Search Results for: blog writing letters is it a lost art form

Learning the Alphabet Part V

Part of his seemingly sudden interest in the alphabet is due to my obsession with writing names but also in part due to his one year old sister’s recent interest in his fridge phonics toy.  He could not have cared less about until she showed some fascination with it and now he thinks it is one of the best toys in the house. It is unnerving how that seems to work. The two of them would stand in the kitchen and he would put the letters into the toy and she would press them so that the toy would start … Continue reading →

The Art of the Letter

I’ve always been a big proponent of letter writing at home. There is nothing like getting a letter from a good friend in the mail, full of the happenings from someone far away. The anticipation of walking up the driveway to the mailbox is something special. Although it is now easier to keep in touch than it was back before the Internet, it is also harder, too. In a few minutes, I can send my thoughts across the miles to a good friend, and she can reply right back. But, something is lost there. In general, the missives are short … Continue reading →

Writing Fun

Writing projects can be a fun thing for a family to do together. Writing skills are something that schools test for and emphasize these days. My boys are all supposed to keep journals for school. They also have to write papers, book reports, essays and short stories. Here’s a few ways to help writing time be fun. Sometimes coming up with the ideas for stories is the hardest part. I like to use story dice. You can either build your own paper dice, or put stickers on extra dice. On each side of the dice the kids can write people, … Continue reading →

Writing Letters: Is it a Lost Art Form?

Few people take the time to write letters or even notes any more. Since we have so much great and handy technology, it’s just simpler to communicate in real time via cell phones, email, and the like, as described in “Do the Holidays Make you Homesick?” This article mentioned how nice it is to also receive letters in return. Two of my girls have pen pals, friends from school who moved away. One has been writing faithfully for 3-4 years, which impresses me. I haven’t kept up as well with my own friends, at least not by letter. My other … Continue reading →

Writing Activities and Ideas for the Reluctant Writer

Is getting your child to write impossible? Try using one of these creative ideas to get your child writing. . . 1. The Family Journal Buy a spiral or composition notebook and write to your child. Ask things about how his/her day was, what was special about something or their favorite part of a book. Correct spelling and grammatical errors by modeling correct writing, rather than with a red pen. For example, My daughter: “Do I have anuff alowence to get a poly pokit set?” My response: “I am not sure if you have enough allowance to get a polly … Continue reading →

Uppity Women of Shakespearean Times

Soldiers, spies, businesswomen, lobbyists, those Shakespearean women really knew how to live. Outspoken and daring, all while keeping their heads during a time when women could be flogged for speaking harshly to their husbands, or in the case of King Henry VIII, loose their heads for not producing an heir, the women portrayed in this book are proud, passionate or just trying to make a living. Uppity Women of Shakespearean Times is one of a series of books about groundbreaking women of history that really got lost in the shuffle. You won’t find the famous, at least not today, but … Continue reading →

Summer Genealogy Fun

It is officially summer, and as dedicated to your genealogy research as you are the thought of spending sunny days inside the library doing research may seem rather unappealing. That’s okay; there are plenty of genealogy-related things that you can do to keep your inner genealogist happy this summer without staying indoors. Grab some sunscreen and some bug spray and get started with your summer genealogy adventures today. Summer is a great time to visit the graves of your ancestors to record names and dates and to photograph the graves. There may also be history hikes or history walks scheduled … Continue reading →

Tricks and Tips to Help with Dyslexia

I was not diagnosed with dyslexia when I was a child. I was never taught how to work around my dyslexia. Instead, I found what worked for me, mostly by trial and error. Some of these tricks will help the dyslexic person in your family, too. If you search the internet, you can find several different websites that are filled with pages of tips and tricks . Some help with letter recognition, or letter sounds. Others help with basic math skills. Some are “life skills”. Here is what has consistently worked for me: Write down a phone number vertically instead … Continue reading →

Email for Parent-Teacher Communication

Posted on by

Technology is everywhere. It has been creeping its way into education for many years now. Teachers are using technology to teach plans, find information, and gain new teaching ideas. Many schools now have websites of their own. Parents can browse the site and find out the latest school news, school events, and information about school staff. The latest in using technology in education is in communication with parents and other teachers. Teachers in various schools are now hooked on to instant messaging. They can quickly login in and talk with one another about ideas and classroom strengths and weaknesses. This … Continue reading →

Striking Writers Temporarily Shut Down Picket Lines

It took a Hollywood legend to get striking Writers Guild of America picketers to briefly put down their signs. Elizabeth Taylor apparently hasn’t lost her magic touch given her affect on determined writers who began their work stoppage more than a month ago. But, don’t look for the great dame’s spell to last very long, strikers will be back on the front lines first thing tomorrow morning—their temporary break instituted in honor of Taylor and World AIDS Day. Taylor returned to the stage last night, but not until striking TV and film writers put down their signs. The 75-year-old screen … Continue reading →