 If your child is having trouble "getting" math and have trouble thinking critically about what they read? They may have difficulty with "fluid reasoning". Fluid reasoning, or Logic and Reasoning is taking information learned and applying it in new ways in order to solve problems. Trucky 3, a game published by Smart Games, can be a challenge for individuals of all ages. This game requires the player to fit unusually shaped blocks fully into the transparent back of a toy truck. In order for the blocks to fit correctly, there is only one solution. There game comes with 3 trucks, a variety of blocks, and increasingly complex puzzle cards. Smart Games also creates other games that support logic, reasoning, and critical thinking.
0 Comments
 Is your child having trouble "getting" traditional phonics? Are they not remembering the sounds that go with specific letters? Zoo-phonics takes a multi-sensory approach that helps kids associate the sounds and printed upper and lower case letter with an "animal" caricature and name. For instance, "Bubba Bear" makes the /b/ sound when he eats his honey. Children act out the eating of honey and making the /b/ sound. This program moves the letters and sounds from the abstract to the concrete and is great for kids that have trouble with sound-symbol association. It is also a great way to get your pre-schoolers reading early!
 Huge political debates and millions of dollars in research studies have gone toward settling the question, "What should a child learn?". There really is no clear answer to this question because a child selling oranges on the streets of Guatemala needs to know something different from a child growing up in Silicon Valley. What is clear, though, is that we all build new understanding on a foundation of what we have already learned. Imagine trying to understand the purpose of a heart without first knowing the purpose of blood. Also, imagine trying to understand the concepts of ancient, modern, and future, without first having a general understanding of the passage of time.
Helping a child to have a rich knowledge foundation can significantly impact long term academic success and even what they comprehend about the world at large. The Core Knowledge Foundation has been around for decades and they have one solution to this dilemma. They created the "What your _____ Grader Needs to Know" series. These books, while often needing to be supplemented by other material, addresses 70-80% of the academic needs of kids at each grade level, while also providing enrichment content not addressed by other programs. As an example, with Core Knowledge, a Kindergarten is given a solid foundation of global geography and American History, while a Fifth Grader is given in-depth teaching of the human respiratory system. This curriculum is rich in history, science, mathematics, and language arts concepts. It also gives classic literature, music, and the visual arts an equal footing to other core subjects. This book series and curriculum is a fantastic way to help a home-school parent keep their child on-track and even advanced academically.  VersaTiles, are a wonderful puzzle-based series of activity books that uses numbered, colored tiles as a way to help a student check the accuracy of their own answers, no pencil required!. The VersaTiles system addresses all the core subjects including math, language arts, social studies, and science, from grades K-8th. For a one-on-one situation, they have "starter sets" which are surprisingly comprehensive. If you have a kid who struggles with handwriting or simply needs a way to check their own work, this is a wonderful tool!
If you are looking for an Amazing science program that can be adapted to multiple age-levels and abilities, check out Real Science 4 Kids! This curriculum has a real hands-on experiment with every lesson, teaches high level science concepts even to the youngest participant, and uses the scientific method as its foundation!  |
PurposeTo provide useful information to families regarding educational strategies, interventions, and tools. ArchivesCategories
All
|
RSS Feed