Discover real strategies from an experienced elementary teacher to increase student engagement and build lasting learning success—both in school and at home.
Avoid the Summer Slide: July’s Smart at Home Kit Makes It Easy
The Smart at Home Learning Bundle designed for July provides families with screen-free tools to encourage learning while maintaining summer fun. It includes activities like a reading calendar, bingo board, conversation prompts, and a parent guide. The kit aims to foster independent learning, build confidence, and enhance family connections during the summer.
Daily Reading at Home: A Simple Routine with Big Results
Reading at home for just 30 minutes a day is crucial for children’s development, enhancing their learning across subjects, building vocabulary, and fostering empathy. The article emphasizes making reading enjoyable, offering choices in reading material, and integrating it into daily routines. Consistent reading habits create lasting benefits for children’s futures.
School Success Starts at Home: A Teacher-Mom’s Advice for Parents
After 13 years in the classroom, I’ve had a lot of open houses, conferences, and hallway chats with parents. And every year, I find myself wishing I could say the same honest things—not because I’m frustrated, but because I care deeply about your child and I want to partner with you to make school a …
Third Grade Stinks
Every year, when the school year begins, I see the same wide eyes from my new third graders. They walk in with their shiny supplies and a little more confidence than they had in second grade — but by week two, it hits them: third grade is different. I once told my third grade class, …
How to Help a 3rd Grader Improve Reading Fluency
From a Teacher Who’s Also a Mom If you’re the parent of a third grader and you’ve started to worry about your child’s reading fluency—you’re not alone. As a teacher and a mom, I can tell you that third grade is a big turning point for reading. It’s the year kids shift from learning to …
15 Easy Ways to Keep Kids Busy While You Make Dinner
Let’s talk about that wild window between 4:30 and 6:00 p.m.—you know the one. The dinner prep hours where everything seems to fall apart. Everyone’s hungry. Everyone’s tired. And somehow, everyone is magnetically glued to me while I’m just trying to chop onions without crying (for more than one reason). As a teacher and a …
How to Reduce Your Child’s Screen Time (Without Tantrums)
The post provides strategies for managing kids’ screen time effectively, emphasizing the importance of setting boundaries and encouraging offline activities for healthy development.
Make Everyday Tasks Educational: Simple Ways to Teach at Home
Incorporate small, everyday learning moments into routines to teach children practical skills, independence, and curiosity through cooking, errands, chores, conversation, and writing activities.
How to Build Confidence in Kids: 5 Practical Parenting Strategies
Fostering confidence and independence in children enhances their learning experience. Simple strategies empower parents to support their kids’ resilience, effort, and ownership of education.