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The first day of preschool comes with mixed emotions for everyone, including your preschooler. Nothing is harder for mom or dad than hearing the cries and seeing the flood of tears that pours out of your little one as you drop him off for the first time. Though this is a difficult time to get through, you and your preschooler can overcome it with the right tools and techniques.
Children learn about the seasons in preschool or kindergarten. While they may see the changing weather and wonder about it, in class they learn that these changes aren't random, but based on seasons. There are several fun activities that you can use to help teach the seasons while keeping the class engaged and listening.
Preschools are full of children who learn as they play, but choosing the best educational environment for your preschooler is serious business. Several factors must be considered when choosing a preschool, including the curriculum, teaching style, school philosophy and physical environment. With a checklist of considerations, you can evaluate the safety and learning potential created by a preschool's physical surroundings.
Interactive lessons about animals active at night allow preschoolers to learn about nocturnal animals and insects that are active while most children are sleeping. Children will learn that nocturnal creatures have special features that help them to function best at night.
Introducing students to United States history at the kindergarten level gives educators the opportunity to teach basic Americana that more advanced grades do not have time for. By presenting just a few of the most prominent symbols of national significance with a handful of creative projects and instruction notes, kindergarteners can learn to recognize and understand the importance of these symbols and develop a foundation for studying American history in depth later on.
Children love to exaggerate and they love to express themselves, so hyperbole poetry seems a natural fit for elementary-aged students. Though many expressions of hyperbole, such as "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse," have transitioned into cliche, hyperbole as figurative language still has the power to make a point through exaggeration. To help elementary students create hyperbole poems, define the term and let them look at some fun literary examples before guiding them through the writing process.
With the new Common Core State Standards Initiative firmly in place, it is wise to take a look at what your kindergartner or first grader will be expected to know by the end of their school year. There are some significant differences in the Mathematics and English Language Arts anchor standards between kindergarten and first grade. Most notably is the expectation of independence and reasoning skills in first graders.
A classroom project centered on Vincent van Gogh’s 1889 painting of “Starry Night” can excite kindergartners about art while also encouraging their own creativity and imaginations. Brainstorming with your kindergartners about the use of color, texture and movement within this painting can help them use the same ideas creatively in their own forms of expression.
Education researchers such as Alfred Adler and Rudolf Dreikurs have determined that elementary school-aged children respond well to a positive discipline approach in the classroom. Differing from a style calling for rote memorization and capital punishment, positive discipline considers children`s self-esteem and potential to succeed with constructive input from teachers. Positive discipline is kind, firm and consistent and encourages students to do their best and follow rules because they want to succeed.
Adding, subtracting and multiplying digits are the building blocks for harder and more complicated topics. Learn about adding, subtracting and multiplying digits in regards to fourth grade math with help from a distinguished math expert in this free video clip.
Fourth grade is right around the time that students will begin to experience things like factors and multiples for the first time. Learn about fourth grade math factors and multiples with help from a distinguished math expert in this free video clip.
According to research conducted by the National Assembly of State Arts Associations and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, art, music and physical education classes provide lasting positive effects on children’s mental, physical and academic health. Studying music and art can facilitate student learning in subjects like math, reading and social studies. Meanwhile, physical education classes can improve concentration, memory and classroom behavior. The American Journal of Public Health found that elementary school girls who participated in more P.E. boasted better math and reading test scores than those who had less time in P.E. class.
To learn in preschool, toddlers need to have reached a stage of cognitive development that is conducive to learning. The brains of children mature at differing rates and not all children will be ready for preschool at the same time. Toddlers who are struggling with learning may improve significantly after a year or more of additional development. Quality of preschool teachers, style of instruction and individual learning styles can all impact toddler learning.
In preschool art classes, students are taught about the use of color in the world and their teachers help them develop an understanding of using color in many forms. Children are given the opportunity to explore and experiment with color using a variety of materials, including paper, markers, pastels, crayons and paint.
Children who repeat kindergarten are given an opportunity to improve academically and mature emotionally, but the disadvantages might outweigh the benefits, depending on the child. Kindergarten retention can have long-term effects on a child's academic accomplishments, self-esteem and socialization. Parents and teachers must work together to determine the best decision that will help a child thrive in school.
Enrichment activities can help keep young students engaged. The exercises will help boost critical thinking skills and build on the things students are already learning. With a large range of activities, elementary students can explore their creative skills and get a wider idea of how the world works. Foreign languages and sports are a few of the popular activities used in after school enrichment programs.
A fruitful education in mathematics begins at the kindergarten level, focusing on counting, adding and subtracting, measuring and shapes. With an understanding of the number work important to your kindergartner, you can help pave the way to your child's continued success in mathematics.
