10 iPad Features Every iPad Owner Should Know

iOS 7 is here so don't miss out what it can do for you in your classroom and home. Here are ten features highlighted by Steve Lai and Jonathan Wylie. Click here to read the entire article.

Here is a glimpse of the features but be sure to read the article for an explanation of each.

1. How to Multitask and Kill Apps that Misbehave!
• Did you know you could swipe two apps at once to kill them? Way cool!
2. How to take Screenshots on iPad or iPhone
• Open screenshots in apps that allow for annotation. This is a great way to describe what you are teaching or learning.
3. How to Enable Speak Selection
• Speak selection able users to hear pronunciations or have text read to them. Just think of the possibilities for struggling readers in your classroom.
4. How to Lock the iPad on One App
• This is a great feature for younger students or students who struggle staying on task. It locks the user on an app of your choice.
5. How to Automatically Download App Updates
• This one has its pros and cons. Pro - it updates your apps automatically. Con - a good feature of an app could be removed that you do not want to lose. 
6. How to Search on Your iPad
• You can set items that you wish to search under Settings/General/Spotlight Search.
7. How to AirPlay
• Click here for an Educator's Guide to AirPlay in the Classroom
8. How to Make the Text in iOS 7 More Readable
• Hooray for BOLD text. 
9. How to Delete Individual iMessages & Texts in the Messages App
• The "edit" button is now the "more" button for deleting individual text messages within the thread.
10. How to use AirDrop
• The new file transfer system is worth a try.

iOS 7 Is Here...What to Know Before and After Downloading

iOS 7 is here so what should you know before and after downloading Apple's new operating system? It always surprises me how many people experience difficulties when Apple releases new operating system updates. As I look back over the releases I realize that the problem lies in forgetting some of the basic steps. This post will look at two major basic steps that many users forget to do before they jump into downloading a new operating system. Then you will find eight tips on how to maneuver through the changes after the download is complete. 

BEFORE downloading iOS 7, two basic steps to follow:

1. BACKUP. BACKUP. BACKUP.

• You should always backup your device before making such a big change as downloading a new operating system. That way if any contacts, calendar appointments, notes, etc. are compromised during the download you can retrieve them by restoring your phone to the last backup. That's what I call "Apple 101." Before you go to the Apple Genius bar - backup, get a new phone - backup, download a new iOS operating system - backup, or for good measure just backup every couple of weeks in case your phone crashes.
• iCloud Backup vs. Computer Backup
• I am not a big fan of backing up to iCloud because Apple only gives you a certain amount of space for free. Each backup requires additional space which will eventually deplete. Plus, I found it difficult to find my backup when I used iCloud.
• I find it much easier to backup my devices to the computer. Be warned...make sure your computer is also being backed up via an external hard drive or some type of cloud storage. 
• In all my years of owning a iOS device, I have yet to lose my contacts, photos, notes, calendar appointments, etc. I say that boldly because I have a rule of thumb and that is that I back up my devices at least once a month. Should something disappear, I can go back and restore my device to the latest backup.

2. UPDATE YOUR APPS

• With the release of iOS 7, app developers are quickly pushing out their updated apps. Be sure to go to the App Store and run the updates. Anytime a new operating system is released users need to update their apps so they are compatible with the new system.
• Warning about Updating Apps: Be sure to read the fine print before pressing the update button. Developers will list what is included in the download and if there could be complications. Sometimes it is better to wait depending on what is listed in the update.

AFTER downloading iOS 7, a few tips on changes:

1.  Notification Center 

• New tabs at the top: Today/All/Missed
• Today reveals the weather and your calendar for the day.
• All reveals all notifications.
• Missed reveals any notifications that were not seen.

2.  Spotlight Search

• The spotlight search feature has moved. No longer does swiping to the right reveal the spotlight, but now swipe down (but not swiping from the top of the screen or you will get the notification center) to get to the spotlight search feature.

3.  Shutting Down Apps

• Normally, if users want to close out apps, they double tap the home button and pick the apps they want to close. In iOS 7, after the double tap, apps now appear as a series of screens users scroll left to right. To close apps, simply swipe up.

