5 to 10 Year Olds // Education // ArticlePros.com

Parent's Involvement in Children's Education

Tue, 13 Mar 2007 04:00:00 GMT

ABSTRACT

The importance of parental involvement as an accelerating and motivating factor in their children’s education is a worldwide-accepted fact. This research project provides an in depth explanation along with specific reasons, the importance of parents’ involvement in their children’s education. It also discusses the parenting techniques, their types and their consequences if neglected. It also describes the ways to measure the outcome of the positive parental involvement. Furthermore, it mentions the teachers involvement and the difficulties faced by the teachers in getting parents involved in their children’s (this is further supported by the examples of two teachers who with their deliberate efforts won the parents over to devote their maximum attention towards their children), single-parent involvement, children’s own efforts to improve their academic levels and joint home-school based interventions. A detailed analysis of the different main ideas is given, based on the findings from other research surveys and projects.

INTRODUCTION:

Parental involvement can be seen to fall into three types: 1) Behavioral, 2) Intellectual and 3) Personal. The research explores the effect of multi-dimensional participation of parents and the resulting progress of children in their studies when different parental resources were dedicated to them. Actively participating parents help their children in their academic development by going to schools and participating in open houses. By keenly observing the behavior of their children they can rightly judge the kind of behavior or the allocation of resources required by their children. Such caring parents can also motivate teachers to become more attentive towards a particular student, thus maintaining the cycle of parent-teacher involvement. Encourage Building up cognitive and perception abilities in a child are a major concern in the upbringing of the child. The way the parents involve their children in cognitive learning is by exposing them to different cognitively stimulating activities and materials such as books, electronic media and current events at home. This helps the child to practice all sorts of language comprehending skills at the school. The results show a remarkably positive behavior at the school and with peers.

Two parenting processes namely the Supportive Parenting (SP) and Harsh Parenting (HP) helped a lot in the research of parental involvement in their children’s education. By adjusting the levels of supportive parenting, different levels of successful outcomes were observed. Supportive parenting in even kindergarten students yielded positive results. Four measures of supportive parenting were used in the study, they were:

1. Proactive teaching.

2. Calm discussion in disciplinary encounters.

3. Warmth.

4. Interest and involvement in peer activities.

The assessments were conducted when children entered kindergarten and when they reached grade 6. There was a factor noted to hinder children’s development: family adversity. It was the result of a multipurpose negative process that included the risk of low socio-economic status, single-parenting and family stress. Child maladjustments were found to be more common in families with such adversities. No matter how much negative impacts were cast, SP was found to overcome the risks associated with family adversity. SP was strongly related to adjustment procedures in grade 6 children who had single parent family or experienced low socio-economic status (SES) in their early childhood.

In a way to socialize their children, parents adopted the techniques of calm discussion and proactive teaching. They helped lessen the behavioral problems by carrying long discussions with their children, cultivating in them a sense of respect, calmness and peace of mind. Mothers also participated actively in reducing the peer stress among their children. It is also a widely accepted fact that supportive parenting plays an important role in the children’s development of empathy, prosocial behavior and emotional competence. On the negative side, the absence of supportive parenting may be related to the development of internal problems such as anxiety and depression.

Lack of the necessary parental care and attention is the main factor for the subsequent rise in the percentage of juvenile delinquency (crime among children). The absence of parental instructions causes children to develop irreversible behavioral and emotional problems. They in order to seek attention, resort to crimes thinking that in this way they could fulfill their wishes. They may revert to uncontrolled violence if not kept an eye upon. Such criminal activities cannot be brought to a halt until their distressing symptoms of low self-esteem, depression, dysphonic mood, tension and worries, and other disturbances are relieved. And the importance of parents’ role in this regard cannot be over-emphasized.

In an effort to describe parental involvement, many researchers use a term “Transition”(Lombardi, Joan). “Transition” is used to describe the time period in which children move from home to school, from school to after school activities, from one activity to another within a pre-school, or from pre-school to kindergarten. The untiring endeavors of teachers in the phenomenon of transition cannot be ignored. They prepared the children and their parents to face the problems of adjusting to elementary school programs that had different psychology, teaching styles and structure than the programs offered at the kindergarten level. In the elementary level schools the teachers had to face serious challenges in motivating the parents to take interest in their children’s activities. The teachers adopted different methods to involve the parents in day-to-day classroom and home activities. They used to send notes, invitation of parent-teacher meetings, invitation of parental guidance sessions and training sessions, continuously directing the parent’s attention towards their children. Patricia Brown Clark suggests that it is very important to keep the line of communication between teachers and parents open, so that the parents can interact with the teachers and get up to date information of their children’s school activities. One way to involve parents is to schedule school events and arranging classroom activities such as volunteering for libraries, acting as classroom aides or efficiently organizing lunch breaks. The teachers also opt for making phone calls at the children’s houses to keep in touch with the parents and getting to know the extent to which they are contributing towards the welfare of their children. Apart from the above activities, the teachers also assign home activities for both the parents and their children so that the parents remain indulged in their children and the children get to study at home. However, it was a bad and disappointing experience for the teachers when many of the parents failed to respond as expected. Many of the parents were so overwhelmed with their official work that they could hardly take out some time for their beloved children.

Moreover, for some parents their schoolings were not positive and character-boosting experiences, therefore they preferred to keep a distance from their children’s school as well. This made it really difficult and at times impossible for teachers to bring the parental involvement to the desired level. Nevertheless, the activities of two teachers proved greatly fruitful in making parents involved in their children. They were Carlos Valdez, an art teacher and 8th grade class sponsor, and Mike Hogan, the school’s band director. They did it by involving parents in music festivals and other school ceremonies. They proved to be great examples for the future teachers to come.

If the children’s academic development programs are to prove successful they must share two characteristics:

1) Developmentally appropriate practice:

A child’s academic progress is clearly reflected by the appropriate practice he/she administers while in school life. During transitions from pre-school to kindergarten, a child if given the exact developmentally appropriate practice tends to learn a great deal of language and playing skills. He develops a keen interest in exploring his environments and interacting (without hesitation) with his adults.

2) Supportive services:

These include the assistance that the school provides to low-income family students. The services include health care, childcare and community care. This strengthens the relation between school and children and creates a sense of security and confidence among the children. They get to learn that their communities are a part of their school since the school’s supportive services strive to help community development.

It is commonly believed that children are good self-teachers. Their self-initiated strategies help improve their expression, creativity, intellectual capabilities and extra-curricular skills. This idea is proved by the documentation of young children’s work provided by Reggio Emilia :

“The Reggio Emilia educators highlight young children’s amazing capabilities and indicate that it is through the unity of thinking and feeling that young children can explore their world, represent their ideas, and communicate with others at their highest level.”(Edwards, Pope. C, Springate, Wright.K)

The climax rests in the fact that how the parents would know that their sincere involvements are really proving worthwhile for their children. The answer lies in the attitude of the children. The degree of parental involvement can be judged by a child’s attitude towards his school subjects, his academic desires and achievements. There is a direct relationship between academic achievements and the attitude towards school. Schunk in 1981 had the following idea of aspiration or academic desires:

“Level of aspiration is defined as one’s subjective probability that he or she will reach a certain level of education.”(Abu, H. & Maher, M)

As a result children who received adequate parental concern were found to be much more confident in their academic desires and achievements than those who could not get the right amount of parental concern. The individual involvement of mothers and fathers also plays a vital role in the behavioral development of a child. Students from one-parent household were observed to show less positive attitude towards schools and studies as compared to students from two-parent households. One study aimed at investigating parental concern showed that despite mothers’ sincere endeavors, the role of fathers could not be ignored and both served as an important foundation for the future progress of the child. This can be proved from the following fact:

According to a recent report from the National Center for Educational Statistics (1997), compared to their counterparts, children with involved fathers are more likely to have participated in educational activities with their parents (e.g., to have visited a museum or a historical site with their parents in the past month), and are more likely to have access to multiple types of resources at home as well (as measured by the proportion of parents who belong to community or professional organizations, or regularly volunteer in the community). (Flouri, E. And Buchanan, A, Pg.142)

Also, the parental involvement has been discussed and implemented in terms of interventions or prevention programs, which are nothing but safety measures taken to assure healthy and perfect upbringing of the child. The study uses school-based and home-only intervention programs to find out the extent of intellectual capabilities found in children from different family backgrounds. The success of one school-based interventions can be proved from the following fact, which was a part of “Education Service Improvement Plan 2001-2005” of Edinburgh:

----The Scottish Executive Discipline Task Force, which studied the causes of poor behavior among pupils in schools produced a report of 'Better Behavior - Better Learning' in June 2001. The report included 36 recommendations for action, which were then turned into an Action Plan in 2002. Many of these have implications for the Education Authority. (Craig Millar Instep Project)

Alex Martin works as a content writer for TermPapersCorner,Inc. The company provides high quality Custom Term Papers, Custom Essays and Freelance Programming.

Pilgrim Trivia Teaching Tips

Mon, 07 Nov 2005 05:00:00 GMT

How much do you know about the Mayflower, Pilgrims, and Wampanoag Indians? Here are some interesting facts about them. Before the Pilgrims hired her, the Mayflower was in the wine trade with France; before that, she was in the fish trade with Norway. It took the Mayflower 66 days to reach Massachusetts. There was one baby born during the crossing of the Mayflower and he was named Oceanus Hopkins. The Pilgrims landed at Provincetown, MA, at the tip of Cape Cod, on November 11, 1620. Since the land was not good for farming, they moved to Plymouth. To eat, the Pilgrims used a knife, spoon, a large napkin, and fingers...no forks. They also shared plates and drinking vessels. In the Pilgrim household, the adults sat down to dinner and the children waited on them. Lobsters, clams, and mussels were considered "hard rations" when the food supply was low. Many Pilgrims thought that lobsters were fit only for pigs! The turkey was familiar poultry in England. It was brought to Europe 100 years earlier by the Spanish. There were only four married women who survived the first harsh winter from 1620-1621. They supervised the food preparations for the three-day harvest feast for the 50 colonists, Chief Massasoit, and the 90 Indians who attended. That event became known as "the first Thanksgiving." Pumpkin pie and cranberry sauce were not eaten at the first Thanksgiving. The Pilgrims did eat roast wild fowl such as duck, goose, and turkey; corn meal; cod; sea bass; and venison brought by the Indians. Massasoit in the Wampanoag language means "Great Leader." His real name was Ousamequin or "Yellow Feather." The Wampanoag Indians of southeast Massachusetts were the people who befriended the Pilgrims. Their name means "People of the Dawn" and they continue to live on Cape Cod, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, and inland. With the severe weather the world has been experiencing, now is a good time to reflect on all the positives in your life. Write them down to keep as a reference when times are rough! Sometimes, seeing them in print is an eye-opener; you might be surprised how long that list can get if you add all the little things. HAPPY THANKSGIVING to everyone! I hope these ideas have been useful and have inspired your own creative thinking. And remember...Reading is FUNdamental!

Freda J. Glatt, MS, retired from teaching after a 34-year career in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. Her focus, now, is to reach out and help others reinforce reading comprehension and develop a love for reading. Visit her site at http://www.sandralreading.com. Reading is FUNdamental! Copyright ? 2003-2005 Sandral Sensations, Inc., Fort Lauderdale, Florida All Rights Reserved?

Calendar Teaching Tips

Sat, 03 Sep 2005 04:00:00 GMT

Stop! Don't throw away those old calendars! There is so much you can do with a calendar to reinforce academic skills. Here are a few suggestions: 1. Writing - Use the pictures as story starters by having children write an original story, poem, or song centered around them. 2. Art - Cut out the pictures and use them to make your own greeting cards. Write original sayings to go inside. 3. Classification - Have a selection of different kinds of pictures available so your children can sort them according to general similarities...all pets, all cars, all buildings, etc. Older children can sort them into more specific categories such as sports cars, SUV's, etc. 4. Flash Cards - Make your own by putting a picture on one side and writing the word on the other. For older children, write a sentence including the word. Have children make their own flash cards! (NOTE: Cut out the numbers to make math flash cards.) 5. Left-to-Right Progression - As you teach young children the days of the week, always point out that you are starting from the left and going to the right. 6. Days and Dates - Ask questions that review days, dates, and ordinal numbers. For instance, which day of the week is the third? What is the date of the fourth Wednesday? When does Autumn begin (day and date)? Which holiday is on September 5? 7. Math - Ask questions to review before and after. For instance, what will the date be five days after Labor Day? What will that day be? If National Farm Animals Awareness Week is September 18, what was the date nine days earlier? Which day of the week was it? What would the sum be if you add the dates of all Tuesdays in the month? For older children, make it a 2-part problem and have them subtract from, multiply, or divide the answer. Using the dates of the calendar, what is the difference of the last Friday and the second Friday? Are you multiplying, yet? Skip color all the boxes in multiples of 8, for instance. You would then have boxes numbered 8, 16, and 24 filled in. Since you will have several days left over, children can learn the term 'remainders' and get ready for division! 8. Reading - Alphabetize all the holidays and special days. How many syllables are in each name? List the holidays, then the special days. Which countries are represented? Do some research and find out more about unfamiliar days. I hope these ideas have been useful and have ignited your own creativity. And remember...Reading is FUNdamental!

Freda J. Glatt, MS, retired from teaching after a 34-year career in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. Her focus, now, is to reach out and help others reinforce reading comprehension and develop a love for reading. Visit her site at http://www.sandralreading.com. Reading is FUNdamental! Copyright � 2003-2005 Sandral Sensations, Inc., Fort Lauderdale, Florida All Rights Reserved�

Questions to Ask for Reading Comprehension

Thu, 03 Aug 2006 04:00:00 GMT

This article will focus on Bloom's Taxonomy of Questions...in other words, kinds of questions to ask in order to assure reading comprehension and foster higher-level thinking. In 1956, Benjamin Bloom identified six levels of intellectual behavior important in learning. Students should be asked questions from EACH level. Think of a six-level pyramid with knowledge at the lowest level and evaluation at the highest level. 1. Knowledge - This is the recall of specific information whether it be dates, events, places, ideas, or any subject matter. Use words such as these to ask for this kind of information: list, define, tell, describe, who, what, and where. Example Questions - Who was Goldilocks? Define the Olympic Motto. Make a timeline of events. 2. Comprehension - This is an understanding of what was read and includes interpreting facts, comparing and contrasting, and predicting consequences. Use words such as these to ask for this kind of information: summarize, estimate, discuss, predict, interpret, and associate. Example Questions - What is the story about?(Main Idea) How does drug use affect competition? Write a summary report of an event. 3. Application - This is the use of information, methods, concepts, and theories in new situations. Use words such as these to ask for this kind of information: apply, demonstrate, illustrate, solve, modify, and change. Example Questions - How were the bears in Goldilocks like real people? Modify an Olympic sport for the Paralympics. Dress a doll in a national costume. 4. Analysis - This is the comparison of the content to your own personal experiences and includes seeing patterns, identifying components, and recognizing hidden meanings. Use words such as these to ask for this kind of information: analyze, separate, order, classify, divide, and explain. Example Questions - How did each bear react to what Goldilocks did? Contrast Olympic athletes of today with those of the past. Make a family tree showing relationships. 5. Synthesis - This is the creative level - using old ideas to create new ones - and consists of generalizing from given facts, relating knowledge from several areas, and drawing conclusions. Use words such as these to ask for this kind of information: combine, integrate, substitute, create, invent, and compose. Example Questions - Make a diorama of the bears' house and the forest. When does sport become a business? Compose a rhythm or write a parody. 6. Evaluation - This is the judgement of characters, actions, and outcomes for personal reflection and understanding and includes recognizing subjectivity, verifying the value of evidence, and making choices based upon logic. Use words such as these to ask for this kind of information: grade, convince, support, recommend, measure, and conclude. Example Questions - Do you think Goldilocks will listen to her mother's warnings from now on? Why? Assess the strengths and weaknesses of the Olympics and recommend changes. Form a panel to discuss views on an important issue. To review, then, ask questions incorporating all levels of thinking to insure understanding and encourage a high level of thinking. I hope these ideas are useful and inspire your own creative thinking. And remember...Reading is FUNdamental! Bibliography: 1. Learning Skills Program - Bloom's Taxonomy; http://www.coun.uvic.ca/learn/program/hndouts/bloom.html 2. Comprehension: Bloom's Taxonomy; http://www.ops.org/reading/blooms_taxonomy.html Trivia Answer Leonard Bernstein's opera was West Side Story. There are numerous additional ideas available from sites listed at Sites for Teachers and Sites for Parents. Something to please everyone! Until next month... If you would like to unsubscribe, please go to http://www.sandralreading.com/mailing_preferences.htm and fill in the appropriate box.

Freda J. Glatt, MS, retired from teaching after a 34-year career in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. Her focus, now, is to reach out and help others reinforce reading comprehension and develop a love for reading. Visit her site at http://www.sandralreading.com. Reading is FUNdamental! Copyright © 2003-2006 Sandral Sensations, Inc., Fort Lauderdale, Florida All Rights Reserved

Why Do People Home School Their Children?

Wed, 21 Dec 2005 05:00:00 GMT

Of course in America there are many options to educating our children. There are public schools, private schools, charter schools, Montessori schools and, of course, the option of home schooling. There are advocates of both home schooling and public schooling. Those of us who don?t home school, which is still the majority of Americans, need to fully understand the reasons why people choose to home school their children.

Religious or Philosophical Convictions:

Religion is not permitted in the public schools. Many families feel that religion needs to be a larger part of their child?s education than that which the public schools allow.

People who have deep religious beliefs show great passion. These are the individuals who are passionate about their children?s education and feel that only they are able to teach them to the best of their ability and the content that they feel they should be learning. The home schooling parent is in charge, they call the shots and they like it that way.

Socialization:

Some people that don?t understand home schooling believe that it is confining rather than socializing. But those individuals that believe that are stuck in thinking about the stereotypical socialization of an age-based classroom. Children that are home schooled are exposed to social situations in a mixed age range. They have ?age-mates? instead of ?class-mates?.

Many home schoolers feel that their children need to be exposed to the appropriate ways to behave not inappropriate. They feel that their child should be exposed to the model behavior of people who have learned to make decisions and handle themselves in various social settings. By being exposed to appropriate modeling of social behavior, home-schooled children will learn how to act appropriately.

Parents of home schooled children can also see when their child ?gets-it? when they model for a younger child appropriate behavior.

Home-schooled children get a reality based social lesson. On a daily basis they see adults they know, love and trust manage and balance life day to day. Modeled for them is academics balanced with real life chores; caring for a sick friend or neighbor, shoveling the driveway and walkway, doing the grocery shopping and dropping of the dry cleaning, cooking dinner while folding laundry, putting laundry away and talking on the phone with Aunt Sara. These are real life situations that home schoolers are exposed to and public school children are often sheltered from or are privy to a controlled school environment.

