melissa taylor

Do It Yourself Summer Camp Ideas

An at home, do-it-yourself DIY summer camp can be an inexpensive and fun way to help your children grow intellectually, artistically, socially and spiritually over the summer. Think of the goals you have for your children this summer. This summer, I want my children to _________________ . (Fill in the blank.) Would a summer camp […]

Guerrilla Tactics for Struggling or Reluctant Readers

Do you have a struggling or reluctant reader? I do, too. Which is why I’ve developed some unusual strategies over the years to get my kids to love reading; strategies that fit with their unique personalities. My tactics to encourage a love of reading do not involve punishments or rewards –unless the reward is a […]

8 Reasons to Let Your Kids Read Graphic Novels

updated: 4/2019 Guess what?! Comics and graphic novels count as credible reading materials and aren’t just for reluctant readers. The truth is children need both variety and choice to become good readers. Meaning, they need nonfiction, different genres of fiction, and different formats of books. Graphic novels give readers a variety in format. And of course, reluctant […]

Word Collection Jars

Our word collection started when JJ’s teacher read aloud Donavan’s Word Jar to her class. JJ wanted to start a word collection jar at home. Of course, I was happy to oblige! Find a Jar We found jars and labeled them. One of these days, we may get fancier and decorate the jars but we wanted to […]

Self Censorship Better Than Book Banning

Growing up, I made my own choices and censored the books I thought weren’t worth my time, for whatever reason. I choose. Not a school board. Not a library. Not my teacher. Me. I am grateful for the ability to choose what I read. Then and now. And I think it’s a freedom we must […]

11 Favorite, Healthy After-School Snacks

Sometimes we just need fresh snack ideas — with pictures! So here are pictures and ideas for healthy after school snacks that my kids enjoy. I hope yours will, too. Healthy After-School Snacks Ritz Cracker Sandwiches Are your kids sick of sandwiches but don’t always get much protein in their diet? Mine, too. But they do […]

23 Reasons to Read Printable Poster

Why do we read? I spent some time thinking about this . . . and how we want our kids to read for so many reasons. Reasons such as . . . to imagine to understand to dream to discover to meet to empathize to grow . . . there are so many reasons, aren’t […]

Raising Innovative Kids

Guess what we’re doing this summer? Nothing much. We went to the pool for the first time last week but other than a few trips to the library, we’re doing nothing. The book, Creating Innovators, confirmed that my kids need time. They need time for play and discovery. Back to the book, . . . I also […]