Free printable preschool Valentine worksheets, games, crafts, activities

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, Pinterest, email, and blogs overflow with valentine crafts. Alas, many are also costly. So, don't pay. Here are free printable preschool valentine worksheets, games, crafts, learning activities and lesson plans. Fru-gals and fru-guys, use these for Valentine's Day fun.   Free printable preschool Valentine worksheets, games, crafts, activities

Chinese New Year of the Monkey 2016: Books for kids, children's literature from China

Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival celebrates the culture of the Orient. It starts late January to mid February, on Feb. 8 in 2016. CNY culminates with a Lantern Festival. What better way to explore Chinese culture in your classroom than with literature? Here is a list of children's books for pre-K to second graders from China. Some books are specifically Chinese stories and others are Japanese Buddhist stories. Chinese New Year encompasses traditional animals of the zodiac so many kids' books in this list are animal-themed. It's CNY Year of the Monkey 2016.  If you were born in 2004, 1992, 1980 (etc.) you're a monkey! Here are Chinese New Year of the Monkey books for kids, children's literature from China | Examiner.com

Christmas stories, kids holiday books: Have yourself a Tomie DePaola Christmas with 30 days of Christmas countdown books by the master!

Looking for the best Christmas stories and holiday books for children? Then have yourself a Tomie DePaola Christmas! Tomie DePaola is a one of the world's best-loved illustrator-authors in children's literature. Tomie DePaola admits that he loves Christmas and it shows in the holiday magic he imbues in his stories and art. Here's the definitive Tomie DePaola Christmas stories collection. Included are Advent books, too: Advent is the Catholic season of preparation leading up to Christmas and Tomie DePaola books indulge that spirit of anticipation. He's done a nice series on saints' feast day that fall in Advent.  Christmas stories, kids holiday books: Have yourself a Tomie DePaola Christmas!

Best Historical Fiction Books for Tween, Teen Girls

 Historical fiction is becoming increasingly popular genre with school-aged girls. I've compiled a list from my 20+ year teacher career, highlighting the best historical fiction for tween and teenage girls. You'll note I didn't add American Girls. Those books are excellent, but written for slightly younger girls. But older girls can certainly enjoy them! This list isn't exclusively for girls, but most books have female protagonists so girls may be more drawn to them. Best Historical Fiction Books for Tween and Teenage Girls

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Free Printable Puppets and Preschool Themed Mini Books to Act Out

When I taught summer enrichment, one class that always went over big was puppetry. Here are free printable finger puppets, stick puppets, paper bag puppets and 3D play sets (to use like puppets). Many have accompanying mini booklets kids can read and act out with their puppets. There are Bible, animal, people, Disney character, monster and other puppet themes. Perfect for Vacation Bible School, summer school, daycare and rainy day fun!  Free Printable Disney, Animal, Bible Finger Puppets

Challenged, Censored Banned Books Arouse Love of Reading in Tweens, Teens

Want to teach kids to love reading? Tell them a book has been banned, censored or challenged by adults. Nothing sends a reluctant reader to the bookshelf quicker than thinking he's doing something verboten! Especially tweens and teens who love flouting authority anyway! Often students who most hate reading speak loudest against censorship and in solidarity with authors. God love them for that. So without further ado, my adolescent friends, here are the Most Banned Books? Authors of Teen, Children's Literature. Now get thee to a library!

Free Printable Craft Stencils For Book Themed Crafts

 Okay, raise your hand if you're sick of winter. Yep, we're fed up. Spring is but a few short days away, but Mother Nature seems oblivious. What say we ignore that old battleaxe and make our own spring fun? As March is National Reading Month, here are free printable stencils to use in a book themed party! Free Printable Craft Stencils, Holiday Patterns and Templates

Best Childrens Literature for Black History Month

February celebrates Black History Month in U.S. history. In schools, students learn about significant people and events in the African American timeline. As a teacher and homeschool mom, I've designed and taught black history throughout the curriculum. Here's my preschool-second grade recommended reading list for Black History Month with free printable lesson plans. Some may disagree with my suggestion for Little Black Sambo to be included. But read on for my defense.  Best Pre-K-Grade 2 Kids' Books for Black History Month

Preschool Disney Story Party, Rainy Day Reading Fun

The older kids are back to school and now you have bored, lonely preschoolers. Why not take an afternoon break and throw and impromtu book party? Engage little ones with cheap, literature-based games, crafts, food! Use Disney stories for a fall fun. Printables included. Preschool Disney Story Party, with Fun Snacks

Technology-Free Family--Why We Raised Kids With Books and Nixed Television

I chuckle remembering my husband's and my early parenting selves--so radical it hurt. In the ultra-conventional 80s, nonconformity did not enjoy the vogue it does now. We were hipsters when that word still meant jeans!
One big concern was the effect of TV on kids. I had steeped myself in organic childhood teaching, following Dr. Maria Montessori and reading books like Marie Winn's "The Plug-in Drug." Even when we were dating, we agreed that nature was nurture. I give us credit looking back. We'd seen nothing yet of internet, video games, Blu-Ray, cellphones and cyber culture. VCRs were pretty young. We worried about cable television and vowed never to have a TV set in our home. We'd grow our kids on books we said. Technology-Free Family--Why We Raised Kids Without Television

Family Read-Aloud: Old Scholastic Classic Kids Books

I tend to look askance at most children's movies made in the last few years. Kids' books too, for that matter. I'm a bibliophile and have a collection of children's literature that exceeds 2,000 books. I haunt libraries, used book stores, Scholastic website. I'm admittedly fussy about quality literature for children. Much of what's coming out seems repetitive in theme: vampires, fantasy, Gothic--very Harry Potteresque. Some stories seem to be spun straight from others' in the genre.

