Parent Resources

Let's face it, parenting is hard. I have four kids of my own and teaching them, who range from elementary to high school curriculum, from home is very different than having my own classroom of children in the same grade. I have compiled some resources that I find helpful and hope that you do to.

Finding Your Family Routine

There is a lot of research that says a daily routine allows children to self regulate, feel safe in predictability, and feel a sense of control throughout their day. The routine does not have to be set in stone or even spelled out by the minute. For example, my own children start learning at home at 9, but are expected to be dressed, have eaten, hair and teeth brushed by then. By the way, they usually get this done at 8:55, but it is done, and that is what I ask. Lunch is at 11:30, so they are responsible for getting math and writing done between there. The afternoon they need to do reading, art and/or music by 1:00, then they are done. They know that if they can give me their focus and attention from 9-1, they are free afterwards.

My kids are not perfect. I have push back some days. They are human and do not always want to do what they are supposed to. I have learned to have consequences. "You can do this now, or do it after 1:00, your choice." Then I walk away. They usually decide to do it then so they can be free after 1, but if they don't, I have to step up and follow through. It isn't easy, but it is part of the gig.

Check out this article on the importance of family routines by healthychildren.org.

Stick to Good Behavior: Sticker Board Classroom Management Motivator

Sticker Boards.pdf

Motivating and Engaging

Yes, even teachers are constantly reinventing the way they do their instruction to keep students engaged in lessons and motivated to learn. At school we use Wildcat Tickets for students displaying Responsible, Respectful, Safe, and Kind behaviors. These tickets are then put in a bucket for drawings or used as a type of currency to 'buy' rewards. One strategy we use when one student is not displaying ideal behaviors is 'rewarding' someone next to them with a Wildcat ticket. This will usually be enough to adjust all behaviors in an attempt to receive a ticket.

Motivators are different at home. I have attached a link and a direct sticker board printable for you to use, although, you can create one by hand if you don't have a printer. Use as it fits to your child. Maybe they get a sticker every time they complete a task. Maybe they get one every day. It depends on the level of engagement your child needs. With tickets, we over reward at first. When the desired behaviors are more common, we can back off of the tickets and save them for great behaviors.

At the end you can decide what you would like the reward to be for filling up the sticker chart. With a limited budget at school, we tend to get creative with our prizes. Think about what your child would be motivated by - extra coloring time, dessert night, extra tablet time, sitting in mom or dad's chair, deciding the lunch menu...

Visual Posters.pdf

Using Visuals

Setting Clear Expectations

Oofta, being at home with my kids AND trying to get them to view me as a 'teacher' to them is difficult. I mean why can't they just know that I expect them to act like respectful students like they do at school?! Well, it is because I have different mom expectations than I do teacher expectations. If this is happening to you too, you are not alone.

I am attaching a link with lots of anchor charts that show what expectations you may have and one printable. And, yes, sometimes you need to spell them ALL out. These can also be created on a sheet of paper you have. For example, during rest time I have the expectations on a handmade chart with stick figures laying on mats, a face saying 'shhh', and a head on a pillow signifying that heads should be down the whole time. We made the chart as a class, so they are aware what all the drawings/symbols mean. For a while we reviewed before each rest time, but after a while, they just knew.

In my house I have a chart that has: 1. Each child working independently, 2. Headphones need to be worn if on technology, 3. Try before you ask for help (more for my older children). I hope this helps you and/or gives you ideas.

Teach rhyming words with this fun printable! - The Measured Mom

Rhyming Clip Cards.pdf

Rhyme Time

Some families have expressed that their child has had a hard time with rhyming. This is a standard that we work on in preschool. I am attaching a free printable and link for you. Again, if you don't have a printer, make your own rhyming cards with magazine cutouts, or drawings. You do not have to be an artist for a child to think you are.

You can play rhyming memory with rhyming cards. These particular printable cards you can use a paperclip or clothespin to identify the word that rhymes with the big picture.

For most of the year we focus on beginning or ending letter sounds. So often if you say "/g/ grape, what rhymes with grape?" A child may answer with another word that starts with the /g/ sound. By using pictures you can focus on the sound of the whole word.

What to Do When the Letter Sounds Just Won't Stick - Learning at the Primary PondDo you have any students who are struggling to remember the letter sounds? In this post, I share some helpful strategies and a FREEBIE!

Letter Sounds

Another thing parents have identified as being difficult to teach is letter sounds. This is not always something that comes easily. Personally I try to associate each letter with an object, usually an animal. An example would be the fox associated with X. Then when thinking of the letter X, the child will think of fox and the last sound in fox.

I am including a link to the right of a phonics song that we use in class. The article on the left explains that repetition is key. Simply listening to the song at least once a day, can be enough to associate letters with their sounds.

As with anything, remember it takes time. Be patient with your little one, and yourself.