ELA & Social Studies Articles

All around the world, remote learning is becoming the norm. Schools and families are navigating their way around during these unprecedented times, trying to find ways to support their students and children learning from home. There are so many resources that are available to help children learn to read and write but what happens when you’re stuck without access to a computer, tablet or even Wifi? It is without a doubt that handwriting is something that is lagging due to our world becoming so tech-driven. Read this article to discover ways that you as a parent can help support and encourage the improvement of handwriting skills at home. 

In America, Black History Month serves as an excellent time to study the many historical contributions and accomplishments of notable African Americans. It’s especially important that our little learners understand the history as they grow older since our youngest citizens will one day be in charge. Whether you’re a teacher or a parent, read this article to learn more about the importance of celebrating Black History Month with kids, and find ways to honor it both at home and in the classroom! 

One of the biggest concerns in education during the last year has been the potential impact of the coronavirus pandemic and whether it has caused learning loss in our youngest students. It’s been nearly a year since many schools have shut their doors in favor of distance classes, and yet the teaching of foundational skills, such as reading and writing, must continue in earnest. Join us as we discuss the best ways, tips, and tools for teaching reading strategies remotely.

Teaching kids about diversity can seem like an overwhelming task! Shouldn’t kids learn about racism and prejudice as they grow older? Though it’s natural to want to protect innocent children from the horrors of our world, we must remember that the overall goal is to raise socially aware, caring, and empathetic individuals. This article focuses on teaching kids about diversity and tolerance and offers way to address this tricky subject with early learners. 

Summer break gives both kids and teachers much-needed rest, but it doesn’t come without a cost. Researchers know that kids lose about a month of learning by the time they arrive back in the classroom in the fall! Known as the summer slide, this phenomenon have been plaguing kids and robbing them of their learning gains. Since reading is important to all subjects, it’s important that kids don’t fall behind during the summer months. This article will discuss the importance of summer reading, and how to engage your kids in reading this summer!

For kids, learning to read can be a stressful task, but sometimes teaching kids to read can be just as big of an undertaking for parents and teachers alike! If you’re struggling with supporting your little learners as they learn to read independently, you’re not alone! This article will help you to discover how to use reading levels to choose the right texts for your child. Then, learn how to create your own home or classroom library to support kids no matter their current reading level! 

When children are born, any pediatrician will tell parents to begin reading aloud to infants and toddlers. Some parents will even play music or read to babies while still in the womb! But what about older kids who are gaining literacy skills, and those that have started reading independently? You might be surprised to find out that reading aloud can help kids throughout childhood, and even until middle school! Check out this article to learn how this can bolster early reading skills and to discover the best read aloud books for kids of all ages!

Nursery rhymes have been around for ages, but have you ever thought about what gives them the staying power to stick around preschool classrooms? The answer is because of the rhymes! Learning to rhyme is fun for kids, but it’s also an important pre-reading skill. This article explores the importance of teaching children to isolate and listen for phonemes and letter sounds and offers easy and fun activities to teach rhyming words! 

Whether we realize it or not, literacy learning takes place before babies can even talk! Before kids ever step foot into school, they are absorbing communication skills and forming the foundations for reading and writing. That’s why it’s so important to start early to reinforce the skills your child is already taking in. This article hones in on the literacy skills to work on in each age or stage and offers you 15 fabulous alphabet games for kids! 

Teaching kids is a huge job, since reading is one of the most critical skills students must learn in the early elementary years. Though the idea of such a big task might seem daunting, a guided reading program can be the ticket to literacy success in your school or at-home classroom. This article takes an in-depth look at guided reading and gives any teacher or parent ways to implement and support such a system effectively.