About Melissa Taylor – Mom, Teacher, Blogger, and Writer
Hi, I’m Melissa Taylor, a mom of two girls ages 7 and 10 (where does the time go!?) who inspire my writing and playful side. I’m also a teacher with an M.A. in Education, an entrepreneurial blogger and writer, a children’s book geek, and a passionate advocate for literacy and high-quality education.
Imagination Soup‘s focus is making learning fun, active, and engaging for kids. It’s a place where parents and teachers can find ideas, resources, and community. My goal is to make your life easier. It’s my delight to write it and I hope you enjoy reading it.
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My Top Blog Posts
Reading
What Age is Appropriate to Read The Hunger Games?
8 Reasons Why Fairy Tales are Essential to Childhood
Kids at the Library: Scavenger Hunts, Gear & More
Writing
Heart Mapping For Writing Ideas
DIY Pop-Up Books
Best Journals for Kids
iPad Apps
10 Best Educational iPad Apps for Children
Even More Educational iPad Apps
Best Children’s Book Apps for the iPad
Math
Why I Love Singapore Math
Everyday Math Makes Me Want to Scream
Math Geeks – Are You Ready for Pi Day?
Children’s Book Reviews
Best Beginning Chapter Books – Winter 2012
Fairy Tale Picture Book Round-Up
Best Comic Books and Graphic Novels for Kids
Summer Reading – Best Books in a Series for Kids Ages 2 – 12
Parenting
Best Friend, Worst Enemy Bully
Best Pinterest Users for Parents
She’s Not Shy; She’s Introverted
Education
What Is a Constructivist Classroom?
Quiz Yourself – Examples of Convergent and Divergent Thinking
Standardized Tests – Your Rights and the Impact On Your Child
Outside and Nature Play
Backyard Obstacle Course
Outside Fun With Cameras
Contact Me
email: melissa at imaginationsoup.net
Awards and Achievements
PBS Kids VIP Blogger 2012
Circle of Moms Top 25 Teacher Blogs, 2011
Mom Congress, Colorado Delegate, 2011
Advisory Committee Member, Colorado State Early Childhood Education standards, 2011
Cybils Panelist for iPad Books, 2011
Cybils Panelist for Early Readers & Early Chapter Books, 2010
Scholastic Parent and Child Best Book and Reading Blog, 2010
Outstanding Teacher, Douglas County School District, 2000, 2001, 2002
Print Writing
Blogs, Online Writing
Parenting Magazine’s Class Notes
Imagine Toys
Bookmarkable
Babble
Building Parent Engagement webinar, Shutterfly
full list of online writing on my freelance portfolio site
Recommended Resources
Graphic Designer – Logo: Gretchen Garrison
Website Design and Programming: Aimee Giese, Giese Media
Legal: Rehan Hasan
Biography
A mom of two girls and an award-winning educator with a M.A. in Education, Melissa Taylor’s expertise is in early childhood and elementary education, with a focus on literacy and play, having spent several years as a literacy trainer. Taylor freelance writes (http://melissatayloronline.com) about education, learning, children’s literature, technology, and advocacy for publications online and in print such as Parenting.com, Scholastic Parent and Child, Babble.com, Colorado Parent Magazine, Denver Magazine, Colorado Expression, Working Mother.com, Mile High Sports Magazine, and others. In 2010, Taylor won the coveted Colorado delegate spot for Parenting Magazine’s Education and Learning Mom Congress, who she now works for as the Mom Congress / Class Notes blogger. Entrepreneur Magazine featured Taylor as the ‘Trep of the Month in the January 2012 magazine.
Taylor writes an award-winning playful learning blog called Imagination Soup http://imaginationsoup.net which boasts a huge following – over 13,000 followers on Twitter, 2,000 subscribers, 3,000 Facebook fans, 2,300 Pinterest followers, and is in 1,700 circles on Google Plus. Imagination Soup is a PBS Kids VIP Blog, and the Scholastic Parent and Child Magazine Best Reading & Book Blog for 2010, as well as a top 25 Circle of Mom Teacher Blog and top 25 Circle of Moms Tech Blogs.
Taylor worked for two years as the Book Editor at Large for Colorado Parent Magazine, writing a book review blog called Bookmarkable. Ripple Reader, an eBook company, contracted Taylor for several years as their social media manager to coordinate Twitter, Facebook, and blog giveaways. Shutterfly asked Taylor to present for their Parent Engagement webinar August, 2011. Parents magazine interviewed Taylor for a September 2011 article about helping your child learn to read.
Bilingual in English and Spanish, Taylor loved teaching Spanish-speaking children in Denver Public Schools inner city, and for the federal migrant program. The Public Education and Business Coalition (PEBC) hired Taylor full time as a literacy trainer to work in underperforming schools. When Taylor returned to the classroom, she hosted groups of PEBC and University of Denver teachers who wanted to learn best practices from watching her teach. Taylor won Outstanding Teacher in Douglas County four years in a row, every year she applied. In her role as teacher, Taylor’s taught English as a Second Language, all subjects for the elementary grades, Spanish, and preschool.
Taylor served as a panelist for the 2011 Cybil Book Apps and the 2010 Early Reader Books and Early Chapter Books. She earned a B.A. in English with a Spanish minor at Colorado State University and a M.A. in Global Education from the University of Denver. She’s a member of the Education Writer’s Association, the Denver Woman’s Press Club, and the Lighthouse Writers.
