Building short vowel CVC words

Playing a game while eating a snack or a meal, takes the “homework” feel out of teaching literacy. For more Eat Your Words activities follow along on Instagram.

Build Short Vowel CVC Words

Do you sometimes feel like your child needs to go back to the basics to practice foundational spelling rules?  I’m taking it back to the beginning of the phonics sequence for Eat Your Words this week. (Don't miss the free printable.)

Materials:

All you will need is two different color markers and paper.

Steps:

1. First, write all five vowels and cut them out in squares. 

2. Write a few three-letter words, leaving out the vowel. For example, m_p (can become mop or map) c_t can become cut, cat, cot. Others you can try d_b, h_d, l_d, n_p, p_t, r_d, r_g, s_t, t_b, v_t, z_p. Anything works and they even need to be real words! I avoid words that end in n or m because it changes the sound of the short a and can be confusing, but it's still doable if you want to try it. 

3. Let your child move the vowels around and see what words they can make.

4. Finally, draw and spell the words! 

5. If you want to go the extra mile, pair it with a snack that also has a short vowel pair this activity like mixed nuts or Chex Mix.  

Here's what you are teaching (without teaching):  

• Remind kids that short vowel sounds can be held in one breath (unlike long vowels that say their name). Demonstrate a aaaaaaaaple, e eeeeeee elephant, I iiiiiiiiguana, ooooooooctupus, uuuuuumbrella.

• Remind kids that every single word must have a vowel.

Finally, to help kids transfer these vowel sounds into their writing, it's helpful to have a visual in your house. Click the link in my profile to download one for free. 

Enjoy!

Printable Phonics Scavenger Hunts

Playing is the best way to learn! You are igniting all of your senses while also learning how to spell. A fun way to do this is to go on a scavenger hunt and simply point out the sounds you hear in CVC (consonant, short vowel, consonant) words. At night or during a read aloud, you might then strategically pick a book that repeats a short vowel sound!

If you need a refresher, short vowels are the sounds you can hold - a as in apple, e as in elephant, i as in igloo, o as in octopus (the sound you make when you open your mouth for the doctor), u as in umbrella.

You can then look for digraph sounds - two letters that make one sound. These sounds are sh as in ship, ck as in duck, ch as in chip, wh as in whistle, th as in thimble.

When your kids have a firm grasp of short vowels and digraphs, they can learn the silent -e rule and long vowels. When there is a silent -e at the end of a word, the vowel says its name. Long vowels sounds are a as in ape, e as in eagle, i as in ice cream, o as in oboe and u as in unicorn. There is no need to teach vowel teams at this point such as -ea or -ee because that can be confusing at this stage. We want our kids to feel confident by mastering skills one at a time. I hope you have a great time exploring with these scavenger hunts! If you go and play, let me know. I would love to see or you can share it here.

Journals to Keep Kids Writing in Fun Ways

You, Me, We! by Erin Jang. A pack of two journals, one for you and one for your child. Some writing prompts only require a checkmark with two choices, others writing or some with opportunities to draw. Not only will you have the chance to bond with your child, but it will keep them writing while school is out.

This Is How I Do: One Day in the Life of You and 59 Read Kids From Around the World by Matt Lamothe. This journal allows kids to document their daily lives like what they eat for breakfast, where they sleep, and who makes up their family, while learning about these parts of the lives of children around the world. It comes with stickers and postcards to send to friends.

Write On: My Story Journal by Wee Society. From the creators of Me: A Compendium, this journal provides so many different ways to create a story. It prompts little writers with pictures, fill in the blank stories and genre introductions, including poetry and tall tales. Wee Society has lots of options, some that appeal to younger writers than this one, including Yay! A Celbration of You and Go! A Kid’s Interactive Travel Diary and Journal.

The 3 Minute Gratitude Journal For Kids by Modern Kids Press. This journal allows the child to keep track of ways to express gratitude. Each day it prompts the writer to list three things they are thankful for, circle an emotion that displays their feelings, and illustrate their ideas. I believe that keeping track of the things we are grateful for increases our happiness and it’s a great habit for kids to start early.

Just Between Us by Meredith Jacobs and Sophie Jacobs. There is a journal for mom and daughter, mom and son, and between sisters. This journal is geared to older children and will prompt beautiful conversations and allow you to document sweet shared moments.

Ways to improve reading comprehension for kids

My goal as a reading specialist and former social worker is to maintain excitement, confidence, and interest in reading during those years that kids are still learning the mechanics. I care more about a child’s confidence and identity as a learner than their “reading level.”

