Education resources for parents and teachers
We're in the golden years of parenting. Right now, in 2021, our family is between diapers and dating. And I love it. Things are still wild and crazy (and LOUD), but that's to be expected with six kids ages 5-13. I admit that I don't miss the Exhausted Years ... the years I had a preschooler, baby, and toddler all at once. I can't count how many times I pushed a shopping cart with a baby seat in the cart, ... Read More
Are you teaching sight words to young readers? You're in the right place! In this post I'll show you exactly how to teach sight words using hands-on lessons and free printable sight word books. But first things first ... What ARE sight words, anyway? It depends whom you ask. When reading researchers use the term sight words, they're referring to the words that a reader recognizes instantly, ... Read More
So. These days I've been doing a lot of research into how our brains learn to read. In doing that, I've made a shift in how approach beginning reading. I used to ascribe to the three-cueing-systems model. It's the idea that kids solve unfamiliar words by using three cues: what looks right (phonics), what sounds right (syntax) and what makes sense (semantics). Here's the problem with the three-cueing ... Read More
Today I'm sharing a huge list of our favorite black history books for kids! Do your kids encounter a lot of racial diversity? We live near a major American city, full of people of all races. But our own little suburb is mostly white. Unless we go shopping, my children don't encounter a lot of faces different from their own during the school week. I can't begin to understand the racial ... Read More
I have a problem. I'm a clip art addict. Sometimes I buy clip art without any idea what I'm going to create ... because it's Just. So. Perfect. That's how I felt about this Christmas sweater clip art. How could I resist? Thankfully, I thought of the perfect use for these adorable sweaters ... problem solving! I created a set of task cards. Each card has a set of clues to help kids determine the mystery sweater. As ... Read More
Today I'm sharing over forty free printable Christmas games! Are you in charge of a classroom Christmas party this year? Maybe you're looking for something to entertain the kids during a family Christmas gathering. Either way, I've got you covered! Today I'm sharing over forty free and fabulous Christmas printable games for kids. Christmas Matching Games Get Christmas matching game from Kids Activities ... Read More
If you're looking for Thanksgiving books for preschoolers and kindergartners, you'll love our kid-approved list! Sometimes I think our librarians try not to make eye contact when I walk through the door. Either that, or they roll their eyes behind their desks. It's just that I usually look a little silly. And plenty awkward. Because I'm either fiercely whispering that the kids need to be quiet and ... Read More
I grew up near a large naval base. Many of my friends had dads who served in the navy - dads who were "out to sea" at least half the year. I remember how excited they were when the deployment was nearing its end! I have a huge amount of respect for those who serve in the military and for the families that keep things running while their loved ones are away. (If you're one of them, thank you! And if you're ... Read More
Looking for books that will help your learners understand the concept of addition? Try these! P.S. Find the mega list of books about math concepts at Imagination Soup! ... Read More
Check out my giant list of fall books for preschool and up! Over the years, I've shared quite a few book lists about fall - because I absolutely love this season! I'll start this post with a list of general books about fall. Down below, you can click on any of the images for even more books about fall ... apples, pumpkins, leaves, scarecrows, Halloween, and Thanksgiving! Here we ... Read More
