This one’s for kids who are already good spellers and who think spelling is fun. (To me it’s a no-brainer, but I have to remember that not everyone reads the dictionary for fun.) Anyway, that kid will appreciate this great online spelling bee from Oxford. It’s fast and it’s fun […]
Tag: learning aids
Literacy opportunities are everywhere
You don’t always need books to help your kid read better.
Scrabble – Alphabet Scoop game
Caution: Don’t eat actual soup while you’re playing this game. (We did – it was an issue. I’ll tell you at the end.) Scrabble – Alphabet Scoop is a fun new game that you can play with kids who are at different levels of literacy and of different ages. It’s […]
How a pencil can help your child become a writer
I have a theory that a really great pencil might get your kid to do more writing. Now, hear me out. (And let me assure you right now this isn’t an ad and I’m not being paid by anyone.) I’m not just talking about a pretty pencil. It’s not some “normal” pencil […]
The news, in kid-friendly language
Kids love reading about what’s happening in their world. But so often, the newspaper is full of inappropriate and difficult articles. Teaching Kids News (TKN) is a sister website to Getting Kids Reading. We offer kid-friendly news articles, taken from the headlines of real newspapers. One of the great things […]
One-sentence journal is perfect for kids
I guess the idea of a one-sentence journal isn’t new. But I’d never heard of it before I read about it on Gretchen Rubin’s Happiness Project blog. She started a one-sentence journal because she wanted to jot down happy memories but knows she could never sustain keeping a normal journal […]
Children’s book apps for your cell phone
Children’s book publishers are creating cell phone apps for books like The Velveteen Rabbit and The Cat in the Hat. Kids can read the book on their parent’s phone and enjoy some interactive features. For instance, they can touch a word they don’t know and hear it or touch the picture […]
Contest! Win a Ji Ga Zo puzzle
What is the best literacy activity you’ve done with your kids to help get them reading? The three top answers will be shared here and will win a Ji Ga Zo puzzle, courtesy of Hasbro and Getting Kids Reading. The contest ends on Saturday, April 2 so get your answer(s) […]
Scrabble Flash (Boggle Flash)
Don’t you wish there was a board game that encourages literacy – but which your kid would actually enjoy? Scrabble Flash goes one better… it’s also electronic, which kids love. And it’s completely portable, packing down into a little holder about the size of a small TV remote. (Which parents […]
Literacy Lava 6 – e-newsletter
Please check out the 6th edition of Literacy Lava e-newsletter. I have an article in it (“Newspapers Build Literacy Skills”) that I hope you enjoy. Click here to access the free .pdf, Literacy Lava 6. Scroll down on the page and click on the image of LL6. You’ll find lots […]