Research demonstrates the benefits of applying a multi-sensory approach to math instruction. A multi-sensory approach incorporates the senses such as sight, sound, and touch into instruction. Playing board games allows for a fun, engaging experience that incorporates a multi-sensory approach. Here are eight fun low-cost math board games to teach and reinforce addition and subtraction. For students who are struggling …
How Does Minecraft: Education Edition Work? Is It Good for Students?
We are all aware of the negative consequences associated with too much screen time; and it is imperative that screen time is monitored, and utilized in moderation. However, I also believe in using children’s interests to pull them into learning, a practice supported by research. When students are interested in what they are doing, the learning doesn’t feel forced, and …
What Will Classrooms of the Future Look Like & How Will They Engage Our Students?
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 …
How 3D Printers Can Benefit Students and Teachers
Sponsored by Quill.com For most everyone’s 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 …
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 …
12 Fun Free Games to Play with Your Little One
In this article you will find 12 fun free games to play with your child. You probably heard of most of them, but this is a quick reminder. These games allow you to bond and create memories; while helping your child practice social skills. Games are a great way to pass the time and they give your child something to do. Many …
10 Fun Activities to Do with Your Child at Home
Doing things with your kids is a great way to make time fly while spending quality time together! It also keeps behavior problems down. An engaged child who feels good and is having fun, will be more likely to behave than a child with idle time on his/her hands who is trying to figure out what to do next. Recommended Article: 10 …
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 …
5 Great Books to Teach Young Children About Empathy
As a behavior specialist and mobile therapist, I always loved using books to teach kids about a variety of social-emotional skills such as how to understand your feelings, how to be a friend, how to accept differences, how to develop empathy, how to solve a problem, how to be a good citizen, etc. Research also supports the benefits of using …
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 …
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 …
An Interactive Story about What School Is Like and How to Behave
Below you will find an interactive social story about going to school. The story can be used to help children prepare for a typical school day including their first day of school. You can also read this story with your child to practice reading skills. Social stories are a research-based tool used to help children prepare for real-life events. They …
10 Great Low-Cost Board Games to Practice Reading Skills with Kids
Below you will find ten fun low-cost board games and card games to help your children learn to read and practice their reading skills. These games are a great way to foster your children’s/students’ phonics, sight-word, vocabulary, and fluency skills (all important elements of becoming an effective reader). For students who are struggling or just learning, an adult should play …
8 Fun Activities to Practice Social Skills with Your Child
This article gives several fun social skills activities that you can do with your child. While the activities are described in a one on one format between parent and child, many of them can also be used with a group of children such as siblings, students, or clients in a group therapy setting. Parents, teachers, school counselors, psychologists, and speech/language …
10 Fun Research-Based Activities to Teach Your Child Letter Sounds
Research indicates the importance of teaching children phonics as a preliminary step for learning to read. Phonics is the relationship between letters and sounds as well as the understanding of how those sounds connect to form words. Research also suggests that systematic instruction which incorporates word play (manipulating letters/sounds in words to change the word), writing words, and using manipulatives such …
A Story to Teach Kids to Calmly Respond to the Word No
If you have read my articles on positive behavior support, you know that I am not a big fan of simply using the word “no” when it comes to telling kids what they can’t have. Research and my own experiences show that telling kids what they can have instead, empathizing with their feelings, offering choices, and explaining the reason for …
5 Great Music Videos About Science for Kids: K to 3rd Grade
Music is such an amazing teaching tool. It helps keep the learner engaged and is a great way to get concepts in grained in memory. There are so many amazing learning music videos on Youtube. Here are five great science songs, excellent for early elementary school kids. These songs even have my two year old interested in science. Once you …
5 Fun Scientific Art Projects for Kids
Just like all of us, kids want to feel happy and interested while they are learning. Hands-on activities, where children are creating, moving, and problem solving are wonderful for keeping kids engaged and involved. Science and art are two great ways to create hands-on activities! Interacting with kids in a positive way also helps to build bonds, practice social skills, and learn life lessons. …
10 Great Educational Songs for Kids: 1st to 3rd Grade
Music is a great way to get kids excited about learning and help them remember what they learn. A catchy tune with easy to remember lyrics will leave a lasting impression, helping to in-grain educational concepts into a child’s memory. Have fun watching these videos with your child or students. Once they have learned the songs, enjoy singing them any …
Break Ideas to Increase Student Motivation & Participation
Preface: When I was in college majoring in psychology, I learned that the famous actor and comedian, Jim Carrey, had behavior problems in Junior High School. One of his teachers told him that he could do a comedy routine for a few minutes at the end of class for following the rules and completing work. This had a huge positive …