MSI Press Blog

Parenting has its joys; it can also be demanding when all does not go as planned or hoped, as in this picture of parents with their son and two emergency room specialists, raising up (literally) their physically challenged daughter. MSI Press offers several unique books on parenting--for the everyday difficulties and the unique challenges. Take a look! 3 65 Teacher Secrets for Parent s by Cindy McKinley and Patti Trombly See posts by and about Cindy and Patti, including book excerpts, HERE . Courageous Parents   by Dr. Haim Omer Read posts by and about Dr. Omer, including book excerpts, HERE . How to Be a Good Mommy When You're Sick by Dr. Emily Graves Read posts by and about Dr. Graves, including book excerpts, HERE . Lessons of Labor by Julia Aziz See posts by and about Jula Aziz, including book excerpts,  HERE . Life after Losing a Child by Pat Young and Joanna Romer See posts by and about Pat  and Joanna. Noah's New Puppy by Richard R

The Finding Your Path Project recently published 30 back to school tips from experts: five of them came from MSI Press author, Cindy McKinley ( 365 Teacher Secrets for Parents , co-authored with Patti Trombly),

  Today's fortune cookie comes from 10 Quick Homework Tips by Cindy Alder and Patti Trombly. See more posts by and about Cindy Alder and Patti Trombly and their books HERE . Sign up for the MSI Press LLC newsletter Follow MSI Press on  Twitter ,  Face Book , and  Instagram .   Interested in publishing with MSI Press LLC? Check out information on  how to submit a proposal . Interested in receiving a free copy of this or any MSI Press LLC book  in exchange for  reviewing  a current or forthcoming MSI Press LLC book? Contact editor@msipress.com. Want an  author-signed copy  of this book? Purchase the book at 25% discount (use coupon code FF25) and concurrently send a written request to orders@msipress.com.  Want to communicate with one of our authors? You can! Find their contact information on our  Authors' Pages .    

  Want to know if 10 Quick Homework Tips  by Cindy McKinley Alder and Patti Trombly is worth reading? Since we published it, certainly we believe it is. However, as evidence, take a look at the endorsements of others. GOLD WINNER for EDUCATION KOPS-FETHERLING INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARDS Reader's Favorite evaluation: Cindy McKinley Alder and Patti Trombly's 10 Quick Homework Tips is an excellent manual for all parents to help them deal with homework and use the Homework Agreement so that pressure can be taken off the family. The tips are simple and easy to apply so that an organized atmosphere conducive to learning can be created at home. It is a good way to work towards building a space that is just right for the child to finish the homework and produce quality work. The approach to the topic is excellent and makes it easy for both parents and children to deal with homework better so that it is manageable and the ambiance at home is healthy and positive.   Purchase: Kindle versio

MSI Press author, Cindy McKinley, has contributed another helpful article to The Finding Your Path Project, that supports youth through school transitions. The article is called, "8 Tips for Parents for a Successful School Year" and can be read in its entirety at the Finding your Path Project website .

In honor of Caturday, we are sharing photos of the cats who own MSI Press authors, starting with Sula, pictured above, who is herself an MSI Press author. Click HERE  to see Sula's works. Simon is owned by Joanna Charnas, author of chronic illness support books and A Movie Lover's Search for  Romance , who says he is her "foster failure." Click HERE to see Joanna's works. Jeremy Feig was owned by Shelly. He wrote a book about her, How My Cat Made Me a Better Man , that won a book of the year award. Click HERE   to read about Shelly, including excerpts from the book. Carl and Betty Lou Leaver are owned by Intrepid about whom they wrote a book, stuffed with illustrations, and five other cats. Click HERE to see Intrepid . In the picture, Happy (black & white) and Murjan (red & white) share a cat bed. Cindy McKinley Alder is owned by Watson, shown here wrapped in a ribbon. So cute! Click HERE to see Cindy's contributions to the field of teaching, parenting

And, as the school year re-starts, reminding parents of Cindy McKinley's tips for a successfull school year seems to be quite in order -- these tips were publishing on the Finding Your Path Project website last fall, but they are every bit as good for the winter. Here they are: the 8 tips . For a whole year's worth of tips, see her book, 365 Teacher Secrets for Parents .

