Multiplication Magic
Multiplication tables for kids are a rite of passage . . . Multiplication tables for kids . . . the healthy way Multiplication tables for kids: are you looking for ways to encourage kids who are learning their times tables? Did you know moving helps kids learn multiplication tables? Keep reading for practical tips and […]
Tour the Saffron Kingdom: Burg Rheinfels
Burg Rheinfels is the next stop in our Tour of the Seven Kingdoms! The Saffron Kingdom! The Seven Kingdoms fairy tale world is inspired by real castles in the Rhine and Mosel River valleys in Germany. Clip the map below to find all the tours: Inspired by the Rheinfels Castle: Zany Adventures for ages 9 […]
Tour Magenta Kingdom: Festung Ehrenbreitstein in Koblenz
This huge fortress houses several museums and restaurants and a Youth Hostel, in case the family wants to try sleeping inside a fortress! The imposing entrance to the fortress that guards the Rhine and Mosel Rivers from above. Ehrenbreitstein means “Honor Broad Stone”. The fortress overlooks the German city of Koblenz Koblenz is the next […]
Tour Cochem Kingdom: the real home of TROUBLE WITH PARSNIPS
Trouble With Parsnips For your reading pleasure, a shiny new edition is in the works! The nameless inventor princess of Cochem is headed to Kickstarter to build something new! Follow along! Steep vineyards going up to Reichsburg Cochem Reichsburg Cochem, the inspiration for the Cochem Kingdom in the Seven Kingdom Fairy Tales series: There were […]
Tour a Fairy Kingdom???
What does fairyland look like to you? Clear, rushing water and green leaves under the trees. Near Kell, Rhineland Pfalz. Germany. ©Laurel Decher, 2020. What does a Fairy Kingdom look like for you? On this hike, we walked for five or six hours and I got buckets of new ideas about the Fairy Kingdom. I […]
Tour the Blackfly Kingdom: Pfalzgrafenstein Castle
When we travel these days, we often drive or fly. In earlier times, the rivers were the highways. Big and long rivers, like the Rhine River in Germany were important for delivering people and things. [Is that why Amazon is named after a river in Brazil? I don’t know, do you?] If you visit, you […]
More school resources from wonderful children’s authors: Justine Laismith
STAG HUNT attributed to Huang Zongdao (Northern Song or Jin Dynasty 96-1234) from Metropolitan Museum of Art online collection. More great materials after your students have “used up” Justine Laismith’s! Author Justine Laismith has a great page of school resources introducing Chinese culture for ages 9 to 13 years. The videos, activities, and photos are […]
Are you a parent, teacher or librarian? Enjoy these free online materials from children’s authors and illustrators!!!
Vermont author Kate Messner has a marvelous collection of author videos!!!! (I watched Grace Lin’s “How to Draw A Chinese Dragon” right away. 🙂 The site has such great stuff for kids that I have to spread the word. Debbie Ohi has promised some more videos for educators to use on her Youtube channel. If you […]
How do Grades Hurt Us?
This re-purposed vending machine is all about external motivation–which piece of art would you like to buy? ©Laurel Decher, 2020. Reading an article about how it hurts kids to focus on “grades” instead of “learning”: “Grades vs Learning: Shifting Attention to What’s Important“ “Drafts, re-dos, and ‘evolving assignments’” may help students to focus on getting […]
Were you ever a Junior Ranger?
I’ve been doing a little more research for the next Seven Kingdoms Fairy Tale. Look what I found! 🙂 Did you know you can get a Junior Ranger badge and book for your kids (ages 5 to 13+) at all of these National and State Parks? If the list of 400+ parks overwhelms you, try […]
Lost in a Campground
Nero has a gift for getting lost . . . Burg Rheinfels (Fortress Rhine Boulder) is the inspiration for the Saffron Kingdom. ©Laurel Decher, 2021. How’s your sense of direction? The second Seven Kingdoms Fairy Tale, LOST WITH LEEKS, is all about getting–you guessed it–lost. Prince Nero has a magically magnetic personality. He’s charming, but […]
What tests do you need to pass to become a. . .?
While working on a book for ages 9 to 12, I explored a few career interests for my characters: This Seven Kingdoms Fairy Tale stars the Saffron twins, Magellan and Saffy, so I’m thinking about what kinds of things they might want to do in the future. No promises and no spoilers. 😉 This video […]