BUSY PARENTS
ONLINE BUSY GRADESCHOOLERS EDITOR
Sandy Fleming
Sandy has been helping kids
learn and grow for over twenty years now. Born and raised in Ohio,
some have said she never really grew up herself. Sandy began working
with youngsters when she built a mega-babysitting business with
over twenty clients in her small town. She spent her senior year
in high school in a work-study program that allowed her to assist
in a kindergarten classroom while studying the basics of teaching,
then did undergraduate work at Bowling Green State University
in Ohio to earn her elementary and special education teaching
licenses. She moved to Michigan shortly after marrying Roger in
1980.
After working for six years
in a classroom for developmentally disabled children and earning
her Master's Degree in Learning Disabilities and Mental Retardation,
Sandy resigned from her teaching position to raise a family. Three
girls came along in short order, named Corinne, Gwen, and Nikki.
The joys of family life were so tempting that Sandy never returned
from her original maternity leave, but chose instead to stay at
home and raise the girls.
But it's tough to satisfy
that deep-seated need to reach out to children, even when there
are three handy around the house! Borrowing other people's children
becomes a habit. Sandy soon began a home business tutoring children
who were struggling in school. With special education tools and
skills at her fingertips, she finds ways to help nearly every
child that stops into her office. The business has since expanded
and grown into Learning Nook Educational Services, and now includes
in-person, distance, and on-line tutorial services, online classes,
workshops and adult training events for parents and caregivers,
as well as a line of publications designed to help parents and
caregivers find new and exciting ways to work with children.
Sandy now spends her days
volunteering for Girl Scouts and her church, working in her business,
and writing for various web publications. The girls are growing
up fast! Corinne, the eldest, has a job and wants a car. She's
an accomplished musician and writer. Gwen, the middle child, is
busily planning a trip to Europe in June of 2004 with her Girl
Scout friends. She's been accepted into an accelerated high school
program, and enjoys creating beautiful works of art. Nikki enjoys
gymnastics, writing poetry, riding her bike, and playing games.
The household is jumping with friends, parties, music, and BOYS!
It's an exciting time to be a Fleming.
Sandy believes that all
adults have a responsibility to nurture children's growth in all
areas of life. She can help them meet this commitment by providing
information, resources, and personal consultation. We all share
responsibility for growing children and we all have gifts to use
in this area.
The section editor job for
Busy Parents Online is like a dream come true. It's a chance to
grow and develop new skills in a supportive environment, and a
great opportunity to help other parents with questions and ideas
that will make their busy lives a little less hectic. Sandy's
goal is to assemble a wide array of helpful articles, reviews
of movies, books, and products that parents will want to know
about, and put fun activity ideas right at your fingertips. Whether
you are looking for information about social development, learning
styles, or game ideas, Busy Grade Schoolers will have just what
you are seeking. If you have suggestions or needs that aren't
being addressed, please email Sandy or consider the posted writers'
guidelines! Everyone is welcome to make a contribution that will
benefit us all.
Sandy adores making new
friends and meeting people. Please accept this personal invitation
to drop by the section, send an email, and introduce yourself.
There's no such thing as a stranger, just friends who haven't
yet met. Sandy can be reached at sandy@beanstalk.net
or drop by her site at www.learningnook.com
. See you around Busy Parents Online!
