Education

A comprehensive guide to help you teach your child to read in 30 days, designed for parents who are homeschooling or pre-schooling their children.

Some common misconceptions and myths about homeschooling from the socialization myth to the idea that we are all religious.

When looking for a preschool, parents get impressed by an "escalated curriculum" with foreign languages, STEM activities, music lessons, sculpture, and yoga. What really matters is a school with a strong philosophy that emphasizes a learn by doing approach: playing, socializing, and exploring.

As an educator myself, I get frustrated by the teacher-directed art that rules at schools today. The projects look the same and do nothing to promote creativity, independence, and initiative. Fortunately, parents can encourage their kids to do collage at home—simple art that inspires originality!

Simple steps for easy early elementary school Science Fair Project. Teach your child or a group of children how to do a Science Project.

The Montessori method of education speaks to the curiosity within each child and allows each child to blossom. Learn simple ways of creating a Montessori home environment that will enable your child to soar to great heights.

Are you driving your child's preschool teacher crazy? You probably are if you send your kid to class in fancy duds, expect special treatment for your precious tyke, fret about her being bullied, and pick her up late with no apology or explanation. Find out if you're being the pain at preschool!

Use these resources at home for kids, ages 5-11, to learn some programming basics.

This slime changes color with the temperature, due to heat-sensitive pigment embedded in the recipe.

Introverts such as myself may recall middle school as the worst time in their lives. Volunteering at my son's school, I see little has changed. If teachers and administrators, though, would consider introverts when planning lessons and extracurricular activities, they could make a huge difference.

The Chinese Tangram Game is a cool activity to do with kids that has great educational value and is loads of fun to play. Find out its history, how to make your own, and the fun you can have with it!

The problem of bullying in schools is widespread in many countries. Students who experience bullying fear going to school. One way to help them is to build their self-esteem and assertiveness skills.

Certain activities at preschool—calendar, craft projects, teacher-directed lessons, worksheets, and "letter of the week"—are all part of the routine. Yet, are they supported by research? A former teacher with a master's degree explains why they're a waste of time and even harmful.

Chinese New Year marks the beginning of the Chinese calendar year and each year is named after an animal. This Chinese Zodiac is an animal story based on the great race and should be in your short bedtime stories for kids collection

Book ideas, sample questions, and a step-by-step guide on how to start a book club for your child.

An early childhood educator tells parents why it's best NOT to send their children to preschool. As the government seizes control, preschools become laboratories and young children become guinea pigs. The push for academic rigor at younger ages takes away time for play, pretending, and being a kid.

Early learning curriculum for preschoolers and kindergarten age kids. Learn about continents, oceans and countries.

You can stimulate language skills, imagination, and creativity through simple activities with preschool age children. Learn more about how to do it here.

Obsession or ally? How Lego contributes to a homeschool education by developing problem-solving and fine motor skills.

Snowballs by Lois Ehlert is a whimsical children's picture book containing a family of collage-art snowmen. Use the ideas in this article to augment your preschool curriculum.

Looking for a great science fair project? Love to chew gum? Here you'll find complete instructions for gum science fair projects, with photos and videos. Sample project too!

Most people homeschool for religious reasons, concerns about school safety and education quality, or because they want to be their child's teacher. Here's a look at 13 reasons for homeschooling.

Choosing a preschool program is a difficult choice for parents seeking a quality early childhood education curriculum for their children. This article addresses several areas of concern and suggests questions and observations parents should make before deciding on a preschool program for their child.

The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket, as part of his Series of Unfortunate Events, is both entertaining and educational. Follow this study guide to learn about activities that can make your reading experience even better.

Are we sufficiently preparing the next generation for the future? An examination of the realities our kids face following graduation.

Our country's obsession with an "earlier is better" philosophy is cruel to children in kindergarten. A teacher points out how homogeneous reading groups, too many standards and assessments, and the elimination of imaginative play are evidence of this.

Need to do well on that AP literature exam in the Spring to get college credit? Check out these tips, tools and products to get the grade you want.

The greatest magic in the Cinderella Story is the lessons it teaches children about choices.

Some practical tips for organizing a children's story time program including finding a host organization, planning a calendar, and other common-sense logistical considerations.

The transition from elementary school to middle school can be overwhelming for many students. Here are specific organization strategies to help middle school students be successful.

As an early childhood educator, I've seen how gender inequality at preschool hurts girls as they become observers in the classroom, not doers. When teachers allow girls to wear princess dresses to class, praise their looks, and limit dramatic play to just a kitchen area, they're disempowering them.

Students from around the country receive invitations to join the National Society of High School Scholars. What is this organization, and is the enrollment fee worth it?

Public charter schools can be an excellent school choice for many, but there are pros and cons just like with any other school. Find out how charters differ from traditional public schools.

Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader is a T.V. show game that can be integrated into your lesson plan at school or even played at home? Children of elementary and even middle school ages can learn a lot of general knowledge topics, helping them turn into well-rounded, educated world citizens.

