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

Detroit Residents Protest Disposal of Black History Collection

In what amounts to little less than a book burning, a large collection of black history media was destroyed in Highland Park, Michigan. City Emergency Manager Donald Weatherspoon said workers were clearing the school library's second floor to make room for offices, and they threw the collection out by mistake. The collection included an irreplaceable archive of African American history materials, many vintage. I'd be curious to know what students thought about destroying library books. Doesn't set a very good example, when we expect children to take care of reading materials. Highland Park, MI, Residents Protest Disposal of Black History Collection

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

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

Free Poetry Writing Prompts, Poem Games, Activities

April is National Poetry Month. For online writers, it's NaPoWriMo (National Poetry Writer Month). And what better month to celebrate than April with spring awakening, nature busting out all over and Earth Day nestled in? Want to join the poem-penning but don't know where to begin? Here are poem writing prompts, story starters and word games to call forth your inner bard! Perfect for homeschooler parents, English and creative writing teachers.

Verse-adventure: Hands down, there's no better poetry muse than mother nature. Get outside and start your poem quest. Pack a bag with pen, paper, thesaurus and blanket. Station yourself in a garden. Walk in the woods. Sit on the beach. Observe the elements: wind, sun, water. Notice the flora and fauna: trees, flowers, animals, land formations. Jot down sensory details--colors, sounds, smells, shapes. Check your thesaurus for new, fresh words to express ideas. Free Poetry Writing Prompts, Poem Games, Activities 

Free Printable Preschool Board Games, Learning Activities

As a certified special needs teacher for CI (cognitively impaired) students, I always write interactive lesson plans. Hands-on activities, like games, make content relevant, approachable and understandable for both general and special education students. Preschool kids particularly need multisensory learning activities. Happily, there are many free printable preschool games available online. Free Printable Preschool Board Games, Learning Activities

Printable Brown Bear, Brown Bear Reading Games, Literature Crafts

 "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, what do you see?" Thus begins a charming, eponymous preschool favorite by author Bill Martin. Via illustrator Eric Carle's pictures, preschoolers learn about colors, animals. patterns, math and also friendship. Here are free printable games, coloring pages, crafts, worksheets and learning activities from the children's literature classic, along with the companion Martin/Carle book "Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?"  Free Printable Brown Bear, Brown Bear Activities

Jewish Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Memorial Day Stories

The Hebrew 27th day of Nissan, in fact the entire week, is a sad time for the world. For 2013, these dates correspond to April 6-13 on the Western calendar. They are "days of remembrance" that commemorate Yom HaShoah, Jewish Holocaust Memorial Day. During this time, we honor the millions who died in the World War II Nazi genocide. I'm not a Jew, but I am a human. And I feel deep pain and solidarity with Jews throughout the world.  Let's Mark Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Memorial Day, by Sharing Stories