Sponsored by author T.A. Barron and the Spark Goodness Program. If you want my expert opinion, teaching our kids about the importance of being a good, kind person is the greatest lesson we could teach them. It's the absolute biggest, most important lesson ever. And it's not like we can just say, "You've got to be kind to others," and we're done. Nope. Teaching our kids about kindness is something we need to do nearly on a daily basis from the time they're toddlers until they … [Read more...]
where to find inexpensive books for your kids
I'm so thankful that my mom is always looking for inexpensive books for my kids. From the time my kids were born, she's been on the hunt for great, new reads for Maddy, Owen, and Cora. She searches for their favorite authors at her local library's book sale each time it's held. She keeps an eye out for books at yard sales. And when she finds them, she sets them aside to bring to Maryland, or she keeps them at her house for when we come to visit. It makes a difference. It really, … [Read more...]
what your kids MUST know about plants (hint: they’re a big deal)
Disclosure: This post was sponsored by BLOOM! to spread the word about its Educational Resource Toolkit. All opinions and stories are my own. Did you know that: half of the top 100 most prescribed medicines come from plants? spinach is being used to replicate human organs? simply looking at flowers and nature can improve your mood? 39% of the annual horticultural job openings are unfilled due to lack of qualified applicants? Guess what, friends? Plants are super important. … [Read more...]
5 ways to get your kids psyched for summer reading
Believe it—summer is around the corner. Woo-hoo! Around the corner! As in like just a few weeks away! It’s May! Pools open in May. Weather warms in May. Swim team registration starts in May. We buy bathing suits in May. Wait. How can we even talk about ways to get your kids psyched for summer reading when school isn’t even out yet? Many of us still have assessments to think about, big projects coming though, and a whole lot that has to happen between now and the time those … [Read more...]
make this summer rock: Smart Summer Challenge 2018!
Next up? Summer. I'm over the moon thrilled and elated that summer is right around the corner! This year, I've got something so cool planned. So totally awesome and fabulous, I can't stand it. I've just finished up--after months of drafts!--the plans for our Smart Summer Challenge 2018. And it's going to rock. Totally, 110%, completely going to rock. Here's the skinny. . . Smart Summer Challenge 2018 -- an invitation to learn, play, create, and invent -- on their own … [Read more...]
help kids stay in touch with friends when school’s out: autograph sheet
I can't even believe it, but school's almost out for my kids. Though I'm totally psyched to begin our Smart Summer Challenge this year, I'm also always a little sad when the school year ends. It means my kids are getting older and that time continues to move . . . quickly. This year, especially I feel like I'm having a difficult time as Maddy moves into the wilds of middle school leaving Owen and Cora behind in elementary school. It has been a true joy for me to have all three kids … [Read more...]
yoga brain breaks: use fitflow to teach kids yoga moves from fit4Schools
I am a longtime fan of keeping our kids moving and grooving so that they feel better and do better. And now that I'm back in the classroom, brain breaks are my fave. Add a little yoga to the brain break mix, and I'm the happiest teacher of 'em all. Yoga brain breaks? You got it. Thanks to fit4Schools fitFlow cards and their super-cool Slideshow of Yoga presentation, my students and I have been taking yoga brain breaks each day for the past few weeks, and I really think my first … [Read more...]
teacher appreciation gifts for all of your kids’ teachers
Friends. Teacher Appreciation gifts can sometimes break the bank, and I know that can be hard. But being a teacher myself, I can tell you that really, sometimes simple and heartfelt is a much better way to go. Teachers appreciate hearing 'thank you' any day of the week. Really and truly. Having three kids in school and about a million teachers to recognize, I know it can also get super expensive to give gifts to these important people in your children's lives. Here's a sweet and … [Read more...]
how to make poetry ROCK for kids (start now — it’s national poetry month!)
Did you know that April is National Poetry Month? It is. What does that even mean? It means that this month is all about celebrating poetry! You know what, my friends? Poetry is different today than it once was. No longer are poems relegated to the boring topics of flowers or romance. No way. Now? Poems are about anything and everything. They rhyme or they're free verse. Anything goes. And so to honor National Poetry Month, I thought I'd share a few of our favorite … [Read more...]
st. patrick’s day BRAIN TEASER scavenger hunt
Even though our lives have changed quite a bit since I started this blog seven years ago, one thing has remained the same: we love to rock it out for holidays. Even big kids like to rock it out for the holidays. So this year, I decided to kick up our traditional St. Patty's Day Scavenger Hunt just a wee bit. My kids are quick, and they're smart. So our Scavenger Hunt needs to be tricky and engaging to keep them interested--or at least to stretch our hunt a bit past the usual two … [Read more...]
teach kids to give back: $250 volunteer grants for students
I am thrilled to be able to share with you some super ways to teach kids to give back to their communities. WeAreTeachers has asked me to help spread the word about $250 grants that teachers can earn thanks to the Allstate Foundation WE Volunteer Now. Friends, if ever there was a blog post to share with your child's school, this is the one! We all know that volunteering--or giving back to our great, big world--has profound effects on all parties involved. Now your child's school can … [Read more...]
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