by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff Many children just love reading books naturally. However, some children do not. If your child is not feeling the love for books or you want to get a head start, try talking to other parents. Look for parents whose children always seem to be engrossed in books. Chances are, they'll have some wonderful tips. As a mother of voracious readers, I've learned several things on the way. Great ways to increase your child's love for books can come from both simple and unexpected places.
Read every day. Reading to your child every day can go a long way in instilling a love from reading. Starting this ritual while the child is still in the womb can also make the reading more familiar, which can help a child naturally enjoy reading. If you can, read with your child more than once per day. Be sure that once your child can read, you read to him once per day, but that he also reads to himself at least once per day. Both oral and visual stimulation are needed in order for a child to fully grasp the knowledge and love of reading and books. Let your child choose the stories. There are some times when your child will have to read particular books. But be sure that your child also gets to make her own selections regularly. Children will be more receptive to reading if it isn't always about what someone else wants. It's perfectly fine if some things they choose are not exactly educational. Let them have some fun with reading too. They're more likely to learn from reading if they are interested in it. Attend story time at the library. When kids see that others are interested in reading, it can open them up to its value. Story time can also be quite fun. Often there are activities involved in the story that your child can participate in. Story time may involve instruments, puppets, dancing, singing, stomping, shouting, and more. This helps make books more fun for your child. It also helps to provide a more rounded exposure to books. Have a family reading circle. When reading is made into a family event, it can help create a natural love for books. This is because most kids respond to something that is done repetitively and with those they love. To create a family reading circle, gather comfortable furniture (such as pillows, bean bags, or cozy chairs) in a circle shape and choose a few books. Each person can take turns passing the book around and reading a few lines. For older children, novels that are read from a few chapters at a time are good as well. Play reading games. Much like story time, reading games bring out the fun and imagination that comes from books. There is no right or wrong way to read a story. It can be read straight from cover to cover or it can be acted out or used as a base for a game. Teaching a child to love books does not have to be boring. Remember, you want them to know there is fun to be had. I like to invent games to play with my kids during reading, such as "Stop and Read" and "Reading Charades." Use nothing but the book, use costumes and props, and even use pre-packaged reading games. There's no limit to the games and fun to be had while reading books. Be sure you instill that in your child through consistent action. In no time he'll have a love for books you never dreamed was possible.
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by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff Teaching kids to read can be rewarding, but it also can be frustrating for some. Daily activities that blend in with the normal routine can be beneficial. This technique is especially helpful to reluctant learners. However, it can be used when teaching most kids how to read. As a former nanny and a current home school teacher and parent, I have taught plenty of kids how to read by using simple daily techniques.
Identifying Objects With Phonics Whenever you hand your child an item, say the letter and sound it starts with, followed by the name. For instance, if you give your child a cup, you can say "C" then the sound, followed by "Cup. Here is your cup." This daily activity can set the foundation for reading comprehension. Phonic House Walk Using the daily activity mentioned above, walk around the house with your child. Point to and pick up objects, identifying them with phonics. Not only does this help with reading, spelling, language, and comprehension, but it familiarizes your child with the surroundings. If you label certain items with the corresponding word, it makes the phonic house walk even more effective. Reading Well, you may have expected this daily activity to be on the list. Nonetheless it needs to be included. Reading is essential when learning to read. Huh? That almost doesn't make sense. But of course, the parent will be the one reading at first. Point at the letters and read slowly, sounding out words, so that the child understands how you are reading. Ease into the child reading certain words onto complete sentences and entire books. Daily family reading circles are great for this technique. Daily Phonics Games Playing phonics and reading games daily also can help in teaching kids to read. These can be board games, computer games, or DIY games like Spelling Memory, Stop and Read, and Make This Sentence. Flash cards are also great for this and can be used in a traditional way or as part of a more detailed game. If you make up your own games, try to keep the rules simple and the game lighthearted and fun. This will help hold the child's interest. Letter Writing Practice Writing the letters daily can help kids further identify with the alphabet. It's especially helpful if the child is asked to state the letter's name and the sound it makes when writing it. The child can even copy words and sentences before knowing how to read. This action can increase understanding of the way words, sentences, and stories are formed. Comprehending that is an essential skill when it comes to reading. More Reading Activities on Life Successfully *I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network A Fun Game to Motivate Kids to Readby Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff Reading practice is essential to a child's development. Getting creative with reading can be not only fun, but rewarding to the child as well as the parent. As a parent who strives to implement fun and exciting ways to enjoy reading into the lives of my children, as well as many others, I have invented many activities that encourage children to read. "Stop and Read" is one of those activities. Below you will find instructions on this activity.
