Kind Words Received - Parenting the Next Generation

Comments received from visitors ~ Words in italics are mine.

Vtaide cited in books

~ Comments ~

During sermon series preparations on the "Man After God's Own Heart", I stumbled upon your biography of David. Your story telling proves to not only be accurate but enlightening. I have preached for 31 years but I felt like I was being drawn into David's life for the very first time ... your writing is so polished, I felt as if I were meeting historically Biblical people afresh! Once I began reading, I could not stop.

Even more, I was able to see God's presence with and within His anointed people. Soon, I caught myself falling in love with His awesomeness over and over again! Thank you for your ministry and may God continue to bless your pen and passion.

J. David Caves from USA
June 13, 2016

Webmaster's Reply: The whole series on the Kings of Judah and Israel was not written by me ... the author is unknown. I'm just hosting the awesome biographies. All glory and praise to our God and LORD.

Awesome cards! They have been a huge help. Thank you for sharing.

Jana Taylor from Pasadena, TX
Pasadena Independent School District
March 20, 2014

The cards are interesting, educative, and have good information that can be use in many different ways. I gave my students the cards selected by habitat, and working in small groups they were able to organize the cards by their animal diet which later we related with the food chain. Selecting one animal card as a top consumer first, students were asked to build a food chain for that animal. There is a lot of information in these cards that you can keep creating new ways to use them. Thank you

Guadalupe Mahoney from United States
March 15, 2014

I just found your website and am very impressed. I am developing a few children’s games for Red Rock State Park in Arizona, USA, and just loved your various activities. I may just (use) some of your concepts. Thank you.

Carol Woolf from Arizona, USA
March 3, 2014

Yooh! In the last 2 days, I have found myself almost stuck all the time to your website. I don't have the right words to tell you the good knowledge that I'm acquiring to share with my kids and colleagues at work. Initially, I thought I was wasting my time at the website and sent an email to Alan if there's a way he could summarize the information to about 4 pages. I realized that I was wrong to ask that question. It's knowledge that most parents don't even know they should know and that it can be found somewhere. It will marvel you how scarce you will find such worthy resource for parenting if you should search on internet. Yours should be among the best if there are any other good ones. Thank you for making it accessible.

Ebenezer from South Africa
December 12, 2013

I am pleased at how easy the site is to use. I teach 7^th grade with limited technology when it comes to printing material. This is a one stop shop for food chains. Best I've seen yet.

Suggestion: Distinguish "mountains (habitat cards)" by biome names taiga, tundra or coniferous and deciduous forests etc.

Fields from Miami, Florida
March 5, 2013

Awesome! I'm taking a graduate level business ethics course and was looking to respond to someone quoting utilitarian school of thoughts. Thanks, this (Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development) is more along what I want as a moral compass.

Stan R. Simms from Arden NC USA
February 14, 2013

Thank you for your website on atmosphere. It is very informative.

John Raymond Whittaker from Detroit, MI
February 9, 2013

The cards are amazing! (They) Rival or exceed commercial cards! I haven't used them yet, but am printing them on cardstock and will laminate. I will have the kids create food webs inside one habitat e.g., arctic, rainforest. Only one concern which is the "mountain (habitat)" - I probably would have separated (the cards) by continent. Kids don't know their animals well enough and this may confuse them.

Susan Joseph from Chesapeake, Virginia
January 14, 2013

I read your article on "Gentleness: Strength Under Control", really appreciate your honesty and vulnerability in writing it. Will be keeping you in prayer.

Shirley Chua from Singapore
September 10, 2012

Great site! Love the info. As a school counselor it is refreshing to see a site not shy away from the more complex issues that plague parenting. It is also wonderful to see a site integrate psychological observations with what Scripture teaches. Christians should never shy away from the truth - God IS truth, so there is no need (?) for this!

You have a section for parent-to-child interactions, which is great. A section on child-to-child interactions (in an attempt to help parents educate children on how to build basic social skills between friends/siblings) could be very useful. Just a thought!

