Category: News

Sure, you might have spent 13 years of your life in school, but when it comes time for your own child to march up those concrete steps and walk those ivory halls, the whole idea of school can seem completely foreign. And those nerves you’re feeling? First day jitters. That’s right, parents get them, too.

If you’re like most parents on the verge of sending a child to kindergarten for the first time, you probably have a lot of questions. Unfortunately, parents often feel hesitant to ask those questions. After all, everyone else seems to have it all figured out, right? But before you book an extended stay in camp “I have no idea what I’m doing and everyone else does,” know this: you’re not alone.

Here at our Atlanta, Georgia elementary school, our teachers receive plenty of questions from brave parents as they begin to chart new waters and navigate the unknown territory that is kindergarten.

As it turns out, most parents have the same questions and concerns. So, we’ve put together a complete guide to navigating kindergarten for the first time. Ready to bid those jitters farewell? Read on.

How Do I Know if My Child Is Ready for Kindergarten?

Whether your child has spent the last few years in preschool or is completely new to the world of formal education, there are some key indicators that can help you evaluate whether or not your child is kindergarten-ready. Not only that, but this list can also serve as a great resource as you help your child prepare to become a bona fide kindergartner.

Kindergarten Readiness Checklist

• Child has an interest in learning
• Child knows the alphabet
• Child can recognize some letters
• Child can follow simple directions
• Child can use the restroom independently
• Child knows primary colors
• Child has developed age-appropriate fine motor skills
• Child can count to 20

What Will My Child Learn in Kindergarten?

Kindergarten is the foundation for the rest of a child’s education. Hopefully, their school has an excellent kindergarten phonics curriculum that will accelerate their reading readiness. They should also focus on writing and hands-on mathematics instruction. But the learning isn’t just about academics. Kindergarten should teach crucial skills such as active listening, character development, honoring classroom expectations, and working well with others.

How Can I Help My Child Make New Friends?

No parent wants to picture their precious child sitting solo at the outskirts of the lunch table. The good news is that you can help prepare your child at home to be a go-getter when it comes to friendship with the following strategies:

• Encourage your child to participate in school games and activities
• Encourage your child to seek out other students who may be sitting alone or are reluctant to participate in group activities. (Try roleplaying.)
• Read books on making new friends
• Engage your child in conversations that will help boost his or her social and communication skills

How Can I Support My Child’s Education at Home?

If you want your child to succeed in the classroom, the first steps begin at home. You can help grow your child’s love for learning by reading together regularly, having daily conversations about the school day, and playing educational games as a family. In addition, children need an organized and distraction-free space where they can do their schoolwork, so try setting up a designated homework area at home.

What if My Child Has Separation Anxiety?

Most children deal with separation anxiety at one point or another. If your child has previously attended preschool, he or she may have already grown accustomed to saying goodbye, and knows that the separation is temporary. However, if your child is new to the drop-off situation, it may cause some serious anxiety and even some major meltdowns.

Kindergarten teachers know that dealing with separation anxiety is part of the job and are equipped to help your child adjust. Your child’s teacher might suggest implementing consistent routines, gradual transitions, or the possibility of bringing a familiar comfort item from home. If you think your child will experience separation anxiety when starting school, it’s a good idea to let their teacher know ahead of time so that you can collaborate on a game plan.

How Involved Should I Be in My Child’s Kindergarten Experience?

Don’t worry, there’s no need to jump right into being head of the PTA as soon as your child enters elementary school. However, it’s crucial that parents stay up to date on what is being taught in the classroom so that they can reinforce learning material at home.

Additionally, involvement in the school community through attending parent-teacher conferences, chaperoning field trips, and volunteering in the classroom will foster a better parent-teacher relationship, which will equip both parties to work together for the child’s educational success.

Bonus Tip: Make It Fun!

Although kindergarten can be a new, and sometimes nerve-wracking experience for parent and child, it’s also a fun and unique season of life that only comes around once. Don’t forget to model a positive attitude toward school. Celebrate even the seemingly minor milestones and achievements, and talk about the benefits that can come from learning to read, write, and count.

Ask your child to tell you their favorite part of the day, as well as something fun or funny that happened. This will encourage your child to look for the positive throughout the day and will contribute to a happier learning experience.

By preparing your child to be kindergarten-ready at home, teaching them to build and develop meaningful friendships, and staying involved in their school life, you’ll equip your child to enjoy a smooth transition into this next chapter of their life. And don’t forget, your child’s teacher is there to help you, too! Don’t be afraid to share any questions or concerns you may have so that you and your child can begin this new adventure with confidence.

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If you’re a parent about to send your child to kindergarten, you probably have questions but may feel hesitant to ask. This infographic provides helpful tips for navigating the kindergarten experience.

It’s been a long day at the office. You were late thanks to road work, your boss was in a bad mood, and you only barely met the deadline for a massive project by staying late for the past two weeks. The stress has been weighing on your shoulders, growing heavier with each passing day. You need to take a load off.