  Want to help your child's teacher? Here are some really good ideas collected from teachers by the About staff, " How to Really Help Teachers ." (The article was published last year, but good ideas last forever.) Read more posts about Cindy and her books  HERE . Sign up for the MSI Press LLC newsletter.

Cindy McKinley ( 365 Teacher Secrets for Parents , coauthored with Patti Trombly) shared some of her secrets for avoiding summer learning loss with reporter Kerry Griffiths.

  Meet our author-moms and author-teachers who have written absolutely splendid books for mothers about motherhood and parenting!  Cindy Alder & Patti Trombly 10 Quick Homework Tips 365 Teacher Secrets for Parents Read MSI blog posts about Cindy and Patti . Julia Aziz Lessons of Labor Read more posts about Julia HERE . Frank Bagdade \ I Love My Kids, But I Don't Always Like Them Read MSI Press blog posts about Franki HERE . Julie Gentile 108 Yoga and Self-Care Practices IPPY Living Now Book Award Book Excellence Award How to Stay Calm in Chaos Honorable Mention, Kops-Fethering International Book Award Read MSI Press blog posts about Julie HERE. Dr. Emily Graves  How to Be a Good Mommy When You're Sick Read MSI Press blog posts about Emily HERE . Colette McNeil Choice and Structure for Children with Autism Gold award, Education, Reader Views Literary Awards  Silver award, Parenting, Reader Views Literary Awards Understanding the Challenge of "No" for Children with

Cindy McKinley, co-author of 365 Teacher Secrets for Parents , contributed recently to " How to Become an Elementary School Teacher, According to 3 People Who Did It " by the editors of Up Journey . If you are interested in becoming an K-8 teacher or know someone who is, the article has some great inside information.

  Excerpt from 10 Quick Homework Tips (Alder & Trombly) TIP # 1    HEAD OFF STRESS BY BEING PROACTIVE "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now." ~ Chinese Proverb   Why is this Important?   One of the biggest reasons, if not THE biggest reason, that kids and parents alike feel stress about homework is that their family simply has no concrete plan for how, when, and where homework will get done.  Kids may not act like it, but they need, and even like, having rules.  They feel better, safer, if they know exactly what is expected of them.  Think about your daily life, at work or at home.  Do you feel more confident, more calm, on days that you are unsure what your boss will want from you, when you don’t know what you are expected to do, or where you should do it and with what tools… or on days when you know exactly what is expected of you, where you know just what to do, where, when and how?  Most of us feel best when there is a routin

TIP # 4 KNOW WHERE TO GET HELP Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. I do that every day. Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of strength. It shows you have the courage to admit when you don’t know something, and to learn something new. ~ Barack Obama   Why is this Important?  It is very frustrating for kids when they come upon something they don't know how to do while trying to complete their homework.  Getting stuck can really derail concentration for some kids.  That’s why it is good to know, ahead of time, what your child should do if she gets stuck. What You Can Do: Teachers sometimes use the “Ask 3 Before Me” rule.  This means that before kids go to the teacher for help, they are encouraged to try to solve the problem themselves by asking/using three other sources first.  At home, there may not be three other people to go to for help besides you, but you can brainstorm possibilities: friends, maybe even a pre-arr

  Today's excerpt comes from 10 Quick Homework Tips by authors Cindy McKinley Alder and Patti Trombly: TIP # 2 TYPE UP AN OFFICIAL HOMEWORK AGREEMENT     Like anything worth doing in life, happiness takes time and patience and consistency. ~Mark Manson   Why is this Important?  That idea of heading off stress by being proactive about homework is perhaps best used in the creation of a Homework Agreement.  Quite simply, this is an agreement your family makes that states when, where, and how homework is expected to be done. Having a plan before school starts in the fall allows you to avoid that “you against them” feeling that so often is attached to homework.  If the year has already begun, though, there is still no time like the present to make a great change for the better! What You Can Do: Have you ever realized that it is easier to get out of something if you can "blame something else"?  “Sorry we can’t come to your son’s piano recital; we have a family reunion that d