Jon Thompson from Grain Valley, MO (K.C. area)
April 1, 2011

Webmaster's Reply: Have not written any article on child-to-child relationships but I do have a section of ERIC digests on "social development of children".

I'm grateful for your stories. It's very good for those who are learning English. I, personally, try to learn your stories by heart. I'm not a child, but think it's good training. I'd like even more stories. Thank you.

Irina Panomarenko from Ukraine
March 14, 2011

I just wanted to let you know what a fabulous website you have created. Part of our grade 7 ecology unit deals with food chains/webs and I thought I would see what was out there on the web. Your "create your own food web" game is fantastic! I can't wait to use it with my class tomorrow!

Thank you for an excellent resource!

I love this website ... the way the children are able to interact with the stories. My grandson has reading problems and it helps him to enjoy learning how to read.

Hi. I have just been playing on your food webs and chains page - researching info for a fourth grade field trip. I just wanted to compliment you on how fabulous the website is. I love the nice simple, clear explanations and all the great links. It has got my brain whirring. :)

I've been taking a look at your Matter quiz, and noted that there are number of inaccuracies. I presume they're simplifications for the sake of teaching kids, but still ...

Webmaster's Reply: You are right in that the quiz (and its contents) are a simplification for the sake of teaching kids. The quiz is actually targeted at the equivalent of Grade 3-4.

Andrew's Response: I thought that might be the case. And for that, the only thing I'd say is misleading is the mass/weight thing in the first question. But I heartily agree, for that age group some things need to be simplified. And for that it's a good quiz.

Your (lifeskills) website is really neat and has helped me a great deal. It was especially cool the "Who am I" section and after filling in the blanks and scrolling down, I couldn't help but cry with the realization that it does count for me too. You have done a wonderful job on this site. Thank you very much.

It’s probably the worst-named website I’ve ever found, but, it’s worth a visit for anyone teaching elementary math and science: "Interactive Assessment Worksheets".

~ 2000 Comments ~

This fall, I will be the teacher for a new "Mommy, Daddy and Me" Sunday school class. I needed material for the parents that would be easy enough to cover in a 30-minute time frame. I found your site and like what I read ... will use the articles for the parents' weekly lesson. Thank you for the time and love you have put into the work you have done to prepare this material.

Susan Horner from Pittsburgh
August 28, 2000

Review by CrossDaily.com ... "All the material found here is well written and informative. You really have to read the material included here to experience its' effectiveness."

Cross Daily
August 2000

LIKES: you can help us with our homework. I don't know how you do it but you are brilliant just like my friend told me. No! she lied. You are better than what my friend told me.

DISLIKES: it takes so long to get every thing loaded and sorted but if I want to get extra help in my homework then I guess I will have to wait.

Hayley from Southport
May 5, 2000

Excellent job! I especially enjoyed the Christian perspective on Erikson's First Four Stages (that absolutely coincided with the real world). I think it would be highly interesting, not to mention helpful, if you would go through the next 4 stages, using the same easy to understand and highly practical approach. Keep up the good work and God bless. I'll definitely be watching for any other articles.