So, what do you do? You put the kids to bed at a decent hour, crash onto the couch, and reach for the remote. Flipping through the selection of movies and shows, you pass by the dramas, thrillers, and action-heavy titles. You need something light, so you head to the comedy genre.

Think about the last time you had a good laugh. How did you feel afterward? Chances are, you felt better than you did before. Laughter is a pretty potent medicine, able to cure and curb a plethora of ailments. Its effect on the brain is impressive. But did you know that laughter and learning go hand-in-hand? Believe it or not, laughter is a crucial part of learning and stimulates brain growth and activity in a number of ways.

If your child is having trouble reading, stressing over an upcoming test, or despairing over a tricky math concept, laughter may be the solution. The team of elementary teachers at our private school in Atlanta have discovered the rich benefits of laughter in the classroom, and you can, too. So, if your curiosity has been tickled, read on. Together we’ll unlock the hidden benefits of laughter in learning.

1. Laughter is a Proven Stress-Reducer

Laughter releases endorphins in the brain, which, in addition to being a natural painkiller, also relieve sensations of stress and anxiety. These endorphins cause your brain to send signals through the nervous system to the rest of the body, lowering heart rate, blood pressure, and other physical responses to stress.

Feelings of stress are replaced with elevated feelings of calm and happiness, leading to an overall better mood. In addition, the brain activity associated with laughter also helps boost self-esteem and confidence.

2. Laughter Boosts Motivation and Engagement

Who doesn’t prefer to engage in activities they find enjoyable? It’s a natural response and one that can be utilized to enhance learning. By providing opportunities for laughter in educational settings, teachers and parents can help increase the child’s desire to engage. Lessons that are entertaining and fun are more likely to draw and maintain a student’s attention, and students are more likely to commit such lessons to memory.

3. Laughter Enhances Memory and Retention

Not only does laughter stimulate the brain to produce those happy endorphins, it also activates the areas of the brain connected with learning and memory. If you want your child to commit something to memory, try telling a funny story, singing a silly song, or sharing an amusing acronym. Information processed in a positive way is more likely to be committed to long-term memory.

4. Laughter Improves Communication Skills

Helping your child develop their unique sense of humor actually has its educational benefits. Children who can appreciate the wordplay, nuances, and timing of humor often have enhanced communication skills.

Jokes and silly stories are a great way to build a more diverse vocabulary. In addition, humor builds emotional intelligence, helps children become more apt at picking up on social cues, and encourages them to put themselves in another person’s shoes.

5. Laughter Builds Connections

In social settings, shared laughter builds bridges of connection. Sharing a laugh in the classroom is a great way to foster peer relationships between students, which builds comradery, promotes teamwork, and boosts empathy. Laughter increases feelings of community and belonging. When children feel comfortable with their peers, they’re more likely to feel a sense of security, allowing them to experience more effective learning.

In addition, students will feel more drawn to teachers who appropriately engage humor as a teaching tool. This causes them to seem more relatable and approachable, allowing for a deeper and more comfortable teacher-student connection. When a stronger connection is forged, students are more likely to actively engage and participate in the classroom.

Walt Disney once said that “laughter is no enemy to learning.” Instead, it is a trusty comrade, a powerful tool, and a worthy companion. Its benefits in education are vast and varied, and any education without humor would be lacking.

When parents and teachers learn to harness the power of humor, they unlock new levels of learning in the minds of their children and students. Humor’s ability to reduce stress, boost motivation, enhance memory, improve communication skills, and foster meaningful social connections is remarkable.

So, if you’re ready to help your child level up in learning, a little laughter will go a long way.

 

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If your child is struggling with reading, stressed about a test, or finding math tricky, laughter may be the solution. Read the infographic to discover the benefits of laughter in learning.

Here at Academy of Scholars, a private Christian school in Atlanta, we’ve had the privilege of working with many students with dyslexia. While children with dyslexia can often struggle with feeling different from their peers, it’s important for students and parents to realize that this reading-based disability is far more common than you might think. In fact, the International Dyslexia Association estimates that about 15-20% of the population has some form of dyslexia.

Dyslexia at a Glance

Most people understand dyslexia as a condition that causes challenges in reading and writing. But what is it really, and what causes it? Dyslexia is a neurological condition which can hinder the brain from processing language-based information with ease. Those with dyslexia typically struggle with spelling, coherent writing, and reading fluency.

As for the cause, science has yet to fully uncover the answer. However, it is of utmost importance to understand that dyslexia does not indicate a lack of intelligence. In fact, there is compelling evidence that Albert Einstein himself, one of the most brilliant minds in history, actually suffered from dyslexia!

