Turn Off the Television: A Little Chat Goes a Long Way

Have you have had any conversations with your children about the Occupy Wall Street movement, and the unfortunate destruction of their makeshift library? Here's your chance.

I found this article at Salon.com. You can use it as a segue way to start a conversation over dinner. Or perhaps, there's a newspaper article about the happenings in New York and elsewhere. Turn the television off. Discuss things over a meal, or coming home from school. Your child might already be talking about it at school. This is a prime chance to talk to your kids. A little conversation goes a long way. Don't do all the talking, but listen to your child's opinions and answer their questions as best you can. Admit the things you're not sure of, and search for the answers together. Set aside some uninterrupted time to bond. The more you talk to each other, the more you boost that child's self-esteem and communication skills.

How I helped rescue the OWS library - Salon.com:

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Don't Panic! Smoother Comprehension Strategies for Math Reading Problems

Not enough time is spent on math reading comprehension in the classroom or at home. I found teachers devote virtually 80% of their time going over computation. However, if more time were devoted to word problems, the benefits would be tenfold, and not just with math skills, but with reading comprehension as well.

Read Don't Panic! Smoother Comprehension Strategies for Math Reading Problems for more information.

Additional materials:

180 Think-aloud Math Word Problems: Dozens of Quick, Daily Exercises and Strategies That Give Kids the Tools They Need to Tackle and Triumph Over Math Word Problems
5-Minute Math Problem of the Day: 250 Fun, Multi-Step Problems That Sharpen Math Reasoning, Number Sense, and Computation Skills
Daily Word Problems, Grade 1 Math
Daily Word Problems, Grade 2
Word Problems (Kumon Math Workbooks Grade 3)
Math Word Problems Made Easy: Grade 4
Painless Math Word Problems (Barron's Painless)
501 Math Word Problems

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Confessions of a Tutor: The Big Math Monster

Math is the key to the universe - literally. Admittedly, I do not have fond memories of learning algebra, geometry, or any of the other more complex subjects. I was older, so my introduction to algebra was a shock, and not a welcomed one. It was alien and intimidating, and I remember the knots in my stomach whenever a test came around. Nowadays, it's different. Children are being introduced to algebra, geometry, and even trigonometry at a much younger age, and considering what I went through as a child, I'd say that's a good thing.

My niece is nine years-old now. She started geometry last year in the third grade. The first day she brought geometry homework, I panicked because I couldn't remember a lick of geometry to save my life. But after all the sweating and swearing (silently, of course), I calmed down, and discovered I was fretting over nothing. I didn't want my niece to develop that same sense of foreboding, so I made a conscious effort to show her that math wasn't some giant, shapeless nightmare, or something beyond her abilities. I wanted her to be intrigued by a challenge, not intimidated.

The first thing I did was laugh about it. I mean, it was pretty funny because I completely freaked out. I shared this with my niece, and we both had a good laugh. I learned early on not to pretend I knew everything. I also made a point of showing her that I had no problem admitting it. I told her upfront that I couldn't remember a whole lot about geometry, so we were, in a sense, learning it together. That set a more relaxed and open tone, and erased any fear she might have had of learning something new. It's a completely different experience when you're discovering something together than all alone, especially for a little kid. So, we took our time, read through the instructions carefully, took notes on vocabulary, and reviewed her work relatively quickly. I even made up a game where she had to find geometric shapes in her room.

I found a few books to bone up on geometry so I would be in a better position to help her in the future. I thought I might as well, since as she progresses, her homework and tests will become more complex, and I want her to feel comfortable and not react the way I used to. I started with Geometry Success in 20 Minutes a Day2nd (second) EditionbyEditors. I found one for algebra too, which is called Algebra Success in 20 Minutes a Day (Skill Builders (Learningexpress)). There were a slew of others, but take it easy at first. Trust me on this. I made the mistake of overwhelming myself, and my precious brain cells pitched a fit. I had a migraine for two days. These books are great because I jogged my memory, but I could also grasp the concepts I didn't know at all. The lessons were simple to understand, and I only spent maybe 20-30 minutes on them at a time.

So, don't sweat the small stuff. If you're a parent, and you want to help your children with their homework, but feel uneasy about the subject, it's okay. There are ways to get through that. If, even after you've tried the tutorials, or Googled, and you still can't get it, try asking another family member for help. For instance, I caught a really bad stomach bug, which left me unable to drive, so I couldn't pick up Mae from the bus. My mom had to do it. She can't help Mae with her math homework, but she's fine with the other stuff. If Mae did have math, and I wasn't able to be there, my mom would do what she could, then wait for my sister to come home from work. Shy is better with math, and even remembers some geometry. It's tough, and everyone is exhausted, but we make it work. If you don't have a family network, then branch out. Get to know your kids' teachers, or other parents with children in the same class. Find a public library near you, and get a card. Libraries carry resources for math and literacy. There are outreach programs and classes available, and for the most part, they cost little or nothing at all. Any local community centers near you? Try those too. Branch out. Talk to people. Ask questions. You can even start you own little help circle. Find some way to make it work, just as long as you do not accept defeat or apathy.

Dear Outer Space: Delicate Dancing: Reflections on Teaching Poetry to Children

Dear Outer Space: Delicate Dancing: Reflections on Teaching Poetry to Children:

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Magic Words: Teaching Poetry to Kids - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com

I talk to more and more people who lament that younger generations are not exposed to poetry early in their education. Nowadays, poetry, like music and art, seems easy to dismiss as unnecessary or trivial, despite its proven benefits. People just don't know about the impact poetry can have on a child's development. Public education is on a faltering respirator. Until attitudes change, and we invest in more creative tools, American children will be left behind. Parents and teachers need to interact and pool their resources in order to take up the slack. Read on for some ideas...
Magic Words: Teaching Poetry to Kids - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com:

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