There are lots of ways to keep kids feeling good about themselves and motivated. One way is to make things easier by helping them organize their thoughts visually. Writing their ideas or drawing them also increases executive functioning skills, which are important and often lacking in today’s digital world. Print these graphic organizers to help your child strengthen comprehension skills and learn the text structure of any story.

This pyramid below shows the five components of reading and how each concept builds on the other to allow children to truly experience a book. Comprehension is the entire point of reading, which might sound obvious. If you picture a beginning reader sounding out words, you will notice that most of our young readers aren’t able to understand what they are reading. Their brains are focused on remembering each letter’s sound. That’s why most kids are learning to read until third grade and then reading to learn after third grade.

If your child is still mastering the mechanics of spelling and reading, they can still utilize the organizers with drawings. If they struggle with writing, write for them. It’s completely ok for a child to focus on practicing one concept like comprehension while you help them with the mechanics. Otherwise, frustration will prevent them from enjoying the purpose of the activity. Let me know how this works for you and your child!

30 children's books to read and then watch the movie

With so much time at home and balancing work and school, there is inevitably going to be a surplus of screen time. To make the time a little more intentional and connect it to school, try incorporating some of these children’s books into your nightly reading so that you can later share the movie with your family.

Enjoy!

Picture Books

The Lorax by Dr. Seuss

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Boss Baby by Marla Frazee

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The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf

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The Story of Babar: The Little Elephant by Jean De Brunhoff

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Shrek by William Steig

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Hair Love by Matthew Cherry

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Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett

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Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

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A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond

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Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly

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Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

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How The Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss

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The Snowman by Raymond Briggs

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Chapter Books

Stuart Little by E.B. White

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James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

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Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Florence and Richard Atwater

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The Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl

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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

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Matilda by Roald Dahl

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Holes by Louis Sachar

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Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

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Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers

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The Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

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The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

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Charlotte’s Webb by E.B. White

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Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

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A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L’Engle

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Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

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Series

Harry Potter J.K. Rowling

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Captain Underpants by Dad Pilkey

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Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

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The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein

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The LIttle Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

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Label your home! Promote emerging literacy skills

One of the simplest ways to promote early literacy skills is to label your home. Print or simply write these labels and tape them to objects around your house. Seeing the labels will promote print awareness in many ways. Young children will begin to notice words that start with the same sounds. Some older children will begin to internalize the spelling by seeing it each day. Simply talking about the labels and the different words for each object is great for young kids.

Your kids can cut the words and tape them around the house.

Older children might enjoy making it into a game. Find all of the items that start with the /l/ sound. Want to add a math activity? Make a bar graph of how many words you labeled that begin with /d/ and how many start with /l/. For example, desk, door, dresser, etc. vs L words: light, lightbulb, lamp, laminator, etc. 

Enjoy!

Books for Progressing Readers, Fountas & Pinnell Level K,L & DRA 18 - 20

There's a lot of controversy about sharing a child's reading level. I like to think of it this way: you would never walk into an advanced tennis class before picking up a racket, right? You want to practice new skills on your skill level in a way that teaches the concepts you are working on while also challenging you to the extent that makes you feel engaged, confident and ready to try again.

Learning to read is similar. My short advice: let kids explore all books, while also reading a few books on their reading level to stretch and grow their skills. Present the leveled books as a gift and a special time together rather than a punishment. My hope is that these lists help parents provide the right books for their kids so that all kids become confident readers!

Spoon by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Gaston by Kelly DiPucchio

The Dot by Peter Reynolds

Me…Jane by Patrick McDonnell

Cordurouy by Don Freeman

Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing by Judi Barrett

What Do You Do WIth a Tail Like This? by Steve Jenkins & Robin Page

Zen Shorts by

Owen by Kevin Henkes

Martin's Big Words

Don’t Let the Pigeon Stat Up Late! by Mo Willems

 Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans

The Egg is Quiet by Dianna Hutts Aston

 Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey

Books for Progressing Readers, Fountas & Pinnell Level I, J & DRA 16 - 20

There's a lot of controversy about sharing a child's reading level. I like to think of it this way: you would never walk into an advanced tennis class before picking up a racket, right? You want to practice new skills on your skill level in a way that teaches the concepts you are working on while also challenging you to the extent that makes you feel engaged, confident and ready to try again.

