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). #14 Getting There Is Half the Fun   It's good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters in the end. ~Ursula K. LeGuin   When you are working with your child on a project, it is tempting to focus solely on finishing it, but that may actually send the wrong message. The steps your child takes in order to complete the project are often equally as important as the project itself. For instance, if your child needs to write a report, the process involved might include brainstorming, researching, reading, note-taking, drafting, revising, and editing. Each of these skills is important in and of itself and should be emphasized along with the completion of the project. You could divide the overall project into steps and concentrate on one step a ...

  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). #9 I Don’t Know. Let’s Find Out!   Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it. ~Michael Jordan   Yes, it is easy and enjoyable to tell your child about things in real-life situations, but what happens when the discussion continues further than your knowledge on that particular subject? It’s actually quite simple. Tell your child you just don’t know! This may shock him at first if he has never heard you say that before because children tend to think their teachers and parents know everything. However, we all know we don’t know it all. Teach your children that smart people don’t have all the answers, they just know how and where to find them. Finish your “I don’t know” with “but…” ...

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...