Pre-K Monthly Summary: October

I've posted about some of the themes we have done this fall, but I thought I'd also do a monthly summary post of some of our other school activities (mostly for me to look back on).  Since he goes to preschool two days a week for social interaction and because he is only 3, school is always short, doesn't happen daily, and isn't forced. 

Math

We're using some lessons from Kindergarten Math with Confidence, but only those that fit his current skill level. We're also adding in other activities.

Comparing numbers

Shopping for cars is still his favorite math activity! He asks for it frequently. I used dry erase notecards for prices (0-20 cents). I give him 5 pennies, 1-2 nickels and 1 dime. I think we're ready to move on to higher prices.

Learning about symmetry with his Geoland Jr Activity Set

Miquon Math book with a dry erase sleeve.

Playing around with Cuisenaire rods.

Osmo Tangrams and Shapes

Building with geometry builders

Playing with his coding fox.

Spelling

We're working our way through All About Spelling. We definitely keep the lessons short, subdividing them into multiple days. He likes it as long as we don't try to do too much at a time.

He's doing great now that we're actually spelling words. Sometimes he wants to use the letter tiles, sometimes he uses other letters we have, sometimes he jumps and calls out the letters.

Handwriting

Handwriting has been a little hit or miss. We are using Handwriting Without Tears Kickstart Kindergarten He has come up with a way to write several letters before we get to them, so he's having to re-learn at times. He LOVES the  workbook, though.

Other Activities

Watching Kidstart Spanish

He still loves reading books. Usually, he insists on reading himself, but will occasionally let me read to him. Usborne Lift-the-Flap books are still favorites.

Hanging in his boat. I'm glad he's becoming more open to imaginative play.

Grandma gave him some US states stickers. I wish I could find more because he loved them!

A little painting.

Numbers, cars and states, three of his favorite things!

Still doing great at tumbling class.

"Playing" the Scrambled States of America. He said he wants to play his way instead of by the rules.

Hard Work Pays Off

This is a contributed post.

 

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More and more children are enjoying playing on the wealth of computer games that are available on the internet. Nevertheless, the importance of online games goes a lot further than merely being entertaining. There are actually some valuable lessons that children can learn via playing them…

1. Hard work pays off

Online gaming teaches children that hard work really does pay off.  At the end of every level they will benefit from something new added to the game; maybe a new power or a more exciting level. This shows children that if they try at something then they are bound to get their just rewards in the end. 

2. Patience is a virtue

Online games show children how important it is to be patient. A lot of games are about getting your timing right or having a good plan and thinking about how you are going to put it through. You can’t simply rush into the game because then you are more likely to lose. 

3. If you don’t succeed; try, try, try again

More children’s games give the child several lives so that if they don’t win the first time around then they will get another chance. Moreover, if they lose all of their lives then they can merely start the game all over again. This teaches children that they shouldn’t give up.

4. How to share

A lot of online games nowadays present children with the possibility to play their games in two-player mode so that they can play with someone else. This is something which is important because it teaches them how to share properly.

5. You don’t have to be the biggest or the strongest

When playing these games children get the opportunity to play a whole host of different characters. For example, in the Ben 10 games, they will play a little boy and they will come up against a wealth of different challenges – such as aliens and spaceships. Because Ben 10 can win the game it shows them that you don’t always have to be the biggest to win, it’s about out-thinking the opponent. 

6. Learning is important

Online games can show children how important school is and how important it is to pick up new skills. This can help them throughout their entire life. If you send your child to a prestigious high school, it is always better if they already have that learning mentality and attitude. As mentioned in the previous point, games are about thinking and coming up with the best plan to beat the opponent. This shows the need to use the brain as effectively as possible. You can see how a school district adjusted to laptop-based learning for some inspiration.

7. Winning feels good

When your child wins a game they will feel a sense of pride and happiness. This shows them how good it feels to win at something. This will then make them want to succeed in other areas of life so that they can have that same feeling.

8. Think outside the box

It is not always the most obvious methods that will win the game. Children need to be inventive with the methods that they come up with in order to proceed to the next level.

9. Sometimes you need a fresh start

Online games show children that it is ok to start again and do something with a fresh mind. If something is not working then you don’t have to keep pushing it at.

10. Life is full of surprises

When playing a game your child will often find that there is a surprise thrown at them which they will have to deal with. This is something which is very similar to life – we never know what is around the corner. And, this is something which can be a good thing and a bad thing!

There are certainly some valuable life lessons which can be learnt from playing games online, and therefore your children are not only enjoying themselves but enriching their knowledge as well. 

If you have children too young for online games, you might want to check out some board games for toddlers.

3 Year Old Halloween School Activities

I had much bigger plans for our Halloween activities, but life kind of got in the way this year. Here is what we ended up doing.

For some fun Halloween playdough I got out some spiders, Halloween table scatter, googly eyes, cookie cutters and some pumpkin spice playdough. The spiders were his favorite, but he also liked pushing some of the critters into the dough to see their imprints.

Archer really enjoyed his Halloween Cuisenaire mats. He both likes finding the pieces and counting them to fill in the blanks at the bottom. Sometimes he does want me to put the pieces into place, though. 

He enjoyed his Witch's Brew activity of counting out spooky ingredients and stirring them together.

We read the book and watched the show of Super Why and the Ghost Who Was Afraid of Halloween

I made a web on the ground with painters tape and tossed on some spiders. I thought he could walk around and try to avoid stepping on the spiders. Instead, he decided they were his spider friends and he made them crawl along the web until they were all together.

