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What’s working right now in our social distancing “home school”

At home learning has certainly been a learning curve for parents as well as students. We’ve had our fair share of fails, but here’s what’s working for us right now!

At home learning has certainly been a learning curve for parents as well as students. We've had our fair share of fails, but here's what's working for us right now!

Note: This post contains affiliate links to products that I have used and loved. See my disclosure to learn more.

We are now seven weeks into social distancing/quarantine or whatever-you-want-to-call-this-weird-time-in-history. It’s been a wild ride! We, like many families, have done a lot of trial-and-error experimenting to figure out how to navigate this unique time, and I wanted to share today what is currently working for our family.

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How to encourage creativity in kids

Creativity is one of the most important qualities for our children to develop. The good news is that you can encourage creativity without adding MORE to your plate. In fact, the practical ideas shared below often mean doing LESS.Creativity is one of the most important qualities for our children to develop. The good news is that you can encourage creativity without adding MORE to your plate. In fact, the practical ideas shared below often mean doing LESS.“A creative mess is better than tidy idleness.” –Albert Einstein

My older brother had this quote posted on his bedroom door during his teenage years, and although I’m pretty sure it was at least partly an excuse to NOT clean his room, I’ve always loved the message.

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Museum Alphabet Scavenger Hunt

Make your next trip to a museum an exciting challenge with this free printable alphabet scavenger hunt. Whether it’s your first visit or you 50th, this activity is a great way to liven up learning time.Make your next trip to a museum an exciting challenge with this free printable alphabet scavenger hunt. Whether it's your first visit or you 50th, this activity is a great way to liven up learning time.

I’m not really a stay-at-home kind of stay-at-home mom. I’m more of a let’s-get-out-of-the-house-and-have-adventures-so-I-don’t-have-to-do-the-dishes kind of mom. In fact, I go a little crazy when my kids get sick and we’re forced to stay home for days at a time. That’s one of the reasons we have several museum and aquarium passes…because I NEED a place to take the kids to get out of the house.

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Free Printable Alphabet Flashcards (upper and lowercase)

Make learning the ABCs fun with these free printable alphabet flashcards. This set includes separate cards for uppercase and lowercase letters, giving you endless possibilities for how to learn with your child.

Make learning the ABCs fun with these free printable alphabet flashcards. This set includes separate cards for uppercase and lowercase letters, giving you endless possibilities for how to learn with your child.

Note: This post contains affiliate links to products that I have used and loved. See my disclosure to learn more.

Last year, I was looking for ways to help my preschooler practice the alphabet. Specifically, I wanted to help him match upper and lowercase letters. I found lots of adorable printable flash cards online, however none of them were exactly what I was looking for.

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What to do with leftover Halloween candy…sweet learning activities kids will love

Now that Halloween is over, what are you going to DO with all those sweets? If you’re overwhelmed by the gobs of leftover Halloween candy in your pantry, try out these simple learning activities to give all that candy a new and noble purpose!  Now that Halloween is over, what are you supposed to DO with all those sweets? If you're overwhlemed by the gobs of leftover Halloween candy in your pantry, try out these simple learning activities to give all that candy a new and noble purpose!How was your Halloween, my friends? Ours was crazy, but the kids had a ball. The boys went trick-or-treating THREE times (trunk-or-treat at church, party at Daddy’s work, and traditional trick-or-treating in the neighborhood), so they got GOBS of candy.

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“Roll and Graph” Sight Word Game

Looking for a way to make reading practice fun? This printable “roll and graph” sight word game is a great way to get beginning readers to practice reading and writing skills in a play-based setting.   Looking for a way to make reading practice fun? This printable "roll and graph" sight word game is a great way to get beginning readers to practice reading and writing skills in a play-based setting. My son is starting first grade this week. I can hardly believe that our lazy (or crazy, depending on the moment) summer days are behind us. We’ve got new shoes, backpacks, and freshly sharpened pencils ready to go.

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Celebrating National Poetry Month with preschoolers: How to teach kids to love poetry

Just because your kids are little doesn’t mean they can’t enjoy poetry. On the contrary, poetry is a great early literacy tool. Here are seven ideas for how to make poetry fun for kids, even preschoolers!

DISCLAIMER: THIS POST IS COMPLETELY UNSPONSORED; HOWEVER, I HAVE INCLUDED AFFILIATE LINKS TO THE PRODUCTS MENTIONED. AS ALWAYS, FEEL FREE TO SHOP AROUND FOR THE BEST DEALS. SEE MY FULL DISCLOSURE HERE.

Did you know that April is National Poetry Month? Probably not (kudos to you if you actually did know!), but I’ve loved celebrating poetry month every April since way back when I taught middle school English.

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Rainbow color scavenger hunt for preschoolers

Spring is the perfect time to learn about rainbows and colors with your child. Get out of the house for a little learning adventure with this free printable rainbow scavenger hunt!Spring is the perfect time to learn about rainbows and colors with your child. Get out of the house for a little learning adventure with this free printable rainbow scavenger hunt!

NOTE: THIS POST INCLUDES AFFILIATE LINKS TO THE PRODUCTS DISCUSSED, BUT ALWAYS FEEL FREE TO SHOP AROUND FOR THE BEST DEALS. SEE MY DISCLOSURE TO LEARN MORE.

I’m so excited for spring…and I totally splurged and bought my kids rain boots this year. I know it was unnecessary, but they make me happy. I don’t spend money frivolously like that often–I’m frugal to a fault most of the time–but they were calling to me. I mean, how cute are those jagged fins on the back? Partly, it was an attempt to make them more independent in getting their shoes on. Partly, it was because I just really wanted to take pictures of them tromping around in their adorable boots. It’s form meets function at its greatest.

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Four Corners Preschool Game about Colors

This perfectly simple preschool game about colors requires no prep, gets kids moving, and helps them practice colors and counting skills. This perfectly simple preschool game about colors requires no prep, gets kids moving, and helps them practice colors and counting skills. “Necessity is the mother of invention”…so said Plato. I’m inclined to agree, as some of my most successful ideas for learning activities to do with my kids have come when I’m desperate for something to keep us all busy at 4 o’clock in the afternoon. At least, that’s how this one started.
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Awesome summer reading charts for kids

Summer break means lots of free play time, but we also want our kids to keep learning. These free printable reading charts will help keep your kids motivated to learn all summer long.Summer break means lots of free play time, but we also want our kids to keep learning. These free printable reading charts will help keep your kids motivated to learn all summer long.

Note: This post includes affiliate links to products I have used and loved, but as always feel free to shop around for the best deals. See my disclosure to learn more.

Today is Little Man’s last day of preschool. What??? He’s going to Kindergarten in the fall, and I can hardly believe we’ve both survived (and often enjoyed) five whole years. I have lots of plans for fun in the sun this summer, but I also want to make sure that he is prepared academically for Kindergarten in the fall…so I’ve been looking for ideas of how we can incorporate some learning activities into our summer plans.

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