Discipline Tip-I am Good and I Can

I am Good and I Can.

If children can internalize a positive self-image, they are more successful.  This is best done by them voicing the words.

I had an elementary math class where most of the children had a life of trouble with math.  “I can’t!” was what they believe about themselves.  We started everyday with everyone closing their eyes and saying in unison:  “I am good, I am smart, and I can do math.” Then we started your day.  We were rewriting what they believed about themselves.   We would work until they learned each concept.  They were not allowed to fail.  It was amazing how well those children did for the first time in their life.   There also was never any discipline problems in the class.

When I tutor children, I include this same method.  It makes the learning more successful.

Telling children doesn’t change their self-image as much as when they tell themselves.  It is good to compliment, but follow-up by asking how they feel about their work.

If you are a parent of a child with low self-esteem, say with them a statement of a new positive self-image.  Help them say the same statement each morning in a private place. This will help them have a permanent change of self-esteem.  I know it seems strange, but it really makes a difference.  Enjoy the children in your life.

There is another discipline tip in this blog called “I Like Myself”.  It has more ideas.

http://www.phonicsbyspelling.com/

High Frequency Words

List of High Frequency Words Listed by vowel sound.

These are lists of words to help teach children to read:  

Words for Reading Instruction   

High Frequency Words List

Ideas for teaching these words:

• I like to teach these words as a group by each vowel sound.
• I also will put some of them on my wall cards with half a sticky note.  
• It is good to have the words written in groups some where visible such as a word wall.
• Every time I teach a sound I include a few words to the wall cards for that sound.
• This is fun to play a game with words and sounds.  http://www.phonicsbyspelling.com/Cinco-Learning-Game-10.htm 

This is a list of some of the first words I teach:

• I
• a
• at
• cat
• she
• he
• see
• me
• my
• why
• red
• the
• yes
• no
• and
• an
• you
• it
• is
• am
• look
• love
• like
• to

We have a fun bingo type games with letter sounds on one side and sight words on the other.  Check out our website.  http://www.phonicsbyspelling.com/Cinco-Learning-Game-10.htm

How to Use Music to Teach Anything!

How to Use Music to Teach Anything!

 Music is the best memory aid.  When we look back at the things we remember from our childhood, much of it is associated with music.  It is easy to add music to any subject.  Here are some suggestions:

•  Take a simple tune, beat or rap and add any items to be learned.  The simpler the better.  Keep the songs short and fun.  Funny and silly are especially successful. Children of any age will enjoy making up silly learning songs.
• Be brave.  You don’t need great music talent to use music.
• Find ready-made music.  Make sure the music is simple. It is good to hear the music before you buy it if possible.  Our phonics is taught with simple, short songs.  Contact us for Free music and books for teaching the phonetic sounds.     http://www.phonicsbyspelling.com/

Please share your success with using music to teach with us.  

Microwave Caramel Popcorn

This is a fun easy recipe to do with children.  This can be used when teaching:

• the sounds — OR, AR, Short O, or P.
• the word family -op.
• farms, seeds, plants, or heat.  

Caramel Popcorn

1.  Melt in the microwave in a large glass bowl on high for 2 minutes:

• 1 cube butter
• 1 cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup corn syrup
• ½ tsp. salt

2.  Stir then microwave for 2 or 3 more minutes.

3.  Stir in ½ tsp. baking soda.

4.  Pour over 4-5 quarts of popped popcorn.

5.  Stir to mix then pour in a large brown paper grocery bag.

6.  Fold down the top then cook in the microwave for 2 minutes.

7.  Take out the bag then shake it and cook again for 1 ½ minutes.

8.   Pour out on a cookie sheet to cool.

9.  When cool break apart.

ENJOY!

Strawberry Tart (Fun to make with the AR sound.)

       Strawberry Tart

Crust: (no shortening)  (can us gluten-free flour)

• 1/3 c. whole wheat flour or unbleached flour
• pinch of salt
• 1 c. unbleached flour
• 1/3 c. oil
• 3 tbsp. milk or water

Mix flours and salt together. Mix milk and oil in a separate bowl. Add oil mixture to flour mixture and mix with a fork until mixed.  Mix as little as possible.  Roll out between wax paper. Take off wax paper on one side.  Line muffin cups, tart pans. custard cups or a pie pan with crust, then take off the wax paper.  Poke crust with a fork, then bake at 475 for 10-15 minutes.

Filling:

Wash and cut strawberries and fill pastry crust.

Cook:     

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1  1/4 cups raspberry juice
•  4 t. cornstarch

Mix cornstarch with 1/4 c. cold juice. Bring the rest of the juice and sugar to a boil. Stir in cornstarch mixture. Cook on low for about 2 minutes or until clear and starts to thicken.  Spoon over fruit making sure to cover all the fruit.

Optional Topping:

• 1 c. whipping cream
• 1 T. vanilla instant pudding
• 2-4 T. powdered sugar
• 1/4 t. vanilla

Whip cream in a glass or metal bowl.  When the whip cream forms soft peaks, add pudding, sugar and vanilla.  Whip just until mixed.  Serve on cooled tarts.