Simone Chambers
University of the West Indies
February 5, 2000

1990's Comments | Link to PNG | Main Page

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~ 2000 Comments ~


	Vtaide cited in books ~ Comments ~ During sermon series preparations on the "Man After God's Own Heart", I stumbled upon your biography of David. Your story telling proves to not only be accurate but enlightening. I have preached for 31 years but I felt like I was being drawn into David's life for the very first time ... your writing is so polished, I felt as if I were meeting historically Biblical people afresh! Once I began reading, I could not stop. Even more, I was able to see God's presence with and within His anointed people. Soon, I caught myself falling in love with His awesomeness over and over again! Thank you for your ministry and may God continue to bless your pen and passion. J. David Caves from USA June 13, 2016 Webmaster's Reply: The whole series on the Kings of Judah and Israel was not written by me ... the author is unknown. I'm just hosting the awesome biographies. All glory and praise to our God and LORD. Awesome cards! They have been a huge help. Thank you for sharing. Jana Taylor from Pasadena, TX Pasadena Independent School District March 20, 2014 The cards are interesting, educative, and have good information that can be use in many different ways. I gave my students the cards selected by habitat, and working in small groups they were able to organize the cards by their animal diet which later we related with the food chain. Selecting one animal card as a top consumer first, students were asked to build a food chain for that animal. There is a lot of information in these cards that you can keep creating new ways to use them. Thank you Guadalupe Mahoney from United States March 15, 2014 I just found your website and am very impressed. I am developing a few children’s games for Red Rock State Park in Arizona, USA, and just loved your various activities. I may just (use) some of your concepts. Thank you. Carol Woolf from Arizona, USA March 3, 2014 Yooh! In the last 2 days, I have found myself almost stuck all the time to your website. I don't have the right words to tell you the good knowledge that I'm acquiring to share with my kids and colleagues at work. Initially, I thought I was wasting my time at the website and sent an email to Alan if there's a way he could summarize the information to about 4 pages. I realized that I was wrong to ask that question. It's knowledge that most parents don't even know they should know and that it can be found somewhere. It will marvel you how scarce you will find such worthy resource for parenting if you should search on internet. Yours should be among the best if there are any other good ones. Thank you for making it accessible. Ebenezer from South Africa December 12, 2013 I am pleased at how easy the site is to use. I teach 7^th grade with limited technology when it comes to printing material. This is a one stop shop for food chains. Best I've seen yet. Suggestion: Distinguish "mountains (habitat cards)" by biome names taiga, tundra or coniferous and deciduous forests etc. Fields from Miami, Florida March 5, 2013 Awesome! I'm taking a graduate level business ethics course and was looking to respond to someone quoting utilitarian school of thoughts. Thanks, this (Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development) is more along what I want as a moral compass. Stan R. Simms from Arden NC USA February 14, 2013 Thank you for your website on atmosphere. It is very informative. John Raymond Whittaker from Detroit, MI February 9, 2013 The cards are amazing! (They) Rival or exceed commercial cards! I haven't used them yet, but am printing them on cardstock and will laminate. I will have the kids create food webs inside one habitat e.g., arctic, rainforest. Only one concern which is the "mountain (habitat)" - I probably would have separated (the cards) by continent. Kids don't know their animals well enough and this may confuse them. Susan Joseph from Chesapeake, Virginia January 14, 2013 I read your article on "Gentleness: Strength Under Control", really appreciate your honesty and vulnerability in writing it. Will be keeping you in prayer. Shirley Chua from Singapore September 10, 2012 Great site! Love the info. As a school counselor it is refreshing to see a site not shy away from the more complex issues that plague parenting. It is also wonderful to see a site integrate psychological observations with what Scripture teaches. Christians should never shy away from the truth - God IS truth, so there is no need (?) for this! You have a section for parent-to-child interactions, which is great. A section on child-to-child interactions (in an attempt to help parents educate children on how to build basic social skills between friends/siblings) could be very useful. Just a thought! Jon Thompson from Grain Valley, MO (K.C. area) April 1, 2011 Webmaster's Reply: Have not written any article on child-to-child relationships but I do have a section of ERIC digests on "social development of children". I'm grateful for your stories. It's very good for those who are learning English. I, personally, try to learn your stories by heart. I'm not a child, but think it's good training. I'd like even more stories. Thank you. Irina Panomarenko from Ukraine March 14, 2011