Academics:

Home schoolers have several advantages over publicly schooled children. The curriculum is designed specifically for them ? not for children their age and what children at a particular age are expected to know and learn. Public schools differentiate instruction the best they can. However, a home-schooled child has a curriculum tailored to their needs. They may read at a 4 th grade level, spell at a 3 rd grade level and complete math at a 6 th grade level.

A home-schooled child is neither rushed nor not given enough time. There are no other children to ?keep busy? so they are free to work at their pace and move as quickly or as slowly as need be.

Much research has been done on how children learn best. A home-schooled child is not only taught by the person who knows them best in the entire world but also since they are the only student, the learning style never has to be varied. If a student learns best through music, then the curriculum of a home-schooled child can be tailored to meet their needs so they will be more successful.

Home-schooled children get to spend more quality time as a family. They are not trapped in a traditional school setting for 6 hours a day but are free to spend quality time as a family every day.

It is said that parents are a child?s first teacher. Families that home school want to continue to be their child?s teacher because they feel that their children need the guidance of their family and God and not the guidance of someone hired to do a job that is naturally theirs from the day their child was born.

For the latest information about Home Schools visit: homeschoolx.info - Information and Rersources

United Nations Day Teaching Tips

Thu, 06 Oct 2005 04:00:00 GMT

The United Nations, an international organization dedicated to keeping peace among the world's nations, was created on October 24, 1945. This month, then, would be an excellent time to focus on how to settle disagreements and learn something about the U.N. Here are a few suggestions: 1. Read this excerpt of the U.N. Charter and discuss what it means: We the peoples of the United Nations determine...to live together in peace with one another as good neighbors, to work for the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and to promote better standards of life. 2. Try making your own criss-cross puzzle from the underlined words in the excerpt above. 3. Relate the word 'equal' to the definition learned in math. 4. Research to find the member nations of the United Nations and write them down. Once they are written, put them in alphabetical order; count the syllables in the names; find them in an atlas and make note of their geographic location (which continent has the most members? the least members?); make tally marks representing each country and practice counting by 5's and 10's. Which nations were charter members? Which countries were added later? Find out more about each country by breaking your class into groups. 5. Unscramble the names of these member countries: DESWEN, LAPNOD, GARTENANI, SUITARALA, DIANI, GEPTY, TRAGE TRABINI, NADACA, HACNI, TENUDI TASSET Now put these letters, from the countries above, in sequential order to form two words telling what the United Nations is working toward: CROWLEAPED 6. Here are two realistic situations. Ask your children how they would solve these predicaments in order to make peace. Is there another way to achieve a win-win outcome? A. Barbara, Cindy, and Judy have always been best friends. Lately, though, Cindy and Judy have been excluding Barbara from their playtime fun. Consequently, Barbara has decided to turn the rest of the class against them. Which way would achieve peace? Brainstorm other ideas! a. Talk to the three girls privately to determine why Barbara is being ignored. b. Punish all three girls by not allowing them to play. c. Start a class discussion about what it means to be a friend. B. William and Jose were close pals because they liked doing the same things, going to the same places, and going out with the same friends. When it was time for their first school dance, however, they both wanted to ask the same girl. Having found out that Jose had asked Maria first, William wouldn't talk to Jose at all. Which way would achieve peace? Brainstorm other ideas! a. Suggest that neither boy take Maria to the dance. b. Suggest that William, Jose, and Maria all go together as friends. c. Suggest that William tell Jose how he feels and see what Jose says. I hope these ideas are useful and inspire your own creativity. And remember...Reading is FUNdamental! NOTE: Here are the answers to tip 5: Sweden, Poland, Argentina, Australia, India, Egypt, Great Britain, Canada, China, United States; World Peace

Freda J. Glatt, MS, retired from teaching after a 34-year career in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. Her focus, now, is to reach out and help others reinforce reading comprehension and develop a love for reading. Visit her site at http://www.sandralreading.com. Reading is FUNdamental! Copyright � 2003-2005 Sandral Sensations, Inc., Fort Lauderdale, Florida All Rights Reserved�

Introduction Games Teaching Tips

Thu, 18 Aug 2005 04:00:00 GMT

What? Already?! Teachers are busy preparing for the new school year. One way to set a positive tone in the classroom is to make sure all the children know one another. Here are a few introduction games. (NOTE: Any group of people who need to make introductions can play these games.) Have fun! 1. While students are sitting on desktops or standing in a circle, the teacher tosses a ball to a student who then introduces himself and tells his favorite game or activity. He then tosses the ball to another student who repeats the procedure. Make sure each child has a turn to introduce himself. Try playing a few minutes each day so children can also name their favorite food, place to visit, musical group, TV show...whatever you want. 2. While children are sitting in a circle in a darkened classroom, the player in the middle spins a flashlight on the floor. (If children are standing in a circle, the player in the middle spins around while holding the flashlight facing outwards.) The child who is "in the spotlight" when the flashlight stops must introduce himself and tell something else about himself. That person then becomes the next spinner. Give children ideas of what to tell about themselves...favorite movie, best quality, favorite famous person, favorite school subject, and so on. 3. Have children fold a piece of paper into a certain number of squares. They must then go get signatures from their new classmates, who must introduce themselves as well. Each signature should be clearly written in order to count. The first child to fill his sheet is the winner. If you want to add a little physical activity, have children who are finished walk around the room several times and then take their seats. 4. For this game, use several hoops or large, circular pieces of butcher paper. This is an innovation of "Musical Chairs" so have a music source available! When the music stops, children who wind up in the same hoop introduce themselves. Instead of walking while the music plays, perhaps your children could hop, jump, skip, etc. As hoops are removed in each round, have the children in that hoop tell something about themselves. 5. Let your children form groups of five to ten. At the beginning, each child announces his name, clearly, to the group. Then let the group decide how a ball will be passed...rolled, bounced, tossed, rolled around back and then tossed, etc. A player is to say his own name, as well as his new classmate's name, when he releases the ball. For instance, "My name is Bill and yours is Anna." A variation is to have the entire group call out the name of the person who catches the ball. Add details when the names have been learned...favorite pet, birthday, etc. I hope these ideas have been useful and have inspired your own creativity. Have a wonderful, rewarding year! And remember...Reading is FUNdamental!

Freda J. Glatt, MS, retired from teaching after a 34-year career in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. Her focus, now, is to reach out and help others reinforce reading comprehension and develop a love for reading. Visit her site at http://www.sandralreading.com. Reading is FUNdamental!

Reading-Comprehension Skills - Part II

Tue, 27 Jun 2006 04:00:00 GMT

Do you remember that 'reading' means understanding the author's message, not just calling out words? If you cannot answer comprehension questions after reading a page, you have not truly read anything.

There are specific reading-comprehension skills that will help you understand what you are reading. Whereas my last article focused on Main Idea, Predicting Outcomes, Inferences, and Fact or Opinion; this article will cover Context Clues, Cause and Effect, Drawing Conclusions, and Sequencing. When reading with your children, be sure to ask questions that reinforce these comprehension skills, especially during summer vacation or other long absences from school.

1. Context Clues - When you are reading, suppose you come across a word that you have never seen or heard before. If you understand the other words, sentences, and paragraphs that come before and after the new word, you will be able to figure out what that new word means.

Example: Two friends met and had a persiflage over lunch. They talked about seeing a movie, going shopping, or going to the beach.

Can you tell that 'persiflage' means light, frivolous talk? The two friends did not discuss anything of major importance.

2. Cause and Effect - We all know that actions have consequences. Think of the actions as causes and the effects as their consequences.

Example: The Miami Heat want the fans to wear white during the NBA Finals games. As a result, the seats in the arena are filled with fans wearing White Hot shirts!

WHY are the fans wearing White Hot shirts? They are wearing white shirts BECAUSE the Miami Heat requested it. When you ask a why question (the effect), you want to know the reason (the cause). Clue phrases that indicate a cause is to follow include 'so that' and 'in order to'.

3. Drawing Conclusions - Sometimes you will be asked a question about information that has not been given. There will be enough clues, however, for you to imply the meaning.

Example: Marvin was exuberant that his parents were allowing him to stay up past his bedtime so he could see the fireworks at a nearby park. Luckily, there would be a great view from his own patio! The fireworks were scheduled to start at 11:30 PM but, by 10:30, Marvin was feeling extremely tired. When he woke up the next morning, Marvin asked his mother why the fireworks had been cancelled.

Although the information is not directly given, you can draw the conclusion that Marvin was so tired that he fell asleep and missed the fireworks.

4. Sequencing - As the old saying goes, "Put one step in front of the other." When you are putting directions or events in sequential order, you start at the beginning and go step-by-step, in a logical or chronological order, to reach a conclusion. Young children just learning this skill begin their sentences with First, Next, Then, and Last; older children do not necessarily need those key words.

Example: She rubbed some oil on top of it. My mom went to the store and bought a chicken. Into the oven it went! Following that, she sprinkled some seasoning over it.

As written above, this story does not make sense. Who put oil on top of what? Do you really season a chicken after it is in the oven? (Basting does not count!) The correct version would read like this:

My mom went to the store and bought a chicken. She rubbed some oil on top of it. Following that, she sprinkled some seasoning over it. Into the oven it went!

To review, then, there are specific reading-comprehension skills that will aid in your understanding of the written word. A few of these skills are context clues, cause and effect, drawing conclusions, and sequencing.

I hope these examples are useful and have inspired your own creative thinking.

And remember...Reading is FUNdamental!

Freda J. Glatt, MS, retired from teaching after a 34-year career in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. Her focus, now, is to reach out and help others reinforce reading comprehension and develop a love for reading. Visit her site at http://www.sandralreading.com. Reading is FUNdamental! Copyright © 2003-2006 Sandral Sensations, Inc., Fort Lauderdale, Florida All Rights Reserved

Ready Your Child For Reading

Wed, 28 Sep 2005 04:00:00 GMT

It's never too soon to start your child on the path to reading. Simply talking to your infant and toddler helps her develop the vocabulary she will need as she enters school and begins to read. As you point and name objects, she will begin to understand the meaning of words, and will eventually begin to incorporate those words into her vocabulary.

The U.S. Department of Education recommends beginning to read to your baby when she is six months old. According to their 2003 report, "Hearing words over and over helps her become familiar with them. Reading to your baby is one of the best ways to help her learn."

In that same report, the Department of Education also recommends that parents reach out to groups that can:

* Help you find age-appropriate books to use at home with your child;

* Show you creative ways to use books with your child and other tips to help her learn; and

* Provide year-round children's reading and educational activities.

A child's love for reading grows when the words on the page come to life through experiences shared as a family. For example, after reading Eric Carle's Ten Little Rubber Ducks to your toddler, you can learn all about real ducks, make ocean snacks, or go on a family outing and feed the ducks at a nearby pond.

In order to help your child get ready to read, the Department of Education also recommends:

* Using sounds, songs, gestures, and words that rhyme to help your baby learn about language and its many uses.

* Pointing out the printed words in your home and other places you take your child to, such as the grocery store.

* Spending as much time listening to your child as you do talking to her.

* Taking children's books and writing materials with you whenever you leave home. This gives your child fun activities to entertain and occupy herself while traveling and running errands.

* Creating a quiet, special place in your home for your child to read, write, and draw.

* Keeping books and other reading materials where your child can easily reach them. Having her own bookshelf or small bookcase will not only make her feel special, but will also communicate to her that reading is special.

* Reading books, newspapers and magazines yourself, so that your child can see that reading is important.

* Limiting the amount and type of television you and your child watch.

The best thing for you do to ensure that your child will grow up reading well and loving to read is to read to her every day. The time you spend reading together will create a special bond between the two of you, and will open the doors for a dialogue that will continue throughout the more trying years of adolescence. The Department of Education suggests that, when you're reading, you discuss new words. As an example, they suggest that you say, "This big house is called a palace. Who do you think lives in a palace?" Likewise, they suggest taking time to ask about the pictures and what your child thinks is happening in the story.

The same report suggests additional strategies for early literacy:

* When reading a book with large print, point at each word as you read it. Your child will understand that the word being spoken is the word she sees.

* Read a favorite book over and over again.

* Read stories with rhyming words and lines that repeat, and have your child join in.

* Read from a variety of children's books, including fairy tales, poems, and non-fiction.

The more strategies you can incorporate into your child's reading experience, the more likely you are to help your child develop into a strong reader.

Brent Sitton is a founder of http://www.DiscoveryJourney.com, which features tools to promote a love of reading. Character Trait based Children?s Book Reviews include 5 related fun and educational Child Activities to inspire reading passion. http://www.discoveryjourney.com/bookchild.htm http://www.discoveryjourney.com/charactertrait.htm

Introduction Games Teaching Tips

Thu, 04 Aug 2005 04:00:00 GMT

What? Already?! Teachers are busy preparing for the new school year. One way to set a positive tone in the classroom is to make sure all the children know one another. Here are a few introduction games. (NOTE: Any group of people who need to make introductions can play these games.) Have fun!

1. While students are sitting on desktops or standing in a circle, the teacher tosses a ball to a student who then introduces himself and tells his favorite game or activity. He then tosses the ball to another student who repeats the procedure. Make sure each child has a turn to introduce himself. Try playing a few minutes each day so children can also name their favorite food, place to visit, musical group, TV show...whatever you want.

2. While children are sitting in a circle in a darkened classroom, the player in the middle spins a flashlight on the floor. (If children are standing in a circle, the player in the middle spins around while holding the flashlight facing outwards.) The child who is "in the spotlight" when the flashlight stops must introduce himself and tell something else about himself. That person then becomes the next spinner. Give children ideas of what to tell about themselves...favorite movie, best quality, favorite famous person, favorite school subject, and so on.

3. Have children fold a piece of paper into a certain number of squares. They must then go get signatures from their new classmates, who must introduce themselves as well. Each signature should be clearly written in order to count. The first child to fill his sheet is the winner. If you want to add a little physical activity, have children who are finished walk around the room several times and then take their seats.

4. For this game, use several hoops or large, circular pieces of butcher paper. This is an innovation of "Musical Chairs" so have a music source available! When the music stops, children who wind up in the same hoop introduce themselves. Instead of walking while the music plays, perhaps your children could hop, jump, skip, etc. As hoops are removed in each round, have the children in that hoop tell something about themselves.

5. Let your children form groups of five to ten. At the beginning, each child announces his name, clearly, to the group. Then let the group decide how a ball will be passed...rolled, bounced, tossed, rolled around back and then tossed, etc. A player is to say his own name, as well as his new classmate's name, when he releases the ball. For instance, "My name is Bill and yours is Anna." A variation is to have the entire group call out the name of the person who catches the ball. Add details when the names have been learned...favorite pet, birthday, etc.

I hope these ideas have been useful and have inspired your own creativity. Have a wonderful, rewarding year!

And remember...Reading is FUNdamental!

Freda J. Glatt, MS, retired from teaching after a 34-year career in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. Her focus, now, is to reach out and help others reinforce reading comprehension and develop a love for reading. Visit her site at http://www.sandralreading.com. Reading is FUNdamental!

Improving Spelling With Games

Wed, 24 Aug 2005 04:00:00 GMT

You got it! You can do just about any type of learning for a child or an individual learning a second language through the use of various computer games. You are sure to find something that will fit with their needs. You are also able to find a game that will keep them interested. Let's take spelling as an example.

Many kids struggle each and every year at school with that dreaded Friday spelling test. It doesn't get any easier because chances are good that the words just keep getting harder. For many parents, spelling is often a challenge to teach as well. The English language is nothing simple. But, what if you could teach them through the use of a PC game? That would be excellent, wouldn't it?

Think about this. The next time your child comes home with that awful list of twenty words they just have to know, you can easily say to them, "Why not go play a game on the computer." Yes, you can do this!

There are a number of games that are just perfect for teaching children the art of spelling. For example, you might want to try a word puzzle game like Beesly's Buzzwords. Or, if Spiderman happens to be your child's favorite character, you have games like Spider-Man 2: Web of Words. In this game, you child can advance through the levels by correctly spelling words. Its fun, rewarding, and most of all, it will help to improve their spelling capabilities.

The spelling games are not boring, dull, and difficult. To the opposite, these games will hold your child's attention so that they can get the knowledge they need. That is what makes these games different. If you are thinking back to your school days and those boring computer programs you were allowed to play and wondering how your technology loving child is going to play with something like that, don't worry. These games are much different. They are made to stimulate your child's knowledge without even allowing them to realize that they are. To them, they are simply playing a Spider Man game.

The value of these games is huge. In fact, there are more than just spelling games, as we will see down the line. They are great ways to feed your child the knowledge that they need without boring them. When it is fun, it will get played more often. The more that it gets played, the more they can learn from it.

So, then, what is the bottom line? You can easily allow your child to play some computer games but of course, you still need to monitor their usage. And, yes, you may have to practice those specific spelling words each week, but it may just get easier as time goes on. Here's a thought. Replace their favorite computer game with one of these for a week. They still get computer time and they still get to play a fun game. But, you get the satisfaction of knowing that they are playing an educational game as well. All in all, we think these games may be a great way to boost confidence and knowledge. Consider them for any age of child. You'll be happy that you did.

Steve is a member of the GrandMatrix team. They provide a broad range of games, puzzles, articles and reviews. Read more articles, download and play the latest PC games for free plus enjoy thousands of user submitted puzzles, quizzes and word games at: http://www.grandmatrix.com

Parents � The No Child Left Behind Law Won't Do Much For Your Child

Sun, 07 Aug 2005 04:00:00 GMT

Past experience with federal education programs predicts that the No Child Left Behind act (NCLB) will also fail parents whose children are doing poorly in school. The federal government has spent over $120 billion on Title 1 programs for low-income students since 1965. Yet the literacy rates for these children today are appalling and the achievement gap between low-income children and their peers has not closed.

If the U.S. Department of Education wants to give real choice to parents, they should not be tinkering with a failed government-controlled school system that, by its very nature, strangles free choice and competition.

Americans have been blessed with a system that gives them almost unlimited choices in their daily lives for almost four hundred years � it's called the free market. If parents could pay for their kids' education in a totally unregulated, fiercely competitive education free market, free from government controls, parents would have all the school choice in the world. This education free market would also give their kids a superb, low-cost education.

Yet too often, government officials with their bureaucratic mentality, distrust the free market, the same free market that brings them their cars, clothes, computers, electricity, and fresh food. The No Child Left Behind Act adds yet another layer of federal regulations to the already strangling layers of local and state government regulations on education.

If the federal government truly wants to give parents more school choice, they should be working to remove local and state controls over education, not adding to those controls with the No Child Left Behind law and other regulations. That is like trying to cure a person dying of arsenic poisoning by giving him more arsenic.

