the book. Each page has my son’s name on it and it’s also written in the story.  It’s like I wrote the book to him.  The book is a beautiful description of love and a gift any child would cherish.

Along with the book, we received a personalized place mat that matches one of the pages in the book.  Apart from the fact that they’re just adorable, I like the size (11×17) and quality.  Each place mat has room for a child’s name.  Frecklebox took something very ordinary yet functional, and turned it into something unique and fun for children.  Here is a bit more information about the company.

Frecklebox offers truly unique, personalized gifts for children at affordable prices. Our entertaining selection of personalized books, posters, growth charts, journal books, coloring books, stickers, placemats, puzzles, and other personalized items, are designed to delight your children and friends.

For more information, or to order something special for your child, just visit their website.

I did not receive compensation for this post.  I received product samples to facilitate this review.

I started reading to my son when he was a baby.  I often questioned myself, but did “just as the books told me to.”  Out of all that time we’ve spent together, books open wide and well-read, my son has developed an incredible love for reading.  Naptime and bedtime routines are not complete without books.  Our little girl is also getting exposed to reading early since she hears me reading to her brother every day.

My son is 2 1/2 and I’m just now looking for more formal programs to further his intellectual development.  I recently had an opportunity to preview Robert Titzer’s Early Language Development System called Your Baby Can Read.  If you’ve watched preschool television with your children, then you’ve likely seen the ads for this program.  Contrary to what is taught in schools today, Dr. Titzer believes that babies and toddlers can read much earlier than what was originally thought.  You’ve probably heard that a baby’s brain develops rapidly (90% during the first five years of life).  The infant and toddler years are ideal for language acquisition.  According to Dr. Titzer, children who learn to read at an early age perform better in school, are more likely to stay in school, and have more self-esteem.

Dr. Titzer developed this program to help parents seize this window of learning opportunity in their young babies and toddlers.  He believes that starting early is advantageous and found that babies and toddlers have an easier time learning spoken, receiptive, foreign and written language during this time period.  According to Dr. Titzer, “the earlier the child is taught to read the better they will read and the more likely they will enjoy it.”

My initial thought was…how can my 2 1/2 year old (let alone a baby) learn how to read?  But I was so intrigued by the concept that I wanted to try the program out with my son. We met Dr. Titzer at a baby fair in Orange County last year.  He went through several of the flash cards with my son (who was about 2 at the time) and in just 10 or 15 minutes, my son was remembering (dare I say reading?) the words on the cards.

There are several components to the program including DVD’s (geared towards both the child and the parent), word cards, and books (geared towards both the parent and the child).  I started with the DVD to introduce my son to the words before moving to the word cards.  Here is a little video of him interacting with the DVD:

The Parents’ Guide is very informative and provides both the background and guidelines for using this system.  There are also numerous tips on how to make the most of the system with your child.  I truly think I should have started the program earlier (which I will do with our baby girl) as I felt like some of the content was a bit on the young side for my son.

So the question of the day is…Can your son read?  My answer right now is not yet.  However, as we work on this program I can see my son starting to retain the information on the “how to” of reading.  Repetition is a key factor in the program and I like the various ways of learning incorporated into it.  The Starter DVD we received is a bit young for my son but he still enjoys it and we still need to work on the 20 words presented on it.

My last question about the program was how long it takes to see results.  There are various levels to the program, each taking about 2 months to complete.  I found that my son recognized the words easily but had more difficulty “reading” them.  For more information on the program, just visit their site.  You can do a 30-day trial for $14.95 (something that is actually quite handy since the entire system retails for $199.95).

I did not receive compensation for this post.  I received product samples to facilitate this review.

It’s a cold, winter day in Southern California, and the perfect season to take the family to see Disney On Ice.  Worlds of Fantasy is finishing up it’s Southern California run in San Diego from January 27-31 at the San Diego Sports Arena.  If you remember, I was supposed to take our little boy to see this right before Christmas, but 2 days before the show I went into labor with our baby girl.

