Proclaim Liberty throughout all the Land unto all the Inhabitants thereof. That, as you might recognize, is the inscription on our 2,080-pound national treasure, the Liberty Bell. There are many myths and misconceptions in US history, some of which involve this famous symbol. According to the National Park Service, the State House bell, as it […]
When I was in elementary school, my favorite activity was whole-class flashcard races. I already had the longing to become a teacher and couldn’t wait to get my own set of tall, buff-colored flashcards for every math operation. When I had my own classroom, I used flashcards in a less competitive way. My students made […]
The school year is finally winding down—and what a year it has been! Teachers, parents, and students will all be happy to take a break from distance learning. Unfortunately, the summer slide will not be taking a break. In fact, the impact of the COVID slide, as some are calling it, may be substantially worse, […]
By this time of year, most grade-level math concepts have been addressed, though students may not have reached mastery in every area. That comes with practice! As they move through elementary school, students acquire a range of strategies to tackle multi-step word problems. During problem solving, students use skills—everything from using basic facts and simple […]
Give your students a break from their screens with an activity that connects all the language arts! Puppetry involves reading, writing, speaking, listening, and the creative arts as well! Much loved puppets, such as Kermit the Frog, Oscar the Grouch, and Mr. Rogers’ Daniel Tiger, have kept both children and adults entertained for decades. Benefits […]
Springtime can be magical for children and their pets. Spend some time with an adorable pup by exploring a longtime-favorite, Harry the Dirty Dog, by Gene Zion with illustrations by Margaret Bloy Graham. Then, create a story map. (By the way, you can use this idea with any children’s book.) If you don’t have a copy […]
Suddenly, you’re a homeschool teacher! Or maybe you’ve been doing that for years. Either way, as time goes on, you’ll be looking for some engaging, new educational activities to do with your kids at home. At Summer Solutions, we specialize in keeping students academically engaged outside of school. Here are two lesson ideas with free […]
Here’s a plethora of poetry links and a free download to get you started! World Poetry Day Celebrated around the world every March 21st National Poetry Month 30 ways to celebrate National Poetry Month this April April brings an abundance of great things…warm spring days, National Poetry Month, and a free Simple Solutions sample lesson […]
Add our free download to your measurement and “Pi Day” activities. Ever wonder how Simple Solutions and Summer Solutions are made? Well, we’re lucky to have our own print team here in Beachwood, Ohio, that prints and binds our perfect bound books. At BIP Printing Solutions, Joe, Dave, Matt, and Dashi produce more than 450,000 […]
While the best way to teach reading is still debated, years of research support explicit, systematic phonics instruction as the foundation for reading success. In 2000, the National Reading Panel¹ recommended teaching phonics patterns by following a defined scope and sequence. “Learning to read is not natural or easy for most children. Reading is an […]
