What Is Play and Why Is It Important? “They’re just playing.” How many times have you heard someone say that? To many adults, play can look like a break from learning. But research tells us something very different. Play is one of the most powerful ways children learn and grow.
Are you a parent, caregiver, or educator working with young children? If yes, there are many simple ways you can help children support your child’s literacy development—long before they start school. Literacy begins at birth. Babies and young children learn about language through everyday experiences. At home, literacy grows when
Scientists have spent years trying to understand how children learn to read. Researchers at Harvard University have even used MRI brain scans to watch how children’s brains change over time. What they discovered is both fascinating and encouraging. The systems the brain uses for reading do not suddenly switch on
You may have heard the term science of reading. It sounds complicated. However, the idea is simple. The science of reading refers to decades of research that explain how children learn to read — and what teaching practices work best. So what does this actually look like in a classroom?
I need to confess. I still have boxes of leveled books in my home office. Early in my teaching career, I relied on them to support beginning readers. However, over the last ten years, I have committed myself to learning more about how children learn to read. As a result,
Early reading struggles are common — and often misunderstood. The Science of Reading helps both parents and teachers understand why these challenges occur and how to respond effectively. 1. Reading Is Slow and Challenging Children may sound out every word and become tired or frustrated when reading. What research tells
How Reading Develops in Grades 1–3: What Research (and Experience) Tell Us Whether you’re a parent or a primary teacher, it’s common to expect reading to “click” once children start school. When it doesn’t, concern naturally follows. Research from the Science of Reading helps explain why early reading development looks
The Benefits of Using Children’s Literature to Practice Math Concepts When we think about teaching math, worksheets and number drills often come to mind. While these tools can be useful, they are not the only way children learn math. One powerful and often overlooked resource is children’s literature. Storybooks can
The Grade 1 Saskatchewan Curriculum has an outcome that focuses on Daily and Seasonal Changes. Some of the indicators ask the students to compare seasons, observe changes, group objects according to the season, and to examine how animals, humans and plants adapt to the seasonal changes. Here are some of
As educators and parents, we know how powerful playful, hands-on learning experiences can be. In my Grade 1 classroom, these experiences support the Saskatchewan Mathematics curriculum outcomes, especially in the Shape and Space strand. When young children explore three-dimensional (3-D) shapes with their hands — touching, building, sorting — they
I share teaching tips, strategies, lesson experiences and classroom snapshots to support your 3 to 6 year old learners.