Strategies for Learning with Dyslexia

1. Engage the Senses

Is your child having trouble reading? It might be that a more hands-on approach is needed. Helping children with dyslexia learn to read requires out-of-the-box strategies. As you work with your child, try engaging multiple senses in different ways. For example, have them trace a letter in the sand with their finger while verbally sounding it out. Grab some alphabet soup and practice making words at the dinner table. Or, listen to songs and stories that help build phonemic awareness.

2. Focus on Phonemic Awareness/Phonics

Phonemic awareness is the ability to break words down into separate speech sounds. Phonics is similar but slightly different, in that it deals with the letter-sound connection. Both of these skillsets are critical to fluent reading. As you seek out reading curriculums for a struggling reader, make sure to find one that focuses on both of these skills.

Phonemic awareness will involve separating words into their component sounds and then practicing manipulating those sounds. For example, for the word “through,” a student should be able to identify the /th/, /r/, and /oo/ sounds and then practice adding, removing, and switching these sounds in the word.

Phonics will involve consonant blends, prefixes and suffixes, and rules of the English language (why the “a” in “bake” says /ae/ and why the “ge” at the end of “page” says /j/).

3. Practice Sight Words

Students who have difficulty sounding out words will often resort to memorizing them. This can become an unhealthy crutch that allows them to side-step the process of breaking words into component parts.

A good reading program should prioritize teaching kids how to read unfamiliar words through phonics and phonemic awareness instruction. However, some memorization can be really helpful–especially when it comes to high-frequency words. A student will lose fluency if they have to sound out common words like “about,” “because,” and “although” every time they encounter them.

Find a list of the most common sight words (available on the internet) and practice these words on flashcards with your child.

4. Read in Context

While you’re beefing up a student’s reading strategies, make sure to give them plenty of practice reading. This exposes them to more words, builds their vocabulary, and boosts their comprehension.

When they make mistakes, stop to correct them. You can point to the missed portion of the word and ask them if what they see on paper matches what they said. That way, they’re not reading words incorrectly over and over again.

How a Private Christian Academy Can Offer the Support Your Child and Family Need

A private, Christian education can offer a unique and tailored approach to learning by bringing a biblical foundation to academic excellence. Faith-based learning ensures a holistic approach by focusing not only on body and mind, but on the soul, as well. For students who struggle with dyslexia, a Christian academy can offer the support and encouragement needed for children to thrive in the following ways:

1. Faith-Based Encouragement

Psalm 139:14 reminds us that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” God has uniquely designed each of us with a purpose, and He doesn’t make mistakes. While cognitive conditions like dyslexia can make certain aspects of learning more of a challenge, a faith-based education will remind children that their struggles will not hinder them from experiencing God’s good plan for them. Students will be equipped with fundamental truths from which they can glean the strength and encouragement they need to persevere.

2. Personalized Learning Plans and Procedures

Private schools often have the ability to offer a more tailored learning approach for the individual student. Here, students will have access to the accommodations needed for academic success.

3. Exceptional Tutoring

The best Christian academies should offer a wide selection of quality tutors to help your child in the areas they might be struggling in. These tutors will be able to give one-on-one support and encouragement to the dyslexia student.

4. Professional Development

Private schools often require more rigorous professional development for their teachers and faculty. Training is targeted to address specific learning needs, such as dyslexia.

It’s no secret that dyslexia can pose additional challenges to a child’s academic experience. But, there’s hope for the struggling student and family. A Christian academy can help overcome this hurdle by providing the tools and encouragement your student needs. With the proper support at home and in the classroom, children with dyslexia can reach their full potential and be equipped to live out their God-given purpose.

Let’s be honest–even as adults, most of us would probably say we wish we had better social skills. Sure, you might be a social butterfly or the most eloquent and charismatic personality. But chances are, you still have those moments after a social interaction where you wish you would have said or done things differently.

You can give your kids an advantage by fostering their social skills at a young age. These “soft skills” will be critical for healthy relationships, academics, and career success.

The term “social skills” refers to a set of learned and developed behaviors that help a child relate to the world around them. These skills include the ability to solve problems, communicate, show empathy, collaborate, and regulate emotions. Social skills develop over time, and the journey for one child will look different from another child’s. Diverse interactions and experiences can go a long way in helping children develop these critical skills.

What are the most important social skills for a child to master?

1. Clear Communication

Even as adults, it can be difficult to articulate what we’re thinking and feeling in a clear and concise way. Healthy social skills involve using respectful language and body language, as well as using active listening.

2. Empathy

Empathy allows us to put ourselves in someone else’s shoes. It helps us to consider the feelings of others rather than just our own. When children are able to feel empathy for others, they can develop kindness, compassion, and respect.

3. Cooperation

Whether in the classroom, at the park, or at home, it’s important for children to practice cooperation and collaboration by taking turns, sharing, and learning to work together as a team.

4. Problem-Solving

One of the keys to navigating challenges and conflict is found in problem-solving. This key skill is developed through brainstorming, evaluating cause and effect, and considering multiple perspectives and courses of action.

