Read to Rover

This has quickly become another favorite activity at our local library. They bring in therapy dogs and let the kids read books to them.

Sweet Daughter is reading to a dog stretched out on his back. She was proud she got to pet the dog's tummy while reading. I'm sure the dog was proud of that as well. ;)

I'm not sure Sweet Son's dog liked his choice of book based on the look on his face, haha.

Throwback Thursday: Early Education Priorities

This post was originally published in August of 2013.

Kids were tested going into Kindergarten on their knowledge of reading, Math, Science, and Social Studies. What was the best predictor of later reading and Math tests (2nd grade and up)? Science and Social Studies, in that order. Kindergarten reading was not even correlated to 2nd grade reading. Early reading certainly didn't cause higher reading scores. It is much more important to do Science with your kids than any other subject when they are young. This is great because most young kids would rather do Science than reading anyway. Everyone's happy! Also interesting is that early reading doesn't improve later Science and Social Studies scores. Since those subjects are most traditionally taught through reading, I found that interesting. So far the research hasn't figured out why, but still fascinating.

The best way to improve Math scores is going to surprise you. Fine motor skills help with Math. The larger the fine motor deficit, the more impaired later Math becomes. This is most obvious when replicating figures or models, but is true for all areas of Math. They tested many different ways to improve Math scores and the top interventions are: drawing (but not coloring), Legos, fuse beads, pattern blocks, Montessori triangles, puzzles, paper folding, blocks, knob cylinders, and Colorforms. No worksheets, flashcards, or tutoring made the list. Kids tend to shut down when forced to do something they think they aren't good at, but hand them a bucket of Legos or teach them paper folding and they are willing and successful. 

Now for something that makes me feel old. These studies weren't just done with young children. These studies went all the way through college students. At the beginning and the end of the college student study they needed a novel way to test their ability to do mental rotation. Something the kids hadn't done before and were unlikely to practice in between the two tests. They used Tetris. For those of you who are around my age you just freaked out a little that college students have never played Tetris. I was presented with this information at a conference. The group of young guys in the row in front of me spent about 5 minutes debating what Tetris is before using their smart phones to look it up. They decided it must be a game for old people. 

It's well known that the current educational policy is dill and kill. Everyone says they want their kids to have critical thinking skills. You need to know that these are learned before/after and outside school, usually through play. Music, sports, fine motor, problem solving, etc. It's also important to realize that most colleges care more about these activities than you might expect. When looking at two kids with identical grades and test scores the one that will stand out is the one who was involved in things outside of school. This is also one reasons the homeschooling movement is growing in the United States.

Read to Rover

Our library has so many amazing programs. This year we decided to try out the Read to Rover program. They bring in therapy dogs and the kids go in and read to the dogs. If you have any idea how much the kids love dogs and reading, you know this will go well.

Sweet Son reading to a dog and owner 

Sweet Daughter (sitting in the center of the photo)

Her dog was laying so nicely that the owner is actually sitting on the bench behind the pole.

Wordless Wednesday

Schoolwork

A Tale of Two Beds, part 41

This one is all about Sweet Son. He has gotten into the habit of reading himself to sleep. I LOVE it! Here are some photos of him asleep with books (bonus, he is in bed).

The Smash! Smash! Truck - A British book about a recycling truck

Big Book of Bugs

Once again, here are the links to the previous tales. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Frustration, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14, Part 15, Part 16, Part 17, Part 18, Part 19, Part 20, Part 21, Part22, Part 23, Part 24, Part 25, Part 26, Part 27, Part 28, Part 29, Part 30, Part 31, Part 32, Part 33, Part 34, Part 35, Part 36, Part 37, Part 38, Part 39, Part 40.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

At a warehouse book sale - they are incredibly patient if they can get new books!

Wordless Wednesday

Reading

Kid Photographer - Books for everyone

These are all photos found on Sweet Son's camera. He is a strong believer in books. Everyone should have books. Even if they are stuffed animals.

Panda gets a book about a panda.

The fish gets a book about a hen.

Clearly the pig is researching jobs.

The small bear can learn a big lesson from this one.

Sweet Son said this was his reading list. :)

FREE educational downloads for all of my followers!!

I told you I was going to have some awesome giveaways coming up in November. Let's start with something for everyone. That's right everyone who enters will win!

So, what is it? $54 worth of educational downloads.

16 different downloads for young learners - Frozen ABC unit, Rhyming Bunnies, sight words, author study, and so much more! This offer is only good for 4 days, so enter soon and share with everyone.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

(Mostly) Wordless Wednesday

Just a little Reading and Math for fun

Vacation Reading

I love that my kids are drawn to books. It's even better when you can share the experience with friends. We aren't at the book club or discussion phase yet, but this is even better.

Sweet Daughter with friends

Sweet Son with friend

Independent Work

We have time every day that the kids are expected to entertain themselves. This is a skill that many children don't have anymore. They expect someone to entertain them or tell them what to do. I believe all kids need to know what to do when they aren't told. My kids have also never told me they are bored, though I still expect that phase at some point. These are photos of some of the things they do when they are given no direction or instructions.

