Parent Resources

Reading

Book Lists - Lists of books that students in my crews over the years have loved.
Books for First Grade Readers - First Half of the Year
Books for First Grade Readers - Second Half of the Year
Books for Second and Third Grade Readers - this list can be used for students reading at these levels or it can be used as a source for finding great family read alouds.

Online Resources at the Douglas County Public Library - You just need your library card number to access these:
Ebooks for kids
Videos and Read Alouds
Online Children's Magazines - once you click on the link, scroll down to the bottom of the page and select Flipster, then select Family and Kids for a nice selection of great magazines for kids 

 

Magazines for Children:
Many of these are available through the public library at the link above. 

Click
Ask
Ladybug
Spider
Ranger Rick and Ranger Rick, Jr.
National Geographic Kids

These 18 Practices are Proven Effective for Teaching Reading

Summer Reading Lists For Kids Ages 6 - 14 (Good books for all year)

 

Writing
Making Books Videos for Parents

Every Child is a Writer - short video
First Grade Snap Words 
First Grade Word Wall Words 
Why is My Kid Allowed to Make Spelling Mistakes
Helping Children Become Better Spellers - What Parents Can Do  
One-Sentence Journals
Spelling Games


Math

What Happened to Math Class? Understanding the Shifts in Mathematics Teaching and How to Support Your Child's Learning from Mike Flynn on Vimeo.



What Happened to Math Class? Understanding the Shifts in Mathematics Teaching and How to Support Your Child's Learning from Mike Flynn on Vimeo. 



Counting Collections at Home Part 1
Counting Collections at Home Part 2



Math Progression Videos - excellent videos that show which skills students will learn in which grades

Doing Math With Your Child - Promoting Problem Solving 

Talking Math with Your Kids

Bedtime Math

Sunshine Math

Games for Young Minds Newsletter - Newsletter with math games for families

Directions for Math Games - 0ffline play

Math Before Bed

Talking Math with Your Kids - A Circular Conversation

Table Talk Math Family Newsletters 

Greg Tang Math Games


Math Board Games

Tiny Polka Dots - many games can be played with this deck of cards - only one is shown at this link

Prime Climb - This game can be modified as your child grows up. You can start with addition and subtraction at first and add multiplication and division later.

Mobi - The Numerical Tile Game in a Whale Pouch

Shut the Box

Expedition (Science and Social Studies Topics)

Science at Home with Steve Spangler

Mystery Science Videos and Lessons

Wonderopolis: Where the Wonders of Learning Never Cease

The Kid Should See This: Smart Videos for Curious Minds of All Ages

You Wanna Be a What?! Video Series by National Geographic Kids

Wow in the World: Podcast for Kids

But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids

Tumble Science Podcast for Kids

Brains On: A Podcast for Kids and Curious Adults

Coding

Hour of Code

General

The Learning Challenge with James Nottingham from Challenging Learning on Vimeo.




Ms. Allison's Social and Emotional Resources Page 

Teaching While Parenting

"He has reminded me of the most important thing: my child is more than anything that can be measured with a benchmark or a milestone."

Teaching While Parenting: Facing Struggle

"I want everything to be easy for my child. I want him to believe the world is good and kind. I want to keep him from pain and from worry and challenge. I want him wrapped in emotional bubble wrap. And yet, the world is hard. Life has pain and worry and cruelty. The best gift I can give my child is the ability to feel capable in the face of challenge, and compassion in the face of pain. The chance to bounce back from struggle and to find love and be loved. You do not learn these things in the absence of difficulty, rather, it is the presence of child sized struggles and challenges that engenders such development.
Don’t fear struggle, celebrate growth."

Teaching While Parenting: Unpacking the Phrase "I Hate School"
"What do I want most for my baby? To be happy, to feel valuable and capable, and to be safe. What do I hear from caregivers? The same things. We all want children to be joyful and independent which is why when we hear, “I hate school!” all sorts of alarm bells can go off for teachers and caregivers."

Teaching While Parenting: Rethinking "Progress"
"The scariest thing is the possibility that we might aim to do nothing and then learn we should have done something. But intervening too much or too soon carries its own consequences of learned helplessness, dislike of school or learning, and a feeling that no matter what your child does they will never learn. Repeat the mantra, “Better late than later” and err on the side of letting the brain build itself. Your child needs a home base to recharge and reboot, a nod to the work they put in every day, and to be honored as a multi-dimensional human."

Thinking About "Learneracy"

Phew! It's Normal. An Age by Age Guide for What to Expect from Kids and Teens - And What They Need From Us 

The 7 Reasons Your Kid Needs Sleep

Why It's a Bad Idea to Interview for Pain 

Embracing the Spectrum: Prodigies, Autists and the Kids in Between

How I Slowed My Family Down. Like, to the Last Century.

Press Play - In this episode, TED speakers describe how all forms of amusement — from tossing a ball to video games — can make us smarter, saner and more collaborative.