There are many ways to improve your child’s auditory processing skills that involve games and music. Children learn through play so using games to learn to distinguish sounds is ideal. There are many old school, traditional playground games that help build a child’s ability to distinguish sounds, and increase their ability to follow single andContinue reading “Improving Auditory Processing and Attention Skills”
Tag Archives: homeschooling
Use Art to Deepen Your Science Education
I use art as an integral part of my educator’s toolbox. I don’t have any formal training in the arts. However, I do have personal experience of using drawing to deepen my own understanding of the world around me. You don’t need to be skilled in the arts to include art in your daily life.Continue reading “Use Art to Deepen Your Science Education”
Studying Nature Through Art
Nature is My Curriculum
What curriculum should I buy? How can I get my kids to do their work when they won’t sit for more than ten minutes? Just step outside into nature and the learning possibilities are infinite. Being in nature stimulates the brain and naturally engages kids so the learning happens effortlessly. Just being in nature hasContinue reading “Nature is My Curriculum”
How do I help my young kid not to be math phobic like me?
Math phobic? Don’t be. It’s a learned behavior. Math resistant? I hear you. I was once the same way. I had once believed I wasn’t a “math person.” That belief started early and was reinforced by an educational system that reinforced this belief. Then I went to China. I saw kids that embraced math youngContinue reading “How do I help my young kid not to be math phobic like me?”
My kid hates to write!
Sound familiar? A little too familiar? I’ve been there as well, on the battleground with pencil in hand, trying to convince my then seven year old that writing can be freeing and fun. I’d tell my kid things like,writing is important because you want to be able to express yourself and have your ideas writtenContinue reading “My kid hates to write!”
Jump for Joy! Recess and Free Play are as important as Literacy (that goes for tweens and teens too)!
What do our kids need to ensure a great education and to optimize health and learning? What is often forgotten in that push to improve cognition and learning? Recess!
Where is your Tar Beach? Where is your mental break?
Where is your Tar Beach? Where is your imaginary place to unwind and reconnect with yourself? How about your child’s?
Does your child fight you like Muhammad Ali about sitting down to read, write or work on math? Allowing for a small physical and mental shift in setting often creates significant change.
You can learn anywhere. Physical space creates a mood and having physical control over one’s space is as important as self regulation when it comes to learning. Let your kid decide where to read or write even if it’s the floor or the driveway. Create an atmosphere of “I can learn anywhere.” Why not readContinue reading “Does your child fight you like Muhammad Ali about sitting down to read, write or work on math? Allowing for a small physical and mental shift in setting often creates significant change.”
I was a teacher in the school closest to the towers on 9/11. Here is what I learned from that tragedy that helps me as an educator and as a parent during COVID.
I was a teacher in one of the five schools closest to the twin towers. 9/11 had been my second day teaching at PS 89.
Willow Tree Educational Services 