Alphabet recognition is an important prerequisite to reading and writing. Here are some fun ways to work on learning the alphabet, such as alphabet puzzles, books, iPad/iPhone games, and Android alphabet games.

Honest and candid insight from a real parent. Connections Academy is an online public school serving grades K-12. This guide will help you determine if this is the right fit for your family.

Christian craft projects for kids: ideas for Sunday school, vacation Bible school, CCD classes and home school.

As the system grow more bureaucratic, the author (a teacher herself) explains what parents should expect from educators. While teachers are under enormous pressure to assess students and meet Common Core standards, they must still attend to the needs of each child—body, mind, and spirit.

When looking at preschools, it's easy for parents to get sidetracked by all the bells and whistles—their child learning Chinese, pre-reading skills, yoga, and even a musical instrument. A former preschool and kindergarten teacher explains what a high-quality program REALLY looks like!

This article features activities in a lesson to help students with vision loss and others manage and organize money.

A fun drama workshop lesson plan for 8-10 year old pupils which will teach them how to create characters and write a creative ending for a story.

Homeschoolers often, and I mean very often, hear the question "But what about socialization?" Here's why this question is completely cringe-worthy. Please stop asking us that!

History and Time Travel collide in this fantastic book by Alison Uttely. Penelope steps into the past and encounters Mary Queen of Scots and the Babington Plot! Pure magic!

Questionnaire to help parents determine if home schooling is right for their children and their family.

Numbers, shapes, and other mathematical concepts pop up in many of our daily activities. Share these opportunities with your children as a foundation for later learning.

For teachers, parents, and librarians, a thorough list of books for children ages 3-8 which exemplify everyday diversity. These books feature diverse characters in everyday contemporary life.

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats is a children's picture book about a child's day playing in the snow. This book won the Caldecott Medal in 1963 with its groundbreaking illustrations of Peter's explorations of the snow. This article includes a story summary and recommendations for use in a preschool circle time or as part of a snow-themed library storytime.

Music education is highly important for young children, increasing math skills, fine motor coordination, and helping children learn the benefits of perseverance and delayed gratification. Think your child is ready for music lessons? Consider the age of the child, developmental readiness, and time commitment before staring formal instrument lessons!

Music is a useful component when working with toddlers, preschoolers and kindergarten students, with proven benefits. This article offers some tips and advice for integrating music and simple preschool-friendly musical instruments into your teaching and library story hour.

What your child should know before entering Kindergarten and what they will be required to learn and understand throughout the year with ideas on how to help them excel.

Full instructions for winning middle school science fair project using robot made from NXT Lego Mindstorms.

Children build their knowledge through experiencing ordinary household objects and exploring nature at playtime. Here are some fun, educational things to do with kids that will expand their world.

Beginning home-schooling is a huge decision and can engender terror in the hearts of parents brave enough to undertake such a commitment. Fear not, it's not so scary after all. First comes 'deschooling'...

Circle Time is popular in early childhood education, but it's largely a waste of time. Research shows kids learn more with small group activities, kinesthetic learning, and hands-on exploration. So why has Circle Time grown longer and more unwieldy and what can parents do about it?

Want a science fair project using your pet? Full instructions for a quick and easy science experiment for elementary students.

Children become fluent in reading with practice, and these free, engaging reading games hold their attention and keep them motivated.

The Waldorf method of education is gaining in popularity, but the tuition is expensive. Learn simple, easy ways to provide the benefits of this method to your child at home.

A former preschool teacher explains how hands-on learning turns children into active learners. Their teacher is not the source of knowledge but a facilitator who encourages them to explore. Unfortunately, hands-on learning is threatened as the government involves itself in early childhood education.

These online tools and poetry collections provide guideposts and inspire children writing and reading poems in a broad range of styles.

Reading to your kids enhances imagination and stimulates dramatic play. But not all children's books are designed to do this. A teacher details 12 titles that are ideal for boosting creativity.

Uniforms can help prevent bullying and violence over appearance, and discourage the theft of shoes and clothing.

As a teacher and a mother of an autistic son, I get outraged when educators deceive parents with the inclusion lie. Kids with special needs require special help and inclusion is not enough. Yes, it saves us money in the short term, but it has a long-range negative impact on kids and our society.

Choosing a preschool can be an overwhelming task with so many choices. As a former preschool and kindergarten teacher, I urge parents to pick a place with a strong and distinct philosophy that attracts a community of like-minded moms and dads such as Montessori, Waldorf, and co-op.

Complete, detailed instructions, links, and videos for easy and practical science fair project for 5th to 8th grade students.

Four simple activities for fourth-grade students to explore science, technology, engineering, and math concepts.

Are you worried that your child's preschool isn't living up to expectations? Is the owner adding more students? Is she making a lot of unfulfilled promises about accelerated learning? Do you feel like your kid's creativity is getting squelched? These are red flags that need your immediate attention!

Easy and fun snow and ice science experiments for kids. Includes making frost, snow, icicles, dry ice, exploding ice, and more cool experiments.

A teacher explains what phonological awareness is, why it's important, and how parents can promote it, turning their children into strong readers, writers, and spellers.