5. Regulating Emotions

Finally, children need to be taught to regulate emotions. While it may not be uncommon for a young child to throw a tantrum or hit a sibling when they’re upset, carrying this kind of behavior into their adult life is problematic. Children should learn that there are appropriate and inappropriate ways to communicate and express emotions.

What are proven ways to develop better social skills in children?

1. Practice Taking Turns

Play games that require children to wait patiently for their turn and watch as their peers have a turn. You can also set a timer and allow children to take turns with a popular toy, explaining that when the timer goes off, it’s time to hand it to the next person.

2. Pretend Play

One of the best ways for children to develop social skills is to let their imaginations run wild. Playing pretend allows them to put themselves into another character, interact with others in new ways, and play out real-life situations in a fun way.

3. Use Videos and Music

When teaching healthy social skills to your child, don’t forget that the internet is full of excellent sources and learning materials. It’s okay to use technology to your advantage! Introduce your child to videos about healthy social skills or listen to music that helps children remember the rules of social behavior.

4. Model and Imitate

Children are most likely to replicate the behavior they see, and this especially goes for social behavior. The best way to teach effective social skills to your child is to model them yourself.

5. Tell a Story

Stories transport us to new places, allow us to experience new things, and help us to put ourselves into different situations. Reading and hearing stories helps children see things from another point of view, consider cause and effect, and develop empathy. When you read, ask questions that will help them connect with the story. Questions like, “How do you think the character feels about that?” or “What would you do in this situation?” can help your child develop better social skills to put into practice in real life.

6. Give Opportunities for Teamwork

The ability to work well with others is a social skill that will help your child succeed in school and the world beyond. But, this skill definitely doesn’t come naturally. Children learn to work with others as they engage in collaborative team-building activities. This can include group projects in the classroom, a shared art project, or games like relay races.

7. Talk About Appropriate Social Behavior

While there are many great ways to show and teach your child appropriate social behavior, it’s also important to talk about it plainly and openly. Make sure your child knows what is expected of him or her in social situations and what kind of behavior is appropriate or inappropriate.

8. Play Social Skills-Targeted Games

Don’t forget to make learning fun! These games (and more) help your child develop social skills in a creative way:

• Simon Says
• Staring contest
• Emotion charades
• Story improv
• Expression mimicking
• Multiplayer board and card games
• Scavenger hunt

9. Put it Into Practice

Now that you’ve given your child the understanding and foundation needed to build their social skills, it’s time to put them to the test! Go on that playdate, join the T-ball team, or get out in the community together. The best way to build social skills is to practice, practice, practice!

Looking for an Atlanta Christian school that emphasizes social skills development along with sterling academics? Contact The Academy of Scholars for a tour.

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Social skills develop over time and vary for each child. Diverse interactions and experiences are crucial for their development. Learn about the most important social skills for children in this infographic.

Is your child having trouble reading? It might help to know that you are by no means alone. A report by The Nation’s Report Card found that 37% of fourth graders in the United States read well below grade level.

Why is it that so many children are severely behind in reading? There are many factors, but here are seven big ones that commonly keep kids from reading to their full potential.

What are the biggest challenges that young readers face?

1. Phonemic Awareness/Phonics

Studies confirm that children who are systematically taught phonemic awareness and phonics have an easier time learning to read than those who lack this foundational knowledge. A child who demonstrates effective phonemic awareness is able to identify, consider, and arrange sounds within words. They are able to isolate individual sounds within a word (what is the first sound in “hat”? /h/) and blend sounds together to form a word. They can also add, remove, or switch phonemes within words.

Phonemic awareness is the foundation to decoding both spoken and written language. However, many children lack the ability to discern phonemes and sequence them together. Explicit instruction and intensive practice opportunities can help fix this.

Phonics is also critical and deals with the relationship between letters and their corresponding sounds. It involves blends, common consonant/vowel patterns, prefixes and suffixes, and spelling rules (like the silent “E” and the C+E = /s/ rule).

Finding a school with an integrated curriculum that teaches both phonemic awareness and phonics is critical to helping children who are struggling with reading.

2. Vocabulary

A robust vocabulary is another essential building block to effective reading. Sadly, many children today possess increasingly limited vocabularies. Here are a few tips for increasing your child’s vocabulary:

• Ditch the baby talk: Try not to over-simplify things when speaking to your child. If your toddler asks for water by calling out, “wa-wa,” respond with, “Would you like some water?” Allow them to learn through context without encouraging simplified words.
• Read aloud: Books allow us to introduce words that might not otherwise come up in everyday conversation and beef up kids’ word knowledge.
• Keep up the conversation: Engage your children in conversation and engage them often. Don’t be afraid to use a developed vocabulary. Your kids will follow your lead.
• Consider context: Before simply offering the definition of a word, ask your child questions to help them consider the context and meaning of the word. Chances are, they’ll be able to figure it out from context clues.

