Strong, positive partnerships between home and school are important for children’s learning. Of course, given the nature of human relationships, these partnerships take time to develop and require regular, two-way communication. Parents and teachers share responsibility for making the time to build trust and shared understanding, an investment well worth the effort when you consider […]
Popular Posts 2012: Early Learning
Today’s collection of popular posts from 2012 explore many facets of early learning, though the one message they do all have in common is one I feel so strongly about – the importance of playfulness to young children’s learning. Learning to Read: Sight Word Activities Let Go and Let Them Learn Longer Stories & Novels […]
A Recipe for Learning: The Printable Version
Back in February I posted a photographic ‘recipe’ for early learning as a reminder of the many important considerations essential to the learning of young children. I have had quite a few readers contact me asking about a printable version and so here it is. Enjoy and feel free to share 🙂 To download and […]
Changes in Education: A Teacher’s Reflections
When I recently posted about the Hundred Languages of Children and asked whether schools today are sufficiently resourced to support the young child’s capacity for learning across much more than traditional academic subjects and teaching methods, Naomi, a fellow teacher currently working in an Australian kindergarten responded that she felt that positive changes were occurring, […]
Learning to Read Part 3: Sight Words
This video blog is the third installment in the series identifying the important components of reading programs for early readers. Part 1 discussed the role of emergent literacy or whole language. Part 2 discussed the importance of children learning about letter sound relationships and word identification strategies. And this installment looks at the importance of […]
How Children Use Art to Process Thoughts, Ideas and Emotions
I recently took Immy to see her first movie at the cinema. We were invited by extended family members to see The Yogi Bear Movie. I didn’t know much about the movie but imagined it to be a cartoon about Yogi Bear and thought that would be a nice way to introduce an (almost) three […]
Mum 2 Mum: Choosing A School
What is Mum 2 Mum? Mum 2 Mum is a place where as online friends we can share a little of our own experiences, so why not pop in for a cuppa and join the conversation. I was chatting to a girlfriend recently about an important decision we have to make way,way too very soon […]
Literacy Spot #9: 8 Ways to Play with Junk Mail and Catalogues
The saying goes, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” and this can definitely be the case when it comes to a letterbox filled with annoying junk mail! But what can be seen as an awful waste of paper can actually be re-purposed into some wonderful literacy learning through play for young children – after […]
Q & A: Should I Send My Child to Child Care?
The following was emailed to me by a friend from my mothers group back in Sydney: I hope you don’t mind me contacting you but I was after a bit of advice from you on the need for childcare, obviously with your experience and also by the fact that you have now chosen to be […]
Literacy Spot #2: Calendars & Diaries
Does your child see you using a calendar or diary as a tool to help you stay organised? Have you ever thought about adding one to your child’s play? At this time of year, many Mums (and Dads) are setting up their calendar or diary for the year and I see this as a fabulous […]