Materials Needed
Instructions For Playing the Game Before beginning the Stop and Read game, a teacher or parent should seat the children in a circle. This game will be played in increments. The first book should be placed in one of the children's hands. Set the timer or stopwatch for 3 minutes. The child with the book will read out loud from the book until the time is up. Once the time is up, the teacher will say "Pass The Book", at which point the timer should be re-set for 30 seconds. The children will then pass the book around the circle clockwise until the time is up. The person using the timer will yell out "Stop And Read" once the time is up. Whomever is in possession of the book will read for 3 minutes, just like the first child did. The game should continue for at least 20 minutes, preferably longer, providing the children are interested. Benefits Of Playing Stop and Read There are many benefits to playing this game with children. This game provides oral reading skills, which are very helpful in school and in the workforce. A child can also learn how to share, as well as learn that not everything in life is fair because some children may get to read more often than others. Hand-eye coordination is also practiced when passing and receiving the book. The more a child reads, the more brain cells he or she will be gaining, which can contribute to absorbing knowledge well. Reading skills help a child to achieve in every academic subject. How To Handle Disagreements At times children might argue over who was in possession of the book. When this happens, one solution might be to hand the book back to the last reader and start the "Pass The Book" round over again. Some children might complain if others get to read more often. One solution could be to just encourage the children to continue play and let them know there's a chance they might get to read on another round. Each instance will be different, so base your response to the child's argument on each child and situation. Just be sure that your response incites positive behavior from the child. Remember Every child is different. While some children will enjoy and benefit from this activity, there is no guarantee that every child will. Use your own discretion when implementing ideas into a child's curriculum or educational activities. ~ ~ Have you tested this activity with a group of children? Did you enjoy reading this content? Do you have another activity suggestion? This author welcomes and appreciates your feedback in the comments section below. More Reading Activities on Life Successfully *I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff Memory (sometimes called Concentration) is a classic game loved by many - kids and adults alike. Have you ever thought about using it to help teach kids how to read? In our homeschool, I like to get creative with the teaching to keep the kids interested. Here's how to make and play Spelling Memory. Use it as both a fun craft and an interactive learning game.
Materials
Making the Game Parents or teachers can make this game themselves or turn making the game into a fun craft for the kids. Have handy a list of sight words or spelling words for the appropriate level. First cut out even-sized squares from the poster board to write the words on. Once they are all cut out, write each word on two squares. This is so that each word has a match. Objective Kids who play this game regularly should be able to quickly recognize and read the words used in the game. Word recognition and reading practice are essential to succeed in reading, spelling, and other academic subjects. Playing the Game Playing Spelling Memory is about the same as the classic game, except that there are words instead of pictures. Shuffle all the word cards by placing them on a table or floor face down. This is sometimes referred to as kindergarten shuffle because even small children can participate. Once the cards have been mixed well, line them up next to each other to form an even pattern, such as a square or rectangle. Keep them all face down. The first player needs to turn over two cards from any two locations. If the cards match, that player keeps those cards as a match. Each time a match is gained, that player takes another turn. This continues until no matches have been made. It is then time to move on to the next player and repeat the process. The game goes on until there are no more matches left. Count each player's matches or cards. Whomever has the highest number is the winner. Lessons from the Game Spelling Memory can help teach children their sight or spelling words. Regular word practice is essential to spelling and reading comprehension. Distinguishing whether words are a match or not can help with recognition, thinking skills, and reading practice. The game can be used to practice for tests, enhance skills, or even just for fun. More Reading Activities on Life Successfully *I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff ![]() Family time is a precious commodity. Yet, many families do not spend time together as often as they should. There are many ways to spend time without spending money. One of these ways is to create a special reading circle. Here you will learn how to host a reading circle. This can be done with just members of the family or it can be done with a large group of people. If the latter is chosen, you may want to split people into groups of four of five so that everyone gets a turn. Mix the ages up in each group for diverse reading. Objective: This family time event has two objectives. One goal is for families to open communication as well as to grow closer and gain a better understanding of each other. The second goal is deeper reading comprehension. When stories are openly discussed by people of varied ages, it will help aid in greater comprehension. Materials:
