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

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  • 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
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home / family life / family fun / outdoor activities

outdoor activities

summertime swim team | teachmama.com

summer swim team: an absolute MUST for families

Summer swim has been a staple for our family for the last six years. Ever since Maddy joined the pre-team the summer before Kindergarten, we've spent …
Read moresummer swim team: an absolute MUST for families
get kids to play outside teachmama.com

get kids to play outside: 4 tips for summertime playground fun

  Sometimes, getting kids to play outside is no easy feat, especially in the summer. Because here in the DC Metro area, it's hot. It's …
Read moreget kids to play outside: 4 tips for summertime playground fun
baseball game scavenger hunt | teachmama.com

baseball game scavenger hunt: fun for kids during the game

  I have a hard time sitting still during sporting events. I won't lie. I love the tailgating and the food and the crowds, but …
Read morebaseball game scavenger hunt: fun for kids during the game

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 …
Read morebackyard camping and reading under the stars: summer reading at its best
let kids play: remembering the importance of free time outdoors | teachmama.com

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 …
Read morelet kids play: remembering the importance of free time outdoors
back yard chopped challenge teachmama.com

backyard chopped challenge: creative outdoor fun

Many of my longtime readers will think I've officially lost my marbles after reading this post, and maybe I have. I just think it's worth sharing …
Read morebackyard chopped challenge: creative outdoor fun
learning at baseball games teachmama.com

fun, kid-friendly learning at baseball games

Originally published June 6, 2011 but republished today because, well, it's worth it.   This past week, we experienced something totally …
Read morefun, kid-friendly learning at baseball games
3 ways to kick-start your family's health teachmama.com.png

3 ways to kick-start your family’s health

I am blogging on behalf of Walmart.com, but the views expressed here are solely mine, not Walmart’s. Shop online and save money to live better …
Read more3 ways to kick-start your family’s health
invitation to play with acrons: outdoor fun for little ones

invitation to play with acorns: outdoor fun for little ones

  The following guest post is written by the amazing Angela Thayer of Teaching Mama (not to be confused with this here ole teach mama …
Read moreinvitation to play with acorns: outdoor fun for little ones
try something new fishing

try someting new: fishing with kids

Maybe every other family in the world has tried fishing, but ours has not. That is, until this week. Now? We're like total fishermen. Fishers of …
Read moretry someting new: fishing with kids
5 super sneaky ideas for fun backyard learning

5 ideas for sneaky learning and backyard fun

Hip, hip hooray! Summer is here! The weather has been absolutely gorgeous for us—not too hot and not too cool. It’s the spring we always seem to miss …
Read more5 ideas for sneaky learning and backyard fun
geocaching: what it is and why we're hooked

geocaching: what it is & why we’re hooked

Right now, we’re 2 for 6. That's right--2/6. 2:6? And today we totally thought we had one, but we didn’t. We’ll masters by wintertime, …
Read moregeocaching: what it is & why we’re hooked

5 easy ways to raise earth-friendly kids

Really, nothing about raising kids is easy. I so know this to be true.   I think I'm pretty honest about my own on-the-job struggles, and most …
Read more5 easy ways to raise earth-friendly kids

quick trick: play. outdoors. (no matter the weather!)

Who knows what happened to winter this year? I am convinced that we had absolutely no snow this year because this was the first time I …
Read morequick trick: play. outdoors. (no matter the weather!)

easy, frugal, backyard water fun

It's H-O-T.  Hot, hot, Hot with a capital 'H'. I know I've been a total complainer, but I really don't care. So rather than complain any more, I …
Read moreeasy, frugal, backyard water fun
coffee can stilts | old school summer fun teachmama.com

coffee can stilts: old school summer fun

  Just for fun, just because I had two empty coffee cans, and just because I remember loving the yellow plastic-cup stilts we had as kids, …
Read morecoffee can stilts: old school summer fun
paint with water

water painting

Today was gorgeous outside, so after the kids had played for a while, helped their dad with yard work, and played some more, I brought out some …
Read morewater painting

backyard number boxes

It was beautiful out today, so after of lots of playing and exploring in our own backyard, I gave Maddy and Owen the challenge of introducing our ole …
Read morebackyard number boxes

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WHAT. A. YEAR!

The @advancementcourses teACh Team has ROCKED it again this year, and I am so glad that you’ve been along for the ride!

Every few weeks, we connected on Facebook or IG Lives, and we discussed:

✔️ what makes Professional Development most effective;

✔️ school administrators and teachers leading post-pandemic;

✔️ our current top picks for children’s books;

✔️supporting students who have experienced trauma;

✔️ culturally responsive classrooms and components of special education;

✔️ school and district-wide Professional Development options with Advancement Courses.

It’s been a BLAST—and though our core team includes @teaching3rdwithmrg @techninjatodd @topdogteaching and me, we have also had guests like @stopparentingalone @laliquin @lisa.lightner.ig and more!

Please tell us your fave topics and what you would like to see more of next year!

