Spring into Writing: Introducing The Writing Mentor
Style is one of the most important elements of writing—but how can you teach something that’s so personal, so impossible to quantify? It can feel like trying to explain Yosemite to someone who’s never seen a mountain or forest. Or…
Just Sit Down and WRITE!
“The BEST thing is just to write; to sit down and write, to begin doing it and not to be scared by the blank page.” …
Let’s Spring into Writing
During the month of March we will be offering strategies to support and inspire your writing students. Our spring stories bundle for 2nd grade is a wonderful place to begin. As is the case with all the Earlybird units, your…
Submit Soon!
Submissions are open NOW through June 5, 2026. Writing is an artform that is meant to be read by a reader! Blackbird & Company Educational Press is proud to announce a call for submissions to student writers, Kindergarten through 12th…
Great Sentences Begin Here
Beginning Sentences One of the challenges of writing sentences is creating variety. Sometimes a short, simple sentence will do just fine, but there is something wonderful about a long luscious sentence! Let’s practice writing concise sentences with a punch of…
Valentines and Letter Writing
Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to craft a letter by hand! A card and letter—the kind that is written by hand—is a true kindness, a keepsake. This offering can take many forms. Original poems are little gems that pair…
The Winter Mitten
Winter. We are in the midst of it. The Mitten is a Ukrainian folk tale from the 19th century that has been translated into many languages. In our house we read Jan Brett’s beautifully illustrated tale over and over. This…
Pockets versus Aprons
“You can’t fit a square peg into a round hole”, my friend shared this idiom when I was trying to teach my daughter to read the traditional way I had been taught, despite her learning differences. I remember feeling insulted.…
Our Wonderful Alphabet: Ox, House, Stick!
When you consider that the alphabet plays such a HUGE role in our daily lives, consider the fact that most of us don’t know much about the history of those 26 letters! Ox, House, Stick: The History of Our Alphabet…
Twelve MORE Tips for the Road
And just like that, our time around the virtual campfire is coming to a close. Though you may not have been able to warm your hands, my hope is that something on the blog warmed your heart. Thank you for…