Category: Literacy Tips

  • “We’re Past Flap Books”… or Are We?

    “We’re Past Flap Books”… or Are We?

    “We’re Past Flap Books”… or Are We? Why Flap Books Still Work for Some Older Kids I often hear people say, “We’re past flap books.” They’re usually thought of as baby or toddler books — but that’s not always how they work in real life. As a librarian and bookseller, I see flap books continue

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  • Winter Feels Long: Ideas for Long Indoor Days

    Winter Feels Long: Ideas for Long Indoor Days

    Winter feels long. There’s more time indoors, boredom creeps in, and there are only so many books kids — and grownups — can sit and read before everyone gets antsy. When days stretch on like that, it helps to change things up. Mixing reading with games, hands-on activities, and listening options can make indoor time

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  • I Just Want to Exhale

    I Just Want to Exhale

    I Just Want to Exhale This week between Christmas and New Year’s always feels unsettled to me. The noise of Thanksgiving and Christmas hasn’t fully faded yet. Kids are home. Schedules are loose. The days are cold and short, and the world feels quieter—but also unfinished. At the same time, the pressure of January is

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  • Where Writing Really Starts

    Where Writing Really Starts

    Where Writing Really Starts I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how writing really starts. Not with grammar rules or five-paragraph essays…It starts with a scribble. A doodle. A kid drawing a stick figure with a speech bubble and a big idea. That’s what I love about this free printable from Usborne Publishing — It’s

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  • Daily Reading Success Made Simple

    Daily Reading Success Made Simple

    Reading is one of the most valuable habits kids can develop, but let’s be honest: sometimes, getting kids to sit down with a book is easier said than done.

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  • 5 Ideas to Help You Encourage Your Child to Read

    5 Ideas to Help You Encourage Your Child to Read

    Like you, I’m a parent. I have a daughter that I’m raising. I want to set her up for success and prepare her for adulthood. It’s a big job. A HUGE job. An unthinkable job. Just like you, I wrestle with all the big parenting questions…

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  • 5 Things You Might Be Surprised to Know About Me