What Morocco Taught Me About Diverse Reading
Recently, I traveled to Morocco with family friends for a week.
What’s New
If You’re A Parent and…You Start a Family Meditation Practice
Such excitement around the end of the school year – bring on summer! I can’t wait for slower starts to the morning, eating dinner outside, swimming/hiking/biking, and hopefully enjoying some unstructured time! The amount of things, small and large, that happen in schools between returning from April vacation and ending the year is staggering – … Continued
How Writing (and Reading) Can Help Heal Trauma
Whenever I’ve dealt with something difficult in my life, I’ve turned to writing. Writing helps me process, work through challenges, and make sense of my emotions. It also helps me express myself to others. Sometimes the writing turns into something I share with the public; sometimes it never sees the light of day outside of … Continued
Year of the Book / CLiF Spotlight
The Year of the Book at Eden Central School
Eden Central School was one of ten elementary schools in Vermont and New Hampshire selected for this year’s CLiF Year of the Book grant. The grant provides $25,000 in exciting literacy programming, family events, new books for the school and local public library, as well as TEN new books for each student to choose. This … Continued
How to Help Your Child Improve Comprehension
Reading is a vital skill that builds the foundation of almost everything else your child will learn throughout their life. Learning how to read — and, more importantly, learning how to enjoy reading — is one of the key factors in your child’s academic success. Nationwide statistics also show that low levels of literacy can … Continued
Q & A with Jason Chin
CLiF is lucky to have 64 amazing authors, illustrators, poets, graphic novelists, and storytellers who we send to schools, libraries, afterschool programs, childcare centers, refugee/immigrant programs, prisons, affordable housing developments, and other spaces where low-income kids and families spend time in New Hampshire and Vermont. These talented folks share their processes of creating books and … Continued
The Year of the Book at Boscawen Elementary School
Authors, Illustrators, and Storytellers, Oh My! What do these things have in common? Well, they are all an integral part of the CLiF Year of the Book grant. Boscawen Elementary School in Boscawen, NH was one of ten schools across NH & VT that won this grant worth $25,000 for the 2018-19 school year. By … Continued
Q & A with Rajnii Eddins
CLiF is proud to work with 64 talented authors, illustrators, poets, graphic novelists, and storytellers from every corner of Vermont and New Hampshire to inspire low-income, at-risk, and rural kids to love reading and writing. We send our amazing presenters to schools, libraries, after school programs, childcare centers, summer camps, affordable housing developments, and other … Continued
The Importance of Parent Involvement in Early Childhood Education
As parents, you are your child’s first and most important teachers. Parents have a hugely important role to play in shaping literacy, social and emotional skills. Parental involvement impacts directly and indirectly on a child’s learning. Here are some tips so you can involve yourself in your child’s development. Image Source: Pexels Reading … Continued
How To Help Your Toddler Learn To Love Reading
Fostering a love of reading can help set your little one up for academic success. It can also set the stage for a lifetime of enjoyment. But, just how do you teach your toddler to love reading? I have outlined a few tips below. Take A Trip To The Library Libraries are a great place … Continued
April is Poetry Month: Time to Rhyme (Not Really)
I have noticed that if you go into any bookstores that sell children’s books, the poetry section is quite thin. In some stores, children’s poetry books occupy one shelf. You will usually find something by Robert Louis Stevenson (commonly in an anthology) or something by Shel Silverstein. And there is an occasional book by other … Continued
Discovering the Stories Around Us – CLiF’s Community Literacy Conference
Q. What do you get when you bring 150 educators, librarians, and principals together for a day jam-packed with literacy? A. Inspiration, excitement for learning, and a whole lot of creative ideas! Yesterday, elementary educators from all over New Hampshire and Vermont joined us at the scenic Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee, VT for our … Continued
If You’re A Parent and…You Hope to Raise a Global Citizen
Middle school – how the pendulum swings between wanting independence and needing guidance and tenderness, even in terms of school work. Recently, my daughter invited me to read her fifth grade persuasive writing assignment for Humanities. Every child picked a borrower from kiva.org and argued why that person should receive a loan from the class. … Continued
“Living Documents”: Drawing a 3-Panel Comic from Primary Sources
NH cartoonist Marek Bennett explores history in the stick-figure adventures of teacher-turned-soldier Freeman Colby: My new graphic novel, The Civil War Diary of Freeman Colby, Vol. 2, depicts the historic events of 1863 from the point of view of a young NH school teacher (Freeman Colby) who enlists in the Union Army. To create … Continued
What is Writing? Advice from a Literacy Specialist
The question is not really what is writing, but what is good writing.
Q & A with Poet Ted Scheu (“That Poetry Guy”)
CLiF’s 64 talented and accomplished presenters are a big part of what makes CLiF special. We send these amazing VT and NH authors, illustrators, poets, graphic novelists, and storytellers to places where low-income, at-risk, and rural kids spend time in VT and NH. They share their creative processes and generate kids’ excitement for reading and … Continued
3 Ways to Help Your Child Improve His Focus via Horse Riding
*This is a guest post.* Research shows that interacting with animals can help promote healthy emotional development in children and adolescents, reduce stress and anxiety, and help develop strong emotional bonds. Nicky Ellis of Horses & Foals shares how riding horses can help kids improve focus and problem-solving abilities while providing good physical exercise. While … Continued
Books We Love
It’s Valentine’s Day – a day to celebrate what you love – and one of the things the CLiF team loves most is books! These beloved favorites will definitely outlast the chocolate we’re munching on today. Duncan A book that my family loves is Lost in Barrens by renowned Canadian writer Farley Mowat. The YA … Continued