Barbara Feldman: Ask Barbara

Last Minute Gifts via Email

Still have gifts to buy that need to arrive by Christmas? Don't sweat the overnight shipping hassle. Send a gift via email! Whether at the holidays (or for a birthday,... Continue reading "Last Minute Gifts via Email"

Christmas and Hanukkah Resources

Hanukkah is just around the corner, and then before you know it, it will be Christmas. Christmas games are already showing up in my popular game list , so I... Continue reading "Christmas and Hanukkah Resources"

Too Fat to Graduate?

Wow! This is a tough call. I really appreciate the sentiment behind Lincoln University's fitness requirement for undergraduates. But in today's politically correct atmosphere, I can't image that it will... Continue reading "Too Fat to Graduate?"

A Parent's Report Card

I enjoyed this week's TIME magazine article on helicopter parents called "Can These Parents Be Saved?" by Nancy Gibbs. It looks at the over-parenting trend and an even newer trend... Continue reading "A Parent's Report Card"

Common Core State Standards?

I spent some time today reading about the Common Core State Standards initiative. I'm not yet sure what I think of it. My first reaction is that these sorts of... Continue reading "Common Core State Standards?"

Halloween Resources

Did you know that in addition to being Halloween, October 31 is also Magic Day? That's why I chose Magic Tricks as this week's Surfnetkids topic. But now that the... Continue reading "Halloween Resources"

My Kindle Review

My Kindle arrived on August 4 and I love it. I have wanted one since they were announced in November, 2007. But the price seemed high for its functionality. I... Continue reading "My Kindle Review"

Who is Hans Christian Oersted?

Today's Google doodle commemorates a Danish physicist that has not enjoyed widespread fame. Hans Christian Ørsted (aka Oersted), born Aug 14, 1777 was a contemporary and friend of Hans Christian... Continue reading "Who is Hans Christian Oersted?"

Single Tasking

Are cluttered to-do lists, multitasking, and unlimited browser tabs taking their toll on your productivity? Some experts are calling single tasking (focusing on one task at a time) "the new... Continue reading "Single Tasking"

I Love My Roku

What's the most number of movies you've ever watched in a single day? I think I hit a new high on Saturday when I watched five movies. I wasn't feeling... Continue reading "I Love My Roku"

Online Publishing, Anyone?

As you read this, I'll be in San Francisco speaking at the first annual ADSPACE conference for small to mid-size publishers about Adsense and other contextual advertising. I am on... Continue reading "Online Publishing, Anyone?"

I'm a Mommy Blogger Too!

I have been sitting on the sidelines admiring what Susan Carraretto* has done with 5 Minutes for Mom and their Ultimate Blog Party 2009, when it occurred to me, "Hey,... Continue reading "I'm a Mommy Blogger Too!"

What is Twitter? Part Two

So, seeing as I have only skimmed the surface of Twitter, and have not specifically addressed many of the more technical issues, here are some additional resources. But first, a... Continue reading "What is Twitter? Part Two"

What is Twitter? Part One

Twitter is commonly called a micro-blogging platform, because it limits all posts (called tweets) to 140 characters. Another way to look at Twitter is as broadcast text messaging. Instant Messaging... Continue reading "What is Twitter? Part One"

Got Twitter?

What's new here? Yesterday afternoon I added our President Barack Obama coloring page to the American Presidents collection over at www.FreeKidsColoring.com. Those of you who have my Coloring Page of... Continue reading "Got Twitter?"

Cranberry Sauce with Raspberries

I know. I know. Bloggers usually share their Thanksgiving recipes BEFORE Thanksgiving, but I didn't think of it at the time. We had a wonderful holiday at my parents' house.... Continue reading "Cranberry Sauce with Raspberries"

Obama Wins in Yet Another Student Poll

Just off the news wire, Weekly Reader has announced that in their fourteenth annual election survey, the result was Obama 54.7% and John McCain 42.9% (with other candidates receiving 2.5%... Continue reading "Obama Wins in Yet Another Student Poll"

Halloween Resources

Boo! Did I scare you? It's that spooky time of year again, so here's a round-up of Halloween resources you can find at our network of sites. Halloween Games http://www.surfnetkids.com/games/Halloween/... Continue reading "Halloween Resources"

Halloween Photo Tips

Last time I saw my friend Audri Lanford, she was carrying a huge camera case, and was bubbling over with enthusiasm for her new hobby, photography. Then she told me... Continue reading "Halloween Photo Tips"

Whiteboard Lessons for Elementary Grades

Hi Barbara & Co.: Thank you for making yourselves so accessible. Our school has a new interactive whiteboard, but I can't find suitable sites with substantive material for the... Continue reading "Whiteboard Lessons for Elementary Grades"

Is It All About How You Feel at the End of the Day?

