ELA & Social Studies Articles

The summer is drawing near, and after a year of learning at home, you and your kids may be struggling with fresh new ideas for play. But what if we told you to just go to the nearest bookshelf and pick up your child’s favorite book? Sometimes the best ideas for playful activities can be inspired by those that are unrelated to games. Read this article to discover how to use early learning books to inspire your child’s play and find the best titles and activities to fill your little learner’s time and mind!

“My student can read every word in this book, why does his teacher say it is too hard?” As a teacher this is a phrase we hear every year. When it comes to a student’s ability to understand or comprehend a book there is a lot more than just being able to pronounce all the words. The gold standard of reading is reading fluency. 

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!