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helps families connect & build bridges between home & school, by amy mascott

  • early literacy
    • alphabet
    • beginning sounds
    • phonics
    • phonological awareness
    • read-aloud learning
    • rhyming
    • sight words
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    • comprehension
      • activating schema
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    • word building
    • word consciousness
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  • digital literacy
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    • iPad for learning
  • early literacy
    • alphabet
    • beginning sounds
    • phonics
    • phonological awareness
    • read-aloud learning
    • rhyming
    • sight words
  • reading
    • books
    • comprehension
      • activating schema
      • connecting
      • inferring
      • predicting
      • questioning
      • retelling / summarizing
      • visualizing
    • concepts of print
    • environmental print
    • fluency
    • non-fiction
    • spelling
    • word building
    • word consciousness
    • vocabulary
  • writing
    • creative writing
    • grammar
    • informative writing
    • tripod grip
  • math
    • computation
    • counting
    • numbers
  • science
    • animals
    • plants
    • science experiments for kids
  • Activities
    • birthdays
    • cooking
      • new for us foods
    • crafts
    • foundations
      • colors
      • critical thinking
      • fine arts
      • listening
      • pretend play
      • sorting
      • speaking
    • holidays
      • new year’s
      • valentine’s day
      • president’s day
      • st. patrick’s day
      • april fool’s day
      • easter
      • mother’s day
      • teacher appreciation
      • father’s day
      • july 4th
      • halloween
      • thanksgiving
      • christmas
    • family life
      • family fun
      • giving back
      • lunchbox love notes
      • school
    • indoor activities
    • outdoor activities
  • digital literacy
    • computer time
    • iPad for learning
home / early literacy / alphabet

alphabet

how to teach kids the ABCs: 5 fun ways | teachmama.com

how to teach kids the ABCs: 5 fun ways

Let's face it: the letters of the alphabet are the building blocks of the English language. They are. The ABCs are among the most important …
Read morehow to teach kids the ABCs: 5 fun ways
go on an ABC hunt | reading tip 11 #raiseareader

go on an ABC hunt | reading tip 11 #raiseareader

As parents, we teach out kids so many foundational skills. We teach them to sleep, to walk, to eat, and to talk. We teach them how to dress, to …
Read morego on an ABC hunt | reading tip 11 #raiseareader
alphabet hunt: on the road abc fun

alphabet hunt: on the road abc fun

This is one of my first ever posts, and it's one that I have shared hundreds of times. It was originally published on January 17, 2009, but I'm …
Read morealphabet hunt: on the road abc fun
play with letters or numbers: cool summer learning for kids | birute from @playtivities guest posting on teachmama.com

play with letters or numbers: cool summer learning for kids

The following Rockstar Sunday guest post is written by a woman whose third language is English and who has two little ones and two rockstar blogs. …
Read moreplay with letters or numbers: cool summer learning for kids

word building, letter writing, stamping to spell

     Originally published on 2.23.11 but republished because it's that important. During Maddy's homework time yesterday, Owen …
Read moreword building, letter writing, stamping to spell
alphabet and reading on the road

alphabet and reading on the road

The kids and I spent the weekend in Pennsylvania, showering my baby sister and her husband with love for their soon-to-be baby boy. Though we …
Read morealphabet and reading on the road
help kids learn the abc's

10 fun ways of helping kids learn the abc’s

It's so easy for us to say we want our kids to learn the ABC's and 123's before kids hit Kindergarten, but how do we actually do it? Is there an …
Read more10 fun ways of helping kids learn the abc’s
homemade alphabet book | early literacy | teachmama.com

homemade alphabet book: get personal with the abc’s

There's been a ton of little things that we've done over here to help Maddy, Owen, and Cora learn the letters of the alphabet, but I have to say that …
Read morehomemade alphabet book: get personal with the abc’s

best of teach mama countdown: #9 — building words, names

This post, which rolls in at #9, continues to surprise me with the amount of hits it gets. Maybe it's the title: word building, name building (and …
Read morebest of teach mama countdown: #9 — building words, names

build your own bingo games: uppercase and lowercase letter match

Cora and I have been rockin' the bingo games lately, with a new spin on bingo games that she really seems to love. And I'm sure the Smartie bingo …
Read morebuild your own bingo games: uppercase and lowercase letter match
leafy outdoor abc hunt

