moving... to a new site

I am closing this blog down, because my beloved husband has set us up with a website.

Please follow us there as we slowly grow to....

www.teachingyourchild.net

Nicole Bills
Teaching Your Child!

This little guy was designed for me by my father. He came about when I was a little girl, terrible at math. He is with me now as a TYC logo, to remind me that with love, patience and fun, anything can be learned.

Understanding Quantity part I: conceptually

To help a child increase their understanding for quantity of a number we must break this understanding down into two parts:
1. conceptual understanding
2. representational understanding

Think about an arbitrary #.
What is its purpose?
*to describe a certain quantity

6 = . . . . . . (we will use dots to represent the quantity whilst you are teaching this I would not just use dots but anything you have a large quantity of : rice, pennies, buttons, beans, candy, rocks, etc)

In order for your child to learn they need the tools to show a concept and to represent their understanding.

First, what are conceptual tools regarding quantity?
* using objects that can be grouped into groups or multiple sets but rearrangement of groups or # of objects with in a group doesn't alter the total # of objects.

OK now she's lost me ; )

Example: (from before with the # of 6 in dots) (b/c of formatting I can't seem to but highly recommend circling the groups as a whole and the sets within each group)

. . . . . .

. . .
. . .

. .
. .
. .

The # of dots in total never change. It is always 6. However, the set within a group have been rearranged.

Did you find your way yet?

Have your kiddo aware of 3 things when looking at groups.

1. When are things the same?
*(each group has 6 dots)

2. When are things not the same?
*(if total # in each group is not the same)

3. When are things the same but not?
*(when quantity is the same but not the # in each set)

Now work with several #'s this way in the set of #'s 1 - 10. later on move up 10 - 30. After working with different numbers your child will have a conceptual understanding of arbitrary numbers and the quantity they represent.

How to Tap into a Child's Learning potential

(again with the cure all? - uhm, no, not exactly)

I come across parents (almost always non-homeschooling) almost weekly who use these phrases in some fashion or another:
1. "I do not really know enough to teach my child"
2. "I have not enough patience to teach my child"
3. "they are constantly questioning me and I just do not have all the answers"

Surprise!
None of us do.

At one time or another we have all been left feeling frustrated, impatient, or stupid with our kids (or dare I say, our friends kids!).

WARNING: This next statement may just end up being a cure all.

The importance of not knowing everything is how your child will crave learning. When they can "teach you".

Lets say for example that your child asks you more than you know on a particular subject. Turn it around and make it a lesson,

"...you know sweetie, I am not really sure, but lets find out together..."

or for you less than interested, um I mean, creative problem solvers, use this one:

"...you know I really do not know, why don't you find out and tell me..."

I must stress the need of following through here, especially if you are inclined to use the latter of the two suggestions.

This should seem a little too easy. It certainly reads that way. However, the more I observe, the more I see how difficult this is to implement. People seem to have a basic need to show, 'hey, I know the answer.' Visions of the child in the back row practically jumping out of their seat with their hand raised waving desperately around in an attempt to get the teachers attention,come to mind. This may seem crazy but if this is how you feel or at one time felt, count on the fact that is how your child feels as well. It is a good thing, desire.

This type of teaching (yes, I know, 'this is a type of teaching? Not know the answer?!') is what is called constructivist teaching. Bare with me here, when a parent moves from dispensing all the information (know and giving the answers) to facilitators of learning (showing children where to get the information, i.e. library, Internet) is a constructivist form of teaching. It is invaluable to taping into your child's desire to learn.

When this method is implemented, the child takes on an active role in acquiring knowledge and thus takes more ownership of it.

The "Uber Learner"

We all have different styles of learning and as such we all have different styles of teaching.

I believe that learners should not become to centered on any one method but to become versed in all methods... an "Uber Learner". In this we create the most successful learner who can in any situation be successful.

We must carry this philosophy into our teaching. All arguments of method must be thrown into the pot:

phonics vs. whole language
deductive vs. inductive
guide vs. sage
Socratic vs. diagnostic
rote memorization vs. authentic experiences

MIX IT STIR IT SHAKE IT ABOVE ALL... USE IT!

I am sure by this point in your career of teaching your children you have come to an understanding of the one constant... every year, every child, every lesson... is different.

That being said why wouldn't your methods.
Be open to new - - learn all the different methods, so that when the time comes, as the situation and the child demand you will have the schema to draw from.

It's the same message we are delivering to our children when we teach them.
It is our message to ourselves.

These differences in learning should be welcomed and respected. As the saying goes, "There is more than one way to skin a cat."

Wholeistic learning

What is wholeistic learning? That is to say that when we teach our children we focus on the whole person not just a specific lesson subject.

Imagine a pyramid. The graduated layers of a pyramid in the form of words would look like this from bottom to top.

1. food
2. love
3. physical exercise
4. mental exercise
5. learning styles

Everything in learning is based on these elements. Missing one and no one is going to learn to the best of their ability.

