Learning Time

When I have learning time with my kids each day, I love to use books.  When I was teaching third grade, I always went to the library before I started a unit and checked out as many books that I could find to help introduce or emphasize what I was teaching.  I used books that helped the kids learn how to visualize, to learn adjectives, or about the moon, etc.  I do the same thing with my own kids now even though my oldest is not quite 3 1/2 yet and my youngest will be 2 in a couple of weeks.  For example, right now I am teaching my 2 yr. old his colors.  I found all the books that I have that have to do with teaching colors and then I read those books over and over to him.  I start out reading them to him and then I have him try to tell me the colors, correcting him when needed.  I also leave the books out in a book bin or in a pile where the kids will most likely choose those books to read when they want to read books by themselves. I use every opportunity to ask him what the color of something is.  Sometimes when he wants dessert, I tell him he has to tell me the color of ____ first, etc. I have done this also with shapes, numbers (for number recognition and counting), as well as for letters (letter recognition and letter sounds). I have done this also with bible stories and to teach my kids about Jesus and God.  Of course I do other things too with learning time, such as teaching my daughter to write, but my favorite thing to do is use books for learning opportunities.  This will also hopefully instill the love of reading in my children!

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