Ten favorite How-Tos from the archives: 1. Skill Subjects vs. Content Subjects {The Key to Simplifying} 2. Teach a Child to Read: The Natural Way 3. Language Arts the Natural Way: Narrating 4. 14 Forms of Writing for the Older Student: Character Sketch 5. 10 Ways to Use Notebooking: #3 […]
Memorizing: Yes, It Does Have Its Uses! {5 Things to Memorize}
Love it or hate it memorizing does have its uses: Do you remember the last time you memorized something — even a phone number? With technology ever at our fingertips, we don’t need to commit much of anything to memory now. Yet, rote memory — the process of repeating information until it is lodged firmly […]
A Year of Beautiful Thoughts {Free eBook}
Here is a wonderful (and free) book of poetry set up to provide one Scripture verse, one illustrative story or quote, and one related poem for each day of the year! A Year of Beautiful Thoughts compiled by Jeanie A. B. Greenough is a perfect book for starting the new year — new decade! — […]
“Thanksgiving” by Henry Coyle
The Promise of Morning (1899) | Henry Coyle
“Song — The Owl” by Tennyson
The Works of Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1892) | Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–1892)
5 Natural Ways to Improve Listening Skills
No question, listening is a skill that comes more easily to some of us than it does to others. Nevertheless, listening is a skill that is increasingly more highly valued in a world so highly peppered with distractions. But it also has the added benefit of building better learners! So how do you help your […]
The Research Paper: 10 Steps to Writing One
Putting together a research paper is the culmination of a student’s previous experience: skills, interests, and writing background. Writing a research paper can appear daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Just tackle it one step at a time. Here is how to guide your older student through writing a research paper. What is a […]
10 Steps to Build a Better Speller
We all know the drill: Memorize your weekly spelling word list, ace the test, promptly delete that information — sometimes permanently! If you were one of those students who could get A’s in spelling — without ever becoming a competent speller — this one is for you (and your students!). The key to becoming a […]
14 Forms of Writing for the Older Student: Poetry
Writing poetry may seem like an odd place to start when encouraging a young writer, but some students will find it an easier task than many other forms of writing. There are several benefits to learning to write poetry: Poetry has the ability to help students see underlying structures and to develop their own organizational […]
Persuasion Map for Persuasive Essays {Free Interactive}
Here is another great tool at ReadWriteThink.org: A free persuasion map interactive that walks a student through the process of creating a persuasive essay. The interactive is easy and intuitive to use. Begin by entering your name and a title for your essay. Then press the “get started” button. Next you are prompted to form […]
Letter Generator Interactive {Free}
After a child is able to write comfortably, he will need things to write. We have suggested 8 writing activities for the younger student — one of which is writing a letter. This free Letter Generator interactive at ReadWriteThink.org is an excellent guide for the younger writer. The letter generator provides an easy way to […]
A Limerick by Edward Lear
A Book of Nonsense (1846) | Edward Lear (1812–1888)
