Here is a great video that teaches what Silent E does. (Spoiler alert: For one thing, it makes a hug huge!) Thanks to thekidshouldseethis.com, who brought this to my attention via a tweet. Their website is fantastic – it’s a collection of videos that kids just gotta see. And if you’re in […]
Other News
Fun online spelling bee
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 […]
Every Canadian in grade one gets a free book in October
Barbara Reid, Alan Convery (TD), Jo Ellen Bogart, Charlotte Teeple (Exec, Dir. CCBC); image: Joyce Grant This month, every grade-one child in Canada will receive a free book. That’s every grade-one child, including those home-schooled, or in any school in the country, private or public. What’s the catch? There is […]
Literacy opportunities are everywhere
You don’t always need books to help your kid read better.
The School for the Insanely Gifted, by Dan Elish
I heard about this book and thought it sounded interesting. Long-story (oh-so-long!) short, I ended up having to get a review copy sent to my vacation-hotel in California because the publisher wouldn’t ship to Canada. Was it worth it? Yes. Memorable characters and interesting premise. Things get a little wild and crazy […]
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 […]
Advice from a young author: Dare to suck
Do you have a kid you’re trying to encourage to write more? Is your kid discouraged because she’s worried that her writing isn’t good enough? Here’s some great advice from a young author, Maureen Johnson, who is currently working on her 10th novel for teens. She will tell your kid (in her […]
TDSB writing contest – win a laptop!
It’s time to get writing again – and here’s a wonderful incentive for kids in the Toronto District School Board (TDSB). Write 150 to 250 words about what you’re most looking forward to this school year. And you could win a Dell Inspiron Duo Laptop (value $550) or a backpack full […]
Collection of videos kids gotta see
You’ve gotta love the spirit behind The Kid Should See This. You’re trolling the Internet (as you do) and you come across a crazy video showing lightning strikes on the CN Tower, and you think “I’ve gotta show this to my kid!” That’s exactly what TKSST is. A collection of fascinating, […]
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 […]