FOOD

I am sure we have all experienced that once our children walk into the classroom threshold, whether it be the kitchen table or an actual room, their belly rumbles and soon we hear, "I'm hungry." or "I'm thirsty." If your little one is focused on thirst or hunger, guess what they are not focused on. Keeping water at the table will decrease the # of interruptions. A couple of snack times throughout the day keeps the belly monster at bay.

LOVE

Philippians 4:13 "...and the greatest of these is love."

An environment created for a learner to feel safe in making mistakes is probably the # 1 thing anyone should remember.

Edison learned 10,000 ways a light bulb did not work. Where would we be without that flick of a switch ( or in our house, push of a button)?

Some get it fast, others don't. This does not equate your child's intelligence capabilities just the time you need to spend developing them.

PHYSICAL & then MENTAL EXERCISE

Physical exercise has been shown to increase the transfers of neurons that cause brain activity... simply put, if we move, we learn better. Our brain is alert by navigating in an environment. Movement in learning creates the perfect environment for those with higher energy levels. Allowing this desire to be fulfilled will decrease in distractions and create a higher mastery in a subject with aides to memory retention. As such, within our lessons we need to allow (2 - 3 minutes) in the beginning of vigorous movement, and incorporate moderate movement throughout the lesson as the age and need of the child demand.

Mental exercise is what it sounds like... exercising your brain. When we challenge ourselves and our children to do something outside curriculum and outside of the things we normally deal with on a day to day basis, prepares the brain for thought. It loves to be challenged, it awakens from a sedentary position and the synapses begin to fire. If you don't then learning does decrease. In fact studies are now beginning to show that those who do not continue to daily challenge themselves have brains that begin to resemble Danny Devito...or was it that senility sets in quicker?

How to accomplish mental exercise?

Mental games are great way of achieving this. Brainquest is a fantastic quick test of knowledge in broad subject matters. perplexors offers great puzzles in deductive reasoning. look for things on lateral thinking. puzzles, mental math challenges. Try anything that you don't know, something you have to spend a little time figuring out. Soon you and your kiddos will be known as the Schwarzenegger of intellects.

LEARNING STYLES

Learning methods are essential in being successful. When a learner understands how they learn best, they become more confident in their ability.

Do not just stop there; understanding how you learn is just the beginning. Life and its encounters are unpredictable.

We need to understand all the pathways to learning. In doing so, we wake the sleeping senses allowing for a more complete mastery of material. This awakening is giving the skills needed to be successful for any situation in life or a new teacher hands us.

look at your child, discover their most natural way of learning, then teach to that whilst bringing out in your lessons ways to encourage and strengthen other learning styles.

Encouraging Responsibility

I have noticed a chief complaint among parents and it is that their kiddos do not take responsibility. Whether your child is 2 or 22 a great way to encourage responsibility is to assign age-appropriate chores.

Chores?!

"I can't even make my kid get out of bed! How are chores going to help me?!"

OK, if this is your response then in the next posting we will talk about the need for consistency and enforcing your rules. Until then keep reading.

Chores can help your child to develop in many ways. A child who becomes a contributing member of a family has taken the first step to becoming a caring member of the community. As a child carries out tasks, he or she builds the competence and confidence necessary for self-esteem. And, as traditional roles change, learning household skills are important for everyone.

"Traditional roles changing, phooey. My son is going to be a man and not do women's work."

OK, fine. Even so before your son gets married to a woman, he will need to take care of himself.

"My daughter is a woman of the revolution and we do not belong in the kitchen but in the corporate office."

I do not care who you are we are all susceptible to basic needs. God instilled them and Maslow defined them. The point is, we have them and they need to be filled.

So, teach your child chores no matter what the label and think of it as survival skills.

Here are some ways to encourage your child to pitch in:

• Give your child chores that are real.

Your child needs to see his or her "work" is of value to your family.

• Give your child chores he or she can accomplish.

Have your child work alongside you as you garden, fold the laundry, sort the silverware, or put away toys.

• Accept less than perfect results.

Participation and practice are the goals at a young age.

Here are some chores many young children can help to do:

• water plants
• take items to sink
• match socks
• fold own clothes fresh from dryer
• fix a snack
• dry plastic dishes
• dust low furniture
• pick up belongings
• set table
• wipe up spills
• feed the pets

In the beginning it may be a rough change for you and your family, especially if you are dealing with an older child. Remember, that consistency is the key. Keep enforcing that it needs to be done. In the classroom we teach teachers a trick that I believe is helpful for anyone and that is that when you find yourself wanting to yell force yourself to whisper until you have control over your emotion. The listener will be quieting down and strain to hear you.

Keep it Fun!

Sound it out

"I am at a loss! How am I supposed to help my kid learn to read better, I tell them to sound it out, I mean what else can I say..."

Does this sound like you...