4.  Deleting Emails 

• In the past, users could swipe left or right on an email to delete. Now users have different options per swipe. Left swipe gives the trash or move option. Right swipe opens the email.

5.  Bigger Folders

• Folders are no longer limited to a certain number of apps. Each one will now hold as many apps as you choose. New pages are created within the folder to accommodate the apps added.

6.  Blocking Numbers

• There's now an option to block callers. You can do this with settings/phone/block and add new, contacts, or numbers found in the Recents menu. Click the info button on the right and scroll down to Block. The feature will block any phone calls, messages or FaceTime chats from that contact.

7.  Camera

• There are more options right in front of you, like High Dynamic Range and Panorama. 
• There's also a new Square option and native filters; Instagram fans will love this. 
• Photos are organized differently, too. There's the standard albums, but when you tap the Photos icon at the bottom left, you can view images as "collections" sorted by date.
• Albums now contain a video and panorama album.

8.  Control Center Features

• From the lock screen, swipe upward the bar located at the bottom of your device. When you swipe you now have access to these features.
• The top section has five features: Airplane Mode, Wifi, Bluetooth, Do Not Disturb,Orientation Lock
• The middle section features:  Music and Brightness control
• The bottom section features: Flashlight (new feature), Clock/Timer, Calculator, Camera

Additional resources for this article:

7 tips and tricks for navigating iOS 7

Your Guide to iOS 7

10 Reasons to Use Edmodo in the Classroom

I found this article by Mohamed El-Ashiry on Edudemic on "Reasons to use Edmodo in the classroom." I've read many articles on Edmodo but this particular article is simplistic and straight to the point. With flipped classrooms now trending, Edmodo is a great LMS tool to use...plus it's FREE! Read Mohamed's reasons below:

1. It is now very easy to share a worksheet or handout with my students on Edmodo. If I prepare a worksheet on Pages or have a worksheet in my Dropbox, all I need to do is ‘open in another app’ and select Edmodo. I prefer to share worksheets and handouts as a PDF, because that preserves the formatting of the document and it’s very easy for students to download an app that allows them to annotate PDFs (like Notability or TypeOnPDF).
2. Students can easily download a document from Edmodo, use it in another app (like a PDF annotation app) and then upload it again onto Edmodo to submit it as an ‘assignment’. This solves the whole ‘work-flow’ problem that many teachers faced upon the introduction of iPads into the classroom. Worksheets, handouts, task sheets, graphic organizers, anything you want the students to work on, just upload it into your library, add it to a folder that you share with the students or attach it to a post, then they access it and open it in another app. Once they have finished, they need to upload it into their ‘backpacks’ and then submit it as an attachment to an ‘assignment’ that you posted.
3. Edmodo’s ‘assignment’ feature allows me to post an assignment with a due date and a task sheet, see who submitted it and when, mark it using a PDF annotation tool, grade/assess it and give feedback all in one neat place. It really is hassle-free! While the desktop version of Edmodo allows better assignment-marking features than the iPad app, I can still mark simple assignments on-the-go from my iPad.
4. Edmodo’s ‘quiz’ feature allows me to create really quick and simple quizzes to use in class. Creating the quiz is really simple, and I can use multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blanks, matching, or even short answer questions. It also shows you some really cool statistics about the students’ answers.
5. Edmodo’s ‘poll’ feature allows me create quick survey polls in class and can be a very valuable formative assessment tool. It has been very useful in my Humanities class to help me decide what students may need to focus on more for the coming lessons, or what sort of format would they prefer to submit their assignment as, among many more polls.
6. Edmodo’s ‘note’ feature has been a great help in creating exit slips for the students. Right before the lesson ends, the students are asked to write ‘one thing I learned today is…’ or ‘one thing that surprised me today was…’ or ‘one thing I’d like to find out more about is…’. After posting their exit slips, they can all see what the others have posted and maybe comment on each others’ posts and respond.
7. Edmodo’s ‘members’ feature allows me to manage my students in each class/group. This has been very handy in reminding a student of their username in case they forgot it while logging in again, or resetting their password if they can’t remember it, or even changing a student’s member-status to ‘read-only’ if they have been posting too much irrelevant content and abusing the posting feature. I can also use this feature to award ‘badges’ to my students, which is a great incentive for many of them.
8. Edmodo’s ‘small groups’ feature makes group-work a lot easier to manage and assess. In my drama classroom, students are arranged in small groups or ‘theatre companies’, and a lot of their brainstorming is done on Edmodo, or even simply documenting group-work in a virtual group-work log.
9. Edmodo’s ‘folders’ feature makes it very easy to organize documents in a folder and share that folder with my classes. Standard templates like reflection help-sheets or rubrics can be placed in these folders so students can have access to them anytime.
10. Edmodo has made it much easier to teach ‘digital citizenship’ skills in a safer and more-controlled environment. Having a strong social-networking aspect to it, Edmodo allows the teacher to model appropriate online behavior and etiquette, and gives the students the opportunity to practice those skills in a teacher-controlled environment.

