One free and easy way to improve reading achievement
What is one free and easy way to improve student reading achievement? Many parents want a quick fix and seek tutoring for students who are below reading level. While tutoring is a great option and I can remediate phonic, teach syllable patterns, practice oral reading fluency, and evaluate comprehension, what students also need is daily reading practice to improve student reading achievement. It’s free and easy and yet many parents do not see the value of it. Daily reading of 15-30 minutes can help improve reading achievement significantly. Check out this report for some shocking statistics. According to studies by Renaissance Learning on K-12 reading, “the majority of students spend fewer than 15 minutes per day reading, but increasing their daily reading time to 30 minutes can improve comprehension and boost student achievement.” Summer is a good time to set aside daily reading time where families read a variety of material and model good reading habits. Do not miss out on the benefits of daily reading to improve student reading achievement. Reading should not be confined to fiction! Read an instruction booklet with your child or a travel guide. Read online reviews for a restaurant or a menu. Read…
Backyard Book Clubs
Want to encourage reading, practice speaking and listening skills, and have fun with your kids? Host a Backyard Book Club! My brand new Backyard Book Club Kit has all you need – just add books and kids! Don’t worry! There isn’t one right way to run a book club and you don’t need a backyard. All you need is some enthusiasm, a kid, a book, and this kit. Book clubs and reading help kids develop empathy, relate to characters, practice speaking and listening skills, and learn about the world around them. This 16-page customizable book club kit makes it easy to get started. You know your kids and their reading levels the best so the books here are just a recommendation to get you started. The suggested plans are aimed at grades 3-8 but are easily customizable for other ages. This kit is great for parents, teachers, tutors, grandparents, camps, backyards or Zoom meetings, and club leaders. The kit is an instant download upon purchase once your order goes through. I’ve been so excited to take my classroom experiences and turn it into an easy to use product that families can use at home this summer, whether they have reluctant…
Summer Tutoring Openings 2023
How can you help fill in the gaps in academic development that have widened over the past few years? Summer is a great time to work on basic skills of reading, writing, math, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Summer tutoring clients will participate virtually in real-world project-based learning activities, complete summer reading, or practice for standardized tests. Tutoring is virtual via Zoom so no need to live locally! Below are the summer tutoring options for 2023. National Park ELA Project (Reading/Writing/Research/Problem Solving for grades 4-9) No homework, once a week sessions Mini Golf Course Math Project (Math/Problem Solving with some ELA for grades 4-6) No homework, once a week sessions Preread next year’s reading texts or required summer school reading (grades 4-12) Parents provide the book lists and books. Reading homework, once a week session ACT/SAT Test Prep – mainly Reading, Language, Writing and test taking tips (grades 10-12) Take practice tests as homework, once a week sessions Virtual private tutoring sessions will be on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays June 12 – August 24. Registration is open and only a few spots are left. Feel free to pass along my website or this email if you have friends or relatives…
Guestroom Checklist
When was the last time you gave your guestroom a refresh? Having a restful space for guests is a sign of good hospitality that is not that hard or expensive to achieve. Here’s a guestroom checklist with 10 things to check in your guest space. Bedding: Fresh bedding, extra pillow, and extra blanket (refresh/wash your bedding if it’s been awhile. Consider replacing your pillows if needed.) Guest Info: Wifi password/contact info/welcome note/housekey Entertainment: A book, card game or puzzle Lighting: Lamp near bed (it’s nice to not have to walk across a dark unfamiliar room to find the bed), maybe a nightlight for bathroom or room Outlets: Access to an outlet or power strip ( for charging electronics or medical devices) Bathroom: Toiletry supplies (a few extra guest supplies like toothpaste, ear plugs, and cotton swabs or even the travel kits you get on the airplane), good shampoo/conditioner/soap, disinfectant spray or wipes available, and extra toilet paper Food and Drinks: Snacks, bottled water, and a note about kitchen access or breakfast time Temperature: Heat/ac info if it’s ok for guests to adjust, a fan in the room Clothes: Laundry access (washer, dryer, steamer), a place to hang up their clothes…
Easter Basics
What do you know about the basics of Easter? Suppose you only visit church on Christmas and Easter or you have never visited one but are curious about Easter. Here are some Easter Basics to get you started or help you understand what Christians are celebrating. Easter Basics Easter is the Christian celebration of the resurrection (coming back to life) of Jesus Christ from the dead after his crucifixion (hung on the cross) and death. Two thousand years ago Jesus, the son of God, was hung on a cross, died, was buried, and three days later he came back to life. Followers of Jesus Christ are called Christians. Sinless God demands payment for sin (wrong doing) and Jesus gave his own life to pay for the sins of mankind. This is why Christians annually celebrate Easter, celebrating new life and new beginnings. Instead of a death sentence, eternal life is a free gift for all who believe. This is the best free gift ever. Way better than chocolate bunnies, marshmallow peeps or colored eggs full of jelly beans. Many cultural traditions of Easter are merely that. Cultural traditions to celebrate the arrival of spring such bunnies, eggs, flowers, lambs, and…