Catch the replays here: 
https://teachmama.com/advancement-courses-teach-team-look-back/

#AdvancementCourses #teAChTeam #OnlinePD #ProfessionalDevelopment #linkinbio
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One of THE greatest kids of all time playing with one of THE greatest TOYS of all time: my nephew building with Picasso Tiles!

🔻🟧🟦🔺🟨🟩🟪🔺🟥

Any time I see Picasso Tiles on sale, I must shout from a 🏔 because KIDS. LOVE. THESE. 

And without fail, every time I share, dozens and dozens of my friends and family members jump on the opportunity to score this deal. 

🔻🟧🟦🔺🟨🟩🟪🔺🟥

Link here —> zulily.gfpv.net/RyjnEy

So act now, and head to the link in bio (or the Zulily highlight on my IG page) and grab this deal before they sell out. 

The site says up to 70% off, but my links give you an EXTRA 15% off of that! 

Right now grab the 100 Piece Set for $33 (normally $129.99) and you will get free shipping all weekend long. 

🔻🟧🟦🔺🟨🟩🟪🔺🟥

#linkinbio #ZulilyFinds #ZulilyPartner @zulily 

(This is my affiliate link, so when you use it, I will earn a small percentage of the sale, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for using my link and supporting my small business!)
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It’s absolutely true. 
100%
#Facts

<<Not sure exactly where this image originated. Will credit once I find out.>>

#MyBodyMyChoice #KeepYourLawsOffMyBody
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My favorite little spot to lay out the mat = ☀️🌊🧜🏻‍♀️

Use an emoji to tell me yours. 

remember: it doesn’t matter what you do as long as you move your body in some way each day. Total game changer. Promise. 

For me, walking the 🐕‍🦺🐶 and 🧘🏼‍♀️are daily non-negotiables for my physical AND mental health. 

I do the @melissawoodhealth videos each day, and her upbeat, casual attitude, variety of low-impact strengthening workouts, and reminders to just keep coming back are key. 

#KeepComingBack #WeGotThis #TalkAboutMentalHealth #MWH #MoveYourBody
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Tell me it’s summertime without telling me it’s summertime. ☀️🚲

#SummerSwimTeam #SweetRides #neighborhoodkids #MarylandLife #ThisIsSummer #tanterratarpons
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Did you get it? 

Have to ask because there just *may* be a secret surprise giveaway for some of you lucky 🦆 🦆🦆

Join now: https://take5.teachmama.com/

#TeachmamaTake5  #iykyk #Take5 #BestoftheWeb #familyfun #educatornews #linkinbio
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This book is SO different from any other I have read in the recent past, and it’s something that is both refreshing and hopeful. 

My friend @techninjatodd wanted to put out a book that would be a source of hope, a reminder that we are not alone. A testament to the fact that every season of life matters. 

And so, In This Season: Words From the Heart was born, with help from the amazing @apron_education @allylee21 @writtentospeak @omar2764

❄️❄️❄️❄️

Life is full of seasons.

Each of us has endured the cold of winter, the growth of spring, the light of summer, and the change of fall. We’ve climbed to the mountaintops and been deep in the valley.

In This Season: Words for the Heart takes the emotions we feel deep within and puts them into words. The pages of this book invite you to reflect and lean in as you continue through season after season.

🌸🌸🌸🌸

Check this book out, friends. It is worth your time, and it is the perfect book for busy educators to pick up, read a few pages over a quick cup of coffee before the day begins or as you kick up your feet at the end of the day. 

It feels like a quiet conversation with a close friend or dear colleague. Important topics are touched on which remind us that our feelings and thoughts and insecurities are often not as unusual as we may think. Rather, these ups and downs of life are a shared experience that could—and should!—be shared more frequently and openly. The reminder that we are not alone could not come at a more pivotal time for all of us; in the past two years, we have been reminded that life is short but that seasons change. Let’s make the most of what we have!

Thank you, Todd, LaNesha, Tanner, and Alice for starting this conversation. 

☀️☀️☀️☀️

Grab it here: https://amzn.to/3O4jMqN

And do follow these great writers, educators, and thought leaders. 

🍁🍁🍁🍁

#InThisSeason #linkinbio #newrelease #whatimreading #beachreads #teacherauthor #mustreadbooks
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What better time than NEXT WEEK to have the biggest and baddest sale of summer 
☀️🐚🌴🌊?!

WOOO-hoooooo!

Stay tuned for more: 
zulily.gfpv.net/teachmama

#zulilyfinds #zulilypartner #zulilywowweek #teachmamadealsandsteals
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THANK YOU @reallygreatreading for the 2-part 6-hr workshop, Bringing the ‘Science of Reading’ to Life in the Classroom—

This program is amazing, life-changing, and exciting. I cannot wait to use these strategies and program with my students this summer!

Educators and families—check out the resources on this site. Phenomenal. 

Makes me so happy. 

#TeachReading #RaiseAReader #ReallyGreatReading #OnlinePD

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