Full Description
"This book is a great resource for educators and families and is filled with practical ideas to engage everyone in the fun of learning."
—Susan Stewart, Curriculum Consultant, Supervisor, Adjunct Instructor
Stark County Education Service Center, Ashland University
"Wonderful! The author has done an excellent job of providing a wealth of materials for the educator and/or parent, as well as answering some tough questions about home learning for young children."
—Ken Klopack, Art and Gifted Educational Consultant
Chicago Public Schools, IL
Create a strong home-school connection through family activities that extend learning!
Because families play a critical role in helping young children develop a strong academic foundation and a love of learning, teachers need to involve caregivers as partners in education and extend learning to the home environment. Learning at Home, PreK-3 helps teachers plan developmentally appropriate, creative homework activities that encourage positive learning experiences and reinforce important home-school connections.
Packed with hundreds of engaging and interesting activities, this resource expands the concept of what constitutes homework and family involvement. Focused mainly on social interactions within the family, these playful, fun activities:
Relate directly to children's own experiences
Employ concrete, easily accessible materials
Include shared reading experiences, family projects, and games
Integrate developmental and content areas, including language and literacy, mathematics, science, and the creative arts
Promote literacy learning in homes where English is not the primary language
These tools and strategies help teachers reach out to families and reinforce learning both in school and at home, ensuring that all students have the chance to achieve and become lifelong learners.
Contents
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Introduction
1. What We Know About Children's Learning
Learning Principles
Early Learning Practices
2. Involving Families
Family Involvement Matters
Making Connections
Why Families Don't Get Involved
Teachers' and Parents' Viewpoints and Expectations
A Multidimensional View of Family Involvement
The Importance of Home-Culture Connections
What Works
3. What About Homework?
Benefits and Drawbacks
Trends and Issues
Responding to Challenges
Promising Practices
The Bottom Line
4. Encouraging Learning at Home
What to Consider
How to Make It Happen
5. Language and Literacy Kits
Writing Suitcase
Backpack Buddies
Puppet Packet
Rhythm and Rhyme
On the Road
Friends and Neighbors
All in a Day
Opposites
I Love Spiders!
Sharing Stories
Then and Now: African American History
Family Pictures / Cuadros de Familia
What's in a Name?
Legends
Grandparents
Yum! Yum!
Fact or Fiction
6. Mathematics and Science Kits
Count Up and Count Down
Treasure Box Math
Measurement and Me
Patterns and Symmetry Everywhere
Time and Time Again
Tangrams
Numbers Make Sense
Big Numbers
Fractions Are Fun
It All Adds Up!
Adventure Backpack
Amazing Magnets
My Five Senses
Weather
Shapes and Shadows
Sink and Float
Shells
Trees
Birds
Insects and Bugs
The Night Sky
7. Creative Arts Kits
The Music in Me
Let's Pretend
Dance!
Something Beautiful
Color My World
Let's Get Physical
My Crayons Talk
Twisting and Turning
Imagination Creations
Jolly Junk
Fiesta!
Artists Everywhere!
8. More Learning Activities: No Materials Required
75 Family Activities
Family Fieldtrips
9. Family Projects
Time Capsule
Our Family Cube
Timeline
All About Me
Family Calendar
Class Cookbook
100-Item Creation
Neighborhood Map
Here's Where I Live
Milk Carton Creations
Recycled Junk Sculpture
Word Rings
Mystery Bag
Family Decorate and Dress-Up Projects
Resources
Family Survey
Sample Family Letter 1
Sample Family Letter 2
Sample Literacy Bag Agreement
Poetry Award Cards Sample 1
Poetry Award Cards Sample 2
Neighborhood Walk Game
Making Progress Game
Road to Freedom Game
Cake Walk / Endureza la Caminata Board Game
Calendar Template
Family Recipe Form
Grand-Person or Grandparent Interview Questions
Tangram Pattern
Bar Graph Template
Bird Puzzle
Online Resources
References