Learning to read is similar. My short advice: let kids explore all books, while also reading a few books on their reading level to stretch and grow their skills. Present the leveled books as a gift and a special time together rather than a punishment. My hope is that these lists help parents provide the right books for their kids so that all kids become confident readers!

I Want My Hate Back by Jon Klassen

Hush! A Thai Lullabye by Minfong Ho

Rap A Tap Tap: Here’s Bojangles - Think of That! by Leo & Diane Dillon

Blackout by John Rocco

We're Going On A Bear Hunt by Helen Oxenbury

Noisy, Nora by Rosemary Wells

Leo The Late Bloomer by Robert Kraus

A Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback

Harry, The Dirty Dog by Gene Zion

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems

Henry and Mudge by Cynthia Rylant

Is My Child on Track? Literacy Milestones from Infancy Through Third Grade

When you become a new parent, there is an overload of information. It seems there are a million markers, tests and charts to ensure your child is on track and the pediatrician is walking right alongside every week to check off your child’s progress. There is a marker for every little hiccup in early childhood, but then when our kids enter school, milestones can feel vague and confusing. It seems you must wait for the report card or progress report to know if your child is progressing.

To provide a little help, I've created a short write-up of literacy milestones to look for and encourage in your child from birth through third grade. You might cringe when kids begin to recognize the C or M for Chick-fil-a and McDonalds because now you are going to need to stop for a snack, but this is actually a positive sign. They are learning to read logos and symbols, and this skill will help them when they learn to match a sound to a letter shape. To get the developmental chart click the link below and I’ll send it to your inbox. As always, let me know if you have any questions or ways that I can help!

15 picture books that teach short vowels

When children first begin reading, they need to master short vowel sounds. By learning the sounds before moving on to more complex phonics patterns, this will decrease later confusions or struggles, particularly in spelling.

It's probably been a minute since you discussed long and short vowels, so if you need a refresher, short vowel sounds are the ones you hold in one breath. Ahhh or o as in octupus (ahhhh-octupus), a as in apple, e as in elephant, i as in igloo, and u as in umbrella.

Reading these engaging books at nighttime or during a “spelling” time lets kids hear the sounds within context. This activity is more interesting and engaging than copying the sound onto worksheets or only reading decodable books.

If you are able to incorporate one of these books in your nightly read when you know your child is studying a particular vowel at school, you will see their eyes light up. “I know this sound! We just learned it in class!” You might also stop during a walk or a drive to point out the /o/ in the stop sign or /e/ for the eggs you are eating for breakfast.

Short vowel A as in apple

They All Saw A Cat by Brendan Wenzel

This book appeals to all age groups, and beginning readers and spellers will love being able to spell and repeat the word c-a-t. It’s rhythmic so kids can join in and carries a deeper message for children and adults about perspective.

Read online here.

The Stone Sat Still by Brendan Wenzel

Similar to They All Saw A Cat, this simply-worded book shares a more profound theme. Many see the stone, and each sees something different. You will need to point out the /a/ in the word sat, map, maze, haven, stage etc because it’s less repetitive. It’s a nice follow-up book to They All Saw A Cat.

Read online here.

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen

Hilarious for all ages. Bear wants his hat back and goes about politely asking every animal he sees if they have seen it.

Read online here.

Short E for elephant

Egg by Kevin Henkes

This book is perfect for preschool students and beginner readers. It’s repetition is intuitive, and kids can join in and read along or easily retell it. Another classic is An Extrodinary Egg by Leo Lionni.

Read by the author here.

Nanette’s Baguette by Mo Williems

Nanette’s Baguette is silly but also relatable for all children, as the child allows temptation to get in the way of her task. Share a baguette for dinner while playing around with short /e/ words: fret, met, bet, wet, gazette, florette, forget, and so on.

Read online here.

Henny Penny by Paul Galdone

A classic, Henny Penny, will remind you of your own childhood. You can reread it to your child and simply point out the /e/ sound in Henry, Penny, Lenny, Denny. It might inspire a rhyming game or conversation!

Read online here.

If you are looking for something newer, try Henny, Penny, Lenny, Denny and Mike by Cynthia Rylant.

Short I for igloo

Ish! by Peter H. Reynolds

Ish is not only great for phonics but also for helping children deal with perfectionism and making mistakes. Emily Arrow sings a fun song to go along with it here.

Read aloud here.

Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni

Clever and beautiful, Inch by Inch tells the story of an inchworm who measures everything. Then a bird demands that he measure his song or else he will be eaten. It’s Mine by Leo Leoni is another classic that repeats the short /i/ sound and is helpful in teaching sharing.

