• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
  • About
  • Shop
  • Press
  • Media Kit
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

teach mama logo

teach mama

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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

where to begin on teach mama?

52 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print

a clear focus: teachmama.com learning in the every da

the focus of teachmama.com since 2008:

 to empower parents by providing them with simple tools and resources they can use

to be the best teachers they can be for their children.

***********

welcome teachmama.com learning in the every day

 

If this is your first time stopping by teach mama, I’m so glad you’re here. Blogs can be overwhelming, especially if you’re not use to a person’s layout, style, or content.

Essentially, the focus of teach mama is to provide parents with the tools and resources they need to be the best teachers they can be for their children.

I simply share the ways that I try to sneak in a little bit of learning into my children’s every day. That’s it.

It’s not fancy, it’s not expensive. It’s just learning through play and meaningful time spent together. But it’s fun, and it’s created a sort of lifestyle of learning for our family that I wouldn’t give up for the world.

***********

faq teachmama.com learning in the every day

Here are some frequently asked questions by readers that may help you figure out how this site can work for you:

  • Where should I start? I’ve never been here before. Help–I’m overwhelmed!

If you have very little ones (babies-crawlers), you might read these topics (find all topics on the nav bar):
–alphabet
–books
–colors
–parenting

***********

If you have toddlers, you might check out:
–alphabet
–books / book reviews
–colors
–computer time
–iPad for learning

–foundation skills: fine motor, pretend play, speaking, listening, colors, critical thinking

***********

read literacy abc blocks - 06

 

If you have preschoolers, you might want to see:
(any of the above topics that you might need, along with the following)
–crafts
–computer time / iPad for learning
–holidays
–letter recognition
–math
–beginning sounds
–counting & numbers
–phonological awareness
–tripod grip
–sorting
–writing

***********

 getting ready for kindergarten

 

If you are wondering how to prepare for pre-K or Kindergarten (SUCH, such a big step!), these posts in particular may help:

 

–how to prepare your child for Kindergarten

–buggy Kindergarten calendar
–preparing for Kindergarten
–happy first day flowers
-back to school books
–hello teacher notes
–make school-supply shopping fun!

 

***********

read literacy abc blocks - 02

 

If you have elementary-school aged children, you might want to read:
(any of the above topics that you might need, along with the following)
–comprehension strategies
–cooking
–digital literacy
–fluency
–math
–reading
–sight words
–word building
–writing

***********

magnetic letters: how to really use them with your kids for early literacy learning | teachmama.com

If your kiddo is a reluctant learner and won’t roll with your efforts to play with letters or words, check out these posts on the importance of playing with names:

-names, names, everywhere names
-family name letter connect
–our everyday name books (maybe a stretch if she’s a toughie!)
–swinging and clapping
–celebrating names–play with letters!
–celebrating names in written language

***********

If you’re having a difficult time knowing what to say to your child when she makes mistakes during reading, here are a few handy little somethings to keep in your back pocket:

5 things to never say to emerging reader

 

***********

what to say when kids make reading mistakes  teachmama.com

 ***********

meet teachmama on the web

  • What’s your background? How do you know this stuff anyway?

For more details, you can read my background and on-the-web bio, but essentially, I’m a Reading Specialist and former high school English teacher. I love teaching, I am in awe of the process of reading acquisition, and I read The Post. The Reading Teacher, and Reading Today for fun.

Do check out amymascott.com for the whole skinny on teach mama media, llc

***********

  • Where do you get your ideas?

I get ideas from my experience in the classroom, from the professional texts I read, from my clinical work from my degree work, from parents, from books, magazines, and from the other great blogs and sites I read.

 

***********

read literacy abc blocks - 02

  • Do you homeschool? And if you’re not homeschooling, what are you doing–bombarding your kids with learning all the time?

No, we don’t homeschool our children. We just support what our kids are doing in school, here at home. Like I said, we’ve created a ‘lifestyle of learning’ of sorts. We play games, we read together, and I try to ‘sneak in’ a little learning here and there. Most times, they don’t even know their activities are loaded.

My 6-year old is in kindergarten, my 4-year old is in three morning preschool, and my 3-year old is home with me. I am not constantly bombarding them with learning. If I have an activity I want to try, I wait for the time that seems right–when no one’s too tired from a long day, when they’re rested, interested, and ready.

 

***********

  • Where are your kids? Why aren’t they on your blog anywhere?

I have chosen not to use my children’s pictures here on teach mama. If you search really, really hard, you may find one or two photos here or there, but it’s just a personal choice we’ve made not to have them on my site.

 

 ***********

  • Do you really respond to all of your emailed questions?

Yes! It’s so nice to know that it’s not just my mom and sisters who are reading my blog (no offense, Mom and sisters. . . ). I am so grateful that people come back, subscribe to the site, and actually read and appreciate what I write. I love teach mama readers! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

***********

Never miss a beat!

teachmama newsletter

teachmama subscribe by email

***********

  • What’s ‘we teach‘ that you’re always talking about?

