advent activity calendar 2011 It’s that time of year again, when everyone’s scrambling to do a million trillion things in 24 days. Christmas music’s been …Read moreadvent activity calendar 2011
family names: reading and writing the ones we love Homework time is still a really important part of our day, especially now that Owen’s in Kindergarten and Maddy’s second grade work is …Read morefamily names: reading and writing the ones we love
math bingo: fun ways to play with numbers I’m on a constant search for ways to make math fun and a natural part of the day for my kiddos. Especially Maddy. Though she has made …Read moremath bingo: fun ways to play with numbers
how to use halloween candy for (sneaky) fun learning There may only be a few more days left until our Jack-O-Lanterns turn into lunch for the squirrels (if they haven’t already!), but the candy …Read morehow to use halloween candy for (sneaky) fun learning
boo! it’s halloween GHOST bingo! Yeeees! It’s here. It’s creepy, it’s crazy, and it’s a little bit spooky (not really). It’s for everyone, …Read moreboo! it’s halloween GHOST bingo!
we teach: holiday learning eBook — free, fab, filled with ideas Hip, hip, HOORAY!! The we teach holiday learning eBook is hot off the presses! Filled with fabulous ideas from over 30 brilliant members of our …Read morewe teach: holiday learning eBook — free, fab, filled with ideas
halloween joke lunchbox notes: spooky, fun laughs It’s almost Halloween! And of course, I’ve got googly eyes in my back pocket at all times, but I’ve also got something I’m …Read morehalloween joke lunchbox notes: spooky, fun laughs
halloween class party ideas: help for classroom parents It’s almost Halloween time, which means that all around the world, Classroom Parents will soon be a-scramblin’ for Halloween party …Read morehalloween class party ideas: help for classroom parents
fabulous, fancy game to practice tricky sounds: s, t, r, l It’s Cora’s Sparkle-icious Game. That’s what she calls is. But I don’t care what she calls it because all I know is that …Read morefabulous, fancy game to practice tricky sounds: s, t, r, l
fun with food: learning in the kitchen with kids Over the last few years, we’ve had a ton of fun with food over here. I love food, my kids love food, my husband loves food, and we all …Read morefun with food: learning in the kitchen with kids
hello, kindergarten: blingin’ the backpack, boy-style I’ve been waiting for two years now to bling Owen’s backpack like we did when Maddy started Kindergarten, but I knew I couldn’t make …Read morehello, kindergarten: blingin’ the backpack, boy-style
meeting new teachers: hello, teacher notes! Today we spent a few minutes doing one of our favorite back-to-school activities–one that gives my kiddos a chance to say a little …Read moremeeting new teachers: hello, teacher notes!
homemade back-to-school lunchbox notes I have been on a major cleaning kick lately, trying to get our family (and home) ready for the new school year. I want to begin on the right foot so …Read morehomemade back-to-school lunchbox notes
back-to-school shopping with three crazy-cool kids After our crazy-successful Smart Summer Challenge, I needed a little week-long offline vay-cay to say the least! Our Smart Summer Challenge was a …Read moreback-to-school shopping with three crazy-cool kids
a fish out of water: games to practice sight words Owen and I had to play a few extra games of Go Fish! this week to celebrate the Water Fun we’ve got on our calendar for the Smart Summer …Read morea fish out of water: games to practice sight words
a word a day: getting the family involved Maddy, Owen, and Cora have loved the Word a Day we’ve been doing for the past two weeks–more than I anticipated and much to my …Read morea word a day: getting the family involved
how to teach kids where in the world they live For a long time now, I’ve realized that Maddy, Owen, and Cora have no idea where they live. Sure, they get that they live in Maryland and their …Read morehow to teach kids where in the world they live
word a day: creating word conscious, word happy kids Our very first day of the Smart Summer Challenge found us lazying around at home because Owen returned from swim and dive feeling really under the …Read moreword a day: creating word conscious, word happy kids
learning during read-alouds: 5 things never to say to emerging readers Sometimes it’s very easy for teachers and parents to feel impatient with emerging readers. It’s hard to listen to kids sound out every …Read morelearning during read-alouds: 5 things never to say to emerging readers
getting ready for kindergarten: short e picture-word sort One of the best activities for practicing early word learning is the picture-word sort. Nothing takes the pressure off of reading like adding …Read moregetting ready for kindergarten: short e picture-word sort