Hello again from Ayn at little illuminations!   We've just ended our school year and summer has officially begun! In the last couple of weeks of school, I hold parent teacher conferences and one question seems on the top of the parents' list: ''What can we do over the summer to help prepare my child for kindergarten?'' Often parents want to ...

Connecting the “DOTS”             Hello from the International Reading Association’s annual conference in San Antonio, Texas. As luck would have it, I am presenting a seminar entitled “The Power of Parents: Building School and Home Connections,” based on a series of kits I have developed. The kits train parents, teachers and administrators how ...

APRIL SHOWERS BRING “MUD!” It is that time of the year when I watch the plants poke their little heads through the damp, cold, muddy earth.  Every child should have the chance to see this spring event.  They should be able to predict: what will happen as the flowers grow what color will they bewhat kind of flower is it (daisy, tulip, etc.)how ...

St. Patrick's Day can still help you teach your standards when you bring in quality, free printables. With St. Patrick's Day themed printables to cover math, language arts, treats and make it all feel fun - you can bring St. Patrick's Day green into your classroom. Here are 26 free downloads for primary grades on bringing the Luck o' the ...

Holiday Reading Ideas You’re getting ready to drive to your relatives’ place for the holidays.Perhaps friends and family are coming to your place.Or maybe you’re looking for ways to entertain your children that do not include a screen.What’s a parent to do to occupy children during their holiday breaks in a fun and meaningful way?My antidote is ...

Today, my special guest is Bethany from the kid lit and play blog No Twiddle Twaddle. One of her most popular features is the almost daily list of the best free kids' eBooks available on Amazon: I'm so excited that some of my favorite bloggers are letting me share my list on their blogs today! Download the books today since they may only ...

By Laura Eldredge  A few weeks ago, I had the great opportunity to attend and present at the NAEYC annual conference in Atlanta, GA.  My partner Tressa and I presented a workshop called ''Through new eyes: Enhancing preschool literacy experiences'' on Thursday morning.  In our workshop, we combined lecture, discussion, lots of classroom ...

As the holidays beckon, many parents will find plenty of extra time with their children at home. Why not make it quality time and cuddle up behind a bunch of great books? My children and I try to “FEasT” on three a day.            Alright – I’m no fan of teaching acronyms either. Still, I am a huge proponent of simple mnemonic devices constructed ...

How does rhyming teach literacy skills? Katie Norris and I are guest posting at Carrots are Orange. You'll love her amazing blog. We give you reasons to bring out the rhyming books to help your child develop reading skills. Just click on How Rhyming Teaches Kids Literacy Skills. Do you need helpful gifts for moms and teachers? For a glimpse into ...

{Note from the editor. We're having a few challenges in blog-land. MaryJo has a gazillion ideas to share, but the photos are having an issue being uploaded. They are well worth your returning to see them and will be inserted at our earliest convenience. In the mean time: use your IMAGINATIONS!} Fall Leaves Begin to Herald Season's Change The ...