We're winding down summer over here, but not before my kids finish up their math and reading assignments from school. Yes, we just started them this week. But whatever. We're getting there and doing what we can. One of the activities I thought was particularly cool was one of the days in Owen's math calendar. Simple. Challenging. Tricky and fun. It was a 26 triangle math puzzle, and it had us stumped for a long, long time. Here's the skinny. . . 26 Triangles--Tricky, Fun Math … [Read more...]
fun activities for kids: last week of tabletop surprises
This is the last week we're rolling with our tabletop surprises. Boo-hooooooooo. Even though our calendar was ten weeks and we've rocked #tabletopsurprises out for nine fun-filled weeks, next week will be spent (gasp!) doing the kids' summer school work. Sure, I should have more evenly spaced the work, but whatever. I didn't. And school's almost here. As in a week away. Open House next Friday. Stop the madness, right? Next week we're going to do a whole lot of organizing around … [Read more...]
backyard camping and reading under the stars: summer reading at its best
Summer is in full swing, and what better way to really rock it out in the summertime than by camping? Not for real camping, my friends--I'm talking backyard camping. In my book, backyard camping counts. Especially if you're not all that much of an outdoorsy family. We have been talking about backyard camping for awhile now, so I decided to surprise the kids with a tent. Not a huge tent, but a 6-person, easy-to-assemble, totally affordable tent. Because … [Read more...]
the fox and the crane: shadow puppets with printables
This week, Liska from Adventure in a Box shares a super-cool, totally new-to-teachmama.com idea. So cool, it's nuts. Liska is a toymaker, a creator, a mom, an artist and a lover of books. She is a Russian who has settled in Canada with her son and husband (and her husband just so happens to have one of the coolest jobs around!). Today, Liska created printables for us and delivers a unique way of sharing The Fox and the Crane fable--with shadow puppets that you can print and use today. … [Read more...]
let kids play: remembering the importance of free time outdoors
It's easy for parents to fall into the trap of thinking that summer means camps, amusement parks, pool trips, beach, camping, picnics, and activities nonstop. Busy, busy, busy. And when we're not going, going, going, many of us feel guilty. Like our kids always must be doing something. And it's easy for parents to fall into the trap of thinking that 'downtime' means 'plugged in' time: free play on an electronic device--a tablet, phone, iPod, computer, … [Read more...]
keeping kids busy in the summer: tabletop surprises
We're keeping our busy kids' brains moving this summer with tabletop surprises. Simple ways to keep Maddy, Owen, and Cora engaged when they're able and when they're ready. It worked for us last summer, and it's working this summer. They're called 'tabletop surprises' because the kids have no idea what's coming. They just know that every day in the summer, there's going to be something waiting for them on the table in the kitchen. And if they carve out time to do it during the … [Read more...]
4 sums in a row: quick & easy math game
This summer, we're all about quick and easy. We're all about games and activities that pack a powerful punch because goodness knows we're doing the best we can just to keep our heads afloat during our busy swim and dive season. One super-quick and easy game that Owen brought home this year from school has come up several times this summer. It's quick. It's different. He really likes it. It's simple in concept but requires a bit of strategy. It's called '4 sums in a row' and the … [Read more...]
shrinky dink flag bracelet: super-cool patriotic craft
The following Rockstar Sunday guest post is written by one of the coolest gals on the planet, Becky Morales. Becky is a mom, teacher, and creator of Kid World Citizen, where she shares activities that 'help young minds go global'. How cool is that? So cool, right? Becky is super-passionate about global education, geo-literacy, service learning, educational technology connecting students to the world, and cultural exchange. She's getting more awesome by the second. I know. Today, she's … [Read more...]
frozen birthday party: best ideas for crafty kids
I'm singing 'Let it gooooo, let it gooooooo. . . ' now, as I realize that this post was to have gone live three months ago, and it's just happening now. After our rockstar Frozen birthday for Cora, well. . . life got in the way. So here it is. The companion post to our Frozen snowball tower post, here's our Frozen birthday party: best ideas for crafty kids. It's everything else we did for Cora's Frozen birthday--the crafts we made, the activities, and … [Read more...]
best books for reading under the stars: scholastic summer reading challenge
This summer, the kids and I plan on doing a whole lot of reading. Reading at the pool, out on the porch, reading on a blanket on the grass out back. And a whole lot of reading under the stars. Maybe not every night, but you better believe that we're going to rock it out for a few backyard campouts this summer. Complete with flashlights, s'mores, bugspray, and a whole lot of blankets, we're going to make the most of our 'staycation summer'. And though … [Read more...]
kid craft sale: supporting young entrepreneurs (with Astrobrights giveaway!)
We have always supported our kids' learning here at home; in fact, that's the very reason teachmama.com was started! Big on learning in the every day, we've always done what we could to find cool opportunities for learning in the here and now. Fun learning in everyday events. Really doing what we can to be in the moment and roll with the adventures as they unfold. So this weekend, we hosted an impromptu Kid Craft Sale. No joke. What started as Maddy and I … [Read more...]
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