Naturally, government education officials can't understand the fact that government control of education is not the solution, it is the problem.

Over the past fifty years, federal, state, and city governments have spent hundreds of billions of dollars trying to "fix" the public schools. They have failed, time and again. For example, in July, 2005, the Congress-mandated National Assessment of Education Progress showed that high-school students' dismal reading skills have not improved since 1999.

High-school drop-out rates in inner-city, low-income minority areas range from 30 percent to over 50 percent. High-school dropouts are far more likely to end up in prison during their lifetimes. A U.S. Bureau of Justice report estimates that approximately 47 percent of drug offenders and 75 percent of state prison inmates are high-school dropouts. Dropouts are also about three times more likely than high-school graduates to end up on welfare.

These are not just appalling statistics. These numbers represent millions of bright, eager chidren whose lives can be ruined by public schools that fail them.

Trying to repair the public-school system is futile, precisely because it is a compulsory, government-controlled near-monopoly. Trying to fix this system with vouchers, charter schools, or the No Child Left Behind Law is like trying to cure cancer with a band-aid.

Parents should not pin their hopes on any government-sponsored school-choice alternative. Vouchers, charter schools, and the No Child Left Behind Act are simply too little, too late. Also, powerful, entrenched special-interest groups in the public-school establishment fight school choice because they benefit from parents' and children's subservience to the system.

Parents should not expect the public schools in their neighborhoods to improve. If you want to give your children a decent education and a chance at life, you must take their future into your own hands, now. It is useless to hope that the public-school system has the will or ability to reform itself. It is a waste of your time, and your children's precious time, to deal with, plead with, or complain to public-school authorities or employees who benefit by the system.

Instead, do as the citizen-slaves of communist East Berlin did when they fled to freedom in West Berlin � vote with your feet. Consider writing-off the public-school system. Consider taking your children out of these schools, permanently. You and your children remain victims of the public-school system only by your own consent. The power to withdraw your consent is a power that public-school authorities can't stop. Withdraw your consent and refuse to be a victim any longer.

There are many other education resources that parents can use right now to give their kids a quality, low-cost education. These resources include the new Internet private schools, Internet tutors, low-cost, learn-to-read and learn-math books in libraries and bookstores, computer learning software, and home-schooling. I discuss all these great new education options in my book, "Public Schools, Public Menace."

Article Copyrighted © 2005 by Joel Turtel.

Joel Turtel is the author of �Public Schools, Public Menace: How Public Schools Lie To Parents and Betray Our Children." Website: http://www.mykidsdeservebetter.com, Email: lbooksusa@aol.com, Phone: 718-447-7348.

The Secret Of Your Children?s Education!

Sun, 11 Dec 2005 05:00:00 GMT

Using Children?s Literature to Entertain and Educate Your Kids

What are Children?s Books?

Not only are children?s books a great way to keep kids occupied, but they help them to learn as well. Good children?s books are proven to appeal to kids and keep them engaged and interested. In general, children?s books are books that were written specifically for children. However, there are several books that were originally written for adults and are today considered children?s books. Mark Twain?s Huckleberry Finn is one notable example.

Educational Value of Children?s Books

Children?s books are fantastic educational tools for kids. Studies have shown that children who read frequently have better writing and reading skills than those who do not, and kids who have children?s books at home tend to learn to read earlier. Children who were read to from a young age have been shown to have better reading skills, vocabulary and a better understanding of the material being read than their counterparts who were not read to. Many families make the bedtime story a ritual that both kids and parents look forward to daily. Even when the child is old enough to read, the parents continue to read more complex books to the child.

Following the exploits of characters in children?s books can help children learn to deal with situations they might encounter in their own lives. For example, seeing how a character in a book solves a disagreement with another character can give the child ideas for resolving conflicts with his own friends. Children?s books can help a child to learn in a way that is dynamic and exciting. How much more interesting to read a realistic tale about a child who lived through the Revolutionary War than to read a dry account of the war in a history book!

Categories of Children?s Books

Children?s books are usually divided into categories corresponding to the age and reading skills of the child. Board books are durable books meant for babies and toddlers aged 0-3. Pre-readers are picture books aimed at kids in the 3-5 age group. Early readers are for kids aged 6-8 who are learning to read. Chapter books are designed for children in the 9-12 age group who are ready to tackle more complex stories. Young adult books are aimed at teens.

Choosing Children?s Books

Choosing children?s books can be a challenging task. Although there are many spectacular books out there, it can be difficult to select books that your child will enjoy reading again and again. Here are a few tips for picking children?s books that your kids will love.

Ask a professional for help. Librarians and teachers know which books are well-written and popular and can steer you towards the best choices.

Think about the things that interest your child, such as sports or music, and try to find stories about those topics.

Go with the classics. Give your child books that have been entertaining generations of young readers.

Look for books featuring your child?s favorite television characters.

WANT TO KNOW MORE CHILDRENS BOOKS TIPS ? Visit our one-stop-shop for children?s books. If educating and entertaining children is important to you, visit our site now !!! http://childrensbookshq.com

Free Coloring Pages for Children

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Parents have a excellent resource in the internet for free printables and coloring pages for their kids. Coloring pages and activity sheets of all types are free of cost for anyone with a computer, internet availabity and a printer.

Kids' coloring pages printed from cyberspace have become an alternative to coloring books purchased in the store. The diverseness of topics in coloring pages are as broad as the entertainment venue our children are immersed in. Virtually every animated cartoon character has a website with free printables or coloring pages as a bonus.

Teachers and parents can find an abundance of reinforcement for things they are teaching in educational coloring pages. Children can be instructed in their colors, the alphabet, shapes, seasonal occasions, as well as spiritual education to be strengthened in church or at home.

Coloring pages are a great way to occupy your kids on a long car trip or airline flight. They can keep little hands and minds quietly busy in a waiting room or when stuck indoors during wet weather. As soon as kids are old enough to understand that they must only color on the paper and not the table or walls, coloring is a great activity that requires very little direction by the parents. Hand and eye coordination are promoted and prepare a child for reading and writing. Be sure to have a special place on wall to spotlight their favorite coloring pages.

Michelle Patelle, mother of two children who love to color, is pleased to share with you a list of coloring pages at JesusColoringPages.org

Native American Culture Activities

Thu, 02 Nov 2006 05:00:00 GMT

As many children learn about Native American culture during November, here are some activities and information about our first citizens. Do you like barbecues? How about clambakes? Well, the next time you attend one, thank the Indians! Native Americans invented them, along with chewing gum, ponchos, chocolate, snowshoes, parkas, and moccasins. Do research to find out what else our first citizens invented! Chief Seattle's Lesson Seattle was a teacher Who taught us how to care For all the living things on earth, Fresh water, and clean air. "The earth does not belong to us," Great Chief Seattle said. "We sometimes think it does, but we Belong to earth, instead." This poem was written by Helen H. Moore and reflects a basic belief of the Indians. Discuss its meaning and make a collage of fresh water vs polluted water and the effects of each, as well as clean air vs smog and the effects of each. Beanbag Bunt Many games that were played by Native American children when the Pilgrims landed are still played to this day. Here is a variation of a game played by the Zuni Indians of the Southwest. Create a circle about 30' in diameter and make a horizontal starting line inside toward the edge. Put two different-colored beanbags behind the starting line and choose two children to be the first players; other children should be forming a ring around the circle. The object of this game is to be the first to kick your beanbag around the inside of the circle without crossing its border. If a player misses, he must step outside the circle. In order to win, the other player must successfully complete his trip around the circle. Should there be a tie, or both players miss, they play another round. The winner of each round chooses a new opponent from the rest of the children. Bird Feeder After a good harvest, Native Americans made an offering of three ears of Indian corn tied to a gourd filled with corn kernels; this was hung outside their teepee in order to feed the birds. When the birds ate, the Indians were happy because they believed their offering had been accepted by the gods. Here are directions for you to make a bird feeder. Cut a gourd in half vertically, scoop out the insides, and use a skewer or metal dowel to poke two holes about 1" from the top through both sides of each half of the gourd. Using a long piece of thin wire, thread one of the halves and wrap a loose end around an ear of Indian corn at the husk near the top of the ear. The longer end of wire should still be through the other hole so you can add another ear of Indian corn, then the other half of the gourd, and end with another ear of Indian corn. Finally, tie the loose ends together to form a loop and hang your bird feeder outside. Put some birdseed in each hollow end of the gourd and watch the birds eat! Learn the names of birds in your area and keep a record of the kinds of birds that come to your feeder. Choose several birds and count how many of each kind come within a certain time frame; then make a pictograph showing the data. Wampum The Indian money was called wampum and consisted of strings of beads made from the shells of clams and other shellfish. Purple was worth more than white. Here is how to make your own wampum. Put half of a small box of macaroni into a bowl and cover it with purple paint, letting it soak for two hours. Strain the macaroni and let it dry on paper towels during the night. At last, create your wampum by stringing purple and white macaroni. Tie the ends of the string together for a necklace or a bracelet. For variation, try stringing the macaroni in various patterns and assigning different numbers to the purple and white. How much is your wampum worth? Open a little store and use your wampum for money! If you can find seashells with small holes for stringing, try using them instead of macaroni. League of the Iroquois One of the first governments in America was the Five Nations, or the League of the Iroquois. The Mohawk chief, Hiawatha, helped found it in 1570 to unite the separate tribes, or nations, in war and peace. Consisting of the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, and Senecas, each tribe took care of its own business. When their affairs affected another tribe, however, the League Council stepped in. Answer these True or False statements about the paragraph above...using the Cree Indian letters for T and F! The T looks like a lowercase b with more of a heart-shaped right side than a circle; and the F looks like an inverted capital V with a vertical side on the right rather than a diagonal. Mohawk chief Hiawatha helped start the Five Nations. ____ The Seminoles were part of the League of the Iroquois. ____ The League told all its members how to conduct their business. ____ The Five Nations was one of the first governments in America. ____ Research to find out more about the Iroquois nation. Does the League still exist? Totem Poles In the Pacific Northwest, Native Americans such as the Tlingit, pronounced klink-it, still make totem poles to record their family and clan histories. The poles are carved of wood and brightly painted to resemble birds, animals, or people. An angry-looking bear, for instance, could symbolize a warlike relative; while a deer might symbolize a gentle one. Make a totem pole to reflect your family! Here's how. Measure various colors of construction paper, exactly, to fit 6-8 1-lb cans, such as coffee cans. Laying the papers flat, use crayons, markers, or paint to draw a different face or design on each. Wrap a paper around each can and tape the edges together. Place each can down with the open side up and decorate with eyes, ears, noses, teeth, and other 3-dimensional features. Use fabric, buttons, sticks...any odds and ends you have. Decide the order in which the cans will be stacked; then add sand to the bottom one to prevent the totem pole from tipping over. Put one can on top of another, taping them together as you go. Decorate the top of your totem pole! There are many Native American tribes in our country today. On a map, pinpoint where each tribe lives. Find out which live in your region and take a field trip to learn more about them. I hope these ideas are useful and have inspired your own creative thinking. Happy Thanksgiving!!

Freda J. Glatt, MS, retired from teaching after a 34-year career in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. Her focus, now, is to reach out and help others reinforce reading comprehension and develop a love for reading. Visit her site at http://www.sandralreading.com. Reading is FUNdamental! Copyright © 2003-2006 Sandral Sensations, Inc., Fort Lauderdale, Florida All Rights Reserved

Celebrating Black History Month

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 05:00:00 GMT

What do Sarah Boone, Alexander Miles, Garrett Morgan, Robert F. Flemmings, and John Standard all have in common? They were all African-American inventors! As part of Black History Month, have your children learn about them and their inventions. African-American Inventors and Their Inventions 1. Sarah Boone - ironing board 2. Alexander Miles - elevator 3. Garrett Morgan - traffic signal 4. Robert F. Flemmings - guitar 5. John Standard - refrigerator 6. George T. Sampson - clothes drier 7. D. Johnson - lawn mower 8. Bessie Blount - a device that allows amputees to feed themselves 9. Otis Boykin - a variable resistor used in guided missile parts 10. George Grant - world's first patent for a golf tee 11. John Lee Love - pencil sharpener rotated by hand 12. Richard Spikes - automobile directional signals 13. William Purvis - self-inking hand stamp 14. Kevin Woolfolk - hamster workout wheel 15. Patricia Bath - first African-American woman doctor to receive a patent for a medical invention, a method for removing cataract lenses using a laser device 16. W. A. Martin - lock 17. G. W. Murray - planter 18. F. M. Jones - air conditioning unit 19. A. C. Richardson - bottle 20. E. R. Robinson - electric railway trolley 21. J. R. Winters - fire escape ladder 22. B. H. Taylor - rotary engine 23. Donald Cotton - propellants for nuclear reactors 24. Norbert Rillieux - a method for refining sugar 25. Emmett W. Chappelle - techniques for the detection of bacteria in urine, blood, drinking water, and foods 26. J. W. Smith - lawn sprinkler 27. W. U. Moody - game board design 28. A. L. Cradle - ice cream mold Activities 1. Research other inventions by African Americans. 2. Find the dates of these inventions and make a timeline of them. 3. Discuss how life would be very different without these inventions. 4. Discuss the process of inventing something and have your students come up with their own inventions. They should give their inventions a name and write a description. 5. Classify these inventions into such categories as Things Around the House and Things for Safety. 6. Alphabetize the inventors' names. 7. Have some children cut out pictures of the inventions and paste them on the left side of index cards. Have other children use sticky labels to write or type the invention and paste them on the right side of the index cards to match the pictures. Make puzzles by cutting down the center of these cards using different patterns. You can also use craft scissors which come in a variety of patterns. 8. Create a criss-cross puzzle or a word-find puzzle with these inventors' last names. I hope these ideas are useful and have inspired your own creative thinking!

Freda J. Glatt, MS, is a retired K-6 teacher. Helping others reinforce reading comprehension through FUNdamental Reading Activities, including games and worksheets, is her new educational goal. Visit her site at http://www.sandralreading.com.

Earth Day

Fri, 06 Apr 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Earth Day, April 22, is set aside for all of us to think about our planet and how to take care of it. It is a time to think about the most efficient ways to use Earth's natural resources. One such resource is trees. How do we use them? 1. Paper - This is one of the most beneficial products we get from trees. Just think about photographs, scrapbooks, wrapping paper, crossword puzzles, and, oh yes, homework. 2. Furniture - Since it is durable and can be easily shaped, wood is used to make a variety of furniture. What kind do you have at home and in school? 3. Buildings - Wooden beams are usually used to hold houses and other structures together. 4. Paint Products - From tree sap, many paint products are made, including turpentine. 5. Fruit - Besides apples, pears, and others, remember that trees give us a variety of nuts! Do you like fruit pies? Nuts on ice cream? 6. Maple Syrup - Would pancakes and waffles taste the same without it? It's made from the sap of a tree. 7. Animal Homes - Birds, squirrels, and other animals depend upon trees for shelter and food. And what about shade? Recycling is one way to take care of trees. Do you use items made from recycled paper? Why not try making some recycled paper of your own?! 1. Shred 2 paper towels, 3 sheets of newspaper, and 4 facial tissues into small pieces and put them in a large mixing bowl. Add 2 cups of water and soak the paper for 15 minutes. 2. Beat this mixture until it is the consistency of oatmeal...no large lumps. 3. Add another cup of water and 2 tablespoons liquid laundry starch. Beat until thoroughly mixed. 4. OPTIONAL: Add 1/2 teaspoon food coloring and stir to create a marble effect. 5. Partly straighten 2 large paper clips, creating a large hook and a small hook in each. Hook the smaller hooks through an 8 1/2x11 piece of metal window screening. Place this screen at the bottom of a 9x13 baking pan. Cover a large cutting board with a dish towel. 6. Pour the pulp mixture over the screen and use the paper-clip handles to life the screen out of the pan. Hold it over the pan a few minutes to catch the excess water. 7. Put the pulp-covered screen on the dish-towel-covered cutting board and cover it with another dish towel. Gently roll a rolling pin back and forth to squeeze out more water from the pulp. 8. After removing the top dish towel, flip the second one with the screen and pulp onto a stack of newspapers. Carefully remove the towel and screen. Let your paper dry in the sun. Here are a few more tips to conserve our resources: 1. Turn off the lights and fans when you are not in a room. Unplug small appliances that continue using electricity when they are not in use. 2. Turn off the water when you are brushing your teeth. Water lawns at dawn or dusk when the water will not evaporate so quickly. 3. Plan errands by car so that you make a circle back to your house. If your destination is nearby, walk or ride a bike! Will mass transportation or carpooling work for you one day per week? 4. Cut down on visual pollution by not littering. Help your community clean parks or waterways. Have a Clean-Up Day at school! Please teach your children, when they are young, to help take care of Mother Earth. Hopefully, their good habits will continue into adulthood. I hope these ideas are useful and have inspired your own creative thinking! Source: Macmillan Seasonal Activity Packs, Spring Is Here, Macmillan Educational Company, 1987

Freda J. Glatt, MS, is a retired K-6 teacher. Helping others reinforce reading comprehension through FUNdamental Reading Activities, including games and worksheets, is her new educational goal. Visit her site at http://www.sandralreading.com. Copyright © 2003-2007 Sandral Sensations, Inc., Fort Lauderdale, Florida All Rights Reserved

Montessori Schools Benefit All Children

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 05:00:00 GMT

When our children are born, we have already decided that we will raise them in the best way we can. This responsibility, however, involves us making choices for them, and one of the most fundamental choices we make is that of their education.

You may be at the stage when you are choosing a first school for your little one, or you have a child who is already in the school system, and is not fitting in, or is unhappy. Whatever stage you are at, it is worth looking into the Montessori method. In the UK, most Montessori schools are pre-schools, with some elementary, but in the US, there are elementary schools as well as some high schools.

The benefits of a Montessori education are numerous. It is well worth visiting one to experience the atmosphere for yourself. The main goal of Montessori is to provide a stimulating, child oriented environment that children can explore, touch, and learn without fear. Each child learns at his or her own pace.

Teachers are understanding and encouraging, so that the child can enjoy learning, and feel happy about her path and purpose in life. The founder of the Montessori method of teaching was a lady called Maria Montessori, the first woman in Italy to graduate in medicine from the University of Rome. She worked with mentally retarded children, then served in a variety of university teaching positions.

In 1907, she opened the Casa dei Bambini, where she taught children of normal intelligence using her methods from her research in philosophy, child development and education. She spent most of her remaining life writing, lecturing and teaching about her methods. Here are some of the benefits of those methods:- . All children, whatever their abilities or interests, reach their full potential.