Follow Mohamed El-Ashiry's blog by clicking here. Edmodo has apps for both iOS and Android devices. Click here to download either app:  http://www.edmodo.com/mobile/

Apps Just For Coaches

Since coaching is where I got my start, I thought I would share four apps that can be used for coaching instruction. At first glance, my thought was "where were these when I was teaching a left-handed slapper to bunt." These tools allow coaches to video tape an athlete, slow-speed review, annotate on video and highlight techniques that are either excellent or need improvement.Coaching is about immediate feedback and what better way to offer this than by video. It makes coaching much easier when a student can actually see themselves on film.

Here are the app recommendations:

Coach My Video Mobile 
Cost: FREE (for a limited time only)
Device: iOS only; compatible with iPhone, iPod, iPad


Benefits of Using this App:
☆ Real-time Video-Instruction: IMMEDIATE, ON-THE-SPOT COACHING
☆ Frame-Capture: get the PERFECT PICTURE
☆ Instantly REVIEW and ANALYZE videos in Slow-motion:
☆ FORWARD / REVERSE / PAUSE / & 3-Second INSTANT-REPLAY ↺
☆ FRAME-BY-FRAME control
☆ ACCESS VIDEOS & IMAGES directly from your CAMERA ROLL
☆ CAPTURE the perfect action-shot: Save FULL-RESOLUTION IMAGES from your HD videos!
☆ DRAW on Videos & Photos using LINES, CIRCLES, RECTANGLES & FREEHAND.
☆ Calculate the ANGLE between lines
☆ ZOOM option
☆ ADVANCED VIDEO-EMAILING OPTIONS: Email HD-video directly from your device!

Sample Video:

Coach My Video Private
Cost: $1.99
Device: iOS only; compatible with iPhone, iPod, iPad


Benefits of Using this App:  
☆ Frame-by-frame & slow-motion video analysis
☆ Draw/mark-up your video in our telestrator
☆ Coach / Chalk-up on-line REFERENCE VIDEOS *without* leaving the App
☆ Email+ video-sharing, up to 720p HD
☆ Frame-Capture in Full Resolution from HD videos
☆ AirPlay Connectivity for the iPhone 5 and iPad: control your video on the large-screen from the palm of your hand.
☆ Customize the iPad's home page with your own branding- contact us for more information
☆ Instant-access to Camera Roll and Photo Albums (no waiting for video-import)
☆ iPad: STOPWATCH: easily time splits, etc. on a video
☆ iPad: side-side comparison with synch-playback
☆ iPad: side-side comparison with REFERENCE VIDEOS

Coach's Eye
Cost:$4.99
Devices:  iOS and Android


Benefits of Using this App: 
☆ VIDEO CAPTURE AND IMPORT
       ★ Record HD video.
       ★ Import video from your device’s Camera Roll, email, or apps like Dropbox.
       ★ Instant import of videos shared from other Coach's Eye users.

☆ INSTANT VIDEO ANALYSIS
       ★ Slow-motion video review is easy using our flywheel for precise video scrubbing.
       ★ Zoom and pan videos during analysis to see just the details that matter.
       ★ Draw on videos using lines, arrows, circles, squares, and freehand tools.
       ★ Create videos that include audio commentary, annotations, and slow-motion.