I printed this fun pattern activity from 3 Dinosaurs. Usually I struggle to get him to cut and glue, so I'm glad he was interested.

Books, Books, Books!

We have and read a lot of fun Halloween books. Above are some of his favorites from this year (aff links used).

Five Tips To Support Your Child's Education

 

This is a contributed post. 

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Parents understand the value of a great education, and how it’s important to help your kids thrive. Children don’t always enjoy every subject, and so sometimes they’ll need a little bit of encouragement. If you’re looking for tips to support your child’s education, these five areas are the perfect place to start.

1 . Plenty of reading

One of the best ways to support your child’s education is to read to them and have them read to you. Not only is reading the key to improved literacy skills, but it can also help to improve your child’s mental health. Some children naturally take to reading, others need a little boost. Here are a few tips to help you out:

• Take your child to the library and help them to pick their favorite books.

• Act out the stories they love to make things more fun.

• Create a special reading corner with cozy bean bags and cute posters.

2. Educational trips

There are plenty of ways that you can help your child to learn new things. Try taking them on educational trips, whether it’s a children’s museum or to botanical gardens. Look out for kid’s workshops and educational activities, whether it’s arts and crafts days or treasure hunts. If you prefer, simply take your kids to the forest and have fun observing the different insects and animals.

3. Try apps

Most kiddies love playing on apps, you won’t want them to spend all of their time in front of a screen, but half an hour or so won’t hurt. There are so many different educational apps available for all different age groups. Moose Math is a great app for preschoolers, Khan Academy is a top choice for class 1-12 students. If your children need some support with their science topics, try Tappity for some super fun science activities for kids.

4. Creative activities

Some kids excel at academic subjects, while others have more of a creative flair. To support your child’s learning journey, it’s important to pay attention to all of the different subjects. There are so many different creative activities that you can practice with your children at home. You might try acting out a play, or putting on a puppet show? You might try crafts activities, or writing your very own stories. From cooking to making music, there are so many ways to get creative and learn.

5. Chat to their teachers

Being in close communication with your child’s teachers is one of the best ways that you can support them. Ask the teachers where your child excels and where they struggle. Find out if there is anything extra that you can do to support them. 

If you’re a homeschooling parent, it can be useful to get some inspiration from teachers across the web. You might do this by following teaching blogs or listening to education-based podcasts. Many teachers, including Michael DeNobile, create profiles to document their teaching careers.

Helping your child to thrive and grow is all about praise and encouragement. Identify your child’s problem subjects and brainstorm creative ways to make these more fun. There are lots of options to support your child’s educational journey.

Witch's Brew Counting Activity

 

Halloween is in the air and I'm a sucker for a theme, so I made this Witch's Brew Counting activity for Archer. I put some "spooky" ingredients on a tray and gave him some recipe cards, a bucket and a spoon. He puts the ingredients in his "cauldron" and then adds up how many there are total. The colorful googly eyes are his favorite!

You can print the Witch's Brew Counting Activity HERE!

Why Digital Learning Platforms Work

This is a contributed post.

 

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Have you heard about digital learning platforms but remain skeptical because it seems a little far-fetched. That’s understandable; it would be risky to put your child’s future in the hands of the latest gadgets instead of tried and tested methods. However, in this post, you might be convinced otherwise; when you hear about the excellent advantages of digital learning platforms, read on to find out more.   

Lesson planning is easy 

In the past, lesson planning took up the bulk of a teacher’s time, the lessons not only had to be adapted from the curriculum and set out in advance, but the process had to be carried out on a daily or weekly basis. That is no longer the case with e-learning platforms that do everything for you and give you more time for assessments.  

It’s very creative

If you think that e-learning platforms are restrictive, then think again; e-learning platforms are some of the most innovative and creative ways for students to learn and teachers to do their jobs. Moreover, the platforms like ABCmouse are optimised for the digital age with plenty of learning games and opportunities for blending multimedia learning.  

It’s completely automated 

One of the reasons digital learning platforms cut down on lesson preparation time is because so much of it is automated. Not only that, the platform’s automation technology speeds up the marking processes and assessments. All of this allows teachers to spend more time focusing on the work of classroom engagement and learning enhancement.  

There’s maximum freedom 

Personalized learning is very effective, teachers have always known this, but with digital platforms, the personalization of lessons can be even more focused. Math and English lessons, for instance, can be orientated around the learner’s hobbies and interests to make them more engaging. Once again, this frees up more time the teacher can use constructively in the classroom.   

Progress can be tracked 

Everything seems to be tracked these days, and for a good reason. Goal setting and achieving goals is one of the best ways to make progress in all walks of life. Learning is no exception, and digital platforms provide even greater opportunities to track student progress and make adjustments to help them achieve their goals and helping them to excel. 

It’s satisfying for learners 

Digital tools make teaching subject easier, but it also makes learning easier and more effective. Various studies have shown that digital platforms help to engage students better and accelerate their learning with personalization and goal setting. This is good news for both teachers and students since a rewarding experience means more success and better outcomes all around. 

It’s one step ahead

Of course, traditional learning platforms still have their place; who knows where we would be with brick and mortar schools and the efforts of teachers in the local communities. That said, the world is changing at a fast pace, and it isn’t just learning that’s moving on. Nowadays, children need to be fully equipped for the world, and digital learning platforms are one step ahead of the game.