World Smart: Natural Disaster Knowledge

April 4, 2011 in 5-8 Beginning Readers, 9-12 Tween, Literacy Tips, Tip of the Week, World Smart

Hurricane Katrina, a New Zealand earthquake, a tsunami in Japan. Sometimes sound bites like these are all a child is privy to hear. Those bits and pieces about natural disasters can be overwhelming or frightening to a child, especially when not fully explained or discussed. Take a moment to engage your child in a conversation about current events. The whole picture is less scary when explained in honest but reassuring terms from a parent or caretaker. Find more info here or try any of these books for help.

–Lauren McMullan, BYU Student, School of Education

Science Smart: Go on an Indoor Safari

February 28, 2011 in 5-8 Beginning Readers, 9-12 Tween, Literacy Tips, Science Smart, Tip of the Week, World Smart

Whether you’re stuck inside on a cold winter day or the sun is out and shining, you can take your child on an adventurous safari. Before the safari visit the Animals section of National Geographic for Kids. Print out pictures of five or six animals from around the world …

World Smart: The World in Fairy Tales

November 8, 2010 in 0-4 Baby/Toddler, 5-8 Beginning Readers, Literacy Tips, Tip of the Week, World Smart

If you have a little “princess”, chances are she’s more interested in plastic crowns and animated movies than learning about other cultures. However, the world is full of fairy and folk tales–ranging from the snowy depths of Russia to the raging …

Science Smart = Nature Smart

August 2, 2010 in 0-4 Baby/Toddler, 5-8 Beginning Readers, 9-12 Tween, Literacy Tips, Science Smart, Tip of the Week, World Smart

What child doesn’t love watching a butterfly flit through the air? Or nourishing a little seed into a flower? Children have an innate curiosity about the world around them, and there are many ways to foster their colorful imaginations through interactions with nature. Give your child a small shovel and …

Read Smart: Article of the Week

July 6, 2010 in 9-12 Tween, Literacy, Literacy Tips, Read Smart, Social Smart, Tip of the Week, World Smart, Write Smart

One of the keys to reading comprehension is activating background knowledge. Of course, it is impossible to activate knowledge that doesn’t exist. Help keep your children and teens informed about current events by discussing relevant topics with them and introducing them …

Art Smart: Fine Art for Toddlers

March 29, 2010 in 0-4 Baby/Toddler, Art Smart, Book Lists, Literacy, Literacy Tips, Tip of the Week, Tips of the Week, World Smart

Your toddler may not have the attention span to make a visit to the local museum an enjoyable family experience. So begin to explore art at home  with  your little one.

Lucy Micklethwait has created almost 30 picture …

Peace Corps Challenge

November 25, 2009 in Featured Websites, For Young People, Money Smart, World Smart

Take a virtual journey to the small village of Wanzuzu. In this interactive game young people work with village members to come up with sustainable solutions for common problems facing developing nations. Players work to answer important questions such as:…

Parents’ Choice

September 29, 2009 in 0-4 Baby/Toddler, 5-8 Beginning Readers, 9-12 Tween, Art Smart, Create Smart, Drama Smart, Featured Websites, For Adults, Literacy, Literacy Tips, Music Smart, Play Smart, Read Smart, Science Smart, Study Smart, Tech Smart, World Smart, Write Smart

Parents’ Choice offers caregivers “reliable unbiased information about tools to help their children learn, to explore new challenges, to discuss ideas and to pursue dreams.”

This first-rate website lists and reviews the Parents’ Choice Award-winning children’s books, audios, DVDs, television programs, …

Conexiones: Finding Spanish Language Materials

September 25, 2009 in 0-4 Baby/Toddler, 13+ Teen, 5-8 Beginning Readers, 9-12 Tween, Bilingual Literacy, Conexiones, Featured Websites, For Adults, For Young People, Literacy Tips, Read Smart, Resource Material, Tech Smart, World Smart

Websites

Barahona Center for the Study of Books in Spanish for Children provides lists of recommended books and allows searching  for books by age or grade level, author, title, subject, bi-lingual editions and more….

World Smart: Environmental Literacy or Recycle Your Lunch

March 25, 2009 in 0-4 Baby/Toddler, 5-8 Beginning Readers, 9-12 Tween, Book Lists, Literacy, Literacy Tips, Tip of the Week, Tips of the Week, World Smart

April is the ideal time to read green, think green, and act green. Environmental Education Week is April 12-18, and Earth Day is April 22. Why not use these days to become more …