Your Baby Can What?!

Imagine this, you are sitting in a baby room listening to the sweet cooing sounds of the cutest baby on this side of earth.  As most adults would do, you pick up a book and begin to read to this innocent being -you come to a word and what do you hear but a 13 month old reading along with you. WTH!

While I am excited that more attention is being put on early literacy skills, I am frustrated to think that society and so called "education professionals" would consider stealing the developmentally appropriateness and the idea of "in due time" from our youngest learners.

The concept of teaching "reading" not pre-reading or enjoyment to a  infant or toddler just blows my mind.  Just the other day I had a talk with a seasoned 5th grade educator who was seriously considering purchasing one of these miracle reading products for her niece.  I just about blew my top!  I quickly explained to her the soon to be tragedy of her decision.

 While children who are exposed to this  whole word approach to reading may read sooner than kids who learn with phonics,  in the long run they pay a very big price. They loose the ability to decode words or spell - which is also critical for writing.  They can only half read - easily skimming over words they have memorized and never gaining full comprehension of what they are reading.

As a parent, educator and consumer, I urge you to think about the long term consequences of your actions when purchasing products.  Don't leave educating your child to DVDs , TV or electronic games.  Remember that positive and meaningful interactions between parent and child will not only produce tremendous academic success but will also give you something technology can never give-A Strong, Loving Bond! 

A New Way to Teach Math-Uh Duh!

Some call it the "new math," I call it plain old good common sense teaching. Why is it now a "new" idea to teach the process rather than teach rote learning. Teaching the process will always give a foundation that can be applied to any situation within a subject area. If you teach the how & why the what will be easy.... This Singapore Math concept is touching basis on key development in children starting with the concrete and moving to the abstract- uh duh, like I said "common sense." If you are a true educator you teach the way that is best for children, not what the teachers edition and training material says do.

Singapore Math

Electronic Learning....Yeah Right!

Today's electronic toys are making "learning" if you want to call it that, way too easy for children. From toys that talk to you, read to you and clue you in, authentic learning has just about gone out the window!

If I have a toy that will read every word that I point to, why would I want to learn to read!  It's toys like these that are helping change the dynamic of teaching in the classroom.  Teachers are getting away from teaching the process of learning "how to" to teaching memorization skills.

On another note, these toys are also taking away from parental involvement.  While I recognize the new parent ( appointments, activities, networking, single parenting,) giving a child an electronic toy that talks to them cannot replace the learning that will take place from loving conversations between parent and child.

Electronic toys do have a place in our homes and classrooms,  not as a primary method but as reinforcers.