☆ SIMPLE VIDEO SHARING
       ★ Email/Text Message
       ★ Facebook/Twitter
       ★ YouTube
       ★ Device Camera Roll
       ★ Other Apps (Dropbox, GoodReader, Evernote, and more).
       ★ Use Coach's Eye on the big screen for optimal video analysis in a group setting.
       ★ Free online account gives you web access to videos you have shared or liked.

Ubersense Coach
Cost:  FREE
Device: iOS only


Benefits of Using this App:
☆ Record HD video and playback frame-by-frame.
☆ Instant slow motion analysis, zoom and advanced drawing tools for any sport.
☆ Compare videos side-by-side or overlay using slow-motion controls.
☆ Create video reviews with audio commentary and annotations.
☆ Import videos from Camera Roll, email, and apps like Dropbox.
☆ Share instantly with athletes, coaches and friends directly from your phone or tablet

Getting Started with Ubersense (video)

Educational Apps Collection

Did you know that there is a section in the iTunes App Store called Education Collections? The Education Collections section features 27 sub-sections including reading, math, physics, chemistry, music, writing, geography, astronomy and earth science, foreign languages, test prep, and lots more.

Apps for Teachers
Also included in the Education Collection is an Apps for Teachers section. The section has apps for classroom tasks, curricula support, instructional tools, personal organization, and reference applications. Free and paid apps are listed.

Special Education
A great new additional is the Special Education section. The section highlights apps for communication, emotional development, seeing and hearing, language development, literacy and learning, diagnostics and reference, organization, and life skills.

Other resources for educational apps and uses of iPads in the classroom:
☆ Tony Vincent's Learning in Hand Blog
☆ Richard Byrne's iPad Apps for School
☆ iPads in Schools Livebinder
☆ TCEA iPad App Resources
☆ The Mobile Native Blog

Create and Publish with iBooks Author

The TCEA (Texas Computer Education Association) conference starts today and I will be making posts on classes that I attend and how you can be a part of that learning experience. I start the day with the session "Create and Publish with iBooks Author." The purpose of the session is to learn to create your own interactive book using iBooks Author.

Educational Purposes:

• Students publish their own work, individually or in groups.
• Students develop a digital portfolio.
• Teachers create curriculum books based on the needs in their class.

Tips and Tricks to Remember with iBooks Author:

• The Table of Contents pages cannot be deleted.
• Do not delete text boxes on the template.
• Separate your content into sections and chapters.
• Consider locking the orientation.
• There is no spell check in iBooks author.
• Pages can be inserted from Pages or Word document.
• Need Numbers to create charts. Not editable once imported into iBooks Author.
• Audio needs to be mp4 format.
• Advised to keep book at 1GB (cannot be more than 2GB).
• Review widget does not report data to you; it just allows the reader to participate.
• Bookry.com allows you to use their free widgets unless you want to see your book. To use their widgets for a book for sell then you will have to pay for that widget.
• Must use iTunesConnect to publish your free or paid book.
• When preparing to publish a book be sure to include screen shots for previewing.
• Don't forget to site sources and own the images submitting.
• BEST Book for Quick Help (free):  Publishing with iBooks Author: An Introduction to Creating eBooks for the iPad by Nellie McKesson and Adam Witwer 

Bad News: iBooks Author software is only available for download for Mac computers. Sorry PC users you will have to find another format to create interactive books.

Favorite Apps of 2012

As the year 2012 ends I decided to share my favorite apps by category for the year. These are great apps that I find myself using on a regular basis. Most of them are free, but the paid ones are worth every penny. The best advice I can give is to download AppsGoneFree app and AppShopper app so you can find free or discounted apps for your apps library.

Education

Socrative: Student and Teacher
Platform: Web-based, iOS student/iOS teacher, Android (student / teacher)
Price: FREE
Socrative is a smart student response system that empowers teachers to engage their classrooms through a series of educational exercises and games via smartphones, laptops, and tablets

Educreations
Platform: Web-based, iOS (requires iOS 4.3 or later)
Price: FREE
Educreations is a recordable interactive whiteboard that captures your voice and handwriting to produce amazing video lessons that you can share online. Students and colleagues can replay your lessons in any web browser, or from within our app on their iPads.

