As my regular readers may remember, one of my organizational strategies involves keeping all holiday-themed stuff in bins, which are brought out well in advance of each occasion. This includes not only decorations, but also toys, books, games, etc. When I pulled out the Christmas bins a couple of weeks ago and let the girls dig in, you […] Read more…
While my students are Christian (most Catholic, as are my daughters) I see a great value in reading stories about Judaism (as well as other religions). I mean, we share a whole Old Testament of history and beliefs with the Jewish people, and it creates a great opportunity to teach about differences. The simple bottom line that […] Read more…
Some of the cutest books I’ve received for review lately have a common theme. Here they are: Bedtime is Canceled by Cece Meng, Illustrated by Aurélie Neyret This is a great story about the mayhem that takes place when a brother and sister write up a notice that “Bedtime is Canceled”…and it gets into the wrong […] Read more…
Do you ever feel like you just can’t get enough of This Mom Loves? (Crickets…crickets…anybody?) For those (two) who have been asking lately how to find me on various social media, here are all the details: Twitter (@thismomloves) https://twitter.com/thismomloves Pinterest (katewinn77) http://pinterest.com/katewinn77/ I’m not much of a recipe blogger if that’s your thing (but if […] Read more…
Check out the latest book recommendations from my 11 year old niece, “Anastasia”: ************* THE LAST FREE CAT by Jon Blake Jade has always been a quiet girl, until a strange but beautiful cat shows up in her backyard. A boy named Kris shows up at her house, knowing the cat quite well. He tells […] Read more…
My six year old daughter (a strong reader) is absolutely addicted to the Rainbow Magic Fairy chapter books from Scholastic. They have been her exclusive library selections for the past year, and she has reread the titles she owns multiple times. As a teacher, I see firsthand that series are a great way to motivate […] Read more…
I love both of these books. In the inspiring guide to creativity, “Steal Like An Artist”, author Austin Kleon expands on “10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative”: 1. Steal like an artist 2. Don’t wait until you know who you are to get started 3. Write the book you want to read 4. […] Read more…
In no particular order (well, actually, starting with real literature so I look smart even if you don’t finish this whole post), the reading material that’s been in my hands poolside so far this summer: Alone in the Classroom by Elizabeth Hay (author of the Scotiabank Giller Prize-Winning “Late Nights on Air” , which I disliked, but I’m all […] Read more…
For today’s edition of Wednesday Words, I’d like to share some tidbits from a book I recently read: “How Will You Measure Your Life?” by Clayton M. Christensen, James Allworth and Karen Dillon. As a special treat to you, I will even spare you my own analysis. You’re welcome. Your Strategy Is Not What […] Read more…
My ten year old niece “Anastasia” offers her latest book review: Capture the Flag by Kate Messner (available July 2012 from Scholastic Press): When the flag of the U.S.A. is stolen, three kids meet each other at an airport, and decide to try to find out who stole it. Searching for a flag is dangerous, […] Read more…