Category Archive:
Teaching and learning principles

Read The Children’s Literacy Series

understanding how children learn to read

Here are ten articles from my Children’s Literacy Series to help you understand the process of how children learn to read. Most reading difficulties might be avoided if we as parents and teachers knew the importance of the right kind of preparation for reading we could offer to our young children. If you have a […]


What Should Our Children Learn?

What should our children learn?

In the hubbub that is our world, where should we focus our efforts as parents and teachers? What are the most important things for our children to learn? Here is a series of articles that I hope will stimulate your thinking and generate discussion within your family and school community. Download the entire series in […]


FREE WEBINAR: Understanding How Children Learn To Read

understanding how children learn to read

Want FUN activities to do with preschoolers? Want to feel confident about children’s reading? In Understanding How Children Learn To Read, you’ll learn: Skills essential to reading success Common developmental obstacles Why one important skill is overlooked How you can help, all in a FUN way! Parent or teacher, you’ll get FUN tips to help […]


When to Ask, When to Tell

when to ask when to tell

Fostering cooperation in our children can be a blood-pressure-altering event. With so many chores that need to be done during the day, we can feel like a drill sergeant, police officer and the Wicked Witch of the West, all rolled into one. To avoid appearing to our children as the triumvirate of meanness and control, […]


Helping Young Children Learn About Money

helping young children learn about money

A few years ago I discovered that the six-year-olds in my class couldn’t differentiate between a nickel, dime or quarter, much less a half-dollar. They did recognize a one-, five- and ten-dollar bill, along with a penny. With parents using debit and credit cards for most purchases, children have few experiences with cash. With further […]


Kids Say the Darnedest Things

Kids Say The Darnedest Things

There is magnetism with a 2 1/2- to 3-year-old and their ability to blurt out observations in public. These comments can make us understand, that, yes, we are paying for our raising. One teaching principle that I’ve found helpful to alleviate mortifying moments is the idea of indirect preparation. If you know it’s coming, prepare. […]


21st Century Skills

21st century skills

The latest educational push is for 21st century skills that include analysis, critical thinking and cooperative learning. I don’t think we can protest that these skills aren’t worthy of developing. But skills also require knowledge based on experiences that allow accurate and timely feedback. For example, let’s say we have a recipe for chocolate chip […]


Beware of the Tree Octopus

beware of the tree octopus

A newsletter from the Core Knowledge Foundation introduced me to the Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus. Going to the octopus’ website I found photos of the red octopus in a tree. The red octopus is usually found in the ocean off the coasts of Oregon and Washington. But here was an explanation that the now land-lubbing […]


A Whole New Mind

whole new mind

Daniel Pink in his book, A Whole New Mind, tells us the world is changing and that our brains need to change, too. Pink sees the world becoming geared more towards creative endeavors in order to maintain our economic system. Our work and behavior will need to draw on the creative side, or right side […]


Spontaneous Self-Discipline

spontaneous self-discipline

An indicator of healthy and normal development in children (and adults, too!) is the presence of self-discipline that seems to appear almost out of nowhere.  In reality, there are factors that contribute significantly to the development of self-discipline in the child and adult. As a child’s will is strengthened by the use of free choice, […]