3 quick, hands-on, totally cool math games Every summer, our school hands out summer packets–worksheets upon worksheets with ways that parents can continue the learning all summer …Read more3 quick, hands-on, totally cool math games
everyday journals: creative, thoughtful daily activities for kids This week, we officially began our Smart Summer 2012, a summer filled with fun learning, focused and free days, and a whole lot of …Read moreeveryday journals: creative, thoughtful daily activities for kids
learning during read-alouds: critical thinking, new literacies I read an extremely interesting article this week that has really left me thinking about how I read with my children. It …Read morelearning during read-alouds: critical thinking, new literacies
new for us friday: the grapple We were totally due for some new-for-us foods around here, after our handful of awesome, new-for-us games, thanks to Toy Fair, Easter, and the …Read morenew for us friday: the grapple
quick trick: keep. those. LIDS! How many of you have recycle bins that are nearly overflowing by the end of the week? I know ours is, despite all of the recyclables that I …Read morequick trick: keep. those. LIDS!
150 things for kids to do Here it is, friends: the massive list of 150 fun things for kids to do. They can do these things when they’re bored or when they’re not …Read more150 things for kids to do
math bingo: fun ways to play with numbers I’m on a constant search for ways to make math fun and a natural part of the day for my kiddos. Especially Maddy. Though she has made …Read moremath bingo: fun ways to play with numbers
candy experiments: playing with color It’s been a busy few weeks for us, between school, sports, Blogalicious, Halloween, and my parents coming down to spend time with the kids while …Read morecandy experiments: playing with color
how to use halloween candy for (sneaky) fun learning There may only be a few more days left until our Jack-O-Lanterns turn into lunch for the squirrels (if they haven’t already!), but the candy …Read morehow to use halloween candy for (sneaky) fun learning
how to teach kids where in the world they live For a long time now, I’ve realized that Maddy, Owen, and Cora have no idea where they live. Sure, they get that they live in Maryland and their …Read morehow to teach kids where in the world they live
how kids can–and should–help with gardening It’s been a different kind of weekend over here; our littlest one has been under the weather for the greater part of the last four days, and the …Read morehow kids can–and should–help with gardening
playing turkey feathers: matching beginning sounds Today I brought out one of my old Words Their Way favorites–Turkey Feathers. It’s a really simple game that I used with students to …Read moreplaying turkey feathers: matching beginning sounds
family paper roll dolls: a silly way to help teach emotions I’ve had a really difficult time with my sweet Cora lately, and I’m not sure how much longer we can chalk her hot-headedness up to a bad …Read morefamily paper roll dolls: a silly way to help teach emotions
painting with candy: candy experiments (part two) Maddy, Owen, and Cora had an absolute blast performing candy experiments using their Halloween loot this week, but I think the most fun they had …Read morepainting with candy: candy experiments (part two)
fun ways to learn spelling words Not only did we lose Maddy’s very first homework packet over here in the chaos of the first few weeks of school; we also only spent only a …Read morefun ways to learn spelling words
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
a math-mindful summer — everyday math activities Today when we were doing some after-breakfast reading, something funny happened. Owen showed me clear as day just how differently our brains are …Read morea math-mindful summer — everyday math activities
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
our easy and exciting backyard fragrance experiment It’s been impossible to ignore that springtime (or is it summer?) has arrived in full-force, so for the last few days, we’ve been enjoying …Read moreour easy and exciting backyard fragrance experiment
kissing reindeer hunt I’ve had several kind people email me asking what I meant on our Advent Activity Calendar by “Kissing Reindeer Hunt.” Hmmmmm, …Read morekissing reindeer hunt