Read online here.

Mrs. Wishy-Washy by Joy Cowley

Another classic! Teachers have used Mrs. Wishy-Washy for decades. The book is so beloved that it’s hard to track down a hardcopy these days. You might consider writing out the story on construction paper and make it into a little book, allowing your child to illustrate each page.

Read online here.

Big Red Lollipop by Rukhsana Khan

Rubina is invited to her first birthday party. She’s beyond excited to attend but her mother will only allow her to go if she takes her little sister along.

Read online here.

Odd Dog by Claudia Boldt

Peanut, the dog, enjoys eating apples instead of dog bones. It might be fun to discuss other things your child finds odd.

Rot, The Cutest in the World! by Ben Claton

Rot is a mutant potato and enters a contest to compete for the position of “cutest in the world!” He discovers the competition is stiff but has confidence. Keep your eye out on the next book, Rot, The Bravest In the World!

Read online here

Shor U for umbrella

Grumpy Monkey by Suzanne Lang

This is fun for both parents and children. It’s also a good title to include for emotional intelligence. It teaches that it’s ok to be grumpy sometimes, we all have moods. You can point out the /u/ sound like up, umbrella, grump. It also includes the short /i/ sound as Jim is the Chimp.

Read online here.

Stuck! by Oliver Jeffers

Stuck is delightful. You can point out the short u sound like umbrella, up, under, underwear. If your child is a little more progressed (or you are reading to different ages), you can also point out the -ck diagrah. The -ck diagraph only comes at the end of a word, right after a short vowel. Oh, look, short u means ck is the /c/ sound. This book is also fun for sequencing.

Read online here.

Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

This book is so imaginative, creative and funny! You can’t go wrong with an Amy Krouse Rosenthall book. And again, you can focus on the /u/ sounds or add the -ck spelling rule. It’s also one that young children will likely memorize and want to “read” independently.

Read online here.

The Best Toys for Young Readers

Photo by Jayden Balogun

You want your child to have beneficial toys but don’t want to waste your money on tons of plastic things that clutter your home. You want to feel like your toys are developmentally appropriate but don’t want to bombard them with “school” time at home. I hear you! The following list includes my favorite toys and activities for young readers that I’ve come across in the past decade of being a reading specialist. You will find the items listed by developmental stages with a little note about why I appreciate these toys over the many options on the market. Enjoy! 

Beginning Readers

Bingo - These simple games are popular both in school and at home. I use the vowel, initial consonant, and sight words bingo in tutoring and at home.

Bananagrams – This particular Bananagram is most useful to beginning readers because the short vowels and blends are identified and categorized by color. Even while children are learning how to read basic words, they can build them and sound them out by recognizing that each word can be made by putting together two consonants and a vowel. As your child progresses, then you can add in the blends, which ideally come as one piece or one Bananagram.

Phonemic Awareness Linking Letter Cubes - Another toy that identifies the short vowels by color and allows kids to interact and manipulate the entire word and match it with a picture. 

Magnatab – Another Kid-O product, the magnatabs help children feel the formation of each letter as the magnets slides over the letter formation. The brand offers both print and cursive versions, as well as upper and lowercase versions. One reading specialist tip for parents of children who greatly struggle with writing speed is to consider teaching cursive before print, as this method is actually easier to learn first. 

Advancing Readers

Sentence Building Games - As children progress in their reading and writing skills, it’s harder to find engaging and challenging toys. I like this fun sentence builder and this advanced version. The activity can be extended by either writing the sentence on a white board for beginners or using the silly sentences as a story writing prompt for older students.  

Phonics Dominos - This phonics toy is similar to the cubes above, however, the toy below is slightly more advanced because your child must determine how to manipulate and generate words without simply rhyming. The short vowels set is good for beginner and pre-readers, the blends set is good for advancing and the long vowels set should be used for advanced readers. This toy can be used as a bridge into more complicated word games like Boggle and Scrabble. 

Story Cubes - Once children are reading fluently, they will find it more fun to make their own stories as they grasp story structures and plots. Story Cubes allow them to both master structure and also develop their own stories. Once they start writing be sure to check out the Story Pirates podcast! 

Book Making Kit - If you have a budding author on your hands, give them the gift of seeing their own words in print. The My Awesome Book kit helps your child write a story and the Illustory brand offers a Comic Book version.  

