Moms Inspire Learning

Having Fun with Multiplication

I used to be so turned off to social studies because most of my teachers seemed to focus on rote learning. I would memorize the information for the test, and then forget it soon after. Since I had not been required to really think about the subject (which I now find fascinating, by the way), I really had no reason to commit it to memory. I had made no personal connection to the material, to the world, or to the textbook we were forced to study out of.

There are so many other ways to more effectively teach this subject. The best teachers try to find creative ways to help students to remember facts and equations so that they'll remember them long after the school year is over. 

Sometimes, though, there is a place for rote learning to be used in conjunction with critical thinking and hands-on activities. For example, there is no getting around the memorization of the multiplication tables, but children do also need to understand what it means to multiply, and why we use it in real life. That's where picture books come in.

Need Some Laughs? Turn to Comic Books and Graphic Novels!

In honor of Free Comic Book Day coming up on Saturday, May 2nd all across North America, I thought I'd lighten it up a little bit. Everyone could use a good laugh once in a while. We'll get back to math tomorrow!

A couple of weeks ago, I found my 8 year old nephew immersed in a book. He loves to read, so I was anxious to see what had caught his interest. What does this have to do with comic books?

Why Children are Not Reading, and What We Can Do About It

I developed a love of children's books long before I became a graduate student of childhood education. Before I even started working toward my degree, I had spent 9 years reading and visiting the library with my children. I consider them to be living proof that raising readers is not as complicated as people seem to think it is.

Great Books for Young Baseball Fans, Part 2

I don't know about you, but I feel that life is too short to read mediocre books.

If you've ever browsed through the library or book store section of baseball books, you realize how overwhelming it can be to make a selection when there are so many books on the subject. When you don't know exactly what you're looking for, and you're new to the subject, it's even more difficult to make a choice.

Friday Photo Fun: Reflections of Peace

When we capture a moment of peace in the present, sometimes the reflection can help us to see the past and the future more clearly.

Friday Photo Fun: For the Love of the Game

This baseball glove dates back to 1925. It's a family heirloom. You can tell that the person who owned it really put it to good use, and loved the game of baseball. My son is honored to have this glove as a reminder of his great grandfather's love of baseball, and he's in the process of breaking in a few gloves of his own.

Real objects and photos like these can really make you think about how things used to be. While there's a lot of controversy about this sport nowadays, it's nothing compared to what it was back then.  For that reason, I have to postpone my post about nonfiction books for tweens and teens until Monday.

My goal will always be to recommend what I consider to be the very best books. It turns out that there is one more that I need to seek out before I complete that post. I apologize for stating in Part 1 that I would post Part 2 today. Usually I keep my promises, but in this case, I feel that I need to complete this research first.

Next week, I will provide you with more math resources (and maybe a recipe) as well. By the way, if your child loves sports or collects baseball cards, it's a great way to start talking about math!

Have a wonderful weekend. I hope that you're able to spend some time outdoors!

Great Baseball Books for Young Fans, Part 1

It's baseball season again! I'll be spending many hours on the baseball field this spring, so I thought I'd recommend some truly exceptional picture books relating to the topic.

How to Help Struggling Readers

Last night, after I posted Top 10 Ways to Raise an Avid Reader, Part 2, I realized that I had left something important out. This post is an addendum to that one.

Sometimes, no matter what a parent does, children have trouble learning how to read. It can be extremely frustrating and humiliating for a student to go through this. The earlier parents and teachers address this problem, the better it is for the child. I'd like to share some information which may useful in helping your child.

Top 10 Ways to Raise an Avid Reader, Part 2

I hope that you've had a chance to stop by the library since you read my first five ways to raise an avid reader! Here is the rest of the list, which I reserve the right to add to from time to time:

Picture Books for Peace

I believe that if we ever hope to have peace in the world, we need to start talking about it with our children before they even start elementary school. That's why I have devoted a category within this blog to diversity, tolerance, and global awareness. If you're new to this blog, you might want to review a few of my previous posts before continuing on with this one:

• How Moms Can Teach Their Way to World Change
• Global Awareness, Part 1 and
• Global Awareness, Part 2

Peace starts in your own home. Little interactions we have every day can promote peace in the world. Every time your child works out a small fight with a sibling, takes turns with a friend, or helps you with your daily tasks, it's a lesson learned about the meaning of the word, peace.