Developmental Insights for Teachers and Parents
Exercises for reading and writing: painting handwriting, shaded drawing
In her chapter on “Reintroduction to Formal Work in Reading and Arithmetic” (in “The Extra Lesson”) Audrey McAllen stated: “In view of the reading methods which some children have experienced before
coming to us, it is essential that a new child of any age should experience the
letters as pictures.” The following two variations on exercises in “The Extra Lesson” were developed as additional approaches to this goal. I would also suggest that
these two styles can be combined in a Main Lesson Book that stays with the
student through the grades, i.e. as a multi-year portfolio of achievement.
The following exercises and activities are highly recommended as part of a
primary grades teacher’s repertoire of ways to help every child be ready to do his or her best, every
day. Experience has shown that students who receive these activities are able
to move ahead more solidly. Benefits of these exercises -- if done regularly
and with the indicated rhythm -- include:
• Foundations for literacy - developmental capacities for all aspects of
language.
• Foundations for numeracy - the math/logical and spatial intelligences in
motion.
• Readiness for deskwork - enhancing focus and attention. Setting the stage for
harmonious receptivity to new material.
• Bodily/kinesthetic and spatial integration.
• Strengthening the will.
The hierarchy of readiness for learning: what kind of help is needed?
Whatever the signs that more help is needed, our role as adults is to
thoughtfully and carefully decide what kind of individual attention is needed.
A developmental assessment is not a measure of skills or a test of abilities;
rather, we look at the interrelated areas of development that represent a
child's capacities or readiness for learning.
Here is a lens on human development that shines new light on how parents and
teachers can contribute to the healthy growth of children.
All who work with children today see that they are changing in ways that concern
and even alarm us. In the preschool and kindergarten classes, we often see
tired children, thin and pale...
(Book review) In the light of continuing growth of “attention deficit” and “hyperactivity” diagnoses, one of the most important topics in this book is rough and tumble
play as a necessary developmental activity, perhaps especially for boys.
Copper rod exercises can support academic progress of grade school children,
including physiology that supports writing and reading; direction, rhythm and
sequencing (related to math); and more!
A guide for class teachers, phys ed teachers, and parents.
Multiple Intelligences theory - a more rounded picture of the human being... and
a ‘reason’ to be sure a school provides plenty of movement!
What signs should a teacher look for to indicate school readiness? What should
be done if a child has been placed in first grade too soon?
It should be clear that the pose the media has in mind for children - cool,
tough, and sophisticated independence - is that of the teenager. The media's
efforts to encourage children to identify with the independent and impulsive
consumer teen - efforts that began tentatively, with Barbie -have now gone into
overdrive...
The purpose of this list is not to test anyone’s “degree of good-parent-ness” but only to summarize the many good ideas that are scattered over a wide number
of books and lectures.
