homemade back-to-school lunchbox notes I have been on a major cleaning kick lately, trying to get our family (and home) ready for the new school year. I want to begin on the right foot so …Read morehomemade back-to-school lunchbox notes
back-to-school shopping with three crazy-cool kids After our crazy-successful Smart Summer Challenge, I needed a little week-long offline vay-cay to say the least! Our Smart Summer Challenge was a …Read moreback-to-school shopping with three crazy-cool kids
a fish out of water: games to practice sight words Owen and I had to play a few extra games of Go Fish! this week to celebrate the Water Fun we’ve got on our calendar for the Smart Summer …Read morea fish out of water: games to practice sight words
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
a word a day: getting the family involved Maddy, Owen, and Cora have loved the Word a Day we’ve been doing for the past two weeks–more than I anticipated and much to my …Read morea word a day: getting the family involved
learning during lunch with muffin tin meals We took it easy today, after a late night filled with a lot of sushi-eating and a slow and rainy morning. So after swim, dive, and mini-team, we …Read morelearning during lunch with muffin tin meals
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
word a day: creating word conscious, word happy kids Our very first day of the Smart Summer Challenge found us lazying around at home because Owen returned from swim and dive feeling really under the …Read moreword a day: creating word conscious, word happy kids
getting ready for kindergarten: short e picture-word sort One of the best activities for practicing early word learning is the picture-word sort. Nothing takes the pressure off of reading like adding …Read moregetting ready for kindergarten: short e picture-word sort
quick trick: how to use recyclables with kids–get fun, crafty, creative With summer right around the corner and kids home a lot more than usual, many of us need to keep a few tricks in our back pocket for rainy days or …Read morequick trick: how to use recyclables with kids–get fun, crafty, creative
a game for practicing spelling, sight words, or letters: WORDO! With the end of the school year quickly approaching, we’re all getting antsy for summer. So I’ve had to be super crafty during our work …Read morea game for practicing spelling, sight words, or letters: WORDO!
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
sight word games to prepare for kindergarten: go fish! Owen has been really interested in reading lately, so I’m trying to roll with it without pushing him or having him lose interest–so games …Read moresight word games to prepare for kindergarten: go fish!
letter and word learning: cora’s word search puzzles One more way we’re making Maddy’s homework time work for everyone is with Word Searches. You know those sheets of paper with …Read moreletter and word learning: cora’s word search puzzles
getting kids to write: write around the room Finding interesting and meaningful activities for Owen and Cora during Maddy’s homework time has kept me busy lately, but I’ve found tons …Read moregetting kids to write: write around the room
wiggly words: wild, crazy practice with spelling and sight words We’re always trying to mix things up over here–get a little crazy, even–when it comes to playing with those spelling and sight …Read morewiggly words: wild, crazy practice with spelling and sight words
alphabingo: playing with lowercase letters An oldie but goodie, we brought out Alphabingo before rest time on Monday, before I was hit hard with what seems like the flu and before our lives got …Read morealphabingo: playing with lowercase letters
quick trick: magnetic letters (how to use them with your kids!) Holiday time is here, and things are sure to be nutty around our house–and everyone else’s–for the …Read morequick trick: magnetic letters (how to use them with your kids!)
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
fun fall grid games = math and literacy learning! We love grid games over here. It doesn’t matter what’s on the board, what we use to count spaces, or what we use as place holders; my …Read morefun fall grid games = math and literacy learning!