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I, like most parents, want my children to have all the tools they need to be successful in this world. And, what we know, is that literacy is so important in both academic and life pursuits. As a parent, and an early childhood educator, I know that we need to support children in becoming strong […]

This Fall in our schools, you will see your children expressing themselves creatively about subjects that are important to them. Your children will be engaged in meaningful tasks to maximize their learning potential. Neurological research tells us that we learn best when our emotions are involved in the learning. Our emotions are activated when we […]

How to Define — and Support — Literacy The foundational understanding of literacy is that the words we say can be broken down into sounds, which are represented by letters that we write. When other people read these letters, they come together to form words, which build sentences, which create wonderful worlds of stories and […]

By Dr. Pam Schiller Critical thinking is defined as analyzing and evaluating information or evidence in order to guide decision making. It is literally thinking about thinking. The term critical thinking is often co-mingled with creative thinking, higher order thinking, and even, problem solving. It is a function of all of these or better put—all […]

Think back to your favorite summer experiences as a young child. My grown children would probably tell you about camp, the beach and family vacations. It’s not likely that they, or you, would put summer reading high their list of special summer memories. And yet, one of the most important things we can do for […]

“My son knows his ABCs. Look how smart he is!” “Show Grandma how you can count to 10, honey!” Does this sound like you or anyone you know who is a parent of a young child? Chances are you would say yes. We are so proud to see that our children are learning, and that […]

By Dr. Heather Wittenberg Learning doesn’t have to stop the summer fun. Pre-reading skills give your kids a boost when school starts in the fall, so I’ve created a day of learning that has lots of built-in reading fun. Have the kids help you plan every step along the way!   Early Morning: Go on […]

Yes, Summer is here with you and your children enjoying long Summer evenings! Your older children are free of homework; your smaller ones have been staying up later, and playing outside more. It seems like Fall, with schoolbooks and camps ending, is far away. But is it? Some of you are starting to think about […]

By Dr. Heather Wittenberg Learning to read is a huge milestone for your child, making it possible to learn about any subject under the sun.  And so we dutifully read, read, read to our kids, hoping that one day the skill will “click”. I’ve got a great shortcut. Summer’s the time for fun and games, […]

Summer’s here! Throughout the month of June, I’ll  have lots of ideas for how to boost your kids’ learning. But don’t worry! My tips are simple, inexpensive, and fun for the whole family – and guaranteed to help that little noggin grow. We’ll start out today with how to get your summer learning off to […]

By Joan Firestone, Ph.D. Spring has finally made it to my neighborhood.  And while parents are busy getting out the tricycles and patio furniture, they are also contemplating the perennial question of what to do with the kids when the school year ends. It might well be that the best answer is to enroll them […]

By Dr. Joan Lessen-Fireston, Ph.D. Kindergarten teachers often worry about inadequate fine motor skills exhibited by many of their students. Every year it seems that more children enter school unable to cut along a straight line, manipulate buttons and snaps, and comfortably hold and use a pencil. But in a time when we focus on […]