Search Results for: blog 1st grade reading list

Free Summer Reading Offers

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Many families, libraries, and schools sponsor and encourage summer reading through programs and incentives. Some businesses are also joining in on encouraging children to read throughout the summer. We have discussed many times the importance of reading and keeping your child’s brain alert during the summer. I have listed a couple of business offers below that might help you get your child fired up and ready to read. While encouraging your child to read, read, read, do not forget to try a little math and science too! Build A Bear Workshop Reading Program Build a Bear Workshop is offering special … Continue reading →

2006 in Review: Homeschooling Blog at a Glance

As a new homeschooling blogger at Families.com, I wanted to know everything that has been discussed to date. In response to my own curiosity, and in an effort to make perusing our articles easier for you, our readers, I have compiled all of the blogs for the year 2006. Deciding to Homeschool Why homeschool Am I qualified for this? Reasons that Homeschooling Works! My Most Important Advice for Homeschoolers. The Cost of Homeschooling Instead of standing up for their own kids, why not stand up for all kids? Disclaimer: I am hardly an expert in education. Did You Know? ‘Empirical … Continue reading →

What Your Second Grader Should Know: Math

It so happens that our nation is last among 1st world countries in math and science. Apparently we do quite well until about 4th grade and then we start to loose the edge by repeating the same stuff. While math is definitely incremental (meaning that it builds upon previous lessons), a word to the wise: take short times to review basic concepts daily. You don’t have to do it via rote memorization–play games, do a little here and a little there and before you know it you’ll have an expert mathematician. * Counting, reading, writing to 1,000 Cool Teaching Idea: … Continue reading →

What Your First Grader Should Know: Language Arts

I must make a note about when you teach your child to read or when your child learns to read. Reading is as much developmental, as it is about teaching a child specific skills. There are children who read at age 4. There are also children who don’t read until age 9. Both are considered within the range of normal. If you happen to have one of those early readers you should not be too eager to pat yourself on the back as early reading is not necessarily a sign of superior intelligence. Likewise, if your child is a late … Continue reading →

Should Kindergarteners Receive Traditional Letter Grades?

When Tyler came home two weeks ago with his report card I had no idea this was the first time kindergarteners in Mobile County Public Schools were receiving letter grades. I was aware that some school didn’t give the traditional A, B, C, D, F grades but instead received either P (pass) or F (fail) or perhaps S (Satisfactory) or U (Unsatisfactory). Still I didn’t give much thought to it until Sunday when I read in our local paper that this is actually the first time grades are being given. I also found out that it’s causing somewhat of a … Continue reading →

Online Educational Program: BigIQKids.com

Product: Big IQkids.com Age Level: K-8th grade Format: Online Learning Program Price: Free through Premium Programs What is BigIQKids.com? (From the site.) BigIQkids.com presents a unique learning method designed to help each child develop the skills needed to perform to his/her full potential. Our award winning programs are designed for students in grades K-adults and promote spelling efficiency, vocabulary building, math fact mastery and US geography knowledge via multimedia reinforcement and independent learning. We offer both FREE spelling, math, vocabulary, U.S. states programs and spelling and vocabulary games. What does my family think? I have been familiar with the company … Continue reading →

Two Tips for Teaching Multiple Ages: Same Topic, Different Assignments

Someone again, has asked me to talk more about how to manage different ages of children. Before I talk about differentiating types of assignments, I have to say that I think the real struggle in wrapping our brains around teaching multiple ages is our “traditional school centered” mind set. In school, you have children all in the same grade. What’s interesting is that those children are not all at the same level–even if they are the same age. Teachers often group students, pull them out, and otherwise differentiate instruction for kids in their grade. I also have to offer some … Continue reading →

Max and Ruby

The Nick Jr. children’s television show “Max and Ruby” is based on the bestselling books by Rosemary Wells about a little three-year-old bunny boy named Max and his older sister, seven-year-old Ruby. Ruby is very down to earth, pragmatic, and responsible. Max is free spirited, a little bit of a handful, and smart as a whip. Together they make quite the combination. Each episode of the show follows a formula. Ruby wants to accomplish something for the greater good, and Max keeps interrupting her, ruining her plans, and generally making a mess of things. He doesn’t say much, usually just … Continue reading →

My Daughter’s First Two Years of Homeschooling

My oldest daughter is now in third grade. She is articulate and polite. She reads at about a 5th grade level and does well in pretty much anything she sets out to tackle. I wouldn’t say that she’s ahead and/or gifted, but she’s bright and does quite well. In fact, it was her (and not my son) that convinced my pediatrician that home schooling was a great idea. Her first two years, you know those essential formative years of 1st grade and kindergarten are also known as “the twin years.” Those are the years that I was pregnant with the … Continue reading →

Yesterday Was My First Day of Homeschooling. . .

. . .all five of my children. For those of you who don’t know, I have a 3rd grader, a “sort of” 1st grader, and three preschoolers. Until recently, I had provided minimal instruction to the preschoolers mostly because I really feel strongly that they learn best through play. In fact I’ve written several articles on how I don’t do a specified curriculum with them and how I don’t believe in early childhood education (a formal one that is). However, my children don’t agree with me. Up until yesterday, I called the older children to the table and my oldest … Continue reading →