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learning in the every day | teachmama.com provides the tools and resources parents need to be the best teachers for their children | by amy mascott

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the polar express night: a holiday family tradition

the polar express night: a holiday family tradition

The Polar Express is more than a book for some people. It's a holiday family tradition that has become an eagerly-anticipated December event! The following guest post is written by Karen Blake in 2013, but it's one of my most popular holiday posts. Karen is a teacher, mom of three, and aunt of many.  She's a lover of traditions and is quite honestly one of the most creative and crafty friends I have. —————————— Traditions are my favorite. And Christmas traditions are the absolute BEST! My … [Read more...]

12 | 17 | 2019

holiday note gift idea for families: unique, thoughtful, and FREE

holiday note gift idea for families: unique, thoughtful, free | teachmama.com

These holiday notes may turn out to be one of your family's most coveted and meaningful traditions! It's so easy for our little ones (and even adults sometimes!) to lose sight of what the holiday season is all about. So in 2008, when I saw this idea on a late-night, dvr'd Oprah, I knew I wanted to use it. With a little prompting, my family tried out Holiday Notes with both sides of the family. Even though some interpreted the exchange a little differently, it was a success overall. Most … [Read more...]

12 | 04 | 2019

gifts that give back: ideas for kids and family #givingtuesday

gifts that give back: ideas for kids and family | teachmama.com

Did you know that today is Giving Tuesday? It's a really simple concept: give. Any way you are able, to anyone. Give. The concept of giving is especially important at this time of the year, and lucky for us, many organizations have made it super easy--and so meaningful!--to give at holiday time. Looking at my kids' bedrooms and our playroom, I see we need very little. So I'm encouraging all of our family members to do something this year that packs a bit more of a punch: buying gifts that … [Read more...]

12 | 02 | 2019

5 ways parents can show thanks for teachers and schools

5 ways parents can show thanks for teachers and schools

Between Election Day, parent-teacher conferences, and field trips, it always seems like things get nutty in November. The novelty of the new year has worn off, and kids—and parents—start slowly slipping into the mid-year blues or pre-holiday anxiety. And if things are crazy for our family, I can only imagine how difficult things can be for our teachers. So November is a great time for us all to step back and extend a bit of thanks to those teachers with whom our children spend hours and … [Read more...]

11 | 26 | 2019

thank you delivery people: free printable for families

thank you delivery people: free printable for families

This time of the year is insane. We're moving so quickly, our to-do lists are nuts, and often we're totally forgetting to breathe. At least I am. So when I saw my sweet and smart friend Danielle Smith, of Pretty Extraordinary, take a minute to say "thank you" to the delivery people, I stopped and smiled. This is so simple. But it can really make someone's day. Here's the skinny. . . Thank You Delivery People -- Free Printable for Families It's a simple "thank you" that you can … [Read more...]

11 | 29 | 2018

create summer sparks with everyday acts of kindness

create summer sparks with everyday acts of kindness #sparkgoodness teachmama.com

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...]

07 | 16 | 2018

teacher appreciation gifts for all of your kids’ teachers

teacher appreciation gifts for all of your kids' teachers | teachmama.com

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...]

05 | 07 | 2018

books about kindness — must-have’s for older and younger readers

books about kindness younger teachmama.com

How can you start to spread a little kindness now? At your home? With your kids? In your community? I've got a few great books about kindness for you--must-have's for older and younger readers. Grab a few of these kindness focused books for our younger readers: How to Heal a Broken Wing, by Bob Graham The Gardener, by Sarah Stewart and illustrated by David Small How Full is Your Bucket? by Tom Rath and Mary Reckmeyer and illustrated by Maurie J. Manning The Rain Came Down, … [Read more...]

01 | 23 | 2018

advent activity calendar for kids and family: 2017

advent activity calendar 2017 teachmama.com_

We do this every advent season. And the kids love it. I actually contemplated switching things this year--finding another advent activity calendar that would get our family into the holiday spirit, but I decided against it. Because in this quickly-changing world, sometimes I think it's nice to keep things consistent. Here's the skinny. . . Advent Activity Calendar for Kids and Family--2017:  I print out a copy of the calendar to keep on hand for myself, and then I cut each of … [Read more...]

11 | 26 | 2017

gifts that teach kids the power of giving: animal gifts from heifer international

gifts that teach kids the power of giving: animal gifts from heifer international

The more ways that we can teach our kids that holiday time should be a time for giving, the better. I mean, when it comes down to it, don't our kids have a lot already? I know mine do. They have a pretty good life. They're in school. They have the clothes they need. They have a warm bed and food to eat. They enjoy hobbies and play sports and bang on the iPad and rock their musical instruments. They travel and celebrate holidays and read and play and learn. They have it … [Read more...]

11 | 29 | 2016

top secret ‘happy day’ notes for the whole ‘hood

surprise happy day notes

Originally published September 1, 2010, but republished today because, well, friends, everyone could use a lift.   Last week, we ran into a verrrry blue Thursday morning. Everyone was cranky, everyone was bickering, and everyone was down in the dumps.  Maybe our summertime later-night schedule was finally taking a toll on us; maybe we were anxious about the upcoming change of schedule. Whatever it was, we needed a lift. I remembered my pal Jessica's recent post about 'Doing Good … [Read more...]

11 | 08 | 2016

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How to get kids ready for reading and wanting to read! Parents and teachers can help our little ones pull from their growing schema so that they can better understand and appreciate the texts we’re reading to them in read-alouds. #teachmama #reading #activitiesforkids #teaching #learning #elementary #education #literacyWe're all at home (or most of us, anyway!), so let's keep things light and as fun as possible for our children. Let's play Neighborhood I-SPY! No one has to even come close to one another for this game. Simply share the flier and tally sheet, and pass around on your Facebook groups, your neighborhood listserves, you name it. Then choose a date, and start putting the items in windows and on doors. Then let families walk or drive around to hunt for the items!
I like to use some fun hands on learning activities to teach my kids some of the basics and this alphabet activity does just that! Let’s go on an Alphabet Hunt right here in our backyard for things that begin with each letter. #teachmama #alphabet #earlylearning #toddler #preschooler #toddleractivities #abc's #earlylearning #literacy5 super-smart keys to success when it comes to getting kids in the garden!   These are tried and true tips, sure to surprise even the most green-thumb family.   And? Grab a FREE Garden Plan and Harvest Record, which serves a few purposes: 1.) help track of the plants that we are cultivating this year 2.) keep track of the weather this summer 3.) count the number of plants we yield 4.) evaluate the taste of each plant  SUPER cool and actionable tips for you to use today!Have a little one that's ready to start kindergarten and ready to learn to read? This sight word Go Fish game is the perfect way to take the beginning reading phase and the interest in reading and words with a fun educational word game! #learning #kindergarten #reading #literacy #earlychildhood #teaching #words #preschool #kindergarten #activities
Want to raise readers? Here are some top insider secrets top for motivating your kids to read. These tips for moms and teachers will help you to motivate your kids or students to read if they are a bit reluctant! #literacy #reading #education #teaching #kids #readers #learning #tipsFriends, I’ve had the chance to really take a look at @duolingo ABC app over the past few days, and we LOOOVE IT!  In this app—in the form of games and mini-lessons, kids learn: phonemic awareness, fluency, phonics, comprehension, handwriting, sight wordshow to teach kids the ABCs: 5 fun ways  to play with the letters of the alphabet -- some cool, easy ways that take little to no prep at home--> tried, tested, and parent and teacher approved!  Great post to share with parents for some extra at-home support and early literacy learning !
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