Andrea Knight

Teacher · Learner · Author

Summer Pen Pals for Kids

Let's bring back summer pen pals! Remember Tom Hanks' and Meg Ryan's romantic comedy You've Got Mail? Long before that movie, seven-year-old me would get excited every time my mom come back from the mailbox waving an envelope saying those same words to me. "Andrea... you've got mail!" Yes, I'm old enough to remember snail mail. And I loved getting it. Now that summer break is here, we often … [Read more...]

Summer Road Trips – Let’s Go!

Summer road trips can be an exciting adventure for kids. From visiting friends and family to trying out something new, a road trip can create memories that last a lifetime. However... sitting in a car for hours on end can become a little boring for kids. (Honestly, adults too.) It doesn't have to be though. A little planning goes a long way toward helping a road trip go smoothly. These are our … [Read more...]

Fun Ways to Keep Kids Motivated Until the End

As the end of the school year gets closer, it's important to keep kids motivated and engaged in their learning. But with summer just around the corner, it can be challenging to maintain their focus. Truth be told, it's even hard to maintain our own focus! Beach, anyone? No worries. We've got you covered with some fun ways to keep kids motivated until the very end! IDEAS TO KEEP KIDS … [Read more...]

End of the Year Memory Book

As a teacher, I think an end of the year memory book is a great project to do with students before they leave for the summer. As a parent, I also think this. My kids are grown now, but I still love to look back at what they wrote when they were just six. Actually, they do too. We still have a good laugh at my daughter's kindergarten narrative about her first experience at a hibachi grill. That … [Read more...]

Summer Worksheets for First Graders

Breaks from school are so nice (and so necessary), but long ones can have a negative impact on a student's achievement. Year after year, we often have parents asking for summer worksheets, so I'm not sure why it took me so long to jump on board and make some. I think summer break should be a time for kids to let loose and embrace all the freedoms that go along with being a kid. And because I … [Read more...]