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Learning To Read for Toddlers
Learning to read for Toddlers, a component of Teach Me How to Study is one of the basic important tenants to be learned. If we are unable to read and comprehend we will not be able to start school nor will we be very successful. Reading therefore, is the key to survival for all human beings in school and life. In an earlier article I discussed the importance of reading to babies and I have heard people disagree with this idea. This article covered the challenges of reading to children through twenty four months of age and now I would like to discuss reading with starting with the toddler years and beyond. It is imperative that all children before they begin school they have some knowledge of reading and word sounds. The goal is to have all children be readers by the end of their Third year in school and hopefully they will become excellent and lifelong readers. They have a big challenge ahead but with parents and caregivers assistance they will make it. We must instill in them the idea of reading a little everyday so they become proficient readers. Following are some suggested ways parents and caregivers can assist toddlers grasp the beginning stages of reading.
Whether you are the parent of caregiver of a Toddler, you need to continue to develop the reading skills, getting them ready for preschool. Some things you need to understand when you are reading to Toddlers. The first thing is they are probably not going to sit still while you read to them, so let them roll around on the floor, dance or just be silly while you read. They really are listening in their way. The next thing you will want to do is read, recite rhymes, sing song and by all means make mistakes. Let them catch the mistakes you make and give them a chance to correct you. Make sure you are choosing books that will keep their interest. I know my boy when he was younger enjoyed books about trains, trucks and ones that a rhythm to the words. We wore “Barnyard Dance by Sandra Boynton” because of the cadence and rhythm. Don’t overdo the length of time you read but read often throughout the day. Play games about what you are reading and make it fun then it won’t seem like a chore for you or the kiddo. Remember that each day is an adventure the Toddlers in your life so make it fun. This is a way to build a foundation for reading for the Toddlers in your life and help the learn study skills.
Learn to Read for Preschoolers
Learning to read for Preschoolers is a portion of Teach Me How to Study and is important for students before they start their academic career. It will help them later to learn proper study techniques. A child will in the next eighteen or so years need the skills of reading to develop academic acumen. They need to develop the knowledge and techniques of the reading process. Parents and caregivers should show them the proper reading scheme such as what is the front and back of a book and we begin reading at the front of the book. When we get to page one of the book the child should be told that we read a page from left to right and from top to bottom. Children in this age group need to be read to or helped to read a simple book so that they become familiar with the words and structures of a book. At a minimum they should read for about thirty minutes a day and more if that is possible. Following are tips to help preschoolers learn to read. Each tip should be practiced for a week and then go on to the next one. Once you have tried all of the tips go back through and try them again. Remember, you want to lay a strong reading foundation for your preschooler.
Strategies for Preschooler reading
The first thing is to find a comfortable place for you and the child to sit for thirty minutes and read to the child. The books chosen for this exercise should be easy to read, have a rhythm, and very simple language. As you are reading keep it simple but make sure you give items in pictures names. For instance if there is a train in the picture make sure you identify it as a steam engine or a diesel engine and the type of cars the engine is pulling. Tell the child how much you like reading and have fun in your voice because reading should be fun for both of you. If the child loses interest in the book it is time to put it away. Here is a list of things that you should discuss as you read together interact with the story, talk about the writing, and be sure that you point out words are everywhere. Another most important thing beside rhythm is rhyme words that are part of the story. I would consider finding a book of poetry and read with your child or sing silly songs just to get them to read. Learning to read for Preschoolers is indeed a part of the Teach Me How to Study group for without readi9ng Study would be difficult.
Critical Thinking in High School
An important area of Teach Me How to Study is learning how to think critically or Critical Thinking across all disciplines. The best place to learn how to think critically is in your first year of high school. There is a connection among all of your classes, what you learn is English will have a connection to History and it is imperative that you immerse yourself in each of your classes. The idea is to think like a historian, mathematician, chemist, literary scholar or scientist. It is not possible just to read a book you must ask question of the book, the teacher or yourself. It is wise to always to read with paper and pencil at hand to write down your question or the facts as you see them. Critically thinking prepares you for the game of life, so now is the time to learn and practice the skills of critical thinking. Following is a list of areas that are important in order to become a critical thinker.
