A Message from Award-Winning Author/Illustrator Jason Chin
Award-winning author/illustrator and CLiF presenter Jason Chin has a special video message for the more than 700 young writers who entered CLiF’s debut Two-Sentence Winter Writing Contest.
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Articles tagged writing
How reading and writing got me where I am
When I was young, all I wanted to do was read and write (those two things are still pretty much at the top of my list). I was one of those kids who always had a book open—on the playground, at lunch, in line for anything. I loved writing poems and stories like I saw in my beloved books. Sometimes this caused other kids to tease me, but I could always get away by immersing myself in stories, whose characters I sometimes identified with more than the other kids in school.
Reading (and Writing) in a Pandemic
On a recent trip to the laundromat, I reflected upon how even the most mundane errand requires more of us these days. Once I would have shown up with my dirty clothes and a book to pass the time; now I come armed with added essentials: my mask, hand sanitizer, my vaccine card. The Omicron … Continued
What I’ve Learned in Five Years at CLiF
After five years and four months, the end of December marks the end of my time as CLiF’s Communications Manager. I’m pursuing my dreams of being a professional writer, going full-time at my other part-time job as a staff writer for my local paper, with two books on the way. It’s time for me to … Continued
Thank you for giving kids the gift of writing
On Giving Tuesday, our generous donors helped us raise over $4,000 to support writing workshops in Manchester, NH and Highgate, VT as part of our Year of the Book grant program. One of the goals of the Year of the Book program is to increase enthusiasm for reading and writing and encourage kids to do … Continued
Give a child the gift of writing & your donation will be matched!
It’s Giving Tuesday, a day to give back to causes you care about. Your donations to CLiF will be matched today (up to $10,000 total)! Double the impact you make on a child’s life. This Giving Tuesday, we’re trying to raise $20,000 to support multi-day writing workshops for low-income, at-risk, and rural kids (12 and … Continued
Support Writing Workshops this Giving Tuesday
Writing is an essential skill for children’s success in school and beyond. It helps kids express themselves and process their emotions, develop necessary communication and comprehension skills, and use their imaginations. It can also be a great way to tell family stories and connect to others in their communities. CLiF’s $25,000 Year of the Book … Continued
General / Research / Education
What Have We Learned this Fall?
CLiF celebrated eleven wins this fall – we kicked off all of our Year of the Book partnerships with in-person events! As we have navigated another fall of closures, shortages, and sickness, we have also succeeded in so many ways. Here are some articles and research pertinent to literacy work in our ever-evolving world. Thank … Continued
Young Writers – Submit to CLiF’s Halloween Writing Contest
Calling young writers 12 and under in New Hampshire and Vermont – submit to the Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF) Halloween writing contest! Send your spookiest (or silliest) Halloween story to danny@clifonline.org by October 31, 2021. Please include your name, age, and mailing address (so we can send the winners books – you will not be … Continued
A Writer’s Journey to CLiF
When I was in third grade, I was given a journal to write in, and approximately 20 minutes every day in class to work in it. It was left fairly open-ended: do math problems, write a diary entry, doodle, practice your cursive. While I can’t speak to what the others in my class did, I … Continued
The Importance of Adults in Young People’s Lives
Of course, peer-to-peer relationships are important to a child’s social-emotional learning and development, but so, too, are relationships with adults. Multigenerational relationships can be fulfilling for everyone involved and it’s essential for kids to have positive, supportive adults in their lives to make them feel safe, loved, and seen. Adults have knowledge and experiences to … Continued
The Importance of Teachers
From first through third grade, I was in a multi-age class taught by Mrs. A. I loved Mrs. A. She read to us every day and encouraged my passion for making up stories. She was the first teacher to tell me I was a talented writer and could be a real author in the future. … Continued
5 Literacy Activities to Try with Your Kids
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
How to Help Your Child Become a Better Writer
Writing is an essential life skill. In our digital world, written communication is more important than ever. Without a doubt, your child’s future education and employment will require some form of writing, whether it’s on tests/exams, essays/papers, or emails, copy, and reports. There’s no doubt that your child will use their writing skills for the … Continued
What Are We Learning about Literacy from the Pandemic?
This post offers some research and activities for both reflecting on lessons learned this year and thinking about what components have value for the future. FOR EVERYONE Watch Using Books to Engage Young Children to Talk About Race & Justice, Part 1 and Part 2 How to teach with living poets’ work Join VTLIB and … Continued
Literacy Activities / Education
Free Literacy Resources for Children and & Adults from the Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF)
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
Announcing the Winners of CLiF’s Kids’ Poetry Contest
April is National Poetry Month and we’re kicking it off by celebrating the talented young poets who bravely submitted their work to our Kids’ Poetry Contest. We were so impressed with the dozens of submissions we received and are proud to share these students’ work (with their permission)*. Winners and runners up were selected in … Continued
Children’s Biggest Roadblocks to Literacy and How to Overcome Them
Literacy is one of the most important abilities we can pass on to children. This is not just vital from a technical life skills perspective, either. Reading, writing, and communications skills open us all up to a diverse and rich world. They help us to connect more deeply with one another and better understand the … Continued