leafy, outdoor alphabet letter hunt

It's very leafy over here. With tons of huge trees dropping leaves at about a million per minute, our yard and house is covered. But before I …
Read moreleafy, outdoor alphabet letter hunt
alphabet letter splash

alphabet letter splash–keeping cool with the abc’s

Who says playing with the letters of the alphabet can't be a fun and exciting outdoor activity? Who thinks that all letter-learning involves a pen …
Read morealphabet letter splash–keeping cool with the abc’s

smart summer challenge fun learning ideas: week 4

It’s almost week #4 of our Smart Summer Learning Challenge–the campaign we’ve created to let all parents know the important–and totally fun–role they …
Read moresmart summer challenge fun learning ideas: week 4

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

summertime learning eBook: free and filled with fun ideas!

I am beyond excited to share the news of a project that's been consuming my life for the last two weeks (hence, the few blog posts over here. . . …
Read moresummertime learning eBook: free and filled with fun ideas!

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 big blocks …
Read moreletter and word learning: cora’s word search puzzles
alphabingo cover

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

new for us friday: magnetic poetry (and giveaway!)

I have been a huge fan of magnetic poetry, ever since my college pals and I had a set on the fridge of our off-campus house a lifetime ago. Our poetry …
Read morenew for us friday: magnetic poetry (and giveaway!)
clothespin number and letter match-up game | teachmama.com

clothespin number and letter match-up game

  Always on the hunt for cool ways of sneaking in a little bit of learning for my kiddos, early this summer I found these cool Clothespin …
Read moreclothespin number and letter match-up game
lowercase letter hunt and sort | teachmama.com

lowercase letter hunt and sort

Our first super crazy fall week has hit us. Hard. With double Back-to-School Nights, double tutoring, and meetings, on top of a mid-week …
Read morelowercase letter hunt and sort
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Hot off the presses!

I've been working CRAZY hours because I'm prepping for a launch in the next two weeks. G U L P!

I'm SUPER excited, and I know you will be too.

Read more here: https://take5.teachmama.com/

#linkinbio #teachmamatake5 #bestoftheweb #take5 #coolestclubintown
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Loving my new St. Patrick’s Day 🍀 tee and eyeing about 5 others I totally want!

Remember—the more we can get our kids reading, the better! 

So find a fun and festive shirt for everyone in the fam and teach kids phrases like: 

🍀 Saint Patrick’s Day sparks JOY

☘️ Happy Go Lucky

🍀 Team Irish

☘️ Lucky Charm

🍀 Irish I was a little bit taller

☘️ Here for the shenanigans 

🍀 Lucky mama

☘️ A wee bit Irish 

and more!

Right now on Zulily you can grab tees, hoodies, dresses, pj sets, tank tops, slouchy tees, sweatshirts, sweatpants, and more starting at under $20!

Check them out: zulily.gfpv.net/rnegED

#stpatricksdaydecor #linkinbio #saintpaddysday #familyfun🍀 #irishkids #zulilypartner #raiseareader
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If you have not yet met the Buddha Board, today is your lucky day.

The Buddha Board is the ideal way to help kids find focus and to relax, and honestly every family could use one.

I would do anything some days to bring a little big of peace and calm–and zen–to our home. 

With a Buddha Board always out on a shelf, we are always just minutes away from unplugged focus and relaxation.

Have you tried one? 

Here are the deets:
https://teachmama.com/help-kids-focus-and-relax-with-the-buddha-board/

#linkinbio #buddhaboard #calmyourmind #mindfulmoments #unplugged
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Doesn’t it seem like time has become a crazy mashup of virtual-hybrid-normal-life, scattered with the *occasional* bright spot—with an overload of disappointment, confusion, and uncertainty? Like it’s hard to pinpoint what happened exactly last spring or the summer before last or even last fall?

It’s all kind of a jumbled mess?

It feels like that for me. 

But I know this for sure: spending time with these women is truly good for my soul. It’s what my heart needs. Time slows down. I can breathe. 

And it’s what I’m betting everyone needs right now—some time with good friends—sister bffs—friends like family. 

No matter what is going on in the world, these women ground me, help me feel more centered, and fill my heart with so. much. joy. 

I walked Louie this morning with what felt like lighter steps and a bigger smile on my face, and I know it’s because I spent time with beloved friends last night. 

