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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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backyard adventure begins with “The Never Starting Tales”

Backyard adventure begins with "The Never Starting Tales". Really, it does! "The Never Starting Tales" may sound unusual, but these tales are simply a collection of re-interpreted fairytales that were created to inspire families to spend more time adventure-seeking in their own back yards. These stories explore what might have happened if a character never stepped outdoors to actually begin his or her adventure? What if a character instead stayed inside, glued to that … [Read more...]

06 | 29 | 2020

summer swim team: an absolute MUST for families

summertime swim team | teachmama.com

Summer swim has been a staple for our family for the last six years. Ever since Maddy joined the pre-team the summer before Kindergarten, we've spent the first seven weeks of summer camped out at the pool in the mornings and have spent our Wednesday nights and Saturday mornings at swim meets and Sunday afternoons at dive meets. We are grateful that our neighborhood pool is within walking distance from our home, and we definitely take advantage of it. But even if your family is not within … [Read more...]

06 | 18 | 2019

beach learning: hermit crabs, horseshoe crabs, ghost crabs, sand crabs & more

beach learning

The beach can be difficult vacation for families with young children, there's no doubt about it. Beyond even getting there--the packing, the long drive, the daily to-and-from the beach with a million trillion supplies--being there is sometimes hard, too. Even with a ton of hands on deck, by the end of the week, the sand, the over-tired kids, the sun, the sand, the sand--everywhere!--is enough to make even the most relaxed parent a little edgy.  However, I have to say that once we passed the … [Read more...]

08 | 06 | 2018

what your kids MUST know about plants (hint: they’re a big deal)

what your kids MUST know about plants teachmama BLOOM!

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...]

06 | 14 | 2018

eclipse 2017: free resources for families (even if you’re last minute)

eclipse 2017: free resources for families (even if you're last minute)

Oh, how I envisioned creating this post three, four, even five weeks ago. But life got in the way. So here it is: eclipse 2017 resources for families--even if you're last-minute, like me. Unless you've been living in a cave, you know that on August 21, we'll experience a total solar eclipse. I am going to hit you quickly with everything we're doing on the big day so that you can do it, too. Grab a friend or two, a few other neighbors or families, or your students if you're back in … [Read more...]

08 | 17 | 2017

backyard painting–with nature

nature painting | teachmama.com

Originally published June 16, 2011, I stumbled upon this post today, and it was a good reminder to slow down. No matter your child's age.  We have been taking a lot of walks lately, just slow walks where we're looking closely at what's around us because I feel like we've been moving too quickly in the rush of the last weeks of school. And just like last year, when everyone started to get antsy and bickery and up and down and not too sure of what's going on because the school schedule's … [Read more...]

05 | 20 | 2016

get kids to play outside: 4 tips for summertime playground fun

get kids to play outside teachmama.com

  Sometimes, getting kids to play outside is no easy feat, especially in the summer. Because here in the DC Metro area, it's hot. It's hot. Hot. It's muggy. It's oppressive. When the sun's beating down, the heat's suffocating, and the last thing my kids want to do is go and play outside. But last week, two friends and I got our big kids and little kids outside, playing, and having fun. Old-school style. Free-bird, playing outdoors in the summertime. We had some … [Read more...]

06 | 30 | 2015

kings dominion: family-friendly amusement park in the dc metro area

family friendly kings dominion | teachmama.com

    We did it. We took the leap. We visited Kings Dominion with our kids this weekend. And? It was awesome. My husband and I hadn't been there in years, so we weren't sure what to expect.  But we were pleasantly surprised. Not only was Kings Dominion clean and totally beautiful, it was seriously more family-friendly than we expected. There was something for everyone, and my kids (11, 9, and 8 years old) are raring for a return visit--already. Need a few … [Read more...]

04 | 15 | 2015

baseball game scavenger hunt: fun for kids during the game

baseball game scavenger hunt | teachmama.com

  I have a hard time sitting still during sporting events. I won't lie. I love the tailgating and the food and the crowds, but sometimes. . . the games seem really long to me. So we've been creative in the past with our kid-friendly learning during baseball games, and this year, we kicked it up a notch. Now that I have three readers on my hands, we can do a little bit more. Yesterday, we celebrated Spring Break at a National's Baseball Game, and we rocked out a … [Read more...]

04 | 10 | 2015

backyard camping and reading under the stars: summer reading at its best

      Summer is in full swing, and what better way to really rock it out in the summertime than by camping? Not for real camping, my friends--I'm talking backyard camping. In my book, backyard camping counts. Especially if you're not all that much of an outdoorsy family. We have been talking about backyard camping for awhile now, so I decided to surprise the kids with a tent.  Not a huge tent, but a 6-person, easy-to-assemble, totally affordable tent. Because … [Read more...]

07 | 28 | 2014

backyard chopped challenge: creative outdoor fun

back yard chopped challenge teachmama.com

Many of my longtime readers will think I've officially lost my marbles after reading this post, and maybe I have. I just think it's worth sharing because though there isn't any serious learning going on, my kids were sure using their brains for this one.  And their creative juices were a' flowin'.   And their bodies were moving. And there was a whole lot of laughing. And they were outdoors, unplugged, and doing just what they wanted. And really? It was so much fun. It's just a … [Read more...]

07 | 22 | 2014

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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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