Free Reading Crafts, Literature Response Lessons

Kids rejoice when released from school for vacation. But parents and teachers often worrry that learning will lag with too much time away from books? Here are reading activities and book-based crafts and literature response lessons.  Free Summer Reading Activities, Book Crafts, Literature Response Lessons

Anti-Bullying Bibliotherapy Books for Kids

This is the 75th anniversary year of the prestigious Caldecott Medal for children's book illustrations. Books are essential to learning and bibliotherapy is an important tool in teaching affective lessons. I use children's literature to defuse a gamut of emotionally charged issues. Bulling tops the list. Here's a reading list that helps kids deal with bullies in proactive ways. These books are funny and light-hearted. Anti-Bullying Bibliotherapy Books for Kids

Phryne Fisher Books, Miss Fishers Murder Mysteries Movies Jazz Age Haute Entertainment

I became hopeless addicted to Phryne Fisher, the saucy, sensitive, savvy Jazz Age Aussie lady detective of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. She's part tart, part humanitarian, part intelligentsia, all tough cookie. Yeah, we gals are layered like that. Phryne's like a vampy Jewish mother hen. Another thing we women rock--taking caring everyone and looking dem fine whilst doing it. And can Miss Fisher hold her Mother-of-Pearl revolver and gin! Tres elegante! Read Kerry Greenwood's books. See ABC Australia's films. Check out the website for more chic Art Nouveau graphics like this.You'll be thanking me.Anticipating Miss Fishers Murder Mysteries Season 2

Why We Raised Bibliophile Kids Without Television

As young parents my husband and I were so radical it hurt. In the ultra-conventional 80s, nonconformity did not enjoy the vogue it does now. We were hipsters when that word still meant jeans! One of our biggest phobias was TV. Steeped in the organic childhood wisdom of Dr. Maria Montessori, I demanded only the purist in educational activities for my kids. Reading books like Marie Winn's "The Plug-in Drug" underscored my TV concerns. Even when we were dating, husband and I agreed: nature is nurture. I give us credit looking back. We'd seen nothing yet of internet, video games, Blu-Ray, cellphones and cyber culture. VCRs were pretty young. We worried about cable television and vowed never to have a TV set in our home. We'd grow our kids on books we said. Technology-Free Family--Why We Raised Kids Without Television

Memoriam To Our Daughter, Isobella Raine Sachteleben, 6/28/2004

when did it happen
i'd really like to know
she was so alive
just why did she have to go?
sweet child grew
tiny heart beat
sleeping baby beauty
in my secret deep 

--Love mama (read on To Our Daughter, Isobella Raine Sachteleben Born and Died June 28, 2004)

Help, my child hates to read! Tips to inspire the reluctant reader

Habits, both good and bad, are generational. Children absorb, by osmosis, the vices and virtues of their parents. I'm a reader, as were my parents before me. My husband's family were bibliophiles. Our children grew up reading and being read to. Now in middle school and adulthood, they've continued the reading habit. Are you struggling to find ways to spark a love of reading in your kids? Here are some thoughts.  read more

Free Earth Day Lesson Plan-- Poster Contest

Earth Day, celebrated on April 22, is the new name for the former holiday called Arbor Day. Arbor is the French word for tree. Earth Day is a global celebration that focuses our minds on caring for our earth. Ironically, some Earth Day activities are not really green. Printable for Earth Day, such as coloring pages and worksheets generate more paper waste. I include myself in this indictment because I've written articles for free printables for Earth Day. Here is a truly green lesson plan which is safe for our earth, educational and enjoyable for students of all ages.Free Earth Day Lesson Plan