Do you wonder what classrooms will be like in the future? Technology is rapidly changing and it becomes challenging to keep up with it. It has invaded the field of education, as some classrooms now have interactive boards instead of blackboards. When we were kids, we may have dreamed about having computers in our classrooms for learning. In today’s digitized …
Effective Reading Program for Young Children
Recently I came across a step-by-step program that helps parents easily teach their young children to read. The authors, Jim (a reading teacher) and his wife Elena, developed the Children Learning Reading program, and used it to teach their own children to read before turning 3 years old. Who Is the Program Designed For?The Children Learning Reading program is designed for parents of young …
American Academy of Pediatrics Explains Why Recess is Crucial for Children and Shouldn’t be Withheld
Introduction Policy makers, educators, and parents often talk about the role of schools in promoting the development of the whole child (e.g., physical, social, and academic development). A growing trend toward putting more emphasis on academic subjects and less on recess time, has put this important part of a child’s school day at risk. When recess is provided, children get …
This is How Teachers Can Use 3D Printers to Support Student Learning
For most of your life, when you talked about printers you talked about the kind of printers we all know: They print (in color or black and white) on paper, and sometimes have multiple, helpful functions such as faxing and scanning. And for a long time, that was it—the cream of the crop and a diverse cream at that. But …
Does Research Show That Exercise Helps Kids with Autism & ADHD?
Experts at Michigan State University have demonstrated that kids with ADHD have better focus and are less distracted after a 20 minute exercise session. Matthew Pontifex, assistant professor of kinesiology at Michigan State University, and lead researcher for the study said: “This provides some very early evidence that exercise might be a tool in our nonpharmaceutical treatment of ADHD. Maybe our first …
What is an IEP and How Do You Know if Your Child Needs One for School?
Intro Are you wondering if your child needs special education services or an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or how children obtain an IEP? In order to qualify for an IEP, your child needs to receive an evaluation in school (or at home if your child has not started school yet or attends homeschool or cyber school). Depending on your child’s …
How to Teach Six Basic Math Concepts with Transformers
Teaching kids concepts using something they love is a great way to get them motivated. You can take any favorite kids’ toy or food that you have multiples of (e.g., Transformers, Doc McStuffins Characters, Legos, Hot Wheels, Matchbox Cars, Cheerios, Gummy Bears) and use them to create a math lesson (let your child choose what he/she wants to use). To …
Glossary of Education Terms for Parents
As a parent, you may hear certain unfamiliar terms while attending school meetings or talking to your child’s teacher or principal. You may also hear your children saying some of these words, but when you ask them to explain further they may have trouble providing an accurate definition. Below is an alphabetical list to help you out. Feel free to …
6 Research-Based Multiplication Strategies Parents Can Try at Home
8 fun math board games for kids
Responsive Classroom: Evidenced-Based Approach Improves Academics & Behavior
What is Responsive Classroom? Responsive Classroom is an evidence-based approach to teaching elementary and middle school students. Responsive Classroom stresses the importance of fusing social-emotional learning with academic learning to create the optimal environment for success. Research finds that the Responsive Classroom approach is associated with higher math and reading achievement, an improved school climate, and higher-quality instruction. Responsive Classroom …
How to Teach Children to Study Academic Content and Vocabulary
Studying can be a frustrating task when it doesn’t feel like you are retaining the concepts, you don’t know what to focus on, you are doing the same repetitive thing over and over, and you don’t feel prepared for the test. When children feel this way they often avoid studying, refuse to study, or shut down while studying. You may …
Creative Ways to Get More Out of a Three-Ring Binder
Sponsored by Quill.com Changing student behavior is one of the greatest challenges parents and educators face. Keeping children engaged, maintaining focus, and challenging them are all strategies in the toolbox for encouraging behaviors that enable kids to learn effectively. Sometimes, however, it’s the little things that have huge effects on behavior. The environment a child walks into each day can …
Top 5 Reasons Why Physical Education is As Important As Schoolwork
Find out why physical education is needed in schools in this research-based article.
4 Research-Based Strategies Parents & Teachers Can Use to Teach Basic Math
When teaching math to kids, it is important to follow the natural progression of how they learn best. When children learn language, they first learn the name on an object by someone else pointing to it or touching it and saying the name. For example, a parent points to and touches the family dog while saying “doggy.” After the parent …
Orton-Gillingham-An Instructional Approach to Teaching Students with Dyslexia
Orton-Gillingham is an instructional approach mainly intended for use with individuals who have difficulty with reading, spelling, and writing associated with dyslexia. Dyslexia makes it difficult for a person to connect sounds to letters and/or blend combinations of letters quickly and fluently in reading. Dyslexia can effect phonemic awareness, the ability to hear and separate the smallest sounds in a word, which can …
Learn About the Water Cycle, Conflict Resolution & More through These Catchy Tunes
If you google that title phrase “Can Music Make Your Child Smarter,” you’ll get over 3 million links to articles, studies, and anecdotal evidence of how music affects the brains of both children and adults. Music is such a valuable learning tool. Many teachers love using music to create a mood – calm music for when they want the kids quietly …
23 Time Management Tips to Increase Productivity in Teenage Students with ADHD
My primary goal is to make things easier for students. There are many obstacles students face when studying. I’m trying to simplify their lives by giving them helpful tips. One day, an idea to write an article for students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) came to mind. A family member of mine named “John” struggles with ADHD, and talking with him …
Help Your Child Improve the Quality of Their Writing with the Sentence Combining Strategy
In the sentence combining strategy (generally used with children in grades 3 and up), students are taught to combine two simple sentences, into one more sophisticated/complex sentence. Example:Simple Sentences: The girl lost her doll. The girl is cryingComplex Sentence: The girl is crying because she lost her doll. Research studies demonstrate that sentence-combining practice can help young students improve their …
Starfall: Free Website Helps Students Learn to Read through Fun Interactive Games
Working in public schools for over ten years, I have seen many teachers utilize the Starfall website to assist students with attaining basic reading skills. This is a program that can easily be used at home as well. Starfall, a program based on established research studies, can be used for students of any age, from emerging readers to those struggling …
5 Tips to Set Up the Learning Environment for Students with Autism and ADHD
Find outhow to set up the classroom or learning space for students with autism and adhd
12 Ways Schools Can Support Children on the Autism Spectrum
As a behavior specialist and school psychologist, I often hear parents of children on the autism spectrum asking what support schools can provide for their child. Children with autism often have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) in school to enable them to have specific goals, accommodations, and modifications; however, some parents may be unsure of what should actually be put in …