My buddy Don Crowther made an awesome video, about something inspirational that took place on a college softball field in Portland, Oregon recently. But I have a bone to pick... Continue reading "Is It All About How You Feel at the End of the Day?"

Google Subscribed Links FAQ

I have been bombarded with questions about the new Surfnetkids Google Subscribed Links program, so I thought I would answer a few of the most common questions for everyone at... Continue reading "Google Subscribed Links FAQ"

Learn to Play Chess

Dear Barbara, Have you ever come across any instructions or booklets that will help young children learn to play the game of CHESS?? Thanks. Leo Hi Leo, My mother taught... Continue reading "Learn to Play Chess"

iTunes Movie Rentals Not Supported on 30/60 Gig iPods

For my flight to Hawaii's Big Island this week, I downloaded a rented movie from iTunes the very day they made the announcement. Imagine my surprise when I tried to... Continue reading "iTunes Movie Rentals Not Supported on 30/60 Gig iPods"

Environmental Education

Hi Barbara: Your web resources are AMAZING! Thanks so much for putting this all online. I was hoping you might be able to send me links to any great... Continue reading "Environmental Education"

Narrated Stories

Dear Barbara, Getting your newsletter has been of great use to me as a preschool director in Brazil. I need some tips of sites of games or activities for... Continue reading "Narrated Stories"

Homepage for School Computer Lab

Dear Barbara- I hope you might have an answer to my ? I am a computer lab teacher looking for an appropriate homepage for the lab computers. (K-8 Lab.) I... Continue reading "Homepage for School Computer Lab"

Should I Copy Protect my eBook?

Hello, Barbara, What a great site you have! ... I have recently started to research additional ways to generate income from my Internet efforts, and to cut to the chase,... Continue reading "Should I Copy Protect my eBook?"

What is Social Bookmarking?

Social bookmarking sites (such as Del.icio.us or Sharing Links) allow users to create shareable or private online bookmarks. Not only is it a great way to store your own bookmarks,... Continue reading "What is Social Bookmarking?"

Should Pluto Be a Planet?

On August 24, 2006, astronomers declared that Pluto is no longer a planet, thereby downsizing the solar system from nine planets to eight. After a week of debate, the International... Continue reading "Should Pluto Be a Planet?"

Which Broadway Show?

I don't know why I get some of the questions I get, but this one came in this week... and so I figured I'd share my answer with you. Hi... Continue reading "Which Broadway Show?"

Presidents' Day and the Apostrophe

I am writing about Presidents' Day today, and as I investigated the history of the holiday, I realized it started out as President's Day (because it honored a single President,... Continue reading "Presidents' Day and the Apostrophe"

Music Reviews for Parents

Dear Barbara I have been searching for a site that reviews the pre-teen music scene. Currently, my daughter, age 8, is allowed to listen to Radion Disney and that is... Continue reading "Music Reviews for Parents"

College Application Essays

When I causually mentioned the dangers of professional editing of a college application essay yesterday, a reader asked to me expound. So here goes. First a little background. I'm a... Continue reading "College Application Essays"

Help Needed in Long Beach, MS

Dear Barbara, I am a teacher in Long Beach, Mississippi. Our school, Harper McCaughan Elementary, was totally devastated. We will be beginning school in mobile classrooms on October 3 with... Continue reading "Help Needed in Long Beach, MS"

Adding Album Cover Art to iTunes

Now that both the iPod nano and regular iPods have color screens to display album cover artwork, I decided to learn how to add cover art to my iTunes colllection.... Continue reading "Adding Album Cover Art to iTunes"

Is Moon Capitalized?

As I started writing this week's column, I realized that I did not know the capitalization rules for "moon." After a brief search online, I learned both the rules and... Continue reading "Is Moon Capitalized?"

Quote as a Noun

I've gotten several emails from readers complaining that my "Educational Quote of the Day" should be "Educational Quotation of the Day" because "quote" is a verb, not a noun.... Continue reading "Quote as a Noun"

From Homeschool to Public High School

Dear Barbara: I enjoyed reading your newsletter and am wondering if you might be able to assist me in researching something.... Continue reading "From Homeschool to Public High School"

Mudslides

Dear Mr. Feldman, I am a 6th grade student who is searching for information on the web about mudslides. We are working on an assigned group project. Do you have... Continue reading "Mudslides"

Math Sites for Third Grade

Dear Barbara, My third-grade daughter needs some extra help in math. Do you have any recommendations for sites where she can practice multiplication? Thanks, Craig... Continue reading "Math Sites for Third Grade"

Where is All the Data Stored?

I have been trying to find where all the emails, data, sites and other items are stored and so far no one has been able to tell me. Not even... Continue reading "Where is All the Data Stored?"

How to Make a Video?

Dear Barbara, Loved the "How to Make a Word Search" video that you are including as a bonus to your "How to Add Games" book. One question, what tools did... Continue reading "How to Make a Video?"