What a mess! The large wicker basket atop her bookcase was overflowing with papers, partially completed art projects, empty toilet paper rolls, and tiny trinkets. It’s the spot where she’s allowed to keep things that are “special” to her. Somehow, the number of special items is always larger than the space dedicated for saving them.

As regular visitors to my blog already know, reading and teaching children to read is a passion of mine.

I recently found an old guest post on Simple Mom entitled 30 Simple Ways to Get Your Child Ready to Read. The list that is given is an excellent, well-developed presentation of steps you can take to promote early literacy in your children. I thought I would add a few more suggestions that have worked well in our family.

1. When your child is too young to sit still through an entire story, put him on your lap and look through a book, ignoring the words but pointing to the illustrations and describing the pictures. Tell what is happening on the pages in your own words, turning the page as soon as your child is ready.
2. Be very descriptive when talking about things you see, whether in a book or in real life. Say what color something is, mention its’ size and give any other distinguishing features.
3. Visit a few story time programs at the library or bookstore. It will expose your child to other adults reading aloud and introduce you and your child to books you may not have found otherwise.
4. While at the library or bookstore, allow your child to explore the different sections. Let him select a certain number of books, then take them to a reading corner or table and look through them together.
5. When you sign birthday or other special occasion cards for family and friends, help your child “write” their name on the card, saying each letter as the two of you print it together.
6. As your child grows and you begin reading aloud to your child some books that are a bit longer, find a suspenseful place to stop in the story so that he will look forward to the next reading session.
7. Try to find a particular series of books that your child will enjoy, i.e. Franklin the Turtle or Curious George. Reading about a familiar character in different situations may encourage them to want to read more.

The desks have been emptied. Chalk boards and white boards have been scrubbed clean, the once brightly-decorated walls are bare.

Today, when I walk my daughters to their classrooms for the final time this school year, a sense of emptiness will already fill the air. The halls my girls traipsed down each morning will lose some of their familiarity over the next few months. Teachers who have graced their lives, leaving an indelible footprint on their bright and eager minds, will soon be viewed through the lens of the past as new ones take their place.

The walls that absorbed the echoes of my children’s recitations along with their bursts of laughter will soon await a new group of students. Oh, that I could bottle those sounds, to occasionally release the moments that made this past school year its own adventure, with challenges, disappointments and sweet victories.

Change awaits: a best friend’s desk will be empty in the fall as she moves away, a beloved teacher of thirty years begins enjoying her retirement. Things will never be quite the same – never the same teacher with the same mix of students at the same stage of life. It has been said that life is a series of happy hello’s and sad good bye’s; today we have mostly the sad.

We’ve waited for this day and now it’s finally here. Mentally we’ve already begun our summer break, planning our family vacation and trips to the pool. But today, as awards are handed out in recognition of hard work and stellar achievements, I am grateful for this stage of our lives, for these treasured school days and the lessons of the past nine months – learned by parent and child – that we will all carry with us into the years ahead.

photo courtesy morgue file

The first portion of Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go….”

While I think there are several child-rearing applications we can draw from this verse, one of my favorites is thinking about how each child we have is different in temperament and personality. If you have more than one child, be they boys or girls, you would certainly agree that they can be as different as night and day.

Part of my job as a mom is to discover those differences and determine the best way to help each child develop into all that God would have him to be. It’s an ongoing process to encourage them in the areas that interest them and provide opportunities for them to develop whatever talents they may have.

Of course, there are certainly day-to-day differences as well. On school mornings, we have one daughter whose feet hit the floor as soon as her alarm clock goes off. She immediately starts making her bed and getting dressed for the day. The other daughter, however, only snuggles further under the covers and needs a little “coaxing” to get her day going!

I am hoping to continually improve in this area – recognizing each child as an individual and encouraging her in a way that “fits” with how they are made.

The original version of this post was published on February 18, 2009.

picture courtesy www.publicdomainpictures.net

During the school year, there is typically not enough time for my daughters to learn all they would like to about particular subjects, so we take advantage of the summer months to do a more indepth study.

