Learning About Punctuation and Capitalization (FREE Language Mechanics Printable!)

May 24, 2013
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My mom and grandmother administered the girls’ standardized tests while we were in Florida (in West Virginia, a parent can’t administer the official tests that we submit to the school board), and one thing I realized when I was flipping through the test booklets was that we haven’t really spent enough time focusing on language [...]

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9 Tips for Hanging Out Laundry on the Clothesline

May 23, 2013
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One of my favorite green things to do when the weather warms up is to hang my laundry out on the line to dry. Clothes dryers are one of the biggest users of energy in our homes. We can help to protect the environment and save both energy and money by skipping the dryer and [...]

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Dear Parents: A Plea from Your Child’s Teacher

May 23, 2013
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Most students are in countdown mode:  they know exactly how many days are left until summer.  Children and teens everywhere envision sleeping in, lazing by the pool, and playing with friends. All of those things are appropriate – when balanced with the realities of responsibility. What is this teacher’s plea? Please don’t coddle your children [...]

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37 Eat Well, Spend Less Potluck Dishes for Summer

May 22, 2013
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This month’s Eat Well, Spend Less theme entertaining on a budget, and we’re talking about parties, barbecues, picnics and more, and I’m chiming in with healthy potluck recipes you can take to your next potluck: In all honesty, my favorite potluck dish growing up was watergate salad, full of marshmallows, pineapple and nuts, but I’m [...]

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Bookmaking for Kids: Accordion Envelope Books

May 22, 2013
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Bookmaking is a simple and fun way to get kids excited about reading and writing. When I was an elementary school teacher, bookmaking was always a favorite activity. I’ve recently started making books with my five year old, and he is now obsessed! Simple accordion envelope books are an easy project for kids of all [...]

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Printable Father’s Day Tie Cards

May 21, 2013
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Father’s Day is just around the corner, and I’m sure the kids are going to want to make something fun just for Dad! Have them break out the crayons, markers, and colored pencils and create a tie card just for him. You can choose stripes or polka dots, or create your own design using the [...]

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Surviving Summer Cookouts on an Allergy-Friendly Diet

May 21, 2013
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Memorial Day is right around the corner, and so are lots of summer cookouts, picnics, and BBQs. Anyone on a restricted diet will tell you that invitations to these events can cause waves of anxiety, especially if the dietary change is new. Do you accept the invitation? If so, do you eat? Will there be [...]

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Cooper Tires #SpringSavings Event Through 6/30

May 21, 2013
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We spend a lot of time in the car each week — driving to and from “town” and visiting family in neighboring states. One of my least favorite ways to spend money is on basic car maintenance, but because of the number of miles we drive over the mountains each and every week, it’s unfortunately [...]

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Weekly Reads + Your Favorite Genre {5/20/13}

May 20, 2013
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Success! I actually read a book (or most of a book, LOL!) this week. I have a lot of work projects to do before the baby arrives, and while 5 months seems like a long time, I know it will go faster than we think, so I’m trying to make time for reading without sacrificing [...]

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10 Ways to Create a Beautiful Summer Porch

May 20, 2013
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Ahhhh….summer is right around the corner.  Outdoor grilling, swimming, heat, relaxing as a family.  These are staples of summer in our family. One thing I love is to sit outside with the family and hang out.  In my mind, I can see Sheriff Taylor and Barney rocking on the porch playing old hymns and drinking [...]

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Get 5 Real Food eBooks from KitchenStewardship for $7.40 {BundleoftheWeek.com}

May 20, 2013
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This week at BundleoftheWeek.com, add five Kitchen Stewardship ebooks to your library at a fraction of their regular price! Whether you’re already a fan of the talented Katie Kimball or just hearing about these ebooks for the first time, this collection of real food ebooks includes not just recipes but plenty of information to empower [...]

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Weekend Reading: May 18, 2013

May 18, 2013
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I was a little worried that our girls would have trouble readjusting to “normal” life after three weeks in Florida and four days in Disney World, so I couldn’t help but be relieved when they woke up early on Tuesday morning and immediately headed outside to play, building a pioneer stove, riding their bikes and [...]

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