Use these 5 techniques to help students get started on classroom work, small group work AND at home during homework hour: Active Listening Work with students at their eye level. Establish eye contact. Ask follow-up questions to indicate you know what was said. Develop a habit of valuing all questions asked. Questioning Strategies Ask “What”… Read More »
If you are planning an end of the year conference with one or more teachers, start planning now. Gather together student work that demonstrates the questions you want to ask the teacher. Bring notes and report cards you wish to discuss. Discuss your planned conference with the teacher WITH your child to allow his/her to… Read More »
Student skills develop over several years. Here is a common set of skills for each K-12 year. Kids vary in their personal abilities, but these are standard skills and standard grades where students gain specific thinking skills. Specific Skill K-3 3-6 6-9 9-12 Observation X X X X Communication X … Read More »
Now more than ever, we need STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) to become STEAM (adding the “A” for Arts). The inclusion of ARTS has been widely studied and found to be an intergral part of critical thinking. More and more businesses are including visual and writing artists as part of their innovation teams. Why? Visual… Read More »
April Fool’s Day International Children’s Book Day also, Fun at Work Day Find a Rainbow Day also, World Party Day School Librarian Day also, Walk Around Things Day National Day of Hope Tartan Day, also Sorry Charlie Day Caramel Popcorn Day, also World Health Day Take Your Parents to the Playground Day also, Draw a… Read More »
Ideas you’ve heard a million times are still important. Everyone can use them starting right now. Get plenty of quality sleep. (Kids need more than adults. Plan on 9-11 hours dependng on their ages.) Focus on eating healthy snacks and nutritiuos meals, especially breakfast. Stay active to stay healthy. That 15-minute daily walk is better… Read More »
We’re all living at a hectic pace with never enough time for the things we hope to do. I’m suggesting we make a specific place in our busy lives to stay engaged with our kids and their schools. It doesn’t have to be tons of hours of time; that would be great, but we need… Read More »
Reading is a vital part of literacy development. Here are 6 ways to become a reading family. Have a designated reading area. It needs comfy places to sit, good lighting, freedom from electronics (unless you are using an e-reader) and bookshelves or crates of books close by. Those books may be owned favorites, borrowed from… Read More »
It seems there is almost always something to think or cheer or look up about days in March. 1. Pig Day, Peanut Lover’s Day 2. Old Stuff Day 3. I Want You to be Happy Day, If Pets Had Thumbs Day, National Anthem Day, Peach Blossom Day 4. Hug a GI Day 5. 6. Dentist’s… Read More »
Lots happens between kindergarten and third grade: students learn to read and write, develop basic math skills and become independent learners. So, what do these look like?? Here are a few details to look at when deciding if a child is ‘at grade level’. Of course, we all learn at different pacesm, but these are… Read More »