How You Can Help Your Child at Home

Click here for ideas on how to help your child with Tennessee’s Common Core Standards

Miss Christie’s Picks for Learning Where Ever You Are

Car Games:

• Same and Opposite: Use a word to describe something you see inside or outside the car. Ask “What is another word that means the same (synonym) or what is a word that means the opposite (antonym).

• Family stories: Pick a story starter. He or she begins the story…for example, “Once upon a time there was a monster with four eyes that lived by a lake…” Take turns adding a line or detail to the story. As you are driving, switch story tellers every time you pass a speed limit sign or sign of your choice, after you pass or get passed by another car, or when you see a certain landmark.
  
• I Spy: For kids, run through the alphabet, such as “I spy something that begins with the letter A.” For adults, up the challenge with a line like “I spy something German.”
  
• Who Are They?: Choose another group on the road and make up stories about where they’re from and where they’re going.
  
• License-Plate Game: Print out a map of the United States. Each time someone spots a license plate from a different state, mark the map.
  
• Vehicle Count: Have kids practice their counting skills with goals like “Find 25 green cars.” Older children can guess how many pickup trucks or police cars will pass in 10 minutes. The winner chooses the music.

TV Shows that Teach

Ø Always know what your children are watching and block channels and certain rated shows.

Ø Martha Speaks (pbs daily)

Ø The Electric Company (pbs daily)

Ø Between the Lions (pbs daily)

Ø Word Girl (pbs daily)

Websites that Teach:

Ø Always supervise your children’s computer activities.

Ø All subjects: www.pbskids.org

Ø All subjects: www.funbrain.com/

Ø phonics and reading: www.starfall.com

Ø math practice by state and skill: www.ixl.com

Practicing Math at Home

ü Practice counting everyday things and add and subtract them (marshmallows, toothpicks, toy cars, grapes, sugar packets).

ü Bake cookies and let your kids help you measure ingredients.

ü Play a rainy day math game, such as Dominoes, Hi-Ho Cherrio, or Yahtzee

ü Go on a scavenger hunt and teach your kids to count and sort objects (laundry!)

Language and Reading at Home

v READ! Encourage children to read a book a day, and read yourself (books, magazines, newspapers) to model the importance of it.

v Find a novel that your whole family would enjoy, and read a chapter a night. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Charlotte’s Web are great choices.

v While reading with your children and after they have read independently ask the following questions: Who? What? When? Where? Have children retell the story. Drawing pictures and writing stories about summer activities continue your children’s important connection between spoken and written words.

v TALK! It is so important for children to be able to express themselves, learn to take turns, and learn vocabulary from others. Whenever you are together, take turns telling about your day. Take turns summarizing/ responding to what the last person said…”Wow, Dad says he had a bad day at work because two people were out, and he had to do their work. I bet you are tired. I am sorry you had a bad day.”