Active Play Toys

We all loved playing actively as a child and we didn't even know it was a valuable need in our development. Children need to play actively for many reasons. Active play toys enable children to develop gross motor skills. They also enable children to predict and follow through. Active play toys can also aid children in eye-hand coordination as well as allowing them to try new things and even sometimes fail. All of the skills mentioned above can be accomplished with active toys like: bean bags, tricycles, ball games, and kind of throwing games, jumping or balancing tools and much more. You may not know exactly what skill is being encouraged when your child is playing with active play toys but encourage them to do it any way! If anything they are getting some exercise and trust that other skills are being encouraged as well. Enjoy the spring and summer months. Get your kids active and outside!

Mathematics Teaching Aids

Math can be a really boring subject when students are just asked to drill and practice over and over again. It is easy, though to make math fun. Getting various mathematics teaching aids can really spice up the math classroom. Some examples of some fun mathematics teaching aids are:

* Wiki Sticks: let the children create 3-D objects with these wax sticks so that they can see for themselves what 3-D really means. They will also gain a hands-on understanding of the attributes of certain figures.

* Movie clips: if you are studying proportions let them watch a movie clip and find certain proportions in it like: boys to girls, chairs to tables, etc...

* Go outside: let the students find geometric shapes or even mathematical concepts outside. You would be amazed how math is in the real world every day!

* Blocks: blocks can be used to explain graphs, probability, more or less, and just about anything else. Be creative with blocks.

* Nerf Basketball: stick a nerf basketball goal in your classroom and give them the chance to shoot baskets -you can make fractions, probability, chance, integers with ones made and ones missed. The list is endless.

These are just a few options of some great mathematics teaching aids. It never hurts to add a little creativity to the math classroom. Who knows, your kids may actually find Math their favorite subject.

Teaching Aids for Teachers

The year is winding down and I know most teachers are not thinking about what they will do differently next year. They are probably just trying to close this year up and feel somewhat successful. I have found in my years of teaching that it is helpful in your plans to write down what worked and what didn't while it is still fresh in your mind. That way when you do return to it later on the next year, you will remember if it was a successful lesson or not. Constantly be looking for teaching aids for teachers. You will find that when you are in the dollar store this summer or at Walmart in a small town visiting family that there are many things you can find to make your classroom more successful! Keep an eye out for new ways to bring life to your classroom and to your teaching. Well done this year, looking forward to new things next year. That is why we are all teachers, isn't it? We don't like for things to be the same - change is fun and healthy! Have a great summer!

Teaching Math to Kids

A lot of children do not like Math. It could be for various reasons but most of the time it is because they do not understand it and feel it is "beating" them. When you are teaching math to kids, make sure to keep that in mind. I remember my dad getting so frustrated when I didn't understand something in math. Now that I actually teach it, I understand his frustration but I also understand that every child learns a bit differently.

Try to have various ways to explain something in your classroom when presenting a new mathematical concept and when teaching math to kids. For example: hands on items, games, seeing the math concept in real life examples, and even having them act it out. These are different learning styles that will enable most children to learn a new math concept. Granted, this is not a cure all and since we didn't go in to specifics here, I understand you still may be frustrated like my dad! Don't give up, keep showing them the same concept over and over again in different ways and you will be surprised when one day it clicks!

Puppets in the Classroom

You might be surprised how puppets can add to a classroom. When looking for school supplies for teachers, do not only stick with the pen, paper and maybe some posters. Get a puppet. Younger children love them and older children will laugh at them and at you. You will be surprised how they remember what your puppet says!

Try pulling out a crazy looking puppet to convey rules, to sing a silly song to help them remember something, to teach social behaviors where the puppet does everything wrong. You do not have to be a great ventriloquist, just talk and use a silly voice. I used a puppet this past year, Tina, and she was loved by all. It is a great school supply for teachers and it doesn't have to come out very often. I chose to have her help me with the calendar and with letter of the day. She was funny and the kids asked to see her all the time.

Some tips when using puppets:

(1) Make sure you have a "home" for the puppet and never let the kids play with or take him/her out of its home because it remains real and a mystery for them.

(2) Don't let kids touch him or her.

(3) Use a silly voice.

(4) Have fun!!

Find ways to incorporate the not so normal school supplies for teachers and your classroom will come to life!

Starting High School

My child is starting High School, do you have any advice on how to make this an easy transition?

Start off the year communicating with teachers. Know your child's schedule. Pay attention to when they have certain classes. Most teachers have websites now and you can easily access them as well as email them. Let them know that you are paying attention to their schedule and your children will see that interest and know if you are interested, they will have a bit of accountability. Granted, your child does need to take some responsibility but it is good for them to see mom and dad showing an interest.

Also, take your high schooler out to eat before they are starting high school. Talk through some of the expectations for the year. For example: talk about what they desire to do this year in terms of activities, talk about when they will do homework, jobs, allowances, friends. You can also use this time to discuss your expectations. This is a great idea to give your high schooler and you a chance to come up with a plan together. You will be surprised how the plan works a bit better when they help come up with it.

Enjoy - High School is a fun time! Don't be scared of it!

Starting the School Year

As teachers, do you have any advice for me as my children get close to starting the school year?

Well the best thing you can do is keep your child's brain active. That can be done in many ways but mostly with reading to them and discussion about things they are doing or seeing throughout the summer. 

Another good idea is to get your children on a schedule as the school year approaches. Starting the school year can be a bit hard when you have to get used to getting up early. Try to wake them up at the same time, get them to bed a bit earlier and maybe even doing a bit of "homework" with them. It could be as simple as writing what they did this summer or even a thank you note to someone. 

For younger children you can get their hand muscles in check and tuned up before school starts. Make sure you give them opportunities to cut, write and squeeze things so that their little hands will be strong enough for all the school activities that will be required of them.

Most of all play with them, have fun, pray for their teachers, friends and make school coming an exciting thing for them. Starting the school year can be an easy, fun transition if we do simple things to make the school year start successfully.