One of our favorite summertime traditions involves sweets (big surprise). Every year for as long as I can remember, the kids and I have made a July 4th flag cake. It’s simple. It’s sweet. And it’s so pretty, it’s hard to take. It's a 100% kid-friendly July 4th treat: the traditional flag cake. All you need is a boxed cake mix, cool whip, strawberries, and blueberries, and you’re ready to rock and roll. Here’s the skinny. . . Traditional July 4th Flag Cake: Though there’s … [Read more...]
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 reading for your kids? What books are must-have's for Easter baskets? I have done all the hard work for you, friends, and I have your answer here. First, I'll tell you which books you should have for the little guys, and then I'll tell you which books you should grab for the bigger guys. Ready? Here's the skinny. . . Must-Have … [Read more...]
join the #readchallenge and celebrate reading all month long
March is the time to really celebrate reading, my friends! Especially this year, now that I'm back in the classroom, I have been eating, sleeping, and breathing reading. And I'm ready to bring you into the mix, too. So buckle up. The more we talk about reading, think about reading, and get excited about reading, the better. Believe me, the more reading we do as parents and educators, the more our kids will want to read. Promise. So this year, I've teamed up with my sweet and … [Read more...]
top secret ‘happy day’ notes for the whole ‘hood
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...]
halloween mad lib: spooky fill-in story for halloween fun
I am always on the hunt for super fun Halloween activities for my kids. From the time they were teeny, we played Hats, Cats, and Pumpkin Grid Games, ABC Leaf Hunt, GHOST Bingo!, or Halloween Word Search. Anything to ring in this spooky holiday with a bit o' sneaky learning. But as they get a little older, they've grown out of those kinda little-guy-ish games. They love the Halloween Printable Games we play at Halloween Class parties, but I also wanted something fun for them to do here at … [Read more...]
to correct or not to correct when kids make reading mistakes
Okay, friends. To correct or not to correct your child's reading: that is the question. So many people have asked me about this, so I made it one of my reading tips. Check it out. Think about how you feel when people tell you you're wrong. Especially when you're taking a risk and aren't quite sure of yourself. It's hard to hear you're wrong. It sometimes hurts to hear: Come on! I know you know this. You just read it. . . Nope. You're wrong. That word is. . . Stop. … [Read more...]
Big Fat Notebooks: study help for middle schoolers #BigFatNotebooks
I'm always on the hunt for best-fit books for my kids, so when I was sent these Big Fat Notebooks from Workman Publishing, I knew they'd be the perfect fit for my middle schooler! Be forewarned, friends: These may not be the kind of books that your kids sit down and read before bed. They may not even be the kind of books that your kids read cover to cover. They most likely won't be the kind of books that your kids use for a book report or book club. These are not the kind of book … [Read more...]
celebrate multicultural children’s books! (BIG book bundle giveaway!)
It’s time for the 2nd Annual Multicultural Children’s Book Giveaway and KidLit TV is teaming up with Pragmatic Mom, Jump into a Book, Franticmommy, The Educators Spin On It, What Do We Do All Day?, Teach Mama, andMulticultural Children’s Book Day to give parents, teachers, and librarians in need, a chance to win a multicultural book bundle for their school library. Libraries play an important role in everyone’s life. The library is a place where knowledge and the love of reading … [Read more...]
great books for 9 year olds, by maddy mascott
I've said it before, but this is the summer I'm really leaning on Maddy, Owen, and Cora as my contributors. They are three of the smartest, coolest kids I know, and they have opinions I truly trust. This week, I've got Maddy taking the reigns, sharing great books for 9 year olds. Maddy is one of the most well-read people I know. She reads every, single night before bed, and I can barely keep up. I've tried. And I've failed. So Maddy's got a few books together that she is … [Read more...]
best books for family read-alouds
Oh, friends. So many of you have asked for book lists that I'm going to make it a summer of book lists for you. Brace yourselves. One each week. For the most part, I'll keep them short and sweet-- ten books max-- because I know we're all busy, and I know that's sometimes all we can handle. But the coolest part? I'll have my kids helping. That's right. Maddy, who's 12, Owen, who is 10 now but who will be 11 by the end of the summer, and Cora, who is 9, will be helping me … [Read more...]
Highlights Every Day app: THE must-have app for every 5-9 year old
Friends, it's no secret that I have long been a fan of the great folks at Highlights for Children and the wonderful work they do. But now? They've taken their awesome to an app, and it makes me want to dance. It seriously is one of THE must-have apps for every 5-9 years old. For every elementary schooler. Every child would benefit from having this app because literally every, single day, there's something new. It's cool. Very cool. It's the Highlights Every Day app, and it's … [Read more...]
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