The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger Dwight, a loser, talks to his classmates via an origami finger puppet of Yoda. If that weren’t strange enough, the puppet is uncannily wise and prescient. Origami Yoda predicts the date of a pop quiz, guesses who stole the …

I am not very “artsy”. Craft projects are seldom even started any more, because chances they’ll get finished are too slim. Besides, it’s uncomfortable to look at most things I do finish. They stand as stark evidence of inadequate skills in design, color, spatial …

Summertime Favorites, is a list of recommended readings, from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The NEH has an ongoing mission to bring classic literature to children and teens. As I reviewed the list I saw that there were so many books that I’ve never had the …

What are the circumstances that lead to a fictional character’s conception and life that endear her to millions of fans through generations? Ludwig Bemelmans, author of the children’s books Madeline, was born April 27th, 1898 in Austria and came to the United States at …

1) Top Ten Reading Apps for Children My little six-year-old grandson was playing on my iPhone the other day and asked me to download some new game applications -  for the uninitiated - apps are smart phone, eReader and iPad applications. That's when I realized that I’ve been …

Before playing a sport or doing other physical activity, it is important to warm up and prepare your body for the upcoming task. It is the same way with reading. You need to warm up and prepare your mind for reading so that you can perform your best, get the most out of it, and increase …

Cherished memories of wonderful summer days in my early childhood all revolve around plenty of leisure time and freedom to play. Play involved imagining and creating for hours on end, often winding the same thread of thought through days, weeks, and even months. Our sandbox grew into a …

Guided reading is a term used in a classroom setting that brings students together in small groups (six or less) to tackle common text and reading skills. Children are placed in a group where they will have the maximum potential for reading success and move within these groups …

I can’t believe I missed it. April 12 was D.E.A.R Day. D.E.A.R. stands for Drop Everything and Read. National D.E.A.R. Day is a special reading celebration to remind and encourage families to make reading together on a daily basis a family priority. It’s also the birthday of …

Looking for some fresh, new ideas to boost reading skills at home? Here are a few free online reading resources to check out! Dinosaur Word Search Free Phonics Worksheets Alphabet Action Game PBS Between the Lions – Spelling Practice Pizza Pizza Phonics Game First Grade …