If there’s one thing our middle and high schoolers need, it’s more writing practice. It can get overwhelming trying to figure out what books and workbooks your tweens & teens might need to hone their creative writing skills. So, I thought I’d share 12 of the very best middle and high school writing books with …
If you’re like most parents of teens, then you’re always looking for a better way to make your teenager more responsible. But sometimes, it seems like they just don’t hear you. What gives? Enter: the nag. You recognize her…shrill voice, pursed lips, crossed arms. The nag intends to get her teen moving, but she fails …
One of the most frequently asked questions I get is: “How did you get your kids to love writing?” Yes, I’m the mom who allowed my children to write stories and draw pictures on the kitchen wall with permanent markers. Before you let that sully your opinion of me, let me explain. At some point …
April 10th is Encourage a Young Writer Day! Every April, we celebrate the talent of our nation’s youngest writers. Do you have a fledgling writer in your home? Or are you looking for ways to encourage your child to write more? From tweens and teens to preschoolers and elementary school kids, here are five easy …
How would you like to learn how to help your child succeed in school? What if I said that your child’s success in school boils down to early learning, literacy, and reading? Better yet, what if I showed you 15 ways you can promote reading and literacy in your own home? Promote Reading by Being …
Are you wondering how you can honor Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) heritage this month? When you buy or check out Asian American children’s books from the library, you support AAPI businesses and authors, and you celebrate AAPI culture. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, hate crimes against Asian Americans have skyrocketed. It’s …
“If parents want to give their children a gift, the best things they can do is to teach their children to love challenges, be intrigued by mistakes, enjoy effort, and keep on learning. That way, their children don’t have to be slaves of praise. They will have a lifelong way to build and repair their …
Whether it’s bonding over a board game at home or going on a spontaneous adventure hike with your kids, spending time doing fun family activities is one of life’s greatest pleasures. Family game night is one of the best ways to bring your crew together for bonding and laughter. If you’re on the prowl for …
Teaching study skills doesn’t have to be difficult, especially if you know your child’s learning style. Excellent study skills increase your child’s confidence and self-esteem and can help them succeed in school. The right strategies for studying can’t be stressed enough! Teachers provide guidance to your children in the classroom. How can you help them …
As our kiddos approach the final months of the academic year, it’s important to reassess their organizational skills and study habits. One final push before summer, friends! After a long year fraught with pandemic shutdowns and quarantines, some students are finally back in the classroom; yet some remain in virtual learning for the remainder of …
Never lend your car to anyone to whom you have given birth. ~ Erma Bombeck Is your teen ready to start behind-the-wheel driver education with you? Are you feeling lost and unsure where to start? Teaching your teen to drive can be scary and intimidating. After all, it’s your baby who sits behind the wheel! …
Are you looking for new middle grade books written by black authors to celebrate Black History Month? The list below includes books featuring protagonists of color. Each one is written by an author of color as well. February is Black History month in the United States. Books are one of the many ways you can …
Sometimes getting children to read is tricky. In the beginning, they convince you they’ll be diehard readers for life. You buy ALL the books. You take them to your local library so they can pick out reading material that interests them. By the time they hit middle school, they spend more time on video games, …
Have you ever wondered what you can do to teach your teen personal responsibility? You’re not alone. Confession: I’ve woken up my teenager for school every day since he started kindergarten… This year, it bit me in the butt. During the first week of my teen’s sophomore year, I forgot to act as his human …
Are you curious about the subscription book boxes you see all over your social media feeds? They’re not just for adults. They’re for kids, too! Perhaps you’re looking for a bookish gift for your kid. Or maybe you want to curate a list of books personalized to your child. I did the dirty work for …
Have you ever wondered if letting your children see you cry was healthy? My 7th grader tried out for the school basketball team a few months ago. He had brushed up on his ball-handling, dribbling, and shooting skills for months. As a parent, you know when your child really wants to crush a goal. He …
A buddy read is when you read a book at the same time as someone else so you can discuss it–either during the process or once you’ve finished. Think of a buddy read as a mini-book club with more flexibility and less pressure. On Goodreads, the Nothing But Reading Challenge Group classifies different buddy reads: …
Why is it important to support your local library? Libraries are an essential part of any healthy community. They’ve evolved into hubs of learning and innovation. They matter now more than ever because they create equal access for all. As a child, the library meant books, storytime, and random collections of VHS tapes to me. …
It’s that time of year again when you might be searching for gift ideas for your kids. If your children are anything like mine, they like experiences more than anything else, but sometimes you want to give them one small thing that fits their personality. In my home, that’s a lot of books and bookish …
The Hobbit has been reviewed a million times. What makes this review different from the others? This is a kid reviewer’s review of The Hobbit—a review written by a kid for other kids. That makes it different and unique! The hobbit: A Kid Reviewer’s Review: The what, The Why, The How THE WHAT: Even though …
What if you could teach your kids to edit their own writing like pros? THE WHAT: We all know kids spend hours writing in school, yet overall student writing quality has declined. In my own home, I noticed errors in my children’s written work–errors that were overlooked by teachers. I can’t blame our educators. After …
Dig out your favorite sweater, slow cook a double batch of chili, and grab a stack of spooky middle grade books to read with your kids this October! Spooky middle grade books have value all year round, but they’re especially fun this time of year. Why? Because it’s Halloween time! The parties, the costumes, the …
Are you looking for a flexible side hustle you can do from the comfort of your own home? If so, then selling kids clothes on Poshmark is a legit gig for you. Hear me out… When my sister schooled me on selling my piles of used kids clothes on Poshmark, I had my doubts. It …
There are oodles of benefits to family meal prep and planning, especially for busy moms. For me, a busy mom of four active kids, the benefits are: Sounds good, doesn’t it? Nothing is worse than having to chauffeur kids to different activities with no plan for dinner. Enter the hotdogs and stale goldfish crackers. 😬 …
