I’ve been reading this book – Choke. (Because I tend to choke at tennis, that’s why.) But it’s got some really interesting things to say that will help your kid with test anxiety. Researchers were studying what happens to African-Americans, for instance, who experience racism throughout their life. These students can have something […]
Activities
uKloo: the perfect literacy game for early readers
This could be the perfect literacy game. So simple and so brilliant. It has all the elements you could want in a game that encourages reading: it’s fun, it offers an immediate reward for reading, it’s easy for parents to quickly learn and set up and it has lots of […]
langman: great Internet game that encourages wordpower
Here at GKR we’re always looking for cool literacy games. Cool + literacy? Not the easiest combo. Nevertheless, we’ve found you one. This game is retro, so you know it’s cool. (For future reference: if it looks like something we would have played in the 70s, it’s cool. Just so ya know.) […]
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 […]
Brilliant animal video by the BBC
This has nothing to do with literacy. Well, unless there’s something called “animal literacy” (which there’s not). But some things just have to be shared. Stick with it past the Michael Jackson bit – it gets really good.
Brain game: Connections
Here’s a fun game we were playing at the dinner table recently. It’s called “Connections,” and it’s great to help with creativity and get the blood flowing to the ol’ brain cells – not just for your kids but for you, too. You start. You name two objects that seemingly […]
Literacy Lava newsletter has great tips
The new edition of Literacy Lava, a free e-zine for parents with great literacy articles and ideas, is now available. You can download the .pdf from The Book Chook, here. I’ve got an article in it, and there are lots of other great articles including: * Writing tips for kids; […]
Fun new, brain-challenging jigsaw puzzle
They’ve finally come up with a new, addictive, fun and brain-saving type of jigsaw puzzle that kids will actually enjoy. It’s difficult – if not downright impossible – to explain exactly how Ji Ga Zo works. You have to try it for yourself, and you’ll understand. (Which is why I […]
No time for literacy activities? Harness the power of two
If you aren’t able to find time to read to your child or offer him literacy activities—use the power of two—you and another parent. You know that kids who are read to every day are more likely to develop a love of reading. But that’s 15 minutes that tends to […]