All children fit in, including children with learning disabilities. Many children learn best in different ways, and the equipment is designed for this. For example, one piece of equipment is the sand alphabet �" the letters of the alphabet in sand on card. The child traces over the sand letter with her finger, and then writes the letter on paper.

For all subjects there are items of interest to the child, however he learns best. For example, for geography, not only are there books, but globes, map puzzles, pictures, and animal figures (sensory items). There are also regular visits from people, pets, animals, and different activities depending on the topic at the time, eg. Chinese cooking, Italian food sampling. .

Montessori schools teach independence from an early age. The children take an active part in running their school, like preparing and serving at the drinks break, and putting learning equipment away after they have used it. Practical tasks like sweeping, polishing, making sandwiches and tying shoe laces, are all available for children to learn on a daily basis. .

Children are not expected to conform to set standards of achievement as in conventional schools. The Montessori method takes account of the needs, talents, gifts, and special individuality of each child. The children learn at their own pace, so they are not being constrained nor criticised for what they do.

There is a total freedom to learn which makes the learning fun. . In a Montessori environment children are encouraged to respect and help each other. If they choose, they will work with other children, and help each other, or 'teach' each other, and they enjoy doing so. It is wonderful to watch children who really want to help each other. . The equipment available for learning is unique and designed by Maria Montessori. It is exceptionally good quality equipment, which means the children value it and treat it with care. .

The environment of a Montessori school is peaceful and facilitates learning. Because children are happy and learning at their own pace, discipline is not an issue. The best way to find what Montessori schools are available in your area is to visit, for the UK www.montessori.org.uk/schools.php and for the USA www.amshq.org/schools.htm

Rita Offen has three children, all of whom attended a Montessori pre-school. She is also Author of 'The Chilled Parent' http://www.chilledparent.com/Ebook.htm

Learning to Read with Phonics

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 05:00:00 GMT

Teaching children to read accurately and fluently seems like such a straightforward and simple task but the reality is that many children suffer from some form of learning disability and really require a little more then what is offered in most schools.

The “Whole Language” approach should be supplemented with a carefully planned Phonics program and although this is by now common knowledge, many teachers are not properly trained in this method.

Even children with mild forms of learning disabilities, such as dyslexia and/or hyperactivity/attention deficit disorder, will have a hard time learning to read. These children face more difficulties than others in creating relationship between sounds that they hear in words and letters that make that sound on paper.

The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development has concluded in its survey that 95 percent of the children suffering from this problem can reach their goal of reading accurately if they are attended to at a very early age, preferably, before they enter 3rd grade. This institute recommended that ‘phonics’ should be included as the part of the curriculum and should be taught along with the whole language combination.

This message has by now penetrated into most schools and teachers will assure you with a "But we DO teach phonics!" The question is, "Do they believe and understand it well enough to teach it competently?" What phonics a child may be taught can be nullified by teacher policies that still emphasize the Whole Word approach.

And there still are some whole-language schools in various parts of the country, where they proclaim, "But we DO teach phonics". It is not that many years ago (1995), that a student was penalized for sounding out words by having his desk put out into the parking lot!

This space will not suffice to provide you with a full description of the Phonics. However the following definitions will arm you with some terminology and relevant vocabulary. PHONEME - Smallest unit of sound. GRAPHEME �" Letter or group of letters representing a one sound, such as: sh, igh, t. DIGRAPH �" Two letters which make one sound, such as: sh, ch, ee, ph, oa. SPLIT DIGRAGHS �"

Two letters that work as a split pair: a-e as in cake and i-e as in kite. TRIGRAPH �" Three letters which together make one sound but cannot be separated into smaller phonemes eg. igh as in light, ear as in heard and tch as in watch. SEGMENTATION �" hearing individual phonemes (sounds) within one word, such as: crash consists of c-r-a-sh.

The child needs to learn how to segment each word in its component phonemes and then to choose a grapheme to represent each phoneme. I know, that sounds very hard and it is, particularly when you are learning disabled.

BLENDING �" Means merging the individual sounds together to pronounce the word. A child must learn to “sound out” each grapheme, not each letter eg. th-i-n not t-h-i-n. MNEMONICS �" a device for memorizing and recalling something, such as a hand action of a drum (beat fist on table) to remember the phoneme /d/ and the instruction “think of your Mammy”, to remember the /m/.

There are approximately 44 phonemes in the English language, representing 26 letters, used in some 140 combinations. The “whole word” or “sight-word” approach to reading instruction works fine for the majority of learners. However, some 20 percent (some estimate go as high as 40%) of present day children suffer from more or less disabling forms of learning difficulties and will end up as illiterates, or at best, poor readers, unless taught by teachers that are trained in and fully understand how to integrate phonics into their reading instruction.

Good teachers know that we should be aware of the pieces of sounds that comprise words. This awareness is called phonologic awareness. The people teaching phonics should first check this awareness in students then teach them with instructions in letter, sounds and building them to words. Not only the teachers but also the parents play a very important role in helping their children to learn how to read accurately.

There are many resources available on the internet that place emphasis on phonics. Most of these programs recognize and apply the latest up-to-date techniques and offer playful, entertaining lessons in game form. Most children love to play these games and will learn to become good readers while they are having fun. It is also recommended that you speak often with the child’s teacher and if possible, coordinate the home activities in order to ensure that they supplements what is done at school.

Herman Reeder is an educator with a deeply ingrained love for his profession. He is also the founder of the website www.learninggalore.com which reviews the best educational products and programs on the internet for your children. A must see website for all parents serious about their child’s growth and development. www.learninggalore.com

Happy New Year!

Wed, 03 Jan 2007 05:00:00 GMT

These New Year activities will help to usher in a brand new year. January Starts the Year January, February, March, April, May. The first five months are A-OK. June and July, August, September, How many summers can you remember? October, November, December's the end, Any month's a good time to make a new friend. Fifty-two weeks or twelve months in a year, As each month ends, a new one is here. Winter and fall, summer and spring. These are the seasons that each year brings. The days in a year come to three hundred sixty-five. Isn't it great to be alive? This poem was written by Risa Jordan and is included in "A Poem A Day" by Helen H. Moore, Scholastic, 1997. It presents an opportunity to teach or review the months in sequential order and for children to discuss the calendar. Why are there twelve months? How did each month get its name? Do other cultures use the same calendar as our's? What are the names of their months? Why are there 365 days in a year? What causes Leap Year? A calendar is a great tool for Social Studies and Science! New Year Puzzles January was named after the Roman god, Janus. He was said to have two faces and could look both forward and backward simultaneously. On January 1, we look back on the previous year and ahead to the new one. Solve this FACE puzzle, then, by changing one letter at a time while keeping the letter order the same. Each change will result in a new word until all the original letters have been changed and you can LOOK ahead to a wonderful new year! FACE _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ LOOK It was considered good luck, in Scotland, if a dark-haired man was the first person to enter the door of your house on New Year's Day. Boy, are you GLAD that your dark-haired uncle just put his FOOT in your door! Solve this puzzle with the same directions as above. FOOT _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ GLAD Every New Year's Day, in Pasadena, California, the Tournament of Roses Parade is seen by millions of people. The floats are made entirely of real flowers! Solve the flower riddles below according to this secret code: 1=H 5=A 9=S 13=Y 17=P 2=D 6=W 10=I 14=V 3=O 7=E 11=N 15=L 4=T 8=B 12=U 16=R What did the big flower say to the little flower? 1 10, 8 12 2! Why are flowers so lazy? 4 1 7 13 5 16 7 5 15 6 5 13 9 10 11 8 7 2. Why is a spring garden like your mouth? 8 3 4 1 1 5 14 7 4 12 15 10 17 9. Create the rest of the code and make up more riddles for your friends and family! These puzzles and riddles are from Instructor's Big Book of Holiday Puzzles by Diane Hellriegel, Scholastic, 1985. New Year's Resolutions 1. Have children write 20 realistic New Year's Resolutions and circle six they think are the best. Place a star by the resolutions they think no one else would have thought of! Let them share. 2. Divide your class into small groups and have them write funny New Year's Resolutions they think the principal, teacher, office staff, cafeteria staff, janitorial staff, school bus driver, parents, babysitter, or anyone else they know should make! These two ideas are adapted from Springboards to Creative Thinking by Patricia Tyler Muncy, The Center for Applied Research in Education, Inc., 1985. 3. Make New Year's smocks for young children and have the children decorate them, around the edges, with crayons, markers, or paint. Write one of their favorite resolutions in the middle and let them wear their smocks proudly! 4. For a bulletin board, outline a large, old-fashioned sleigh on brown butcher paper; write HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM ALL OF US! in the middle of it; cut out and staple to the bulletin board. Using 8"-diameter circles of construction paper or the middle of small paper plates, have children draw their faces. They can use yarn for hair, felt for hats or earmuffs, and other odds-and-ends. Staple finished faces, starting at the rim of the sleigh, to give the impression of a crowd of children riding in the sleigh. Along the sides of the sleigh, put up children's resolutions or goals for the new year. These two ideas are from Macmillan Seasonal Activity Packs, Macmillan Educational Company, 1986. New Year Recipe In Holland and other European countries, many people eat something shaped like a ring on New Year's Day in the belief that if brings good luck. A ring symbolizes completion...in this case, the circle of the entire year, with month following month. Here is a simple recipe you might want to try. Pineapple New Year Rings - Makes 20 servings 1. Drain the juice, reserving it, from two 12-oz cans of unsweetened pineapple rings. Place one ring on each plate. 2. Place 1/4 cup of the 2 1/2 pints of cottage cheese in the center of each ring and pour 1-2 TB of the reserved juice over it. 3. Enjoy while talking about the upcoming year! New Year Game In keeping with the 'ring' concept, play this circular game to welcome the New Year. Have fun! Ring on a String - Grades 2-6 Have a string long enough for all players to hold and an inexpensive ring large enough to slide along the string. Place the ring on the string and tie the ends together. With children sitting or standing in a circle, they should hold the string with their palms down; one child, the 'detective,' stands in the middle. The players in the circle pass the ring from one to the other as the detective tries to decide who is holding it. If he is right, the two players exchange places. If the detective has guessed wrong five times, he sits in the circle and is replaced by the last person he thought had it. To all of our customers, subscribers, and viewers, here's to a Healthy, Happy New Year!! The recipe and game come from Macmillan Seasonal Activity Packs, Macmillan Educational Company, 1986. I hope these ideas are useful and have inspired your own creative thinking! Answers to Puzzles: FACE, LACE, LACK, LOCK, LOOK; FOOT, FOOD, GOOD, GOAD, GLAD; Hi, Bud! They are always in bed. Both have tulips.

Freda J. Glatt, MS, is a retired K-6 teacher. Helping others reinforce reading comprehension through FUNdamental Reading Activities, including games and worksheets, is her new educational goal. Visit her site at http://www.sandralreading.com.

What To Look For In A Good School

Thu, 22 Dec 2005 05:00:00 GMT

Selecting a good school for your children can be a difficult challenge. Many parents are under the impression that they have no choice when it comes to their children?s education.
This isn?t the case at all however.

Most parents check into school districts before having children, or before moving into the home they plan on raising their children in, as your location may affect which school your children attend.

Others look into charter schools or private schools to ensure that their children are afforded the best possible educational opportunities.

No matter what you decide, there are several things you should do in advance to be sure you?re children will get the most out of their academic experiences.

There are several qualities good schools have in common, and these are what you should be looking for when you investigate schools in your area.

Since you will probably initially be looking at pre-schools and kindergarten, we will focus on these schools so you know what to look for.

Good Reputation ? Any good school will have a solid reputation. You should here good things about it from neighbors, friends, and family members and in general. Not sure if a school has a good reputation? Ask around. Your sure to find information if you are a bit curious. A school with a good reputation is likely to be warm, welcoming, friendly and knowledgeable about children?s development. If you?re not sure about a reputation, consider visiting the school and meeting with the director. They should be able to provide you with references.

Established Procedures and Rules ? A decent school will have a set schedule of procedures and rules they follow with regard to child care and curriculum. Do not opt for a school that allows to much flexibility when it comes to policies and procedures. Remember that flexibility may impact your child?s safety and well being, as well as their opportunities for learning growth and development. Clearly established hours should be defined and well as lessons and even meal times. There should also be a strict sick child policy in place.

Invigorating Curriculum ? Check to see how stimulating the educational facilities curriculum is. A good curriculum will include a wide variety of activities including group activities, individual activities, reading sessions, play time and even quite time and free time. Check to see that the curriculum is age appropriate and changes over time. Some schools even have specialized curriculums geared toward teaching children various philosophies.

Whatever school you decide to go with, be sure that you look for a program that you are comfortable with and that supports your ideals and philosophies.

Your children should be encouraged to develop their independence and creativity.

Don?t forget to make it a point to visit the school and watch other children while in the learning environment. This will be your best tip off regarding the quality of the school.

Adwina Jackson is a wife and mother of a young boy. She's also the editor of Inspiring Parenting, an online source of valuable parenting information. Please visit Inspiring Parenting for helpful and free parenting info.

Think Maths Grow Smart

Mon, 14 May 2007 04:00:00 GMT

How often have you visited an 'educational' web site, only to find an apparently random jumble of pages which bear no relation to your subject, teaching or learning? This Marthamaths website is created, developed and nurtured by Marthamaths team with contributions from the world’s community who share the same dreams of making the Math subject easier for the students to learn.

The combination of real life experience, teaching experience and in the eyes of the students who are learning, the Marthamaths team aims to make this website to be a “one stop” centre for learning and teaching Math subject for young learners, parents and teachers.

New material and improvements are being added all the time, and suggestions from parents, teachers and pupils for future inclusion are always welcome. We believe that human beings from around the world have brilliant ideas and we create this web for them to contribute and compare their creativities, and let them run wild with their ideas.

Marthamaths offers interactive CD math lesson to help student solve their math problem and to improve their math skills. Our product offer math help from basic math to algebra, geometry and beyond. Students, teachers, parents, and everyone can find solutions to their math problems instantly. Also provides math games.

Jerry G is one of the Math education CD team developer for Marthamaths.com

Forget the Olympics, the Educational Games Are About To Start

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 04:00:00 GMT

By Alistair Owens

Back to school! A fearsome thought for teachers, children and parents. The start of a new academic year, new class, new school, new teaching resources. Welcome back, the educational games have just started.

If you've been anywhere near the shops over the summer you couldn't fail to notice the constant "back to school" promotions. They seem to start on the first day of the holiday ignoring the anguish of teachers, children and parents who dread the thought. Surely holidays are fun and should not be confused with the slog of learning. Fun is relaxed, enjoyable and something you look forward to. School is, however, far from being fun epitomised by adverts relating to shoes, clothing and stationery! But what if the schooling process could become filled with educational toys, games and fun? Is this possible? Surely we should be beating ourselves up with textbooks.

We look forward to something we enjoy and tend to put off something we don't. Most people enjoyed watching the Olympic Games where medal winners excelled through years of dedication. Hard work, hours of daily practice to improve performance proved the difference between Olympians and "also ran's". Above all they enjoy what they do.

Performance is dynamically measured, results seen immediately, giving elation with an improvement, and a challenge with a setback. Determination is the key; Olympians enjoy the challenge to improve. What about school and homework? Can school be enjoyable? Could a child's performance at school be measured dynamically using modern facilities or has it to rely on textbooks, tests and end of term reports? The answer lies in the latest educational games where parents and siblings can join in. Modern homework can be set as a game replicating the work in progress in the classroom. Setting homework as maths games, English games or science games is "learning in disguise" providing an opportunity for the child to practice whilst enticing effective parental involvement.

The busy classroom of 30 leaves minimal time for the teacher to encourage practice in the classroom. Yet 75 of a child's academic progress is influenced by what they do at home, and only 20% emanates from the school environment. Back with the Olympics analogy it may seem obvious that the coach has a huge influence on an individual's performance.

Teachers and the Department for Children, Schools and Families, aware of this phenomenon, are urging parents to become more active in the schooling process. This is in no way dereliction of duty but highlights a fundamental shift in the training duties a parent or PTA can now effect. Historically, helping with homework has been difficult because the teaching resources were one dimensional. Text books induce reluctance in parents. Unwilling to interfere they are concerned they would use different teaching techniques, or may appear to struggle in the subject area in front of their children. But the modern educational games, toys and puzzles used in school by the teacher are now available for use at home.

In class these educational games take the form of board games, quizzes, puzzles, bingo, toys and software — and are ideal for home use. The short burst in a class of 30 can be extended to 30 minutes at home on a one to one in fun game. This parental involvement means that the child gets the extra time to practice. Parents can assess progress dynamically rather than waiting for end of term reports, and children benefit from a coach at home to boost their performance back in school.

Alistair Owens Keen2learn

Alistair Owens wishes he could have a better help with his children's schooling 15 years ago. Then homework was driven by text books. The range of modern educational games, toys and puzzles that are available have opened a new era in fun learning support at home and in school. As 75% of learning comes through practice these educational games they are a great way to get involved and I wish they were around sooner. http://www.keen2learn.co.uk/c/343/Formula_Games.php

What is Right Brain Education and why do you need it?

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 05:00:00 GMT

What is Right Brain Education and why do you need it?

Learning using right brain method is a gentle approach to photographic memory enhancement and accelerated learning.

Ever try tying your shoes with one hand or peddling a bicycle with one foot? It can be done, but why-when you have the capacity to do more, with more. In most educational systems, the right hemisphere of the brain is underutilized. The process of learning through drills, repetition, tests and quizzes depends upon the linear, methodical left brain, which builds memory through logical links and repetition. Visual stimulation can help traditional learning by developing and sharpening your right-brain photographic memory capabilities, visualization skills, intuition and creativity.

When Learning right brain method you marries the left and the right to form a seamless mind. It will awakens your creative part of you through when you open up the limitless potential so we call it a new way of learning that is called"right brain education." It allows your mind to learn in a whole new way by activating both hemispheres and stimulating the visual centers in the brain. In addition it build confidence, enhance memory, self-esteem and accelerate learning for people of all ages from baby to adult, creating a complete well-rounded approach where learning becomes an integral part of living, working and growing.

Enjoy a healthy, happy start in life with true learning method "Right Brain Education".

Right Brain Education for little ones is quite unique. We believe that during the first 3 to 6 years of life, the right brain is wide open and ready for educational input of all kinds. This window of opportunity is maximized with 12 early learning techniques taught at 6 different stages of early childhood development. When specific right brain, corpus callosum (the band of nerve fibers that join the right and left hemispheres), and left brain activities are enjoyed at key times of development, children maximize their potential right from the start.

Area to stimulate the Rightbrain pathway including early reading, math, world languages, music, art, science, cultural enrichment, visual tracking, movement and more.

