The kids will be headed to school soon. That makes it the perfect opportunity for you to brush up on your ABCs... the ABCs of back to school that is. This back to school tips list has everything you need to kick off this school year right. From how to preserve apple slices to tips for getting plenty of zzzz's (you know the sleepy kind). Knowing these ABCs will help make this year a success for everyone! This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are mine. A for APPLE. Who doesn't think of apples when the topic of back to school comes up? For this quick tip we're going to focus on apple slices for school lunches. I Continue Reading
Sight words and Spelling words Tic Tac Toe
My Little M loves classic games. She loves Memory, Go Fish, Hangman and of course Tic Tac Toe! Anytime I can modify one of her favorites into a sight word game it's a major score! This week we have been playing a lot of Tic Tac Toe... why not add in a little playful learning? Sight Word Tic Tac Toe What you need: cardboard, sharpie and sight words. (Of course you can play Tic Tac Toe on paper, a dry erase board or in the dirt with a stick... but sharpies are fun.) I asked Little M to search the stack of sight words she's working on and pick two. One for her and one for me. Each time we picked a space we filled it with our word. As Continue Reading
How to get Siblings to Get Along – 9 Simple Tips
Knowing how to get siblings to get along can be a bit overwhelming. The sibling dynamic is an interesting one. While sibling love is the goal, allowing for it to be a space for learning and growth is important too. How to get Siblings to Get Along Encourage Team Work. These sibling teamwork games will have your little ones working together and having a blast. Focus on the positive. Use a kindness jar to keep track small acts of kindness, you'll be surprised how quickly they add up when you're paying attention. (Love this kindness jar idea from What Do We Do All Day.) Celebrate the fun stuff. Make a sibling book to remind your Continue Reading
Helping the Teacher when you can’t be in Classroom
I am one of those Moms who loves the idea of working in the classroom. I love teaching, I love kids... fun, fun, fun. BUT actually finding time to work in the classroom is a little more difficult than I thought it would be. When the kids are at school it is time to work (someone has to run the blog). Since I know I am not alone in my quest to help while not actually being in the classroom, I've made a list. I asked every teacher I know what type of classroom support they need. You would be surprised how quickly and confidently the ideas flowed. They know exactly what kind of help they want! This list is perfect for back to school and Continue Reading
Printable Book Report Template… Fun Reading Activity for Kids
I have been busy brainstorming ways to get M and M excited about reading on their own. We do plenty of reading activities and this one just seemed to be a perfect fit for our new independent readers. I decided to create a printable book report template that I could easily print out for them when they reach the end of the book. (And since I was doing it for myself... well you know... I did it for you too! ;) ) Another great way to get kids excited about reading is audiobooks. We get a lot from the library but we also love Audible. You can try Audible and get two free audiobooks. (affiliate link) 6 Printable Book Report Templates I Continue Reading
Family Book Club Week 5: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Today's post wraps up our 3rd Family Book Club. I'm taking a brief break and plan to come back with a new book selection in the spring. I have some ideas for how to tweak/ improve on the Family Book Club and I would love to get your input. If you have been reading along and would be interested in giving me a little feedback please email me at amomwithalessonplan@gmail.com. Thanks and happy reading! Reading Goal This week read chapters 17-20. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Discussion Questions & Activities On page 146 of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Classic Starts version, you will find more discussion questions. (That's one of the Continue Reading
Family Book Club Week 4: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Here we are in week 4 of our Family Book Club: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. One week left to go. How are the conversations going at your house? Have you been able to expand on some of these great topics of friendship, exploration and even death? Reading Goal This week read chapters 13-16. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Discussion Questions & Activities I love what asking questions does for connecting through the story... I also love that it allows me to check the level of interest in my bouncy kids. They are often building or dancing while I read. Questions help me know they actually are paying attention (and that I'm not wasting Continue Reading