CLiF Spotlight: Encourage Children to Choose Their Own Summer Reads
Summer is a magical season for kids – a time when they finally get to make many of their own decisions…Except when it comes to reading.
What’s New
If You’re a Parent and…You Participate in a Fundraiser
Tips on teaching kids empathy and kindness pop up everywhere. Recently, my daughter, our dog, and I participated in the Committee on Temporary Shelter’s (COTS) fundraising walk, a perfect opportunity to find out more about how “fundraising” connects with kindness and empathy in an eight-year-old mind. I did not involve her in the actual fundraising – I set … Continued
Spread the Word: Summer Internship Opportunity at CLiF
(Horse not included) The Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF) is seeking a summer intern who would like to work at a busy, innovative literacy non-profit. CLiF’s mission is to nurture a love of reading and writing among low-income, at-risk, and rural young readers and writers up to age 12 throughout New Hampshire and Vermont. We work directly with children who are at high … Continued
If You’re a Parent and…Your School Starts Student-Led Conferences
Recently, I saw a Facebook post on habits of productive people. I have a love-hate relationship with those lists, but this time I paused, because some of the highlighted habits were reinforced for my daughter at her second-grade student-led conference. Obviously, she is not worried about a strategy for sorting her email or for achieving a balanced … Continued
Maximizing Resources in Your Community
The Lake was placid, but a momentary commotion caused by a pair of loons who swooped down to breach the glass surface sent a wave of mirrored ripples across the lake. After the loons silent glide, they dove under the water for food, and all was calm again. Serenity. Despite the distraction of the amazing … Continued
If You’re a Parent…And Your Child Forms a Book Club
Recently, my daughter has started to carry an additional backpack to school – one of those square, drawstring, logo-laden bags that one can often acquire at an event. When asked what she carries in it, she replied, “My book club books!” Here is how the discussion went: Me: “What does it mean to have book … Continued
It’s National Reading Month…Help CLiF Spread the Seuss!
This March, CLiF is spreading the joy of Dr. Seuss far and wide! March, beautiful March! Our favorite month of the year! We embrace all that March has to offer us here in the Northeast – the mixed precipitation, the onset of cabin fever, the daily battle between the lion and the lamb – Why, … Continued
General / Book Recommendations
Graphic Novels Are “Real Books”
Graphic novels are real books, and they’re a great choice.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
A Valentine’s Day homage to Mo Willems.
If You’re a Parent and…You Have an Hour
I volunteer in the school library every Friday afternoon. A few weeks ago, my scheduled time overlapped with a special program called “I Can Hour.” Because the school librarian did the bulk of the event’s organization, I was pressed into service. That Friday it was Zumba, not book check out for me. This event required … Continued
If You’re a Parent and…You Want to Reward Bravery
In December, I took my seven-year-old daughter to her second Tae Kwon Do tournament. She got hooked through a school PE class, and because she was six when she started, I initially had to participate with her. I quickly realized this was not for me, but gladly supported her as she continued and appreciated the … Continued
Happy Holidays!
Wishing you a peaceful and joyful holiday season!
General / Book Recommendations
The Next Great Book: Holiday List
Our good friend Jane Knight at Bear Pond Books in Montpelier has done it again! Here is her list of recommended children’s and young adult books for this holiday season. Gift Ideas You’ve all asked for more Harry Potter “stuff” and this is the year for that! British artist Jim Kay has been commissioned to illustrate … Continued
General / Book Recommendations
The Left and the Right: How Books Are Helping Kids with STEM
Exclusively written for CLiF By TheLearningBlock For the longest time, many had believed that an affinity for math and science and an affinity for the humanities had been mutually exclusive, and this had been attributed to the fact that we are either left-brained, or right-brained, depending on which hemisphere of our brain is more active. … Continued
Books – Food for the Heart
Reading is more than just good for the mind. It’s good for the heart. It’s good for the world.
Manchester, NH Refugees Celebrate Literacy with CLiF
By Terry Farish on November 19th, 2015 Tonight I told a story for a CLiF literacy event at the International Institute in Manchester, NH. The International Institute helps refugees to resettle and Amadou Hamady and his staff wrote a grant to support English language literacy. They won the grant and CLiF funded many things including my … Continued
If You’re a Parent and…You Wonder Why Audubon is Cool
I admit that I am one of those adults who enjoys reading middle level and young adult books. I think of it as prep work for recommending books to my second grader or CLiF program attendees. Three of my recent favorite books with teenager main characters have been One Came Home by Amy Timberlake, Okay … Continued
A Tale of Two Authors
Popular children’s book writers, Jacqueline Woodson, author of Brown Girl Dreaming and Each Kindness, and Dav Pilkey, author of the famous Captain Underpants series, each visited Vermont in October, sharing their own childhood challenges, discussing how these challenges helped to shape their own writing, and how their books now aim to support children, each in their … Continued