Welcome!
If you’re a parent, a teacher, or a lover of children’s literature, you’re in the right place.
In my past life, I taught 4th and 5th grades in a public school setting. Several of those years, I focused solely on Language Arts–reading, writing, grammar, and oral presentation. Which worked for me because math is not exactly my strong point.
And then we moved and I had to leave my job. I decided to take some time off work and pursue a Masters degree in Library Science, since as much as I loved teaching, my passion was really in children’s literature.
In 2009, Preschooler was born. She was followed by Baby at the end of 2011. Now my days are filled with girl-drama, and cuddles, diapers and spitcloths. And yet, I still find myself teaching on a daily basis.
I began Once Upon a Story because I still have a passion for teaching children to enjoy reading, and for showing parents that teaching your child to read doesn’t have to involve fancy, expensive kits, or special instructions, or even a degree. You can do it. I promise.
At Once Upon A Story, you’ll find book recommendations, reading strategies, and news from the world of children’s literature. I hope you’ll stick around and find something useful. And if you do, leave a comment! I’d love to hear from you!
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You can also find me monthly at
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Let’s Keep In Touch!
Hi, I found you at the UBP. Great Site! My kids and I love books, and I’m kept busy keeping them supplied with good ones, and keeping up with their reading. You’re right, it’s not difficult to teach your child to read, it just takes time. As a homeschooling mom, I’ve found that when they have quality stories to practice on, they’re more inspired to read. It’s like magic to watch them, once they really catch on!
I think that there are also many levels of “reading” and some parents feel pressured to have their child read in the same way an adult would. My 3yo understands the symbols on the page make up words, that the words make up a story, that we read from left to right and front to back. At her age, that’s reading!
Awesome! Of course we love books too!!
Found you through the Ultimate Blog Party! I’m excited to follow your blog. I was a teacher and enjoyed reading to my students new books each day.
Megan
My 4th and 5th graders (who were the “cool kids” in the school) loved read-aloud time. We sometimes forget that those older kids are still really just kids!
Hi, I’m stopping by from the UBP. I’m a fellow book lover with a Masters Degree in teaching reading. Now I stay home and homeschool my four kiddos using good, classical literature with a Charlotte Mason/classical spin. It’s always great to find another book lover blog as a resource!
I actually started back to get my Masters in reading, and switched to Library and Information Science with a specialization in school libraries when I realized that was a better fit for me. Thanks for stopping by!
Stopping from the UBP! I taught school before becoming a mom!
Stopping by from the UBP! I’ll be stopping by your blog often since the subject is close to my heart and I’d like to read your reviews and recommendations. I love books and enjoy sharing them with my daughters. I’m going to be featuring 5 Days of Classic Books for Girls on my blog beginning May 14th, so please stop by my blog if you have a chance.
Thanks, Sara, I’ll be stopping by soon!
Hi, NOVA mom. Great to meet you. It is always awesome to meet a mommy that has a passion for teaching her little ones. Stopping by from the blog party.
Nice to “meet” you! Just dropping by from The Ultimate Blog Party I am looking forward to networking with you and getting to know you better! I hope you have the opportunity to visit our blog! http://www.thehealthymoms.net/2012/04/ultimate-blog-party-2012.html
Stopping by from UBP! Love the name of your blog! I homeschool my son and have been using Five in A Row as our curriculum because I LOVE that it is literature based! We LOVE books : ) Look forward to browsing your site!
Stopping by from UBP!
Love your site. I’m a writer, and lover, of YA and Children’s lit. Can’t wait to read up on your recommendations and future posts.
Hi there! So glad to have come upon this blog via the UBP 2012, We are a family of Book Lovers! Hope you will come by http://www.forgetthedognotthebaby.com, and say hello!
So glad I made it here from UBP. I became an empty nester this year, but still love children’s lit. I’ll be back to see what you recommend in the future.
I also taught 5th grade for 6 yrs…always wishing we could buy class sets of books instead of reading synopsis in the reader. When I homeschooled, we read LOTS of books.
Stop by when you get a chance.
http://www.HowToHomeschoolMyChild.com/blog
HI there! Just stopping by from UBP. you site caught my eye because my 3 year old is really starting to show some interest in reading and I haven’t really know the best way to direct her. I hope to find some advice as I look deeper into your blog! I blog over at http://www.garagesalesrus.blogspot.com/ where we show everyone the amazing deals we find at garage sales. All my kids books are from garage sales! Hope you can stop on by and take a look when you get some time! I am your newest follower!
I heart books– big time!
Aloha,
I’m visiting/ following from the UBP and I’m so very grateful to 5 minutes for mom because without them I might not have found the great resource that is YOU! I’d love it if you’d visit localsugarhawaii.com and “join the ride”.
xo,
Nicole
localsugarhawaii.com
yikes– when I try to sign up it’s saying “the feed doesn’t have email subsription enabled”. Let me know if this changes and I’ll so very gladly come back.
Eeks! Thank you so much for letting me know! Apparently the widget I WAS using was no longer working. I fixed it, and I think it should work for you now? So sorry and thanks again for saying something!
So glad I found your blog. I, too, used to teach fourth and fifth grades!