Help for Parents and Teachers
Reading With Babies, Toddlers, and Twos, A Guide to Choosing, Reading, and Loving Books Together by Susan Straub and KJ Dell’Antonia.
Babies and toddlers often choose the same book over and over, until the parent is ready to cry. They love to know what’s coming! Older kids may do somersaults or peek at a page and run off, yet they really are listening. As they get older, they’ll sit for longer period
Welcome to Lizard Motel: Children, Stories, and the Mystery of Making Things Up, A Memoir by Barbara Feinberg
My favorite reference, probably because the author agrees with me...and she writes well! She knows what works, what doesn’t, and why.
Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire: The Methods and Madness Inside Room 256 by Rafe Esquith.
Based loosely on Lawrence Kolberg's Six Levels of Moral Development, this book explains Level 1, “I don't want to get in trouble," the principle that functions in most classrooms. At Level 6--with an inner understanding of ethical, moral behavior-- the student has progressed to: "I have a personal code of behavior and I follow it." Different chapters focus on different subject matter--reading, writing, math, art, sports.
Signing Time Videos by Two Little Hands Productions
I can attest to the value of teaching sign language to infants. Our second granddaughter was clearly frustrated by her inability to communicate-even before her first birthday. Her brilliant mother taught her American Sign Language (ASL). We saw that knowing sign language sped up her acquisition of English, and now, research proves us right.
Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Dr. Mark Weissbluth.
Dr. Weissbluth’s ideas work. My daughter-in-law says, “This book saved my life!”
Growing Without Schooling by John Holt.
Highly recommended and worth examining.
Family Matters: Why Homeschooling Makes Sense by David Guterson, 2005.
An examination of the pros and cons of homeschooling in a direct, relaxed manner.
Complete Home Learning Source Book by Rebecca Rupp.
Complete list of homeschooling resources on every subject, for every age. (Also check the Rainbow Resources catalog, updated annually.)
Pediatrician Recommended Resources
These three titles are recommended to all her patients by Dr. L.A. Lather, pediatrician at the University of Virginia.
Your Child's Health: The Parents' Guide to Symptoms, Emergencies, Common Illnesses, Behavior, and School Problems by Barton Schmitt.
What constitutes an emergency? Maybe a trip to the doctor? How about just a phone call to the doctor? Parents, especially new parents, have real difficulty sorting out health and behavior problems. Maybe it's serious; maybe it isn't? Who's to know if you've never had children before, or if this new child seems especially tricky in some way! Schmitt's dependable book helps you to categorize health and behavior dilemmas, leading you an appropriate response based on knowledge, not on fear.
1-2-3 Magic: Effective Discipline for Children 2 to 12 by T.W. Phelan, Ph.D.
This winner of a book is in fact the winner of the National Parenting Publications Gold Award. It is both workable and supportive, encouraging parents and teachers alike, offering a non-combative, calm way to deal with the inevitable conflicts between parent and child. And conflicts ARE inevitable, you know that. Some children actually seem to work at being oppositional, don't they? Well, here's a way to restructure those stressful situations so that both parent (or teacher) and child retain their dignity.
The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home by Jessie Wise and Susan Wise Bauer, published by W.W. Norton in 1999.
Whether you are teaching students in school or at home, this title is a winner. Coming from two pros in the field, the information is right on target.The index alone is fascinating! You'll find helpful lists, too, such as homeschooling organizations, listed by state, and another list of educational organizations such as Dorling Kindersley Family Learning, Inc. The chapters suggest what books and activities are most appropriate at different stages of children's development.
Resources
For medical information: www.hopkinsmedicine.org
Schooling Enrichment: www.well-trainedmind.com
Contains a list of links to other sites offering enrichment for your children’s schooling.
International Dyslexia Association (IDA): www.interdys.org
Tons of information and free downloads. [Formerly The Orton Dyslexia Association]