Posts tagged "student"

Educational Toys – A Perfect Gift

Educational toys don’t have to be boring!  There are many exciting, fun toys that can provide hours of entertainment as well as reinforce important concepts and skills for children.  Sometimes when the word “educational” is connected with “toys”  teachers and parents tend to assume that kids may not enjoy them as much as the popular and trendy toys.  I was recently at a birthday party talking with several other teachers who have little kids of their own.  We all started discussing the benefits of getting toys that support learning when choosing gifts for our own kids as well as other kids.

Many times parents are very appreciative when their child gets a new educational toy.  Often parents would like to get a game or toy that teaches kids as they play, but they might not know what toy to purchase, or where to buy it.  As a parent and an educator, I really try to select toys that are age and grade appropriate.  With an increase in educational toys, many manufacturers are making it easier than ever before  for anyone to select great toys.

Here are some important things to remember if you are trying to pick out an educational toy as a gift.

• Find the designated age or grade that the toy is developed for.  This will ensure that the toy is age appropriate.
• If you know the child well, think of his interests and find a gift that will provide fun learning opportunities.
• Think about some of your favorite educational toys from when you were a child.  Many of these toys are still on the market and can make wonderful gifts.
• When in doubt, ask the child’s parents, they know what  skills and concepts she may be learning and may already have some fun educational toys on their wish list.

There are many wonderful resources for finding educational toys.  Be sure to visit www.K12schoolsupplies.net and check out the great selection of toys.

Teaching Supplies for Tutoring

Teaching supplies fill my basement.  I am not currently working in the classroom, so I have math manipulatives, dry erase boards along with boxes of classroom materials in my office.  I started to get some of my teaching supplies out for my daughters to play with during their “school” sessions.  After going through some of the items, it was not long until I decided that I could earn some extra income tutoring.  There is definitely a need for qualified tutors to help support students learning.  During the summer months, it is not difficult to find clients.  Post an advertisement on Craigslist, or call a local tutoring center and request an application.  Once you determine where you can conduct your sessions, you can begin using your teaching supplies.  Here are some ideas on how you can use some of the materials that you have and possibly purchase some new ones to work with students on a variety of subjects.

Reading -  While many schools have specific reading programs, a different approach may spark kids’ interest in reading over the summer.  Using simple teaching supplies like a notebook and index cards, you can choose from a variety of comprehension strategies to practice.   If a student needs to work on decoding, stop by your local library and check out books that focus on specific phonics skills.  Use sticky notes and mark specific words to practice reading and writing.

Writing -  Writing can be intimidating for anyone, especially kids.  Use the summer months to grab a journal, get outside and write about nature.  With a little bit of one-on-one guidance, students can feel more confident about their writing skills.

Math -  Help students sharpen their math skills by reviewing facts, practice solving problems, and explaining math reasoning.  Use everyday objects as math manipulatives.

As with any form of teaching, communication between students, parents, and teachers is critical.  Make sure that you determine the student’s tutoring needs and assess on a regular basis.  Grab your teaching supplies and get started.