Fun Picture Riddles Help with Letter Recognition- Scholastic has done it again, releasing yet another fabulous book in its popular I Spy series. This time Jean Marzollo's witty riddles married with Walter Wick's vibrant photographs make for a fun and engaging read for children of all ages. Through the seemingly magical power of rhyme and repetition, children will obtain several early reading skills without even trying!
10 Partnering Tips for a Strong School Community- The main reason people join PTA is to gain access to the organized, high quality parent involvement opportunities that will help their children achieve in school. This list is one National PTA resource you can keep and refer to as you bridge the gap between home and school, initiating conversations and implementing programs or events that will enrich the learning experiences of your school's children.
Coloring Snow - Fun Winter Learning- Who needs a rainy day when you
have a snowy day! Create you own
winter wonderland with colorful
buckets of snow. This is an easy
and entertaining way to teach kids
about primary and secondary colors
while they giggle and smile.
Day Trips - A Visit to the Zoo- Almost all children enjoy a trip to
the zoo. You can use zoos to
encourage your child's interest in
the natural world and to introduce
children to the many fascinating
forms of life. Find out some ways to
help make the most of your trip
here!
Encouraging Your Child's Language : A Foundation for Literacy- Many parents assume that their children must progress through a sequence of clearly defined skill areas to acquire reading and writing. As a result, young children's imaginative and creative language is not taken seriously.
Graduation Caps- A fabulous idea for preschool or Kindergarten graduations! Easy to put together and children are proud to wear them and move on in style.
Helping Your Child Look Forward to School- "I hate school!" No parent wants to hear their third grade daughter yell
out these words on a regular basis. Your first grader conveniently forgets
to bring home his homework every day of the week. Your 10 year old
daughter complains each morning that she is too tired to go to school.
How Busy Parents Can Stay Involved- With today's hustling and bustling lifestyles, we as parents often find
it a challenge to squeeze everything in to our already overflowing
schedule. We are lucky if little Mary makes it to the school bus stop on
time with the same color socks on both feet.
How to Help Your Child be Successful in Kindergarten- Your child’s first year of school should be a fun and exciting
time. Children who are comfortable with and prepared for this
first school experience are more likely to have rewarding and
productive years, and therefore associate positive feelings with
education. Since parents are children’s first and most
important teachers, you can play a key role in preparing your
children for a successful school experience by pre-exposing them
to key concepts they will experience in school. This can be
done in a fun, enjoyable manner by making everyday play
experiences learning experiences as well.
Is Your Child's Homework Worth Doing?- The drive to assign more and more homework to children at younger ages is in full force in some schools. The homework binge threatens to cut into prime family time, extra-curricular activities, and rest and relaxation. It also increases conflict over scheduling and completing the ever-increasing number of assignments.
Lost Boys: Helping Males Succeed in School- According to recent headlines, boys are falling behind in school across the nation. Not only are high school boys slipping in standardized writing test scores, younger boys are more likely to be diagnosed with a learning disorder, or say that they don't like school.
Lucky Shamrock- This craft is super simple and will help build your child's
developing motor skills by using scissors. Perfect for
preschool and Kindergarten students.
Obvious Letters- Recently, I had the pleasure of perusing this
marvelously obvious way to help children learn
about the letters of the alphabet.
Preparing Your Child For Kindergarten- As a parent, you are your child’s most important teacher. It is vital that you spend quality time with your child each day. Following is a list of suggested activities to help prepare your child for starting Kindergarten in the fall.
Proper Nutrition Can Make Your Child a Top Student- It is important that your child gets his or her nutrition early on, preferably form Grade 1. This is the most important time for brain development, as they start to learn new things and create new ideas all the time.
Reading To Our Children- As parents, we are bombarded with advice on educating our
children; homeschool, public school, private school, or tutoring.
It's an endless debate that we all participate in at some point.
Ready, Set, Go! | From Preschool to Kindergarten- The transition from "little school" to "big school" is
not so tough for kids but for moms and dads it can
be harrowing. Here's some advice from Early
Childhood Educator Robert Freeman to help you
feel secure in your choice of schools.
The Giraffe - Taller Than a House?- Kids ask the darndest questions. Ones that make you scratch your head and wonder why you don't have the answers. My 6 year-old daughter asked me "Are giraffes taller than houses?" I didn't know for sure, so we did some snooping and here was what we came up with.
Why Do You Weigh Less in the Water?- While playing with my 6 year-old daughter in the swimming pool one day, she asked the question "Mom, why can I lift you up in the pool but not when we are in the house?" My answer was "Well, I'm not sure honey, it has something to do with density and mass or something." Boy, that was well put. After a little research, I found out exactly why a person's body is so much lighter underwater. It was quite logical really, but I needed to put it in to terms that my 6 year-old daughter would understand.
Fourth of July!
July 4th is almost here. Celebrate Independence Day this year with crafts, recipes and plenty of other ideas. Here are a few examples to get you started...
Fun Picture Riddles Help with Letter Recognition: Scholastic has done it again, releasing yet another fabulous book in its popular I Spy series. This time Jean Marzollo's witty riddles married with Walter Wick's vibrant photographs make for a fun and engaging read for children of all ages. Through the seemingly magical power of rhyme and repetition, children will obtain several early reading skills without even trying!
Family Matters Radio
FMR is a nationally syndicated radio program developed to help you live your best life, hosted by Caroline & Jacquie. No rants and raves - you get enough of that from your kids. Choose a segment below to begin listening!