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Encouraging invented spelling allows children to take risks.
Lucy Calkins, my mentor and college professor at Teachers College, Columbia University once said, "Our students need to realize that it’s okay to make editorial errors as they write; all of us do, and then we correct them as we edit...the single most important thing we can do for their syntax, spelling, penmanship, and use of mechanics is to help them write often and with confidence.”
I interpret Lucy's statement as such: the most important writing goal for our kids is to instill confidence and a love for writing, because writing is essentially synonymous with story telling. And every kid loves to tell stories! Therefore we support our emergent young writers by encouraging them to use inventive spelling. I apply inventive spelling by telling my elementary students - and now my 4 y/o son Niko - by telling the following mantra:
"Say the word out loud. What sounds do you here in that word? Write the letter that sound makes. Then say the word again. What other sounds do you here in that word? Write the next letter that sound makes. Then say the word again. What other sounds do you here in that word? Write the next letter that sound makes. Do this process until you hear no more sounds. When you don't here any more sounds you're done with that word! Now move on to the next word. Rinse and repeat."
If anyone is currently working on multiplication tables with their children I really recommend a game called Roll and Multiply. It's an old school game back from when I was in elementary school, and it's not sold in stores anymore but is available on eBay:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Roll-n-Multiply-Math-Game-/283742521410?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292
31/01/2021
Learning multiplication facts by building arrays
Since COVID has us sheltered at home, we give our kids shovels and let their imagination fly. Here Niko gives a tutorial on how to build a farm while humanely addressing a rat infestation.
It should be noted that Niko insisted on playing in mud while wearing his pj's. All good with me!
08/01/2021
Benefits of tutoring
*image from Inkling News
In between my tutoring sessions, my son Niko (4 y/o) and I explored some science. Here we simulate a volcanic eruption using a model volcano made out of clay. We taped one end of a long clear tube (about the width of a drinking straw) to the bottom of the volcano and the other end to an oral syringe, which Niko filled with vinegar. Niko filled the top of the volcano with baking soda.
This is an oldie but goodie. After this experiment, Niko (my 4 y/o) asked:
"WHY DOES IT EXPLODE?"
Some more research and experimentation ensued. I read aloud a kid-friendly article about the Mentos-Soda experiment, and we talked about a few key terms and scientific concepts. This led us to the answer to Niko’s question:
The eruption occurs because the rough outer surface on the Mentos candy allows the bonds between the carbon dioxide gas and the water to break.
Tomorrow we're going to do this experiment again, but this time we're going to try it with crushed Mentos in order to investigate whether or not the speed at which the Mentos falls through the soda can affect how large the eruption is.
19/07/2020
Our Amazon package has arrived
Niko (3 y/o) and Noah (22 months) practice in their home music studio)
Instead of explaining how a meteor hit Earth to cause the Ice Age, I filled up a tray full of flour and let them drop objects of different mass to make craters and shoot flour up all over the place.
We used a masking tape to turn a rubber glove into a ballon by taping down the fingers. We had 5 experimental stages:
1 finger down
2 fingers down
3 fingers down
4 fingers down
All fingers down
The final stage proved our hypothesis
To establish daily routines and transitions around outside exploration, Niko and Noah bring a few books to take out into the garden. I encourage them to choose books that are relevant to their current interests.
This outside reading time is awesome because it opens the door to so many possibilities. In this video, while re-reading a non-fiction book about trains, Niko engages with me in a conversation about Casey Jones.
Though a bit on the loud side, I’d pick this cordless vacuum as a distraction over an iPad any day. Noah’s been at it for an hour while I get my work done at home! And the floor gets cleaned!
28/04/2020
To prepare Niko for the viewing of Microcosmos - the amazing bug documentary - I assigned him to make a movie ticket for the “show.” The ticket had to have his name written on one side and to be as high quality as possible. Then we talked about the different bugs that he thought he’d see in the movie.
The learning, however, was not the in the act of watching the documentary; it was in the meaning that was made during my dialogue with Niko while he made the movie ticket.
Using blow up boat as a pool.
24/04/2020
Moved the futon 90 degrees and put a few books into a couple wooden crates I found in the garage, and just like that we have a reading nook
20/04/2020
The advice in this article is gold, especially during this time of stress.
“Many parents get easily activated and triggered by their kids. The kid throws something, the kid is crying, the kid is screaming, ‘I hate you!’ and all of a sudden you're triggered.” In these moments, take a deep breath and try to replace “fight or flight” with “stay and help”
When a Child's Emotions Spike, How Can a Parent Find Their Best Self? - MindShift It's easy to be triggered when a child's emotions run high. But by observing and understanding emotions, parents can take a deep breath and try to replace “fight or flight” with “stay and help."
Noah (18 months) and Niko (3 years) discovered a spray bottle (strategically placed for them to stumble upon), leading to some very-wanted consequences.
Endless fun and a new chore to put up on our Chores Chart!
18/04/2020
Backyard Science: Bug-Xploration
After collecting several dead bugs from our backyard, we glued them onto a piece of paper. This project inspired a dialogue that offered a window into some of Niko’s interests:
Niko: “I want to learn more about ants, where the ant’s mommy lives and what ant p**p looks like.”
The plot thickens!
18/04/2020
Routines are life savers and keep everyone sane. We’ve implemented daily reading time after snack and before Noah’s nap.
Teamwork!
15/04/2020
Morning time is all about exploring learning stations that I’ve set up for my kiddos. This particular station is devoted to exploring literacy with magnetic letters. Niko matches the first sound of a word with its corresponding letter.
13/04/2020
This activity incorporates tons of math through play by hitting the following math content standards for children ages 4-5:
Recognize and name typical shapes (square, triangle)
and Demonstrate one-to-one correspondence up to 10.
http://tutorsofmarin.com/2020/04/13/marshmallow-and-toothpick-architecture/
Niko and Noah walk in on a drum set I made out of a combination of musical instruments and random stuff from around the house. Total jam session ensued!
Stay tuned for more home-learning examples here on my page and on my blog.
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