March is literacy month, and now is a good time to think about different ways we can help to encourage our kids to love reading. Even though we might think we are helping to raise little literacy buffs, here are a few extra ideas. 1. Read Everywhere. Sometimes we only think about reading a book… Read More
Is your child having trouble learning to read, or wanting to learn to read? Do you feel overwhelmed, or not know where to begin? You?re not alone! Here are eight tips to help you create a plan of attack to help your child overcome his or her reading troubles as quickly as possible. Eight Steps… Read More
The following tips are creative ways to seamlessly integrate addition and subtraction facts while playing board games that use dice. (To see the video version of these tips, visit Kidnexions) Tip #1: Opposites attract. Did you know that the opposite sides of a rolling a die great for practicing the combinations that make ‘7’. The… Read More
Stop, enter, exit, slow, go, street, lane, 7-11, bank, police, dvd, play- doh, Candy Land, love, Dora, pbskids, Nick …Environmental print; the words that are most publically displayed in our surroundings; are everywhere. As a parent and a teacher, I am glad this is so. As a child’s cognition and understanding progresses, each day they… Read More
One area of children’s development, which I believe to be so important, is the growth and development of fine and gross motor skills. As a kindergarten teacher I see the great role that early development of the shoulders, arms, hands and fingers play in daily classroom life. Kids often come into kindergarten struggling to write… Read More
All parents want their children to succeed in school. And since Kindergarten is a child’s first exposure to “formal” schooling, preparing them for success is an important first step on the academic ladder. But “preparing” our kids for academic success does not mean completing reams of worksheets and stacks of flashcards. It’s actually a lot… Read More
Are you feeling pressured by to-do lists that will help you raise the ideal child? Your head may be swirling from play date schedules, selecting the right educational program, starting that college savings fund, or developing a well-rounded child through a variety of after school sports. Oh, and don?t forget about proper nutrition and rest… Read More
There has been a lot of talk about technology and young children. This has hit home with me. While a Kindergarten teacher for many years, I was always told, technology was not in the best interest of my students. They can’t read, they can’t write, they don’t have fine motor skills, so they do not… Read More
10 Steps Parents Need to Take to Prepare Preschoolers for Kindergarten Success One consistent piece of advice Kindergarten teachers give to parents of preschoolers is the importance of introducing kids to a school setting, when possible, to acclimate kids to the social and formal setting of a classroom. As one retired kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Miller… Read More
Learning to read is incredibly important, but not always easy. It is possible to help your child become a proficient reader without tears! Try some of these activities the next time you are reading with your child. By infusing a few fun elements, you can help your child develop a love of reading, promote crucial… Read More