Picture Books to Teach Sight Words

Sight words make up over half of all the words children are reading. I love teaching sight words in creative ways because it can be a lot of fun and helpful, but overall, any new concept we learn is most easily retained when we discover it within context. In other words, it's more meaningful when we read the word in a book rather than simply write it a few times. One easy way to do this is to utilize rich and interesting picture books that repeat sight words. Try reading these books at night for bedtime or when your child is practicing sight words.

I Am Enough by Grace Byers. "Like the bird, I'm here to fly and soar high over everything. Like the trees, I'm here to grow. Like the mountains, I'm here to stand." Besides teaching the sight words, I, am and like, this book has a powerful, necessary message for all children and adults. 

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen. This silly story is rich in sight words and repetition. A great place to start is to teach the word 'seen' before reading the book. Children can read this story over and over again to practice fluency. After reading it a few times independently, they will grasp the humor.  

Why Am I Me? by Paige Britt, Illustrated by Selina Alko and Sean Qualls. This picture book can provide very deep conversations with older children, and also simple but necessary teachings for younger children. The story asks the question, "Why am I me ...and not you?... Why is everyone who they are?" Examining humanity, children develop empathy for others through guided conversations. 

Home by Carson Ellis. The sight words home, are, and is are repeated throughout this book. It's a visually stunning book that reminds us we don't come from the same places or surroundings, yet love can make a home anywhere. It's also a great one to read when preparing your kids for a move. 

When's My Birthday? by Julie Fogiliano, Illustrated by Christopher Robinson. I mean, who doesn't love planning their birthday? This book is perfect for children who already have a few sight words under their belt. I'm also a sucker for all Christopher Robinson books. If your child can read short phrases, then they might enjoy When's My Birthday?

Wait by Antoinette Portis. Every parent and child can relate to hectic mornings. This book tells the story of a mom who is in a hurry and a child who needs to stop to observe every single beautiful thing about their journey to school. The entire book consists of only two words, hurry and wait. Children can read it to themselves after being introduced. It would be fun to extend the reading with this sight word activity afterward. 

Now by Antoinette Portis. Portis really knows how to present repetition in a beautiful way. Each page in this book begins with, "This is my favorite..." The book shows a girl going about her day and experiencing each moment as her favorite. A reminder to us all to be fully present.

Egg by Kevin Henkes. Egg presents words in a systematic and graphically stunning way. The author repeats words such as wait and crack over and over again on a single page so kiddos can discover the word once and then practice it. Preschool students through first graders enjoy this book. 

They All Saw A Cat by Brendan Wenzal. This book delivers both repetition and a socially conscious message. Teach the word saw. Read the story to your child and stop when you come to the word saw, letting your child chime in. This practice takes some pressure off and helps to build confidence.  

3 Simple Ways to Help Your Child Achieve Academic and Reading Success

Photo Melissa Kaufman

“I just don’t want to go to swim lessons today because I missed last week and I’m afraid I won’t do a good job,” my five-year-old explained to me right after having a sudden tantrum. 

I gathered my composure after discovering what triggered the tantrum. I tried to downgrade the perfectionism that I solely instilled in her five short years and then she said, “Well, maybe if I can’t make it to the end of the pool, I’ll just wait a second and Coach Sam will push me to the end.” 

Eeeee. Facepalm. 

Not what I was hoping she would say. 

But my daughter was doing exactly what I trained her to do – to only try when she knew she would succeed. 

I’ve also noticed that my five-year-old isn’t overly interested in reading. Yep, daughter of a reading teacher - not interested. After this swim lesson, a light bulb went off that perhaps she’s avoiding reading because it’s a newer skill. I am attempting to practice in my own home what I preach as a learning specialist in a school with other parents. I desire for my children to feel positive about their learning and school experience, more than I care about their other achievements because I know this base will allow them to encounter all challenges and opportunities in life. 

In the classroom, I witness firsthand how some children succeed or do well in school because they believe they can, while others hide their talents and abilities. As a mom, I’m attempting to implement some of the strategies I use in the classroom in hopes to better my relationship with my kids and instill more confidence. 

Here are a few things I'm trying at home that I practice at school:

1.    Praise effort 

Children are seeking an identity, and at the same time, they are assessing their abilities as their image–creating labels such as “good at math” or “doesn’t love reading.” Carol Dweck’s research in her book, Mindset, supports praising and modeling effort to instill a growth mindset. By doing so, we can help our children feel more confident in tackling new tasks, regardless of ability.

