writing

Gadanke Journal Review

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We have been playing with a really fun kid’s journal from the Gadanke handmade journal shop. I have always written in some sort of journal or notebook, not to mention all the notes I have jotted down about things the girls say or special memories. My girls are also showing an interest in journaling and [...]

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Our Summer List

Are you ready for summer?  It’s another unusually chilly morning here, but supposedly summer is on its way.  This Friday is our “official” last day of homeschool and then it’s Hello, Summer Vacation!  Our Summer List was such fun last year that we’ll be making another one this year – how about you? {Originally posted [...]

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The Anderson Courier

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The first edition of The Anderson Courier is just hitting the newsstand, courtesy of our very own news reporter, Natalie! Natalie has been hard at work writing and illustrating her first newspaper with articles, interviews, jokes, movie review, recipe, and more. After reading Some Good News (the 4th book in the Cobble Street Cousins series [...]

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Paint Bag Writing

Learning to write letters and numbers can be frustrating for little hands!  I like to offer lots of play activities that help build those fine motor skills in a relaxed, fun way.  Toddlers and up will enjoy making shapes, swirls, and even letters on a ziploc bag filled with paint! To make your own paint [...]

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Taking Dictation

There is really nothing like the imagination of a preschool-age child!  Long before they can write their own stories, children are ready and eager to tell their own stories.  It is wonderfully empowering for a child to see her words written down as a “real” story.  So, what are you waiting for?  Grab some paper [...]

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Sticker Crazy!

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My five-year-old has a long-standing obsession with stickers – she cannot ever have enough stickers!  If we are going to be taking a long drive or waiting somewhere, I can throw some stickers, paper, and crayons into my purse and we are good to go!  Peeling and placing stickers is a great activity for fine [...]

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Summer Journals

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Are your kiddos journaling this summer?  I am a huge proponent of writing – I think it is a crucial component of becoming a “good reader.”  My girls love to write in journals and notebooks.  It is so neat to watch them go from scribbles to more detailed pictures to scribble-writing to sentences!  My six-year-old [...]

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Summer Fun Bag #2: Letter Writing Kit

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Here’s another one of our Summer Fun Bags – a letter and card-writing kit. My girls love sending (and receiving!) mail, but we often forget about this activity. Hopefully this little kit will remind us! I simply gathered up odds and ends of cards, stickers, envelopes, etc. from around the house. I also included a [...]

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Read + Play: If I Built a Car

Hello all! Happy Children’s Book Week! I love pairing a great story with a fun activity. Here’s a story that was an instant hit in our house and continues to be a favorite: If I Built a Car by Chris Van Dusen. This is a fun, imaginative story about a boy’s dream car. From a [...]

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