ELA & Social Studies Articles

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of a brand-new feature in Talented and Gifted Online: the Toy Box! Now kids can take a break from their lessons to play educational games that review basic math and ELA skills. All games were designed to make the learning process more enjoyable by and effective by allowing children to review foundational skills in a fun and friendly way. Toy Box can be easily accessed online from any device and browser! 

Teaching children about community should begin from a very young age. For toddlers and preschoolers, their knowledge about the world around them is very limited, often to their family, teachers, and the people they see on a regular basis. As they reach kindergarten, kids must broaden their worldview to learn about the wider community. In doing so, they do much more than merely gain knowledge; they nurture their social and emotional learning by feeling a sense of belonging and purpose. 

In educational times today, it’s important to make sure that young learners have strong foundational skills early on. Text analysis is one  skill that can significantly enhance reading comprehension as well as critical thinking. In this guide, we will  demonstrate how to reinforce text analysis in emerging readers, specifically kindergarten students, through text comparison using Kids Academy's Classroom tool and Talented & Gifted Online program.

For preschoolers, learning should be exciting! Every day brings new opportunities for exploring the world and everything in it. This includes making sense of all the letters that are on everything from street signs to cereal boxes. While most adults take simple tasks, like learning the alphabet, for granted, children are more than eager to take it all in. They mostly do this through daily play, but they must also be guided by parents and teachers who can provide the right resources. That’s where Kids Academy can help! 

When we think of the fundamental components of language overall and  reading in particular, we should pay special attention to the skill of rhyming. Educators confirm that learning rhymes remains one of the most effective and engaging ways to assist a child in their language growth.

With the help of rhymes, children learn to understand the phonemic structure of words, which ultimately leads to improved reading and spelling skills.

What are the best techniques to make the acquisition of this fundamental skill an enjoyable experience for kids in first grade? In this article, we will look at some teacher-proofed methods and tools, including games and rhyming worksheets.

In our increasingly digital world, it may seem as though the value of writing has diminished, especially when considering a rising need for students to learn to type.  However, despite the proliferation of computers and mobile devices, the act of writing remains a critical skill that has a profound effect on a child’s cognitive development, including reading acquisition and fluency. This doesn’t mean that the benefits of technology can’t be harnessed to enhance a child’s writing skills; rather, young learners must practice the fine motor skills necessary for proper writing development. 

In this article, you'll learn about effective strategies to improve your third grader's reading fluency. An expert educator gives tips on how to vercome common challenges like reading reluctance and enhance children's skills through engaging activities such as echo and choral reading. You'll also find suggestions of diverse reading materials and word games to enrich vocabulary. With dedication, support and the right approach, reading can become a captivating experience and a life-long hobby for your child! 

As parents and caregivers, we want to keep our kids engaged in learning during the summer break. Many learners will experience what is known as the “summer slide” which is when they lose some of the academic gains they have made during the school year over summer break. Reading, particularly in the elementary years, is an area that is vulnerable to that learning loss. Here are some recommendations for keeping elementary kids engaged in reading during the summer:

Over the last few years, many children experienced learning loss in some academic areas due to the pandemic. Parents are concerned that their elementary students struggle with developing reading skills, so important for learning success. We'll provide ways to address these issues using the science of reading—the latest teaching approach based on extensive research. 

Most parents read to their children starting from day one. But once kids enter kindergarten, it’s expected that they can recognize and recite the alphabet. So how can we, as parents, make a bridge from reading about the alphabet, to actually learning to recognize it? The answer is as simple as by mixing it up! By offering a variety of activities, especially those that require hands-on learning, kids learn the alphabet in no time. Keep reading to discover 10 exciting alphabet activities for preschoolers!