halloween party ideas for kids and classrooms Storyhalloween party ideas for kids and classrooms Here’s everything you need for a rockstar Halloween class party.Learn more1. Get in touch with the teacher. Tell him or her that you are the Room Parent and that you’re ready to rock this party. (Just kidding. . . )Learn more2. Send out a class letter. Send a note introducing yourself and asking for H-E-L-P. I like to have a little part on the paper where parents can cut (or rip) and send …
how to teach kids where in the world they live Story
how to teach kids where in the world they live Storyhow to teach kids where in the world they liveThis Me on the Map activity spotlights where kids live from big picture to small–their planet to their home (or school). Learn moreFeel free to download, share with our friends up north, and watch our Canadian little ones learn about their place in this big world!Learn moreThe circles include:- our planet. - our continent. - our country. - our state. - our city; - our street; - our home (or …
minute to win it class party: organized, planned, and super-fun Story
minute to win it class party: organized, planned, and super-fun Storyminute to win it class party:organized, planned, and super-funWe have been all about Minute to Win it this year after we rocked out a Minute to Win It Family Game Night a few months ago, so when I asked Owen what he wanted to do for his Valentine’s Day class party, without hesitation, he said, Minute to Win It!!Learn moreSo I started thinking about how we could make this work for a classroom filled with 24 fourth graders. It …
halloween class party ideas: help for classroom parents Story
halloween class party ideas: help for classroom parents Storyhalloween class party ideas:help for classroom parentsIt’s almost Halloween time, which means that all around the world, Classroom Parents will soon be a-scramblin’ for Halloween party ideas.Learn moreHelp for Classroom Parents–the Halloween Party:There’s no need to reinvent the wheel, and the Halloween party has been done in many forms for years and years and years.Learn moreOur Halloween Party letterThe first thing I did this year …
halloween class party Story
halloween class party Storyhalloween class party: 10 QUICKIE ACTIVITIES FOR THAT EXTRA 10 MINUTESIF you just need a quickie 10-minute activity for the beginning or end of the party, then you’re in the right place.Learn more1. What is it? Place an object inside a box or a bag and allow each student to place his or her hand in to feel the item but not actually see the item.Learn more2. Memory TrayPlace 5-10 items on a tray in the front of the room. Make sure all students can …
time to rhyme–go fish! Story
time to rhyme–go fish! Storytime to rhyme–go fish! The ‘Go Fish’ format works well with anything, so all I did was crank out some easy, short vowel rhyme cards for this simple game.Learn moreRhyme Time Go Fish: These game contains rhyming words with all of the short vowel sounds. There’s at least two or four rhyming words from the -at, -an, -ot, -op, -og, -en, -et, -ug, -ut, -it, and -in families. Learn moreThe game is verrry simple. And of course most of the words were way too easy for her. …
Help kids stay in touch with friends: Autograph sheet Story
Help kids stay in touch with friends: Autograph sheet Storyhelp kids stay in touch with friends when school’s out:autograph sheetI’m totally psyched to begin our Smart Summer Challenge this year, I’m also always a little sad when the school year ends.Learn moreThis year, especially I feel like I’m having a difficult time as Maddy moves into the wilds of middle school leaving Owen and Cora behind in elementary school.Learn moreHelp Kids Stay in Touch With Friends When School’s Out–Autograph …
quick trick: how to teach kids to write number 5 Story
quick trick: how to teach kids to write number 5 Storyhow to teach kids to write number 5Many, many children I know have a difficult time learning to write number five.Learn moreActually many children I know have a difficult time writing many of the numbers because they don’t have many opportunities to write them like they do with letters.Learn moreI think that especially when kiddos turn five–and when they’re ready to head to Kindergarten–it’s important that they know how to write ‘their’ …
how to do a family fondue night: special occasion dinner Story
how to do a family fondue night: special occasion dinner Storyhow to do a family fondue night:special occasion dinnerIt’s a tradition for us to make this dinner on New Year’s Day and Valentine’s Day, and often the kids will choose to have fondue for their birthday dinner as well. Learn moreIt takes time to shop for fondue, prep fondue, and slowly enjoy fondue. And one huge plus is that although it sounds fancy, it’s really pretty simple.Learn moreYou need a fondue set to make this happen. …
how to throw a rockstar frozen birthday party—snacks to serve Story
how to throw a rockstar frozen birthday party—snacks to serve Storyhow to throw a rockstar frozen birthday party Frozen is all the rage these days, so it’s no wonder that my Cora wanted a ‘Frozen’ birthday party for her 7th. Learn moreNow that Frozen 2 is out in theaters and is such a hit, we needed to share the Frozen birthday party snack ideasLearn morethe Frozen crafts and funThere’s something about the big #7—it seems as though 7-year olds start thinking about their birthday the day they …
What is musical.ly and should I let my kid have an account? Story