We believe that learning should be a 'playful' process and that enjoyment is part of what makes learning memorable. That's why our products are playful and fun included the ingredient of LOVE. And, if you also experience the long term effects of:

o speed reading
o stronger power of observation
o faster, crisper and clearer vision
o quick language, math and music acquisition
o three-dimensional visualization
o accelerated learning
o deep relaxation
o self confidence and joy

Just consider it an incredible life-changing bonus with such great ability and potential ready tap that stayed with you forever. That the kind of gift you can give to your child.

http://www.wink-rightbrain.com is dedicated to helping people in learning rightbrain method. We also have provided free resources in our website. For more information and in-dept information and need help in these area please visit : http://www.wink-rightbrain.com or email me at: register@wink-rightbrain.com

Keeping an online baby book at BabyChapters.com

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 05:00:00 GMT

INTRODUCTION TO BABYCHAPTERS BabyChapters is a fun and easy online baby book service Online Baby Book. It is free to use, just like Google’s search engine.

At BabyChapters, you can store your baby's precious moments online and share them with your family and friends in a safe and secure manner (note: each baby book is private and password-protected).

In BabyChapters, you can keep a baby journal, store your baby's firsts&milestones, post photos/video clips, list your baby's favorites, keep a guestbook, and many more things to help you enjoy and preserve your baby's first moments. After you have completed writing your online babybook, you can choose to order it as a high-quality, professionally-produced book.

This will be a lasting keepsake for you, your baby, and family & friends. WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH BABYCHAPTERS? The BabyChapters online baby book includes many elements such as: Introduction:

Provide an introduction to your baby with birth information and a photo Family Tree:

Describe information about parents, grandparents, and siblings Journal: Keep a journal of what is happening in your baby's life Milestones & Firsts:

Store memories about your baby's milestones and firsts (e.g., first crawl, first word) Baby's Favorites:

Keep a list of your baby's favorite things, people, and places Growth Charts:

Track the growth of your baby's height and weight Guestbook:

Let your family and friends write in your baby's guest book Photo/Video Gallery:

Store and share memorable photos and videos about your baby Events & Gift List:

Announce upcoming events (e.g., birthdays), invite guests, and keep a gift list Invite/Manage Visitors:

Invite family and friends to visit the baby book Order a Baby Book:

Order your online content as a professionally-produced, high-quality book (optional feature) Manage Your Account:

Manage the settings of your baby book account, such as the color scheme and your password BabyChapters online baby book is free of charge. If you later decide, you can choose to order a professionally-bound and printed babybook for an additional charge.

This book is a high-quality paper version of the online babybook that you have created in BabyChapters. The physical book is simply a unique option available to those BabyChapters users who wish to have a lasting keepsake. You can continue using BabyChapters for free even if you never order the physical book WARM FEEDBACK FROM BABYCHAPTERS USERS BabyChapters is becoming very popular among parents and their family/friends. Here are some illustrative statements that we have heard from enthusiastic BabyChapters users:

"It's so nice to have our baby book online so our friends and family members can read it, stay up to date on our baby's development, and write in the guestbook" - Mary, CA “So easy to use, just like 1-2-3, you can create a page for the baby book in just a few minutes" - Emily, mother of two

"I really feel safe creating an online baby book because it's password-protected and I can define who can view the book" - Jill, Washington D.C. "I really like the flexibility of creating an online baby book for free and having an option to have my online baby book printed as a high-quality book. That’ll make a great Mother’s Day present." - Bob, FL Visit Baby Chapters for more information.

Mary Lewis from BabyChapters.Visit us at www.babychapters.com, You can Contact Us Here

Awakening the Heart and Soul

Wed, 29 Nov 2006 05:00:00 GMT

MORAL & CREATIVE EDUCATION. ECOLOGY AND HEALTH CONCERN
AWAKENING THE HEART AND SOUL

M. Skrebtsova and A. Lopatina

Spiritual and moral education of the individual. As we begin to think deeply about the implications of these words, it soon becomes clear that the way we approach this task has truly widespread ramifications for society, and for the future of any country. A person's entire life and his relationship with the surrounding world, depend on what he or she learns in childhood and adolescence: to love or to hate, to show compassion or to take pleasure in the suffering of others, to put our heart into our work or look for the easy way out.

Let us take a look at what our children are offered in today's schools by opening a guidebook to educational institutions in Moscow. This is what is written there: "In addition to a broad general education students study computer science, mathematics, English and French… There are computer facilities, a private swimming pool and a sauna…" Here we have the main preoccupations of contemporary schools. Of course, there are other goals as well, such as "developing a physically healthy, independent and well-rounded personality, together with creative abilities…" - but these goals are secondary to the educational goals, and are considered far less significant. In one school, where the basic program was described as "the spiritual and moral development of the individual" we tried to discover what exactly this entailed, but did not receive clear answers to our questions. True, there were smaller classes than usual, and children were not humiliated during the lessons, and were even allowed to leave the class for a rest if they were tired. Yet in answer to our question about how moral and spiritual instruction there differed from the program in standard schools we were told only that all subjects are studied in greater depth.

Regardless, the majority of children, wherever they study, have difficulty assimilating the knowledge presented by their instructors. The result is an absurd situation in which knowledgeable teachers arrive at a school, as do six or seven year old kids who are ready and eager for anything new. And after a short time those children begin to tune out their lessons. This rejection is often reflected back in the teacher's behavior, and in some children, especially in the early teens, grows into an outright hatred of school or even life itself. A substantial proportion of children complete school with nothing more that basic reading, writing and arithmetical skills, and even those may be weak. All of those years of pedagogical effort are thus wasted!

More than once we have heard teachers lament about how difficult their work is, and how parents make no effort to help their children. Nobody will dispute this. Yet where there is enough of a desire, a teacher can always reorganize his or her activities, supplementing them and filling them with inspiration. We recall here the words of a young man who took part in one of our seminars, a student from Novosibirk University:

"I've got absolutely ordinary parents, who always made sure that I was healthy, well fed and clothed, and didn't miss any lessons at school. And when I was little I was an absolutely ordinary child. I remember perfectly the group of kids from our building. We were good kids and sometimes even played games where we secretly helped elderly ladies. And then what happened when we got to school? The teachers didn't teach us to do bad things, of course, but it was if nobody in the school could care less about you. They liked you or hated you depending on how you answered questions in class, never mind what sort of person you were. That's no fun for anyone. As a result, by the 9th grade a lot of us turned into perfect hooligans. I've been in fights, even criminal groups, and I've used drugs, though fortunately I was able to get out of all that, thanks to one wonderful person who became my true teacher. But a lot of my friends have died or are sitting in prison. Now I'm studying physics at the university, and I find the subject amazing. In school I though physics was a dull hammer for beating us over the head with…"

A sort of impenetrable wall is building up between children and their teachers. Teachers spend years of their lives and millions of nerve cells on getting children to assimilate knowledge, while the children make every effort to repulse that knowledge, and resort to squirming out of work and trickery and whatever else it takes avoid lessons they neither like nor understand. Can it really be that humanity has developed its knowledge only to see it wasted on our children in this way?

If we picture teachers as a channel for the transmission of knowledge, then it may be that what flows through the channel is lacking, or it may be that the channel is pointed in the wrong direction.

When, many years after graduating, we looked again at the experience of pedagogues from the past, we found a clear and immediate answer to our questions. PEDAGOGY IS ABOVE ALL THE SCIENCE OF EDUCATING THE SOUL, and if pedagogical effort is directed first and foremost towards this goal, then the imaginary wall between teachers and students will come tumbling down of its own accord, and our children will want to learn.

We are the authors of 30 books on creative and moral education of children. Our books are being published by a number of different publishing companies. Lopatina A. & Skrebtstova M.

Fun Learning Dropping At School

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT

School days are becoming a daily grind. The curriculum and performance targets conspire to narrow the scope of our children’s learning in preference of techniques that lead to better results. Whilst the measure of success is all that is subsequently recognised there is a downside. Bernice McCabe, head of North London collegiate school, said recently “Teachers were struggling to enhance the richness of their subjects and the sheer enjoyment of studying them. Lessons merely provided cultural and intellectual impoverishment for pupils.”

The possibility of a sea of change in our educational system is distant. Requiring government intervention that is both ponderous and frequently transitory, it will take a generation of children to prove or disprove any change in policy. In the meantime can parents and employers continue to watch from the sidelines? Potentially their active involvement in the schooling process can reap dividends in the breadth of learning given to children. As parents, we want the best for our children, and as employers, we want an all round education that allows employees to think outside the box. This can only emerge if the span of education is a precursor in any examination. Teachers, in the meantime, are frustrated by the limitations in the scope of the curriculum. Urging expansion in their role, they welcome the support from greater active parental involvement in the schooling process.

Ironically modern teaching resources have come to the aid of teachers, parents and children. Classroom lessons can now be emulated back at home, using the same facilities. Developed by educationalists they comprise of DVD’s, educational games, toys and puzzles to enrich the teaching process. Use of these games in the classroom is often restricted due to time constraints. This is ideally where parents can supplement the process at home.

Turning maths into a game; English into a quiz and science into an investigation in school and at home can be great fun. The interactive involvement of parents can be a supportive and highly productive way to maintain a dynamic view of a child’s progress. The child sees the parent as a proactive ally rather than a distant “do your homework” authority; and teachers welcome the move.

Pressure on teachers to hit targets to appease the inspectorate will inevitably continue to impact on the classroom. A change would involve children again being guinea pigs in the process. Yet teachers are surely the best people to suggest the ideal approach. Their skill, judgement and experience should play a greater role in enriching the learning journey. Reinforcing the curriculum through the greater involvement of educational games helps understanding, improves attention, experimentation and the overall holistic understanding.

The child improves their understanding of the subject matter, with the support of their parents, by revising or revisiting the activity undertaken in the classroom at their own pace, not that of a crowded classroom. Parents become empowered to help their child’s development at home by working in conjunction with the teacher at the right time, rather than waiting historically for the end of term report.

This hands-on approach by parents would continue the active educational bond with their children nurtured during infancy and all too often abandoned when they go to school.

Alistair Owens keen2learn

Alistair Owens struggled at school. He is passionate about the role parents can play to support their child’s progress at school. Modern technologies incorporated into an extensive range of educational games allow parents to rekindle the level of one to one support given when their child was an infant. The dynamic involvement of a parent helps the teacher and provides the child with a learning mentor for the duration of their schooling journey.

Alistair Owens struggled at school. He is passionate about the role parents can play to support their child's progress at school. Modern technologies incorporated into an extensive range of educational games allow parents to rekindle the level of one to one support given when their child was an infant. The dynamic involvement of a parent helps the teacher and provides the child with a learning mentor for the duration of their schooling journey.

Top 10 Children websites

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

At this age level, children are learning and developing at a very fast rate. Make sure you as a parent are keeping up with their thirst for knowledge by exposing them to educational experiences outside of the classroom.

There are a variety of places you can take your child to so that they are learning new things everyday. Take them to a science center, a museum, the library, a bookstore or have them participate in sports or other lessons.

Your child may ask you for particular lessons to learn a sport, or join a club or to join a bowling league. Encourage your child to be open minded and consider all options before making a commitment. If they are taking lessons, they will need to attend regularly and there will most likely be costs involved. Make sure that this is something that your child really wants to do.

You may want to show your child how to navigate the internet but, make sure you are monitoring them. There are specific websites designed for children that offer on line games, reading, puzzles and crosswords.

Most libraries have a website and may want to help your child search for a particular book or movie. The internet has become such a part of everyday society, it is important for children to learn how to use it at an early age.

If your child enjoys watching TV, make sure they are watching educational shows geared to children. You also want to make sure that they are doing physical activities such as sports or dance, so that they are not spending hours in front of the TV.

Children, depending on their age need help making wise decisions about their extra time. Some children need a lot of structured time so that they stay productive and don?t get bored. Other children are able to structure their time in a productive way.

Make sure you as a parent at encouraging them to learn and explore options at school, recreational centers, church and clubs. It is important for children to succeed, so help your child select activities that he or she will be successful at.

What your child chooses today may be his or her career tomorrow. Keep that in mind when you are encouraging your child to learn and participate in events and clubs.

Help your child learn by doing. It is the easiest and fastest way to learn. If you had good experiences as a girl or boy scout, you may want your child to get involved in scouting. If you studied music, you may want to encourage your child in this area. If you are an artist, you may want to teach your child to draw and paint.

In the long run, your positive attitude will enhance yours as well as your child?s life.

free lancer

Transformimg Maths From a Chore to a Challenge

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

A well proven fact states if you fire the imagination of children you also gain their attention �" an essential ingredient towards efficient learning. A school in Nottingham in the UK has proven the point by adopting a central Harry Potter theme to lessons.

Maths has adopted a series of spells and codes to enthral and encourage. Science has included “Herbology” as a new theme, and teachers have been dressing up to set the scene. It proves that education can be fun, and fun can be highly educational. By turning lessons into games much of the resistance to learning is removed and the results prove the effort to be well rewarded. Pupils at the Robert Mellors school in Nottingham have moved from the bottom 25 of schools in England in just three years.

A clear case of “Learning in Disguise”; Dona Chambers, the Headteacher said “They don’t realise we are ticking boxes in the National Curriculum during the games. It has had a phenomenal impact on the whole school. Because learning is so much fun, pupils want to be engaged”.

Supporting this form of fun activity is a large range of educational games used in school. They are now available for use at home to turn that boring homework session into a fun entertaining and imaginative approach to learning. And as the saying goes Practice makes perfect, or more appropriately in learning - Practice make Permanent. Many parents ideally like to maintain a role in the schooling process but do not want to interfere in the teaching process. Developments in teaching techniques have benefited from advances in technology and the text book of yesterday has been supplemented by the interactive DVD.

A whole range of educational games and educational toys have emerged over the last decade. Designed to tie in with the school curriculum by educationalists and ex teachers, the key is the element of fun they induce to learning. Children look forward to the games and suddenly learning takes on a hidden dimension. But perhaps the real key is the opportunity for parents to join in.

Learning retention is a combination of different inputs. The classroom environment steers children through the lesson presentation, demonstration and discussion activity, a process proven by the National Training Laboratory (NTL) to achieve 50 retention in learning.

As a parent Alistair Owens experienced the frustration that occurs when you learn your child is falling behind in a subject at school. How do you help correct the problem when you are not a teacher? Years later he discovered the range of educational toys now used in school to support lessons, and built an award winning website offering these educational games to parents. Parents are now able to help with some fun educational games at home.

Lost Education To Be Recovered At Home

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT

A growing concern voiced by many teachers is the level of disruption occurring in the average class. Ranging from the severe to a simple case of horseplay at the start of the lesson it has a dramatic effect in draining the teaching resources as well as impacting on the development of children in the class All is not lost as parents can affect a striking recovery plan that helps their child and the teacher.

Edward Lazear of the Hoover Institution found that, “If, on average, each student disrupts the class just 1 percent of the time, the time available for learning drops to 74 percent for a class size of 30.” Even the best teachers can only do so much, and many have cited disruption as the most stressful element of teaching. It is no wonder that the “teach to test” syndrome is one consequence of a school’s need to grasp some vestige of achievement by streamlining the teaching content to hit targets Regrettably this results in a veneer of knowledge, presenting a smart image on the surface but with little depth. Now it is possible for parents to use educational games at home to give greater practical support in the teaching activities of their children.

A sea change in the parental influence and control of a disruptive child is perhaps distant. A parent who doesn’t care is difficult to convince otherwise and the offspring understandably lack guidance, positive influence and a sense of direction. Moreover many disruptive children fail to see the consequence of their actions. Unfortunately this hurts the innocent students who wish to be taught.

The medium term fix requires a change in social attitudes. More immediate action can come from activity at home as research has shown that what parents do at home support to support learning can account for 80% of a child’s academic success. ( PTA magazine )

In the classroom the lesson length is a key component in the learning strategies of the school. The teaching time at school, matched to the needs of the National Curriculum, amounts to 196 days a year. Time lost in any lesson is irrecoverable and it is the whole class including the innocent that suffer. But over 47% of the year is actually spent by the child at home �" weekends and holidays, which presents a huge opportunity for parents and grandparents to join in.

Teaching in the classroom involves the structured introduction of maths, English, science and ICT etc. through the key stages of the curriculum. Learning development is greatly enhanced through practice; applying the relevance of what is being taught. Increasing emphasis of learning outside the classroom is being promoted by schools, education authorities and the government and this is where parents can play a huge part. Many teaching activities, in the form of educational games, are ideal for use at home. By allowing the parent and child to practice the lesson using maths games, English games and science games that follow the curriculum and classroom learning programme a child learning retention can be greatly enhanced.

The hands-on involvement of the parent in a programme where teacher, child and parent interact in a fun and highly productive manner is a real benefit. Educational games played at home are a great way to reinstate the involvement of parents that started in the foundation of their children’s learning. As previously mentioned research in the UK ( reported in the PTA magazine in 2007) shows the effect of what parents do at home to support learning can account for 80% of a child’s academic success. This compares to school being directly responsible for around 20% of factors leading to academic achievement.

In a class of 30 with a small disruptive element the lost learning time is staggering. The solution at school will take time; the solution at home can be immediate. And the active involvement of parents in the schooling process can help mitigate certain disruptive forces.

Alistair Owens Keen2learn

Personal experience has shown the author the huge difference in the potential learning curve of a child who is enjoying learning compared to the slog approach. Modern technology has opened new horizons to learning and the potential for parents to take a lead is enormous. Alistair Owens writes articles on the opportunity for fun learning that is all around us.

Turn A Shower Into An Educational Game

Thu, 15 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

They say education is a lifelong journey. Difficult to comprehend when you are at school slogging through lessons and exams but learning can be greater fun when turned into an educational game. Take a practical application and apply as many subjects that have been learned in the classroom.

This morning I took a shower, a frequent occurrence I hasten to add, but today I had one of those eureka moments - a tribute perhaps to that other rather more famous bather. Have you ever thought how much science is involved in the process of taking a shower? To highlight the point I have used the following abbreviations as each topic appeared during my ablutions. " Biology (B) " Physics (P) " Chemistry (C) " Maths (M) " Citizenship (Citi) " Psychology (Psy) " Geography (G) " Geology (Geo) " English Language (Eng)

The first question to loom up is why we take a shower? The experience is functional in removing body odours created by bacteria, (B) but also physiological as it induces endorphins that help wake you up and make you feel good (Psy) Removal of body odours also makes you a little less undesirable to others nearby ( City).

The water is fed from a header tank under gravity- thanks to Newton (P) - and as I'm a devout wuss, heated. Energy is consumed to heat the water by the conversion of electrical energy into heat P). This is measured in watts, the result of multiplying volts by amperes (M +P).

