This first step is to lay a strong foundation on which to build your children's education.
These sections are organized by age level, but the information is not confined to that age group. Articles are updated frequently. Consider looking at other age ranges as well. Also, make sure to check out the Archives.
These sections are organized by age level, but the information is not confined to that age group. Articles are updated frequently. Consider looking at other age ranges as well. Also, make sure to check out the Archives.
The Importance of Reading Aloud
Reading aloud to your children is the most important activity you can do with your children. (Marilyn Jager Adams)
Your young children should have heard at least 1000 stories before they begin to read. (Mem Fox
WOW! You have important work to do! Why should you read aloud to your children? It develops positive relationships and gives your children joy to hear literature. It helps them experience empathy and compassion through the actions of the characters (if you choose the right books). It grows fundamentals of print for them as well as listening comprehension. It builds their vocabulary and sounds of words. It gives them an interest in the world and gets them ready and eager to read on their own.
You can read anywhere—at home, in the library, in the doctor's or dentist's office, in the car when you are not driving, inside, outside—anywhere. You can read to them in a big comfortable chair, lying down on the couch or beside them in their beds. You can read to them when they are well or sick.
You can choose a book or allow your children to choose their favorite. You can read stories or real-life adventures of children or animals. You can read not only children’s books, but magazine or newspaper articles.
If you prepare the reading by previewing the book or story, it will be even more fun for you and your children. Show your children the cover and the pictures. Read with expression, gestures, and different voices. Explain words and encourage your children to comment about what they hear you read.
Above all, just do it!
Help Your Young Children to Love Math
Math is very cognitively demanding—it requires working memory and the ability to manipulate information in your mind. Erin Maloney
As your children begin school, be prepared to help them succeed every day. One of the ways you can begin to help them is giving them a good attitude about math. Interact with your children around math in positive ways. Make up stories using math thinking and take them to the store to figure out how many they will get for their money or how many pounds or ounces of something they will need. Try not to frighten your children about math by showing or telling your own math fear around your children. Children learn less about math when they have parents or teachers who have math anxiety.
Math activities with parents shape children’s motivation and achievement in math. Teach your young children arithmetic or math facts, if only 20 minutes each day through the end of third grade. Building blocks, dominoes, dice games, and playing store are welcome ways to teach pre-school children about math. Play games with your children that involve abstract thinking (ability to take information from our senses and make connections to the wider world) and problem solving.
Participating in fun, low-stakes math activities can help cultivate parents’ confidence in their ability to help their children learn math while instilling in young children attitudes that math is enjoyable rather than intimidating...Jiawen Wu, Eva Pomerantz et al
Reading aloud to your children is the most important activity you can do with your children. (Marilyn Jager Adams)
Your young children should have heard at least 1000 stories before they begin to read. (Mem Fox
WOW! You have important work to do! Why should you read aloud to your children? It develops positive relationships and gives your children joy to hear literature. It helps them experience empathy and compassion through the actions of the characters (if you choose the right books). It grows fundamentals of print for them as well as listening comprehension. It builds their vocabulary and sounds of words. It gives them an interest in the world and gets them ready and eager to read on their own.
You can read anywhere—at home, in the library, in the doctor's or dentist's office, in the car when you are not driving, inside, outside—anywhere. You can read to them in a big comfortable chair, lying down on the couch or beside them in their beds. You can read to them when they are well or sick.
You can choose a book or allow your children to choose their favorite. You can read stories or real-life adventures of children or animals. You can read not only children’s books, but magazine or newspaper articles.
If you prepare the reading by previewing the book or story, it will be even more fun for you and your children. Show your children the cover and the pictures. Read with expression, gestures, and different voices. Explain words and encourage your children to comment about what they hear you read.
Above all, just do it!
Help Your Young Children to Love Math
Math is very cognitively demanding—it requires working memory and the ability to manipulate information in your mind. Erin Maloney
As your children begin school, be prepared to help them succeed every day. One of the ways you can begin to help them is giving them a good attitude about math. Interact with your children around math in positive ways. Make up stories using math thinking and take them to the store to figure out how many they will get for their money or how many pounds or ounces of something they will need. Try not to frighten your children about math by showing or telling your own math fear around your children. Children learn less about math when they have parents or teachers who have math anxiety.
Math activities with parents shape children’s motivation and achievement in math. Teach your young children arithmetic or math facts, if only 20 minutes each day through the end of third grade. Building blocks, dominoes, dice games, and playing store are welcome ways to teach pre-school children about math. Play games with your children that involve abstract thinking (ability to take information from our senses and make connections to the wider world) and problem solving.
Participating in fun, low-stakes math activities can help cultivate parents’ confidence in their ability to help their children learn math while instilling in young children attitudes that math is enjoyable rather than intimidating...Jiawen Wu, Eva Pomerantz et al