Even realistic fiction has become banal and patronizing. Teen angst, new kid problems, bullying, family problems-- these serious get dumbed down often. They books read like they're written by adults trying to sound like kids. Family Read-Aloud: Old Scholastic Classic Kids Books 

Holiday Activities, Crafts, Lessons and Printables from Enchanted Learning

Anyone involved in education, after school activities or child care knows summer holidays produce either boredom, loneliness frenetic activity or all three. If you need games, activities, printables here you go. Get crafts, calendars, diagrams to label, maps to fill in, booklets to cut, color, answer and assemble, online student encyclopedia, online coloring, printable coloring pages, reference, lessons, complete units, themes. Enchanted Learning can be your lifeline, both for summer holidays. Holiday Activities, Crafts, Lessons and Printables from Enchanted Learning

An Apology for Little Black Sambo

I have a confession to make. My oldest daughter's favorite book, when she was two, was "Little Black Sambo," by Helen Bannerman. Initially, I had no idea some people found it racist and offensive, but even when I found out, I didn't stop reading it. Sambo is one of my favorite children in literature. It was also too late. Molly was in love with the story. This is my apology (in the defense sense of the word) for and to Little Black Sambo. I'm connecting it to Black History Month because I think it should be read with pride and joy. An Apology for Little Black Sambo

Activities for Bored, Winterbound Kids: Throw a Book Party

If your weather is anything like mine this winter, there's a lot of cold, but little snow. For kids, winter's no fun without the snow-just chill and wet. When it's too cold to play outside and too boring to play inside, most kids' attention turns to mischief. Why not head off your little troublemakers off at the pass with a cheap (mostly free) afternoon of fun, compliments of your bookshelf? Activities for Bored Children: Literature Party

Free Printable Native American Indian Totem Pole Designs to Color

Thanksgiving is the time when my literary interests naturally turn to books on Native American Indians. Schools typically teach native American lore in fall. There are several excellent books on American Indians: Sign of the Beaver (Elizabeth George Speare), The Indian in the Cupboard series (Lynne Reid Banks) and A Light in the Forest (Conrad Richter) are three favorites. If you've not read these, do it now! I've got a special connection to Pacific Northwest natives . When I was six my family moved to Haines, Alaska. We lived with a clan of the Tlinget Native American Indians. I was adopted into the tribe. Totem poles are an important part of Native American Indian culture, particularly in the Pacific Northwest Indian tribes like the Tlinget, Chilkat, Kwakiutl, Haida and Tsimshian. I've seen many lovely examples. Here are free Printable Totem Pole Patterns to enjoy.

Free Native American Lesson Plans, Free Printable Activities from The Indian in the Cupboard Books

If you're an educator and or parent and you're discouraged from battling with kids to read instead of stare at a screen, don't give up. Here's a fantasy genre book list sure to attract, nay delight 3th to 6th grade children, especially boys. I've detailed the books and created a literature discussion guide to use. "The Indian in the Cupboard" series (including also The Secret of the Indian, The Return of the Indian, The Mystery of the Cupboard and The Key to the Indian) blends Native American culture, history, adventure and fantasy.  Use this Native American Literature Lesson Planner--The Indian in the Cupboard unit. Free printable activities included.

Free Printable Rainbow Magic Fairy Crafts

 "Rainbow Magic" is a series of books from the UK, about fairies, created by a collection of authors writing under the pseudonym "Daisy Meadows." Rainbow Magic is illustrated by Georgie Ripper. There are several dozens stories. Here are free printable fairy crafts from Rainbow Magic. Use with lesson plans and to encourage reading. Read more

Help, my child hates to read! Tips to inspire the reluctant reader

Habits, both good and bad, are generational. Children absorb, by osmosis, the vices and virtues of their parents. I'm a reader, as were my parents before me. My husband's family were bibliophiles. Our children grew up reading and being read to. Now in middle school and adulthood, our kids have continued the reading habit. Are you struggling to find ways to spark a love of reading in your kids? Here are some tips and tricks to help. Books for kids who hate to read

Free Printable Disney Easter Activities

Celebrate the joy of Easter with these free printable Disney Easter activities. Need some free printable greeting cards? Here are links for ten different Disney character Easter cards. Print Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Eyeore, Rabbit, Roo and all your friends from the Hundred Acre Woods. How about some free printable Looney Tunes Easter cards? Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Wile E. Coyote and other Looney Tunes friends. For Easter letters, why not print some stationery, decorated with Disney's Winnie the Pooh? Write an Easter message to grandma and grandpa, teachers and friends.  Free Looney Tunes printables

Dr. Seuss a Polymath? I Vote "Yes!"

Oh, the places Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, has gone in 108 years. From the Jungle of Nool to the top of Mt. Crumpet to the best-seller list and On Beyond Zebra, the good doctor is loved in all lands, tongues and, I suspect, genera and species. As the Washington Post reminds us, March 2 is the birthday of this patron saint of fun. I propose that, in honor of Seuss Day we elect Geisel our newest polymath, our next Renaissance Man. After all, says Assessment Psychology, it's been some time since the last, Rabindranath Tragore was added to the list. And the U.S. only has one polymath so far. I won't tell you who--see if you can find out. Take a moment the check the other Renaissance Men. And yes, we're overdue for a Renaissance Woman category.  Who better than Seuss for homo universalis? Read more on Dr. Seuss Should Be Next Renaissance Man