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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 pictures since a huuuuge chunk of early reading involves...
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wolf trap’s theater in the woods
This week’s Smart Summer Challenge week has a Forest Friendly focus, so it’s a perfect opportunity to write about the time we spent at Wolf Trap’s Children’s Theater-in-the-Woods. The...
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new for us friday: dinosaur train –the movie!
We’ve done a whole lot of new-for-us things this summer, but with the excitement of our Smart Summer Challenge, I’ve hardly had time to share them. However, I had to take a minute today to get back...
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trying tapas: rockville restaurant week (& giveaway!)
For the last few days, Cora and I have read Susan Middleton Elya’s Bebé Goes Shopping more times than I can count. In the story, Mamá y Bebé take a trip to the supermercado, and along the way. . . . ....
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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 she wants to play it–like every single day. And it gets her saying words with...
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mom’s homeroom: ideas, advice, videos, crazy-cool blogs
I am over the moon to share some exciting news: I’ve been working with MSN and Frosted Mini-Wheats for the last few months, writing as a Featured Blogger and doing some video pieces for Mom’s...
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magazine activities: creative, crafty, sneaky-learning fun
We are huge magazine fans over here. We love finding them in the mailbox, reading them, playing detective with them, crafting with them, and learning with them. When they arrive in the day’s mail,...
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best of teach mama countdown: #5 — letters b and d
I love it when I find a resource that really, truly helps my kids. And PBS has provided me with so many ways to support my children’s learning, in their smart and thoughtful programming and online...
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best of teach mama countdown: #2 — spelling words
Yay! We’re getting down to the wire with this teach mama top 10 all-time best countdown! This post is one that I have shared probably more than times than any other post I’ve written. It seems that...
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quick trick: take reading on the road
A few weeks ago, I took the kids to Pennsylvania for the weekend–another solo trip and one I’ve done dozens of times before. But what I realized is that the packing and prep I once spent hours doing...
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building words outside, on the fly, WordWorld-style
Cora and I were just hanging around out front last night, relaxing in the breeze and getting some fresh air while Maddy, Owen, and my husband hit the driving range. We were chatting about the trees,...
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sight word games to prepare for kindergarten: go fish!
Owen has been really interested in reading lately, so I’m trying to roll with it without pushing him or having him lose interest–so games have been my go-to. He’s trying desperately to grab the words...
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quick trick: fast-finger challenges with play-doh
Like so many families, we love Play-Doh over here. And whether it’s the real-deal, packed-in-yellow-containers-Play-Doh or happy homemade-on-the-stovetop-playdough, it doesn’t matter–my kids love it...
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new for us friday: Tangled Tag Book and Explorer Game (& giveaways!)
Thank you to all who entered. This giveaway closed 2/25/11; the winners were chosen via random.org and were notified. Thank you!! We are huge fans of the LeapFrog brand and products, and we’re big...
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target’s read with me (with iPad and children’s books giveaway!)
Many thanks for the enthusiastic response to this giveaway. The contest is now closed, and random.org #105 was chosen, notified, and confirmed. Congratulations, Laura in Illinois! When I learned about...
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just 1 book: author guest post–tara mcclintick (and book giveaway)
I’m so excited to share an especially interesting just 1 book guest post by a fellow educator and author, Tara McClintick. Tara shares the way that one book helped shape the way she views, prepares,...
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target’s read with me (with iPad and children’s books giveaway!)
Many thanks for the enthusiastic response to this giveaway. The contest is now closed, and random.org #105 was chosen, notified, and confirmed. Congratulations, Laura in Illinois! When I learned about...
View ArticleClik here to view.
new for us friday: Tangled Tag Book and Explorer Game (& giveaways!)
Thank you to all who entered. This giveaway closed 2/25/11; the winners were chosen via random.org and were notified. Thank you!! We are huge fans of the LeapFrog brand and products, and we’re big...
View ArticleClik here to view.
quick trick: fast-finger challenges with play-doh
Like so many families, we love Play-Doh over here. And whether it’s the real-deal, packed-in-yellow-containers-Play-Doh or happy homemade-on-the-stovetop-playdough, it doesn’t matter–my kids love it...
View ArticleClik here to view.
wolf trap’s theater in the woods
This week’s Smart Summer Challenge week has a Forest Friendly focus, so it’s a perfect opportunity to write about the time we spent at Wolf Trap’s Children’s Theater-in-the-Woods. The...
View Article