printables

how to make super-easy, beautiful flower pens

May 8, 2012

It’s Teacher Appreciation Week, a time I really believe teachers should get a little love, a pat on the back for all of their hard work, effort, and energy. Though my kids’ school has a whole committee who plans a week of total awesomeness for our teachers, the second day of the week is usually [...]

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quick & easy grid games: concepts of print

May 2, 2012

It’s been a busy few days for us, but we’re slowly getting back to the routine, and it (gulp!) feels pretty good. Though boy oh boy do we miss Disney. . . So this week, I pulled out Cora’s Kindergarten packet (wah!), looked through the ideas, and reminded myself that I really should do some [...]

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mastering multiplication tables (with mini flash cards)

April 29, 2012

Learning math facts has been a long, hard road for Maddy. It’s actually very often a long, hard road for many kids–including myself–way back when. I remember hours of practicing my basic facts and hours of frustration at the fact that I just wasn’t learning. I just wasn’t remembering.  I felt anxiety on every Mad [...]

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disney word searches: getting kids ready for the trip!

April 25, 2012

We were on a major word search kick a while back, but we’ve taken a good long rest from them. So in honor of our upcoming Disney Social Media Moms Celebration, I decided to bring back this oldie but goodie for Maddy, Owen, and Cora.  Word Searches!! What fun! Letter recognition! Fine motor practice! Reading! [...]

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disney fun fact lunchbox notes

April 19, 2012

We are big into lunchbox love notes around here, so why on earth would I have not thought earlier to make Disney Lunchbox Notes? Be still my heart. It’s the perfect combination: a captive audience, early readers, a topic that totally interests them–and a place I know they LOVE?  Add to the mix that they’ll [...]

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quick trick: fun sticks– 150 things for kids to do

March 23, 2012

I’ve been in dire need of a little Quick Trick to hand Owen when he says, I’m bored. What can I do? My usual responses: Oh, I’m so happy you’re bored.  Many children in the world never have the pleasure of being bored because they’re working in the fields or going to work for their [...]

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number hunt 2.0: hide, seek, and name numbers!

March 20, 2012

My sweet Cora has had some trouble with identifying numbers–especially those tricky teens. So I pulled out one of Maddy and Owen’s faves from a few years back, printed out some extra sheets, found a bunch of teeny, tiny chart stickers, and got psyched for homework time. We’ve done several variations of our Alphabet Hunts [...]

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st. patrick’s day joke notes: more lunchbox love

March 7, 2012

St. Patty’s Day is around the corner, but over here we’ve been decorated and green for the last three weeks!  We love that the green reminds us that spring is around the corner and that Easter will be here shortly, then family birthdays, and soon. . . summer! Surprisingly, I haven’t made super-fun lunchbox love [...]

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fab resources for read across america week (& giveaway!)

February 27, 2012

It’s Read Across America Week! Everyone who’s anyone will be reading, thinking, talking, dreaming a little bit o’ Dr. Seuss this week, to celebrate literacy and to recognize the accomplishments of the talented Theodor Seuss Geisel, THE Dr. Seuss, whose birthday is March 2.  He would be 108 this year, but really–who’s counting? PBS Kids [...]

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learning to spell contractions: sneaky games and play

February 22, 2012

We were so thankful for the gorgeous three-day weekend to slowly get us back on track and to allow us to (kind of) regain control over the mess that had become of our home.  After being away last week, the game nights, our movie night, book-reading, errands–even cleaning and organizing with the kids–was really a [...]

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honoring our friend susan, @whymommy

February 6, 2012

I remember so vividly beautiful you standing by the window in your blue dress, Susan. The one that Jess gave to you because it fit you so perfectly and you both knew it was the one. I remember how nervous you were–how excited you were–how ready you were. I remember how Curt calmed your nerves [...]

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