Look for these signs of progress in your pre-reader. As the 4 year olds arrive at the Mountain View Parent Nursery School, they pick out their nametags and hand them to teacher Betsy Nikolchev to fasten. “Great job finding your name, Elaine,” Nikolchev says. “How did you know that says Elaine?” “Because it starts with […]
Try these crafty ideas for those long holiday vacation days. Holiday vacation is the perfect time to share memories and to start new traditions like creating a year-end scrapbook. Plan some time to clear off the kitchen table, heat up some cocoa, and make something with your child that will capture the spirit of family, […]
These sewing cards are tailor-made for your toddler. • washable markers or jumbo crayons • paper plates • shoestring or yarn • scissors (adult) or large circle punchInvite your toddler to use the markers or crayons to decorate the paper plates. She may need you to provide gentle guidance in holding the marker and using it to make marks. Once […]
Time-tested classroom strategies will help your child develop early reading skills. Â The ability to read and write, to understand the subtleties of language, to think and reason clearly, and to communicate effectively with others is key to success in school and in life. Researchers have identified a window of time from birth to around […]
Your students will never look at fruits and vegetables the same way again. In Freymann and Elffers’ One Lonely Seahorse, they’ll meet pineapple turtles and ginger root lobsters while exploring number concepts, fruits and vegetables, friendship, and more. Dive deeper into the book with this treasure chest of activities. New Ways of Looking An artist […]
Learn letters the tactile way, with refrigerator magnets.  • Magnetic letters — it’s best if you have more than one set, and both upper- and lower-case letters 1. Play a matching-letter game: Invite your child to match capital letters to lower-case ones. With help from you, he can begin to see the relationship between the two […]
Celebrate the impending arrival of Spring with this Baby Chick Collage! With just a little prep before you begin, this project is sure to be fun for you and your little one! Â Â Yellow Construction Paper Orange Construction Paper Any color Construction Paper (to mount the chick on) School Glue (or other adhesive) Scissors […]
This hands-on paint alternative is perfect for younger children.  • 1 cup each flour, salt, and water • empty plastic squeeze bottles • watercolor paints • spoon and bowl for each color • cardboard squares or heavy paper With your child, mix flour, salt, and water in a bowl. Stir in paint until the mixture is the desired color. […]
