Encouraging Writing and Young Children

Tweet     One of the best ways to reinforce reading skills is through writing. Graves (1983) wrote children want to write. They want to write from the beginning of school. Before school, he continues, young children write on walls and pavement. Children may seem like they are scribbling, but there is meaning behind it; the children need only be asked what the scribbles mean (Graves, 1983). There are many ways...

Poetry and Young Children

Tweet   April is national Poetry Month and there are many great ways to share poetry with your child. Through poetry you can: Increase your child’s vocabulary Allow for your child’s creative abilities Encourage your child’s self-expression Stretch your child’s imagination Some ways to share poetry with your child are: A.  Read poetry aloud together B.   Have your child dictate a poem to you...

Helping Your Struggling Reader to Read More Books

Tweet It is always difficult to help your child who may be struggling to read to enjoy reading books for pleasure. We know that the more he/she reads, the easier it will become. However, getting your child to enjoy reading books for fun can be a challenge. Here are some tips to help you to get your Struggling Reader to read for his/her enjoyment: 1. Find several books you think he/she may like and let them choose which...

How To Be an Advocate For Your Child

Tweet Being an advocate for your child is perhaps one of the most daunting tasks for a parent. It can immediately put you in an adversarial role with your child’s teacher, principal, doctor or therapist. However, since our children can not often speak for themselves, it is a role necessary for us to assume as a parent. Here are some guidelines that might help you become an Advocate For Your Child: 1. You know your...

The Kinesthetic Learner

Tweet Learning With Our Senses  While working with my 8 year old grandson, I observed how he learned things I had taught him. When I saw he was having difficulty remembering his letters and sounds, I use my hands to teach him how to connect the two. For example, for the letter “I” I would touch my nose and say “itch” for the short “I” sound. For the letter “U”, I touched...