The term living books is a very popular one in homeschooling, but what are living books? Simply Charlotte Mason explains them this way: Living

You'll find Montessori addition and subtraction resources here for preschoolers through early elementary; perfect for homeschool or classroom!

Here's a list of fun activities you can do with preschool and kindergarten using rhythm sticks!

Picture Comprehension This reading comprehension set was made for English Language Learners in mind who have a difficult time answering questions without visuals. This comprehension pack is also perfect for early readers and special education. These can be used for small group, one-on-one instruction, independent reading or homework. Take a look at the freebie to determine if this set will fit the needs of your students: FREE Reading Comprehension For Early Reader This is a part of a bundle: Reading Comprehension For Early Reader (THE BUNDLE) Inside you will find 20 reading comprehension pages. Each page includes three stories and three comprehension questions with visuals. Students read the sentence and have students highlight the evidence in the sentence. This picture comprehension will build students' confidence in reading!! *Please check out the preview for a closer look at the product* You may also be interested in: Reading Comprehension THE BUNDLE Reading Fluency and Comprehension THE BUNDLE If you have any questions, please email me at: [email protected] before purchasing *************************************************** Follow my stores for more AWESOME FREEBIES and GET UPDATES on my NEW PRODUCTS!! Connect with me: Teaching Biilfizzcend Instagram Teaching Biilfizzcend Pinterest

Space themed writing and grammar activity for early elementary and Key Stage 1. Construct sentences using the Silly Sentence prompts and write a story.

Our favorite books about opposites for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. Perfect for early math and oral language development.

There are many challenges that can come when you make the decision to home school your children. From dealing with state laws, to choosing a curriculum, and finding ways to socialize your children, the challenges are many but with a little planning, thought, and prayer, are easily overcome. Click the link below to read more!

Make learning at home fun with this list of k-2 learning at home resources! Great for working on early elementary concepts at home!

Here are some great grammar games, ideas, and activities that will help early/middle elementary aged kids enjoy grammar just a bit.

Want to take your kid's knowledge to the next level in your homeschool? 16 old-fashioned or vintage skills to boost your homeschool experience.

100 kids' literacy and language activities by topic, theme and season. An excellent resource for hands-on, multi-sensory creative learning.

Getting started with homeschool preschool can be overwhelming. I'm here to share my secrets to making preschool at home enjoyable for both of you.

STEM Bins for Elementary Students “I’m finished! What do I do now?” How many times during our teaching day do we hear these words from our students? Oftentimes, it is much too often, and students are provided a handful of the same options to keep them busy until our next transition. Sometimes students are instructed...

Five Fun Activities for Teaching Prepositions. Teaching prepositions through playing games & enjoyable activities for children to learn while having fun.

Want to seem like an excellent math teacher? Play the substitution game. It is worth 1000 worksheets. It's never boring and it's different every time.

Inside: Fun Spanish games for kids (preschool and elementary), to learn Spanish. I have a ton of Spanish learning games I’ve collected over the years. But I’ve been missing a list just for younger kids! Here are games that are easy to explain, not-too-competitive, and require more listening than speaking. These are best for preschool and early

Bilingual early literacy centers are fun to set-up to foster reading and life-long readers. Explore these tips to encourage reading anywhere.

{Shameless plug for my GIVEAWAY} Sorry! But, here's a freebie for enduring it. My team and I had to teach "Sequence in Research" last week. Really? How do you do that? Remember funny co-worker {the Gone With the Wind one}, she suggested that we complete research on famous African Americans for Black History month. Then, we could use this to help them sequence their report. Brilliant! We began our research by going to several websites including Biography.com and Factmonster.com. Both were very valuable resources. Especially Factmonster. This week, we are using the information we gathered to create a three paragraph biography. The information has been great. I wanted a culminating activity that we can hang in the room {and take down the Conversation Heart stories...those pieces of candy are starting to look gross...}. So, this afternoon I created this poster so that my students can complete it while I'm gone {AGAIN} at another in-service tomorrow. The document on TpT and TN does not have a gray background. I only did that to be able to show you on here. I took a screen capture of it. Is that the best way to do this? If you are loading documents, how do you load a picture? Do you have another method? I'd love advice, so comment below everyone!

Teaching geometry can be FUN! Take a look at these geometry videos, books, anchor charts, activities, games, and freebies! Perfect for 1st and 2nd grade!