Flashcard [+]
Platform: iOS (requires iOS 5.0 or later)
Price: FREE
Flashcard [+] allows users to create and share cards, organize cards into folders, combine or split decks, Text-to-Speech, and download flashcards from Quizlet.


Photography

Phonto
Platform: iOS (requires iOS 5.0 or later); Android (requires 2.2 or later)
Price: FREE
Phonto is an application that allows you to add text to pictures. Text color, size, and gradient is changeable; items are available to add; and share on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

PicFrame
Platform: iOS (requires iOS 4.3 or later); Android (requires 2.1 or later)
Price: $.99
PicFrame helps you combine multiple photos into amazing looking frames with 71 fully adjustable frames supporting up to 9 photos, text labels, rounded corners, photo effects, shapes, shadows, and plenty of patterns.

Big Lens
Platform: iOS (requires iOS 4.0 or later)
Price: $.99
Big Lens turns your mobile device into a SLR camera with their smart focus system, apeture control, filter effects, instant focus/blur tool, and a before/after preview.


Social Media

Instagram
Platform: iOS (requires iOS 4.3 or later); Android (requires 2.2 or later)
Price: FREE
Instagram is a fast and easy way for users to create photos, add filters, share photos, follow and comment on friends' photos. Think of it as social media through pictures.

Twitter
Platform: iOS (requires iOS 5.0 or later); Android (requires 3.6 or later)
Price: FREE
Twitter app has been much improved...toggle between multiple Twitter accounts, tweet from within a webpage, choose one of 8 filters to edit pictures within the app (all devices but iPad), and add background to your account header.

Hootsuite
Platform: iOS (requires iOS 5.0 or later); Android
Price: FREE
Hootsuite is a web-based application and has mobile apps that allow the user to manage multiple Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIN and Foursquare accounts. My favorite features are URL shortener, schedule events and send updates to all accounts with one push. 

Productivity

Google Drive
Platform: iOS (requires iOS 5.0 or later); Android (requires 2.1 or later)
Price: FREE
Google Drive apps allows users to create and edit Google documents and spreadsheets, view offline files, view all files within Google accounts and share photos.

CloudOn
Platform: iOS (requires iOS 5.0 or later); Android (requires 3.1 or later)
Price: FREE
CloudOn brings Microsoft Office to iPhone, iPad and Android devices and links to Box, Dropbox, and Google Drive accounts. Create, review and edit Microsoft Office documents and link to cloud accounts.

PDF Max Pro 
Platform: iOS (requires iOS 4.0 or later)
Price: $7.99
PDF Max Pro is for those looking for a full-featured PDF annotating, form-filling and note taking app. Also changes made to PDF files synchronize between all iCloud devices.


Lifestyle

My Fitness Pal
Platform: iOS (requires iOS 5.0 or later); Android (varies on device)
Price: FREE
My Firtness Pal is the largest calorie counter app on the market. Use the apps recipes calculator, scan barcodes for calories, choose from over 2, 000,000 foods in the database and track cardio and strength exercises.

iPlan Calendar
Platform: iOS (requires iOS 5.0 or later)
Price: $.99 (on sale for a limited time)
iPlan calendar is a new app. Features include integrated weather, multiple calendars display, swipe for a different view-daily, week, or monthly, and import the to-do list from Google.

Starbucks
Platform: iOS (requires iOS 5.0 or later); Android (requires 2.2 or later)
Price: FREE
The Starbucks app lets you pay for your purchases, track your stars for the Starbucks Reward, reload your accounts, transfer balances between multiple cards, and find Starbucks locations near you. Click here to find out more about the Starbucks Rewards Program...best part...every 12 stars = free drink or food.

8 Apps to Take on Vacation

December has finally arrived and it’s time for that well-earned Christmas/New Year's vacation. But that doesn’t mean you leave your smartphone behind. In fact, your mobile device can be a lifesaver, helping you to plan your trip, find out more about the places you visit, and even communicate with the locals!

 

Whether you are heading overseas or staying closer to home, there are literally thousands of apps that can help you make the most of your summer break. Here are just a few suggestions to get you started. Just make sure you stay on top of your data plan and don’t incur any unforeseen charges! 

