|
|
by
Anthony Amato |
November
21 , 2007 |
Parents
Have Power
Take charge of your child's learning; it's never
too early to start teaching
As educators, we are all abundantly clear that parents are the
first teachers of their children. Parents should be aware that
they posses all the tools needed to prepare their child for
school.
Reading and math opportunities for children are everywhere.
A child as young as two years old may recognize the “golden
arches” as belonging to McDonald’s restaurant. This
is their way of reading! Another example would be a trip to
the grocery store and the child’s ability to pick out
his or her favorite cereals or snacks merely by the package
design. Parents should take advantage of these opportunities
and take the time to reinforce sounds and letters represented
in the names of items recognized by their child.
Early math lessons can begin by recognizing colors and shapes.
Most children at the age of two know that they need two shoes!
Parents can take advantage of opportunities to name the color
and shape of objects frequently. For example, a parent can inform
their child that they are going to wear the red shirt with the
black pants. They can also talk to their child about the round
table or the square picture. These math concepts will help your
children as their brains develop for school and for life.
The tradition of bedtime stories is another way that parents
can teach their children. Stories from books or from memory
are great ways to build your child’s vocabulary and imagination
and to strengthen their minds! Parents should encourage their
child to follow along either by pointing to the words or by
answering questions. By having your child point to the words
as they are read, they are developing proper habits for reading.
If parents engage their children with questions, they are developing
their oral language skills as well as their comprehension.
So for all of you parents who have been celebrating learning
with your child in this manner, hats off to you! For those that
weren’t aware of the brain power of your two-year-old,
here’s your chance to maximize it. As parents, you are
the single most important teacher that your child will ever
have, make the most of your opportunity!
Amato’s Corner is a biweekly feature in The Northeast
News by Superintendent Anthony Amato, with insightful information
and analysis of education trends and new programs in the Kansas
City, Missouri School District. Please feel free to contact
the District's public information professionals with any questions
regarding its schools and their ongoing endeavor to provide
students the highest quality education possible: 816-418-7000
or PublicInfo@kcmsd.net.
