Teaching with Music

Remember that old iPod you had? Well you're going to need it. Thanks to my oldest daughters (6 y/o) curiosity, I pulled out my old iPod today. I had previously downloaded "Literacy in Motion" onto my iPod for a class that I teach. I let her listen to it and realized I could use this as a teaching tool to help reinforce things covered at home or school.

You're probably wondering okay........ when would my child be listening to an iPod? I went for a run today and while listening to an audio book on my iPhone I gave my son (3 y/o) the iPod. He loved it. I heard him trying to sing some of the songs so after my run I visited the library. I picked up Sesame Street "Old School" volume 2 (3 CD's). My son loves Sesame Street and he can't wait to begin listening to the CD's/music. These three CD's include "The Count Counts", "Grover Sings The Blues", and "My Name is Roosevelt Franklin."

Seriously.... You can help reinforce or introduce anything with music. I've already covered math, music and history with the CD's I just borrowed. Don't forget to pick up nursery rhymes and add a few audio books. You can find all of this for free at your local library!!!!

FYI...... I have borrowed CD's from the library and downloaded them onto my cars audio system. I also borrow audio books to play in the car while traveling with the kids, even on short distances. I borrow Scholastic Storybook Treasures DVD's and played them at home. I do this repeatedly to help reinforce various topics. I do not listen to the radio or watch TV when my kids are around or awake. I try to use every opportunity to teach them something while I still can. Thanks to the library my kids have learned about different genres of music from classical to reggae, their favorites Bob Marley, "Three Little Birds," and Beethoven, yes-lol.

Weekly Reader: A Just Ask Book

I just came across the simplest set of books that will help answer some of the questions our children love to ask. The Weekly Reader: Just Ask Series is a series that features a 32 volume set of books that introduces children to science & nature concept. Colorful pictures & lovable characters provide a non-threatening & exciting presentation. If you're lucky enough to come across these books snatch them up! I read these after dinner while everyone is sitting at the dinning table, great for conversation quick and simple.

Increasing Your Childs Vocabulary

Vocabulary is very important for a child's development, especially in reading. Children with larger vocabularies have higher school and reading achievement, resulting in a higher IQ!

For a while now I have wanted to start a "word of the day" board at home. I'm happy to say I am finally able to. Thanks to my local library book sale I found the perfect book to help guide me, and only for $1!

The book I am using is "My Fun with Words Dictionary."

Perfect Pencil for Preschoolers!

Ever since I came across this pencil I have used it. The Ticonderoga pencil has a large barrel making it more comfortable to hold and easier to control. My children use it without complaint. I have found them at Walmart and Toys R Us. AND.................. I recently came across these!!!!!!

The Tri-Write is even better! This triangular shaped pencil helps teach correct pencil grip!!

Handwriting for Preschoolers

My two year old loves Mr. Pencil I found him at a Toys R Us outlet for $6. This is a fun interactive app that your child can use to work on shapes (pre-writing skill) and progress to letters and numbers. Although the pencil is not necessary for the app to work, we use it to work on pencil grip.

 

If your child is not comfortable using this large pencil or you would like to try a different program Handwriting Without Tears also offers an app.

If you cannot find Mr. Pencil maybe you can use icolor (easier to grip than Mr. Pencil) which I found at Pottery Barn Kids store, not available online ($12).

Great Apps for Learning

Hi!

In the past I mentioned the 7 abilities every child needs to succeed in school, here are some great apps from Hedgehog Academy that help develop these abilities. These are also the abilities that your child will be tested on (AABL) for entrance into some private independent schools.

Logic and Spatial Intelligence

Interactive Story

Not Like the Others

Memory and Attention

Logic and Concentration

Numbers for Kids

Kids Logic Land and Adventure

Animal Jigsaw Puzzle 

Learning To Read

I know it's been a while since I created a post but it doesn't mean I haven't been hard at work (double negative, I know). I have three young children and its been difficult for me to keep up with the blog. I'm writing today to share a program that has taught my 5 yr old to read and my 4 yr old is right behind her, Explode The Code The link I have provided offers the lowest price I could find. Once your child can identify all the letters of the alphabet and its letter sounds they will be ready for Get Ready for The Code

 

I like to use Kumon books to help reinforce what they've learned. Kumon offers many books covering many topics and age groups. 

Once your child is ready for Explode The Code you can help reinforce it by using Explode the Code Online. I like that I can have one child on the computer while I sit with the other.  

*If your child is not ready for Get Ready for The Code please start with Handwriting Without Tears. All of my children were ready by the age of 3 to start Handwriting Without Tears (my post). 

*Before the age of 3 around 2 1/2 start them with fun writing programs. I found Mr. Pencil at a Toys R Us Outlet shop for $6