	~ 2008 Comments ~ This is a great site for interactive assessment worksheets on math, English, and science. This is definitely a site that you will put in your favorites category. Endorsed by National Board Certified Teachers (NBCT) of Nassau County, Florida I stumbled across your website through a Google search on "food chains and webs". I just wanted to let you know that I think your site is fantastic! I teach 6^th grade ecology and my students absolutely LOVE when they have computer time to explore all the links you have. Thanks so much for all the hard work you put into this site! Lindsey Schray Francis D. Raub Middle School October 14, 2008 I chose to use the "Create a Food Chain" from the vtaide website because I think that doing an activity hands-on is the best way to remember something. I want students to be able to place a plant or animal on the food chain. This activity will keep them involved in the lesson. Wendy Compton Lesson plan written February 2008; found July 2008 This website (Food Chains and Webs) exceeds my expectations. Laura Parker Detailed evaluation available at Plant Biology written Spring 2007; found July 2008 My children enjoyed watching (the special effects) and listening to the sound effects which you have included (in the stories). Mary Mila Grace Roa-Rabe from the Philippines March 18, 2008 It takes ALOT to impress me ... but - HOLY SMOKES AM I AMAZED!!! The technology they create blows me away! I have found a site that has different stories ... and you can download an msagent that will read words or phrases to you that you do not know! It is very simple! Go to this site ... Download the three buddies Genie, Merlin, and Peedy. (You do this by clicking on the link READ ALONG WITH… and their name.) After downloading each one, they will open a page and say "type your text in the box and click the read button." At this point, you can have the kids type in their spelling words and hear them read back to them. They could type in phrases ... anything! It sounds like a computer generated voice, but nevertheless it is very cool! Go back to the original page ... and choose one of the stories near the bottom to read. When the story page comes up, use your mouse to highlight some of the text and click the READ button. (I would choose one paragraph at a time.) The little character will then appear and read the text to you! If you click on the character, he says something funny to you. If you click an drag the character to another space on the screen, he says something. The character seemingly interacts with what is going on the computer! Bells and whistles with reading! Extracted from MutterBlog Filed under: ROCK-ability, My A-Ha's! Inspiration March 11, 2008 Thank you for making practical help available and still retaining your Christianity and spreading God's word and plan! I am doing research for my master's in nursing and came across your site. How refreshing! Your site is practical, interesting, challenging and biblical! May God bless you and all that you are doing for Him. Susie Hagan February 29, 2008


	~ 2007 Comments ~ Please let me know if you intend to update the Food Chains website (referring to Create A Food Web activity) to work with modern browsers such as Firefox or Safari. Larry Waege October 17, 2007 Webmaster's Reply: Got the page to work with both Firefox and Safari with exception ... icons once discarded cannot be retrieved. LIKES: All of them. I like each stories. Could I please translate (them) into our local language? Addis Tesfa from Ethiopia, August 9, 2007 Just to let you know that it worked! - printing of "Animals of A Tropical Rainforest" The children had a lovely lesson. Thank you. Carol Petersen from England, May 17, 2007 These exercises (interactive puzzles) have led to some very interesting outcomes. My nearly 70-year old father is fascinated by the puzzle challenge and simplicity with which to play the stick puzzles. He’s also happy to have access to the results without having to unnecessarily frustrate himself. Since he was presented the game by his 11-year old great-granddaughter, I’m sure he’ll use the stick games to not only challenge himself, but have a enjoyable way to engage with his family. For my part, I see using the puzzles as a way of teaching the importance of working as teams and cross-functional departments. I believe in learning as a life-long process and will surely look to your site as a way to get there! Kat Fronek from Milwaukee, WI April 3, 2007 Previously (April 2, 2007) ... before hidden solutions were sent LIKES: interactive gaming and refresh to try new solutions DISLIKES: ability to find hidden links to solutions My 11-year old granddaughter challenged the family, but seems unclear about the solution. I'm also a training facilitator, and sometimes it's more important to match the right thinking game to the teaching objectives, rather than my spending time to figure out the solution. oh wow thanx~ :) If you have more puzzles that i can try to solve, plz let me know! it'll be fun :D bye~ from Korea January 24, 2007 LIKES: That it has so many sites to help children DISLIKES: It has no color to make people think it's fun unless they go to the actual site. Breanna from USA January 18, 2007


