books

holiday time fun-fact lunchbox notes

December 13, 2011

As I said yesterday, my kids have taken to the Christmas around the World, and I am so totally over the moon about it. They’re batty over a non-fiction text! They want to read it! They talk about it–even when I’m not there! I’d be crazy if I didn’t try to do some sort of [...]

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learning during read-alouds: non-fiction that WORKS

December 12, 2011

The first few times Owen had media at school this year, he came home with the most random books. His first book was an Arthur book that we already have here at home.  Then he came home with a non-fiction book about Chihuahuas. The next week, he picked yet another book that we have here [...]

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just 1 book: author melissa ridenour (& signed book giveaway)

November 14, 2011

It’s not always an easy topic to cover with children, but stranger safety should be tops on our list of must-cover items with our children. Today’s just 1 book contributor has written a book that will help caregivers with this difficult task, and the author shares the heartbreaking event in her life that led her [...]

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just 1 book: author mabel katz (& signed book giveaway)

October 24, 2011

Welcome back, just 1 book! It’s been a bit since we’ve run this feature, but we are ready and rarin’ to go! I’ve met so many incredibly talented people in the last few months, since the uber busy Smart Summer Challenge (which put the ‘just 1 book’ feature on hold), but we’ve finally got an [...]

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we teach: holiday learning eBook — free, fab, filled with ideas

October 17, 2011

Hip, hip, HOORAY!!  The we teach holiday learning eBook is hot off the presses! Filled with fabulous ideas from over 30 brilliant members of our forum, the holiday learning eBook is FREE to all members of we teach and we’re sure you’ll find something worthwhile that you can use either for home or classroom holiday [...]

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learning during read-alouds: print referencing

October 3, 2011

Some days, it takes every ounce of energy in my being to keep my tired eyes open during the time I’m reading books with Maddy, Owen, and Cora. Some nights, book time is the very first time I sit–or lay–down, and I yawn like every five seconds. Some nights, I feel like I did waaaay [...]

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national book festival and gala: what I learned

September 26, 2011

My most favorite night of the year was last Friday night: The National Book Festival Gala. The National Book Festival is in its 11th year, and this year for the first time ever, it was two days of festivities on the Mall in DC–more than 100 authors, poets, and illustrators were there. It. Is. SototallyawesomeIcannotevenexplainit. [...]

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learning during read-alouds: oral language development

September 12, 2011

Sometimes, simple is better.  Sometimes, more choices make us more confused. If Maddy, Owen, and Cora were shown an amazing pallet of face paints and were able to choose anything in the world they wanted designed on their cheeks or arms, I’m betting they’d all balk. Either it would take 30 minutes for them to [...]

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new for us friday: newmark learning early reading resources (and FOUR giveaways!)

September 9, 2011

Nearly every parent I know wants to do what he or she can to support early learning for their children. We all want to see our kids grow to enjoy reading, to master their math facts, to develop a love of learning, and to carry a natural curiosity about the world around them. But it’s [...]

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trying tapas: rockville restaurant week (& giveaway!)

September 7, 2011

For the last few days, Cora and I have read Susan Middleton Elya’s Bebé Goes Shopping more times than I can count. In the story, Mamá y Bebé take a trip to the supermercado, and along the way. . . . . . [j]ust as Mamá is ready to throw up her manos, she gives [...]

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learning during read-alouds: making back-to-school connections

August 29, 2011

Today I sent the big O-man off to Kindergarten and Maddy off to second grade, and I absolutely cannot believe it. If I think about it too much, I seriously might burst into tears.  Weren’t they just in diapers? Crawling around on the floor?  Where’s the time going? Though Cora and I will soon adjust [...]

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under a shady tree
can you feel the soft cool grass?
can you feel it with your toes?
we can sit here while it grows.
laurie berkner, "under a shady tree"


i know nothing with certainty but the sight of the stars makes me dream
. . . vincent van gogh