General / Writing / Literacy Activities
CLiF’s 2024 Two-Sentence Writing Contest is underway! This year’s theme is “Tell Us a Two-Sentence Story That Takes Place in the Sky.” Free to enter, and open to all Vermont and New Hampshire kids 12 and under. Prizes will be awarded to top entries. Submissions must be received by March 29.
General / Literacy Activities / Book Recommendations
Start practicing your character voices and expressive intonations because World Read Aloud Day is coming up on February 1, 2023!
This bookworm-friendly celebration was founded by LitWorld in 2010, and honors the power of reading aloud, while advocating for literacy as a fundamental human right.
Writing / Research / Literacy Activities / Education
Whether you are a CLiF partner taking a well-deserved break, fully engrossed in summer reading, or managing kids at home or in a program, we can still make summer fun intersect with reading and writing. CLiF offers ideas and insights to help keep excitement up around reading and writing for your students and for yourself!
Here at CLiF, we hope for sunny, hot days in July that draw our kids to all the best outdoor spots for hiking, swimming, exploring, and, of course, reading. Again this summer, we will host a virtual summer series for those needing a midday break and wanting to explore the summer reading theme – Oceans … Continued
Literacy Activities / Presenter Profiles / CLiF Spotlight
CLiF would like to introduce (or re-introduce) you to Ann Braden of Brattleboro, Vermont. Ann writes middle grade novels about kids standing up for themselves when life gets hard. Her characters discover how to channel their emotions and inner strengths to overcome obstacles and identify allies. We’re thrilled to have Ann leading session two of … Continued
General / Research / Literacy Activities / Education
To everyone working hard on behalf of our kids: thank you. Thank you for all that you do, despite and because of another year starting with COVID overlays and challenges. CLiF has open grants – we acknowledge that grant writing might not fit with the current demands on all educators’ time, but the applications are … Continued
Research / Literacy Activities / Education
Welcome back to another year filled with pandemic-related challenges and opportunities for all educators. Despite variability on the way, CLiF has a full slate of Year of the Book and Rural Library partners and fall At-Risk applications open. CLiF continues to adjust programming in close collaboration with each partner to offer fun for children, staff, … Continued
Sorry, educators, but summer’s winding down, in-services are starting up, and it’s time to think about the school year ahead (hopefully, a little more “normal” than last year?). We know you’re looking for fun and engaging ways to help your students improve their skills and knowledge base while keeping their attention after a tough two … Continued
Reading together is one of the best ways to prepare your child for future success in school and long after. But there are ways besides reading a book that can help them engage in literacy, hone their skills, build vocabulary and comprehension, while having fun! CLiF’s website has TONS of fun, free or cheap ideas … Continued
Research / Literacy Activities / Book Recommendations / Education
Yahoo! Congratulations to all – students, teachers, administrators, parents, librarians, program providers, early educators – for navigating through the school year. While this list barely scratches the surface of those contributing to keeping our children healthy and learning, CLiF recognizes that the shift to summer comes with new challenges and opportunities for the same network … Continued
Literacy Activities / Education
For 23 years the Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF) has supported and inspired young readers and writers and their families in every corner of New Hampshire and Vermont. Here’s a list of free online resources to help entertain and inspire young readers and writers, as well to help adults share books and stories with children. Enjoy! … Continued
Literacy Activities / Presenter Profiles / CLiF Spotlight / Education
CLiF would like to introduce or re-introduce you to John Steven Gurney of Brattleboro, VT. John wrote and illustrated the graphic novel series Fuzzy Baseball series and the picture book Dinosaur Train. He has illustrated over 140 chapter books, including the chapter books A to Z Mysteries, the Bailey School Kids, and The Calendar Mysteries series. He has illustrated board games, advertising, posters, puzzles, … Continued
Research / Literacy Activities
It’s March – CLiF hopes you are enjoying longer days, lingering relaxation found during winter break, and hope from good vaccine news. How did you celebrate Read Across America day? CLiF used lock down to thoroughly review our book list and audit it for diverse authors and characters. Like many libraries, and Dr. Seuss Enterprises, … Continued
Literacy Activities / CLiF Spotlight / Education
One of the ways CLiF shares ideas is through our annual Community Literacy Conference typically held the last Wednesday in March. This year, join us for a re-envisioned, free event with all the most popular features of our typical in-person conference: training from our presenters, peer-to-peer sharing, updates on CLiF’s research and work, and free books! This … Continued
Research / Literacy Activities / Education
2021 begins with new challenges but with a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. The research and ideas presented here hopefully help you on days of feeling overwhelmed (turn on our live and recorded author presentations) and of enthusiasm (initiate a new literacy activity). FOR EVERYONE National Day of Service on Monday, … Continued
Literacy Activities / Presenter Profiles / CLiF Spotlight / Education
CLiF’s Wednesday afternoon storytelling series will be back for the winter! Join CLiF and one of our professional presenters Wednesdays at 1 p.m. EST from January 6 to February 10. Watch the spring, summer, fall, and winter presentations here. CLiF started these weekly sessions to: offer kids and teachers or caregivers a chance to take a break and … Continued
General / Research / Literacy Activities / Education
As we settle in for the long haul of winter, CLiF offers some inspiration for easy, low-budget programming and guidance for connecting during these challenging times. Don’t forget to join us for our Virtual Author Series – all of the recorded presentations are available here for free! The image above was taken when Jason Chin … Continued
If you’ve ever had to Google “how can I write my essay,” you’d agree that learning the essential aspects of language (writing and reading) can be exhausting. For children, it can be a long, boring journey that they don’t want to be a part of. It’s not even any less exhausting for parents and teachers. … Continued
CLiF has served over 350,000 children since 1998.