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Archives for October 2021

10 Most important simple steps to teach your child to read: Step 7

October 23, 2021 by Chris Leave a Comment

Teach your child to read and retain sight words

This is Step 7 in my series 10 Most important simple steps to teach your child to read. In this step, I will give you some tips on how to teach your child to read and retain sight words.  These words are often called sight words or high frequency words.  I call them story words.  They are the words that a child needs to know to help them read stories. 

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Even the shortest and simplest stories are full of words like and, said, the, an, to, is, it.  But these can be difficult words for beginning readers.  These words do not always follow the letter sound rules.   

Sample flashcard introducing the concept of story words for parents to help teach their child to read and retain sight words
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It’s fudgy chocolate frosting time

October 17, 2021 by Chris 2 Comments

This fudgy chocolate frosting is amazing on graham crackers, too!

This is our family’s birthday cake chocolate frosting recipe. Frost your favorite chocolate layer cake or spread it on graham crackers for an afterschool snack or study break. You will crave this fudgy chocolate frosting. When it hardens, it tastes like fudge.

fudgey chocolate frosting on decorated birthday cake for 12 year old birthday on a diningroom table
Delicious fudgy chocolate frosting on two layer German chocolate birthday cake

The perfect chocolate frosting for a layered birthday cake

I always requested a double layer German chocolate cake with this delicious fudgy chocolate frosting for my birthday cake. Paired perfectly with my mom’s bacon-topped meatloaf recipe or my grandma’s recipe for spaghetti and meatballs, it was my favorite birthday dinner.

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Black and White About Me Photo for Alcoves Home

Welcome!  I am Chris, teacher and  mother of four almost all adult kids.  I started this blog during the global pandemic.  Very quickly I had to change with the times.   I was also forced into cooking comfort food just to keep the peace.   Read more about me here.

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