SRI’s Post

Ever wondered why kids thrive when learning with their parents? 🤔 Based on a 2022 study by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, parental involvement plays a pivotal role in shaping a child's learning journey. It helps kids feel safe and ready to explore the world while also contributing to other key benefits for their development. At Tokidos, we love to see families play together! ❤️ That's why many of our game are designed to be played with the whole family, away from screens and with learning benefits at their core. Discover the 4 Key Benefits here: https://bit.ly/3vGGjpU

Progression through elementary school is based on the expectation that children will learn the basic foundations of reading in the early grades: kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd. What happens if kids don’t master these foundational skills by then? And what can schools do to make sure they do?

Starting my career as a middle school teacher for grades 6-8, I initially found myself questioning how elementary teachers could let students advance without mastering basic reading skills. With my own smooth reading journey and lack of elementary classroom experience, it was easy to point fingers. However, the transition to teaching 1st grade was a real eye-opener. Faced with the responsibility of nurturing young readers and realizing that my Master's in Elementary Education hadn't prepared me for the science of teaching reading, my perspective shifted dramatically. I found myself overly focused on reading, sometimes at the expense of other enriching subjects like Science and Social Studies. This experience taught me the critical importance of early intervention, the need for specialized reading training for teachers, and the value of small group interventions such as guided reading, Fundations, Wilson and Ed Tech options such as Read180 and System44, i-Ready, Achieve3000, and Lexia, especially in later grades. Returning to middle school, I came back with more empathy and a deeper understanding of the challenges and the helplessness families feel when their children struggle with reading. With my students and in my own family, I have seen how proper reading interventions can shift the trajectory of a kid's reading trajectory and the impact it has on their self-esteem and confidence. This journey has reshaped my approach to teaching and learning, highlighting the need for a more supportive and well-equipped educational system. Let's work together to ensure every teacher is prepared to guide every student toward success. #TeachingJourney #LiteracyEducation #TeacherDevelopment #HolisticLearning

The internet wasn't created with children in mind, but now that more kids than ever are online, how can we make it a better place for children to be?  A recent ABC article has highlighted the following suggestions: 💻 Provide high quality internet experiences that are free. 📚 Create good-quality educational products for children. 🧒 Provide children with more guidance about age-appropriate internet experiences. ❤️ Develop products for children more carefully. 🎮 Improve parental controls. What do you think? You can read the article and these points in more detail here: #k12schools #onlinesafety #safevillage

https://buff.ly/3uYf8Ei How one computer can be successfully integrated into preschool activities today? Read this comprehensive article and subscribe to our weekly newsletter today. @cassadralim @helenngyuyen @jaspreetkaur

🙌 Some great tips on making the internet better and safer for children. Check out ⬇️

✅ How can we make the internet better for children? This article from Michael Dezuanni & Aleesha Rodriguez, PhD provides some practical advice 👇 1. Provide high quality internet experiences that are free 2. Create good-quality educational products for children 3. Provide children with more guidance about age-appropriate internet experiences 4. Develop products for children more carefully 5. Improve parental controls https://lnkd.in/gNjusQru

Attention Educators and District Leaders: According to this article, one possible reason for the academic struggles of our kindergarteners is the disruption of their home life during the pandemic. We can support a successful transition to kindergarten by understanding how students learn at home.   The Kindergarten Parent Readiness Assessment evaluates a child's readiness for kindergarten by measuring their pre-kindergarten home learning. Go to Azlma.com or email me at [email protected] to get more information on how your district can benefit from this valid and reliable tool. https://lnkd.in/gjQ9VEeE

"Our findings are also consistent with other research showing the effectiveness of digital media in teaching young children across domains, including long-term impacts of offerings from public media. After a year of remote and hybrid learning, many families are concerned about the negative impacts of excessive screen time; however, not all screen time is equivalent. Our messaging to caregivers must be more nuanced than “limit screen time,” as such a blanket recommendation implicitly categorizes high-quality educational media along with video games and social media. We should encourage wise media consumption, too, where materials are chosen based on educational or other values—not simply their ability to hold kids’ attention. This kind of balanced approach to child development can use high-quality educational media along with off-screen activities, including creative play, exploring the outdoors, and engaging in physical activity." https://lnkd.in/eSFh-BP

The first step in your child’s academic journey and the basis of all future learning begins with choosing the best preschool for your child. Early childhood literacy is not just about learning the alphabet and numbers. It also involves learning social skills such as independence, sharing, and following directions. Preschools usually cater to kids ages 3 to 4, but some also accept children as young as 2. The preschool you choose should complement your child’s personality and the type of environment they thrive in. Do they fit better in a more rigorous academic program, or one emphasizing social and creative pursuits? A good place to start is by asking other parents in your neighborhood, or people you know from work, what they recommend. Concentrate on those with kids close in age to yours and whose kids have similar personalities to your child. Next, examine the individual school’s philosophy. Each has its tone and methods. Questions to answer are: Do they offer small class sizes and low child-teacher ratios (usually one adult for every four to six 2- to 3-year-olds and six adults to ten 3- to 5-year-olds)? Do classrooms have plenty of clean and safe toys and play items? Is the outside play area fenced? Are the staff trained in first aid? How will your child get to school? What’s the distance between the school and your home? How Long Is a School Day? Many preschool programs are only a few hours long for small kids. Some may also offer extended hours and full-day programs for people who work full-time. Inquire about options and choose the best one for your child. Remember, if you change your mind, you can always switch. When you visit a school, try to stay for at least a half-hour to get a real feel for how the class runs. When you have a shortlist of schools, try to bring your child with you for a visit. Happy hunting! #earlychildhoodliteracy, #choosingschools, #preschool