	~ 2006 Comments ~ I just wanted to let you know what a fabulous website you have created. Part of our grade 7 ecology unit deals with food chains/webs and I thought I would see what was out there on the web. Your "create your own food web" game is fantastic! I can't wait to use it with my class tomorrow! Thank you for an excellent resource! Heather Flosman October 24, 2006 I love this website ... the way the children are able to interact with the stories. My grandson has reading problems and it helps him to enjoy learning how to read. Iris from Baltimore, MD September 20, 2006 Hi. I have just been playing on your food webs and chains page - researching info for a fourth grade field trip. I just wanted to compliment you on how fabulous the website is. I love the nice simple, clear explanations and all the great links. It has got my brain whirring. :) Lauren Greene Program Manager Dunwoody Nature Center August 23, 2006 I've been taking a look at your Matter quiz, and noted that there are number of inaccuracies. I presume they're simplifications for the sake of teaching kids, but still ... "Matter is anything that has weight." - Is false. Matter has mass, not weight. You allude to this distinction in the second question, but weight does not equal mass. "You can compress water to force it to occupy less space." - Is true. Although it takes a lot of force to compress water even a fraction of a percent. So I suppose at school level water can be considered incompressible. "Matter can exist in three states: solid, liquid and gas." - Is debatable. While strictly true, the question implies that matter exists exclusively in those three states. Matter can also exist as plasma, Fermionic condensates and Bose-Einstein condensates. Other than that it was an interesting quiz, with some refreshing angles here and there. Andrew Perry April 17, 2006 Webmaster's Reply: You are right in that the quiz (and its contents) are a simplification for the sake of teaching kids. The quiz is actually targeted at the equivalent of Grade 3-4. Andrew's Response: I thought that might be the case. And for that, the only thing I'd say is misleading is the mass/weight thing in the first question. But I heartily agree, for that age group some things need to be simplified. And for that it's a good quiz. Your (lifeskills) website is really neat and has helped me a great deal. It was especially cool the "Who am I" section and after filling in the blanks and scrolling down, I couldn't help but cry with the realization that it does count for me too. You have done a wonderful job on this site. Thank you very much. Jennifer M Barton February 20, 2006 It’s probably the worst-named website I’ve ever found, but, it’s worth a visit for anyone teaching elementary math and science: "Interactive Assessment Worksheets". NCS-Tech Blog Northfield Community School January 5, 2006 Previously (December 5, 2005), on NCS-Tech Blog Sorry for the late posting … wanted to bring a very special site to your attention: http://www.vtaide.com/png/assess.htm The site also has superb Math brain teasers & other Science activities for primary grade students. Check it out!


	~ 2005 Comments ~ LIKES: I can use it with my Spanish native speakers, newcomers to the country. I teach Math and Spanish to them and your website helps them develop critical thinking skills without a language barrier. DISLIKES: It was hard to find some puzzle solutions. You hid them way too well. Could I get hints to where they are? Some puzzles I could solve myself, others were complicated even for me, but they loved to try them. I emailed you too for the solutions :( Laramie Del Valle from Carrollton, Texas Mary Grimes Education Center October 19, 2005 Stories for children is a site that tells stories replete with music, special effects and graphics for illustration but don't get scared, this doesn't make the site slow to load at all. The Hindu : Young World : Techie Taffy Online edition of India's National Newspaper October 14, 2005 Aligning De Bono's 6 hats and CORT programme with the Bible was a refreshing and out of the world experience for me. I am sure an incisive thought process must have gone through you to demonstrate such an application. Please accept my thanks. It will be of immense help to me in the future and enable me to apply biblical principles to my profession. Anthony from India HR Manager September 27, 2005 I am currently working on (putting together) a module on self awareness and just wanted to say thank you for your lovely web site. I was encouraged to see your boldness and your willingness to share your life with others. Tracy May from New Zealand May 19, 2005 You guys are the first website that actually made it easy to understand this type of science (referrring to Food Chains and Webs with MCQ). Thanks a lot! Rob Christmas May 11, 2005 I like the student-friendly format! (referrring to Food Chains and Webs). Thanks. Karen Hargrove from USA Middle Tennessee State University April 29, 2005