Disney On Ice is a touring production where figure skaters, dressed as Disney characters, whisk audiences away to four magical locations. There are five different shows, with Worlds of Fantasy making it’s last stop in San Diego.  The show (performed entirely on ice) features a live adaptation of Tinker Bell and life-sized animated characters from Disney/Pixar’s Cars.  The show includes four different stories, Cars, Tinker Bell, The Little Mermaid, and The Lion King. Included with your ticket is a Disney Princess Pre-Show where you’ll have the opportunity to preview a dazzling display of gowns and mementos from the Disney Princess stories (bring your camera!).

Be prepared to be amazed by the skating, special effects, and characters your child has grown fond of.  I know my son is going to be most excited about Cars (which apparently are life-sized!).  Each car was built to include custom animatronics including blinking eyes and hydraulic lifts that bounce to the music.  The story begins with Mickey and Minnie set out on a journey to explore each world of fantasy.  Their plan goes awry when their roadster breaks down.  But as luck would have it, the Cars come to the rescue!  Their journey continues “under the sea”, up to pride rock, and into Pixie Hollow.

Disney On Ice: Worlds of Fantasy makes it’s final debut January 27-31 at the San Diego Sports Arena.  For ticket information, visit their website.

I did not receive compensation for this post.  I will receive tickets to the show, courtesy of the company.

I looked at the clock this morning and almost an hour had gone by.  I watched you look around the room and into my eyes…mostly you just slept.  I prayed for you and dreamed about all of the things we’ll do together. This overwhelming need to protect you overcame me.  Only another mother would understand that instinct which is so strong.

I started thinking about what it means to be a mother.  It only begins with 9 months of using your body to grow another. It’s so much more than that.  I find it interesting that the dictionary reduces such an important role to simply “one who has given birth to a child.”

My precious babies are only on loan to me for a time.  I once heard someone say that parenting, in essence, is the process of counting down…the process of equipping and preparing your children to leave and function on their own.  The time only gets shorter…

I look at my toddler and then at my 3 week old and think to myself…how is it that I was just holding him…nursing him in my arms?  How is it that he was the one I was just gazing at with dreams in my heart? He’s a walking running, talking 2 1/2 year old with his own thoughts, feelings, and wants.  Most days he only wants to cuddle at nap or bedtime.  I want him to grow up and stay a baby both at the same time.

Our baby girl is likely our last child.  Some days, when I haven’t managed to get a much needed shower in, or anything measurable done around the house…and I’m surrounded by spit up and diapers…I breathe a quiet sigh of relief that there is an end in site. But then my toddler will look at me and say, “Mommy…are you a princess?”  Or my baby girl will snuggle up against me at 3 am and I know that I will miss all of this terribly in a few short years.

I sit here, reminded of how finite life is. This week, a friend of mine suffered the type of loss no mother should ever have to experience.  Please consider stopping by to leave her a note of support or encouragement.

This contest is now closed. Congrats to the winners: Cherice (#14), Ale Oliver (#45), Michele (#42), Lance Pearson (#77), ReggieMann (#58)

There are so many aspects of winter that I enjoy…warm drinks (like hot chocolate and winter dream tea lattes), snuggling on the couch with my hubby and 2 kidlets, and breaking out my Uggs.  What don’t I like about winter? Germs…colds…flus…bugs!  Fortunately, I’m very diligent about handwashing and avoiding places where germs congregate. My son doesn’t get sick often, but when he does, getting him to eat or drink is nearly impossible.

We keep a supply of Pedialyte at home for those times when my son has a fever or doesn’t want to drink fluids.  Many pediatricians recommend the use of an oral electrolyte solution like Pedialyte to prevent dehydration, particularly when a child is experiencing vomiting or diarrhea.  Pedialyte helps restore the body’s potassium, sodium, and chloride minerals.  While it may seem like any liquid would be effective when a child is sick, Pedialyte is formulated to contain the appropriate ratios of carbohydrates and electrolytes so that fluid is absorbed and dehydration does not worsen.

Pedialyte recently introduced their Powder Packs, perfect for when you’re away from home.  You simply mix one pack with 8 ounces of water for fluid replacement.  The Powder Packs are available in Fruit Punch, Grape, Apple, and Strawberry.

Fortunately, we have not had to use these so far this season.  However, I think that moms should keep these in her purse or diaper bag.  In my experience, sickness is not “planned” or expected.  So having a few packets on hand will ensure your child gets hydrated quickly.

