Four years ago was the very first year we volunteered as a family to honor Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday. But it will not be the last. Already, we're looking for other ways we can give back to our community this year to celebrate the life of this great man. Family volunteering on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is easy, thanks to a handful of really awesome organizations designed to make finding volunteer opportunities the easy part. Not even kidding. It takes five … [Read more...]
strategies for handling sad, tragic news–as a family
Originally published on Dec 15, 2012 in response to the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School but republished today because it's a message many need to hear. Today, my heart is heavy with the news of the shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, and though I am not at all close to the area and though I do not have friends or family directly affected by the tragedy, I am having a hard time knowing what to do--as a mother, as a person, and together as a family. I really want to ball up in … [Read more...]
circle round: new storytelling podcast for kids #circleround
I've been on the hunt for great podcasts for kids for a long time now, and I think I hit the jackpot. Actually, I know I hit the jackpot. And I cannot wait to share. The podcast is called Circle Round, and it rocks. Circle Round is a new storytelling podcast for kids ages 4-10, but I really think kids even a bit older--through middle school--would appreciate these stories. Each episode tells carefully-selected, diverse folktales from around the world which are adapted for … [Read more...]
how to get kids to talk about school: what every parent must know
School's in full swing here, and if your house is anything like mine, getting kids to talk about their day is sometimes difficult. I want to know everything: Who did they sit with at lunch? Who did they play with at recess? How do they like their tablemates? What book did they start in Guided Reading? Who hosted the morning tv show? But it's hard. The kids are tired at 3pm, they're even more tired at 7pm, and the last thing they want to do is talk to boring old Mom about … [Read more...]
hear poems read by poets: 4 free, fab resources
I've been chatting up poetry all month long, since April is National Poetry Month. I've hit you with a few ways to make poetry rock for your kids. I've shared some of my favorite poetry books. I've even told you why kids need to hear sounds in words.. Honestly, more than anything, I'm thrilled to share some really awesome poetry-related resources with you--resources I truly believe will help bring poetry to life for your kids. It's one thing to read poems, but it's another to … [Read more...]
live focused: may is the month for YOU — get started with these ideas
Friends, it's taken me a bit to get to this important post this month, but here it is. All year long we've been focusing on living with intention, making our time on this earth really count. We've covered organization, friendship, clarity, and growth, and now, mid-year, we're looking at ourselves. Here's the skinny. . . Live Focused--May is the Month for YOU: (Here I am, enjoying my very first butterbeer. . . a dream.) We're all busy, this I know … [Read more...]
how to have a family meeting: what works for us
Oh, friends. How things change as our kids get older, right? After years of doing what we can to give our kids choices, listening to them, doing all we can but ultimately having the final say--our kids have expressed to us that they want more of a voice in our family. I get it. So we've been having Family Meetings. We have only recently begun to have regular Family Meetings, and though they are not perfect, I do think they help.' We're still learning. Aren't we … [Read more...]
read across america day EVERY day of the year
This post was originally published on March 1, 2013 but we're republishing because it's that important. It's Read Across America Day! Only something that everyone's been talking about for days and days and days and days now, but don't worry if you're already in your pj's or missed the boat altogether. Don't worry if this is the very first time you're hearing about it and now you feel like you're the only kid not invited to the party. TO-tally not so! Everyone's … [Read more...]
something has to change and it must start here–with you and with me
I rarely write posts like this. And this one took me much longer than I'd like to admit. But yesterday I realized something. Something big. It's this: if I want change to happen, it has to start here. I'm a mother of three kids, 10, 9, and 7 years old, and if I want change to happen, it must. Start. Here. With me. With my family. Because I know that though I am only one person, my voice makes a difference. And so does yours. Yes, you. No matter whether you are … [Read more...]
noticing your kids: little observations mean a lot from parents
originally published 9/17/09 but republishing now because it's worth it-- Lately, I've felt overwhelmed by Cora's 'two-year-old-ness'. Her fiery temper; her constant movement; her unceasing energy; her smiles, hugs, songs, and cuddles; her high high's, and her low low's. Some days we enjoy this roller coaster ride, and others, we all want off. But what I've also realized is that as a parent, I'm more experienced than I was when Maddy was two, but I'm not in the fog of fatigue … [Read more...]
the fox and the crane: shadow puppets with printables
This week, Liska from Adventure in a Box shares a super-cool, totally new-to-teachmama.com idea. So cool, it's nuts. Liska is a toymaker, a creator, a mom, an artist and a lover of books. She is a Russian who has settled in Canada with her son and husband (and her husband just so happens to have one of the coolest jobs around!). Today, Liska created printables for us and delivers a unique way of sharing The Fox and the Crane fable--with shadow puppets that you can print and use today. … [Read more...]
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