Sooo glad you asked! ‘we teach’ is an online forum for anyone who cares about educating children. Parents, daycare providers, grandparents can join, and once they’re members, they can learn, share, and grow as teachers for their children.

It’s for parents to share the cool things they’re doing with their children; it’s for teachers to share their successes with their students. It’s a place to meet others, pick up ideas, and ask questions. With a ton of specialized groups, from reading to math to movement and science, the resources are vast and information solid.

I love it. I’d love for you to join us–http://weteachgroup.com

 

 

Still have questions? Want or need more information? Please feel free to contact me, and I’ll respond as quickly as humanly possible. Thanks for reading!

Sidebar

amy mascott profile blog

join the coolest club around:

  • About
  • Contact
  • disclaimer
  • terms of use
  • privacy policy
  • Site-Map

Instagram


our books

setting the stage for rock-star readers
raise a reader

Find Us On Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Helpful Links

  • About
  • Contact
  • Press
  • Media Kit
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy

Follow Us On Instagram

View
Open
Thank you @upliftyogaolney for a fun and joy-filled afternoon of yoga with goats! 🧘🏼‍♀️🐐🐐

#goatyoga #marylandyoga #sundayworkout #motherdaughtertime #yogawithgoats #ourfaves
View
Open
loved our first @saltvinemd experience 

cannot wait to return!
View
Open
Had THE BEST dinner at Olney’s newest restaurant, @saltvinemd —

Our hostesses were kind and welcoming, our server was THE BEST, and food was delivered to our table by SUPER food runners. 

Everything we ordered we LOVED. Cannot wait to return. 

(Swipe to see what we ordered!)

#saltandvine #mocoeats #mocofood #marylandeats
View
Open
What a DAY!! 
Any book festival is a great festival, but @gburgbookfest KNOWS how to put together a celebration of books and authors!!

Loved meeting 
@evascreativity 
@zigzagzeph 
@jackieadrian_art 
@nomoreblankpageskids 
@palavergames 
@jessicadallauthor 
@keanstrategies 
@gurkirtsinghvirk 
@teegarner 
@lincolnhartlaub 
@jadesocoby 

and so many others! And loved hearing @authoralexandrarobbins speak!

#gaithersburgbookfestival #gburgbookfest #bookfestival #readingteacher #featuredreels #marylandlife
View
Open
still peaceful

#yogapractice #peaceful #sheepadoodle #bigfuzzydog #yogaeverydamnday
View
Open
The must-have guide for every woman:  The Life Council: 10 Friends Every Woman Needs is officially out in the world today! 

Congratulations to my pal @laura.tremaine ! 

This book WILL:
🎈Encourage you to look around at your current life landscape to really SEE your acquaintances, coworkers, neighbors, and friends
🎈Fill you with gratitude for the friendships of your past
🎈Offer suggestions for how to navigate the complications of modern friendship
🎈Give you space to mourn the friendships that are over
🎈Outline 10 types of friends that can shape your life 
🎈Help you name the type of friend YOU are on other people’s Life Councils 
🎈Inspire you to let friendship take on the important role that it deserves 
I want this book to spark a million This book WILL:
🎈Encourage you to look around at your current life landscape to really SEE your acquaintances, coworkers, neighbors, and friends
🎈Fill you with gratitude for the friendships of your past
🎈Offer suggestions for how to navigate the complications of modern friendship
🎈Give you space to mourn the friendships that are over
🎈Outline 10 types of friends that can shape your life 
🎈Help you name the type of friend YOU are on other people’s Life Councils 
🎈Inspire you to let friendship take on the important role that it deserves 
I want this book to spark a million conversations.

Laura, I know it will. Love you, girl. 
#TheLifeCouncil #happybookbirthday
View
Open
I was in #annapolis today demanding our lawmakers take meaningful action on gun safety. 

Are you fed up with lawmakers’ inaction, too? 

Join me & turn your anger into action with @MomsDemand by texting FED UP to 644-33. #FedUp #MDpolitics 
#notonemore #dosomething #useyourvoice
View
Open
I started my teaching career at @hcpss_wlhs — a place packed with really awesome educators— and @eric.ebersole.for.maryland was one of them!

LOOK at us now! Delegate Ebersole is moving mountains in Annapolis! 

It was so cool to run into my friend while I’m here with @momsdemand ❤️♥️ 

Want to get involved? YOU NEED TO. 

Please text FED UP to 644-33 to find an event near you and make your voice heard!

#FEDUP #notonemore #dosomething #useyourvoice #bethechange #momsdemandaction
View
Open
I am #FEDUP and I am doing something about it. 

Tomorrow I will spend time with fellow @MomsDemand volunteers & survivors to demand our lawmakers take action on gun safety. 

Join me & turn your anger into action by texting FED UP to 644-33. #FedUp #MDpolitics

#notonemore #dosomething #useyourvoice

Copyright © 2023 · teach mama media, llc · All Rights Reserved

  • 7
52 shares