Friends, listen to me: It’s EASY to want to hole up right now and not do much of anything—it’s dark by 5pm, it’s freezing out, it’s grey and gross outside, and we are all so tired. But one night this week or next, call a pal. 

Make plans for coffee or a meal together, and just RECONNECT with some friends. Put on a little lipstick. Dust off that bottle of perfume. Wear a big sweater over a tee shirt and leggings and put on fun earrings. It’s not that hard, but it makes a difference. 

I guarantee it will be exactly what you need and you will move forward the next few days with a brighter spirit. 

Love you, @jessicamcfadd @justicefergie and @sandie_chen so, so, SO MUCH. And love Evie too!! 

Let’s get another date on the calendar stat. 😉😍

(Of COURSE we made beautiful @eve.mcfadden pose with us last night after her dance class because we are her bloggy aunties and have known her since she was 2yo and we love her like our own.)

#wwh #bff4life #ogbloggers #sisterfriends
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Thank you @delegateericluedtke @senzucker @delegatepamqueen for meeting with Maryland @MomsDemand volunteers to discuss how we can work together to end gun violence in our communities. 

JOIN US at our next event by texting READY to 644-33 to get involved in your community!

#MDGA22 #MDpolitics #MomsAreEverywhere #DoSomething #SaySomething #BeTheChange
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As a @MomsDemand volunteer, I just met virtually with my #MDGA22 legislators to work to keep our state safe from gun violence. 

I told @delegateericluedtke @senzucker @delegatepamqueen that:

- In 1999, I was teaching English at Wilde Lake HS in Columbia, MD when the Columbine HS massacre took place. I vowed then that I would do everything I could to prevent something like that from happening again. I thought: There is NO WAY this will happen when I have children in school. Laws will change. Surely we will protect our children better.

- In 2007, I had just had my 3rd child, and a month later, the VA Tech shooting took place. I watched the news in horror and thought, please, please, PLEASE let smart people make laws to prevent this from ever happening again. PLEASE. 

- In 2012, I had three kids in elementary school--K, 1st, and 3rd grade, and my husband was an admin at a different school. That same year, 20 children and 6 adults were shot and killed at Sandy Hook ES. I joined @sandyhookpromise as soon as it was created. I thought: THIS will be the last one. No more senseless, preventable deaths.

- In 2022, just last week, at Magruder HS, where I once taught English and where my husband coached soccer, there was another shooting. This time with a ghost gun. Every day, I send my 3 children off to high school 10 minutes down the road from Magruder HS, and every day, I plead, pray, and beg God to keep them safe. 

They should not fear for their lives when they walk into school each day, nor should ANY child, any teacher, any administrator, or support staff. Schools should be safe places.

Today, we asked #Maryland lawmakers to prioritize legislation to prohibit the manufacture & sale of ghost guns: do-it-yourself weapons that can be downloaded or purchased online, bypassing the background check system that keeps us all safe. 

Please do the same. Join your local @momsdemand or @studentsdemand 

#UseYourVoice #DoSomething
#MDpolitics #MomsAreEverywhere
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Although I can’t be in Annapolis today, this Maryland @MomsDemand volunteer stands with those there in urging my legislators to protect our state from ghost guns. #MomsAreEverywhere #MDGA22 #MDpolitics

Want to get involved? 

❤️ visit momsdemandaction.org

❤️ share ANY and ALL @momsdemand @studentsdemand or @everytown posts

❤️ share any and all #MDGA22 #MDpolitics posts 

❤️ join this movement and make a difference!

#DoSomething #SaySomething #BeTheChange #EndGunViolence
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🔥 Hot off the presses 🔥

Take 5: here's what happened to me, and here's where we're going. . .

Excited about big things happening over here in 2022. 

Things may look a little different as we release and share, but if you want to stay ‘in the know’, subscribe here: https://take5.teachmama.com/

#herewego #thescoop #herearethedeets #linkinbio
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Time for your New Year’s Family Interview! 

If you haven’t done it yet, it’s OKAY. We are all feeing a little bit behind already this year. 

Be good to yourself. 

Love your people well. 

Head over and grab your *new and improved* New Year’s Family Interviews here: https://shop.teachmama.com/product/new-years-family-interview/

#newyearinterview #familyfun #easytraditions #linkinbio

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