learning during read-alouds: making back-to-school connections 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 …Read morelearning during read-alouds: making back-to-school connections
learning during read-alouds: making predictions When my family visited our local butterfly garden a few weeks ago, none of us could have predicted that one of the beautiful creatures would have …Read morelearning during read-alouds: making predictions
learning during read-alouds: making connections and questioning (with siblings!) We have been putting in a lot of pool time lately, but we’ve also been spending a boatload of time indoors–staying …Read morelearning during read-alouds: making connections and questioning (with siblings!)
getting ready for kindergarten: summertime prep We’re almost exactly at the mid-summer point, and before we know it, the new school year will be upon us. What can families do this …Read moregetting ready for kindergarten: summertime prep
questioning and connecting during read-alouds I’m not going to lie–some summer days, I really think that if it weren’t for the 15 minutes of Adult Swim, my …Read morequestioning and connecting during read-alouds
learning during read-alouds: 5 things never to say to emerging readers Sometimes it’s very easy for teachers and parents to feel impatient with emerging readers. It’s hard to listen to kids sound out every …Read morelearning during read-alouds: 5 things never to say to emerging readers
learning during read-alouds: activating schema According to Rachel and Mary Gabriel, the “schema theory tells us that prior knowledge is essential for comprehension of new knowledge and that …Read morelearning during read-alouds: activating schema
learning during read-alouds: making connections My kiddos are huge fans of popping pop beads, stringing beads, connecting nuts and bolts, and just sticking things together. Not only are these …Read morelearning during read-alouds: making connections
learning during read-alouds: word consciousness We shouldn’t try to fill every second of our children’s lives with learning and lessons. Our kiddos really do need time for free play …Read morelearning during read-alouds: word consciousness
learning during read-alouds: visualizing Many of us have taken a moment now and again to encourage our children to find pictures in the sky on a cloudy day, right? No matter if it’s a …Read morelearning during read-alouds: visualizing
pow! bam! wow! print referencing and onomatopoeia I’ve said time and time again that read-alouds are an absolutely perfect time for sneaking in some learning with our kiddos, I believe there the …Read morepow! bam! wow! print referencing and onomatopoeia
the gift of reading: finding the ‘gifts’ in any book So many times as busy, rushed parents, we zip through reading books with our kids without really taking a minute to stop and chat about the gifts that …Read morethe gift of reading: finding the ‘gifts’ in any book
quick, sneaky questioning to improve reading comprehension It seems that Maddy’s leveled out a bit with her reading this year. She’s doing great with her …Read morequick, sneaky questioning to improve reading comprehension
teach mama’s holiday gift guide for kids and family Okay, this New For Us Friday is totally new for me–my first gift guide ever. And it includes …Read moreteach mama’s holiday gift guide for kids and family
super-important inferring during read-alouds Read-alouds are the perfect time to sneak in a little bit of learning, whether you’re talking simple reading …Read moresuper-important inferring during read-alouds
international literacy day: cora cooks pancit September 8th is International Literacy Day (hooray!), and although we’ve been busy re-arranging our house (believe it) …Read moreinternational literacy day: cora cooks pancit
non-fiction reading and real-life learning with fish We’re pet sitting for the next few days, and Maddy, Owen and Cora are loving it. Nothing cuddly or furry, but these …Read morenon-fiction reading and real-life learning with fish
keeping summer reading fresh, fun, priority one It’s true–summer can be a slippery slope of ‘un-learning’ if parents don’t play their cards right.For so many of us, …Read morekeeping summer reading fresh, fun, priority one
making connections– with poems we love Lately, we’ve been so busy. May flew by, like it always does for us–a blur of end-of-school activities, yard work, …Read moremaking connections– with poems we love
reading, learning, and dogs, dogs, dogs Ever since Brady boy entered our lives, things have been hectic, nuttier than ever, and dog-crazy. While Maddy, Owen, and …Read morereading, learning, and dogs, dogs, dogs