Song Index

"My 3 year old is learning her letters and numbers, is she ready to begin writing?" My response, links in green: WHERE IS YOUR CHILD AT? Do they have the fine motor skills? Holds a pencil or crayon with a tripod or modified tripod grip [develops naturally, should not be forced] and applies enough pressure to create intentional forms. Do they have the crossing-the-midline development? Reaches across the body to grab items with the dominate hand, throws a ball or Frisbee across the body. Do they have the visual perception and spatial skills? Do they know the difference between b/d/p, even if they get them incorrect most of the time? Are they making lines and circles during independent drawing? Are they making recognizable figures during independent drawing? Identifiable by others, and not just the child. If you can answer YES to all of the questions above, then your child has the ABILITY to begin writing. Fine motor coordination/ability often develops much later than cognitive ability. A child's brain will work on building one skill set at a time. Their focus of learning vacillates between cognitive and motor skills. Gross motor ability is often mistaken for being an indicator of fine motor skill. This is simply not so. A child may be able to throw a ball with accuracy, but still not be able to feed themselves without dropping food all over the place. Here is an excellent visual of the 12 stages of Developmental Progression in Children's Writing by Heidi Butkus. I couldn't have done it better, so I'm just linking to her's. I have this laminated on the wall above my desk. http://www.heidisongs.com/Free_Downloads/assets/Stages_Of_Childs_Writing.pdf Next to it, I have this Drawing Development in Children chart beautiful illustrated by Susan Donley. My Miss B's drawing at 3 3/4 years. Click to open larger for detail PRE-WRITING Prior to any type of formal writing, a child must develop upper body muscle strength, trunk stability and gain some mastery of his fine motor skills. Developing the muscles is necessary prior to even picking up a crayon, let alone attempting to write with any accuracy. Much of the necessary development occurs during crawling. [Often older children, kindergarten and even higher, who lack upper body muscle, fine motor, trunk stability and crossing-the-midline development, will be instructed to crawl around.] If the motor skills are in place, then they must still learn the conventions of how to hold on to the writing utensil, apply enough pressure to produce the desired effect, and get it to move in the desired way. All of this takes practice. [Unable to follow this image to its original source. Link attached to image.] Even at 1, these two are already using a modified tripod grasp. No instruction necessary. Worksheets are not developmentally appropriate for children under the age of seven. YES, the school districts use them, but it is for convenience and assessment, not because it's right. Worksheets are not engaging, require too fine of dexterity for a child to be successful, and have a right/wrong outcome which can cause a child needing more muscle control to lose interest to the point of shutting down on doing any writing activity. 'You need to work at staying on [in] the line better,' will shut a child down from wanting to learn how to write. Engaging alternatives include: Salt/sand writing Shaving cream writing Paint/gel bag writing Drawing with colored ice cubes Drawing with sticks in the dirt Finger painting Drawing with pencils, crayons, chalk, etc. on a variety of materials/surfaces Painting of any kind Having the child trace with a wet Q-tip over letters or words written on a chalkboard Tracing large letters, sandpaper letters, etc. with a finger I have salt writing, paint bags, pencils, crayons, chalk and chalk boards inside and outside, Magna Doodles, and white boards readily available for the children to use as they will. They are encouraged to write in some manner all the time, and DO. It's not a curriculum, as much as a way of life, learning through play opportunities. Frisbee, salt, unsharpened pencil, shape cards Cards available with my Shape set $1.50 on TPT During circle time, with the older preschoolers, we have a 5 minute writing time [child-led, so can go on for an hour if they want.] I encourage them to write their name on whichever media they choose, or at least one of the letters. We also have our number and word of the day, and it's a given that these are options as well. I do not MAKE them participate, however they are not suppose to randomly scribble. They may DRAW whatever they wish, even if they choose to DRAW a scribble. There is a difference. I have three early learning goals that I begin upon as soon as a child is old enough to communicate. The understanding that they should have a purpose every time they pick up a pencil, pen, crayon, paint brush, etc. What are you going to draw? What are you drawing? What did you draw? Usually I will get three different answers on the same drawing until about age 5, which is fine. The goal is to get them THINKING about their PURPOSE. The understanding that they have something worthwhile to communicate, that anything they write or draw has meaning. "Tell me about your drawing. May I write this down?" The understanding that written words have power. They can tell a story, organize a list, advertise products, provide information, convey meaning, and most importantly, immortalize the child's thoughts. SHOULD YOUR CHILD BE WRITING? Do they like to draw? Do they ask for you to help them write their name? Do they inquire about print? Do they attempt to write lists, books, menus, etc. during play? Do they ask you to write for them? Do they have stories to tell about their pictures rather than just a statement? Fine motor tasks can be very frustrating for young children. The success of any new skill set is dependent upon the child's interest and motivation. Usually, the first thing a child wants to learn to write is their name. By picking a single letter, the simplest one, to begin upon, you increase the chance of the child's success and interest. STICKS AND BALLS When we begin writing, once I begin to see the indicators listed, then we start with sticks and balls. A, C, E, F, H, I, L, O, P, Q, T, a, b c, d, e, i, l, o, p, q, t, are all letters that can be made with sticks and balls with no cross-overs or looping. Q they usually make in the beginning with the line going straight down. It gradually moves to a diagonal, and that's when I know to begin on the cross-over letters and loops. Sticks and balls heads outside with us, where it often becomes sticks and rocks, string and leaves, shoes and saucers, etc.. You'd be surprised how many play items can be utilized to create stick and ball/line and circle letters. PROGRESSION Each child is vastly different in temperament, motor skills, cognitive skills and interests. I am not looking for them to reach specific levels of progress within a specific time frame. I simply look for some indication of forward progression. That is not to say, however, that skills won't take a backward turn. This is especially true when life upheavals or new paradigm shifts take place for the child. I always work from the place the child is at currently, rather than looking to where they have been, when there is regression, or create any pre-conceived idea of where they SHOULD be. None of that matters. As with any education, it matters only where the child is AT and where the specific child is currently heading. If your child IS ready to write, you may be interested in my blog post on Teaching Penmanship. Tags: writing, fine motor, child, motor, tripod, grasp, drawing, coloring, art, craft, instruction, early, age, progression, pre-writing, write, name, letters, formation, letter, number,