Is your child gifted or just bright for their age? Is there even a difference? This guide goes over signs of giftedness vs. signs of slightly higher intelligence in small children.

How do you explain space to kids? Here are some facts about space for kids, and fun activities for the whole family!

We're at a tragic point when preschools are seen as places to prepare students for kindergarten. Not only is this developmentally inappropriate and cruel, but it also has long-term negative consequences for our nation. It results in kids who are less creative, less curious, and less communicative.

Teaching preschool at home can be a fun learning adventure for you and your child. Learn about some simple preschool activities you can do at home with your preschooler to help your child be ready for Kindergarten.

We now see the effects less play has on children with higher rates of depression and anxiety. What can we learn from other countries so American kindergarten becomes developmentally appropriate, joyful, and creative once again?

An article on the benefits of including children with special needs in mainstream schools, and things to consider when doing so.

The Magician’s Nephew is an inspiriting magic adventure about the ancient battle of good and evil, and a protest against slavery and the unkind treatment of others (and animals), especially those under our power or authority. It is also the prequel to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

Contains printable templates of roosters made from circles, hearts, and triangles for teachers who work with farm themes and young children. The templates are available in English and Spanish.

These are some simple and fun ways to teach basic multiplication and division to preschoolers and kindergarten age kids.

If we want kids to experience art as a creative expression, a relaxing pastime, and a way to feel empowered, we're teaching it all wrong. Open-ended art activities (painting, drawing, and sculpting) have been replaced by teacher-directed craft projects, much to the detriment of young children.

Yes, you can homeschool overseas. It might seem impossible in the beginning, but honestly, with a bit of grit and determination, homeschooling overseas is an adventure worth taking on.

Homework is counterproductive. It causes family stress and fails to help the child learn, teaching only resentment. This article explores why.

It is vital for parents and guardians of special needs children to understand the importance of having an individual education plan. An IEP ensures your special needs child will get an appropriate education in the public school system.

A fun science experiment. Grow your own salt crystal garden. It's easy, and uses items you have around the house.

Do you feel guilty for not paying for your child's education? Don't. Paying for college is hard in this economy. Kids learn responsibility for their actions and have ownership in their education when they have to pay for their own college tuition.

Fun and easy shadow experiments for kids. Learn how shadows are made, about see-through and solid objects, how to make shadow shapes, what rainbow shadows are, and more.

When looking for early education opportunities for their sons, moms often choose academic preschools. A teacher argues that dads should do the picking because they know how play, exploration, and hands-on learning mold a boy.

If you hear something often enough, you're bound to believe it. Busy moms and dads, juggling family and career, are highly susceptible to hearing and believing incorrect information about parenting young children. Now it's time to set the record straight on important issues affecting their kids.

Kids have jumped rope for generations, and the songs they sing are passed on from child to child. On this journey down memory lane you'll discover old jump rope songs, Double Dutch & more fitness fun.

Homeschooling while dealing with your own pain and suffering, whether temporary or long-term, can be a difficult thing to do. Trust me! I know. However, it is not impossible.

Our country is moving toward preschools that are academically focused, going against what experts in early childhood education recommend. Studies show that play is how youngsters learn best. It enhances their imaginations, promotes exploration, increases vocabulary, and builds social skills.

An early childhood educator details what parents should avoid when choosing a preschool including computers, workbooks, and long circle times.

There are so many different theories regarding early childhood education and what is most important for a young child to learn. There are as many different educational theories and schools as there are psychologists, who have studied the early...

You may remember the perceptual-motor program at elementary school: walking on the balance beam, crawling through wooden shapes, and skipping around traffic cones. It combined physical and mental tasks designed to enhance balance, coordination, and gross motor skills. It's time to bring it back!

A teacher explains why Zoo-phonics is the ideal program to teach your child to read. It combines movement, music, and games that promote phonological awareness, the foundation of reading. Best of all, it lets kids be kids, tapping into their inclination to act silly, wriggle, and be imaginative.

Homeschoolers rate better on standardized tests than public school students. Homeschool kids outperform other students in spelling bees and other academic contests.

Recess was once an accepted part of a child's school day. With increasing pressures for academic success, many schools are cutting or eliminating play time in favor of rigorous academic pursuits. Many schools are built without playgrounds in cities like Chicago and Atlanta. Research shows recess actually boosts test scores and increases a child's attention span: some parent led initiatives are striving to bring recess back to American schools.

Teaching kids about the stock market can be enjoyable and relevant when you follow kid-friendly companies that sell well-known consumer goods and products during a stock market simulation experiment.

How to teach children/preschoolers/toddlers about zoo animals before and while attending zoos and aquariums.

Do you know what high stakes standardized testing is? Is your child a victim of "teaching to the test" or never-ending test prep? How is your child's education affected by test-based accountability?

While teaching kindergarten, I had many students enter my classroom with weak hand muscles and poor fine motor skills. It was difficult for them to hold a pencil correctly, cut with scissors, and string beads. One of the easiest ways to prevent this is making play-dough with your children!