3. Comprehension

Just because a student can sound out and identify words doesn’t mean that they can comprehend what the text is really saying. You can help your child develop their comprehension skills by asking questions while reading.

The following questions will allow your child to stop and consider the material instead of rushing through it:

• “What do you think this story is going to be about?”
• “What do you think will happen next?”
• “What do you think that word means?”
• “Can you picture the scene and tell me what you’re seeing?”
• “Can you explain in your own words what happened or what this passage is trying to say?”
• “Why do you think the character reacted that way?”
• “Why do you think the character said that?”
• “What do you think will happen as a result of what just happened?”
• “Can you summarize the story?”

4. Early Exposure

Some children who struggle with reading did not have a robust early exposure to reading. If you want to set your child up for success, make sure you read frequently at home. Even infants and toddlers can benefit cognitively from being read to. When you read aloud, try using your finger to trace the words as you read slowly and clearly so that your child can begin to follow along.

5. Language Barriers

For more and more children in the United States, English is not the first language spoken at home. While the exposure to multiple languages can be of great benefit to students in the long run, it can make things more difficult as they are learning to read. If your child comes from a bilingual household, consider organizing one-on-one teaching or tutoring for your child.

6. Inadequate Reading Curriculum

Many of the reading curricula still used today are “old school.” They are not founded on the most compelling, current research. If your child is struggling with reading, look into your school’s reading curriculum.

An effective reading curriculum should teach phonemic awareness and phonics without relying solely on “sight words” that kids can memorize. In addition, it should teach comprehension strategies and immerse students in all kinds of literature.

A good curriculum should also track each student’s individual progress and fluency. Testing and analytics show how your child’s reading aptitude compares to their peers’ around the country. It allows the school to know how a child is struggling so that they can shore up weaknesses.

7. Motivation

Even if your child’s school uses the most highly acclaimed reading curriculum, they can only go so far without proper motivation. Here are a few ways you can motivate your child to grow as a reader:

• Provide a diverse range of reading materials.
• Read often and read together.
• Allow your child to pick out books that interest them.
• Set reading goals.
• Offer reading rewards.

Although many children have a hard time learning to read, you can give your child the tools they need to succeed. By helping them build phonemic awareness, master phonics, strengthen comprehension skills, and get exposure to the joys of reading, your child will be more motivated and ready to learn.

Homework. It’s something that kids and parents often dread. Whether in your own grade school years or in your role as parent, you’ve likely experienced the frustration of a late night at the dinner table accompanied by tears and an overwhelming desire to throw in the towel. It can leave parents wondering if homework is really worth the headache, the time, and the drama, especially considering how much time your child spends in the classroom.

Here at the Academy of Scholars, an elementary school in Atlanta, Georgia, we want parents to understand that there’s a purpose in the procedure. Homework allows children the opportunity to commit what they’ve learned to long-term memory. In addition, it fosters crucial skills like organization, time management, and a sense of pride and responsibility in their work.

Understanding the why behind the task can help you and your child come up with a good system for managing homework. With the right tools in your belts, you can create healthy homework habits that will set your grade schooler up for success in the classroom and beyond.

9 Tips for Fostering Healthy Homework Habits

1. Be Available

We know that dedicating time to helping your child with homework can be difficult. You may have spent a long day at work only to come home to more work—making dinner, doing dishes, and attacking a pile of laundry that rivals Kilimanjaro. However, taking the time to help your child stay on task with their homework and guide them through questions and tricky spots will allow your child’s nightly homework session to be shorter and more effective in the long run.

2. Keep It Consistent

Set aside a designated time each day for homework. This might be before dinner or after. Once you’ve picked an optimal time, try to keep it consistent. Children will eventually put up less of a fight to sit down and do their homework when they understand what is expected of them and when. Soon, it will become as habitual as brushing their teeth before bedtime.

3. Combat Chaos

Children learn and work better when their environment is calm and controlled. Homework time should have minimal distractions, which means limiting excessive noise, removing phones, and helping your child stay on track.

4. Designate a Space

Chaotically searching for and clearing a space to do homework each evening can turn anybody off of homework. Decide on a designated space where homework can be done each day and ensure that it is always ready to go.

Help your child keep the area clear of clutter. You can also keep it stocked with the essentials. This might include pencils, rulers, and a good supply of lined paper. In addition, make sure the space has minimal distractions and is near enough for your child to easily ask you for help.

5. Foster Parent-Teacher Communication

One of the best ways a parent can help their child succeed in the homework game is by staying in the know. Make sure you understand what assignments are coming up and when they’re due. Chat with your child’s teacher about any areas where your student might be struggling and need some extra help. If you’re unclear about the directions or expectations for a specific assignment, don’t hesitate to ask.

If your child is old enough, nudge him or her to ask. This independence will serve them well in the coming grades.