Learning math can be easy and fun with hands-on learning opportunities. This activity is a fun way to introduce young kids to the concept of probability.

Learning to read is such a fun and special time: it's a valuable skill, and sparking an early love of reading can make it become a lifelong passion. In order

Get hands-on with these history activities for preschool and kindergarten! Here are crafts, books, and more for bringing history alive.

Books are where children begin to learn about the values of our society and also where they see concentrated imagery of other human beings.

Recess is being scaled back or eliminated from many elementary schools. Among the reasons are increased pressure for higher academic scores. But at what cost? Are scores increasing as recess decreases? No. In fact, studies are concluding that physical activity can improve cognitive learning, increase neuron connections, and decrease inappropriate behavior in the classroom, as well as the obvious benefit of improving physical health. Remember when we had three recesses a day - one in the morning, one after lunch and one in the afternoon? Esther Entin, M.D. states "Since the late 1970's children have lost 12 hours a week in free time, a 25% decrease in play and 50% decrease in unstructured outdoor activities." The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's physical activity guidelines recommend that children do an hour or more of moderate-intensity to vigorous activity a day. The Institute of Medicine advises that at least 30 minutes, or about half the daily physical activity, be done during the school day. Yet only about 11 percent of states and 57 percent of districts require elementary schools to provide students with regularly scheduled recess, according to CDC. Research confirms that recess can play an important role in the learning, social development, and health of elementary school children. Physical Activity Affects the Following: Overweight and obesity HDL cholesterol Blood pressure Insulin resistance Skeletal health Musculoskeletal injuries Psychological well-being Self-esteem Anxiety and depression Benefits of Recess: Physical Activity = better health Helps children adjust to school Increases cognitive attention after releasing stress Encourages creativity, leadership and critical thinking skills Helps improve memory and more focused attention Fosters social skills such as learning games, taking turns, resolving conflicts, and forming friendships Develops skills in problem solving, negotiation, sharing, cooperation and self-control Decreases poor behavior in the classroom Strengthens a child's ability to pay attention May decrease medication for asthma and ADHD Improves recall when learning is spaced rather than presented all at once because the brain needs downtime to recycle chemicals crucial for long-term memory formation Enhancement of brain function, neuron connections, and cognition How Physical Activity Improves Academics: JAMA Pediatrics confirms that "participation in physical activity is positively related to academic performance in children." In addition to the positive physical and mental health impact of regular participation in physical activity, it is also linked to enhancement of brain function and cognition, thereby positively influencing academic performance. The increase in growth factors caused by exercise helps create new nerve cells and supports neurological development. Exercise directly impacts the behavior and development of the brain. “It is likely that the effects of physical activity on cognition would be particularly important in the highly plastic developing brains of youth,” according to Charles Basch of Columbia University. Exercise affects executive functioning in the following ways: Increased blood and oxygen flow to the brain Increased brain neurotransmitters Increased levels of endorphins which decrease stress and improves mood Increased brain-derived neurotrophins that support creation of new nerve cells and assure the survival of neurons in areas responsible for learning, memory, and higher thinking. Recess provides a critical change of pace and a recharging of energy, which then benefits learning by making the children less fidgety and more attentive to academic tasks. The American Academy of Pediatrics states "Recess is a necessary break in the day for optimizing a child’s social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development. In essence, recess should be considered a child’s personal time, and it should not be withheld for academic or punitive reasons." Negative Effects of Recess: A child may get hurt on the playground. Response: A child may get hurt anywhere. Let them play! Related Post: Stop Bullying: It Starts at Home Play is a child's work. Resources: PEACEFUL PLAYGROUNDS: RIGHT TO RECESS CAMPAIGN offers a Free Campaign Toolbox Package and research Back to the Basics: Play Outside The Role of Recess in Children's Cognitive Performance & School Adjustment SPARK: Countering Childhood Obesity Recess: Time Well Spent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Physical Activity Strengthens a Child's Ability to Pay Attention States that Require or Recommend Recess Recess and the Importance of Play A little girl had just finished her first week of school. "I'm just wasting my time," she said to her mother. "I can't read, I can't write, and they won't let me talk!" Would you like help preparing your child for Kindergarten? See my best selling books: Kindergarten: Tattle-Tales, Tools, Tactics, Triumphs and Tasty Treats for Teachers and Parents and The Happy Mommy Handbook: The Ultimate How-to Guide on Keeping Your Toddlers and Preschoolers Busy, Out of Trouble and Motivated to Learn. Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Kobo. Ebooks only $3.99. Follow me by:

