Forgive

Never take anything personal that children or anyone says to you.  Whether it is a student or your own child, let it go.  My mother used to say to me when other children had said mean things,  “Just let it roll off your back like water on a duck’s back.”

When you let what others say upset you, they think they have a way to control you.

LET IT GO!  Forgive!  Treat everyone unconditionally.   If you can master this, it will have amazing results.

Good Luck!

Birds Nests for the ER sound.

Birds Nests

1. Melt:        1/4 cup chunky peanut butter

(If using natural peanut butter add 1 Tbsp. Butter)

3/4 cup chocolate chips

2. Stir in:      2 cups chow mein noodles

3. Drop big spoonfuls onto wax paper.

4. Make a hole in the middle with a spoon.

5. Put 2 or 3 jelly beans in each nest.

6. Cool and enjoy!

Fun for Easter and for learning the ER sound. (Easter, bird, butter, stir)

Telling on other Children

              Telling on Others!  

No one wants to listen to children constantly telling on other children.  This is a hard issue because children need to know they can say if something is truly wrong, but when children tell on every little thing it is very disruptive in a class or at home.  Also, children need to learn to resolve some of their own differences with children and adults.   Here are a few ideas for helping children do their own work and learn to resolve their differences:

• Sometimes children need to be seated differently, so it isn’t so easy for them to mother the other children.
• Have the rule: We all do our own work.
• When a child complains about how someone isn’t sharing, etc., encourage them to use their words and ask for a turn.  Most children like to share if they are asked nicely.
• Encourage them to make sure they are doing what they should.
• Praise children that are doing their own work.
• When doing cooperative play or projects, encourage them to let their friends help.
• Have a discussion about what kind of things are important to tell the teacher or parent and what things they can resolve themselves.  Knowing this will create successful students and adults.  Bullying can never be tolerated and children need to understand that they can tell.
• Everyone has a personal inner guide, conscience, or holy spirit.  It is good to help children find their inner guide and listen to it.  This can help children know when to tell and when to resolve it themselves.
• Use positive words when talking about this problem.  It is best to use words that point them in the direction they need to go like, “Use your words.” “Do your own work.” “Make sure you are being a good friend to everyone.”  Negative labels never help.

This is hard skill to master, but it is an important part of growing up.  No one wants friends that are continually complaining.   It doesn’t work well in the job world.  It is also important to know when to say something to stop bullying and abuse.  Please comment with ideas you have for working on these issues.

LOVE UNCONDITIONALLY–Love is the Key

Love is the  key!                                      

Everyone needs to feel loved and cared about.  No one can interact with others perfectly, but if the children in your life feel loved and cared about, they will work harder and be more successful.

Here are a few ideas to help children feel your unconditional love for them:

• Express your love for them individually.  Make it personal and real.
• Use Active Listening.   Repeat back to them what they have said in an understanding manner.
• Ask them a specific question about themselves.  I like to have free time first, so I can have some personal interaction with as many students as possible before starting class.
• An affectionate touch or hug.  Never force a hug or affection.   Sometimes a one-armed side hug, a hand on the shoulder or hand makes all the difference.  If you listen with your heart you will know when it is needed.
• A personal smile.
• Give them a personal simple task to help you.  We all need to be needed.  Incorporate helpers in your day.  Make helping a pleasure not a chore!  “You get to” or “I need you to”, not “you have to”, makes all the difference.
• One on one or small group activities help them see you care.  Try handwriting practice in a tray or plate of cornmeal or finger painting.

Sit back and quietly observe with an open mind.  Open your heart!  Taking time for each child will eliminate future possible discipline problems.  Act don’t React!  Enjoy your time with the children in your life.  Make each day a treasure; we never know what tomorrow brings.

Give us your comments on how you help children feel loved.  Have a great day!

Visit our website for great phonics materials for home or school. http://www.phonicsbyspelling.com/

Don’t

“Don’t” isn’t a word that children understand.

When you tell a child, “Don’t touch the stove.”, all they hear is, “Touch the stove.”

It is better to say what you want them to do such as: “Stand back!  It is hot.” or “Stop!  The stove is hot”.  This is hard to do, but instructions or rules given in a positive manner, always works best.

Examples:

“Keep your hands to yourself.”

“Keep all four legs of your chair on the floor.”

Good luck on making directions more positive!

For more educational products and information visit www.phonicsbyspelling.com

 

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.  

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”.

 

Who is in Charge?

Who is in charge in your school, home, etc.? 

    It needs to be a teacher, parent or leader.  Be prepared and come with a plan.  Children can sense when you doubt yourself.  Keep it positive, upbeat and confident!

      Children feel safe when they are with an adult that has control of the situation.  Expect children to mind and accept nothing less.  Encourage the behaviors you want and ignore or isolate the unwanted behavior.  Never just watch unwanted behavior.  That rewards that child.  Create something more interesting to do.

Example:  What to do when taking a child shopping at the supermarket? 

• Keep your focus on shopping and the child.  Involve the child in the shopping experience.  (No cell phones or any long conversations with other adults) 
• Have them help look for items or have them count out an amount of some item. 
• Don’t ask them what they want or give them big choices.  Instead give them a choice between 2 or 3 items. 
• Never let the shopping become what the child wants.  This is your shopping list. 
• If a child asks for things say something like, “It isn’t on the list. Maybe we could plan to get it another time.” or “Remember, candy you buy with your own money.” 
• If a child starts fussing about something say: “I never buy for fussing children.” then ignore them. 
• Don’t tell children you will buy them something if they are good, because it creates more problems than it solves.  
• Never turn control of the shopping trip over to the child.   Continue to focus on the list, the shopping and the behaving child. 
• NEVER give into tantrum children or they will tantrum again!

Hope this helpful.  Enjoy the little ones in your care.  Be in charge and everyone will be happier.

Spring Fever

Spring Fever is the restless, edgy feeling that comes in the spring with the many changes of weather.  It makes adults have less patience and children can not hold still.  Knowing this is what is happening, helps us handle the discipline problems this time of year.  What to Do?

Go outside: Find a way to incorporate what you want to teach or accomplish by going outside.

Creative art projects:  Do finger painting, homemade play dough,  torn paper spring collage, etc.

• Sensory activities:  Do sand or bean play, water play (wash the play dishes by hand), pudding painting, etc.
• Vary the routine:  Have the children help create a new routine.
• Music:  Incorporate music in whatever you can.  They will remember what you are teaching and they will love it.  Also, bring out the rhythm instruments, play a marching song and have a marching band.
• Exercise:   Walk ,dance, read while standing/moving and just keep movement in your day.

Spring Fever–accept it and work with it.  Enjoy the children in your life.