Classics, Nonfiction, and Children's Literature
Literacy Moves Outdoors: Learning Approaches for Any Environment by Valerie Bang-Jensen (Heinemann, April 2023) gives teachers practical and useful ideas for adding sensory, hands-on literacy lessons outdoors into their regular teaching routines. As a homeschool parent (over the last 11 years) and homeschool co-op teacher, I frequently have advocated for learning methods far outside of
This last fall, I had an opportunity to (temporarily) receive a digital review copy of Notice & Note by Kylene Beers, which was published by Heinemann in 2012. Since I last reviewed this book in 2014, I have finished ten years of homeschooling my children (pre-k to middle school). Last year, I specifically used the
The Joy of Reading by Donalyn Miller and Teri S. Lesesne (Heinemann 2022) is a beautiful book for educators about how we can help develop a love of reading with the children in our lives. With a focus on what the joy of reading is and how we nurture this joy within our students, Miller
It was a sad day for me when I passed on my favorite parenting book. Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age Five by The American Academy of Pediatrics is a great book for any parents of little ones because it provides so much great care advice. But, I no longer have
May I Quote You on That? by Stephen Spector is a descriptive guide to grammar and usage. It uses quotes from popular publications and media to show how the English language is used today. May I Quote You? includes a section on the different ways of looking at the grammar of standard English, that is,
I studied American Sign Language when I was in high school with some friends, and I also studied sign language for a year when I got to the university. I love sign language! I love the beauty of the motion. I love the grammar! And I always talk with my hands as I’m speaking. Sign
In Notice and Note: Strategies for Close Reading by Kylene Beers and Robert Probst (Heinnemann 2012), teachers are provided with a wealth of information relating to close reading. Not only do they provide six clear “sign posts” to teach close reading, but also questions for students to ask themselves relating to close read, lesson plan
A few weeks ago, I overheard my kindergartner talking to his baby sister. “Are you an i, u, v, or j?” he was saying in his sweetest voice. “Because if you are, you cannot come at the end of an English word!” This he repeated a few times over the next few minutes as he
Raisin and I are only done with a little more than 40 of the lessons for the Kindergarten language arts program Logic of English Foundations. However, he enjoys it so much that I feel it is time I discussed it briefly on this blog. LoE Foundations is an “all in one” language arts for 4-6
I mentioned last year that my son is a very creative child. He is regularly having imaginary adventures with his imaginary friends, and he constantly comes up with stories for me, stories he tells as if he’s surely experienced them. Given his intense interest in creative writing, I was seeking further instruction on how to
I decided to start my son on a formal spelling program this year (his K4 year). Although my son is quite young (almost 5), he is constantly asking me “how do I spell _____?” so he can write notes or type on the computer. (I opened a private blog for him to post his pictures
As a mother just beginning the journey of elementary level home education, I have been busy searching the web and my library for free resources to aid me as I teach my young son. When I saw Free Resources for Elementary Teachers by Colleen Kessler (2012, Prufrock Press) on the Library Thing Early Reviewer list,
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