Pedialyte Powder Packs are available at grocery stores and drug stores nationwide.

Win It! FIVE of you will win a one year supply of Pedialyte Powder Packs.  Simply leave me a comment with something interesting you found on the site.  Comments will close on January 21, 2010 at 10 PM PST.  One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.

Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.

Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest.

Subscribe to my feed via email or reader.

Blog about this giveaway. It doesn’t have to be a separate post. Just include a blurb about it when you blog about other giveaways.

Click on one of the very cute buttons below and digg, stumble, fav, etc. Just let me know what you did in the comments!

I did not receive compensation for this post.  I did receive a product, courtesy of the company, in order to faciliate my review.

Whenever I meet someone, I immediately notice two things…the color of their eyes and their smile.  I remember my mother emphasizing how important taking care of my teeth was (and still is).  To this day I still brush twice a day (and even at times after meals), floss once a day, and go to the dentist twice a year for check-ups and cleanings.  I’ve never once had a cavity in my entire 30+ years of life.  Some people would say that’s do to “good genes.”  I like to think it’s due to good hygiene!

Oral health is very important and failure to care for your teeth and gums can result in health problems. But there is so much you can do, even now, to take care of your teeth.  The first is to brush at least twice a day and after meals if you can. Last year I reviewed a handy little product called Wisp by Colgate.  To this day I still carry them in my purse.  You don’t need access to water to use this disposable mini toothbrush.  One side is a mini brush filled with a freshening bead…the other side is a soft pick to get in and around teeth.  Obviously you wouldn’t use this in place of regular brushing, but I really like it for when I’m out and about!

For regular brushing, Colgate just launched their new ActiFlex Toothbrush, which will help you achieve a “healthier, whole-mouth clean.”  Here are some of the features that make this toothbrush unique (from the site):

• Flexible bridge that flexes from side to side as you brush to help bristles clean in and around teeth to remove plaque
• 360 degree bristles that fit your teeth
• Cheek and tongue cleaners which gently remove odor-causing bacteria from your cheek and gums
• Cone-shaped tufts along the sides help clean gums in and between teeth

According to the company, this brush was proven to remove 96% more bacteria than brushing with a standard toothbrush.  I like the brush because I feel like I can get in between my teeth really well.  I wore braces for many years, so there aren’t a lot of gaps in between my teeth.  And for that reason it’s important for me to brush well in between those teeth where plaque can build.  The ActiFlex Toothbrush retails for $3.99.

Because I wore braces for a long time as a child, my teeth aren’t as white as I’d like them to be.  I’ve tried over-the-counter whitening systems, but I never end up finishing the pack because my teeth tend to be sensitive to them.  I’d rather use a whitening toothpaste on a regular basis and achieve results over a period of time.  Colgate now offers their new Total Advanced Whitening Toothpaste, designed to help you whiten teeth and maintain healthy teeth and gums.  The toothpaste combines their 12 hour germ-fighting formula of Colgate Total with an advanced whitening silica system that helps remove surface stains.  The ADA has approved this toothpaste as an effective way to prevent plaque, gingivitis, tartar build-up, cavities, and bad breath.  I haven’t been using this long (maybe a week or so) enough to make a statement about it’s effectiveness.  However, I like how it cleans my teeth and freshens my breath without having to deal with any sensitivity discomfort.  I also like that it works against germs for 12 hours and it’s gentle enough to use daily.  A 7.6 ounce tube retails for $4.29.

If you have children, I highly encourage you to start early when it comes to oral health.  My son actually enjoys and looks forward to brushing his teeth before bed.  We’re even teaching him how to “spit” the toothpaste out (and it’s going well!).  We make it fun for him by getting him character-themed toothbrushes and toothpaste and give him some control by letting him brush his own teeth.  We always follow up at the end but we’ve never once had a problem brushing his teeth because we started when that first tooth erupted.  I’m certain that an early start has paved the way for a life-long habit and I sincerely hope that he continues these habits as he gets older.  Colgate makes brushing fun with their Kids Oral Care line.  Their toothbrushes and toothpastes feature characters like Dora, Diego and Spongebob.  Colgate offers products for children 2-5, 5-8, and 8-12.  The toothpaste my son received is a mild-flavored Bubble Fruit, and the hardest part about using it is getting him to spit it out!  We just use a tiny bit because we are still working on getting him to completely spit the toothpaste out.  The character-themed toothbrushes are small enough for even my 2 1/2 year old’s hands and feature a very soft, oval shaped brush head to protect his gums.  My favorite product is the Battery-Powered Toothbrushes. I actually think that as kids get older (and more independent) these work well for ensuring that their teeth are thoroughly brushed.  They’re disposable and utilize 2 AA batteries.  You can purchase them for $5.99.

