Literacy

15 back-to-school picture books to get kids excited for a new year

These delightful back-to-school picture books are sure to ease any first day jitters and get kids excited to embark on new adventures in the classroom this year.

These delightful back-to-school picture books are sure to ease any first day jitters and get kids excited to embark on their new adventures in the classroom this year.

I love back-to-school season. As much as I’ve been loving summer, and part of me wishes we could keep the sunny vacation vibes going a little longer, I always get excited for school. Maybe it’s my teacher heart. Seeing all the ads for school supplies makes me a little giddy for freshly sharpened pencils, squeaky clean sneakers, and a brand new world of knowledge waiting to be discovered by eager young minds.

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Free Printable Sight Word Flash Cards to help kids learn to read

Have a beginning reader? Use these free printable sight word flash cards to build reading skills and fluency with fun games and activities kids will love!

Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you buy something through a link on my site, I may earn a commission, at no cost to you. See my disclosure to learn more.

Teaching a child to read is one of the most incredible experiences of parenthood. Learning to read opens the door to infinite opportunities for learning and exploring the wonders of the world, and it’s nothing short of magical to see a child sound out their first words and begin to take control of their own learning.

So, if you have a child who can sing their ABC song like a pro and is beginning to show interest in reading, it’s time to break out the sight words!

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Favorite short chapter book series for kids that will keep them reading

These short chapter book series are perfect for kids ages 6-9. They’re fun, engaging, and sure to have your kiddo begging for a trip to the library to get the next book!

These short chapter books are perfect for kids ages 6-9. They're fun, engaging, and sure to have your kiddo begging for a trip to the library to get the next book in the series.

Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you buy something through a link on my site, I may earn a commission, at no cost to you. See my disclosure to learn more.

When I taught school, one of my best strategies to motivate reluctant readers to pick up a book was to get them hooked on a great series.

And book series aren’t just for struggling readers either!

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How to get kids to read this summer + Free printable summer reading charts

Need a simple way to keep track of your kids’ reading during the summer? Download these free printable summer reading charts to keep kids motivated all summer long!

printable summer reading charts to keep kids reading all summer long.

Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you buy something through a link on my site, I may earn a commission, at no cost to you. See my disclosure to learn more.

Ahh summer. The season of ice-cold popsicles, crackling campfires, sunny days…and sopping wet beach towels left on the bathroom floor (#truth).

Whether you have a bucket list full of adventures or prefer to be more spontaneous and enjoy whatever comes your way, part of the joy of summer is kicking back, letting go of strict school schedules, and having fun!

Still, we want our kids to keep their minds sharp over the summer, and one of the best ways to do that is by encouraging our kids to READ!

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14+ picture books about colors your kids will love

Teach your child all the colors of the rainbow (and more!) with these fabulous picture books about colors.

Teach your preschooler all the colors of the rainbow (and more!) with these fabulous picture books about colors.

Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you buy something through a link on my site, I may earn a commission, at no cost to you. See my disclosure to learn more.

Exploring colors with kids is such fun! Color identification is a core kindergarten-readiness skill, and the possibilities for playing and learning with the colors in the world around you are endless!

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15 picture books about kindness to inspire your kids

Show some love to your favorite little people this month by snuggling up together with a good book…and inspire them to keep the good deeds going with these fabulous picture books about kindness.

Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you buy something through a link on my site, I may earn a commission, at no cost to you. See my disclosure to learn more.

Let’s be real for a moment…my house is not always filled with gentle, loving-kindness. My three wild boys spend a lot of time wrestling each other and trying to push each other’s buttons.

They love each other, and when push comes to shove (and sometimes it really does) they really do take care of each other, but like most kids, they also have their difficult moments.

So, let’s just say, we can use all the inspiration we can get over here in the “choose to be kind” department.

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Easy-to-read chapter books that kids in the “early reader” stage will love

If your child is just crossing the bridge from picture books to novels, you’ll love these easy-to-read chapter books. They are the sweet spot that will keep kids entertained while strengthening reading skills and confidence.

Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you buy something through a link on my site, I may earn a commission, at no cost to you. See my disclosure to learn more.

Over the last year, my 7-year-old son’s reading ability has exploded. I’ve seen him develop a hunger for books, and seen his confidence in reading grow. He is flying through stories now that he would have been intimidated by just a few months ago. It has been so fun to watch!

But this in-between stage of reading is tricky in some ways, too. Several months ago, he got to the point where he was ready to experiment with reading longer texts than a typical picture book, but he wasn’t quite ready for a full novel. So, I began hunting for books that could help him bridge that gap.

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“Squirt the Letter” fun outdoor alphabet game

Grab a squirt bottle and some chalk and take learning outside with this fun outdoor alphabet game for preschoolers.

Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you buy something through a link on my site, I may earn a commission, at no cost to you. See my disclosure to learn more.

The weather is warming up, and that means we’re taking our learning outside! Hooray for sunshine!

Last week I set up a little outdoor alphabet game for my preschooler to practice identifying letters and making letter sounds. It’s super simple, and we had a great time playing and learning together on a Friday afternoon.

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How to fit in more time to read aloud to kids, even when you’re busy

Life gets crazy sometimes, and it can be hard to carve out time to read aloud to kids, but these simple ideas will help you fit in the reading time that you know is so important!

Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you buy something through a link on my site, I may earn a commission, at no cost to you. See my disclosure to learn more.

I grew up on a steady diet of books. My childhood was filled with days spent carrying armfuls of books out of our local library, being mesmerized by the strange ocean creatures I encountered as I flipped through our National Geographic books, and listening to my mom read The Chronicles of Narnia as I snuggled in bed at night. Books were everywhere in my home.

I didn’t think anything of it at the time, but I realize now what a wonderful gift my parents gave me by filling my life with books.

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The Best Train Books for Kids of all Ages

If you have aspiring train engineers at your house, you’ll love this curated list of our favorite train books for kids…from our train-loving family to yours!

Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you buy something through a link on my site, I may earn a commission, at no cost to you. See my disclosure to learn more.

As a mom of three young boys, I’ve spent a lot of hours over the past eight years playing with and reading about TRAINS.

All of my boys have gone through a serious train phase (my youngest is still in the thick of it!). Trains are right up there with dinosaurs and construction trucks for my kids biggest obsession.

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Literacy

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