Process of Critical Thinking:
Most of the ideas of critical thinking are processes you should have knowledge of from other study tips. There are eighteen processes to put in place to help you develop your critical thinking skills. The description of these items will not be discussed but listed with a brief explanation and discussed in depth in later posts. Item #1: Know the requirements of each class, what are you expected to do, and ask about the grading procedures. Item #2: Be active in learning and active read, write and speak as a critical thinker. Item #3: Each subject you study is part of your thinking strategy. Item #4: Ask questions of the teacher and your class mate in your discussions. Item #5: Find the connections in all of the class you are taking. Item #6: Your teachers are coaches to help as a member of the team. Item #7: role-play the author of the text book to get the critical thinking the author did in preparing the textbook. Item #8: Use class time as practice thinking, don’t be a passive participant. Item #9: Whenever possible use the course material for problems or situations in your life. Item # 10: Practice the learning and study skills that are your weakest. Item#11: Explain the course material to someone not in the class. Item #12: Obtain the key concepts of the class in the first couple of classes. Item #13: Ask yourself questions to fill in the gaps in your learning. Item #14: Summarize the main points orally, or in writing to evaluate you knowledge of the subject. Item # 15: Evaluate your thinking through the use of intellectual concepts. Item # 16: We learn through writing, so write your thoughts on the subject in your own words. Item # 17: Test your listening skills by summarizing what the instructor has said. Item # 18: Read the Textbook actively by asking questions know what you understand versus what is still not clear. These are the techniques in Critical Thinking as it relates to Teach Me How to Study in High School…
Literacy Development in Preschool Children
In my last post on Teach Me How to Study, I wrote that parents and caregivers need to read and talk to babies and this is important to the Literacy Development in Preschool Children. Several studies have been conducted to determine the number of words children are exposed to by the time they start Kindergarten. This all impacts the literacy of our children and their future in education and life. A definition of Literacy by Paul Freire is ‘The power of literacy lies in not only in the ability to read and write, but rather in an individual’s capacity to put those skills to work in shaping the course of his or her own life. Whether it is the words of a language, the symbols in a mathematical system, or images posted to the Internet—literacy can transform lives.’ Parents and caregivers must start the day the baby is born building a strong connection to the child to begin the development of literacy.
The most critical years of literacy development in preschool children is between the ages of 0 to 3. The one idea parents must remember is that they are laying the foundation of language development. As the child grows parents should practice the 3Ts. The first T is Tune In to what their children say even the babbling of a baby. The second T is Talk more to your children using rich vocabulary words to build the number of words they hear. The last T is Take Turns have a conversation with your children and actively listen to them when they try to talk to you. Remember that when you interact with your children you are feeding their developing brain and it is the quality of the interaction that is most important. It is said that learning is strongest when connected to something and shared with another person the television is not another person. Remember intelligence is something you develop, it’s not something you are born with so parents and caregivers please interact with the children in your lives. Literacy is a premise of the Teach Me How to Study system because if we start early in a child’s life when they begin their school career it will be so much easier to learn the study skills necessary to be a success.
Reading To Babies
The earlier we start reading to babies the sooner they will be ready for kindergarten when the time comes. There are studies that recommend mothers read to their babies in utero after sixteen weeks because this will provide the baby with the rhythm of the mother’s voice. The study recommended at least fifteen to twenty minutes a day but any exposure to the voice has the baby well on the way to improved literacy. Another study recommends that we don’t stop reading to our children after they are born and we don’t wait until they are old enough to comprehend what we are reading. The following is a guide to reading to infants as they grow, starting at birth.
