Do you love fun and silly family activities? My kids were cracking up last week as I reminisced about the footy pajamas I got every year for Christmas . . . with butt flaps. Remember those? (Super classy!) That's why I decided to include the jammies idea in a Christmas mad libs type letter. It's a free printable and should be silly enough for some good laughs. Printable Christmas Mad … [Read more...]
Interactive Notetaking 101: Benefits, How-To, and Materials
Disclosure: This post has been sponsored by FIVE STAR® School Supplies. All thoughts and opinions are my own. While many students may prefer technology, the research shows that handwritten notetaking is better for synthesis and retention. Which is why I LOVE interactive notetaking for this reason and the depth of learning it encourages. Learn more about this educational methodology (for all … [Read more...]
Announcing Mrs. P’s 10th Annual K-4 Be-a-Famous Writer Contest: HEROES
Mrs. P (aka actress Kathy Kinney) has a mission --to spark the imaginations of students. Her FREE storytelling website MrsP.com and the annual Be-a-Famous Writer Contest are celebrating their 10th anniversary. This year, the theme of the writing contest for kids is heroes. Today Mrs. P shares her own literary heroes and how she selected this theme. How did you select the theme HEROES this … [Read more...]
20 Picture Books About Writing a Story (For Writing Workshop)
Teachers and parents, use these picture books to model the process of writing a story. Some of these books show how writers get ideas. Others show the challenges of plotting and drafting the words in a story. All are about a part of the process of storytelling. Kids need plenty of these examples to encourage them as they develop their own story telling abilities. You'll want to look for … [Read more...]
Write a Family Newsletter
Many of you send out or post family updates around the holidays. But this year, why not have your children write your family newsletter? In my writer's workshop a few years ago, my students spent time learning the basics of the newspaper, writing using the 5 Ws, and writing a family newsletter. It's something you can do at home with your family, too. 1. Study the Newspaper First, look through … [Read more...]
Gifts for Young Readers and Writers
You're growing young readers and writers. So why not give gifts that encourage your kids to read and write? I love products that really get kids jazzed about literacy -- even if it's just a fun shirt or new book -- don't you? Don't miss all my 2017 gift recommendations for kids here. Gifts for Young Readers Kids Room Book Storage, The Little Prince - Buy It Here I love … [Read more...]
Spark Creative Writing with Storybird
Storybird provides artwork and templates for children to write picture books, longform books, and poetry. It's a cool community site with lots of opportunities to spark creative writing. Teachers can use the site with students. Or parents and children can use it on their own at home. Spark Creative Writing with Storybird Click on CREATE to get started. The artwork is provided. Scroll … [Read more...]
Journal Prompts for Kids
Kids sometimes need journal prompts to get started writing. Not all kids do. And not all kids need a prompt every time they write. It's important to be flexible. However, your child is struggling with what to write, try a prompt or a book like Journal Sparks. You can always, always, always suggest that your child write about his or her feelings at the moment or events that happened during … [Read more...]
Write Your Own Latin Based Harry Potter Spells
For my daughter's Harry Potter birthday party, one of the activities, besides spells and sorting, was writing magical spells using Latin words. You can download the Spell Book I created for free here -- and use it for your own magical party or even your classroom. Write Your Own Latin Based Harry Potter Spells The Spell Book includes some of the most familiar spells from the Harry Potter books … [Read more...]
Mac Barnett and Adam Rex on How This Book Was Made
How This Book Was Made is a humorous account shared by the author, Mac Barnett, and illustrator, Adam Rex, about their amazing (and slightly unusual!?) process of publishing a picture book. It goes something like this: getting an idea, writing lots of drafts, arguing with an editor, playing cards with a tiger, waiting forever for the illustrations, growing a long beard, printing the book in a … [Read more...]
Experiential Stuffed Animal Writing Idea For Kids
Get your imaginations ready for a fun experiential writing adventure! You'll be taking your best friend (aka. favorite stuffed animal) for a walk and narrating the story as it might happen if your friend were real. This kind of doing and writing is great for young writers for many reasons such as: SENSORY DETAILS: Descriptions can include the sensory details easily because you're … [Read more...]
Writing Idea for Kids: Ultimate Guides
written by homeschooler, writer, and mother, Patricia Zaballos Writing Idea for Kids: Ultimate Guides Ultimate guides are well-loved around here. Currently Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Ultimate Guide has been found sprawled in various settings around the house, attesting to its popularity–with my ten-year-old son, Theo, anyway. An ultimate guide is simply a rather cockily titled … [Read more...]