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Using Counting Games to Practice Math Facts

admin — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Math is one of the most difficult subjects for children to learn. Parents can help their young children grasp complicated math concepts by playing games. Very young children can learn to count with simple games. As they get older and begin to learn addition and subtraction, the counting games can be revised to help students master math facts.

Because addition is only counting, the same games that children played to help them learn to count to 10, 20 and 100 can help them learn to add. When they have mastered counting, children can progress to skip counting by 2s, 5s and 10s. Skip counting is an easy way to remember many of the math facts.

Learning to count backward is another skill that will help children as they learn to add and subtract. Because subtraction is merely counting in reverse, children who are skilled at backward counting quickly grasp the concept of subtraction.Canâ€™t get enough? Thereâ€™s more: Math Fact Master: Addition Subtraction Multiplication Division – Featured App

How to Hold a Successful Parent Conference

admin — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +0000

It’s Parent Conference time again! This is a stressful time for educators and parents. There are a number of conferences that educators need to have time to complete thoroughly. A few tricks of the trade can make your conference go as smoothly as possible and also allow you to feel prepared for your conference. The first step is to prepare all materials before the conferences. When I have conducted my conferences I like to place all information for the students in easily accessible file folders. This helps when the parents arrive to have all important information ready for them and more importantly at your fingertips. Another tip I use when doing a great deal of conferences is to have a questionnaire for the parent to fill out and return to you before the conference. This helps to give the conference a clear purpose. You will know if there are any questions that you may not be prepared to answer and this gives you time to find the correct and appropriate answer for their child. The best advice to having successful parent conferences is to listen to the parent. After all, we are just borrowing their child for the school year!Take a look here to learn more: Why Can’t We Hold Parents Accountable Any More?

Teachers to Parents: Your Kids and Tech

www.ncrtec.org — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Teachers and parents have long had a symbiotic relationship and it’s only getting more complicated with more technologies. From Home security systems to smart phones, kids are better at tech than ever before and if teachers had their way, here are a few of the things they would tell parents
Leave the Phone at Home – Teachers hate that every 10 year old now has a cell phone and it’s even worse when they can’t seem to get the message that they’re not to be used in class. If your child has a cell phone make sure they leave it at home or in their backpacks.
Practice Computer Skills – We know you’ve likely got a home computer and your kid should be using it! It would be great if we didn’t have to work with them so much on typing and mouse usage so get on the computer with them to teach them these skills at home.
Ditch the Calculator – Sure there aren’t many opportunities in the adult world to use algebra but your kids need to know it anyway. Please help us teach them math the long way but not buying them a calculator that’s bigger than their desk.

Hosting a Book Exchange to Celebrate Dr. Seuss Day

admin — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

One of the best ways to foster a sense of appreciation for literature in children is to give them books of their own. Unfortunately, this can get very expensive, and running out of shelf space can be a problem too. Why not organize a book exchange so that all of the kids at your child’s school can swap books with each other and end up with something new? Moreover, what better excuse could there be than Dr. Seuss Day? You don’t have to restrict yourself to Dr. Seuss’s books, but surely that giant of children’s literature would have approved of helping children broaden their reading horizons.

All you need to do is send children home with a form that they can fill out with the number of books they are bringing in. Once they return the form and the books, you will have a record of each child. When the kids come to the exchange, you can pull out the form and see right away how many books each person can take. It keeps everything nice and simple. Meanwhile, those who have no books to exchange can buy leftover books after the official swap is over. It’s a win-win situation!

Using Recycled Materials to Creat Art Projects

admin — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

One of the coolest trends in crafting is the upcycle. Upcycling is taking old objects and repurposing them. Here are several of my daughter’s favorite upcycled activities that will fill a rainy afternoon.

1. The Tin Can Desk Organizer.
This activity has gotten rave reviews from my fellow crafters. Take some tin cans (I use about seven) clean them, and peel off the labels. Allow to dry. Take the tin cans and use a glue gun to attach the cans to one another. Hint: arrange the cans in a design first using clothes pins to hold them together. Make sure your design includes a flat surface for the cans to rest. I used two side by side, turned with the openings facing me, as a base. Then add glue and additional cans. Remove clothes pins once the glue is dry. Feel free to decorate with ribbons, paint, etc.