Directions: Everyone should sit in a half circle around the center seating object. The first reader sits in or on the center object and begins to read. Each reader should read for 10 minutes each. Then, the cycle should begin again. Repeat the process until each person has read for at least 20 - 30 minutes. After each person reads, the listeners and the reader should discuss the book a bit. A good focal point for discussion could be open-ended question, such as "What would have happened if the story ended like this instead of this". Open-ended questions lead to greater and more in-depth discussion. However, keep in mind that you will also want to have basic questions as well, so that everyone understands the story fully. After the story time ends, it is good to have easy snacks out. These can be set up ahead of time. To keep it simple, try using snacks that are mainly finger food, to avoid a long preparation. That way, they can be prepared quickly and easily and stored in the refrigerator on trays. When you are ready, they can be easily pulled out and placed on a table or counter for easy access. Don't forget napkins and dessert-size paper plates More Reading Activities on Life Successfully *I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff ![]() Teaching kids to love books can sometimes seem hopeless. But it's actually quite simple. Start with books from the very beginning and they'll never know life without them. If you haven't done that, it's not too late to pick up the habits still applicable to take them down the path to loving books. It's never too late for teaching kids to love books. As a former nanny and current mom and homeschool teacher, I have used a variety of effective methods on a good number of children. Perhaps my experience in teaching kids to love books will help you do the same. Start in the Womb Talking and reading to Baby while pregnant gives a good head start on a love for reading. It may seem silly at first thought, but your baby can hear your voice and other sounds outside the womb. Go to the library and get some great books to read to your Baby while inside the womb. You can even attend storytime. Many baby stores sell special headphones with a microphone attached made especially for parents to talk to their child while in the womb. Simply place the headphones strategically on Mom's pregnant belly and speak into the microphone. I did this with all of my children. It was fun to see and feel their kicks when myself and other family members read to them. Read to them Daily Once a child is born, read to them daily. While they may not at first know what you are talking about, fostering a love for the written and spoken word starts with habit. By establishing a routine that includes reading books, kids will just naturally love them. Reading books together is great for bonding, enhancing imagination skills, and for relaxation modes like naptime and bedtime. Really anytime is a good time for reading books and by making that clear, you are teaching the kids to love books. Let them See You Read If you always insist upon the kids reading, but don't do it yourself, they may not understand the value of books. Let the kids see you with magazines and books. When it's their reading time, be sure that you read something for yourself. This may be your college textbooks, a novel, or a lifestyle or career magazine. It doesn't matter what you read, as long as they can see you also have a love for reading. Join Library Clubs and Visit Library Often The library is an amazing resource for helping kids love books. Of course they can check out books with their very own library card. But they can also participate in storytime, reading and educational activities, and even free reading programs. Many libraries offer a special reading program during the summer that allows kids to earn prizes and awards based on the number of books they complete. Check with your local library to see what they offer. Stock Plenty of Books Keeping plenty of books around is a must when establishing a love for reading. This can mean having a family collection or visiting the library often. Doing both is also a good idea. However, if you wish to be as earth-conscious as possible, utilize the library for as many books as possible. How the books are acquired is not as important as the fact that they are there. Play Reading Games Playing reading games helps make the thought of books and reading fun for kids. Choose a variety of activities and games to keep them interested. Reading games might use books to accompany them and some may just use reading as a basis. More Reading Activities on Life Successfully *I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer ![]() "I can't do this, mom! I don't get it!" "Math sucks!" If your child or student says things like this try to make math fun with music. This helps the child relate more in an entertaining way. Music lyrics and musical activities can also help the child memorize certain skills, due to repetition. Write songs for each new concept that is taught. Parents or teachers can do this themselves and teach the songs to the kids. Depending on their age level and understanding, kids can even even participate in writing the songs. Singing and creating the songs helps with memorization of the steps required to solve problems. Be sure that the songs not only have answers, but explain the steps necessary to get there. This way the child is not just memorizing the answers, but knows how that answer is possible. Use the beats of the music to make math. For instance, count how many beats there are per minute. For more complicated math, add, subtract, multiply, and divide beats to figure out how many occur within a specific time-frame or within the entire song. For fun, kids can tap the beats with a drumstick (or clap them) as they count, add, subtract, multiply, and divide. Turn lesson time into a musical at school or at home. This one may work best with your own children or with younger kids. Sing the lessons to the kids and have them sing back the answers. It's just a silly activity that gets kids giggling and having fun while learning math. This can be a good good activity during homework time or other times when a child is getting frustrated. To take it a step further for older kids, they can actually write a musical based on what they learn and perform it for family or for the school. Let them dance for correct answers. When a child gets the right answer, let her dance. This inspires the kids to work hard at getting those answers. Dance also helps relieve tension and increase energy, which is good for concentration. The music should be the signal that it's time to dance. Pause it during questions and when someone gives a correct response, press play. Assign them a research report to be given in song. Just as children write reports in other subjects, they can be written for math as well. To add to the effect and make math fan, add music to the mix. Children can present their reports in song, rather than reading them aloud. Allow for creativity with dance and even props. Leave it up to the kids. When children are having fun, they are more receptive to their environment. *I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer ![]() When you think of basketball, studying may not be the first thing that comes to mind. But, the sport can be a useful tool in helping shape a child's academic success. As a home-school teacher and innovative mom, I often come up with unique ways to teach the kids. Here are some of the ways to use basketball to enhance study time.