What tips do you have on keeping you and your children’s teeth clean and healthy?

I did not receive compensation for this post.  I did receive products, courtesy of the company, in order to facilitate my review.

Have you ever stopped to think what breakfast really means?  To break the fast…meaning…you’ve just awoken from 9 glorious hours of sleep 5 interupted hours of sleep (when you piece it all together) and you’re famished (um…that’s me…right now!).  Add the fact that I’m nursing a baby to the mix and you can see how important breaking that fast really is.  And it’s just as critical for children.  Children who eat breakfast do better in school, are healthier, and tend to eat better than those who don’t.

So what are our breakfast staples?  Most days, we’re simple.  We eat a bowl of cereal (Cheerios or Honey Nut Cheerios) or oatmeal, scrambled eggs and some type of fruit.  While it’s not typical that all 3 4 of us eat breakfast together (because of work, etc.), I do make it a point to make sure we all eat in the morning.

While cereal is widely consumed in our home, I am very particular about what makes it into our cupboard and into our bowls.  I make it a point not to purchase products with high fructose corn syrup or added sugar…especially cereals.  I don’t need my son to start the day off “wired.”  General Mills (who manufactures many of the cereals on your store shelves) recently announced that they were lowering the sugar content in their cereals and increasing key nutrients like calcium and vitamin D.  Many of their cereals also act as a source of whole grains.

According to the company, cereal eaters consume less fat, less cholesterol, and more fiber than those who do not.  They also have healthier body weights and lower BMI’s.  And that makes sense because many breakfast items are loaded with fat and calories. Most cereals on the market are also fortified with vitamins, minerals, and essential nutrients.

General Mills has put together a website filled with information about the benefits of cereal.  And if you visit this site, you’ll receive a $1 coupon.  I have to go…it’s breakfast time!

I did not receive compensation for this post. General Mills supplied coupons for product samples and information via MyBlogSpark.

Earlier this year my son started preschool a few mornings a week.  Mostly it was to get him involved socially rather than pushing him academically (he’s only 2 1/2). He has really enjoyed the school setting and I’m glad we’re able to prep him for the day when he’ll be going to school regularly.  I have every intention on being involved in my children’s schooling in whatever capacity I’m able. One of the easiest ways to be involved and support your children’s school and education is through Box Tops for Education.

In the summer, I had an opportunity to visit the General Mills’ Headquarters in Minneapolis, MN.  While food was the main focus of the event, I spent some time speaking with one of the representatives for Box Tops for Education. The program helps raise money for local schools and all you have to do is cut those little Box Tops out from the products you already buy.  Everything from food to personal care items to school supplies and more contain them, so be sure to keep your eye out.

The Box Tops Marketplace is one of the other ways the program is helping schools out. The Marketplace has partnered with many well-known, well-shopped retailers to offer 3, 6, or 12 percent for your school on your purchases.  Brands include Dell, Victoria’s Secret, Target, Best Buy and Barnes & Noble.  Joining is easy (and free) and once you log on, you’ll be able to choose which school to support, see your school’s earnings, print coupons for Box Tops products, and earn cash for your school.

Another way you can support your local school through Box Tops include shopping for your teachers on their “My Class Essentials” registry.  Along with getting the classroom supplies that are needed, two percent of purchases go back to your school.

I shopped at their Barnes & Noble section and found a ton of bargain books for my son. You can earn up to 6% (on new products), receive free delivery on orders over $25 (eligible items), and save 5% on all pre-orders.

Be sure to check out their daily deals and discounts. You can join the Box Tops for Education Facebook fan page or follow them on Twitter for the latest deals and discounts.

Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this review. I received a gift card to Barnes & Noble, courtesy of the company in order to facilitate my review.