Preschoolers Benefit From Process Art

What kind of artwork does your preschooler bring home? The art could be a free-flowing expression of your child’s exploration of art materials. Or, it could be something easily identifiable that your child’s teacher set up and your child happily pieced together. One of these two types of art is much better for preschoolers than the other. Project art could be described as a “craft”. The preschool teacher presents kids with the exact amount of supplies they need (included pieces that have been pre-cut by the teacher). Kids are to use those pieces in a precise way to make an … Continue reading →

Pushing for Publicly-Funded Preschool

If you missed President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address five months ago, you may be wondering why his recent trip to Illinois attracted so many leaders in the world of early education. Obama spent much of his trip to Fort Knox College on Wednesday reiterating the importance of his proposal to give American children a publicly-funded preschool education. The president unveiled his goal of providing quality early education for 4 year olds in his State of the Union address earlier this year and he is not backing down on his commitment. “If you think education is expensive, wait … Continue reading →

Riding the Bus

They’ve spent years singing about its wheels going round and round, but now the day has come for your little one to take his first ride on a big yellow school bus. More and more parents of preschoolers are opting to have their kids use a bus as the primary vehicle to get to class. Depending on the location of your child’s preschool, older siblings might be able to ride alongside their younger sister or brother. Regardless of whether or not all of your children ride the same bus, now is the time to prep your preschooler on the rules associated with … Continue reading →

Kitchen Science with Clifford the Big Red Dog

Two little girls crazy about Clifford and science + one Clifford the Big Red Dog Kitchen Science Kit = FUN and Learning! The Young Scientist’s Club is one of my favorite subscription services and science kit makers on the market. The kits never fail to amaze and always offer high quality materials. The instruction manuals are clear and most supplies are provided. It is one way I incorporate all my kids of various ages learning about science. The Young Scientist’s Club continues this lead with Clifford the Big Red Dog Science Kits. While, it was for my two younger children, … Continue reading →

Extending the Lesson on Goodnight Moon

Goodnight Moon is an American children’s book written by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Clement Hurd. First published in 1947, this book’s popularity, charm, and quality still remain constant to this day. All of my children proclaimed this book to be a bedtime favorite at some point. The book is simple, sweet, and a wonderful way to gently lay your children down to sleep. Due to how loved the book is by so many children it is a great place to start a book study for little ones. Creating lessons from favorite books will encourage your child to read and … Continue reading →

Keeping Children Busy While Teaching Your Emerging Kindergarten Student

Lindsay asks: How to do it when all of the kids are so little and nobody wants to nap! Beginning Kindergarten this Fall and a little nervous My Answer: You may have to take the one room schoolhouse approach. Get a “school box” for each child. Fill it up with things that keep little hands busy. crayons play dough stickers paper Wikki Stix pipe cleaners little books simple puzzles building blocks. The important part is only allowing the children to have the box during school. Have the children open the school box or busy box while you teach your … Continue reading →

Emerging Readers: Best Selections

1. Logic of English No frills. Straightforward. Simple to use and implement. One program for all ages. Suggestions for proper use for each age group. Teaches from a solid Orton-Gillingham method. The phonogram is associated with the sound so the letter becomes the image. This is especially important for dyslexics. Lessons teach phonics, phonograms, spelling, dictation, and grammar. As the name of the program suggests it is taught in a logical and orderly fashion. All sounds for a vowel are taught at one time. This is to prevent confusion and frustration when a child learns short “a” and then … Continue reading →

Preschool Book: Bear Country Blessings

Book: The Berenstain Bears: Bear Country Blessings Author: Jan & Mike Berenstain Ages: Recommended for ages 4 and up. Type: Hardcover, 96 pages Price: $7.99 Book Synopsis: This three-book collection of the highly popular Berenstain Bears Living Lights stories will provide children with an ideal gift they will enjoy all year long. The biblical values, morals, and life lessons are invaluable for children throughout every stage of their lives. Titles include: The Berenstain Bears God Bless Our Home The Berenstain Bears All Things Bright and Beautiful The Berenstain Bears Get Involved About the Author: Stan and Jan Berenstain introduced … Continue reading →

Preschool Pumpkin Books

It is book list time again. In honor of October, theme is pumpkins. Pumpkin Jack, by: Will Hubbell The first pumpkin Tim ever carved was fierce and funny, and he named it Jack. When Halloween was over and the pumpkin was beginning to rot, Tim set it out in the garden and throughout the weeks he watched it change. Its skin shriveled and it became flatter. After the winter snow, all that was left was a stem, some seeds, and a crumpled pumpkin skin. But in the spring there was another change–a plant began to grow! Tim watered the vines, … Continue reading →