Practice basic concepts of colors, shapes, opposites, numbers (1-20), Critical thinking, matching, big and small, first center and last with your students! Perfect for Speech therapy and Special Education :) This mega bundle includes 7 sets of BOOM Cards and is suitable for preschool, pre-K, kindergartners and grade 1. Includes a total of 118 digital task cards with voice prompts! If you like my product, then please leave me a feedback and follow me on: Instagram :) Thank you and Happy Teaching!

Kids will love learning about the Vikings, Columbus, Magellan and others as they practice math and literacy with these FREE Early Explorers Worksheets.

This is an easy & fun game to help preschoolers and toddlers practice playing and recognising Do Re Mi. Great fun - especially with a real balloon!

Engage your students in exciting science lessons about living and nonliving things.

Teaching tally marks is one of the first things I do to kick-off the new math curriculum. Why teach tally marks at the beginning of first grade? -Practice counting -Practice making groups -Practice counting groups -Practice counting by 1's, 5's and 10's -Practice counting on... -It is hands-on! The following are some ideas that I use: -Students manipulate stick-shaped objects. Students use popsicle sticks, straws, stick pretzels etc. when practicing tally marks. -Create popsicle stick stories! While you show the children the sticks, tell them a story. When I use the trees, I make-up a story about how I need to cut down the last tree. You can take your hand and make chopping noises as the tree falls down. When I use the people, I make-up a story about the last kid tripping or falling down and the other 4 kids catch him. Get creative and silly because with some kiddos, the stories really do help! Popsicle Stick Stories- Create trees out of popsicle sticks to represent tally marks. Share a story about the trees and why one of them falls down. Popsicle Stick Stories- Create people out of popsicle sticks to represent tally marks. Share a story about the people and why one of them falls down. This is an inexpensive, quick way to teach this concept. The following supplies are all you need... Click the links below for additional tally mark resources. Tally Mark Printables Tally Mark Puzzles (1-10) Tally Mark Cut and Paste in Order Tally Mark Houses Cut and Paste Top Hat Tally Mark Cut and Paste

Learn all about coins with your kindergarten and first grade students using these four coin worksheets! The four most common coin values are included: quarter, dime, nickel, and penny. Each worksheet asks students for the value of each coin in cents and how many are needed to make $1.00. In the middle of the worksheet is a word tracing section, and at the bottom of the coin worksheets students can color, count, and add the value of the coins. Penny Worksheet Nickel Worksheet Dime Worksheet Quarter Worksheet

Make history come alive with these fun, hands-on history lessons for kids! These kids history lessons include activities, worksheets, & more!

Odds and ends from a First Grade classroom and more...including teacher tips, activities, and downloads!