Sounds ridiculous doesn’t it? However, this is how many educators are thinking about readiness; looking at workforce needs and moving backward playing the blame game. If college wasn’t able to prepare their students for the workforce, then it must be the fault of the high schools. If high school couldn’t do their job, it is because grade […]
The multicolored layers of puffy winter wear that are required to keep a small child warm during February in Illinois provide endless opportunities for exhausting trips outdoors. It often takes an equal amount of time to get everyone dressed as it does to actually be outside. Snow pants, zippers, scarves, gloves, hats, and coats require dexterity […]
This article from the New York Times describes how important it is to let children’s creativity flourish and reiterates what we know to be true about the development of children; we need to stop pushing one agenda over another and let children grow up to be who they are meant to be. Creative children who […]
I am married to a snow guy. He loves the snow. He loves the cold. He loves the short grey days and the anticipation of a huge winter storm. I am the exact opposite. I find the winter very hard and unpleasant. The cold enters my bones somewhere around the new year and doesn’t exit […]
On Friday, Early Math Counts presented at the Opening Minds conference in Chicago. We spoke about the Early Math Counts site and our upcoming Professional Development series, soon to be available through the Gateways to Opportunity ilearning system.(More to come about that exciting project over the next couple of weeks). At the end of our […]
Do you remember the day you were told that each and every snowflake in the entire world is unique and that no two snowflakes are alike? The idea of infinite possibilities still rattles my brain. How can each of the billions and billions of snowflakes be unique? Spatial awareness or concepts about space and shape, are […]
What can young children learn about Dr. Martin Luther King that is both appropriate and accurate? How can we use the anniversary of his birthday as a “teachable moment?” I think we can begin with the notion of “a great man.” Dr. King was a great man. What does that mean? Ask the children if they […]
I learned a lot about caring for my own children by watching their teachers in the classroom. I was lucky. As a member of a parent cooperative, we had consistent opportunities to be in the classroom as parent volunteers, to help out on field trips, and to accompany the children to the playground. It was […]
Have you ever considered making a really fun indoor obstacle course in your classroom or gross motor space so that the children can try something new and different and that challenges them physically and cognitively? When I was little, my big sister set up the basement so we had to follow an obstacle course that kept […]
Did you know that there is a searchable database for children’s books created by the folks at National Public Radio? Click here to read a short article about the site and click here to search the database. Enjoy!