2. Magnets as Art.
Take old business magnets and cut them into circles. Then, cut out designs from old magazines in the same size. Glue the magazine piece to the magnet front. Place a clear glass candle scape rock atop the magazine piece to magnify it using hot glue. Voila! Designer magnets!

Games and Greetings to Use During Morning Meeting

admin — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The first day of kindergarten can be scary, but there are ways that teachers can make the first day of school fun and informative at the same time. The first time students will meet their teacher is at open house. Go through the list of students you will have and make a special card for each student to make them feel welcome in class. On the first day of school, place a brightly colored name tag on a table or desk with their name on it. Gather all of the children in a circle and sing a song that lets each child tell their name. The song can be to the tune of a favorite nursery rhyme, or you can make up your own song. Another way to get everyone acquainted with each other is by having two children sit in front of the circle. One child will have a list of everyone-s names, and the other will have a box of small objects. When a student-s name is called, the child with the objects will give that student something. After everyone has an item, take turns passing them back to the front of the circle. Do this every day with two different students in the front of the circle.More info here: Nursery Rhymes for Children

Using Centers to Differentiate in Kindergarten and First Grade

admin — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Using differentiation centers in kindergarten and first grade can be a valuable asset to the overall classroom climate for both children and teachers. Gone are the days of desks placed in rows facing the teacher’s desk with a chalkboard behind it. Many studies have proven that learning centers are not just effective at these grade levels but in higher ones as well.

The overall purpose of learning centers is to provide hands-on activities to capture and hold the interest of students as lessons concepts are reinforced in a more relaxed atmosphere. Learning center composition based on mixed group abilities of children not only tends to increase the individual child’s ability to focus on a task but provides a chance for community service development as most children at this age are eager to help others to achieve what they have mastered.

The basic centers needed at this educational level are for reading, writing and math.
The centers should include worksheets and other activities in a game-style format designed to reinforce and enrich concepts presented during whole class learning time.
It is important to make sure children are required to complete at least one or two worksheets in addition to game-style activities.

Differentiating During Language Arts in the Primary Grades

admin — Thu, 26 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Differential instruction in language arts in a classroom setting creates a challenge from the standpoint that all children learn at different levels, with various levels of abilities, cognitive awareness, and learning consistencies that are met by one person who is challenged to create a meaningful experience for each child. Language arts is perhaps the most challenging because it is a subject all children have to master to become better readers, as well as improve cognitive and motor skills. There are some real tips that can help make this happen effectively in the classroom:

1. Create different levels of lessons so that all children can participate at the same time.Additional information can be found at http://grade4gps.wordpress.com/2011/05/19/language-arts-news-may-19/. A “one room schoolhouse” approach can be great.

2. Partner children who are excelling with those who may need help. Children can learn well from other kids.

3. Repetitive language lessons that incorporate new concepts daily are better than teaching one set of skills over a period of time. Again, some children will excel, but those who need additional assistance will encounter the lesson each day, learning through repetition and restatement of the learning outcome.

4. Finally, take the small accomplishments of each child as a reason to celebrate and reward. This is a true reward in teaching.

The Best Free Educational Software Available Online

admin — Tue, 17 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The number of free resources for parents and teachers is growing by the day. Free educational software is available online, and can be used to propel your students to greater heights.

One of the most effective free software options is educational games. These are available for a variety of grade levels and age ranges. Games are an extremely effective learning tool, as children love to play them, and seldom even realize that they are learning new skills in the process. Games also hold the attention span of the child much longer than traditional teaching methods.

Other free programs are available to target specific subjects or skills. Memorization, math, language arts, and much more are available. These programs are an excellent way to help students that are struggling with specific subjects or skills. By targeting trouble areas, the students will be able to use this software to better themselves, and feel better about school in general.

The best free educational software available online is yours for the taking. These programs can be used in the home, as well as in the classroom. Technology has provided us with so many excellent learning tools, and today, many of these tools are absolutely free.The information party rocks on: Finding Free Educational Software for the Primary Grades