Spelling does not come naturally for all children. In our homeschool, I had one child who naturally excelled at spelling, while my second child struggled with spelling until high school. Over time, his spelling improved with creativity and effort. If you have a struggling speller, here are a few things that we did at home that you can try.
Why not introduce mysteries to your children—particularly if your children are still finding their feet in reading or are struggling to enjoy the process? Children’s mysteries don’t include the problems that seem to dominate adult mysteries, yet they can be just as engaging—and a compelling competition to screen time. Here are some practical benefits mysteries provide for all types of readers!
Are you a parent of a reluctant reader waiting for your child to find reading fun? Don’t give up! This perceived delay may not be about reading difficulties but more about your child recognizing the joy and the why of reading. As I talk to parents who are concerned about a child reading, we have found that nonfiction leveled readers will repeatedly open that door for their reluctant readers.
There’s more than one way to help children find the joy in reading. Often, to encourage a student in reading our first go-to is fiction. Not every child, however, responds well to that genre. If that's the case for your child, try biographies! Biographies can open the door for some real-life exciting reading. And, research show that this genre benefits a reader well beyond just the reading itself.
“Science of Reading” (SOR) is now required by 30 state education departments. If you're new to the term and want to learn more, it’s a set of requirements rooted in systematic phonics. In this article, we’ll discuss the key elements!
The latest buzz in math nowadays seems to be teaching kids the “why” behind math and emphasizing multiple strategies when working math problems. While there is nothing wrong with these pedagogies and there are huge benefits to these approaches, one must not forget the importance of teaching simple arithmetic. Let's look at ways to approach learning and mastering these basic math skills.
Much has been written to teach children the legacy of African American men and women. Today, however, we want to honor those whose impact was greatest during the tumultuous American Civil War. Often called the "War Between the States," the Civil War lasted 4 years, from 1861-1865. Surprisingly, the effects of this war may still be felt today. Follow the included links to child friendly videos and web sites to learn more.
