MSI Press Blog

  Today's tip for parents (from two talented teachers) comes from  365 Teacher Secrets for Parents  by Cindy McKinley Alder and Patti Trombly (yes, those are the two talented teachers). #12 Language is More Than Reading and Writing   We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak. ~Epictetus   Parents are usually very aware of how well their children are doing in reading and writing. You may set aside time to help them practice and make an effort to show them that they are valued. There are two other components of language that are also very important, and these skills are often overlooked. They are listening and speaking . You do not need to set aside time in the day or week to practice listening and speaking to show your child that these are important life skills. Just make an effort to show your child you are really listening to her when she is speaking. She will know she has your attention by your body language, eye contact, ...

  Today's tip for parents (from two talented teachers) comes from  365 Teacher Secrets for Parents  by Cindy McKinley Alder and Patti Trombly (yes, those are the two talented teachers). #11 Thinking Out Loud   Enthusiasm is contagious. Start an epidemic.  ~Unknown   Did you know that talking to yourself not only helps you organize your thoughts but also helps your child? When you are working through a problem, make it a point to say what you are thinking out loud. Look for opportunities to do this. For example:   "I need to make 100 cupcakes for the bake sale. If each muffin tin makes 12 cupcakes and I have 2 muffin tins I can make 24 at a time. So, let’s see… how many batches will I need to bake? I will divide 100 by 24…."   Your child will realize that adults, like children, must go through a series of steps to conquer a problem. If you're enthusiastic about learning and are willing to take the time to really think something ...

Today's tip for parents (from two talented teachers) comes from  365 Teacher Secrets for Parents  by Cindy McKinley Alder and Patti Trombly (yes, those are the two talented teachers). #8 Life is Full of Learning   The work can wait while you show the child the rainbow, But the rainbow won’t wait while you do the work. ~Patricia Clafford   Everywhere you go and everything you do with your child is an opportunity for learning. Of course, you do not want everything you say and do to become a lesson, but just being aware of the endless opportunities can broaden your child’s view of the world. A good teacher will bring all of the classroom lessons to life by showing how they apply to the real world. You can do this, too. Here are some examples:   ●       Ask your child questions about gas when you’re filling up the tank. ●       Read signs together while driving somewhere. ●       Predict and...

🌟   5 Tips for Surviving This Time off of School and in the House!  🌟 To be sure, this is an unprecedented time, and an unusual break from school. Your  kids might feel frustrated they aren’t getting to go to school, see their friends, and engage in their favorite sports and activities right now.   But every time your family chooses to stay home, help your kids see that they are actually being brave and helpful. You can help your kids think of this time not like a punishment, but rather like they are giving their community a great gift. Staying home, as many are, is a true act of solidarity. It’s a sacrifice they can give so that nurses, doctors, and all those for whom it is not possible to stay home and protected (from first responders to grocery store personnel, and many, many others) can continue to do their jobs and keep the rest of us safe and keep our lives as normal as possible. Here are a few ideas from an article I wrote about stopping Summ...