How Can I Help My Child At Home?
- How Can I Help My Child Learn Words At Home?
- How Can I Help My Child with Math Facts?
- How Can I Help My Child Become a Better Writer?
How Can I Help My Child Learn Words At Home?
-Write the word in the air with your pointing finger. Spell it out loud as
you write.
-Write the word on the table top with your pointing finger. Spell it out
loud
as you write.
-Write the word. Then use a crayon to trace around the shape of the word.
-See how many times you can write the word in one minute.
-Use colored chalk to write the word on the sidewalk.
-Paint the word using watercolors.
-Print the word with your pointing finger on a cookie sheet covered with
shaving cream, flour, sand, or sugar.
-Form the word using raisins, pieces of breakfast cereal, beans, pasta, or
rice.
-Form the word using buttons, popsicle sticks, q-tips, coins, linking cubes,
or other small objects.
-Go on a word hunt in a book, magazine, or newspaper. See how many high
frequency words you can find.
-Find the letters of the word in a newspaper or magazine. Cut out the
letters
and spell the word. Glue the letters on a card or piece of construction
paper
to make a flash card.
-Use stamps and a stamp pad to stamp the word. Make a flash card with the
stamped word.
-Use yarn, string, or pipe cleaners to form the word. Glue the material on a
card or piece of construction paper to make a flash card.
-Sing the spelling of the word to a favorite tune, such as "t-h-e the, t-h-e
the" to the tune of "Are You Sleeping?"
-Keep a set of flashcards in the car. Spell the word out loud as you are
riding in the car. See how many words you can read when you stop at a red
light.
-Spell the word with foam or sponge alphabet letters.
-Form the word using clay.
-Spell the word using magnetic letters.
-Sign the word using American Sign Language.
How Can I Help My Child with Math Facts?
Math Strategies for First Grade
+1 Facts
Count up one to find the answer (the sum).
For example, if the problem is 5 + 1, then count up once from five (5, 6).
Using a number line or a ruler to count up one provides hands on and visual
support of this concept.
-1 Facts
Count back one to find the answer (the difference).
For example, if the problem is 5 - 1, then count back one from five (5, 4)
Using a number line or a ruler to count back one provides hands on and
visual
support of this concept.
+0 Facts
Zero has no effect. The answer (the sum) will be the addend that is not
zero.
For example, if the problem is 7 + 0, the answer is 7.
-0 Facts
Zero has no effect. The answer (the difference) will be the addend that is
not zero.
For example, if the problem is 7 - 0, the answer is 7.
Adding Doubles
Use the doubles rap:
0 plus 0 equals 0, Oh!
1 plus 1 equals 2, Eew!
2 plus 2 equals 4, More!
3 plus 3 equals 6, Kicks!
4 plus 4 equals 8, That's Great!
5 plus 5 equals 10, Again!
6 plus 6 equals 12, That's Swell!
7 plus 7 equals 14, Let's Lean!
8 plus 8 equals 16, Really Keen!
9 plus 9 equals 18, Jelly Bean!
10 plus 10 equals 20, That's Plenty!
We use matching towers of linking cubes to support this concept development
in class. Two rows or columns of pennies or blocks at home will provide
hands-
on support while practicing at home.
Subtracting a Number From Itself
The answer (the difference) is always zero when a number is subtracted from
itself.
For example, 7 - 7 = 0.
How Can I Help My Child Become a Better Writer?
Pointers for Parents:
�� Provide a place-It's important for children to have a suitable place
to write-a desk a table with a flat surface and good lighting. Provide
materials for writing (author's tool kit), such as pens, markers, crayons,
highlighters, and various kinds of paper. Help your child find a place in
your home that is his or her (sweet spot-the place where they can read
comfortably and with little distraction.)
�� Be a role model-let your child see you write often-lists, reminders,
notes, letters, and the other things you write in your daily life. Put notes
in your child's lunchbox, in book bags, under pillows, in pockets, on bikes,
on the TV, and in other surprising places. There's no more purposeful
reading
than to read something that is written for you.
�� Make it real. Find authentic reasons for your child to write. For
example, letters to friends or relatives, thank-you notes, invitations,
postcards, lists, and reminders.
�� Use materials already in your home, such as the newspaper,
magazines, calendars, family photograph albums books, and journals to
encourage your child to tell stories from the pictures. It's important that
writing doesn't stop Friday at 3:00-think about on Sunday's- I know I love
to
read the Sunday paper but when I'm done what do I do with it (throw it out)-
give it to your kids and let them cut out words they can read and cut out
pictures and create a story about them.
�� Play word games like Scrabble Junior, Boggle, ABC bingo, rhymes etc�K
Let your child play with magnetic letters on the refrigerator, making sure
the letters are at the child's eye level.
�� Read to and with your child daily. Visit bookstores and libraries.
Encourage your child to read to younger siblings, cousins, neighbors, and
even stuffed animals.
�� Listen to your child's retellings and say "That would make an
amazing story,"� or "You should write about that," or "The way you said that
sounds like a poem." Be as helpful as you can-talk through their ideas with
them and help them discover what they want to say. Accept your child's best
efforts at writing and spelling.
�� Talk about your childhood memories. Share your own favorite kid's
books and authors. Tell lots of family stories and ask your child questions
about stories he or she is telling you.
�� Above all, ENCOURAGE! ENCOURAGE! ENCOURAGE! Celebrate your child's
efforts. Display your child's writing on the refrigerator, share it with
relatives and friends. Be positive-say something good about your child's
writing and ask them to talk to you about-you'd be amazed at what you'll
learn.