6. Equip Your Child with Study Skills

Most people couldn’t sit down at a piano and perfectly play through Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 without any prior training. First, you have to master crucial skills like sight reading and rhythm.

Homework is no different. In order for a child to succeed in their homework, they need to learn the right skills to get the job done. Make sure your student understands how to read actively, take notes, retain information, and ask questions. In addition, study tools like flashcards, highlighters, and sticky notes can give your child an additional advantage.

7. Talk About Tough Spots

Children should understand that struggling to grasp certain academic concepts is completely normal. Rather than getting frustrated when something doesn’t click, make sure your child feels safe to ask questions and seek your guidance.

8. Make It Manageable

Every adult who’s ever had to meet a deadline knows that leaving things until the last minute is detrimental to success and a recipe for stress. Help your child manage their time and workload by calculating the time, effort, and resources needed to complete an assignment. If needed, help them break it up into smaller, more manageable pieces.

9. Keep It Positive

No matter how hard the assignment or frustrating the concept, help your child stay positive about their homework routine. If needed, offer the occasional incentive or reward for completing an assignment or a job well done. Consider your language regarding homework assignments and routines and do your best to keep and encourage a positive attitude. The more positive the overall experience, the easier it will be to create and maintain a consistent and successful homework routine.

Thanks to Hollywood, bookworms haven’t always gotten the respect they deserve. They’re often portrayed as “nerds” or outcasts. And while this may or may not contribute to the aversion that many of the younger generation experience towards reading, it’s far from an accurate picture.

As parents, it’s our responsibility to instill in our children a love and appreciation for reading. After all, it’s one of the most crucial skills they will ever learn and will impact the rest of their lives in massive ways. But before they begin piecing together various letters and sounds to form words, they must first develop a passion for the power of those little markings on the page. Children who develop a love for books at an early age will nearly always experience greater ease when learning to read.

What Is the Most Effective Way to Teach a Child to Read?

By now, you’ve probably realized that the techniques for teaching children to read are extremely vast and varied. While one praises the use of sight words, the other warns that such methods will be detrimental to your child’s learning, and they all promise that their way is the best (and only) way.

What’s a parent to do? Maybe you’ve read the studies behind each technique and have been left with more questions than you started with. You’re so confused, you don’t even know where to begin. If that’s you, you’re far from alone. The early elementary teachers at our private school in Atlanta have met with countless such confused parents. What is the most effective way to teach a child to read? The answer might not be as complex as you think:

Exposure.

When all is said and done, most children aren’t going to develop an affinity for something they haven’t been properly exposed to. If you want children to enjoy reading, make reading enjoyable. Do it together and do it often. Make it a reward rather than a chore or another item of homework to check off the to-do list. Let your child see you curled up on the couch enjoying a good book. By fostering a positive attitude about reading, you’re equipping your child with an attitude for success.

7 Ways to Make Reading Fun and Engaging

1. Read Often

You know how the saying goes: “The more, the merrier.” Try to encourage a lifestyle of reading. Younger children who are still at home have endless opportunities for storytime, but no matter how old your children are, try to set aside time each day for reading without distraction.

Be careful not to sacrifice quality for quantity. Rather than seeing how many books you can rush through before bedtime, milk that book for all it’s worth. Channel your inner actor with varied character voices, change the volume and dynamics of your voice to keep children engaged, and stop to ask questions about the book.

2. Read Together

If you want reading to be a priority for your child, it should also be a priority for you. Set aside time to read together as often as possible. If you can, set aside your phone and anything else that might distract from quality reading time with your child. Choose a chapter book to read together as a family each evening before bed or make a daily routine of afternoon snack and story time.

3. Keep Up the Conversation

Reading requires a diverse vocabulary and understanding of context and language. You can help your child develop each of these things by engaging in frequent conversations. Don’t worry about using words that might be outside of their vocabulary. Instead, introduce new words and ask your child what they think the words might mean based on the context of the conversation. Then, explain the definitions and how they might use them in their own conversations.

4. Reader’s Choice

As parents, it can be easy to do most of the choosing when it comes to books. When you’ve read the same book so many times you could recite it in your sleep, it’s no wonder you want to introduce something different. However, the more freedom a child has in their reading material, the more likely they are to develop a love for reading.

Try to let your child pick out the books that they’d like to read as much as possible, even if it means patiently enduring the same book for the 90th time that week. Don’t worry, it’s a phase.

5. Visit the Library

Not everyone has the money or the space to build an extensive and diverse children’s library in their own home. If you want to provide your child with a variety of books without breaking the bank (or the bookshelf), head to your local library and let your child browse. Kids will enjoy the excitement of new reading material and will always look forward to the next library day.

6. Make It a Privilege, Not a Chore

It can be all too easy to view reading as something you “have to do” rather than something you get to do. But just as most children don’t actively look forward to chores like making their bed or cleaning their room, they won’t look forward to reading if it’s treated as a chore. Treat reading as a reward by offering storytime after they’ve completed a task and gifting them a new book every now and then.