Responding to marketing persuasion I have been attracted to the delights of a power shower. The increased force (P) boosts the endorphins (B) but unfortunately uses 12 times the amount of water (Geo) than the gravity shower all of which has to be heated (P )

This is draining the natural resources, literally, of water and power causing environmental concerns (forgot to add the code for the environment - that's an (E).

The availability of water depends on geography (G) and the natural storage which locally are aquifers (Geo). Being male I have a predilection to B.o.g.o.f offers ( buy one get one free) in supermarkets and anything in blue packaging (Psy) The resultant over purchase of needless stock (M) led to a ban by my wife (City)that means all shower products used have her stamp of approval and sensible supply level. Today's showering experience was a cornucopia of non blue ingredients. The shampoo promised a "Fruitful Infusion" to produce a "Dazzling Shine" (Eng) from the passion flower, patchouli and vetiver ingredients(B).

The conditioner provided "Tangle free hair with uplifted volume" enhancing the dazzle effect by way of a "Citrus lift"(Eng) from tangerine, lemongrass and aloe vera (B) And the rest of the body below the head was in turn subjected to "Serious pampering"(Eng) from fennel (B) and sea mineral (C) based in a silky smooth shower gel (C).

The post shower application of talcum powder, contained talc mineral (C+Geo). The deodorant, promising to maintain a "desert - dry"(Eng) atmosphere under the arms (B +G) from aluminium zirconium trichlorohydrex (C). The aftershave contained alcohol ( C). In the space of 5 minutes I had consumed 150 litres of water, 4 kilowatts of energy (P), half an alpine meadow of additives, and drained the lot away to the water treatment works where they will use bacteria (B) to break the ingredients free from the water, and off we go again. Taking a simple shower will seem a lot busier from now on. My shower involved 34 applications of science and learning and a lot of fun to see how many links with education can be made. Alistair Owens operates an educational games web site ands writes on educational matters for a wide range of publications.

Alistair Owens operates an educational games web site ands writes on educational matters for a range of publications. He believes that education that is seen as fun stays with us longer than the faded text book. He operates an educational games website at http://www.keen2learn.co.uk

Parental Involvement In Learning

Wed, 07 Sep 2005 04:00:00 GMT

Whether children attend public or private schools, they benefit when parents become involved in their education. According to the National Institute for Literacy, when parents or other family members frequently read to children entering kindergarten, those children were at a distinct advantage over children whose families read to them less often.

The Early Childhood Longitudinal Study found that "Children who were read to at least three times a week by a family member were almost twice as likely to score in the top 25 percent in reading than children who were read to less than three times a week." The study also found that, of children who were read to at least three times a week:

* 76 percent had mastered the letter-sound relationship at the beginning of words, compared to 64 percent of children who were read to fewer than three times a week,

* 57 percent had mastered the letter-sound relationship at the end of words, compared to 43 percent who were read to fewer than three times a week,

* 15 percent had sight- word recognition skills, compared to 8 percent who were read to fewer than three times a week, and

* 5 percent could understand words in context, compared to 2 percent who were read to fewer than three times a week.

The positive impact of parental involvement in learning doesn't end with kindergarten. Having a variety of reading materials available at home helps older children with reading proficiency. The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) found that, among students in the fourth grade, "The 68% of students who had three or more different types of reading materials at home performed at the Proficient level, while students who had two or fewer types of reading material at home performed at the Basic level. Students who had 4 types of reading material at home performed the highest."

Similarly, students who discussed their studies and who talked about reading at home had greater reading proficiency than those who did not. And students of all ages who regularly saw parents and other family members reading at home were positively influenced.

In addition to having a variety of reading materials available at home, discussing reading, and setting a good example by reading, there are a number of ways that parents can create and nurture a home learning environment. Although the Teachers Involve Parents in Schoolwork (TIPS) program from the National Network of Partnership Schools at Johns Hopkins University is directed to teachers, it includes a number of excellent strategies that parents can implement to become active in their children's education.

Communicate: Regularly communicate with the teacher, either via parent-teacher conferences, weekly progress reviews, or homework reviews. Talk with the child, and have them share their schoolwork and school day experiences.

Volunteer: Volunteer to help out in the classroom or at other school activities.

Home Learning: Point out the links between schoolwork and real life situations. Go on family outings that reinforce the concepts being learned in school.

According to the National Education Association, parental involvement in learning is crucial. As evidence, they cite the following findings of research into parental involvement:

* When parents are involved in their children's education at home, they do better in school.

* And when parents are involved in school, children go farther in school - and the schools they go to are better.

* The family makes critical contributions to student achievement from preschool through high school.

* A home environment that encourages learning is more important to student achievement than income, education level or cultural background.

* Reading achievement is more dependent on learning activities in the home than in math or science.

* Reading aloud to children is the most important activity that parents can do to increase their child's chance of reading success. Talking to children about books and stories read to them also supports reading achievement.

* When children and parents talk regularly about school, children perform better academically.

* Three kinds of parental involvement at home are consistently associated with higher student achievement: actively organizing and monitoring a child's time, helping with homework and discussing school matters.

* The earlier the parent involvement begins in a child's educational process, the more powerful the effects.

* Positive results of parental involvement include improved student achievement, reduced absenteeism, improved behavior, and restored confidence among parents in their children's schooling.

There are many ways that parents can become involved in their children's education - the important thing is to become and stay involved!

Brent Sitton is the founder of http://www.DiscoveryJourney.com, which has Home Learning tools for parents. Children's Book Reviews include character trait examples and learning activities. http://www.discoveryjourney.com/homelearning.htm - http://www.discoveryjourney.com/bookchild.htm

Toys to entertain any child

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Toys and games are an essential developmental aspect to any young child's life. As a result of this, a varied toy market was created, stemming from as far back as 6000BC. This market has grown remarkably since its inception and has witnessed a diverse and specified range of toys and games. There are learning toys that have been expressly invented for the purpose of developing children educationally and readying them for preschool and then school. There are toys that have been built to encourage your child's natural development, i.e. promoting them to stand and then walk. Then there are also the simpler ranges of toys, those that are designed purely for children's entertainment. It's these toys that have managed to stand the test of time and proven to be the most popular among children of different generations. The Rubik's Cube is one such children's toy. Invented in 1974, the Rubik's Cube is the world's best-selling toy, with over 300,000,000 units having being sold worldwide by 2005. The phenomenon of this toy lies in solving this puzzle; each of the six faces is covered by nine stickers, among six solid colours (traditionally white, red, blue, orange, green, and yellow). A rotating mechanism enables each face to turn independently, thus mixing up the colours. For the puzzle to be solved, each face must be a solid colour. This seemingly simple concept is enjoyed both by young and old. The Rubik's Cube has since undergone a toy evolution to adapt to the technologically inclined society and its children. An online community around the world called Cubers, meets occasionally to compete in different contests such as setting a world record for speed solving and even competing in blindfolded cubing. There are also TV, computer and Nintendo Wii versions for solving the Rubik's Cube puzzle. Board games also hold a niche in the toy market as a children's game that the entire family can partake in. Patented in 1935, approximately 750 million people have played the game, making it the most played commercial board game in the world. In this game, players compete to acquire wealth through stylised economic activity involving the buying, renting, and trading of properties using play money, as players take turns moving across the board according to the roll of the dice. The object of the game is to own every piece of property and drive other players into bankruptcy. The game is named after the economic concept of monopoly, the domination of a market by a single entity. Monopoly has transitioned itself smoothly into today's culture. The graphic elements that have been trademarked such as special edition monopoly board game like the Disney edition, Monopoly Toy Story Beyond and the Star Wars edition, bears testament to this transition. Monopoly is still a great game because it helps its players develop social and interpersonal skills and encourages the concept of buying. The bicycle is one outdoors toy loved by all children and is a universal object that lies at the core of childhood dreams and memories. Bicycles were introduced in the 19th century and now number close to one billion worldwide. There are many versions of the bicycle, namely the tricycle which in modern times has been adapted to suite an even younger audience. Tricycles, otherwise known as trikes can be enjoyed by children as young as ten months. Usually featuring parental steer controls and a safety harness, trike toys are outdoor toys that encourage children to be independent and adventurous.

Marshall is a new dad looking for soft toys and came across this informative toyshop websites.

How to Choose child Daycare Center

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Choosing the good daycare center for your child should be a carefully thought out and researched process. Some daycare centers are excellent and some being just plain bad, it is important to choose a daycare center that helps your child grow and develop his skills while also having fun. Daycare might also be more of a learning environment than home care, which will become more important to you as your child gets older. Daycare center should provide environment where your child will receive the best possible care, coupled with an atmosphere that fosters children's love of learning, and encourages creativity and fun. There are a number of advantages to having your child in a daycare center. Excellent day care centers have a mix of activities that will teach different skills to your child. Projects that lead to creativity, storytelling, dancing, and singing all help the child learn instead of just playing all day. Children also get to socialize with other children, which they wouldn't get to do as often if they were at home with a nanny. The Daycare centers are more stable and consistent than nannies because the center will watch your child even if a teacher is sick.
Observe the following thing:
1.Does your child acts in the environment and around the teachers?
2. Does your child seem comfortable?
3. Do you think your child would be happy at the center?
You should be prepared to ask various questions. They include:
� Know about the ratio of staff and children in the daycare center. Are the teachers sufficient to give careful attention for each and every child?
� Know the qualifications that the teachers have. The teachers who are taking care of the children should have early childhood degree or certification.
Safety and Health is the main concern when choosing a child care center. You have to consider some safety facility things like, ensure that all the play rooms are well ventilated and the electrical sockets and sharp edges are covered. The working areas should be clean. Check for the room temperatures that are comfortable or not. Whether the cleaning materials and medicines are kept safely out of reach of children? Are there non-toxic play materials? What types of meals are served? First-aid kit is available or not.
Don't blindly choose the/www.willowbendlearningcenter.com/"> Child daycare, center with the suggestion of your friends or relatives. Before choosing the best /www.willowbendlearningcenter.com/"> day care for your little one, make a list of several /www.willowbendlearningcenter.com/"> day care centers , which are present in your city and among them choose the best which can give complete satisfaction to you. In order to get clear idea about the daycare center the first appointment should be an unplanned one.

Willow Bend Learning Center was established in 1998, offering full day and part time childcare for infants through kindergartners. Through the collective learning and experience of our staff, as well as the parents who bring their children to us, we have been successful in creating an environment where your child can get the best possible care coupled with an atmosphere of creativity, learning, and fun.

Butterflie Designs and Decorative Colour and shapes

Thu, 29 Mar 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Butterflies are one of the most colorful and beautiful creatures on Earth today, giving everybody young and old plenty of viewing satisfaction. You can find lots of variety's of butterfly species around gardens, woods, and flowers, generally in areas of warm weather as that is the perfect contrition. Since everybody loves butterflies so much, it is not uncommon to find such designs in many aspects of life. They are a symbol of total freedom and also beauty. More and more woman are getting tattoos these days or over the past decade than ever before. One of the most popular designs is that of a butterfly. You would be surprised how popular this is Women like it because it is a very tasteful tattoo that looks good in any location. The larger the tattoo size, the more detailed and colorfully the butterfly can be. All tattoo experts artist can make a butterfly design with multiple colors shapes and sizes that are vivid and blend well together. A tattoo artists can help you design the perfect butterfly to suit your just about any one choice desire. Butterflies make a great choice for home decor also. You can find everything in a butterfly pattern bedding, curtains, wallpaper to decorate your home or bathroom including a shower curtain, pictures to hang on the wall, rugs for the floor,bathroabs, toothbrush holders, soap dishes,toys, and more. You will be able to select from a variety of colors as well as butterfly species.or just design something your self. Butterfly designs are also a great way to decorate a nursery or a room for a young girl.all young girls love butterfly's You can get butterfly decals that can be applied to the wall or use stencils to color your own. Many places carry butterfly design wall border as well. Outside, butterfly status and wind chimes add flare and style to any type of decor very easily with these things. Since butterflies come with a warm feeling as well as offer some gorgeous color, thats what i like it is no wonder people use them for a variety of decorating ideas and fun both inside and outside of their home. Butterfly designs also are very popular for art and for tattoos because they symbolize freedom. not just for the buitifull colours and shapes If you are interested in various butterfly designs that are available, the Internet is a great place to start.to search out what your favorite is. You can get wonderful decorating ideas as well as search for a particular one you are interested in. Home improvement stores and craft shops are also great places to look for butterfly designs and in book good shops http://www.mickrush.com/Butterflies/index.php

Enjoy working on the net

How You Handle Your Childs Development Now Will Be With Them Forever

Mon, 09 Jan 2006 05:00:00 GMT

Having children is a life long commitment and it can be a daunting task when you think of all the different ways you can go about raising your child. Nowadays you need all the good help and information you can get when it comes to the development of your child, and there are many great websites on the internet that will give you a wealth of information. Whether you are just starting out with your first child, or maybe you need help with your teenager, you will find what you need to help you do the right thing for your child no matter what age they are or how many children or even grandchildren you are raising. There are hundreds, if not thousands of books out there that say they can help you with your child's development. Most of them are reputable however, they are supposed to be a tool to help you and give you some idea of how to help your child grow up healthy and strong. You should rely on your instincts too because you probably know more than you realize.

There are also many schools and training centers that you can enroll your child in that will help them with their school work and teach them the study skills they need to get ahead in school. There is help out their for parents who want their children to be the best they can be in all they do. Many websites can answer questions you have from doctor visits to separation anxiety. The first thing you will need to do to solve a specific problem is to find out what that problem is. So clarify the problem with your child's development before you start looking for a solution. So identify the key elements of the problem before you start looking for a solution. Visualize the problem or relevant process or situation. Sometimes, when we can see the problem with a child's development and all its important details right in front of us this will helps us understand the problem better. Other times we can't see important elements because they have already occurred or are not visible. In these cases, it is valuable to visualize important elements of the problem. Sometimes things said about problems are easier than the actual problem itself.

Research shows that parents are a major influence on their child's development. When looking for help, make sure the program you choose will include you in the process. It has also been found that parents who take time to play and read with their child will have a positive impact on them. Providing a stimulating home environment and using discipline strategies instead of spanking your child will have a more positive impact on them also. Most programs give free information on the best ways to promote a better education for your child. You want the best for your child's development and there are many websites out there that will help you get the best development you can find for your growing child.

LeAnna is an expert author who writes for Child's Development

Microphones - Sound Reinforcement Systems in the Classroom can Significantly Improve Pupils Academic Performance.

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Pupils can spend as much as 40% to 50% of their school day involved in listening to their teacher. However, as studies have indicated (Journal of the American Medical Association) 14.9% of children aged from 6 to19 years may suffer some form of hearing loss. Similar studies have also shown that around 80% of pupils may suffer some form of occasional hearing loss during their time at school.

In a recommendation published by the UK Department of Education & Skills (DfES)"Building Bulletin '93" it states that �All children benefit from improved speech clarity, not only those with permanent or temporary hearing loss. Academic performance has been shown to improve for all
class members with improvements noted in task behaviour, attentiveness,understanding of instructions, less repetition required, better attendance and improved levels of verbal recognition. �Furthermore, due to the clarity of speech from the teacher, similar improvements in learning performance are also noted in students for whom English is a second language.'

More recently Government legislation in the USA, UK and Europe requires that new schools in particular need to comply with a minimum standards ofacoustic performance in classrooms. Effective levels of speech recognition for pupils is considered paramount and the use of sound reinforcement systems is also viewed as an ideal solution.

A typical sound reinforcement system provides the teacher with a wireless or infrared microphone (more usually a lapel orpendanttype) which links to an amplifier and loudspeaker system.

Sound reinforcement systems raise the level of the teacher's voice but are intended to be non-intrusive. These systems have been in use quite extensively in the USA over the past 15 years or so and are seen as a significant opportunity to improve academic performance in the UK and in Europe.

In West Orange, N.J. USA first grade classrooms at St. Cloud Elementary School were fitted with sound reinforcement. No other changes were made to the curriculum — only amplification of the teachers voice. Reading scores in one year went from 59% to 89%. After seeing these results, the district required amplification in other classrooms. Some researchers state that test scores have improved and classrooms are less stressful with amplification. Students state they can now hear a soft-spoken teacher even across the room or when writing on the board.

In line with the UK DfES equipment recommendations, systems have been developedto meet the needs of the classroom. With a choice of microphones with either radio frequency or infrared wireless transmitters, there are a variety of solutions available, with a range of benefits.

Infrared transmitters are becoming more popular as they limit the signal to the confines of one classroom, enabling many systems to be used in a single school without suffering the interference problems associated with RF wireless systems. Systems may have integrated receivers and amplifiers or for more cost effective solutions have separate receivers that can be connected to existing classroom sound systems associated with interactive whiteboards. Speakers should be placed to provide an effective sound pressure level throughout the classroom for best effect and may be ceiling or wall mounted.

David Edis-Bates, C.Eng MIET has spent more than 30 years in export related activities around the world, lived in Taiwan for 4 years in the 70�s and in China for the past 5 years. He taught in further education for several years in the UK and is currently CEO Edis Trading (HK) Limited http://www.edistrading.hk who design and manufacture sound reinforcement systems

Updated Hurricane Teaching Tips

Fri, 09 Sep 2005 04:00:00 GMT

With this severe, active, hurricane season underway, here are some ideas to make areas of the curriculum relevant to your children. There are also suggestions for dealing with the aftermath of a catastrophic hurricane. If you are in an area that experiences other natural phenomena, just adapt these suggestions to fit your needs. 1. Have children express their feelings. Youngsters will be able to draw pictures and dictate sentences, while older children will be able to illustrate their own stories. With everyone participating, this will draw out your shy, timid children who may not want to take part in a verbal discussion. 2. Make a bound book of the class' experiences and keep it in the class library. Perhaps you can have students �rent' it for a night to share with their families. 3. If you do not have Pen Pals, why not try to find a class in another part of the country or world that has not experienced a hurricane. Your pupils will then become teachers as they explain what happened. 4. Instead of writing, your class could make a cassette or videotape. If sending it to Pen Pals, make sure you check on the privacy policies in your school. 5. Use children's experiences to have lessons on adjectives, adverbs, similes, and onomatopoeia. 6. Answer who, what, where, when, why, and how as you write the opening paragraph of a story. Do it on the overhead projector and obtain input from class members. 7. This would be a good time to teach specificity and the Voice Writing Trait. Compare these two stories and tell which is more specific and exciting: a. Yesterday, a hurricane came to my city and caused a lot of damage. I was scared because it was loud and the water was high. b. On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina roared into New Orleans like a lion. I felt terrified as I heard the howling wind and crashing surf; but I was petrified when the water kept rising and I had to climb through my roof to be safe. When I got up there, all I could see was water, water everywhere and rooftops of houses. 8. Have a unit on the Five Senses of Hurricane ___. Can you smell the sweat? Do you feel hot and sticky? Have each child make his own booklet. 9. Reinforce map skills as you track a hurricane. What better way to relate latitude and longitude?! Get to know those terms for your own city. Looking at the map's key, older children will be able to estimate how far away a hurricane is from a specific place. 10. Delve into the causes of hurricanes. Make a list of the strongest ever recorded and include their data. This will reinforce research skills and graph-making. 11. Tally how many hurricanes have occurred each year since 1960. Circle the major ones. Is there a pattern? 12. Teachers and parents, alike, will need to remember that there may be extreme anxiety during any rainstorm. If the power is still on, try to stand close to a person who has been through a horrible ordeal. Give a pat on the back or a hug, along with a reassuring word. On the other hand, if power goes out, have a flashlight handy and play games with it (follow the direction of light; spotlight a child and have him recite a poem, sing a song, or perform a silly antic). Have children all hold hands to know they are not alone. If children are old enough, keep your lessons going without reading; much can be accomplished orally! Do whatever you can to allay children's fears. I hope these ideas are useful and have inspired your own creative thinking. And remember...Reading is FUNdamental!!

