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Our family vacation to Idaho begins in just a few days. We’re heading west to see my folks and sister, to check out Craters of the Moon National Park, Sawtooth National Forest, Redfish Lake, and all the things Eagle and Boise have to offer. We’re excited! In preparation for the long plane and car rides, […]
Have you been to South Dakota? It is a special place for my family. Not only does it hold the plants, animals and material culture my husband has spent the last decade studying, two of our best family vacations were spent in South Dakota’s hills. Why? Every drive is scenic. Sunsets and storms roll in […]
A body biography invites students to recall what they know about a character and turn their findings into a life-sized version.
Are you a listmaker? My daughter and I love lists. Like really love them. I don’t know about her, but for me, the act of making a list grounds me. All the items, bulleted or numbered, and organized in rows gives me direction. I don’t have to remember it all. My seven year old recently […]
Greek Mythology has it all: heroes, villains, friendship, love, deception, snake hair, sea monsters, really cool shape-shifters, and Cyclops. The stories are captivating. The gods and goddesses lure readers, even the most resistant, into their adventures. Thanks to a little strewing, my children have spent the last three weeks inviting Zeus, Apollo, Odysseus, Percy Jackson, […]
At some point in time, all of us will come across a challenging text and may struggle to comprehend what we are reading. When we’re unfamiliar with vocabulary or lack prior knowledge of a subject matter, a text can be difficult to understand. I can think of a number of occasions since college when I’ve […]
Heading to any national parks this year? Have you heard of the National Parks Service Junior Ranger Program? It changed the way my family experiences national parks! Last summer, a little worried my children wouldn’t enjoy the historical sites my husband and I wanted our family to experience, we were thrilled to come upon The […]
Writing, especially revision can be tricky. Maybe we’re pressed for time, or we’ve looked at a document so much our brain sees what we want to write instead of what we’ve written. Maybe we’re not sure where a comma or a semicolon should go, or we are learning how to write. Regardless, grammar and mechanics matter […]
At the beginning of each school year, my students, homeschooler, and I create a Writing Territories List.* I want them to begin the year by setting intentions for themselves, not as students, but as writers. I always create a Writing Territories list with them. I use my list to offer ideas and to share pieces […]
One of my family’s favorite vacations took us inside The Little House on the Prairie series. My hope that our family could share a story together and see it come to life felt a little risky. I wasn’t sure if everyone would be interested or if the places we were heading would be worth the […]
What mother doesn’t love a poem from a child they love. I’d take one any day. Don’t get me wrong, pasta necklaces, coupon books, and playdough projects are sweet, but a poem is something to keep forever. There are all sorts of ways to create a Mother’s Day poem. Below you’ll find prompts for kids of […]
My youngest wants to know how to tell time. We practice by playing a clock game she enjoys, rotate paper hands around a cardboard clock she’s made, determine which number is being called forth by the little hand. It’s a milestone, learning how to tell time, like tying shoes and learning how to read. She’s […]
“How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives,”~ Annie Dillard Grab your free copy of Create a Family Rhythm here I’m often struck by Dillard’s words; the simple reminder every minute and hour eventually adds up to a life. Looking back at yesterday, last year, or even just an hour […]
In need of a fun family getaway? One of my family’s favorite places to visit is Saint Louis, Missouri. This kid-friendly city offers countless opportunities for families to enjoy time together indoors and out. Family fun in Saint Louis is seriously everywhere! Affiliate links are included in this post for your convenience. See my disclosure for […]
My children became interested in cooking when they realized if they learned to bake, we’d have more sweets in the house. While I enjoy cooking, baking is not my favorite pastime. However, our time in the kitchen quickly became a priority when the more I said yes to baking, the more I watched my children […]