He wrote his first sentence! "i am hapy."

She is working with numbers.

This is one of the reasons I love Montessori work. The kids can do it independently after it has been presented. They think they are just playing and having fun, yet any adult can see why it is called "work" rather than a toy.

Pinocchio

We are working our way through the Mensa for Kids reading list. This is not a Summer reading list. These are challenging lists that cover great literature for each age group. One of the books on the list is Pinocchio. This is not the Disney version or any of the short, easy readers. This is the full translation of the original. Hundreds of pages of small print with a drawing only every 3-4 pages. We read some every evening and many afternoons as well. I promised the kids if we finished it in time, I would take them to see the play Pinocchio.

We did it. We finished the entire book. One of the local children's theaters was doing the play so we went to see it. The kids sat amazed. At the intermission I wanted to know what they thought. They went through point by point all of the ways the book was different from the play. I tried explaining the play only had 7 people in it and they were limited in sets. I was amazed at just how much of the book they really processed and remembered. I like setting up the expectation of reading a book and going to see the stage show though. So much better than just watching a movie or cartoon.

Montessori Style Work

My kids love showing off, so when they work hard, they ask me to take photos. Hands-on, child-led learning at it's best! Here are some of those photos.

Look I spelled 3 words!

I love it!

Sweet Son made this number. 3 red hundred squares, two blue tens sticks, and 5 green one beads.

Moveable Alphabet

I've posted about the moveable alphabet before and we still love it. The kids take it out and "play" with it at least once a week. Awesome. Here are the words they have been spelling recently.

Seeing that look of pride never gets old.

A close up of the words he wrote

Another proud child

Her words

Funny Quotes

Sweet Son: Can you come check my poopnis?
Me: Your what?
Sweet Son: Well, pee comes out of a penis...

Sweet Son: Mama, you shouldn't call it a toothbrush.
Me: What should it be called?
Sweet Son: A TEETHbrush

Sweet Daughter: I need to learn how to read.
Me: I agree, you eventually need to learn how to read.
Sweet Daughter: Now, I need to learn now. If a princess doesn't know how to read she can't become an astronaut.
(She has never seen a princess video or read a princess book, but she hears about them from her friends.)

My kids are awesome.

Today's post is just a collection of stories about my kids.

At PE class on Tuesday they played red light/green light. When it was Sweet Daughter's turn to be the light she only let them get 1/2 way to her. Then she held it on red for a really long time. The other students started complaining that it was the longest red light ever. They told her to change it to green. She looked at them and explained that once they got to her, her turn would be over, but as long as it was red they were all looking at her. There was an intervention to finish her turn.

Sweet Son is cutting shapes out. After a few triangles, rectangles, etc. Then he decided to cut his favorite shape. Antarctica. Nothing strange about that... um... yeah.

We were driving the other day and passed a deli. The kids ask what they did and I explained they sell sandwiches. The kids wanted to go, but I explained they weren't gluten free. The next day we were driving and Sweet Son decided he found another store he really wanted to go to. He read the sign "Speedy Cash" and decided he would just go in and pick up some money. When I explained how it actually works he decided he doesn't really want to go there. Reading is a dangerous thing.

Last week on the way to horseback riding we drove past a farm. The kids ask what was going on in the field. I told them the donkeys were being amorous. A week later we drove past another field and the kids pointed out that the cows were also being amorous. Now I'm afraid of what they will say the next time they see someone getting a piggy back ride.

Folder Games

When I taught I called these folder games because they fit in a folder. Creative, right? I've also heard these called independent work or centers depending on the classroom.

 Sweet Son is working on beginning sounds. He lays out the larger alphabet cards and matches a picture of something that starts with that sound. Not only does this teach beginning sounds, but it also teaches test taking skills. There is one right answer for each one so if you end up with two pictures on the same letter you know you need to rethink it. If you aren't sure about a picture you can wait and do all of the ones you are confident about and see what is left. I also prefer the kids doing these on the floor instead of the table because being in the position you see him here -  on his knees - helps develop core strength. Working two different systems at the same time - core stability and phonemic awareness - increases blood flow and helps these academic lessons stick in the memory longer.

 Sweet Daughter is working on the planets and other space related things here. First she matches the photos of the planets/space stuff. Then she matches the name. This work spreads out a lot more than the one above. This is great for a wiggly child as she gets to move around to do the work rather than just sitting in one place. Later (a month or so later) she was able to match the name to the picture and use the combined card to check her work.

Sweet Son's Photos

Last Thursday I posted photos I found on Sweet Daughter's camera and today I'm posting ones from Sweet Son's. These are all pictures of me working/playing with Sweet Daughter. Once again these capture moments that I don't have other photos of so they mean a great deal to me.

Sweet Daughter reading to me.

Helping Sweet Daughter with piano practice.

Sometimes we are just silly. Ok, most of the time we are silly.