10 Spring Cleaning Tips
Would you rather shake the rugs or dust the ceiling fans? My number one spring cleaning tip, of course, is to sign up for my Clean the Chaos course and you’ll be cleaning and decluttering each space of your home throughout the year without a need for a big spring cleaning! Did I mention that for less than $50 for the year, you get a 5 step system that works in every space along with monthly checklists and motivational emails? You can sign up right now for free and get started! If you love it, you can buy the rest of the course. Spring is a time of refresh after the winter. There are so many little things you can do to welcome spring into your home and clean out the winter cobwebs. This is not an ultimate spring cleaning list, but a few useful tips to reset your home for spring. Dust cobwebs off ceiling, ceiling fans, vents, and light fixtures. (And vacuum up the dust that falls down!) Wash the baseboards and hose vacuum the edge of the carpet where it meets the wall (you know that long crevice that your regular vacuum misses!). Clean the curtains and…
Home for the Holidays
What strategies do you put in place when your college kids come home for the holidays? With spring break just around the corner, here are 4 tips for not just surviving but thriving in the holidays when your kids come home. Whether they are in college or beyond, things are bound to be different when your adult kids come home to visit. Open communication of expectation is key to enjoying time when your kids come home for the holidays, whether it is spring break, winter break, or summer. While it is nice to have help when everyone is home, a short visit probably is not the time to load them up on chores unless it has been stated ahead of time that it is basement cleaning time. Tips to Help Your Family Thrive Schedule some mutually agreed upon family time before the calendar fills up Discuss expectations and respect each other’s space Choose an activity or two to do together (see list below) Get to know each other as adults To balance out the time at home, consider choosing an activity or two to enjoy together. You could even share this post with them and have them pick the…
Style Your Storage Spaces
How decorated is your closet or laundry room? Styling your living space is a natural step when moving into a new home, but what about styling your closet or laundry room? These storage spaces deserve a little bit of character that reflects your style, too, and makes you smile when you open the door. In my workshop Clean the Chaos, I talk about styling your spaces, even the closets and laundry room. You can check out Pinterest for closet organization systems, but often just decluttering and organizing your space is all you need to reset the calm. Adding a small bit of styling is icing on the cake. Do you smile when you open the closet door? Most people do not think about styling their laundry room, but I put up a pretty wallpaper border in the tiny laundry closet at one house I had. It was a simple and inexpensive way to brighten the space and make me smile when I opened the doors to do a chore I did not like, especially when the kids were little and the laundry piles were large. Consider using wall space in your closet or bedroom for small hooks, racks, or shelves.…
Declutter your Bedroom and Closet
Do you long to walk into a bedroom that is calm and peaceful or open a closet that is not chaotic and cluttered? We all have that cluttered area in our bedroom or drawer that’s a catchall for things. Things we may need soon or often. Things that we do not know where else to put. Things that need to be repaired. And random other things that we have no idea how they got there. Do you need to declutter your bedroom and closet? For some of us, our houses may seem organized at first glance, but open a closet or catchall drawer, and you will readjust your original opinion of our organization. It is not a lack of cleanliness or habitual hoarding. It is not having a place for everything and everything in its place. Does this sound like you? Do you long to walk into a home that is calm and peaceful not chaotic and cluttered? Have you attempted to organize but found other things that got in the way of your goals? A few years ago I decided to go through my house room by room. My goal was to do one space a month, taking an…
10 Things To Do With Kids During School Breaks
What’s your favorite thing to do with your kids over school breaks? Some parents love school breaks and some dread them. Most of those feelings revolve around what to do with the kids over school breaks. Here are 10 things to do with kids during school breaks, perfect for parents, nannies, or grandparents regardless of location or budget. Libraries are a treasure trove of free education and educational activities. Whether you are at home or on a trip, check out the public libraries. Many have story times or activities for kids. City parks, local playgrounds, and national parks dot most any map and many offer programs or activities. I remember one year when we tried to see how many parks we could visit once before repeating any. We were also new to town so this gave us insight into different parts of town and the kids could rank their favorites. If being indoors is a better option, drag out all the blankets and pillows and construct blanket forts or make mazes out of large cardboard boxes and packing tape. Research local museums for inexpensive options or free days. We once planned a whole spring break trip around free museums in…