vlogs Archives

rick riordan: 5 fun facts about the author we love

We have long been fans of Rick Riordan, ever since we fell hard for Percy Jackson way back when. So when my friends from Disney books asked if we wanted to join the #ShipoftheDead Book Tour, you better believe we jumped at the chance. The Ship of the Dead is the latest book--and the last book--in the Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard series. The coolest thing about this event, though, was that Maddy, Owen, and I had 10 minutes with Mr. Riordan--10 minutes to talk to him, chat with … [Read more...]

walmart grocery pick-up: grocery shopping made easy

I'm a sucker for anything that makes my busy life easier. So when I was asked to try Walmart's new Grocery Pick-up service, you better believe I was game to try it. Grocery shopping is often not only a juggling act with kids in tow, but it's also a huge time suck for me; depending on the time of day, sometimes I'd find myself stuck in the grocery store for up to two hours. Two hours! I can think of 800 things I'd rather be doing than grocery shopping for two hours. Walmart … [Read more...]

for all the tired moms out there: here’s your lifeline

I realized that I was stretched too thin when I showed up for Maddy's orthodontist appointment a week early. I realized that I was stretched too thin when I almost cried at elementary school drop-off because the other drivers weren't following the rules. I realized that I was stretched too thin when I stopped reading in the evenings because the minute I sat down, I fell asleep. I realized that I was stretched too thin when I double-booked myself for work calls three days in a … [Read more...]

a must-see for working moms (only if you’re stretched too thin!)

Oh, friends. Whether you're working full-time, working part-time, working some of the time, being a working mom is not easy. Heck, being a mom is not easy. In fact, hands-down, being a mom is the most difficult job I have ever done--and will ever do. I have a very clear memory of coming home one day at the end of a long day teaching high school, and saying to my husband, Let's have a baby. I am totally ready. Anything will be easier than trying to teach English to 150 9th and … [Read more...]

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? Your Go-Bags? Your ICE Cards? It's okay. I know you're busy. We all are. But take two minutes today and create ICE [In Case of Emergency] Cards for your kids. ICE Cards are super easy to make, and the whole purpose of them is to keep your kids safe. Thanks to Save the Children's site, you can make these cards in two minutes. Two … [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...]

how to play James Bond: fun card game for familes, by cora mascott

This summer has been all about card games over here. We've been doing a lot of card game playing, and I remember doing the same when I was young. We'd go on card game binges almost--playing the same card game for days on end. It's part of being a kid, I think. So I'm thrilled to have Cora over here again, guest posting for me and sharing one of our favorite card games of the summer: James Bond. One of the kids' babysitters taught them how to play James Bond last summer, but this … [Read more...]

how to make an at-home writing center

Writing centers are something that I first created for my kids years and years and years ago. Though the format has changed slightly (we no longer use the hot pink shower caddy), my kids still have nearly all of their writing supplies close at hand all. The. Time. If we want our kids to write, my friends, we need to make it easy. Especially for those guys who reluctantly write and will give us any excuse not to put a pen to the paper. Everything should be together so that … [Read more...]

go on an ABC hunt | reading tip 11 #raiseareader

As parents, we teach out kids so many foundational skills. We teach them to sleep, to walk, to eat, and to talk. We teach them how to dress, to tie shoes, to maintain healthy habits, and to stay organized. However, sometimes parents feel like teaching the 'school' things--like letters and numbers--is not their job. But it is, friends. It really is. And the more parents who jump on board with teaching the basics like the letters of the alphabet and numbers, the … [Read more...]

5 books to ‘hook’ your reluctant reader

I have been on a crazy roll lately, playing with video and new platforms and all that fun stuff. But you know that my true love lies right here--on the blog that started it all. So please don't fear; I am definitely going to keep this blog running and full of great ideas and ways to help your children develop a lifelong love of reading from now until I'm too old and tired to type. Actually, even if I'm too old and tired to type, I'm sure I'll be able to find someone who can type for … [Read more...]

use family photos to develop oral language skills: reading tip 12 #raiseareader

Friends, one of the tips that Allie McDonald and I share when speaking or presenting that usually yields the most nods of approval is what I'm sharing here, via video, with you today. It may seem super-simple to you, but this tip is M-O-N-E-Y. It really is. Totally worth your time for so many reasons. So go ahead. Skim the post quickly, click 'play' on the video below, and you'll be in the 'know' too. And the cool thing is that the only thing you'll need is the one object you most … [Read more...]