We should read from birth to about six months old. The baby’s eyes are in the development stage so we need to choose books with little or no text and bright pictures. It really does not matter what you read, it can be a book you are reading, what is important is the tone of your voice. The next stage seven to twelve months old babies are more alert and begin to grab the book. They may chew on the book, try turning pages and begin to understand some words. It is at this stage when you should have books that are sturdy, with lots of colored pictures for you to point out animals by name and other things in the picture. Do not use baby words in your reading or pointing out things for the baby to see. From thirteen to eighteen months is the time to introduce the child to books with short sentences on each page. Just make sure the pictures are bright. Books with a rhythm, ones you can act out or make noises, like what the cow or pig sound like the better. It won’t be long before the child will be saying the animal sounds back to you. During this age period the child may be able to provide answers to questions like where is the dog. You may be able to ask questions about your eyes, nose, mouth or any other features. Respond to the child’s one word reply with yes that is a big brown dog. You are expanding the vocabulary. The next age group is from nineteen to twenty four mouths. It is this age group that may bring books they want you to read because it is a reassuring and calming time for them. Believe me when I say you have to read the book the same way each time. The book can be read many times before they find a new book they like just as well. I remember when my boy was this age he loved Sandra Boynton’s “Barn Yard Dance”. It had good rhythm, a beautiful cadence and lots of animals doing the barn yard dance. I think I read this book to him twice every night for at least six months or more. So start reading to babies and cuddle with them.
How to Study Better
The goal of any student at any level should be how to study better and attain better grades. If you are studying why not gain some techniques that may make studying easier. You need to make your time studying effective. Here are some tips that will help you get more out of your study time, to spend less time pouring over books and be able to enjoy some of the school activities. These study items are not hard but once learned they need to be used or practiced daily to get the most value from them. Each technique in this how to study better article is very important to learn.
The very first thing you should do when studying is away from all distraction. This will help you focus better and remember that 20 minutes of highly focused time will reap rewards because you will learn and remember more of the information. Every article I have read about study is that one has to organize. I tell people to get a spiral bound note book for each subject and make sure it has pockets to papers and handout from the instructor. If have all of the paper for your English class in one place then when you prepare for an exam all you have to do is use one notebook to study. One thing you must do when studying is to take breaks. Study for 45 minutes and then take a 15 minute break. It is difficult to stay focused when the concepts you are trying to learn are difficult it is wise to give yourself breaks to rest eyes and mind. Grab a healthy snack on your break. As part of your organization strategy, draw up a schedule and on it list everything that will happen in the semester. Include when papers are due, exams, and sports games if you plan to attend, and most importantly list your study time and subject for every day. This way you know what you have to accomplish and when you have free time to hang out with friends. Consider the subject you need to study, if it is easy, you need to spend too much time but if you have subjects that are difficult study them first. You need to study the difficult subjects daily and the easier ones review that material once a week and before exams. Develop a habit of writing things down, no matter how trivial it seems. You need to be realistic in your approach to your study time, remember study daily don’t cram. These are the best How to Study Better skills for your school career.
Math Study Skills for Elementary School
Math Study Skills for Elementary School begin as early as first grade if not before. By the time a student is in first grade they should have a grasp of the basic function of numbers and their relationships. They should have some knowledge of adding and subtraction of things not necessarily numbers. Most teachers use apples and/or other things to show addition and subtraction. I am going to suggest ten different ways for young students to grasp math study skills as a foundation for their future math studies.
The idea is to recognize numbers and know how they are used in daily life. For instance the temperature, movies times and of courses the score of football or baseball games. The next step is to teach a child or children how to estimate. This will increase their number sense. You have a bowl that you put oranges in you can ask them to estimate how many will fit. After you fill the bowl with oranges you need to count to see if the estimation was correct. At this point ask them to ask questions such was my estimate reasonable; this will help when they are in the classroom they will know to ask questions of the teacher or themselves. Teach them what 100 looks like; let them save pennies, pebbles or buttons to give them a visual of what 100 looks like. He3lp them become a spy. Write out the alphabet and number the letters then have them send you a coded message using the numbers rather than the letters. Let them keep track of their height by measuring how tall they are and then in a month measure to see if they grew. This is just another way to see different ways are used. Take them grocery shopping and let them keep track of the price of the items in your shopping cart and before you get to check out have them add all of the items to give you an estimate of what you are spending. One last problem you can use to teach money sense is have a combination of coins on the table and get cans, pieces of fruit or a candy bar. Put a price on each item and have the child give you the correct combination of coins for that item. All of these items will give your child a great foundation for math. These are simple steps but they will help with Math Study Skills in Elementary School.