Discipline Tip- What about Bored?

Bored       

Children use the word, “BORED” to manipulate and get attention from the adults around them.  Teachers, parents, and other caregivers are easily pulled into trying to entertain them when this term is used.  Here are a few tips to help reduce the use of “BORED”.

1. Don’t allow the word to be used.  It goes right along with potty words.  Warn them matter-of-fact that the word is no longer allowed.  Maybe have extra jobs associated with its use.
2. Make sure you are not rewarding the use of the word “BORED” with attention.
3. Eliminate it from your own vocabulary.
4. Be proactive to create some positive, quality time with children.   Never have positive time be a reaction to negative actions or the word, “BORED”.

Enjoy those children in your care!   Love them!  Good luck on your journey to eliminate the use of the word, “BORED”.

 

Have a Routine.

Routine is one of the keys to successful discipline.

As many are home schooling for the first time, you will have great success when you set a routine.  Everything will go smoother with a routine.

• It is good to have a routine or schedule.  It will help your day run smoother.

• Whether it is in a classroom or at home, children handle everything better if they know the routine (Bed time, reading time, homework time, etc.).

• Most children feel more comfortable with an established routine.

• When the routine has to be changed, it will go smoother if they are told in advance the routine will be changed.

• Children need to learn to handle last-minute changes but it is good to practice that in a controlled situation, not when you need it to happen now.

Fresh Air Cookies

Fresh Air Cookies       

(Fun to make when teaching the AIR sound.  This is fun to eat outside in the fresh air.)

1. Mix:

• 2 cubes Butter
• 3 cups Brown Sugar

2. Mix in:

• ½ cup Applesauce
• 2 teas. Vanilla
• 3 Eggs

3. Combine and mix in:

• 3 cups Flour (part whole wheat flour)
• 1 teas. Baking Soda
• ½ teas. Salt

4. Mix in on low:

•  2 cups regular Oatmeal
•  ½ -12 oz bag of Chocolate Chips

5. Drop onto a greased cookie sheet.

6. Bake at 375 for 10 minutes.

7. Eat outside in the Fresh Air.

Granola

          

 

         

Granola

 

Heat the oven to 300 F with the rack in the middle.

Place in a large bowl and mix:

• 3 cups rolled oats (not quick oats)
• 1/4 cup almond flour or regular flour
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Place in a pan and warm to melt:

• 1/3 cup honey
• 1/4 cup coconut oil

Put 1/4 cup pure maple syrup or 1 teaspoon vanilla in the honey/oil mixture. 

Then pour over the oats mixture and mix.

Spread the mixture on a rimmed cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.

Bake for 15 minutes then stir.  Bake for 5 to 10 more minutes until lightly brown around the edges.

Place on a rack to cool.

Add about 1/2 cup of dried fruit (cranberries, cherries, raisins, dates) and about 1/2 cup of nuts or seeds (I prefer pecans.)   I also add about a 1/2 cup of ribbon coconut.

Stir every 15 minutes as it cools to break up the clumps.

Store in airtight container.

Enjoy!   We like it with Cashew Milk.  

 

Letter Formation

Teaching Handwriting

Teaching a one-stroke method for Lowercase letters (except for “f, i, j, k, t, and x”) makes handwriting easier, neater, faster, and makes cursive easier when they are older.   Letters are started one of 4 ways:

1. First, “l, i, j, t, h, b, p, r, n, and m” are started with a straight line down, and finished with an up and over the hill in the case of “h, b, p, r, n, and m”.   The “b” is made by coming straight down, then up and over like an “h”, then tucked under.  (Associating “b” with “h” and helping children connect their similarities will help children keep “b” and “d” straight in their mind.)
2. Second, the letters “a, d, g, q, s, and o” are started by writing a “c”.  Such as, “a” starts like a “c”, then go up and touch where the “c” starts, and come straight down.  Wait about 6 weeks after you have taught “b”, to introduce “d”.  This will help children keep these two letters straight.  Associating “d” with “a” and connecting their similarities, will help children be less confused between “b” and “d”.  Most children get them mixed-up.  Just keep comparing “b” to “h” and “d” to “a”, and they will eventually get it straight.  Here is a sample instruction for “d”:   “d” is made by starting at the broken line, go around like a “c”, then go up to the top line, then come straight down to the bottom line.
3. Third, “u” and “y” are started by drawing a smile, then come straight down.  In the case of “y”, add a hook like in the j and g (For example see picture below).  Teaching “y” this way will do two things.  It will make the “y” easier, and it won’t look like an “x”.  Also, it will make the transition to cursive easier.
4. Fourth, v, w, x, k, and z are the angled letters.  These are harder for children to form.  Teach these later in your instruction, unless the child has one in their name.

We have phonics based lesson plans that provide great ideas for kindergarten, preschool, or home schools.  Visit our website.  www.phonicsbyspelling.com