2.    Redefine success

As you can see from my story above, children pick up on what your idea of success looks like by watching and listening. They are eager to please and will quickly interchange love with success. 

Help your child redefine both success and failure by taking a step back. Stepping back can be challenging to do when you have the heavy responsibilities of keeping your child safe, helping them set appropriate boundaries, and still allowing them to take risks. So start small. Let them put on their own shoes, even if they are on the wrong feet or help set the table even if all the tableware is glass. For older children, let them do their homework without checking it so that they can learn what skills they need to improve. I know these things might make you cringe but wait for a moment and see if you recognize a positive emotional response after they complete the task on their own. 

3.    Create a strong foundation

You do not need to start a phonics program or force "learning time" to give your kids a strong foundation in phonics and handwriting. For example, take advantage of commute time to rhyme or bathtime to spell. Sounds impossible? Try keeping it simple. How about getting Munchkin alphabet letters in the bath and setting up a few consonant-vowel-consonant words in the tub before your child gets in the bath. See if they notice the words and help them sound out the words on their own. Here is a step-by-step how-to and a list of words to get you started!

Picture Books on Being Mindful and Present

As a working parent and a teacher, I'm often pulled in a million directions, feeling frazzled and overwhelmed. I recognize the mounting and unnecessary stress this puts on my children and me. I'm attempting to be thankful for small moments, even the ones that make me feel like I’m going crazy or running in circles.  I'm not always giving thanks at 8:00 a.m. drop-off when my child dumps her lunch box out in the back seat, but I'm trying to seek out moments of gratitude with my family each day. I'm practicing modeling mindfulness and patience because, as a teacher, I see the many benefits when children are able to calm themselves and breathe in stressful moments. 

If you are in need of slowing down or resetting to gain perspective, check out the books below that will remind you how truly fortunate we are to be here and to know one another.

Book suggestions on instagram

Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth by Oliver Jeffers. How we learn to grow and take in the world around us is a wonder. A book about a child's smallness in this universe, Jeffers provides some relief for parents as he points out that others will be here to take care of our children when we no longer can do so.

Forever or a Day by Sarah Jacoby.  For any parent who is attempting to say yes more often, this book is a beautiful reminder of all the reasons we should do just that. Time is the one thing we can never get more of, and in this book, a child asks if we can stay a little longer–so maybe we should.

Life by Cynthia Rylant and Brendan Wenzel. Cynthia Rylant does a fantastic job of keeping complex concepts simple. Life is no exception. "Life is not always easy. There will probably be a stretch of wilderness now and then. But wilderness eventually ends. And there is always a new road to take."

All In a Day by Cynthia Rylant and Nikki McClure. Another Rylant book because when paired with McClure’s die-cut illustrations, it’s too beautiful not to mention. “A day brings hope and kindness too…a day is all it’s own.” A sentimental reminder of how much connection we can share in a single day. 

Breathe and Be: A Book of Mindfulness Poems by Kate Coombs and Anna Emilia Laitinen. A Montessori teacher friend recently suggested this book. She said that she randomly grabbed it from the shelf on the last day of school when the children sit together and express their thoughts or feelings about the year. She is now using it as a yearly tradition. What a special find. "There's a quiet place in my head like an egg hidden in a nest. A place I go when the world is loud."

Do you have any book suggestions or tips on being present with your children and family? I'm all ears. 

Simple Steps to Teach Your Child to Read

Photo by Joyce

When you recognize that your child is interested in learning to read and ready to begin sounding out words, you might feel that you need to introduce a phonics program or get out flashcards. Less is often more when learning at home. Your role as a caregiver is to reinforce skills they are learning and to do so in a particular order. You will notice that your child will start to examine words on signs and start sounding them out. Reading requires three different parts of the brain to work together to sound out words. So there's no need to force the process on a child before they are neurologically ready.

Quality over quantity

The type of strategies and words you are pointing out to your child will make more of a difference than the number of words your child is learning at one time. Maintaining the child's confidence and interest is the first and most important priority. Think of a time that you tried something new. Did you take up tennis or running, or learn a new software program for work? How did you learn the new skill? If you were given all of the information at one time, chances are that you didn't continue implementing it over time. You might have quit, felt overwhelmed or lost interest. If you had a great teacher or program that introduced one concept at a time and allowed you to master each, perhaps you stuck with it.

Where to start?

So where to begin? We will keep it simple. Once a child knows all of the letter names and their sounds, then they can start to decode three letter words. We call the first words that a child reads CVC words, which stands for consonant-vowel-consonant.

