preschoolers

3 reasons kids need early reader books with characters they love

table of contents3 Reasons Kids Need Early Reader Books With Characters They LovePopular Characters in Early Reader Texts are SUPER High-InterestBooks …

YouTube dances for kids: fun indoor moving and grooving to get the wiggles out

We just got another boatload of snow, so on Sunday morning, when we were snowed in and couldn't even get out of our house to make it to mass, we got …

top 5 must-read books for kids: babies through teens

Over the years, many readers and friends have asked me the about the must-read books for kids. Every few weeks, I get asked the million dollar …

STEM Lab: free, hands-on STEM activities for kids & teens

As a teacher and parent, I am always, always on the hunt for free, hands-on STEM activities for kids and teens. It's always been my goal to raise …

hello teacher notes: let kids connect with teachers

Hello Teacher Notes are a quick and easy way to make back-to-school a tiny bit less stressful. This is another one of our fave back-to-school …

how to teach kids the ABCs: 5 fun ways

Let's face it: the letters of the alphabet are the building blocks of the English language. They are. The ABCs are among the most important …

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, …

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 …

alphabet egg hunt: uppercase and lowercase letter match

Originally published on April 2, 2013, but republished today because it totally rocks. Kids need to learn the letters of the alphabet. And even if …

must-have books for easter baskets

Easter means egg hunts, candy, and plastic grass in bright baskets, right? Well what if you want to use this holiday as a time to sneak in a little …

make free ICE [In Case of Emergency] cards for your kids

Friends. I've shared that this month is National Preparedness Month. Have you checked it out? Have you created your Emergency Prep Kit? …

back to school tips and tricks: make this year ROCK #backtoschool #schoolsuccess

Re-running this post today because it's timely and packed with tips. Enjoy! School's in full swing here, and I cannot believe …

everything you need to make it a ‘Finding Dory’ summer

It's taken over 12 years. But it's finally here. Finding Dory hits the theaters today, and we couldn't be more thrilled. Hard to believe that …

play with syllables so kids hear sounds in words | reading tip 10 #raiseareader

One of my earliest memories of feeling confused in school was the day my teacher tried to teach us about syllables. She had us put our hands on our …

reading tip 5: names!

All month long, I've been sharing daily reading tips for parents and caregivers. Quick, easy, inspiring tips that will hopefully make everyone who …

host a FUNdraiser for schools or non-profits at Chuck E. Cheese’s: 3 reasons to do it

Host a fundraiser for schools or non-profits at Chuck E. Cheese's? I mean. Fundraisers are often difficult. Laborious. So time consuming. Did I …

easy snowman footprint craft for kids

I am so thankful that my sister and her boys have been on a cool and crafty streak, because lately my kids and I haven't been feeling the crafty …

best books as gifts for everyone on your list

Books are all over our home, all of the time. Tons of books--books from book fairs, from yard sales, from the library, from school, from friends, …

best gifts for preschoolers: keep those kids learning all year long!

WOOT! Gift guides are my favorite. As an educator and blogger, I am always on the lookout for products that make sense for kids. And really, …

it’s FINALLY here! Raising A Rock-Star Reader

Welcome to the world, little book. I feel like I need cake and ice-cream and party hats and dancing. Lots and lots of dancing. Because today …