Freda J. Glatt, MS, retired from teaching after a 34-year career in Early-Childhood and Elementary Education. Her focus, now, is to reach out and help others reinforce reading comprehension and develop a love for reading. Visit her site at http://www.sandralreading.com. Reading is FUNdamental!

Reading-Comprehension Skills - Part I

Tue, 30 May 2006 04:00:00 GMT

If you can read every word on a page, are you really reading? Well, maybe and maybe not! One definition of 'read' is "to utter aloud written matter;" if using this definition alone, of course you are reading. There is another definition, though, which says "to understand or interpret." After reading the page, if you cannot answer questions about the material, you really just called out words. Yes, you must know the words, but you also have to understand the author's message. THEN, you are truly reading. Reading comprehension includes a number of specific skills. When reading with your children, ask questions that will reinforce these concepts, especially during long absences from school. Here are a few: 1. Main Idea - What is the most important thing the paragraph, page, chapter, story, article, or cartoon is about? When students are first learning this skill, the main idea is usually found in the first sentence; later on, it may not be stated at all. The detail sentences tell about the main idea. Example: I went to a pet shop. It had food and toys for all kinds of pets. The animal sections had birds, fish, and kittens. I wound up buying some cat litter. In this example, the first sentence tells the main idea and the rest of the sentences tell more about what happened at the pet shop. 2. Inferences - To infer means "to conclude by reasoning from something known or assumed." In other words, use your prior knowledge to figure out something. Example: The Eagle has made an historic landing. There are craters and rocks as far as the eye can see. Pretty soon, I will don a special suit and be the first man to step on the surface. From these clues, you can infer that a man will soon step on the moon. The first man who did that was Neil Armstrong. 3. Predicting Outcomes - If you understand what you are reading, you will be able to guess what will happen next. Reinforce this skill during commercials when you are watching TV! Example: I took a bath, brushed my teeth, and put on my pajamas. My mother came in to read me a story. When she was finished, she kissed me goodnight. You can predict that the child will now go to sleep. 4. Fact or Opinion - A fact is something you can prove to be true, whether or not you like it, while an opinion is what you think or believe. Example: I am in the Bank Atlantic Center. Faith Hill and Tim McGraw are going to give a concert. They are the best singers of all! The first two sentences are facts but the last is an opinion. Your opinion does not have to agree with anyone else's because it reflects what YOU think. Clues can be comparison words ending in 'er' (ie: prettier) or 'est' (ie: happiest), as well as phrases such as 'of all' or 'in the whole world.' To review, then, along with knowing words, you must be able to interpret their meaning in order to read. Some specific skills that help in comprehension are main idea, inferences, predicting outcomes, and fact or opinion. In a future article, I will write about other reading-comprehension skills. I hope these examples are useful and inspire your own creative thinking. And remember...Reading is FUNdamental!

Freda J. Glatt, MS, retired from teaching after a 34-year career in Early-Childhood and Elementary Education. Her focus, now, is to reach out and help others reinforce reading comprehension and develop a love for reading. Visit her site at http://www.sandralreading.com. Reading is FUNdamental! Copyright © 2003-2006 Sandral Sensations, Inc., Fort Lauderdale, Florida All Rights Reserved

Play and learn preschool: The best kangaroo kids-kkblr

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Learning is a part of our lives and this education helps us to achieve the various dreams and goals that we have set our sights on. This learning process begins from the time that we are babies. The solid foundations for social interaction and education start during the preschool days. At these places children follow a preschool curriculum that allows them to play and learn at the same time. In the various preschools that can be found there are different activities for children. These activities are designed to stimulate the mental and creative abilities of children. It is at these places that your child will have the beginnings of their formative education. Lessons from books are great, but children learn through play far better than they do in other forms. There are several reasons for this. At the heart of it is their desire to learn. When learning is not so much work but is fun, children are more willing to participate. They want to jump in and have a good time. As a parent, the more that you can teach through play, the more that your child will retain later on. While some skills need to be taught formally, such as math facts and reading, there are still great ways to teach through play. Children learn through various methods, but often their physical and social world teaches them the most. Even small infants learn this way. Parents can enhance a young child's learning process by giving them a variety of ways to learn through sight, touch, taste and smell. For infants, play the games that children love, such as peek a boo and other interactions that teach cause and effect. It also teaches them how to interact socially with their families. As children grow older, they still need stimulation. Remember, kids having fun gives them an added incentive to do the activity you want them to. Pretend play is one of the core elements of the development of imagination. Pack up a truck full of great costumes (you can pick these up very inexpensively after Halloween) and encourage both boys and girls to play. What you will find is that many of the roles playing games they play now are direct reflections of the experiences they have had. For example, a child who may be going to daycare for the first time, may practice leaving her baby doll at a pretend daycare. The act is helpful, but the conversations they have of telling the doll that "mommy will be back very soon" will help them later to deal with their fears of being left. Encourage this type of play. Child's play through the years changes even more so. During preschool and kindergarten, one of the best ways to teach a child is through stories and pictures. They learn to interact with each other as well as with the outside world. For example, set the stage for a great adventure story. Read them the story during the morning hours. Then, give them a few ideas and let them act out the story in their own way. You can teach many of the fundamentals in this manner, everything from manners to helping those in need. Other activities to encourage helping children learn through play include: � Craft projects: they explore their talents and explore texture, dimension, color and shapes � Dance: They explore their physical bodies and stay physically fit � Building with blocks: Everything from wooden blocks to Lego's helps children to learn structure, dimension, balance, and help them to grow their imagination. � Drawing: Use various types of mediums from paints to pencil to help them to learn numbers, letters, shapes and much more These activities can incorporate other skills, too. For example, perhaps an art project can center around a specific letter of the alphabet. Do not be elaborate, but do be dramatic. The social interaction that takes place between teachers and children at this stage also helps the children to understand the role of their parents and of their teachers. From these two sets of adults the child learns of the social barriers that define right and wrong. The preschool curriculum also sets out the various subject matters that your child will explore first. These subjects will be learning the alphabet and some basic maths. Additionally your child will be introduced to the science subjects by letting them see how the various objects in nature interact with each other. To know more details about the articles please go through our website:-http://www.kkblr.com

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Martin Luther King, Jr. Teaching Tips

Fri, 16 Dec 2005 05:00:00 GMT

Who was born on January 15, 1929? A man who believed in equality and peace...Martin Luther King, Jr. Here are some ways to honor this man. NOTE: If you live in a country other than America, adapt these activities for a significant person in your country's history. 1. Draw a silhouette of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s face against a plain background; then add lines to create a puzzle. Add words that rhyme with 'king' in the spaces of the face and words that rhyme with 'men' in the background. Color the first set of words brown and the second set of words red. NOTE: Vary the activity by adding equal math problems in the face and unequal math problems in the background (ie: 4+6=2+7+1 versus 5+3=2+3+4). 2. Make a Criss-Cross puzzle with these words: Atlanta, dream, equal, laws, leader, minister, peaceful, and prize. 3. Use the same words in Tip 2 to fill in these blanks: Martin Luther King, Jr. was born in _____, Georgia. Dr. King received the Nobel Peace _____. MLK worked to change unfair _____. Dr. King gave a famous speech called "I Have a _____." MLK was a great _____. When he grew up, Martin Luther King, Jr. became a _____. Dr. King believed that all people should be _____. Dr. King believed in _____ protests. 4. Have older children look up the following words in a dictionary, encyclopedia, or the internet: segregation, prejudice, equality, civil rights, nonviolent resistance, protest, demonstrations, equal opportunity, Nobel Peace Prize, assassinated, tribute. What does each word or phrase mean? How can you apply it to Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life? 5. As a culminating activity to your unit, have a panel of 'interviewers' ask 'Dr. King' questions. 6. As an alternate activity, have children write a play. Different groups of students can focus on various aspects of Dr. King's life. I hope these ideas are useful and have inspired your own creative thinking. And remember...Reading is FUNdamental! (Answers to Tip 3: Atlanta, prize, laws, dream, leader, minister, equal, peaceful)

Freda J. Glatt, MS, retired from teaching after a 34-year career in Early-Childhood and Elementary Education. Her focus, now, is to reach out and help others reinforce reading comprehension and develop a love for reading. Visit her site at http://www.sandralreading.com. Reading is FUNdamental! Copyright ? 2003-2005 Sandral Sensations, Inc., Fort Lauderdale, Florida All Rights Reserved?

Developing Reading Skills In Your Child

Thu, 23 Feb 2006 05:00:00 GMT

A lot of teaching your child to read is first instilling in your child a desire to read. It’s so very important for the child to know that reading activities and learning to read is fun. Early on, for instance, if you haven’t yet, set aside an area of your home where your child can have their very own reading area and little person library. This will get most all your reading activities off to a great start. Having their own special place for reading activities will encourage the child to spend time reading. Encourage them to begin to find their favorite spot within their area for their reading activities. Grab yourself a comfy chair and join them and you’ll be amazed how much your child will want go into their reading area and have you with them for a reading session. And an added bonus to the reading area is a great place and time for you to spend with your child reading to them and vise versa. Reading is nothing more than a practiced skill. Practicing being the operative word. Instilling good reading habits in your child early on with consistent and daily reading and practice sessions is laying the bricks to a solid learning foundation no matter what the subject matter. Books from bookstores, garage sales, flea markets and such are a great way to begin building your child’s reading library content. Grab a cardboard box, and old milk crate or two and decorate them with your child so they can have their own library and take pride in how it looks and help them organize their reading materials. If you already have bookcases, then clear of one of the shelves and make that special place for your child’s books. It’s fun to do and your kids will have fun too. Build momentum early with how much fun reading and exploring books can be. Also make good use of your public library. Teaching reading skills begins with developing in your child an interest and love for reading. As your child’s library grows along with their reading skill they will understand that books are important, enjoyable, and always filled with new things to learn. A good reading activity can involve very little actual reading. Use picture books with very few or no words and ask your child to describe the picture or tell a story about what the picture is about. This will allow you to monitor the child’s vocabulary and the use of the words they have been learning. Don’t overlook the importance of vocabulary building along with building reading skills. A strong vocabulary goes well with understanding what you’re reading which, in turn, keeps the frustration level down, and the fun factor up. Encouraging your child to verbalize to you a story or even a couple pages of something they have read about gives them great pride (while you listen for accuracy) and makes them feel like a reader! And when kids feel good about their reading skills they naturally strive to learn more.

Mary Joyce is a former educator, successful homeschool parent, and the primary contributor to the Homeschool-Curriculum-4u website. Please visit (http://www.homeschool-curriculum-4u.com) for a complete list of Mary's articles, resources on homeschool, ideas, and curriculum information. Also tips guides and how-to's to help you successfully teach your child at home.

Educational Toys Make Learning Fun and Easy

Tue, 05 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Children love hands-on education and the Toobeez educational toys for kids are just the tool to get them learning through play and physical activity.

These giant tinker toy like building kits support educational classroom goals through exciting and enticing activities and differentiated instruction that addresses multiple intelligences. You'll find dozens of learning activities created by teachers for teachers in the Toobeez activities books.

Kinesthetic Language Arts Activities
In your language arts classroom, the Toobeez educational toys for children are a quick way to set the stage for dramatic learning. Act out literature for greater understanding. Role play scenes and then record the dialogue to build writing skills. Have students create a new invention with Toobeez and then produce an instruction pamphlet for their unique device, including clear instructions. With the Toobeez Language Arts Activities Book, you will find ten innovative activities to improve reading comprehension, grammar, and creative expression. There is no end to the cooperative learning possibilities.

Hands-On Mathematics Activities
Bring another dimension to your math instruction with Toobeez construction toys for the mathematics classroom. Difficult, abstract concepts are easier to master when you build graphs, angles, and shapes using Toobeez learning toys.

As Kim Cooke of Walter Bickett Elementary School in Monroe, NC, explains, “One of my passions is gaining a better understanding on how the brain learns, and your activity books included up to date brain strategies. The books were very teacher-friendly and I was able to instantly incorporate the activities into my presentations and lessons. I have contacted 3 other principals and 18 other Teachers in my school system about your products.”

Students will understand the relevance of mathematics as they build and test their Toobeez structures. Ten engaging and open ended activities from the Toobeez Mathematics Activities Book will have students eager to learn more about mathematics.

Educational Toys for Toddlers and Preschooler
Young children learn best through play. Give kids a good start by choosing the right educational learning toys for toddlers and preschoolers. Because these multipurpose toys can be used in a variety of educational and fun ways, Toobeez make the perfect day care toy or toy for teachers of young children.

Toobeez encourage young children to explore their world in an educational and rewarding way. Build a tunnel, teach basic shapes, and create puppet theaters for kids.

Learning Toys
With these educational toys for kids, classroom activities transform into an opportunity for collaboration and genuine discovery.

Pete Smithson from Central Middle School, Orlando, FL, is impressed with the flexibility of these building toys: “The open ended nature of the product allows us to use your products within our entire school. We use them in our staff development days, core subjects, field day, and even our after school activities. What a great program.”
As teachers and educators, you know the value of character education. Toobeez brings learners together to complete authentic tasks.

Toobeez encourage perseverance, trust, responsibility and cooperation through activities that complement linguistic, logical spatial or kinesthetic learning styles.
The workbooks also include discussion questions and activity variations to differentiate for learning styles and strengths!

Your students will build amazing things with Toobeez�"including their self-esteem.

Candace Lindemann holds a Masters Degree in Education from Harvard. As former teacher and full time mom, she enjoys sharing new experiences with her baby and creating informational articles about educational toys.

Best preschool curriculum:The best kangaroo kids-kkblr

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

A typical preschool curriculum used in a Brookline childcare center, preschool or family daycare in Brookline will include activities that increase language and literary skills, as well as prepare children for math and science. Basic activities that foster these skills include identifying sizes, shapes, colors, and words, In addition, activities that focus upon developing the ability to recognize patterns and sequences in the form of numbers, shapes or letters should always be part of a preschool curriculum. Enriched programs for kkblrs preschool children will include reading stories, drawing pictures, writing practice and telling stories aloud. These activities may seem like "play" but in fact, they prepare children for reading and strengthen their language skills. Given that much learning for older children requires a solid foundation in reading and language skills, parents should ascertain this is included in the curriculum used by their Brookline preschool program. In addition, family daycare in kkblr for preschoolers should also foster early math skills such as counting, recognizing patterns, shapes and categories. In some cases, children may even be introduced to the concept of telling time. Young children learn best through play. During the course of play, they learn social skills such as taking turns and working together, as well as absorbing the fundamentals of the lesson without even realizing that they are doing so. Further, this particular age group is most receptive to learning new skills; their brains are like sponges, eager to soak up all that they see, hear, and experience. It is for this reason that preschool programs are generally play based. Preschool learning games are built into the curriculum to help foster these important lessons that will help children have a successful Kindergarten experience and, ultimately, a successful school career. Today's preschool learning games include a number of activities such as ball play that fosters hand-eye coordination, writing games that further fine motor skills, physical games that help promote gross motor skills, card games to help encourage memory retention, and games focused on books to instill a love of reading and language. Many teachers will find creative ways to teach the basics such as ABC's, mathematics, social science, and history through preschool learning games and fun play. Additionally, the modern preschool environment will often utilize computers to incorporate preschool learning games. A host of computer programs geared to the preschool age teach a variety of essential lessons with the assistance of color graphics, lighthearted music, and recognizable characters to spark the interest of children. When choosing a preschool, look for a curriculum that incorporates preschool learning games into daily activity. This first foray into a learning environment should be one that includes nurturing, fun, and activity. Research has shown us time and again that children respond to this type of environment and will retain a love for school and of learning that will follow them for a lifetime. To know more details about the articles please go through our website:-http://www.kkblr.com

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Landmark Education

Fri, 15 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Everyone, at some point, passing through an impasse in; disappointed when it breaks, and people want to get up and go. Just look at the example of recent headlines: "World Distribution of negotiations, or labor negotiations at a standstill" or "negotiations do not lead to an agreement." When the stakes are high and people are afraid they are something to lose touch becomes tense, and people stop listening to each other. Typically, while arguing that the people on the other side of the table in fact, those who do not listen. We receive and fear of how other people hear what we have to say, we do not want to hear what they have to say.

Indeed, listening, sometimes it seems as if it is a rare happening among human beings. We can not listen to another person to say, if we are busy or if we are trying to decide what we will talk when the other stops talking, or when we are debating whether what is said is true or appropriate or acceptable. Listening, in other words, is now available and open to what he said.

In Landmark Education claims that we hear is an amazing power. He gives life to what is said. One could even say that it is with the listener that the speaker and what is spoken there and alive. Think about how inspired and enlivened older people can become when you sit down and have a long conversation with them. Think about what happens when someone really listen to you. With the notification that you have been funnier and more playful when someone laughs at your jokes? And when a child recognizes that adults actually listen to them? Their conduct throughout the shift. In the programs of Landmark Education, you will find a new ability to listen to others. You will find yourself inspired by the people you have in your life. When you really listen to people you find the best of what they can offer.

Speaking at the time, could be something more than talk, more than the exchange of symbols or information, more than say what you really think. As we can share ourselves, we can cause the experience in other countries. Having said this, when our ideas, obviously, and it is possible. It was there where others will be expanded in our time spent with them. It allows for the futures we create. Speaking of poetry, in the assessment of other downtime in conversations that are being, in large theories and books that lead to surprising and thought.
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Addressing allows you to "who" and "how" we "are" in the world. This provides that the voice of all that is possible to obtain the rights. In our ability to speak and share, we have an opportunity to shape the world we live

In the Landmark Education courses, you discover that the true message creation. She has the right to shape, define and change the course and the quality of our lives. He moves people. It creates the experience of other countries. It not only provides information for others, it actually makes their ability to hear. True communication is transformed as a speaker and listeners.