What to say besides "Sound it out"

1. Your job is to look at how things start.
2. Your job is to check the beginning of the word.
3. Your job is to put it all together.
4. Did you do your job?
5. Does that make sense?
6. Read all by yourself this time and try to make all the words match?
7. let me help you with the tricky part.

Question Techniques

I have been receiving some e-mail questions about how to question.
When you are working with your child some techniques to remember are:

1. Phrase questions clearly. Avoid vague questions.
2. Ask questions that are purposeful in achieving the lesson's intent.
3. Ask brief questions, because long ones are often unclear.
4. Ask questions that are thought provoking and demand original and evaluative thinking. Encourage your child to respond in some way to each question asked.
5. Avoid asking "yes-no" and 'leading' questions.
6. To stimulate thinking, probe your child's responses or demand support for his answers.
7. Provide your child with feedback about his responses both to motivate him and to let him know how he is doing.

I would say the most important thing to remember in questioning is to attempt to reach all of your child's cognitive skill levels.

Keep those e-mail questions coming! If I don't have the answer, I'll help you find it.

Linking Movement to Learning

The Central Mission of the brain is to intellectually navigate its environment. Therefore, learning must include movement concepts and skills.

What does movement mean?
There are 3 distinctions or definitions of movement when reviewing brain research:
Moving
Physical activity
Vigorous exercise

Moving is navigation of ones environment.
Not sitting still or lying down

Physical activity is voluntary movement that expands energy
Role playing, building a model, playing an inside game of toss and catch to review material

Vigorous exercise is physical activity that gets the heart into a target heart rate zone
Jumping jacks, running, biking, swimming, etc

Movement prepares the brain for optimal learning
When we move we are creating more blood flow. With blood traveling to the bodybrain at a greater rate, it feeds the brain the nutrients needed of oxygen and glucose.

Glucose
Glucose to the brain is what has is to a car…brain fuel
Each time you think you use a little glucose

Oxygen
Lack of oxygen results in disorientation, confusion, fatigue, sluggishness, concentration and memory problems
--So, I know what you are thinking – ok, I’ll just breathe

But alas here is the kicker:

A human exchanges about 10% of his oxygen with each normal breath.

Huh?

Kicker

90% of the oxygen in our bodybrain is stale!
(Until we deep breathe or exercise)

Movement or rather vigorous movement provides the brain with its needed nutrients.

Feeling Hungry?


There are 2 aspects of movement that benefit learners:

Physical fitness: having a healthy body, healthy mind.

Cognitive reinforcement: using a kinesthetic tactile approach to anchor academic concepts.

Blah, blah, blah, what are you trying to tell me?!

Memory is retrieved better when learned through movement

Physical activity counteracts learned helplessness and causes positive learning states

Repetitive gross motor movement balances brain chemicals that calm behavior and elevates self esteem and self worth accommodating ADD/ADHD

Movement = learning

*Research compiled by Nicole Sweet Bills from Eric Jensen, Fragile Brain Research conference, and Dr. Jean Blaydes a neurokinesiologist

Reading aloud to children

Indeed, as Anderson et al. (1985) notes, reading aloud has been shown to be the “single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading” (p. 23)

Parents model the way and why of reading and in doing so they inspire their children to try this magic called reading.

Reading is an acquired skill: the more you do it, the better you get at it; the better you get at it, the more you like it; and the more you like it, the more you do it.

Since awareness must come before desire, reading aloud can be used to expose your children to good books, which in turn serves as a springboard to their independent reading.

Along with everything else, reading to your children can be considered “seed money” in reaching tomorrow’s parents. The child who never sees or hears an adult reading aloud for pleasure is unlikely to grow up and read to children.

In conclusion, reading aloud strengthens the possibility of their future education.

Is your child ready for preschool?

Lots of heated discussions fly around parents with this is a topic! As always “to each his own.” You are the parent and yes, you do know best.

If you are considering one please Keep these things in mind…
That the most important preschool-readiness criteria include social skills, the ability to listen and follow directions, independence and a strong grip on basic motor skills, such as knowing how to use a pencil and work a zipper or buttons.
http://www.parenthood.com/


ü Rest assured Mommies

Most children at 2years of age interact only with an object or familiar persons…PhDs at universities like to call this solitary play

You may start to see them growing in the direction of parallel play which is children playing near each other but independently (2-3 yrs)

And for those of you with the really burning question of what is the next level….

(3-4 yrs) = associative play / children participating in small groups but have a very limited sharing or interaction with each other

(4+ yrs) = cooperative play / children sharing ideas and roles and interacting in increasingly more complex play

ü Food for thought
Education should be a process of assisted discovery –Vygotsky (child psychologist)

Spurring a child's interest in a book.

ü Challenge
o My child does not like to read! They especially will not try a book with little to no pictures.
ü Suggestion
o After reading a story try dressing up like a character in the book.