Be sure to click on the app to find it in the iTunes store!

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  Packing Pro

An enjoyable vacation starts with a well-organized suitcase and Packing Pro will make sure you have everything you need. Whether it’s bathing suits, batteries or baby wipes, Packing Pro will make sure nothing gets left behind. Make your own list or use one of Packing Pro’s suggestions. Plus, with the new iCloud support, your lists can be accessed from any connected device, so you can add or delete items whenever you want. You can also edit your lists with Excel, Numbers, or Google Docs.

Platform: iPhone, iPad
Cost: $2.99

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 Wi-Fi Finder

Whether you are looking to catch up on some work, surf the web, or just check e-mail, Wi-Fi Finder has you covered. It uses your phone’s GPS to find a wireless connection point, and then gives you precise directions on how to get there. It’s great for travel, with over 650,000 locations in 144 countries, making sure that you can minimize those costly data charges. You can even filter by location type – restaurant, café, hotel, etc.

Platform: iPhone, iPad, Android
Cost: Free

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 Pocket

 Have you ever been stuck in an airport or on a plane without anything to read? The Pocket app (formerly Read It Later) allows you capture articles on the web and sync them to your phone or tablet for reading later, even without an Internet connection. You can Pocket pretty much anything that appears on the Web, including text, photos and videos. Once the content is saved, it can be accessed from virtually any device, including your computer.

Platform: iPhone, iPad, Android
Cost: Free

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 iSunBurn

Don’t be fooled by those clouds. Download the iSunBurn app and get the UV Index forecast for wherever you happen to be. iSunBurn will tell you what SPF level of sunscreen you'll need and how long it will take unprotected skin to burn. Keep your family safe and comfortable and make sure you always take appropriate precautions against overexposure to the sun, even when the UV Index shows just moderate readings! 


Platform: iPhone
Cost: $0.99

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 Ski and Snow Report

One of the most popular snow sport and weather apps, the Ski & Snow Report App is back and packed with new features for the 2012-13 ski season. Ski & Snow Report will help you figure out the best place to spend your time up at the mountain. Add up to 12 resorts via GPS or pick them from a world wide list. Get push notifications when there is new snow and when vital conditions are updated such as the amount of trails open, snowfall over the last 72 hours, depth at the base and at the top, and a 5-day forecast.

Platform: iPhone, iPad, iPod
Cost: Free

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 Swim Guide

Need a beach? Download the Swim Guide app and you'll be able to get directions to the closest beach, plus real-time information on water quality. The app features over 1,800 different beaches, including lakes, traditional oceanfront beaches, and city parks. The app includes photos and some background information on history, geography and local culture. Use the social media and sharing features to invite friends to join you!

Platform: iPhone, iPad, Android
Cost: Free

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 Oh, Ranger! ParkFinder

If exploring, backpacking, camping and hiking are on your list, then the Oh, Ranger! ParkFinder app is a must. It will tell you the best spots in the U.S. for camping, swimming, hiking, boating or bird watching. It will even show you where the nearest frisbee golf course is! No matter what park or activity you have in mind, Oh, Ranger! ParkFinder will find it for you.

Platform: iPhone, iPad, Android
Cost: Free

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 AroundMe

Whether you are looking for something specific or you just want to know what’s in the area, AroundMe is the quickest and simplest way to find out information about your surroundings. Using your smartphone’s built-in GPS technology, AroundMe can pinpoint and direct you to the nearest gas station, bank, hotel, movie theater, restaurant, supermarket or anything else you need. Every listing is located on a map, with easy directions on how to get there.

Platform: iPhone, iPad, Android
Cost: Free

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 Google Translate

The amazing Google Translate app can instantly translate words and phrases between more than 60 languages. In many cases, you can just speak your phrases and have the translation spoken aloud back at you or the people you are with. You can pre-record and store previous translations for use when you are off line, or use many of the app’s standard phrases. There is even a full screen text mode for extended conversations. A must-have app for any traveler.

Platform: iPhone, iPad, Android
Cost: Free

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All information from this blog post is from The Online Mom blog. 
Read more from The Online Mom blog.