Teaching & Homeschool Articles - Page 3

As soon as kids can play outside, parents teach them to stay away from the street, and when older to look both ways before crossing. These common-sense steps are vital for children to learn the bare basics of road safety, but do not go nearly far enough to keep them safe. When playing outside, they are exposed to a plethora of hazards that vary based on the neighborhood and community. Not only is it important for them to look both ways before crossing a road, but it can be lifesaving to know where appropriate places to cross are located.

Sorting and matching activities serve such an integral role in a child’s early learning that parents, caregivers, and early childhood teachers should offer plenty of fun opportunities of varying complexity as kids grow older. But there’s only so many toys parents can buy. Luckily ideas for sorting and matching games don’t have to be bought; they can be created using items you already have around the house and learning can be reinforced and assessed using free matching and sorting resources from Kids Academy! Join us as we explore exciting options to incorporate more sorting and matching fun into your child’s learning.

In essence, play-based learning serves as a cornerstone in early childhood education, with experts touting its benefits and importance. It is no doubt an essential component of childhood, but as a parent or teacher, you may be wondering about the details of how play can develop your child’s specific academic skills or how to know if the games they play are useful. Join us as we explore answers to the most commonly asked questions about play-based learning to gain deeper insight into this important topic.

Have you ever encountered the term 'neurodivergent' and wondered what it means? Or are you familiar with the term and looking for ways to better support the needs of the neurodivergent children in your care? Well, you're in the right place. We'll go in-depth on the topic of neurodiversity, explaining its nuances and outlining concrete steps for creating an inclusive learning environment.

Studying and managing their own learning isn’t something that comes naturally to kids. Who could blame them for wanting to spend their time after school watching TV or playing video games? Even so, parents can help nudge their children along and into a new studying routine.

With a new school year just beginning, now is the best time to instill or reinforce healthy study habits with the inspiring study space for your kiddo. Consider the following ideas for designing the perfect study space for your elementary student!

School is almost back in session, but for some kids making the transition back to the classroom can be an arduous task. If you have any concerns whatsoever about your child’s transition from summer to school, this article will offer helpful advice that responds to a wide range of special needs.  

A new school year is near and now it's time to settle to go back to school! For some kids, it is an exciting time since children are eager to start learning and looking forward to seeing their schoolmates again, while for others it may be a hard time of trial and concerns. Some kids will sometimes need extra help to make the transition back to school smoother and safer. Luckily, there are many strategies on how to make the transition easier, making the back-to-school process run as seamlessly as possible. 

As parents and caregivers, we want to keep our kids engaged in learning during the summer break. Many learners will experience what is known as the “summer slide” which is when they lose some of the academic gains they have made during the school year over summer break. Reading, particularly in the elementary years, is an area that is vulnerable to that learning loss. Here are some recommendations for keeping elementary kids engaged in reading during the summer:

Afraid of the summer learning slide? Put your child to work in a fun and meaningful way by creating a unique summer learning plan tailored to the needs and interests of your child. Select rewards, create goals, and plan exciting activities that will energize your child for summer learning! This article offers you a step-by-step guide to designing your child’s very own summer learning program that will keep him and her learning each and every day this summer break!

Over the last few years, many children experienced learning loss in some academic areas due to the pandemic. Parents are concerned that their elementary students struggle with developing reading skills, so important for learning success. We'll provide ways to address these issues using the science of reading—the latest teaching approach based on extensive research.