Summer learning reinforcement kit & free printable homework practice worksheets

 One educational issue that worries parents and teachers is summer learning retention. How well will students remember content during the long summer break? Summer tutoring is expensive. Summer school defeats the purpose of a break (plus kids typically HATE it). Here's an easy, inexpensive alternative: summer learning reinforcement kits. Make fun, cheap, easy, homemade summer homework kits. Keep them in the car so kids can practice math, spelling, reading and writing during car rides.Summer learning reinforcement kit & free printable homework practice worksheets

Reading enrichment activities: summer book crafts, literature games, printables

 March is National Reading Month, kicked off by "Read Across America." Schools abound with reading opportunities. But what about those long summer months? Here are summer reading enrichment activities to keep kids' noses in books year-round! Included are interactive reading response activities, ELA (English language arts) lessons, book-based crafts and literature response lessons. Use these multi-sensory, cross-curricular Montessori-based lessons for Readers Workshop, special education students, reluctant readers and divergent learners too.Reading enrichment activities: summer book crafts, literature games, printables - Grand Rapids Holidays | Examiner.com

Free printable Very Hungry Caterpillar activities, Eric Carle printables

In honor of National Reading Month (March) I'm going to share free activities based on favorite authors and books. Eric Carle is a beloved children's author. Carle has illustrated dozens of books about insects and animals. Here are free printables from the Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eric Carle's best-loved kids' book. Mrs. Spatafora's Kindergarten Blog features dozens of printable cut and paste crafts, games, activities, lessons, puzzles and coloring pages on preschool themes.Free printable Very Hungry Caterpillar activities, Eric Carle printables 

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!

Preschool Animal Alphabet Themed Snacks with Printable ABC Animal Activities from A-Z

Teachers, want to make ABCs fun? Here are healthy animal alphabet-themed snacks from A-Z. Use Alpha-Bits cereal, letter pretzels, cookies for letter shape. Then follow these recipes to create educational snack crafts that teach reading. I've included free printable animal alphabet coloring pages and activities.
Preschool Animal Alphabet Themed Snacks From A-Z

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

Free Printable Harry the Dirty Dog Activities

Are your kids going winter stir-crazy? You need a craft afternoon. I learned as a teacher/homeschool mom to make lesson plans hands-on. So my craft parties include an interactive story and snack and lots of free printable book-based activities.   No Roses for Harry Recycled Yarn Craft, Snack, Printables

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

Adventure Mystery Book Series for Boys--The Three Investigators

Do you have trouble getting your son to read? Boys are more often reluctant readers than girls. I'm a teacher and it's not gender-biased to say that. So how to get them to develop a love of reading? Find books they like. Might I suggest, for tween boys mystery, action, adventure, horror, historical fiction, sci-fi, tech, graphic novels, how-to? Just make sure it isn't boring.

And get them hooked on a series. That will keep them coming back for more. Our family favorite is one I read as a kid in the early 1970s--The Three Investigators. Three boys, Pete, Jupe and Bob solve mysteries as a home business. Jupe's uncle owns a salvage yard (HOW cool is that?) In exchange for work, they get junk (a boy's dream come true!). Their office-workshop is a salvaged trailer buried under yard scrap (does it get any better?) Yep it does. It's equipped with dark room, laboratory, private phone, intercom, periscope, microfiche and other spy-fi 60s gadgets. It's only accessible by secret passages and code words. Now do I have your attention, gentlemen? Oh you want to know where to lay your hands on these tales? Read on!  Adventure Mystery Book Series for Tween Boys--The Three Investigators

Free Printable Advent, Bible Christmas Crafts

 Advent 2013 began Sunday, December 1. For the next 24 days we will prepare our hearts for the coming (Advent) of Jesus. Here are free printable Advent coloring, puzzles, crafts, calendars, wreaths and activities to celebrate the season. I have been exploring and testing links for free printable Advent activities to keep children busy productive and happy as they prepare for Christmas.Free Printable Advent Games, Crafts and Activities 

Free Printable Books Kids Can Make and Read

I am all about hands-on lessons for kids. Children learn better when they do. So why not have them make mini books and read them? Here are free printable story books kids can cut and assemble, then color. They can use to learn vital reading skills. This site has free printable books on all kinds of subjects: ABC, numbers, shapes, animals, holidays, seasons, safety and more. Free Printable Books for Children to Make and Read 

Homemade Reading Games, Interactive Book Crafts, Childrens' Literature Activities

Teachers, can you use cheap, homemade language arts lesson plans? Homeschoolers, looking for interactive reading games? Here are hands-on reading activities for preschool to high school. Use cheap, recycled materials. Lessons are based on HOTS (Higher-Order Thinking Skills): analysis, application, synthesis and evaluation.   Hands-On Homemade Reading Crafts, Book Activities, Literature Games

Chris VanAllsburg's Polar Express Connections

I have a lot of hobbies and interests. One is incunabula, particularly the collecting of children's literature. I'm not au currant in modern adult fiction, but juvenilia I speak fluently.

A favorite is Chris VanAllsburg--of Jumanji, The Polar Express (book, then movie) fame. When I was in college and a new teacher, VanAllsburg was writing and illustrating some of his best works. My personal favorite is a little-remembered volume of odd M.C. Escher-ish
pictures with intriguing captions "The Mysteries of Harris Burdick." I used that extensively in creative writing with my Montessori students in the 80s. Read more  Chris VanAllsburg is from My Hometown

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

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 

Free Printable Literature, Math, Writing, Reading Activities for Kids

 Parents and teachers, looking for free, fun ways to keep kids reading and learning all summer long? Or maybe you need to supplement homeschool or classroom curriculum? Look no further. Scholastic is your one-stop source for free printable hands-on lessons and activities.

Scroll down the parent page for gobs of free printable literature-based activities. For kids ages 4-7, there's a plethora of free printable math, science, reading and writing activities. Scholastic has printable games, puzzles, coloring pages and lessons for preschoolers. Woven in are book themes, holidays, weather, animals and favorite characters. For grades 1-2, Scholastic has free printable science crafts, booklets on math and writing, graphic organizers, grammar and spelling activities, writing prompts and frames and reading games. Free Printable Literature, Math, Writing, Reading Activities for Kids

Free Printable Coloring Mini Books for Children

Educator Jonathon Holt says children learn best when they are actively involved. Here are free printable mini booklets for children to color. Subject include letters, words, seasons, animals, science, Bible, holidays and lots more. These books make excellent classroom, homeschoool and supplemental lessons for ages 4-7 years (grades preschool through second). These free printable activities are especially good for special needs children. Free Printable Coloring Mini Books for Children

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