Santa’s Workshop: Delivering Books to Children of Prison Inmates for the Holidays
The CLiF office looked remarkably like Santa’s workshop this week as holiday tunes played in the background
What’s New
General / Book Recommendations
Read Your World: Children’s Books That Celebrate Diversity
With the call for more diverse books in the publishing business, it’s been heartening to see a small uptick in children’s books that reflect the beautiful diversity of the faces we see around us more and more each day. Heeding that call, three women in central Vermont are striving to make folks in their predominantly … Continued
Thank you for sharing the gift of literacy!
We know Thanksgiving was last week, but this week at the Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF) we’re feeling pretty darn thankful. We’re thankful for the many generous donors who gave 359 children’s books and dynamic literacy programming to the kids we serve for #GivingTuesday, and all our supporters who have donated so far this year. Your … Continued
The Gift of Reading
“I like how you can go on adventures without even leaving your house. You can travel around the world and learn new things.” That is how a child who attended a Children’s Literacy Foundation Summer Readers event last summer described reading. To him, a book is full of adventures and new things to learn. … Continued
Thank you from the Children’s Literacy Foundation!
As we gather with family and friends this week, we at the Children’s Literacy Foundation (“CLiF”) want to share how thankful we are for so many wonderful partners, supporters, and volunteers, who help us spread the joy of literacy to thousands of low-income, at-risk, and rural children in Vermont and New Hampshire each year. CLiF … Continued
Raising Eco-Conscious Kids
We can all do our parts by making the planet a much safer place—children included!
Tips from a Reading Specialist: How to Help Reluctant and Struggling Readers
Helping reluctant and struggling readers may be the hardest, but perhaps the most important, reading-related issue for many parents. However, take comfort that there is help!
Baby Time! Taking Advantage of Your Local Library’s Resources
Photo: A baby developing early literacy skills at the CLiF table at Burlington Parks & Rec’s annual Kids Day, May 2017 Yesterday, I got to spend my morning surrounded by adorable babies singing songs, flipping through board books, and playing along with their parents at Fletcher Free Library in Burlington, VT’s weekly baby time. Talk about … Continued
Walk in Their Little Shoes: Understanding Your Child’s Point of View
In order to cater to their needs and create a powerful bond, it’s important for parents to really think like their children and take their perspective into consideration.
Confessions of a Bookworm: I FINALLY Got a Library Card
I’m going to share something with you that is totally embarrassing (promise not to tell anyone, ok?): It has been years since I have actually held a library card. Three and a half years, to be more specific. This seems especially mortifying to me, for several reasons: I love to read, and I do it … Continued
Keeping Up the Momentum: A Reading Specialist Shares How to Help Young Readers Maintain Skills
While schools do a lot to promote and improve literacy skills in young readers, there is still a lot you can do at home to help your child succeed.
A Happy Mind: 5 Ways To Maintain Summer Reading Habits
School starting again means having more things to do: pack lunches, attend meetings, do homework, participate in after-school activities, and the list goes on. While getting back into the swing of the school year is exciting, the shift from summer to fall is overwhelming and often results in the loss of well-formed, closely-followed, summer habits…such … Continued
The Home and School Partnership: A Reading Specialist’s Perspective
Children benefit when their parents take part, so become actively involved in all aspects of your child’s education. Introduce yourself to your child’s teacher early in the school year.
Managing Back-to-School Stress & Finding Your Routine
A look at how to help elementary students manage back to school stress and routines.
The Golden Ball at Camp Agape: Telling Stories to Children of Incarcerated Parents
Walking into Camp Agape is wonderful. I’m greeted with smiles and cheers of “the storyteller’s here!” People might think kids who have a parent or caregiver or two under supervision of the Vermont Correctional Department might be nothing but trouble. Will kids with troubled backgrounds stay still and listen to folk and fairy tales? They … Continued
How to Talk to Your Kids About Bullying
Here’s how to help your child thrive and survive during even the most volatile peer-pressure ridden years of their youth.
The Man Who Planted Trees: Reflection of a CLiF Summer Intern
During my time at CLiF, Duncan McDougall lent me a short story called The Man Who Planted Trees, by Jean Giono. I developed the habit of reading to my sister before bed this summer and upon exhausting her extensive Junie B. Jones collection I convinced her to let me read Giono’s story. It only took … Continued
Fun and Games: A Reading Specialist’s Strategies for Turning Game Time into Reading Time (for all ages)
Want to make learning to read even more adventurous? There are so many reading games and activities that will not only help your child to improve reading skills but that are fun to play!