Presenter Profiles / If you're a parent and...
In the past six months, I have been lucky enough to share a unique experience with students in North Bennington, VT, and in Franconia, NH. I attended the first CLiF presentations given by new CliF presenters Liza Woodruff and Gina Perry. Both of these dynamic women write and illustrate picture books. Both of their presentations … Continued
Year of the Book / CLiF Spotlight
Enosburg Falls Elementary School in Enosburg Falls, VT has had a busy school year so far. In September, they kicked off their CLiF Year of the Book with storytelling by Duncan McDougall, their first book giveaway where kids chose new books for themselves, and a family literacy event featuring author David Martin and two more … Continued
Research shows that early literacy is one of the strongest indicators of a child’s future success, yet we’re facing a literacy crisis in America. 65% of American fourth graders read at below-proficient levels.63% of New Hampshire and Vermont fourth graders read at below-proficient levels. 61% of low-income families have no children’s books in their homes.Access … Continued
CLiF’s mission is to inspire a love of reading and writing among low-income, at-risk, and rural children in New Hampshire and Vermont. Why is developing a lifelong love of literacy so important? If kids enjoy reading and writing, they’re more likely to do it often, and research shows that there are many academic, social-emotional, socioeconomic, … Continued
As a writer, I fail. A lot. Since January, I’ve submitted 116 times and gotten 69 rejections. But I’ve also gotten five acceptances, including winning Noir Nation’s Golden Fedora fiction prize, told extremely personal and difficult stories in HuffPost and OC87 Recovery Diaries, and got an Honorable Mention from Glimmer Train. In short, I’m doing … Continued
At CLiF’s recent Rural Library Conference, attending librarians submitted their “hottest” book for kids and middle readers. Kids, picture books The Pigeon HAS to Go to School by Mo Willems (6 librarians picked this book as the hottest): “everyone loves pigeon!” and Elephant and Piggie: “Always popular, fun to read!” We Don’t Eat Our Classmates … Continued
General / Book Recommendations
Getting your kid tucked into bed without any fuss can be an uphill battle some nights, and getting them to stay asleep can be even more of a struggle. If you want to make bedtime run a little smoother, try incorporating a nighttime routine into your regular evening schedule to help your child wind down … Continued
General / CLiF Grant Applications
All of CLiF’s programs are free and awarded via grant application. Here are the currently open grants: At-Risk Children (Spring 2020)Deadline: December 11, 2019 What the Grant Provides: -A storytelling presentation with one of CLiF’s presenters -An optional parent discussion on tips for reading with kids -An onsite children’s library for the program -Two new … Continued
General / CLiF in the News / Year of the Book
CliF’s Year of the Book grant for the 2019-2020 school year is now underway at 10 schools throughout New Hampshire and Vermont! The grant includes many author visits and workshops, free family events, literacy-related programs, new books for the school and local public library, plus TEN new books for each student to choose! Read about … Continued
Amelia Opsahl, a Keene, New Hampshire high school student, founded Reading on the Road, an initiative to put books on school buses and ensure all kids have access to books. CLiF donated books for the program, and we talked to Amelia about the difference she and her partners have already made for kids in her … Continued
The health benefits of physical activity are many. Physical activity is crucial for cognitive, physical, emotional and social development, especially in a child’s early years. Children as early as toddlers require physical activity for good health, development of motor skills and physical development. Physical activity like running, throwing, catching or jumping helps strengthen the muscles … Continued
According to studies, children who work out are more likely to do well in their studies. Read on to learn how exercise can benefit your child, both physically and mentally, and how you can encourage your child to exercise. Boost Your Child’s Concentration with Exercise At school, every day, kids are dealing with a number … Continued
Thank you to the 80+ librarians who joined CLiF at the Briggs Opera House/Hotel Coolidge in White River Junction for the Rural Library Conference.
Writing is an essential mode of communication, which plays a vital role not only in academics but also in children’s futures.
Here, we’ll go over the most common mistakes made when teaching kids to write, so that you can avoid them and be more helpful instead.
Parents know all too well that children get bored really easily and this has become worse with the advent of devices and gadgets. However, loss of attention happens to adults as well, though it changes with age. Most people can only focus for about 10-20 minutes. The best speakers in the world know to crack … Continued
Here is the second of our two-part blog post where my eleven-year-old daughter and I read and review the same books. We agreed to answer four questions about each book without showing the other person. In this first installation, we reviewed four books from the New Hampshire State Library’s recommended books. Two picture books from … Continued
The visiting room in the New Hampshire State Prison for Men (NHSPM) can be an intimidating place.
CLiF has served over 350,000 children since 1998.