	~ 2004 Comments ~ It is an in-depth site (referrring to Kohlberg's Stages) that discusses different angles and answers questions so well you can't come up with any more; also it seems to be unbiased, objective. Rhondeen Pitts from Belize City, Central America September 29, 2004 Came across y(ou)r website on Erikson's psychosocial stages. Would like to commend (yo)u on a job well done!! It's a great help to have the stages explained in the local context + concerns of Christian parents addressed. And I like the smooth transitions between the webpages, made the web surfing a pleasure! Laura from Singapore Early childhood postgrad student February 3, 2004 Featured on Internet for Christians (IFC) ... "great educational Web site with a Christian perspective" IFC Digest February 3, 2004


	~ 2003 Comments ~ LIKES: Superb puzzles DISLIKES: Wish there was an easier way to get the solutions b/c you could really integrate these puzzles into classroom lessons Beth Williams from Reidsville, USA December 4, 2003 Webmaster's Note: Solutions are provided but hidden. As a parent who has recently lost a child to Leukemia, your choice of words were very impressive. I enjoy how you incorporate "God" into Erikson's theories. Thanks a bunch! Beatrice Starks from USA October 11, 2003 "Many of the puzzles at this site are challenging for elementary age students and they make terrific activities for those students who always finish first and complain of being 'bored.' This site contains no ads or commercial links and so requires minimal supervision." Linda Starr Technology Article - Learning Games for Students in Grades 3-5 Technology in the Classroom, Education World April 9, 2003 Webmaster's Note: Google Ads were added on July 9, 2003 Thank you for the biblical parenting information (referring to Feelings, Empathy and Decision Making). I found it very helpful and encouraging. Your work is a blessing for me and some of the parenting situations that I encounter. It is an answer to my prayers and relying on scripture I feel more adequately equipped to handle the tasks which God has given me. God bless you! Mrs. Teresa Mora March 12, 2003


	~ 2002 Comments ~ I just found your website and it is terrific! I have a potpourri of students at various levels. This is great for all of them. I like the individualization for students. Also, I can take my entire class into the lab and let each student make their own food web. Sybrenda Holiday Blackville-Hilda Public Schools November 13, 2002 Your web page on Kohlberg is helping me immensely with my Human Growth & Development paper. Thank you for clarifying what my text book did not! Lori Culberson from The Woodlands, TX June 23, 2002 LIKES: Your site has lots of puzzles and brain teasers! I like the way you hid the answers in most of them! DISLIKES: Not all the solutions are easily accessible, when needed. Kelly from USA May 24, 2002


	~ 2001 Comments ~ Thank you for taking the time out to give students the opportunity to think through a problem. The task (The Parade of Legs) wasn't easy but it was very useful. It took me a couple of tries before I got the right answer. Even though I had seen the pattern. Yet what appears to be obvious isn't always. Again, it is a good thing to remind our students to use pictures to help them out. Rhonda Whitfield November 23, 2001 Thanks for the site (articles on Kohlberg's Theory). Beautifully laid out and very clearly articulated. Very helpful in my preparation for a term paper. Adam Henderson October 13, 2001


	~ 2000 Comments ~ This fall, I will be the teacher for a new "Mommy, Daddy and Me" Sunday school class. I needed material for the parents that would be easy enough to cover in a 30-minute time frame. I found your site and like what I read ... will use the articles for the parents' weekly lesson. Thank you for the time and love you have put into the work you have done to prepare this material. Susan Horner from Pittsburgh August 28, 2000 Review by CrossDaily.com ... "All the material found here is well written and informative. You really have to read the material included here to experience its' effectiveness." Cross Daily August 2000 LIKES: you can help us with our homework. I don't know how you do it but you are brilliant just like my friend told me. No! she lied. You are better than what my friend told me. DISLIKES: it takes so long to get every thing loaded and sorted but if I want to get extra help in my homework then I guess I will have to wait. Hayley from Southport May 5, 2000 Excellent job! I especially enjoyed the Christian perspective on Erikson's First Four Stages (that absolutely coincided with the real world). I think it would be highly interesting, not to mention helpful, if you would go through the next 4 stages, using the same easy to understand and highly practical approach. Keep up the good work and God bless. I'll definitely be watching for any other articles. Simone Chambers University of the West Indies February 5, 2000