Each school district in the United States sets its own standards for teaching third grade music. Music teachers can teach the standards based on student needs and current level of understanding. A complete music education must include certain musical terms so that students can communicate effectively and accurately when performing, describing, analyzing, evaluating and composing music. When teaching music terms, a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical experience helps the children understand abstract music concepts.
A good start in elementary school can lay a strong foundation for a lifetime of learning and achievement. When you begin the search for a school for your child, examine not only the characteristics of the school, but also how well the school's style and environment will work with your child's personality and needs.
Kindergarten teachers learn quickly that forming groups in their classrooms is an effective academic and behavioral strategy. Young children are easier to manage in small groups, and the teacher is able to learn which students need more help on specific skills. Grouping is not a random exercise. Evaluate student skill levels -- and other factors -- when establishing groups in the kindergarten classroom.
They lie, steal and cheat, but so cleverly that they get away with it. Trickster tales delight us, despite their heroes’ sometimes disreputable behavior, and the butts of their pranks are often so self-important or tyrannical that we find ourselves cheering the tricksters on. Trickster characters appear in the folklore of most cultures and African tricksters include Zomo the hare, Eshu the messenger, and most famously, Anansi the spider. You can invite a professional storyteller to introduce your elementary students to African trickster tales in there original oral form and lead them in a variety of hand-on related activities.
Many parents consider delaying the start of kindergarten so their children can mature academically, socially and emotionally during an additional year of preschool. There is much controversy surrounding the issue, and preschool teachers, kindergarten teachers and parents may have varying opinions. Parents must weigh the benefits of an additional year of preschool against the disadvantages of starting kindergarten a year later.
The transition from preschool to kindergarten is a fun and exciting one but it requires patience and understanding. Five-year-olds are still in the process of learning how to interact socially and behave responsibly in a classroom setting. As a parent, you can help with the transition by taking time to talk with your child about all the upcoming changes and meet with preschool teachers to make sure your child is well-prepared for the adjustment.
Whether you are a parent who is looking at early education centers for your child or a professional who runs or is considering starting a preschool program, accreditation is often key to ensuring quality. The National Association for the Education of Young Children is the primary accrediting body for preschools. Although NAEYC is widely used and recognized as the gold standard for accreditation, some local or religious institutions -- for example, the Florida League of Christian Schools -- also follow a similar process.
Aspiring physicians know how difficult it is to get accepted into medical school. Intimidating statistics abound; only one-third of applicants who apply to medical school are accepted, according to author Christian Becker, M.D. Applicants shouldn’t give up hope; the summer provides college students a break from their rigorous academic semesters, and it provides additional time to develop into the accomplished, well-rounded candidates medical schools seek.
Organizing play food by color or shape, putting green blocks into a green bin and manipulating clay to create shapes are not only fun play opportunities for a pre-kindergarten student, they are also opportunities to learn about math. The education a child receives before entering kindergarten will introduce and reinforce math skills such as counting, comparison and measurement. Parents can help support math development by finding ways to incorporate early math skills and problem solving into everyday situations, ensuring that a child is prepared for the experiences of pre-kindergarten.
Social concerns, small physical stature, struggling academics and emotional immaturity are common reason cited for kindergarten retention. The decision to retain a child for an additional year of kindergarten can have long-term impacts on self-esteem, social skills and academic achievements. Parents must consider both advantages and disadvantages to kindergarten retention before deciding what is right for their child.
Kindergarten is often regarded as the most important year of a child's formal education because it sets the foundation for future learning. There are many basic skills that parents and preschool caregivers can work on to help prepare children for kindergarten, such as letter and number recognition and the ability to follow directions.
The first day of preschool is a major milestone for both you and your child, but there are many things you can do to make the transition fun and exciting. With a bit of planning, you can reduce any anxiety, and your child will adjust and thrive.
Kindergarten is an important developmental time for your child. He will learn many new skills this year. Academically, you will see him progress in reading, math, language and writing. Kindergarten milestones have been identified as indicators of sufficient performance to promote students to first grade. However, children do not meet all these at the same time or have the same level of mastery. These milestones will help you determine if your child is ready for first grade.
Show and tell gives kindergartners the opportunity to share their interests and showcase personal toys or collectibles that are important to them. Especially for shy students, who may have trouble expressing themselves, show and tell provides a structured platform for communicating with classmates. The practice helps young children with important verbal and listening skills so they develop a positive self-image and learn to interact with peers and teachers.
