Teaching and Learning at Home

Video clips are a great multi-sensory way to provide just-in-time bits of information. If captions are enabled, these clips allow students to access information by visual, auditory, and textual means. They have the potential to amplify the accessibility of information only if kids are actively thinking while watching content. Note taking is one easy strategy students can use to engage their brains while watching.

There seems to be a bit of anxiety among parents about the “new math” kids are learning these days. Isn’t math just math? Why can’t kids learn math the way we were taught? Isn’t 2+2 always going to be 4? All good questions. Whether kids are engaging in Common Core, Everyday Math, Singapore Math, Russian Math, or another equally promising program, math programs these days attempt to break down algorithmic thinking by building up a child’s number sense. In plain English, knowing the why and how behind addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division steps lends itself to knowing relationships between numbers when doing algebra, calculus, and trigonometry problems. Some math programs today are more visual, some more hands-on, some emphasize modeling, some problem solving, but all have the same end. Kids need to deeply understand why and how 2+2=4, beyond memorization of the fact alone. How do we know number sense is important? Countries who take the time to develop number sense...

Video chats between students and teachers are an innovative way to sustain quality instructional experiences during our current crisis. They allow teachers and students to connect in real time, answer each other's questions, align goals for the day, introduce new topics, as well as review concepts. The potential of these chats can be realized if students use the following guidelines:

The increased number of people at home during this crisis has inevitably increased our amount of housework as well.  It's difficult to keep things clean and organized while also trying to keep kids entertained, engaged, and learning. Is there a way to combine our daily and academic tasks? With some imagination, maybe so. Consider embedding learning opportunities (and fun) while engaging kids in your daily tasks. While there are limitless ways to do this, here are just few easy examples: Cooking      Trying to cook while kids are running around the house? Try engaging them to cook with you. Here are just a few benefits of working together: Reading  - Understanding directions is always a terrific academic endeavor - no matter what the age. Kids who can follow directions perform better in school. Practice this skill by having your child either read directions to you as you model each step or vice versa.  Writing - Come up with your own recipe. How w...

When kids work online, they don't always have the same access to adult help as they do in the classroom. Between learning how to log-in, locate passwords, manage assignments, understand directions, and think through problems, kids can generate a lot of questions throughout their day. One simple strategy to keep kids moving along is to create a Question Parking Lot.  Simply, Question Parking Lots provide kids a place to "park" their questions and move on with their work. To get started, create a place to jot down non-emergency questions. Some kids like an old fashioned piece of paper, while others appreciate a digital alternative to park questions. Agree ahead of time how big the parking lot is. Can 4, 5, or 6 questions get parked before seeking adult help?  You may be surprised by just how many questions will be organically answered by kids  as they progress through their day.   If a question is an emergency, or prevents kids from continuing the assig...

Are you spending a lot of time researching answers to kids' questions when they get stuck? Wish you could help kids learn how to help themselves? There are several strategies teachers use to help kids overcome stumbling blocks. Read through the following six steps designed to support struggling kids.