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.                                                        #133 Fun with Words   I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living. ~Dr. Seuss   Poetry is playing around with words in unique and wonderful ways. You can also do the same without creating a poem. Just make up some silly stuff! Try these:   Alliterations (sentences in which most of the words begin with the same sound): ●        Have your child choose a beginning letter or sound. Let’s use “m” as an example. ●        Now have him brainstorm a wide variety of words that begin with that letter. ●        He c...

  Today's tip for parents from two talented teachers comes from  365 Teacher Secrets for Parents  by Cindy McKinley Alder and Patti Trombly. #55 This is Only a Test (Study Tips) . If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves.  ~Thomas A. Edison   Do you remember taking tests when you were in school? How did you prepare? Very often children are taught the subject matter but no one has ever taken time to show them how to take the information and use it to study for a test. Of course, the purpose of a test is to gauge how well a child knows the information being presented. Unfortunately, a child’s lack of test-taking skills may be the cause of not-so-good grades. Here are some suggestions for your child that may help her prepare for a test. Some of these will have to be taught to her. Others she may just have to be shown once and then she will understand. No matter what strategies your child uses, studying in a quiet place ...

  Today's tip for parents from two talented teachers comes from  365 Teacher Secrets for Parents  by Cindy McKinley Alder and Patti Trombly. #31 Creating a Learning Environment at Home   What is required is sight and insight—then you may add one more: excite. ~Robert Frost   Part of helping your child succeed in school is creating a learning environment in your home. After all, you are your child's first teacher. You can create an atmosphere in which learning is valued by doing the things mentioned during the past month. Here is a checklist of the main points:   ●       Have you found a good time for D.E.A.R.? ●       Are the TV and video games turned off and your child turned on to another activity? ●       Are you making it a point to be a good role model? ●       Has your child set a goal for himself? ●       Have you begun to set ...