A silhouette art project captures students' profiles as a keepsake to remember the kindergarten year. The classroom project doubles as a lesson on shadows and light. The kids see how shadows occur when an object blocks a light source. Most classrooms already have projectors, making this an inexpensive and easy project to complete. However, it is time-consuming, so preparing the steps ahead of time makes it easier to complete the activity with all of your students.
Children receive their first formal year of reading instruction in kindergarten. Teachers introduce and demonstrate several reading skills simultaneously, including letter-naming and sound identification and production. Initial sounds are usually taught first, followed by the final and medial sounds. These skills are important because children cannot read independently until they can sound out each letter in a word.
Teachers need to be armed with diverse classroom management techniques to promote good behavior and discourage unwanted behavior in elementary schools. Because not all students will be motivated by the same techniques, teachers can use either reinforcement or consequences as needed to solve disciplinary issues in a classroom. In an excerpt from the book "Learning Disabilities and Challenging Behaviors," published on the website LD OnLine, authors Nancy Mather and Sam Goldstein state that both punishment and negative reinforcement are effective classroom management tools, if used as soon as possible following unwanted behavior.
German-born Friedrich Froebel envisioned a special school environment for young children that would allow for play and development while encouraging growth and learning. He understood that young children have a tremendous capacity to learn through observation of the world. Froebel's kindergarten, which literally means “children’s garden,” influenced the growth of kindergarten as a method of introducing young children to formal education.
Delaying a child's placement into kindergarten until he's more emotionally mature or intellectually prepared is sometimes called redshirting. Delaying kindergarten can cause problems for some children, particularly when their parents delay kindergarten for non-academic reasons, such as wanting a child to be bigger than all the other kids. However, when a child needs a little more time to mature, delaying kindergarten can be a sound parenting and educational decision that provides your child with a smooth transition into academic life.
Recalling folktales, such as Aesop's Fables or the rhymes of Mother Goose, may bring back memories of your childhood, but you may not realize how integral these stories were in early classroom learning. The study of the folktale genre, which can include fables, myths, fairy tales and rhymes, is a foundational element in many kindergarten classrooms that encourages the development of a range of skills.
The age-old art of storytelling has been capturing the imagination of audiences of all ages for centuries. In the preschool classroom, a well-told story keeps kids entertained while teaching valuable lessons, such as numbers, colors, or appropriate behavior. Incorporating props into story time encourages audience participation and keeps kids engaged in the story.
When you hear that first sniffle or cough, you're on alert to see if your toddler's minor symptoms develop into a full-blown cold -- or worse. When illness -- or the threat of illness -- occurs, you also wonder if you should keep your toddler home from preschool to prevent infection of her classmates. By understanding what conditions are potentially contagious, you can better assess your toddler's condition and determine if a day at home is in order as she recovers.
Making literature come alive for preschoolers is a great way to get those kids hooked on books as early as possible. Make literature come alive for preschoolers with help from the director of CHALK Preschool of Venice in this free video clip.
Making a pond ecosystem with preschoolers is a really hands on way to teach those kids about the environment. Make a pond ecosystem with preschoolers with help from the director of CHALK Preschool of Venice in this free video clip.
The inclusion of phonic toys in preschool programs has a number of advantages associated with it that can't be ignored. Learn about the advantages of having phonic toys in preschool programs with help from a writer, actor and corporate language trainer in this free video clip.
The order of operations will begin to play a large role in mathematics right around the sixth grade. Learn how to evaluate expressions using the order of operations in mathematics with help from an experienced mathematics educator in this free video clip.
Being a first grade teacher requires you to look at both your job and your students in a very particular light. Get advice for a first grade teacher with help from a longtime and dedicated educator in this free video clip.
Games can be a great way to teach younger kids how to improve their writing skills. Learn about third grade games for writing skills with help from a professional reading and English tutor in this free video clip.
Certain activities are perfect for younger students, like those in elementary or middle school. Get tips on activities for plate tectonics for elementary and middle school kids with help from a science teacher and writer in this free video clip.
A great way to introduce clouds as a concept to young children is through the use of a fun story. Learn about making clouds for preschoolers with help from the co-founder of an organization that provides quality care and education to young children in this free video clip.
Rose crafts are a great way to get kindergarteners to express their creative side. Learn about kindergarten rose crafts with help from a dedicated and experienced flower aficionado in this free video clip.
Not all snacks for preschoolers have to involve cooking. Find out about non cooking snacks for preschoolers with help from a nutrition counselor in this free video clip.
Sixth grade pre-algebra may be the first time students see more advanced problems with fractions and decimals. Work through fractions and decimals in sixth grade pre-algebra with help from an experienced math tutor in this free video clip.
