Tag Archives: reading

Reading, writing and arithmetic.  That’s the focus.  What can you do to support your pre-school or elementary aged children as they embark on a new school year?  It’s important to keep it fun, with a hidden educational twist!  My years as an elementary school teacher have provided me with a keen eye on what’s worth it for educational fun.
I have been a fan of Rock ‘N Learn videos for many years.  In our home we have 5 of the videos and my daughter would watch them over and over if she had the time!  Most recently we enjoyed the Rock ‘N Learn Sight Words in DVD.  I was impressed, especially with the content.  Rock ‘N Learn videos are content heavy, light on graphics and always get the (learning) song stuck in your head.

The child is presented with dozens of sight words through the showing.  (Sight words are words that are …

It’s summer.  No excuses now.  It’s time to kick back and relax.  True as that may be, it is also time to keep up the learning at home!  I’m not suggesting textbook or formal classes, just ways to sneak in some educational skills in between swimming lessons and afternoon movies! Here are 5 ways, in no particular order, you can provide your child some learning opportunities, making him/her even more ready for school in the Fall!

READ! You’ve heard it a million times!  Reading to your child is one of the most important activities you can do.  Head over to the library or bookstore on rainy days and find lots of book together.  Dedicate time each day, (doesn’t have to be before bedtime) to read.  The story may even inspire some activities!
JOURNAL! Purchase a basic composition book. Each day, or as frequently as …

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!  Yes, Dr. Seuss’ Birthday is approaching; it’s actually tomorrow, March 2nd!  What does that mean to you?  For some of you, not much!  But for many, especially you Smart Mamas, it means another excuse to read with your child!  Dr. Seuss has grown to be the mentor of many authors, particularly those in the kids section.  His writing style and art have made his books classics from nearly the start.  We’ve all enjoyed stories such as Green Eggs and Ham and One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish .   They are books with rhyme, books with a great beat and often a cute, silly storyline! Celebrating Dr. Seuss’ birthday (it would be his 107th) can be done in many different ways!  It could be as simple as reading an extra book before bedtime, a Dr. …

Once upon a time there were three little pigs.  The first little pig built his house of …
I am certain each of you, and your munchkins, can finish the story.  It’s a story that has been retold orally and in books from as far back as the 1840s!
I challenge you to use the storyline that we all know so well of The Three Little Pigs to introduce a new story and new vocabulary to your preschooler/elementary aged little one.  The Three Little Javelinas by Susan Lowell is a great start.  With the great familiarity of the “pigs” storyline, your child will be quick to understand the story (what happens first, second…) as new words are introduced with this rather hilarious Southwestern variation.  A conversation about straw and bricks will easily be replaced with adobe bricks and tumbleweeds.  You can …

The Cow That Went Oink! by Bernard Most has become a favorite in our home! We currently own and enjoy the Spanish version, La Vaca Que Decia Oink! It’s such a cute story of a cow and a pig that have confused their sounds. The cow spends his time ‘oinking’ while the pig is a ‘moo-er.’ The two animals learn from each other the appropriate sounds, while the other animals from the farm laugh at them. This story teaches the reader/listener how to deal with criticism from your peers (ignoring the animals laughing), it also shows how determination and hard work pay off (the cow learns to moo and the pig oinks). For the younger listeners provides a chance to review animals found on a farm and their sounds – discriminating with correct and incorrect sounds.
This is a certainly a book to add to …