My husband and I recently moved into his childhood home, and we’re currently upgrading the light fixtures. In an effort to save money, we usually install them ourselves—an endeavor that involves a lot of time and copious amounts of profanity. After an hour of fussing with the first fixture, we decided to call the professionals….
Writing
Are We Skipping November?
I recently went shopping at a popular store and discovered that we’re apparently jumping from October to December. The holiday section had Halloween candy for sale and an explosion of Christmas trees, ornaments, and wrapping paper. I know this happens to some extent every year, but it just seems more dramatic this year. My main…
Let’s Make a List!
October 30, 2023 is Checklists Day! It’s a day dedicated to all those who use checklists to keep their lives organized and on track. I had a Halloween party this past weekend. The first thing I did Saturday morning? Make a list of all the tasks I needed to accomplish before people started arriving that…
For the Love of Peanut Butter
March 1, 2023, is National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day. As a child, I would eat almost anything—cooked cabbage, pickled beets, and liver were all perfectly fine. But peanut butter? I despised peanut butter. I would even give my Dad all of the peanut butter cups from my trick-or-treat bag every fall. (No, I have no…
Don’t Forget March!
As I drove to an appointment this past week, I noticed a woman outside her home decorating her yard with faux Easter eggs on sticks. It took me about a mile more to process that it’s February and Easter isn’t until April. That’s a bit like decorating for Christmas in October. I’m all about people…
A Cast of Characters
Deciding who and what to write about can be daunting for students…and adults as well. (An aside: I’m married to a writer and I hear him muttering a lot in his office.) Various graphic organizers can be a big help for students when planning narratives—and we have tons of them on our website! After a…
Informational Writing
Do you hear that collective groan? That’s your students. They’re aware you’re reading a blog about informational writing. It’s rare to find a child (or an adult) who gets excited about informational writing. But we both know that it’s an important skill. It’s rare to find a career that doesn’t involve some sort of writing…
3 Perfect Pumpkin Activities
Do you know which curriculum area I like to combine with a pumpkin theme? Writing! And since pumpkins are everywhere right now, it’s easy to gather any necessary props. (This photo shows pumpkins as far as the eye can see at a local gardening supply store.) Check out these three writing activities that are perfect…
Mittens or Gloves?
Are you smitten with mittens or gaga for gloves? I’m a glove gal myself on most days. When I wear mittens I have trouble hanging onto stuff. (Well, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it!) You’ll find a great selection of mitten and glove activities at themailbox.com. Search “mittens” and you’ll be lookin’ at…
Is Cursive Worth It?
For years, my handwriting was mostly printed with a smattering of cursive tossed in. Then I took a dive in some platform heels and sprained my thumb. Subsequently, my printing became awkward and painful so I decided to brush up on my cursive, assuming that it would be easier on my hand. I was right….