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
a fish out of water: games to practice sight words Owen and I had to play a few extra games of Go Fish! this week to celebrate the Water Fun we’ve got on our calendar for the Smart Summer …Read morea fish out of water: games to practice sight words
backyard fun: dissecting, examining, and learning about flowers Dissecting flowers–totally pulling them apart–is a little bit funny for some kids. At least it was for mine. We tell them they …Read morebackyard fun: dissecting, examining, and learning about flowers
garden stepping stones and decorations Maddy, Cora, and I have always wanted to beautify our garden and flower beds with the pretty statues and mosaics we see at our local garden …Read moregarden stepping stones and decorations
a word a day: getting the family involved Maddy, Owen, and Cora have loved the Word a Day we’ve been doing for the past two weeks–more than I anticipated and much to my …Read morea word a day: getting the family involved
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
a game for practicing spelling, sight words, or letters: WORDO! With the end of the school year quickly approaching, we’re all getting antsy for summer. So I’ve had to be super crafty during our work …Read morea game for practicing spelling, sight words, or letters: WORDO!
how to teach kids to tie their shoes This Quick Trick is admittedly a work in progress. While Owen hasn’t quite mastered tying his shoes yet, he’s getting there. Slowly. He …Read morehow to teach kids to tie their shoes
wordfeud, words with friends and word-building with kids My game-guy Owen has recently fallen hard for a game I’m currently all wrapped up in–Wordfeud. It’s the same deal (I think) as …Read morewordfeud, words with friends and word-building with kids
sight word games to prepare for kindergarten: go fish! Owen has been really interested in reading lately, so I’m trying to roll with it without pushing him or having him lose interest–so games …Read moresight word games to prepare for kindergarten: go fish!
nfuf: managing kids’ screen time with ‘game time’ cards This New For Us Friday I’m sharing our family’s feeble attempt to regain some control over the wild world of electronics in our household …Read morenfuf: managing kids’ screen time with ‘game time’ cards
how to have some fun with leftover candy canes Each year, we end up with tons of leftover candy canes after the holidays. This year, I vowed I wouldn’t allow one candy cane in our house past …Read morehow to have some fun with leftover candy canes
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
mastering math facts with mini flash cards Simple addition math fact flash cards should have been made, used, and memorized months ago, but they weren’t, we didn’t, and Maddy …Read moremastering math facts with mini flash cards
word searches for early literacy learning I’ve struggled this year with how to occupy Owen and Cora while Maddy does her homework, and what I’ve come to realize is …Read moreword searches for early literacy learning
quick trick: magnetic letters (how to use them with your kids!) Holiday time is here, and things are sure to be nutty around our house–and everyone else’s–for the …Read morequick trick: magnetic letters (how to use them with your kids!)
our thankful tree: beautiful, simple for thanksgiving Maddy, Owen, and Cora have already started with a case of the ‘galloping greedy gimmies’ a la Berenstain Bears thanks to the 800 million …Read moreour thankful tree: beautiful, simple for thanksgiving
teaching kids to stand up for themselves It’s been a gorgeous fall week here, so one morning, Owen, Cora, and I spent a good while at the park with our buddies. Turns out …Read moreteaching kids to stand up for themselves
painting with candy: candy experiments (part two) Maddy, Owen, and Cora had an absolute blast performing candy experiments using their Halloween loot this week, but I think the most fun they had …Read morepainting with candy: candy experiments (part two)
playing with candy: candy experiments (part one) With three overly-tired kids and three pumpkins full of Halloween candy, I knew that I had to be extra creative if I wanted Maddy, Owen, …Read moreplaying with candy: candy experiments (part one)