where to begin on teach mama?

If this is your first time stopping by teach mama, I’m so glad you’re here. Blogs can be overwhelming, especially if you’re not use to a person’s layout, style, or content.

Essentially, the focus of teach mama is to provide parents with the tools and resources they need to be the best teachers they can be for their children.

I simply share the ways that I try to sneak in a little bit of learning into my children’s every day. That’s it. It’s not fancy, it’s not expensive. It’s just learning through play and meaningful time spent together. But it’s fun, and it’s created a sort of lifestyle of learning for our family that I wouldn’t give up for the world.

Here are some frequently asked questions by readers that may help you figure out how this site can work for you:

• Where should I start? I’ve never been here before. Help–I’m overwhelmed!

If you have very little ones (babies-crawlers), you might examine these topics (find all topics on the right sidebar under ‘teachmama topics’):
-alphabet
-books
-colors
-parenting
-Quick Tricks

If you have toddlers, you might examine:
-alphabet
-books / book reviews
-colors
-computer time
-comprehension strategies
-fine motor
-outside learning

If you have preschoolers, you might examine:
(any of the above topics that you might need, along with the following)
-crafts
-games
-early literacy
-holidays
-indoor learning
-letter recognition
-math
-New For Us Friday
-numbers
-phonological awareness
-outdoor learning
-sorting
-writing


If you have elementary-school aged children, you might examine:
(any of the above topics that you might need, along with the following)
-comprehension strategies
-cooking
-games
-fluency
-predicting
-reading
-questioning
-sight words
-writing

If you are wondering how to prepare for pre-K or Kindergarten (SUCH, such a big step!), these posts in particular may help:

–buggy Kindergarten calendar
–preparing for Kindergarten
–happy first day flowers
-back to school books
–hello teacher notes
–make school-supply shopping fun!

If your kiddo is a reluctant learner and won’t roll with your efforts to play with letters or words, check out these posts on the importance of playing with names:

-names, names, everywhere names
-family name letter connect
–our everyday name books (maybe a stretch if she’s a toughie!)
–swinging and clapping
–celebrating names–play with letters!
–celebrating names in written language

If you’re having a difficult time knowing what to say to your child when she makes mistakes during reading, this is a handy little something to keep in your back pocket:

–what to say when kids make reading mistakes

• What’s your background? How do you know this stuff anyway?

For more details, you can read this, but essentially, I’m a Reading Specialist and former high school English teacher. I love teaching, I am in awe of the process of reading acquisition, and I read the Post. The Reading Teacher, and Reading Today for fun.

• Where do you get your ideas?

I get ideas from my experience in the classroom, from the professional texts I read, from my clinical work from my degree work, from parents, from books, magazines, and from the other great blogs and sites I read.

• Do you homeschool? And if you’re not homeschooling, what are you doing–bombarding your kids with learning all the time?

No, we don’t homeschool our children. We just support what our kids are doing in school, here at home. Like I said, we’ve created a ‘lifestyle of learning’ of sorts. We play games, we read together, and I try to ‘sneak in’ a little learning here and there. Most times, they don’t even know their activities are loaded.

My 6-year old is in kindergarten, my 4-year old is in three morning preschool, and my 3-year old is home with me. I am not constantly bombarding them with learning. If I have an activity I want to try, I wait for the time that seems right–when no one’s too tired from a long day, when they’re rested, interested, and ready.

• Where are your kids? Why aren’t they on your blog anywhere?

I have chosen not to use my children’s pictures here on teach mama. If you search really, really hard, you may find one or two photos here or there, but it’s just a personal choice we’ve made not to have them on my site.

 

• Do you really respond to all of your emailed questions?

Yes! It’s so nice to know that it’s not just my mom and sisters who are reading my blog (no offense, Mom and sisters. . . ). I am so grateful that people come back, subscribe to the site, and actually read and appreciate what I write. I love teach mama readers! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

• What’s ‘we teach‘ that you’re always talking about?

Sooo glad you asked! ‘we teach’ is an online forum for anyone who cares about educating children. Parents, daycare providers, grandparents can join, and once they’re members, they can learn, share, and grow as teachers for their children.

It’s for parents to share the cool things they’re doing with their children; it’s for teachers to share their successes with their students. It’s a place to meet others, pick up ideas, and ask questions. With a ton of specialized groups, from reading to math to movement and science, the resources are vast and information solid.

I love it. I’d love for you to join us–http://www.weteachgroup.com

Still have questions? Want or need more information? If my contact information doesn’t clear things up, please feel free to email me directly. Thanks for reading!