What do you think is beautiful? What is wild about the color yellow? Join Callie Feyen and her kids in a summer challenge to read 100 books and find out.
Fun Reading Activities: Color & Trace “A Buffalo and Joe”
Meet Molly and Joe, two wide-eyed early readers who can help a child learn to read. With this fun reading activity coloring page, meet the mischievous buffalo, too. Then use the “buffalo fun facts” to pen a limerick!
Motherhood: Family Ties Poetry Prompt
There are no deeper family ties than that between a mother and child. This week’s poetry prompt invites you to read poems from the perspective of an adult child yearning to be rocked to sleep once again; and the perspective of a mother with grown children, enchanted by memory. Let these poems inspire you to write your own poetry about the family ties of motherhood.
Life Notes: The Secret to a Happy Marriage Is Not What I Thought It Was
The secret to a happy marriage might have something to do with cartwheels. Or not. Find out the real deal in this humorous Life Notes, from Megan Willome.
Chinese Lanterns: Art by Day, Magic by Night
Stumbling onto a colorful Chinese lantern festival while out on a bike ride may hold a key to answer Mary Oliver’s question about your one wild and precious life.
Regional Tour: Borrowed Time at the Maui Ocean Center
A trip to Maui Ocean Center’s vast aquarium offers opportunity for Laurie Klein to contemplate how a place can envelop as well as imprint itself on the soul.
Fatherhood: Family Ties Poetry Prompt
Our fathers are an important part of who we have become. This is not lost on poets, as many have written poems on fatherhood. Come along with us and read some poetry about fathers, then write your own heartfelt or hilarious poem.
How to Read a Picture Book—With a Pirate as Your Guide
At-risk literacy specialist Callie Feyen shows us how to read and enjoy a picture book—with a pirate as our guide—from pre-reading to post-reading! And our hearts are touched along the way.
Applying to College in the Fall? Do These 7 Things this Summer
Getting ready to apply for college? Tania Runyan has 7 things you can do to get yourself ready to choose a college and write your application essay.
Tea Quest: Silver Tips Tea Room, Tarrytown, New York
Laura Brown’s tea quest takes a detour into New York for a stop at the Silver Tips Tea Room in Tarrytown where the river is astonishingly wide, the egg souchong delicious.
Birth Order: Family Ties Poetry Prompt
Siblings have their own system of organization and some argue that it shapes many of their characteristics. Consider this an opportunity to have fun and write some silly sibling poetry. We won’t tattle on you.
Reading in the Wild: May’s Pages
Come learn the secrets of being a wild reader. Or just share your May pages. Megan Willome leads the way, with her May goodreads.
Literacy Conversations: When a Robber Steals the Show
Bethany Rohde starts a literacy conversation with her children that doesn’t go quite as planned. And maybe that’s a good thing.
Last Child in the Woods: Place-Based Education
Can taking the classroom outside help students learn? Richard Louv says yes in our final discussion of Last Child in the Woods.
Mending Wall: Poetry Prompt
Looking at Robert Frost’s poem “Mending Wall,” we’re creating our own poetic take on the act of mending walls. Come write with us!
Thank You Notes: Teachers
Thank You Notes is a monthly prompt that focuses on expressing our thanks to a particular person, place, or thing—in poems, paragraphs, or pictures. This month, we’re crafting thank-you’s to teachers.
Top 10 Dip Into Poetry Lines
We enjoy a daily sharing over Every Day Poems on Twitter, inviting you to dip into poetry with us. Check our our favorite 10 lines from the last few months.
Last Child in the Woods: Afraid of the Great Outdoors
In this week’s discussion of Last Child in the Woods we consider the way fear removes us from nature, and how a desire to protect nature can contribute to that fear.
Form It: A Simple Veil, Poetry Prompt
“Form It” is a poetry prompt that focuses on exploring our topic through form poetry. The prompt includes recommendations for each form’s best use! This time, we’re going to “form” a simple veil.
Life Notes: Figuring
In this Life Notes edition, a little girl’s lament turns into an evening of make-believe. If you’re feeling stressed, you might want to walk away—and into play—too.