Even the most reluctant beginning writers love to experiment with the "cliffhanger."

This string a necklace arts activity teaches first grade readers to look for a story's beginning, middle, and end.

A new twist on the game of charades will inspire your first grader to look at her favorite books in a whole new light.

Play hopscotch with numbers, but also with letters, to get kids ready for reading.

Help your first grade reader master those letter blends like "ch" and "sh" with this memorable and hilarious beanbag toss game.

Take a beach ball, a marker, and a first grader. What do you get? An outdoor activity that works on reading comprehension, in the midst of a game of catch!

Help your first grade reader become an expert in "sh," "ch," and "th" words with this fun, homemade game.

Here's a fun activity to reinforce simple short and long vowel words for your first grader.

Combine kids' love of scavenger hunts with consonant blends to create a fun game that's perfect for everything from birthday parties to rainy days at home.

Here is a fun at-home physical activity that encourages movement while also working on literacy or math skills!

Sure, you can go out and buy a box of Valentine cards--but for a special message try this simple craft activity to make someone's day.

On Father's Day, delight Dad--and stretch your early reader, too!--with this adorable ABC book of "Fun with Dad."

Got the pre-writing blues? Try this simple five-finger technique to help your second grader develop a sequenced plan for her early compositions.

Creating a book is one thing, but creating a codex is a whole different ball game.

Try this simple activity to stimulate some very complex thinking with your first grader to develop those all-important reading and comprehension skills.

Make this creative "story cartoon" tray to help your first grader build reading comprehension skills while having a hilarious time!

Here's a fun activity that will help your child become familiar with both punctuation marks...by using pasta shapes!

With nothing more than a flat open space and some lively kids, you can reinforce key concepts of punctuation while having lots of healthy laughs.

Those second grade spelling lists may be getting serious, but that's no reason to stop having fun. Here's a high-energy hopscotch game to try.

Delight your first grader by combining a reading activity with a fun "tea party" as she unscrambles cut-up words in a tea bag to form sentences and stories.

Send your child on a table of contents treasure hunt to help build basic research skills! Navigating a book is a skill that is sure to come in handy later on.

What's the first letter? Play this game with your first grader the next time you read together, and watch her reading skills grow as she climbs the levels.

This goofy scramble book activity will bring laughs...but also some good, solid comprehension skills too!

Help your child be a word detective as he builds excellent reading and comprehension skills on his search for clues to decipher meanings of unfamiliar words.

Here's a writing activity that helps young learners explore an ant's perspective...and practice writing, too!

This activity will inspire adults and kids alike to take time to explore the beauty in their community and discover the colors of fall while developing their descriptive and creative writing skills!