April is #NationalPoetryMonth, and while poetry slams, readings, and school-wide events may be cancelled, you can still celebrate poetry at home! Watch poets/CLiF presenters Rajnii Eddins and Ted Scheu (“That Poetry Guy”) perform their original work. Poetry Out Loud’s national competition has, of course, been cancelled this year, but they still have a fantastic selection … Continued
What better time to practice writing? In addition to being an important skill for self-expression and communication, and essential to success in school and life, writing can be a good way to process what’s happening, record your ideas, reduce stress, and have fun! Make writing a part of your child’s daily routine. You can even … Continued
You and your family are spending more time at home, which begs the all-important question of what to read. Here are some recent award-winning children’s and middle grade books to check out. New Kid by Jerry Craft: This graphic novel about being the new kid and a person of color in a mostly-white private school … Continued
CLiF’s wonderful roster of authors/illustrators/comics/storytellers have created content to use until CLiF can get them safely back to in-person presentations. We will keep it updated! Marek Bennett:– Comics at home and beyond– Comics Workshop “HOW TO” videos– “How to Draw Freeman Colby“– Marek’s new book – Sharjah Sketchbook about art, education, immigration & more in … Continued
Lists, resources, activities, guidance abound in this time of supporting kids learning at home. According to Room to Read, the recent data published by UNESCO, 102 countries have closed primary through secondary schools nationwide. This represents more than 849.4 million primary and secondary students enrolled in those closed schools. Additionally, 11 countries have localized school … Continued
This is a tough time for us all, and many parents are struggling with what to do with their energetic kids when they’re home from school. It’s kind of like summer without all the activities to keep them entertained. We’ve got some great ideas to keep their minds engaged, stretch their imaginations, and sharpen those … Continued
Could a silver lining of the current news cycle be that adults are being offered an opportunity to talk to kids about so many difficult topics? According to the Askable Adult Campaign, kids need more adults to whom they can ask honest questions. Adults also need to cultivate their own curiosity, so they can build … Continued
Do you remember the first book you read all by yourself? My earliest memories of reading were making up my own Beatrix Potter stories about animals, our thick cloth-bound volume of her collected stories (passed down through generations) on my lap, flipping pages randomly, sometimes in the wrong order. It was those stories, which I … Continued
For young children, school can be stressful in more ways than one. Whether they are coping with making friends, handling difficult lectures, or gaining acceptance from teachers, these problems can affect them. Any type of challenge can cause them stress. It is important that stress is detected and dealt with before it starts to cause … Continued
Book Recommendations / If you're a parent and...
Mid-February: Halfway through sixth grade feels like three roller coaster rides – friend relationships, interests, and school – all at different highs and lows, and changing every day! One big change in our household has been a noticeable decline in reading for pleasure; reading time replaced with more resting and relaxing on top of at … Continued
Every once in a while an unforgettable little moment unexpectedly unfolds and, in a few short seconds, encapsulates the power of CLiF’s work. Here is one… For the past two years CLiF has been working with families affected by the opioid crisis. Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking to a group of young mothers … Continued
I have a Friday morning routine. I get up, pour a cup of coffee that my husband has left for me, and sit down at my computer. I open the Google doc to see my student’s (let’s call them “E.”) most recent progress on their novel (they usually make changes by Thursday, so I can … Continued
Year of the Book / CLiF Spotlight
Hard to believe we are almost half way through the school year – 10 schools halfway through their CLiF Year of the Book and for ten more their follow-up momentum year. In the next half of the year, schools will welcome CLiF presenters author/illustrator Jason Chin, author/genealogist Natalie Kinsey-Warnock, author Sandra Neil Wallace, author/illustrator Marty … Continued
“Our students come from poverty and trauma so we try to offer experiences that enrich their lives and this grant seems a perfect way to expand our offerings. We would benefit by having the opportunity to involve our students in activities that expose them to the wide array of reading experiences through books and authors. … Continued
Happy 2020 from your friends at CLiF. Compiled here, new research and insights for everyone working to improve success in and love of kids’ reading and writing. Get more program ideas from our website. For everyone: – Mississippi was the only state to see improvement in reading assessments, four things they are doing– Why children … Continued
Children love creating things probably as much as they love ruining them afterward. But when it comes to art, there are some ways you can motivate your child to be more creative with what they make. Here are ten children’s books to inspire creativity. #1 Looking at Pictures by Susan Woodford If you want your … Continued
There are few pleasures as satisfying on a wintry New England day as cuddling up with your child and a good book. Sharing this pleasure with children gives them access to the worlds that can open up before them. While fierce, icy winds blow outside, they’ll enjoy reading about a sandy beach or some other … Continued
CLiF couldn’t do what it does without the 65+ amazing authors, illustrators, and storytellers we send to schools, camps, afterschool programs, libraries, shelters, affordable housing communities, and many more spaces where kids spend time. We’re proud to have award-winning author Sandra Neil Wallace as one of those inspiring presenters. We asked Sandra about her experiences … Continued
CLiF has served over 350,000 children since 1998.