“Back to school” has a very different ring to it this year. Many aspects of beginning a new school year are dramatically different from how they’ve ever been. Anxiety, fatigue, restlessness, and stress are our unwelcome companions. All of our lives are different in some ways. We need to acknowledge that, but also remind ourselves […]
In addition to crafts and Active Experiences, expose your campers to some great literature. Answering a few questions after reading a story is an effective way to maintain reading comprehension skills over the summer. Simple Download these children’s classics adapted by Simple Solutions. For very young children, use The Tale of Peter Rabbit and The Steadfast Tin […]
Ready to organize a backyard summer camp for your kids? This blog features scavenger hunts, treasure hunts, and after-dark activities. Check out Part 1 for daytime activities and art projects; Part 3, for ways to prevent brain drain. Each category has three levels: “Simple” activities are mostly free, easy, and great for younger kids. “Medium” […]
Summer is here, but a lot of the things we look forward to in summer will not be happening. Vacations, baseball games, trips to the pool, and summer camp may have been canceled. But why dwell on what’s lost? Your children can attend a camp hosted by you! In this, and two upcoming blogs, you’ll find […]
I’ve been reading and collecting education research studies and reports about all kinds of topics, such as improving reading comprehension, raising math scores, teaching with games, best practices for preschool learning, and so on. But these many studies have limitations; that’s why the researchers usually call for replications and further studies. One thing researchers consider […]
Although it has been a while, I can vividly remember my very first day as a teacher. I was assigned to a class of 21 first graders who may have been as nervous as I was that September morning. I remember looking out into their forgiving faces, as I tried to check off items on […]
Hey there, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade teachers! School starts soon, and if you’re like a lot of my friends, you’re looking for ways to “do more with less.” Okay, I’m not a fan of that euphemism either. Too often, teachers are told “there is no budget” for the high-quality instructional materials they need. Yet, […]
The Old Farmer’s Almanac tells us the “dog days” begin around July 3 and end August 11 this year. The “dog” they refer to is the dog star, Sirius, the brightest star in the sky after the sun. The ancient Greeks thought the star Sirius looked like the nose of the dog in the constellation […]
As my profile states, I am a Cleveland Indians fan. Inhabitants of Northeast Ohio understand what that means. You see, we have witnessed a lot of exciting baseball in our town, and we have come REALLY close to winning it ALL. But it’s been 71 years since we’ve won a World Series. My 89-year-old mother […]
For some, the countdown is over, and for others it is nearing the end. It’s time for summer reading! A wonderful source for reading ideas is your local library. I can’t imagine a public library without a summer reading program, so check out the one nearest you. Your library website may have suggestions for books […]