For a list of CVC words that you can practice, sign up for my mailing list using the button below, and it will be sent to you! Enjoy! Feel free to email me with questions if I can help.

Short Vowels

Focus on short vowels and pointing out only one short vowel at a time. Practice that same vowel for about a week or two. The only thing you need to do is to recognize the letter or word as you are traveling or reading, seeing signs, and just going through everyday life. For example, a sign says, "No Dogs." You might say, "Oh look, that word has the short vowel o in it for o/octupus. D-o-g. It says dog!" You are modeling how to sound out a short vowel word. If your child is frustrated by this then back off. Most likely they want more control and might start pointing the letters out on their own after they watch you do it first.

How to keep it simple and practice at home

To practice, you might also want to put letters in the tub or magnetic letters on the fridge and practice CVC words during down times like making dinner or bath time. Make spelling and reading a part of play, and it will feel more natural to your child. It's also the perfect time to have a few decodable books around the house. Start with the short vowel BOB books. You might want to leave them on the kitchen table or in a box in your family room. 

As always, please reach out to me and let me know how these suggestions work for you and your child! 

Back to School Books

Photo by Happily Ever Elephants

The first day of school brings a wide range of emotions for the entire family. These books should help bring a little laughter and emotional support for first-day nerves. 

Mae’s First Day of School by Kate Berube. Every child (and parent) feels nervous on the first day of school. Fear of the unknown is difficult for us all. This book shows a relatable progression of a girl’s first day of school and how she transforms from nervous to excited and hopeful. 

The World-Famous Book of Counting by Sarah Goodreau and The Greatest Opposites Book on Earth by Lee Singh and Tom Frost. These books are full of creative ways to engage a young reader from pop-ups to flaps. Kids love them and adults love the artistic designs and illustrations. This book is perfect for Pre-K children but also fun for Kindergarten and beginning readers who can retell the story themselves and feel they are reading to build a little confidence.

Adventures to School: Real-life Journeys of Students From Around the World by Baptiste Paul and Miranda Paul, Illustrated by Isabel Munoz. This nonfiction book is a refreshing way to introduce children to school. It shows thirteen different children's journeys to school from around the world. Children will also enjoy learning a little about each country, as the book highlights the country’s flag and some key details.

The Friend Ship by Kat Yeh, Illustrated by Chuck Groenink. One of my favorite books of the year! Sometimes you are searching for true friendship or something new in life, while everything you need is right in front of you.

School's First Day of School by Adam Rex, Illustrated by Christian Robinson. Everyone gets nervous on the first day of school, even the school building itself. Nothing goes as planned for the building on its first day with children, but all is okay in the end and everyone wants to try it again the next day. A unique take on first-day jitters.

The Teacher’s Pet by Anica Mrose Rissi, Illustrated by Zachariah OHara. A class bands together to help their teacher when his love for the class pet clouds his judgment. The tadpole grows into a hippo. The pet's size and needs are destroying the classroom. Kids love the idea of being in on a secret and knowing more than a teacher.

The Smallest Girl In The Smallest Grade by Justin Roberts, Illustrated by Christian Robinson. This book reminds us that you can make a big impact on those around you by speaking up. Sally McCabe might be small, but she’s an observer of the world, and so one day she realizes she can make a difference despite her age or size.

The I'm Not Scared Book by Todd Parr. I should probably just carry all of the Todd Parr books in my back pocket for every messy life situation. The author writes about the most complex topics and feelings and makes them simple for children. This book is a beautiful reminder that when we feel scared, we often can take a simple step to feel calmer or to laugh.  

The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires. This book will resonate with perfectionists and worriers. It helps our children see the beauty in the process rather than the product. You might also want to check out The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes. 

A Squiggly Story by Andrew Larsen, Illustrated by Mark Lowery. This book is a cute story about the power of writing and getting started. You don’t have to know how to write everything or anything to create something beautiful.

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10 Winnie The Pooh Quotes To Get You Through Any Life Situation

This beautiful quote by design roots

Winnie the Pooh turned 90 this year! Do you remember how you felt when you watched it or read it as a child? I always had a sentimental feeling and an almost sad one. Rereading it now, I can see A.A. Milne was actually speaking to the adults who had seen more days, more happiness and more sorrow than to their children. He used the sweetest characters to get the message across in a childlike way. 

Perhaps the best piece of advice comes from Christopher Robin: "You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."Here are a few of the most moving quotes from Winnie the Pooh to get you (and your children) through almost any life situation:

"Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart." 