7. Play Reading Games

One of the best ways to turn your child into a certified bookworm is to make reading fun. Today, there are more reading-centered games and activity ideas available than ever before. Games that involve skills such as rhyming, or memory can help children enjoy reading without even knowing they’re learning!

Exposure is a major step in helping most kids to read well and love reading. However, if your child is showing signs of reading difficulties in spite of ongoing exposure, ask about our early reading intervention programs. Early remediation is the key to helping kids overcome reading challenges, and we’re well-equipped to help.

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As parents, it’s our job to help our children love reading. Before they learn to read, they need to love the power of written words. When children love books early, they find learning to read easier. Find out seven ways to make reading fun in this infographic.

Science, to put it simply, is the observation of the world around us. And while textbooks may hold pages, chapters, and volumes of valuable information, nature will always be the most effective teacher.

At our private school in Atlanta, Georgia, we recognize that a purely textbook-based science education can miss the mark when it comes to forging a connection between students and the world around them. While facts on a page may not always inspire curiosity, studies have shown that venturing into nature’s classroom every now and then can positively impact a child’s understanding and retention of natural sciences.

What Does Outdoor Science Exploration Look Like in the School Setting?

Outdoor science lessons will vary from school to school, depending on location. For example, a school in a rural farming community will have different opportunities for learning and exploration than one in the inner city, but that doesn’t mean that children can’t learn valuable lessons simply by stepping out the classroom door.

From the dirt on the soccer field to the variety of plant life on the school grounds, connecting children to the ins and outs of their world can help science truly come to life.

Science-related field trips are also an incredible opportunity for students to explore environments beyond their home. No matter how far their trip outside the classroom takes them, students can understand the world in unforgettable ways through visual and hands-on learning in nature.

How Can I Help Integrate the Outside World with My Child’s Science Education?

Although a well-rounded science curriculum should provide ample opportunity for outside learning and exploration, teachers are somewhat limited by time, location, and the natural resources available to them. As a parent, you have the opportunity to help your child dig deeper. Here are a few ways you can utilize the great outdoors to further your child’s science education:

1. Keep Tabs on What They’re Learning

Try to stay in-the-know when it comes to your student’s science education. If possible, look ahead at what will be taught and when so that you can look for opportunities to expand and explore at home.

2. Go on Family Field Trips

Schools can be somewhat limited when it comes to field trips due to funding and distance. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t embark on your own field trips as a family. If your student is going to be learning about ocean ecosystems, you might consider taking a weekend trip to the coast to explore tidepools. If birds are on the syllabus, you just might discover a bird sanctuary outside the allotted distance for school trips.

3. Put Together a Discovery Kit

Equip your child with the tools they need to take a closer look at the world around them. Depending on age, a Discovery Kit could include items like a magnifying glass, microscope, or field journal.

4. Go For Nature Walks

When we drive down the same streets and pass the same scenery every day, we can forget just how much there is to learn within our own neighborhood. Take your child on a nature walk and stick to a slow pace. Encourage them to observe the spiderweb in the bush that they might normally shy away from or collect rocks, sticks, and leaves to bring back home for further examination.

5. Ask Questions

You can help your child learn to better observe the world around them by asking questions. For older students, this might mean developing a hypothesis and making observations to test their theory. Whenever possible, encourage your child to dig a little deeper and observe their surroundings by asking questions like:

• How do you think the cricket makes that sound?
• Why do you think the woodpecker likes pecking holes in the trees?
• What kind of clouds do you think those are?
• What do you think caused those mushrooms to grow in this specific area?

6. Plant a Garden

There is no better way to understand plant life and growth than by experiencing it firsthand. Carefully plot and plan your garden before you begin so you know what will grow and when. You should also look at the soil in your yard, decide what nutrients it may need to support healthy vegetation, and make sure you have the right gardening tools and supplies. Then, take a field trip to the local nursery and help your children pick a variety of plants, whether flowers, herbs, or vegetables. If you can, try to start with seeds and walk your child through the stages of plant life.

Introducing your child to nature’s classroom will provide new and dynamic approaches to learning. When students are able to not only ingest but experience natural sciences, they are more likely to develop a lasting understanding and passion for the world around them.

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A well-rounded science curriculum should offer opportunities for outside learning and exploration. As a parent, you can help your child by using the great outdoors to enhance their science education. Check out this infographic for some ideas.

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Developing fine motor skills is crucial for young children to be able to succeed in the tasks required of them, both in and out of the classroom. Fine motor skills require the movement and coordination of the body’s smaller muscles, like hands, fingers, and wrists.

Tasks like writing, using scissors, buttoning clothing, eating, and turning pages require the precise movement of these important muscles. Typically, the development of fine motor skills comes after gross motor skills (involving larger muscles and movements) have had a chance to develop.