Effective Study Tips For High School
Effective study tips for high school were learned back in fourth or fifth grade. Effective study tips will help the high school student prepare for exams. Just going over your notes is not all inclusive of the study skills needed to be a success in high school and beyond. Some fourth grade teachers show concerned for their students to provide the skills necessary to be proficient in class. However, if these students don’t practice the skills through elementary and middle school they will be lost in high school. A warning is necessary about pulling all-nighters for your final exams. They don’t work, about the only thing it does, is deprive you of some good rest before the exam. Studying on a day to day basis and preparation for exams will help you be on top of all the information the teacher feels important for you to know, so tip number one is to stay focused in class and listen to what is being said.
It is a good idea to have a spiral bound notebook for the purpose of taking notes. You should have a notebook for each one of you classes. The use of spiral bound notebooks means that all of notes for that class are in one place and you need to date each entry so you know if you were absent and need to get the notes from a classmate. One thing that your notes must contain is the thing the teacher put on the board because this information will show up on the next quiz or test. When you are taking notes it is best if possible to put them in some sort of outline form, as this helps with the organization of your notes. Sometimes it is helpful to have a highlighter or different color to underline or highlight thoughts the teacher places emphasis on. You should not only stay focus in class but you should be involved every day. When you were little you were like a sponge soaking up information but now you need to pay attention to the information presented. All of these simple things taken together are basis for effective study tips for your high school days.
Good Studying Techniques
All students need to develop Good Studying Techniques. There is not one studying techniques that outweighs the next but taken together they lead to better grades. These good Studying Techniques have been researched and have been proven to be the best skills and techniques. One thing that all students must learn upfront is to stick with this motto: ‘I am responsible for my success,’ in school and life. Most of the good studying techniques discussed here will carry be of benefit in the future. They are simple steps but they must be practiced each day to master.
When you sit down to study be in the proper frame of mind. Don’t study if there are other things distracting you. Think positive when you sit down to study. Be in the right place to study. If you are comfortable sitting in the recliner and leads to positive results then the recliner it is for your study area. When you sit down to study bring all the necessary tools to accomplish your task and don’t bring any unnecessary items that could be a distraction. Two of the best ways to etch your notes into your memory is to rewrite or outline your note then recite them out loud to yourself. It must be loud enough for you to hear what is read. Have fun while you are studying. Make up mnemonics to help you remember important facts. Some mnemonics have been developed but it is helpful if you develop them yourself. Remember that practice makes perfect, sot at every opportunity you should review your notes. Stick to a schedule for developing good studying techniques. Develop your study plan determine what is the best for you to study without cramming. Within your study time makes sure you have breaks and chance for snack to keep yourself nourished. On your breaks you should try to get a few minutes of exercise, it helps your brain remember. Know what is expected of the classes you are taking and show the teachers you are really involve in the class by asking relevant questions. One last thing in a program of Good Studying Techniques it is not just passing exams but an effort to learn new ideas.
How to Teach Study Skills
The best grade to begin the process of How to Teach Study Skills is in the fourth grade. Students in the fourth grade have not been exposed to testing beyond the simple question/answer format but beginning in fourth grade they are expected to beat the start of the critical thinking necessary for different types of tests. These students need to start practicing study skills that will take them through middle school, high school and college. Once these study skills have been developed they may even be helpful in future careers. The teacher can teach the study skills but a partnership must be established with the parents so the skills are practiced every day at home. The following are ideas that need to be included in how to teach study skills to fourth grade or older children who have not been exposed to the idea of study skills.
No two students learn the same way, just as environments differ. One student may need total silence while another need total silence to study. The key here is to minimize distraction so the student will focus on the material. There need to be supervision at this age and the best are for the student to study is at the kitchen table. Establish a set time for homework and study time to form good work ethic and habits. Be consistent is a motto that should be consider. The tools to creating good study skills are: Organization, such as keeping all the material for each class in folders that are labeled, and having a planner with homework and test for each class written down. Develop flash cards with terms, for math, science, or other notes to review come test time. Other tricks to help the student to learn study skills and help parents teach the study skills are developing mnemonic devices, and acronyms. The bottom line when it comes to knowing and learning study skills parent and teacher must remind the student that they must practice the study skills they have been taught. This is how to teach study skills.