"Life is a journey to be experienced not a problem to be solved."

"Piglet noticed that even though he had a very small heart, it could hold a rather large amount of gratitude."

"Some people care too much, I think it's called love."

"How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard."

I asked SusieCakes to make something for the occasion and they more than delivered. honey bee cupcukes, yes please!

"You can't stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes."

"When you see someone putting on his Big Boots, you can be pretty sure that an Adventure is going to happen."

"It wasn't much good having anything exciting like floods, if you couldn't share them with somebody."

"It is more fun to talk with someone who doesn't use long, difficult words but rather short, easy words like "What about lunch?" 

Well Happy Birthday, Winnie the Pooh! Thank you for sharing your wisdom with the world.

Books for Moms

Sometimes the best gift for a mom is an easy bedtime with a sentimental story or just actually having time to order a family portrait or jot down some notes about this stage of parenting before it changes again. Gifting one of these sweet books for mother's day, a baby shower, or her birthday could help create a meaningful memory.

Mom's One Line A Day: A Five-Year Memory Book by Chronicle Books. As someone who is still working on their oldest child's baby book (four years later), I find this memory book to be very refreshing. I don't keep up with it every single day, but it's easy enough to jot down thoughts each week and it warms my heart to look back and see some of the funny things my daughter was saying when she was only two years old. It's simple, very pretty and comes in either pink or blue or this beautiful updated version. Perfect for moms who want to take the pressure off. 

If I Had a Little Dream by Nina Laden, Illustrated by Melissa Castrillon. This book is stunningly beautiful with intricate illustrations that resemble die-cut prints. The words are poetic and the story touches on the tiny treasures that make up our world, which children value and adults often overlook. Speaking of die-cuts, I must remember to ask for one of these amazing family portrait prints for mother's day next year! So cool, right?

My Mom Is Magical by Sabrina Moyle, Illustrated by Eunice Moyle and Designed by Hello! Lucky. I bought this book for myself at Target one day as a pick-me-up. It’s easily one of our favorites. It’s simple, so kids can retell it or reread it on their own, silly, and fun.

Someday by Alison McGhee, Illustrated by Peter H. Reynold. Fair warning: read it beforehand or bring tissues to bedtime. This book is a tear-jerker. What I love most about this book is it brings everything full circle and helps us gain perspective when we can often get lost in the tiresome day-to-day. The author even shares the perspective of a parent thinking about his or her own childhood. McGhee writes, "Someday you will look at this house and wonder how something that feels so big can look so small."  

Love Is by Diane Adams, Illustrated by Claire Keane. We all thought parenthood would be strolling through the park with an iced-coffee and a cute stroller, but it looks a little messier now. While this book isn't about a traditional mother-child relationship, it touches on the realness of parenthood and reminds us to laugh through it. The little girl in the story takes care of her duck and realizes that "Love is tidying up. Love is messy bath times." 

The Wonderful Things You Will Be by Emily Winfield Martin. With modern illustrations of hip families who decorate with zebra wallpaper and dress their kids in cool vintage wear, this book is perfect for a new parent. It captures the thoughts of mothers who are truly in awe with their child's uniqueness. "When you were too small to tell me hello, I knew you were someone I wanted to know."

If I Could Keep You Little by Marianne Richmond. Of all the books I've come across about parenthood, this one speaks to my heart in a specific way. Letting your children go is difficult for every parent, and this book reminds us that we aren't alone in the feeling, but that it's part of the job. Richmond writes, "If I could keep you little, I'd push your ducky float. But then I'd miss you feeling the wind behind a summer's boat." "If I could keep you little we'd nap in our fort midday. But then I'd miss you sharing adventures from camp away."

How to Raise a Mom and How to Babysit A Grandma by Jean Reagan, Illustrated by Lee Wildish. This book is very funny and will make any preschooler or grade-school child laugh out loud. It's written from the perspective of two siblings setting out to make sure their mother gets proper exercise, a well-balanced diet and some rest time in her day. And for the grandmothers in your life, check out How To Babysit a Grandma. 

How To Celebrate Everything by Jenny Rosenstrach. I added this to the list even though it isn't a picture book because it's simply heartwarming and can remind today's busy mom how to enjoy the little things of parenthood that make it all worth it. This book is highly sentimental and acts just as much as a parenting guide as it does cook-book. When I gift it to like-minded moms who read a little more than we cook, I always suggest reading the last page first.