The Landmark Forum has shown that it should be a man has its own domain, and domain, which is one of the languages of communication, conversation. Due to communication in the language of conversation, each of us has the full access to themselves, on the other, to the very core, and the possibility of what it means to be human.

This is the essence of what Landmark Education, and what The Landmark Forum provides.

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Play Kitchens are a great tool in child development

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:00:00 GMT

A play kitchen set is a fun way to help your child grow and learn. Kids love to role play and pretend they're one of the grown-ups. Think back to your own childhood and you may remember dressing-up in your mother's closet, or the plastic tool set that made you feel like a real handyman. This type of play has always been popular with children. Even the most modern electronics are no substitute for make-believe. A play kitchen can provide hours of entertainment to keep you child occupied, without resorting to sitting them in front of the TV. This encourages them to exercise their imagination and provides a hands-on activity that is essential to their development. Play kitchens also allow them to become familiar with ordinary kitchen appliances. Parents have noted that a Play Kitchen is also, in a way, environmentally friendly because it is adaptable, expandable and grows with your child through several periods of development. It is more likely to be recycled and reused, either in your own household, or given away to friends /charity. Other benefits of a play kitchen include: Social and Emotional Development- Kids are given the opportunity to become something impressive during pretend play. They can be a world class chef creating a culinary masterpiece for their dolls or action figures, or they can simply be a prestigious host with their very own kitchen to brew tea and bake croissants for their guests. This instills a sense of confidence and a desire to explore new things. Mental Development- Children may encounter many problem-solving situations during pretend play in their kitchen. Whether they're choosing the appropriate appliance for frying an egg, or finding creative ways to replace lost utensils, the process of looking for solutions to obstacles develops the analytical skills of your child. It also promotes creativity, resourcefulness, logical reasoning, and abstract thinking. Building Responsibility- When children are given such an elaborate toy as a Play Kitchen, they should be informed of the responsibility involved in maintaining their new kitchen. Make sure they understand that everything has its place, and when they're done playing, those items must be returned to their appropriate location, just like in your own kitchen. Explain how keeping their Play Kitchen clean will keep it in good working order. This will demonstrate the need to care for their belongings as well as illustrate the importance of discipline and organization. Communication- Children rarely ever play alone, whether they're interacting with siblings, parents, playmates, dolls, or imaginary friends, they will be engaged in conversation. It is essential to stimulate conversational skills in children. Most kids develop age appropriate social skills by asking questions, observing, and interacting with a wide range of people. In the setting of their play kitchen, children can engage in many different scenarios which require verbal communication. Writing a grocery list to fill their pantry can induce a desire to read and write. These are all crucial experiences to ensure that your child grows in an ideal environment of fun, responsibility, and education.

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After School Program in Hamden for Muslim

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 04:00:00 GMT

SKF academy is a Nobel Islamic center for learning, training and practicing. Salma K. FARID Academy is providing facilities as an all rounder for children at the age of kindergarten and up to eighth grade. It works as an Islamic center, a tution center, after school training/coaching center and a center for children's extracurricular activities. Islamic center's major goal is to give basic Islamic education to the children at their early ages. It provides complete education of Quran, Arabic and other general Islamic concepts. It is an Islamic school that is targeted to help children learn about Islam and understand and implement the basic elements of faith and practices in Islam. Quran School pays special attention in understanding, reading and learning Quran with proper articulation and meaning. Hamden Islamic center is also a coaching and tution center. It provides services in after school programs for Muslims along with extra religious knowledge like helping children in their school home works, special attention in difficult subjects helps in discovering the topic of interest about Islam and builds a strong bond between the other religions and cultures. This Muslim community center is providing equal education to every child without any discrimination of race, religion or gender. This Islamic academy is different from other Islamic centers because it is providing training classes on extracurricular activities like sports, martial arts, Islamic art of calligraphy, needlepoint, dramatic play, creative art sessions, music, Islamic songs, poems, finger plays etc. The purpose of this Islamic center of America is to educate children about Islam from the grass root level without making anything burden for them. The friendly atmosphere, specially trained & skilled teachers, every day's refreshing activities develop an interest in the child to come and attend the sessions intentionally. CT Muslim community center is not only providing classroom training and learning sessions but also facilitate children with field trips to public libraries and various local landmarks. The Islamic academy ct don't stick to the permanent faculty members knowledge, they also invites local professionals and community workers to discuss their different occupations and interests. This increases the curiosity in children and helps them in getting awareness about the professions. It helps in building their minds and setting path ways for their future.

The SKF Academy is an Islamic center located in Hamden, CT. It offers after school programs for Muslims children of the Muslim Community that focus on spiritual, educational and indoor physical education. The Salma K. Farid Academy is a non-profit Islamic center and is Sadqa-Jariya for the Muslim Community

Thinking About The Early Childhood Writing Corner

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Remember that feeling you get when you walk into Staples or Office Depot or any specialty stationary store? Hold onto that feeling when you are thinking about preparing a really fun writing area for your classroom. Remember what it is about your shopping experience that makes looking at all the papers and supplies so much fun. You want your writing corner to be that much for your students. Include: * many different sizes, shapes, colors and weights of papers * have a variety of envelopes * look for different pencils, pens, colored pencils, chalk, erasers * supply rulers, protractors, and small hand-held pencil sharpeners * tape, glue, staplers and staple remover, masking tape * a hole punch - there are many hole punches that make different shapes * lined paper in a tablet * scratch pads * Magic Slates, real slate boards, or erasable marker boards * ink pads and ink stamps * scissors * cardboard stock, oak tag * real stamps (recycle cancelled stamps from discarded letters) * pictionary All these items do not need to be present all the time. In fact, mixing up the variety of papers and envelopes can add excitement to the center, as there can always be something new to find. Next consider creating a very simple portfolio with different written materials. One section might be a sample of menus, simple letters, brochures, job applications, receipts, and addressed envelopes. You may need to enlarge these items so your young learner can easily look at them. As the children begin to write down their shopping lists or take orders they can (if they want to) look at the general form of these items. Some will try to imitate the form while others may have no interest at all. Having an opportunity to see what "grown-ups" use in their work is very exciting for children. And remember, while the writing corner may have a designated area in the classroom, it can not be confined to any one physical location in the class. Pencils, papers, rulers, and scratch pads need to be everywhere - a reminder that we can save our thoughts and share information by writing it down.

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Activities for preschool childrenP:The best kangaroo kids-kkblr

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Preschoolers are a handful and every mother, teacher and grandmother is always looking for good activities for preschoolers toddlers that will keep them occupied and be educational at the same time. This can be a tall order because finding activities for preschoolers that will appeal to the majority of a preschool class can be challenging, what's more, many sites don't seem to understand that activities for preschooler's toddlers need to be age appropriate and hopefully inexpensive. The activities for preschooler's toddlers that you use should be based on what you want them to learn. Preschool age is a good age to get your kids interested in writing and reading. By starting early you can lay strong learning foundations at a young age. Whatever you are teaching the kids, use a step by step approach. Don't expect them to run before they start walking. Preschool worksheets can be quite helpful to teach the kids various new things — from alphabets to numbers to language development. Don't hand over the worksheets and expect them to complete the task. Sit with them, help them and participate in the activity as much as you can. It will also make the activity a fun exercise. Plus this way you can also monitor their progress. Do not over do the activity though. Spend only a limited amount of time each day. It is important that kids enjoy the exercise otherwise they will soon start hating the entire learning process — and this is not good news. If your children have older siblings then you can get them to do their activity when the older ones are doing their school work Farm stories, songs and activities are some of the most exciting exercises you can find for preschool children. If you work or live with preschool children, you're always on the lookout for ideas that will help you build in some daily physical activity, Warm up. Preschool children need to warm up before they exercise just like adults do. Make sure you move them around gently for several minutes before instructing them to run, jump or do any type of strenuous movement. Balance: Good balance is important for almost all athletic activities. Keeping in mind the age of the preschool children, they should be able to balance on one foot from 3-10 seconds. Don't limit yourself to only standing balance exercises. Children love to get down on the ground and balance on hands and legs and then lift one or even two limbs in the air. Sports Skills: Have all the children use plastic coffee can lids as Frisbees or wadded up balls of paper with mini-brooms as hockey sticks. You can create a number of sports items from common household supplies. Preschool children need practice with basic sports skills early in life to become competent and proficient enough to enjoy these activities later on. Make sure all children have their own prop so that they can get the most amount of hands-on time practicing. Strengthening: Resistance exercise will help prevent childhood obesity by developing muscle mass which burns much more calories than an equal amount of fat. Children can do simple calisthenics like modified push ups, squats, lunges and crunches using their own body weight for resistance or have fun with props such as tug-of-war ropes, weighted bean bags, elastic bands, and water bottles. To know more details about the articles please go through our website:-http://www.kkblr.com

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Preschool online: The best kangaroo kids-kkblr

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

If you are wondering about free online preschool games, you came to the right place. What are the advantages you may ask? The first advantage is that it gives you a child a headstart on what he/she will face in school soon. It also gives them extra practice in learning basil reading skills such as sounds and recognition of letters that they will definitely need as a base to learn how to read and how to read well. The best thing to do when starting these free online preschool games with your preschooler is to actually take the time and sit down with them and go through the programs with them. They will love the attention and the fact that you took the time to show them, even if you can't tell this by their reaction. They will be so excited about the game, but they will remember who showed them the games and come to you for help. Children's early learning activities should be carefully chosen. Toddlers are on a huge learning curve and possess many skills which should be developed with proper attention and training. Playing is as essential aspect of their learning which helps them develop their physical skills and confidence. Online Games and Learning: Online games and activities are a wonderful way of spending quality time with parents. Different set of activities are programmed for infants, toddlers and preschoolers. Online learning and games generally aim at improving hand-eye coordination, problem solving, and recognition, social and interactive skills. Early learning fun games introduce your toddler to the delights of shapes, colors, alphabets and numbers. Online games and activities such as art attack, BBC online, Benny smart, counting chickens, fun school, have fun with spot, preschool rainbow, alphabet lessons, Fisher price, Elephants memory game entertain and educate children. They get a whole range of games and fun filled activities just sitting in front their computer. Preschools: Online Preschools help parents in imparting step by step training and lesson which are specifically aimed at improving their exposure, skills, creativity and knowledge at the comfort of their home. Their teaching programs consist of Online Learning, childhood development, early learning ideas and teaching activities for children that are easy for parents and teachers to teach kids at home. Montessori: Online Montessori program is designed for parents and teachers who wish to incorporate Montessori into their daily day care activities. Consulting services such as how to set up a Montessori environment, how to make your materials and activities, where to buy affordable materials, what to buy for children and when to buy, dealing with issues such as potty training, sleeping, throwing tantrums, working with sibling, discipline, and behavioral issues. Preschool Online Games Bring an Edge Many people feel that online learning gives their children an "edge" that gets them started early on to prepare them for preschool or kindergarten. There are some absolutely wonderful new resources online if you are a parent of a toddler or preschooler looking for educational games. The Most Important Aspect of Online Preschool Learning The most important aspect is to know what your child is viewing at all times and not to substitute it for your own love and attention. There are those many times when you need a babysitter, and online educational learning can fill this gap nicely. Make sure your child is within your sight and earshot and listen carefully to what they are doing at all times. Having your child learn letters and sounds and engaging their minds and even playing the games with them at times, is a wonderful way to introduce them to school. In the past, kids played "school" but now children can actually play school online. The Second Thing to Consider The second thing to consider is the type of program they are listening to and interacting with while you are not watching. Make sure there are no scary images, but instead foster healthy thoughts and dreams. Listen to see what the educational game is asking the children to do or to repeat. It is so important that you are aware of each aspect of the game that you introduce your child to while you are busy doing other things that life brings our way. One way to introduce your child to the world of personal computers is to introduce them to free preschool games online. Schools are now implementing new and wonderful technology to enhance your child's reading, math, science and social studies skills. Why not start them off at home and introduce them to free online games in the comfort of your own home before they get to school? There are many companies that produce software made especially for your sweet preschooler and you and your preschooler can have a blast exploring all the free preschool games online! To know more details about the articles please go through our website:-http://www.kkblr.com

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An easy approach to spelling bee training

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT

In this world of tough competition, it is very important for parents to give a proper training to their children so that they can compete in their life. Now the competition starts from the very first day they start their academic life. To prove themselves in front of the crowd, a good knowledge of subject matter is very much needed. English is the most important of these languages and a strong vocabulary can really guarantee a solid future foundation for a child.

To judge the English knowledge of a child a special competition is held known as "spelling bee". Here the judges ask the participant children to spell very tough English words. This competition is gaining ground in many parts of the world like United States, United Kingdom, Australia etc. number of participants are increasing day by day as the competition is interesting as well as a real test of knowledge. So parents are really giving high concentration towards their child for the training.

The basic things needed for such a preparation is practice. More and more tough English words should be practiced everyday to make it easy for the kid to recall them in the competition. Not only this, even if you are not a child or if you do not have any intention to participate in spelling bee, you can practice these words to improve your English skills. These days good communication skill is what needed to be successful in life. So a proper training for this competition can make you really good English speaker. For a child to prepare for such tough competition, it is very important that parents should help their wards in the preparation. Everyday parents should organize a session with their child for the practice. A good guide to prepare must be chosen as they have the latest and researched collection of words. Most of children are not able to perform well as they get nervous to see the judges in front of them as well as the huge crowd staring at them. So a proper dress rehearsal should be surely done before the final competition. This will make the child tension free and hence they can give their 100% in the final competition.

Before going for the competition all the rules should be clearly known for the best performance. This will make the spelling bee a bit easy for the aspirant. Proper coaching, good and updated study material should be there with them for the best preparation. Many online resources are available for the competition which can be chosen by the candidate to give their best.

Find useful resources for Spelling Bee by BeeWizards for spelling & vocabulary practice for kids. Spellingbee with all new spell It & challenging words appeared in all spelling bees.

Child1st: Multisensory Reading Programs And Special Education Resources

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 05:00:00 GMT

The multisensory teaching methods implemented in Child1st products ensure that every child is successfully reached. With products like its multisensory reading programs and extensive range of learning aids, Child1st makes the achievement of long-lasting education easier to accomplish than ever before for any child. Child1st believes that many learning difficulties can be overcome if properly addressed. To this end, Child1st has performed extensive research about the most successful learning methods for "non-traditional students" and implemented them into its catalog of educational products, programs, and more. Through its online blog, teaching products and virtual store, the team behind Child1st is always seeking to provide visitors with further information and techniques in a continued commitment toward maintaining its place as one of the premier special education resources available. Multisensory reading programs work well for children that learn best through visual-spatial experiences, including those labeled with learning disabilities such as ADD, ADHD, autism, and dyslexia. A multisensory learning experience is very different from traditional teaching methods that are often geared toward left brained, sequential learners. Children are traditionally taught in a manner that ignores the unique requirements of visual-spatial learners and leads to the perception of learning disabilities in some that simply require an approach that addresses their non-sequential learning style. Visual-spatial learners are completely capable of excelling when information is presented in a way that addresses their needs. One such approach that often leads to fantastic results is a holistic approach that shows the child the relationship between whole and part, and utilizes images, tactile and kinesthetic learning tools. The multisensory reading program is just one out of the array of Child1st's special education resources that use a holistic approach. Child1st incorporates a multisensory approach in the Easy-for-Me� Reading Program in order to allow every student to benefit from a method of education aimed at their visual-spatial strengths. The Easy-for-Me� Reading Program provides teachers with an array of multisensory activities to teach non-sequential learners to read. By following the reading program with its various parts (such as the visual SnapWords� card system and Easy-for-Me� readers) educators can give visual-spatially oriented children a learning foundation that leads to lifelong success and a true love of learning. Child1st's online store makes it easy for educators to take advantage of the company's special education resources. The business has made its entire catalog of products available, bringing convenient online shopping and a wealth of information on each item to its customers. Child1st also hosts a regularly updated blog that details breakthroughs in the field of special education and provides explanations for crucial terms. Multisensory reading programs can help every child discover their potential. Begin experiencing the difference that Child1st's special education resources can make in any student's life by visiting the company at its online home today. For more information on Child1st and its special education resources, visit child-1st.

Child-1st Publications LLC is a publisher of children�s sight words books and special needs learning materials. For more information, visit www.Child-1st.com.

Child1st Sells Multisensory Materials For Kinesthetic Learners

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Child1st carefully designs multisensory materials for kinesthetic learners and children with other learning differences. The company focuses on providing only proven solutions for children who learn most easily through kinesthetic and other methods. Because most of Child1st's products engage all of a child's senses, the materials enable instructors to help every student to perform at their very best. Child1st was founded with the goal of creating products that meet each child's unique learning requirements. The company believes that every child is capable of learning and only requires the right method. By creating solutions and providing educators with tools targeted at kinesthetic learners, tactile learners, children with dyslexia, ADD, and ADHD, Child1st strives to give every child the gift of a love of education and the lifelong benefit of learning to read. Kinesthetic learners absorb information best if they can move while engaging with new material. Children that are forced to sit still and are taught through passive listening are unable to engage at their highest capacity simply because their brains are not being approached the way they learn most easily. If, however, kinesthetic learners are able to use their hands and bodies as part of the learning process, their attention is properly focused and they learn much more easily and better retain that information. In traditional classrooms, children are asked to sit quietly and learn through auditory means. This practice not only fails kinesthetic learners, but also children that have been diagnosed with ADD, ADHD, and dyslexia. By including Child1st's multisensory learning tools, instructors can improve the learning experience of an entire classroom without having to create a special lesson plan for each type of learner, whether visual, kinesthetic, etc. How do the multisensory products work? Child1st materials teach through story, visuals, and movement, engaging a student's entire brain and making learning simpler and more successful than it would be through traditional methods. Teachers are able to teach once, and reach all of their students. The array of Child1st products makes it simple for educators to provide kinesthetic and tactile learning children the materials they require in order to perform at their highest capacity. Its multisensory products for the kinesthetic learner include successful product lines such as SnapLetters� and SnapWords�, as well as a multisensory phonics reading program. With the special tools designed for kinesthetic learners, instructors can begin assisting children in discovering a lifetime of successful education. Explore the Child1st online store to learn more about the wide range of products. For more information on Child1st and its selection of special tools and teaching tips for kinesthetic learners, visit www.child-1st.com.

Child-1st Publications LLC is a publisher of children�s sight words books and special needs learning materials. For more information, visit www.Child-1st.com.