The English language is full of unique colloquial sayings and expressions known as idioms. Exploring their definition and characteristics is essential to teach idioms. To effectively teach idioms, let’s first explore their definition and characteristics.

Idioms, which are fun and colorful expressions, have meanings that differ from their literal interpretations. Helping children understand and learn idioms improves reading comprehension and vocabulary.

If someone tells you not to bite off more than you can chew, they are not cautioning you about the size of the morsel of food on your fork. And if something costs you an arm and a leg, it doesn’t mean you have to pay with an actual arm and a leg … thank goodness!

Reading to an active child can be a challenge, but interactive picture books can help your child reap all the benefits of reading aloud together—without forcing him to sit still.

What Is Phonological Awareness?

It’s a big term, but it’s really quite basic: phonological awareness is the ability to hear and identify the various sounds in spoken words.

Taking the time to review spelling Word Cards is an important part of your child’s day, but sometimes it just doesn’t seem “exciting.” But as we all know, review is what makes learning stick. The more kids review what they have learned, the more they will remember.

In fact, regular review is such an important part of learning to spell that every lesson in All About Spelling includes a review of previously taught skills.

All About Spelling is frequently used with teens and adults. But sometimes parents and teachers aren’t sure how to get started with older students who need remedial work.

Enjoy the summery-fresh taste of homemade lemonade with this super easy recipe!

Most of the recipes in our ABC Snacks Series are designed to be made with just 1 or 2 kids, but with our Lickety-split Lemonade you’ll have enough to quench the thirst of the whole neighborhood!

Is your child struggling with handwriting? The cause may be more than just laziness or lack of motivation; it could be a neurologically-based learning issue called dysgraphia. This post explains the signs and symptoms of dysgraphia and the steps you can take to help your child succeed in reading and spelling.

Do you ever wish for more activities to help your student review the concepts taught in All About Reading or All About Spelling? Perhaps you browse our Free Resources page and download printable review activities. Maybe you love the activities we share on our email list. However, wouldn’t it be nice to simply flip through a book and choose an activity any time your student is stuck on a concept?

Good news! Now you can! We’re excited to introduce Something Fishy, our brand-new reading and spelling review book. And best of all, we think you’ll love it!

You probably already know that you should be reading aloud to your child on a regular basis. But sometimes that can be hard. Am I right? Between math class, science experiments, errands, and getting dinner on the table, you have to make choices about how to spend your time.

In this post, I want to lay out six really great reasons why you should make the time to read aloud.

AAR and AAS can be used as effective reading and spelling programs for ESL students. Discover why they are perfect for English language learners from all backgrounds and levels.

Continue reading…

Happy Mother’s Day!

In honor of moms everywhere, we have a special downloadable activity sheet today: “Baby Animal Names!”

When I was growing up, I was always enchanted by the special bond between animal moms and their babies. I was also delighted to learn that there are special names for many animal babies.

Let’s go fly a kite, up to the highest height!
Let’s go fly a kite, and send it soaring!

When the breezy days of spring or autumn arrive and the sun is shining, it’s the perfect time to fly a kite.