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Free Little Library
I’ve wanted a free library ever since I saw one a few years ago. It was conveniently placed in a yard near the entrance to the beach parking lot near my home. It inspired me to investigate the cost of making one. Inside that little library there were a variety of paperbacks and several children’s…
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To My Grandchildren
Dear Grandchildren, I see your tiny bodies and I am grateful for every breath you take. Each of you are the greatest joy of my life. Holding you in my arms takes me back to when your parent was my baby. I had no experience or guide, but a heart full of love. I learned…
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Carry On
There have been so many times of uncertainty caused by the global pandemic. Times when it was hard to plan for the future, or even tomorrow. One thing I told myself again and again, ” I will follow guidelines, and I will not put myself or others in danger.” I also worried if I would…
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Make a Wish
When was the last time you picked a dandelion and blew the seeds while you made a wish? Why is it so easy for children to embrace simple joys, while adults rarely give themselves permission to engage in a nature moment for the soul? At a friend’s house recently, I noticed a group of red…
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A Pilgrimage
All my life I have wanted to visit Lourdes. I grew up hearing of the healing waters and the little girl who saw a vision of The Virgin Mary. I had the opportunity to travel to see my daughter who lived in England, and my son-in-law treated me to a trip by car to Lourdes.,…
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Happy Birthday to me
Today is my birthday and I am happy and grateful to enjoy another year. Getting older would not be my first choice, but I can kick up a fuss or embrace it. My goal this year is to eat right, show gratitude, give love more often, smile more, learn more, travel. read, sew, have adventures,…
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I am grateful
I have many reasons to be grateful. It’s been a tough year, but at times I see glimmers of hope that we may all be on the road to living whatever our normal was, only stronger, better, more resilient. A trip to the grocery store, then my favorite cafe took on a new ambiance. I…
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Books Kids Would Like
A charismatic clan of chinchillas confronts everyday problems in this humorous story of family life and troubles. Jerome discovers the magic of the words all around him — short and sweet words, two-syllable treats, and multisyllable words that sound like little songs. Words that connect, transform, and empower. In this hilarious book, Richard T. Morris…
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If Only
If only we saw each other’s hearts, minds, souls…… We are one race, human. We really need to realize that love is infinitely more powerful than hate. Children are not born being prejudiced. They learn what they live. We can change the way things are by keeping mindful of the kind of life we hope…
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Free Online Reading Sites for students
Curiosity: The Story of a Mars Rover Live Khalifa and Amal http://pardot.eblireads.com/l/835013/2020-03-13/8sfm https://pebblego.com/ https://www.getepic.com/?utm_channel=searchu0026amp;gclid=CjwKCAiAkJKCBhAyEiwAKQBCkvuLaEZjQhj6SG97wjxb5OolcY-uNNlU-26QO_2ntGH9UspTTMyFmRoCWlAQAvD_BwE https://www.freechildrenstories.com https://www.justbooksreadaloud.com https://monkeypen.com/pages/free-stories-for-kids **********************************************************************************
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Free Online Reading Sites for students
http://pardot.eblireads.com/l/835013/2020-03-13/8sfm https://pebblego.com/ https://www.freechildrenstories.com https://www.justbooksreadaloud.com https://monkeypen.com/pages/free-stories-for-kids **********************************************************************************
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Dreaming of Paris
Paris is my kind of city. The people, the food, the sights live in my memory. When I saw all the locks on the Ponts de Arts Bridge, I thought of all the lovers whose hopes and dreams were placed there, likely with good intent. In my mind I likened the locks to graffiti. While…
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Have Golf Cart, Will Travel
I saw the ad for a used golf cart in my Nextdoor app. There were two available, a red and a blue. The owner was storing them in a horse corral. I was saving money for a golf cart (even though I don’t golf) because I live in a small beach town with one main…
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Dreaming of Costa Rica
The pandemic has made me a shut- in and I hate it. I am a traveler forced to travel only in my mind. Lately I have been dreaming of Costa Rica. I’ve only been there once, but it left such an impression that I find myself daydreaming of being there. I went with 22 avid…
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A Man And his dog
I have to confess that I am a little bit jealous of our dog, Max. He visits the salon more than I ever have.He is a rescued Great Pyrenees who stole my husband’s heart with his sad eyes and beautiful white fur as he sat in a too-small cage at the animal shelter. Max ate…
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Neighborhood Library box
I am a book lover. I wish I had a library next door. My dream is to someday own a bookstore, or work in one. While driving in my golf cart I passed by a little library box next to the parking lot for the beach. I had to take a look. Some thoughtful person,…
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My Surf Adventure
The palm tree out my window reminds me of my trip to Hawaii almost thirteen years ago. Two weeks before our planned adventure my husband bought me my first surfboard and wetsuit. Being an avid surfer himself, he wanted me to know how thrilling it can be to ride the waves. He made it look…
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My English roses
When my daughter asked me if she could be a summer camp counselor in the hills of Santa Cruz, at first I said no. The distance from our house to the camp was too far and I was not keen on letting her go by herself. She approached me again, this time she had a…
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After The Rain
There were 60mph winds and torrential rains in our little beach town. Tree limbs blocked roads, lawn chairs flew to a neighboring yard, and birds found refuge anywhere they could. I know the thirsty earth needed the rain, but it made the pandemic isolation even lonelier. Today the sun is out and the birds are…
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Living in a Beach Town
I am one of the lucky ones who has a view of the Pacific Ocean from my living room window. Our home was purchased 24 years ago when it was doable on teacher salaries. I sit out on my upstairs deck and watch the waves curl angrily on windy days and gently on mild spring…
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Reflections
The day I became a grandmother I began evaluating my life, or I should say reevaluating it. I realized that this beautiful child is not mine and I am a part of a much bigger picture, yet only a part. What part do I play? As a retired elementary teacher I know the joy of…
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Resources For Early Literacy
Phonemic Awareness A child may be able to recite the alphabet, but they need to first learn SOUNDS. Most of reading problems come from a lack of phonemic awareness (knowledge of sounds). When teaching this skill you would not introduce letters yet. Sounds first! There are many ways to do that. The following items will…
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Sight Words
Sight words comprise close to 70 of the words we read. For a child to be a fluent reader, it is important that sight words are stored in long term memory. That requires practice through games and engaging activities that activate various parts of the brain. Sight words are often words that cannot be sounded…
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The Joy of Read Alouds
Children that are read to learn that symbols on the page hold meaning. They learn to hold a book, care for a book, how to read from left to right, and how to turn pages. Most importantly they associate books with pleasure. For struggling readers the anxiety of having to decode is eliminated. They can…
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Read To Your Kids!!
My son has always read to his children. They equate books with enjoyment. When your first born reads to his first born it is pure bliss. My son has been reading to his daughter since she was in the womb. At three she could recite entire Dr. Seuss books and has a vivid imagination. The…
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