how to develop language through play I’m excited to share a few posts I’ve written that focus on developing children’s language through play. Each short article …Read morehow to develop language through play
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 …Read more5 easy ways to raise earth-friendly kids
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 …Read morehomemade alphabet book: get personal with the abc’s
quick trick: take reading on the road A few weeks ago, I took the kids to Pennsylvania for the weekend–another solo trip and one I’ve done dozens of times before. But what I …Read morequick trick: take reading on the road
bullying: end it at home, school, everywhere Thanks to The Bully Project for sponsoring my writing. Visit their website to join the movement and learn more. Bullying is …Read morebullying: end it at home, school, everywhere
quick trick: keep. those. LIDS! How many of you have recycle bins that are nearly overflowing by the end of the week? I know ours is, despite all of the recyclables that I …Read morequick trick: keep. those. LIDS!
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!)
10 tips for read-aloud learning Hip, hip HOORAY! This week has a little gem of a day hiding inside — World Read Aloud Day! March 7th is World Read Aloud Day, and I stand …Read more10 tips for read-aloud learning
new for us friday: gem jars 2.0 This New For Us Friday I’m sharing a new and improved version of one of the best things we’ve ever invited into …Read morenew for us friday: gem jars 2.0
quick trick: focus on free play This little Quick Trick isn’t as much a trick as it is a reminder–for parents, caregivers, teachers. . . for my husband and me. Though …Read morequick trick: focus on free play
sweet kids’ valentines: mini stained glass hearts I have always loved making Valentines with Maddy, Owen, and Cora. I love the discussion and decision-making beforehand, I love the mess, I love the …Read moresweet kids’ valentines: mini stained glass hearts
family playing cards: take ’em, make ’em, then play! A few years ago, I burned the midnight oil way too close to the finish line, in an attempt to create Family Playing Cards for Maddy, Owen, and …Read morefamily playing cards: take ’em, make ’em, then play!
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
fabulous, fancy game to practice tricky sounds: s, t, r, l It’s Cora’s Sparkle-icious Game. That’s what she calls is. But I don’t care what she calls it because all I know is that …Read morefabulous, fancy game to practice tricky sounds: s, t, r, l
learning during read-alouds: oral language development Sometimes, simple is better. Sometimes, more choices make us more confused. If Maddy, Owen, and Cora were shown an amazing pallet of face paints …Read morelearning during read-alouds: oral language development
the fancy brush–avoiding tangled hair and tearful mornings This Quick Trick is a little bit funny to me. It’s not about how to make the school year a success. It’s not about how to teach kids to …Read morethe fancy brush–avoiding tangled hair and tearful mornings
learning during read-alouds: 5 things never to say to emerging readers Sometimes it’s very easy for teachers and parents to feel impatient with emerging readers. It’s hard to listen to kids sound out every …Read morelearning during read-alouds: 5 things never to say to emerging readers
number boxes 2.0 It’s so important for kids to practice one-to-one correspondence with counting, and there are about 60 million ways of doing it. Whether …Read morenumber boxes 2.0
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
remembering the importance of pretend play The Red Checks Restaurant was up and running over here for the last few days, serving up its famous chicken noodle soup, corn, pizza, sandwiches, …Read moreremembering the importance of pretend play