Should I send my 5-year-old to Kindergarten, or should I wait a year? What are the benefits of 'redshirting' my child for Kindergarten? Does another year of preschool really make that much of a difference? What's the big deal?! It's KINDERGARTEN! It's so funny how often I've referenced a piece about our reflections on sending Owen to Kindergarten that I wrote for the DC Moms over five years ago. Probably a dozen times each and every summer, readers email me with the … [Read more...]
preparing kids for Kindergarten: the summer before school starts — Home Study
Friends! Do you have a little one heading off to the wilds of Kindergarten this year? Then this Home Study is for YOU. This is just one of the many teach mama Home Studies that are short, information-packed, interactive courses designed to change your life. Perhaps you think 'changing your life' is a little lofty--but it's true. It really can change your life--and your child's. In the last 10 years, I have spoken at dozens of local and national events, … [Read more...]
don’t send your child to Kindergarten until you take this Home Study!
Friends! I have been so, so busy lately, working hard on our teachmama.com redesign-- woo-hooooo! and working on some other really fun and exciting things for you. This week, I launched the first of a series of teach mama Home Studies: short, information-packed, interactive courses designed to change your life. Perhaps you think 'changing your life' is a little lofty--but it's true. It really can change your life--and your child's. Here's the thing: in the last 10 … [Read more...]
10 ways to create a literacy rich environment
The following Rockstar Sunday guest post is written by Kate of An Everyday Story. Kate is a former teacher who now homeschools her two littles using the Reggio Emilia Approach. I love her blog, and you will too. Check it out! ------------------------- 10 Ways to Create a Literacy Rich Environment, by Kate Gribble Hi everyone. We are an Australian homeschooling family. I have two lovely little ones, Jack (5yrs) and Sarah (3yrs). Right from the beginning we knew we would homeschool. … [Read more...]
first steps to writing: teaching grip to first letters and words
I just shared a cool series over at the Scholastic Parents Raise a Reader blog, and I think it will be of interest to many parents. It's all about first steps to writing and what parents can do to help with teaching their kids proper grip to first letters and words. Super-quick reads. Here's the skinny. . . First Steps to Writing--Teaching Grip to First Letters and Words: It's hard to know where to start and what to do as a parent when it comes to writing. How are we supposed to … [Read more...]
word building, letter writing, stamping to spell
Originally published on 2.23.11 but republished because it's that important. During Maddy's homework time yesterday, Owen had one task on his mind: he wanted to write a get-well letter to his buddy who recently had surgery. He knew exactly what he wanted to write--he told me at least two times during the day what his letter would say, and we knew exactly what we wanted to put in his pal's little 'get well quick' package. But my O-man wanted to make his letter … [Read more...]
tips and tricks for teaching emergent readers (with free printable early reader books!)
The following guest post is written by the incredibly talented (and busy!) Anna of The Measured Mom. Anna is a former classroom teacher, currently a mom of four littles who will be joined by a fifth this winter! Please check out her rockin blog. —————————— I'm thrilled to be guest posting here at Teach Mama! As a former first and second grade teacher and now mother to four little ones, I love teaching children how to read. Today I’d like to share my tips and tricks for teaching … [Read more...]
give words as a gift: word conscious kids use wordle
It's that time of year again, when the fliers start coming around collecting money for teacher gifts. And collecting for teachers' gifts--on top of other household expenses--can really put a strain on your budget. Why not get a little digital with your kids this year and give words as a gift? Words are celebrated with Wordle, and I love it. Words are art with Wordle. In the attempt to create word conscious, word-loving kiddos, celebrating words this way is a fun and cool way of … [Read more...]
5 min reading tricks for raising rockstar readers
It's here. My first eBook on reading and literacy and all that stuff I really, really love. And I'm totally psyched. 5 min reading tricks for raising rockstar readers. There you have it. That's all you need, right? Sure it is. Here's the skinny. . . 5 Min Reading Tricks for Raising Rockstar Readers: 15 of 'em, my friends. Fifteen tricks that are in themselves filled with several other tricks. So it comes out to a whole lot more than fifteen, but who's … [Read more...]
texting as a learning tool: reading, spelling, composing
My kids think texting is so cool. They think cell phones are cool. They think cell phones are so cool that they still argue over who gets to have our old, battery-free cell phones that don't even turn on anymore. They think it's cool to answer my cell phone if they notice their dad or aunt or nanny or pap are calling, and they think it's cool to unlock the screen, answer, mute, put on hold, and hang it up. So recently, I've been playing on it. For learning's sake, of course. I've … [Read more...]
our digital kids: teaching, supporting, and parenting 21st century learners
It’s no secret that we’re raising children in a totally different world than the one we knew as kids. Gone are the days of letting kids run as free birds ‘round the hood, playing with this friend and that, instructing them only to come home once the streetlights turned on. Gone are the days of kids throwing a quarter in the payphone somewhere—anywhere--to call for a ride home from the mall. Gone are the days of sending kids across the street to play at the park for a few hours while parents … [Read more...]
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