What is musical.ly and should I let my kid have an account? Storywhat is musical.ly and should I let my kid have an accountI must be getting tired in my old age, after how long I made Maddy wait for an Instagram account for about forever.Learn moreI’ve thought long and hard about allowing Owen and Cora to have a musical.ly account, and I’ll explain why I think it’s okay.Learn moreWhat is musical.ly, and why should you even care? Musical.ly is a social media platform for creating, sharing and …
bleached out disney t-shirts for the not-so-crafty crafter Story
bleached out disney t-shirts for the not-so-crafty crafter Storybleached out disney t-shirts for the not-so-crafty crafterBleached out Disney T-shirt was something I made for our kids to surprise them that we're going to disney!Learn moreWhat you need: - T-shirts - Freezer papper - Iron - Mickey mouse template - spray bottle, bleach and - PencilLearn moreWhat you need to do:Learn more1. Print out the template you want to use. We used super-simple Mickey ears ones: you can download …
swim ribbon garland: what to do with summer swim ribbons Story
swim ribbon garland: what to do with summer swim ribbons Storyswim ribbon garland: what to do with summer swim ribbonsOur swim and dive season has been over now for two weeks, but we’ve done more post-season celebrating this year than ever before. Learn moreSwim and dive season comes and goes–just like that. Fast and furious and then bam. Over.But this year, we decided to carry on the celebration a little longer by parading the awesome throughout our house. Learn moreIt’s beautiful. …
everything free and awesome online to do while kids are home Story
everything free and awesome online to do while kids are home Storyeverything free and awesome online to do while kids are home:Here’s everything free and awesome online to to while kids are home from school thanks to the Coronavirus Outbreak. Learn moreEverything Free and Awesome Online to Do While Kids are Home From School First, if you and your family have not been watching SGN, Some Good News, then you are totally missing out.Learn moreCLASSES, CRAFT, THINGS DO AND LEARNLearn moreScholastic …
summertime fun cards 2.0: making the most of our summer Story
summertime fun cards 2.0: making the most of our summer Storysummertime fun cards 2.0:making the most of our summerIt’s been busy here this week, our first official week of summer, with me heading out of town for Type-A Parent Conference and my husband getting his knee fixed (finally!). Learn moreSummertime Fun Cards 2.0Knowing how quickly the summer can disappear before our eyes, Summertime Fun Cards give us a chance to sit down, breathe, and plan some fun things to do before fall …
texting as a learning tool: reading, spelling, composing Story
texting as a learning tool: reading, spelling, composing Storytexting as a learning tool:reading, spelling, composingMy kids think texting is so cool that they still argue over who gets to have our old, battery-free cell phones that don’t even turn on anymore.Learn moreThey think it’s cool to answer my cell phone if they notice their dad or aunt or nanny or pap are calling, and they think it’s cool to unlock the screen, answer, mute, put on hold, and hang it up. Learn moreTexting as a Learning …
musical hearts: reading, moving, & crazy-fun kid game Story
musical hearts: reading, moving, & crazy-fun kid game Storymusical hearts: reading, moving, & crazy-fun kid gameThe snow and freezing cold temps has cause my three kids to be on energy overload lately. They need to burn steam. They need to run, jump, skip, hop, spin, and then do it all again. Learn moreSo when I was looking for some cool indoor games for us to play in the down time between school and homework, I stumbled upon my dear friend Allie’s Musical Hearts game.Learn …
7 ways to get kids writing (and cool writing prompts for kids!) Story
7 ways to get kids writing (and cool writing prompts for kids!) Story7 ways to get kids writing(and cool writing prompts for kids!)It’s summer, and if your kids are anything like mine, they want to be outside and they want to be at the pool. Learn moreIt amazes me what happens when you ask kids to write their names. They love it. They really, truly do.And sure, it’s not high-level thinking or super creative writing; rather, it’s just writing. Just plain writing.Learn moreKids love to make …
rainbow words: free sight word printable Story
rainbow words: free sight word printable Storyrainbow words: free sight word printableLearning sight words is one of the most important things that our kids can do as they become readers. Learn moreRainbow Words — Free Sight Word Printable The reason sight words are important is because these are words that students need to learn to read by sight.Learn moreMany sight words aren’t even words that can be sounded out, so most decoding strategies don’t work for them. Learn moreKids just need …
fun ways to learn spelling words Story
fun ways to learn spelling words Storyfun ways to learn spelling words We only spent only a fraction of the time we should have on Maddy's first spelling word list.Learn moreThis teachy-mama has done a little research and has come up with some very exciting Fun Ways to Learn Spelling Words for my sweet Maddy.Learn moreWith spelling word flash cards: I’m a flash card fan–not to endlessly flip in front of a kid’s face–but to use in games, activities, and sneaky-learning ways. I’ve created flash …