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.   #152 Probable Passages   If we do not change our direction, we are likely to end up where we are headed. ~Ancient Chinese Proverb   Probable Passages is an activity that works well for children who have difficulty deciding what to write about. Here’s how it works: The first part of probable passages will need to be done by you; the rest is for your child to complete. First, choose any age appropriate story; although this activity works best if you choose a story that your child has never read before. Your part is simple: just leaf through the book and choose words, phrases or pieces of narrative from the book that sound interesting to you. (Note: When you are choosing the fragments for this activity you should make an effort to pick words and phrases from a variety of story elements (Idea #84). Here are some example...

  Today's tip for parents from two talented teachers comes from  365 Teacher Secrets for Parents  by Cindy McKinley Alder and Patti Trombly.   #151 Using a Thesaurus I do the very best I know how, the very best I can. ~Abraham Lincoln   To help your child be the best writer he can be, acquaint him with a variety of tools. A thesaurus is one valuable tool that helps add spice to anyone’s writing. Children especially can benefit from the thesaurus because their vocabulary is generally not as diverse as an adult’s. Help your child create stories with interesting vocabulary by familiarizing him with the thesaurus. Try sitting down with him and reading a story he has previously written. Concentrate on looking for words that are overused (such as said or really ) or mundane words such as big or okay . Write the chosen words on a separate piece of paper, and lightly circle them with pencil within the story. (Does he already have a page in his writing notebook for so...

  Today's tip for parents from two talented teachers comes from  365 Teacher Secrets for Parents  by Cindy McKinley Alder and Patti Trombly.                                     #144 Steal the Beat The brighter you are, the more you have to learn. ~Don Herold   From a very young age parents and teachers use song and rhyme to teach children information. From teaching the different sounds animals make in “Old McDonald” to learning the letters of the alphabet in the “Alphabet Song,” children grasp concepts and information easier when it’s presented in rhyme or song or both! Keep that in mind when you see your child struggling with a difficult task or concept. Try brainstorming with your child a rhyme that might help her spell a certain word or remember a definition. It is usually easiest to utilize a song that everyone is familiar with. Songs such as “Mary had a Little ...