Last year’s summer learning plan worked so well that I am looking forward to the new topics we’re covering this summer. We usually spend about an hour each morning working on that week’s theme, then fit the outing into our schedule on whichever day is most convenient.

Here’s how I’ve set it up.

Week 1 Theme – Weather
Books: Read about hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis, etc.
Activity: View dvd on weather; make local weather charts; perform a brief weather forecast for the family.
Outing: Visit local park
Bible Memory Verse: Psalm 147:8

Week 2 Theme – Nutrition
Books: Read about health as it relates to your diet, vitamins and minerals, your body
Activity: Make healthy foods poster; have each child select a new vegetable from the farmers market to try.
Outing: Visit a local farm
Bible Memory Verse: Genesis 1:29

Week 3 Theme – Composers
Books: Biographies on composers
Activity: Listen to cd’s of composers being studied; look through our piano books and find a piece by one of the composers to play for the family.
Outing: Local concert
Bible Memory Verse: Psalm 144:9

Week 4 Theme – U.S. Presidents
Books: Biographies of U.S. Presidents
Activity: Have each child choose one of their favorite presidents and make a fact sheet about him.
Outing: Local museum and historic site
Bible Memory Verse: I Timothy 2:1,2

Week 5 Theme – South America
Books: Read about various countries in South America
Activity: Make a large map of South America including topography, major cities, etc.
Outing: Prepare a meal that would be typical in a South American country.
Bible Memory Verse: Revelation 15:4

Week 6 Theme – World War II
Books: World War II overview, battles
Activity: Draw map showing countries involved in war; mark locations of significant battles. Write a brief newspaper article reporting on one of the battles.
Outing: Local WWII historic site
Bible Memory Verse: Psalm 27:2

Week 7 Theme – Inventors
Books: Biographies on inventors
Activity: Make your own invention
Outing: Daily science experiments
Bible Memory Verse: Exodus 31:3

Week 8 Theme – Birds
Books: Field guides, art book on drawing birds
Activity: Create our own “field guide” of birds we see in our neighborhood or at a local park.
Outing: Visit local gardens
Bible Memory Verse: Matthew 6:26

There are more weeks in our summer, but with our vacation, a trip to visit family and Vacation Bible School in the mix, I’m only including eight weeks in my program.

Please note: I was an elementary school teacher for six years so putting together a program like this is something I enjoy! Spontaneity is also a good thing, and I’m certain there will be plenty of time in the pool, play dates with friends and purely fun activities to fill our summer as well!

Do you make plans for your summer or just enjoy the somewhat slower pace?

Find more ideas for entertaining your children this summer at Works for Me Wednesday hosted by We Are THAT Family.

While my daughters were at school yesterday morning, I found out something that I knew would be disappointing to my nine-year-old. It was a minor issue, but I felt she might need a bit of cheering up when she arrived home.

Thankfully I had a few small items hidden away for such an occasion. Rather than just giving her something, I decided that a treasure hunt was in order. I made up four clues, wrote them on 3×5 cards and placed them strategically around the house. I also attached a treat to each of the clue cards (i.e. a piece of gum, a new pen). The gift was in the final location.

It wasn’t a big deal, didn’t take a lot of time nor did it cost much money. In fact, I probably had as much fun putting it together as she did finding the prize.

We all have days when a dose of encouragement is needed. Often just a small thoughtfulness can brighten a family member’s day. I’m planning to have a designated place (out of view!) where I can keep little gifts to use – not only for my children, but for my husband as well!

Do you have a special way to encourage a loved one who’s had a rough day? I’d enjoy hearing about it!

Find more tips and helpful ideas at Works for Me Wednesday hosted by We Are THAT Family.

There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million. ~Walt Streightiff

The child must know that he is a miracle, that since the beginning of the world there hasn’t been, and until the end of the world there will not be, another child like him. ~Pablo Casals

There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One is roots; the other, wings. ~Hodding Carter

While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about. ~Angela Schwindt

~Scenes from our annual “Mother’s Day Eve” walk on the beach~