The next player solves the problem upon catching the ball. That player then states a new problem for the next person and so on. If the kids haven't mastered asking each other problems yet or are at varying levels, the parent or teacher can call out the problems. Do this for twenty minutes or more daily for the best results. If children are learning to count, they can also pass the ball back and forth and count to the desired number.
Basketball Trivia Basketball trivia is similar to the game played above for math. But, instead of math problems, the child can be quizzed on spelling, vocabulary, geography, science, and more. You can even mix up all the subjects together. I have found this to be an effective study method when done regularly. In addition to a regular study tool, this can also be a great way to study for upcoming quizzes and tests. Basketball as an Extracurricular Sport I promised actual basketball too, so here it is. Numerous studies have shown the benefits of physical activity when it comes to academic achievement. Playing sports helps to increase endorphins, relax the mind, and bring focus. All of these and other benefits combined can aid in enhancing study skills, and in turn raising overall performance. Your child can play basketball with the family in the backyard or on a competitive team. Either will be sufficient. The physical activity chosen, be it basketball or something else, should be done regularly for the best effect. *I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer ![]() Does your child really need a preschool or is that just another way of throwing away your money? Early Childhood Education programs, preschool, pre-k, learning center instruction, and a host of other names are all the same thing, right? Well, in a sense they are. They are all a means of teaching your child essential skills at an early age. What skills are taught in a preschool setting? Skills taught in preschool are skills such as language recognition, proper speech, the alphabet, basic mathematical skills and much more. Without these skills, it is very difficult for a child to adjust once formal schooling is started. Why are these skills so important? The skills a child learns at the early stages provide the foundation for all other skills that will be learned throughout life. If the proper foundation is not set, the child will ultimately struggle in school each time something new comes up. How can your child gain these skills? There are many ways for your child to gain this valuable knowledge. The most popular way is to send the child to preschool, however, do not just stop there and think that is the only way for your child to learn. There are a multitude of ways. Early learning center -- While these are sometimes very similar to preschool, they often offer lower tuition fees for quality care and learning. Early learning centers are becoming more popular as parents search to find a more affordable way to give their children a good head start in life. Daycare center -- Many large daycare centers offer the very same instruction as early learning centers, but are even more affordable. Remember to ask the operators of the center about their curriculum. Chances are if they respond to that question and discuss a curriculum, your child will be receiving some formal lessons, which will help to prepare for kindergarten. Don't forget to listen carefully to what the lessons will teach. Take notes and compare them to notes you have taken from preschool and early learning center interviews. Home daycare -- Many of these type of providers also choose to teach preschool or pre-k curriculum. Be sure to ask home childcare providers about this. This option can save you money as well. This option also can be good for your child if he or she starts with the provider at a younger age, such as starting at 6 months or up. The reason for this is that the provider will always be the same face and your child can develop a close bond, resulting in more love as well as a great lesson in trust. Homeschool -- Still another option is to forego all of the above options and take it on yourself. Many parents find that they already enjoy teaching their children. They also see that they are doing a great job already. So, why pay for an education that you could easily give yourself? While this does work for some parents, keep in mind that it won't work for everyone. It really works best when there is one parent that stays home, or at the very least, works part time. Most preschool education can really come from normal day to day playing, chores, and activities. Of course, there are many things that you will have to have the child do, like practicing handwriting that cannot come with just playing. If you choose to take this on yourself, just be sure you will be dedicated because a child's foundation needs to be set firmly or it will crumble quickly when that child starts kindergarten. The answer to the question of whether preschool is needed comes in two parts: yes it is most definitely needed -- but it can come from many different places. *I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network ![]() by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer When you made the choice to homeschool, I bet the first thing on your mind was not the stress. You probably imagined some fairy tale where all the children sat still and listened to you lecture or followed along with everything you said and did. Then, once you got started, you were snapped back into reality. I can't promise you a fairy tale, but I can help you get things running much smoother. When you're fully organized and prepared, each day will be easier. Exact organization layouts will be different for each family, but by reading the following, you should be able to get your schoolwork and homeschool organized easily and effectively.
