children's play Archives - Page 4 of 7

May 14 2019

How to Combat Spring Fever at Home

Well, you survived spring break with vacations, play dates, and some much-needed down time. Now, how will the family cope with the end of the year in sight but feeling further away these days than it did in January? The adult version is similar to running a half marathon and making it through mile 9, 10, and 11. You see the end but those last 2.1 miles feel like forever. [Read more…]

Danielle Gentry

Danielle’s first step in education did not begin with education at all. It began with her first love for science. She received a B.S. in Biological Science, with a concentration in Molecular Biology. Her five years of experience as a chemist in the biotech industry at SYVA and Dade Behring Diagnostics include both areas of quality control and research and development. Her contributions were qualifying products for release to sell to the diagnostic market as well as developing new diagnostic technology for immunoassay detection. Danielle’s subtle transition to discovering her passion for education was through the birth of her daughter. She became a stay at home mom. Her uber volunteerism at her daughter’s elementary school gained her access to her path of education. She now holds a multiple subject teaching credential and M.A. in Education from National University. She has over ten years of experience at Sakamoto Elementary School as an educator in kindergarten, sixth grade, second grade, and a 2/3 combination class. Her teaching is rooted in a constructivist model while fostering independence and accountability in the classroom.

Mar 05 2019

What Is Your Child Learning in Kindergarten?

Each spring, parents and families are encouraged to visit their children’s schools to learn more about what their children are learning. Some parents are excited that their children are learning to read and compute basic math problems. Others are excited that their child has a new friend and is learning to express himself in an illustrated picture with a sentence describing the picture. I am excited that my grandson is learning to understand the individual differences of his classmates while naturally exploring how to read sight words and counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s. His teacher also incorporates a variety of personal growth and study skill development activities during the school day. [Read more…]

Joyce Iwasaki, Early Parenting

Joyce Iwasaki has over thirty years of educational experience working with diverse students in grades from preschool through high school. Joyce’s extensive background includes teaching elementary school, serving on early childhood advisory boards, and advocating for educational initiatives as a legislative aide. During her tenure as a legislative aide, she helped create legislation that allowed incarcerated mothers to keep their newborn babies with them while in prison. Additional legislation was enacted to allow incarcerated pregnant mothers to remain unshackled during labor and delivery. Ms. Iwasaki established and served as the president of an educational scholarship foundation for fifteen years. Her foundation awarded college scholarships to emerging student leaders who provided service to their schools and communities. Joyce is active in performing arts and cultural organizations. She also provides ongoing support to her daughter and family by raising her grandson in her home.

Jul 26 2018

Get Ready for School with Siblings, Twins, and Multiples Play Activities

Infants and preschoolers love pretend and play with lovies as soon as they can grab for toys. Many infants will react happily to cause and effect play and will soon grow into loving pretend play with their preschool siblings and family members. Suggested activities can include the following:

Materials:

Yikes! Brandon and His Twin Sisters Go to School book
Twin and multiplies play kits (e.g. Calico Critters Stroller Set with mother and twin guinea pigs)
Community stickers (i.e. My Town Reusable Sticker Pad)
Building kits (i.e. 80 Mega Blocks)

[Read more…]

Mary Ann Burke, Digital Education Expert

Mary Ann Burke, Ed.D., Digital Education Expert, is a substitute distance learning teacher for Oak Grove School District in San Jose, California and the author of STUDENT-ENGAGED ASSESSMENT: Strategies to Empower All Learners (Rowman & Littlefield: 2020). Dr. Burke creates digital language arts and substitute teaching K – 12 activities for teachers and parents. She is the Cofounder of the Genparenting.com blog. Burke is the former Director II of Categorical & Special Projects for the Santa Clara County Office of Education that supports 31 school districts serving 272,321 students in Santa Clara County. She is also a previous Director – State & Federal Compliance for Oakland Unified School District, the former Director – Grantwriter for the Compton Unified School District, and was the initial VISTA Director for the Community Partnership Coalition in southern California. Much of her work focuses on creating innovative digital trainings and partnership programs for teachers and families to support students’ learning. These programs were featured as a best practice at a National Title I Conference, California’s Title I Conferences, AERA Conferences, an ASCD Conference, the NASSP Conference, and statewide educator conferences.

Jul 25 2018

Get Ready for School with Siblings, Twins, and Multiples Reading Activity

Yikes! Brandon’s Twin Sisters Get Ready for Big Girl Preschool!

Hi! My name is Brandon and I have twin sisters who look alike. Their names are Anna and Maria and they love to follow me around and be my best friends! When they were toddlers, their grandma took them to school because they were naughty. Both liked to chew rocks, Maria chewed the arms off her baby doll, and Anna would run and hide from grandma when it was time to eat. Finally, my grandma said they had to go to baby school to learn how to listen and play with others.

Now my twin sisters are turning three and they are getting ready for big girl preschool. Both are excited about what they will learn. They can sing their ABC’s, they know their colors, they can count to 10, and they love to do projects. I have taught them how to draw, paint, and use shaving cream for finger-painting and coloring Easter eggs. We have painted rocks, cooked with plants, and enjoyed many hours of waterplay throughout the summer. We camp, hike, ride trikes, and climb in the park.

Although my sisters have lots of fun with me, my parents want them to go to school to learn how to play with other children. They are best friends and at times get angry at each other. Although they still look the same, they now have very different personalities. Anna likes to explore and wander off while Maria loves to follow me around and play imaginative games with me. Anna will finish her art projects quickly so that she can explore on her own while Maria wants to do projects all day!

[Read more…]

Mary Ann Burke, Digital Education Expert

Jul 19 2018

Transportation and Construction Play Activities

When learning about various types of transportation vehicles and how they can be used in the community, suggested materials and activities include the following:

Materials:

Stories or books on transportation and construction that can be discussed include:
- There’s a Hole in the Road (by Mary Ann Burke published on GenParenting.com)
- Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site
- Wheels at Work Construction book
- Find it: Things That Go
- Spot the Difference Building Site
Foam bath vehicles
Transportation and Construction vehicles (i.e. TOMY TOOMies dump truck)
Building materials (i.e. Roylco Straw Connectors)
Vehicle speedways (i.e. Blu Track)

[Read more…]

Mary Ann Burke, Digital Education Expert