Early Reading, Writing, Other
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Reading
Daily Reading Time
Every child should spend special one-on-one time each day with Mom or Dad having fun reading great books.
Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons
Too good to be true? Not at all. This simple system works and can have practically any interested 4-6 year old reading at 2nd grade level in just several short months.
Bob Books
Great series of short early readers for youngsters just starting to read. Black/white drawings can be colored-in for even more fun! Start with Set 1-2, Collection 1-2.
My Favorite Story Books for Kids
Some of the world's best literature is for children. The real problem is that there'll never be enough time to get to all the great titles.
Read Nonfiction to Kids, Too ...
Regularly reading fun, accessible nonfiction books to young children will stimulate a faculty complementary to, and just as important as, imagination: Curiosity.
Press Here
A collaborative, interactive reading experience for kids and adults alike. 4.8/5 stars, thousands of reviews. Enough said.
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Writing
Daily Writing Time
Structured parent-child home learning time each day with each child devoted to having fun while advancing drawing/writing/keyboarding skills can work wonders.
D’Nealian Manuscript Write-on/Wipe-off Board
Fine D'Nealian manuscript is better than block for several reasons & progresses easily to cursive (or not). Write-on/wipe-off board reinforces proper strokes.
D'Nealian Workbooks
Handwriting is an important but neglected art. A beautiful hand promotes development of fine motor skills and mental focus, makes students stand out.
Handwriting Paper
Start with large, inch-tall double-lined practice paper. Half-inch paper here. Print it here. Alternatively, graph paper can easily be adapted for penmanship practice.
Reusable Dry Erase Pockets
Reduce wasted! Simply insert worksheets to be completed using dry erase markers, then wipe pockets clean for reuse. Download worksheet templates here.
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Typing
Read, Write & Type
Excellent way to teach keyboard-ready kids as young as 4-6 years old to touch-type. Simultaneously reinforces phonics and early reading skills.
Dance Mat Typing
Fun way for youngsters to learn touch-typing skills. Great site, sponsored by the venerable BBC.
typing.com
Used by millions of students and 1/4 million teachers, typing.com provides touch-typing instruction for all levels, plus typing test, games, statistics, more.
Ratatype
Online typing tutor gives basic instruction to beginning keyboarders. The site also offers a typing test and list of high scores (200 wpm at 100%!).
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Other
What Your Kindergartner Needs to Know
2nd volume in E. D. Hirsch's acclaimed Core Knowledge Series. Gives parents a sense of what their preschooler should learn. Great for home supplementation.
Mobile Montesorri
Excellent library of apps bearing the venerable Montesorri name help children learn math, geography, language, science.
Copyright © 2006-Present: Christopher R. Borland. All Rights Reserved.