As a teacher, I used to select picture books that reinforced the curriculum I was teaching. If those books included diverse representation and wonderful moral lessons, that was a fantastic bonus! However, as a mom, I sought books in an entirely new way. I searched for books that would show my daughters reflections of themselves and their peers in a positive and empowering light. I sought to show them an embodiment of who they are and can be! That’s how Secret Recipe Box was born. Growing up as a Palestinian-Canadian woman, I *never* once saw myself mirrored in the books before me. This lit a fire underneath me. I wanted to show young readers theContinue reading
Author: H M
A Tea Party Birthday
We’ve had a really hectic start to our summer, and so I thought I’d skip doing a big birthday party for my girls this year. However, my daughter really wanted to celebrate her birthday with her cousins… and I just couldn’t say no. So, we decided to host a casual tea party themed birthday at our home. This was the best option since we kept the guest list small, the food simple, and the decor store bought. My daughter is also the ultimate girly girl, so this theme was right up her alley. Take a look at the details below. General Set Up We tried to go with an elegant setup, that still felt likeContinue reading
Amazing Eid Gift Favors for Under $10
As Eid fast approaches, many of us are starting to think about how to make the day memorable for our kids. And… if you’re family is full of kids like mine is, that can be a pretty expensive undertaking. But, don’t fret! I’ve come up with the perfect list of Eid gift favors, that are all UNDER $10! There are so many opportunities to get creative with our Eid gifts. We can give gifts that get kids playing, problem solving and having fun. Here is my list of 5 Eid gift favors that (aren’t candy 😀 and) are under $10! 1. Dollar Store Mix & Match The key here is to pick a theme and these favorsContinue reading
Kids Ramadan Basket Ideas
As Ramadan approaches, I started to think about ways to engage my children in this wonderful month. For those of you who may not know, Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims around the world, in which they fast during day time hours and engage in extra worship. While coming up with this basket I wanted to: Make this month special for my kids, and Ensure that they were engaged in something fun & beneficial This way, I could have some time to reflect and pray without the guilt of having bored children. A kids Ramadan basket serves as both an exciting gift to mark the commencement of the month, as well as a littleContinue reading
8 Genius Ways To Use Popsicle Sticks In The Classroom
I love the idea of turning simple and seemingly useless objects into fun educational resources or toys. It shows kids the importance of innovating, being creative and valuing what’s around them. Take a look at all of the fantastic activities I have created and found using mainly popsicle sticks! If you’ve got a stash of popsicle sticks lying around or you’re looking for a fun and creative lesson idea, keep reading! 1. A Probability Game This is such a fun probability game, and it’s super easy to create! All you need are popsicle sticks, a paper towel roll, scissors and a marble (or small ball of playdough). See the pictures and captions below for moreContinue reading
Comic Writing Contest Winner
The winer of the comic contest is 6 year old Hafsa!! Check out her wonderful comic below: Comic by the amazing Yes, I’m Hot in ThisWe’ve partnered with the amazing comic author behind Yes, I’m Hot in This to give your students or children a chance at a fun opportunity. Here are all the details (please read carefully): Check out my post about Comic Writing for Kids Download our Comic Strip Writing Package (at the bottom of this page). Have your kids/students complete the package and submit (only) their completed comic strip to myeverydayclassroom@gmail.com Our two teams will choose one lucky winner who will receive a free copy of Nightly News with Safa AND willContinue reading
Comic Writing For Kids
Comics. How can something that looks like such a simple literary genre, carry so much weight? Comics hold the heavy task of pointing at many social, personal, national and political problems. But…. they can come in such a cute package! Getting students familiar with this genre can be a very fun task, and one that we should all undertake at some point. It’s an art to be able to talk about a legitimate issue, with an air of satire or comedy. Let’s show our kids that they can effect and create change in their world, through literature. If you want to teach your students comic strip writing, follow these simple steps below: Comic Writing –Continue reading
The Best Cyber Monday Learning Toy Deals on Amazon – 2017
This post contains affiliate links. It was hard to tear myself away from some of the great apparel deals, but I knew that cyber Monday would offer some amazing deals for kids’ resources. So here it is, my list of the best Amazon (US & Canada) cyber Monday toy deals! Art Supplies Building Books S.T.E.M Happy Shopping!
Extension Activities for The Wild Robot
The Wild Robot is a modern day tale of a robot that becomes stranded in the wild after an accident. This story is making it’s way across classrooms and into children’s lives, and with good reason. It’s a captivating comparison of technology and the natural world. As with all reading materials, they begin to take on more meaning when kids are able to apply what they’ve read in their lives and lessons. That’s why I’ve created this cross curricular extension activity package. It combines geometry and paragraph writing. Keep reading to get a peak into how you can use extension activities for The Wild Robot. 2D Shapes The first part of this package asks kidsContinue reading
Narrative Writing Plan For Kids
I recently gave a talk about creative narrative writing for 7-9 year olds after a book reading. Below are my talking points, which you can use in your class or homeschool. The kids responded really well to the plan and were able to reiterate the story writing process. They were able to relate to the concepts, so overall it was a great success! Read on to see the plan and you can find my narrative writing plan on TPT, it comes with and awesome poster set to display on walls. Part 1: Problem/Solution This is the most basic principle of story writing. The kids really seem to relate if you compare stories to a sandwich. Continue reading