Handy Hints:
1. Tear out and laminate workbook pages and put them in binders for each subject. Arrange the page order according to level. If you make a big one that contains all levels and areas of math, you won't have to purchase any more math workbooks the following years and you have work for all your kids. Just pull out the pages one at a time and give them to your child with a write & wipe marker or crayon. Then, when your child is finished and the work has been gone over, you can easily put it back in. You may want to take a Sharpie and number the pages in the order you want them. That way if more than one child has a worksheet, you can easily remember where they belong. 2. Take some relaxing time for yourself each day. If your kids nap, instead of cleaning during their nap, you could take a soak in the tub, curl up with a book, or do something else you enjoy. Your relaxing time may come after the kids are asleep, but be sure to take it. Even five minutes of locking yourself in the bathroom and praying can go a long way. 3. Plan ahead. If you try to do the assignments as they come, this can stress you out. I recommend taking a weekend to plan a month or so of assignments. That way you can easily give the assignments to your child/ren when it's time. 4. Organize each subject for each child. Each child should have a folder for each subject. The assignments should be placed in those folders in order of when they are to be completed. Even though some assignments won't have a worksheet, there should be instructions for each assignment (even if it's just reading). All assignments should have a date on them. You can even stick the write&wipe sheets in the folders, too. This makes the day run much smoother. 5. Never ignore a question your child asks. If you don't know the answer, don't stress. Just look it up. 6. Use different methods for teaching (chalkboard and lecture, books, games, worksheets, drawing, writing...). That way your child/ren won't get bored and they will also learn many different methods for solving problems. 7. Have Fun! *I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network ![]() by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer Your child's learning is essential to success as an adult and in the business world. We must make sure our children are learning every day. This is not only important during school time, but also necessary during playtime and during normal every day activities. As a veteran mom, I have seen what incorporating learning into your child's daily life can do. Go through the motions step by step. If you do not emphasize to your child what is going on while running through the normal daily motions, they will become just that, motions without reason. Your child needs to not only learn the hows of doing things, but learn the whys as well. Explain these things in a way your child will understand. For instance, there is no need to go into extreme details with a toddler. But an older child will want to know more information. One way to make things easier for your child to pick up on is by playing mini games. You could turn a house cleaning into a trivia time, asking the child/ren related questions. Maybe you're doing dishes. Ask your child, "How come we have to wash the dishes with soap instead of just rinsing them with hot water?" The child may answer, "because soap gets them clean". Your response could be: "That's right because if we don't use soap, nasty germs can spread and cause infections. Yuck! We better make sure we always use soap and rinse it off really well so we don't have to taste the soap. Ewwww." So, you can see how easy that was. The child learns how to correctly do dishes, but also learns why it is important. When children know why something is important, they are more likely to complete the task than if you just tell them to do it "because you said so". This also gives them knowledge they can use in their adult lives. Add extra bits of information to conversations with your child. Your child might be playing with her dolls and a question pops into her mind. She says, "Mommy, how come some people have dark skin and some people have light skin? Instead of saying a quick response like "That's just the way God made us", try saying something like this: "Well, honey, there's different weather in different parts of the world. Some people are around the sun more, so they get darker from something called melatonin that comes from the sun. We are all the same on the inside though, because that's the way God wants us. Wouldn't the world be boring if we all looked the same? How weird would that be? How would we tell each other apart, then?" A response like this not only teaches your child to respect everyone, but also teaches your child about melatonin and makes her think about why there are so many different colors of people, rather than just dismissing it, as the first response causes. Make sure that none of your child's questions go unanswered or short-answered. Yes, sometimes we can inadvertently ignore our child's questions when we are tired, but we have to remember that their little minds have to be constantly fed. Ignoring their questions or telling them "not right now" can not only hamper their chance for finding that answer they're seeking, but it can discourage them from asking further questions. Not having the desire to question things can adversely affect your child's learning process. Draw on what your child is learning in school. Take extra time after homework to go over what your child has learned. Research your child's topics further. If your child has been learning about frogs, go to a pet shop and have the pet shop owner tell your child all about them. Look up frogs online. Maybe your zoo or museum has a frog display. Buy a frog book. Play leapfrog. Just be creative and come up with ways to make the lesson "sticky" in your child's mind. With these things in mind, be prepared to take your child to a whole new exciting level of learning and life. Don't be limited to just my ideas. Come up with your own as well. Have fun and happy learning! *I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network
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Lyn Lomasi is founder and owner of the Brand Shamans Content Community. Services include ordained soul therapy and healing ministry, business success coaching, business success services, handcrafted healing jewelry, ethereal and anointing oils, altar and spiritual supplies and services, handcrafted healing beauty products, and more!
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