Even in today’s tech-heavy environments, handwriting is still a crucial skill for children to master. If you’ve noticed that your child is struggling with the movements that writing requires, it might be that they need help developing those fine motor skills.

How Handwriting and Fine Motor Skills Go Hand-in-Hand

Formation of Letters

Fine motor skills help a child properly form letters and numbers from top to bottom and left to right. While children might find it easier and more natural to form letters incorrectly, this will actually make handwriting more difficult and less efficient in the future. Children need developed fine motor skills to be able to move quickly and smoothly across the page.

Pencil Grip

In order for children to form letters and numbers properly and efficiently, they need to be able to hold their pen or pencil the right way. For most children, this doesn’t come naturally. They’ll need to be guided to hold their pencil correctly, which will probably take some time for them to get the hang of. This skill typically develops when a child is in kindergarten, but you can help them practice proper grip at home as soon as they begin coloring. Because of the specialized grip required to properly hold a pencil, developed fine motor skills are a must for mastering this crucial skill.

Writing Stamina

When children practice and develop their fine motor skills, the muscles in their hands grow stronger. The stronger the muscles are, the more stamina your child will have when it comes to writing. Children should practice as often as possible to keep from tiring out when it’s time to write.

13 Tips and Tricks for Improving Handwriting and Fine Motor Skills

If your child needs some assistance developing their fine motor skills to improve handwriting and other critical tasks, here are some ideas from the staff at our private elementary school in Atlanta:

1. Get Ready

• Get dressed
• Brush teeth and hair
• Feed self with silverware
• Tie/fasten shoes
• Pick up small toys

2. Play with Blocks and Legos

Playing with small Legos and blocks helps children develop the smaller muscles in their fingers, while also improving their hand-eye coordination.

3. Cut Paper

Grab a pair of child-safe scissors and give your child the opportunity to cut activity pages. These pages should include lines, patterns, and shapes that can be followed with the scissors.

4. Grip the Pencil (Correctly)

As the saying goes, “Practice makes perfect.” However, practicing a task incorrectly can create habits that will be difficult to break down the road. When it comes to holding a pen or pencil correctly, perfect practice makes perfect. Help your child hold their pencil the right way. If you need a little assistance, try purchasing special pens or grips that can be attached to a pencil to allow your child to feel the proper grip.

5. Form Letters, Numbers, and Shapes

Give your child activity pages that allow them to trace and copy letters, numbers, and shapes. When practicing letters and numbers, make sure your child remembers to go from top to bottom and left to right.

6. Color Within the Lines

Most children love coloring, but it can be difficult to grasp the concept of coloring inside the lines. Try coloring with your child so they can see how to color inside the lines, and make sure they’re holding their crayons, pencils, or markers properly.

7. Fasten Zippers, Clasps, Buckles and More

Tasks that require precision, such as fastening zippers, clasps, buckles, and even tying shoelaces, are an excellent way to boost fine motor skills. Allow your child to perform these tasks whenever possible. Think of it as a workout for those little fingers.

8. Use Tongs and Tweezers

Just like the tasks above, using small tongs and tweezers to pick up and separate items can help your child develop their fine motor skills. Plus, it can make for a great game!

9. Thread Beads or Pasta

Another fun way to get those little fingers moving is to have your child thread beads, pasta, or cereal onto pieces of yarn or thread. If you want to take it a step further, grab some lettered beads and encourage your child to make bracelets or necklaces with their name and other sight words.

10. Draw

When children can engage in activities that they enjoy, they are more likely to learn and retain helpful skills and information. Most kids love to draw, and this activity helps to build strength and stamina, as well as solidify healthy habits. Just make sure they’re holding their drawing tools the right way.

11. Do Puzzles

Not only are puzzles a great way to stimulate a child’s mind, they’re also perfect for keeping little hands and fingers active.

12. Do Sensory Play

From a tray of dried beans to a pile of playdough, the options for sensory play are endless. When children use their hands for sensory-based activities, it helps foster the connection between hands and mind.

13. Catch and Throw

Not only is playing catch perfect for getting out some energy, it also helps improve hand-eye coordination, which develops fine motor skills and furthers the connection between a child’s mind and physical body.

Signs that Your Child Might Need Extra Help with Fine Motor Skills Development

• Difficulty holding pens and pencils; using too much or not enough pressure
• Difficulty buttoning clothing; doesn’t use both hands
• Difficulty coloring inside the lines
• Difficulty using scissors; can’t follow lines
• Difficulty sitting still; always moving around when seated
• Avoidance of fine motor-related activities and tasks

Whether your child is writing with ease or has just embarked on the road of handwriting, fine motor skills can always be improved. Activities that engage the body’s smaller muscles, especially the hands and fingers, will help your child develop and grow the strength, stamina, and control needed to write with neatness and precision.