How To Use Prompts in Teaching and Parenting

Prompts can be very helpful in teaching, homeschooling, and parenting.  I found this really great article to share with you all about 9 ways to use prompts for children on the autism spectrum, or any children!   

A Complete Guide For Using Prompts To Teach Individuals With Special Needs

It would have gone better if I had known how to use prompts...

Seven sets of eyes stared widely at me as I told the story of Moses.  Some of the children sat on their knees, some sat criss-cross-applesauce -we called it "Indian style" back then, but I'm told that's not politically correct nowadays.  The children were quiet and attentive.  Their wide eyes suggested that they were thoroughly engrossed in the story, but what came next revealed what was really going on inside their little brains.   

I ended the story and started the review.  "Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt.  Who led the Israelites out of Egypt?"  Blank stares...  I try again, "Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt.  Who led the Israelites out of Egypt?"  Hooray!  One hand goes up.  "Um...  My uncle has a boat and I'm going to go on it today."  O... kay...  Time to color.

I was a freshman in college when I volunteered to be a preschool VBS teacher.  It had been at least twelve years since I was a preschooler who never went to preschool, I rarely babysat, and I was the youngest in my family so I really had no experience with preschoolers to speak of.  I loved the Bible though, and was excited for the opportunity to share it with the children.  Unfortunately, those preschoolers probably didn't learn much from me that week.  

Looking back I think:  I should have used more visuals, hand motions, or props to engage them in the story.  I should have had them repeat key words and phrases, let them act out the story.  I should have use prompts!  I could have said, "His name starts with an M.  It starts like this:  'Mmmoooosss...'"  If I had thought to use pictures, I could have pointed at a picture of him, or taught them a motion.  Instead, I just read the story and got blank stares. 

Now that I've been a teacher for several years these things are almost second nature to me.  I use prompts in my teaching all the time.  With my own kids I use prompts to help them learn without feeling too pressured or discouraged.  I don't expect my kids to get the answers right the first time.  Instead, I use prompts to help them and review until they know the answers without being prompted.

Prompts can also help in parenting. For example, I have three signs in the bathroom that say, "Please flush."  Do the signs work?  Well, that's debatable.  Timers are another favorite prompt I use in parenting.  I use timers to teach taking turns, getting chores done quickly, and hygiene training like teeth brushing and sitting on the toilet long enough for something to come out.  Chore charts, eye gestures, and even common questions like, "Are your hands where they're supposed to be?" are all examples of prompts that can be using in parenting.

So how about you?  Are there other ways you use prompts in your teaching, parenting, or homeschooling? 

Where The Wild Things Are

We recently read Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak for our Literature and Comprehension lesson.  This is such a fun book for boys.  I grew up in a family of only sisters so I never really experienced the wild side that boys have.  Now I'm a mom of two little wild things so I can relate to the mom in this story, and I think my boys really grasped the significance of this book's message.

Read It:  If you don't own the book you can rent it from the library, or you can watch it on You Tube.  You can even watch president Obama read the book to some children.  I thought this was a good one.:  

Make a wild Thing:  After reading and discussing the book I let the boys create this wild thing puppet.  They really liked using the candy corn to make sharp teeth, especially because they got to eat some.

Make a mask:  We had a template that came with our k12 curriculum, but here is a link to instructions on how to make a really cute paper plate mask:  http://spinsandneedles.com/stuff/2009/10/31/diy-last-minute-where-the-wild-things-are-mask-tutorial/  I think to make it easier I would use construction paper instead of felt.  

 Here is my wildest child, aka The Free One, with his mask on.  

Have a wild rumpus:  After we finished our masks and puppets, we put on some wild music and had a wild rumpus in our living room.  We even ran around outside our house screaming and waving our arms!  Oh my, what will the neighbors think?

This is such a popular book that there are literally hundreds of ideas on what you could include in your unit.  Here are a couple I thought were great.

1.  Here is a free lapbook from Highlights of Homeschooling.  You just have create an account.

2.  You'll definitely want to check out these fun online games and quizzes based on the book.

If you know of any other great resources to round out a unit on Where the Wild Things are, please share it in a comment.

"Rabbit! I'm Expecting You!" A Poem inspired by Emily Dickinson

Today we read a poem by Emily Dickinson called "Bee! I'm Expecting You!  It's a letter written to a bee from a fly.  The Free One decided to write a poem like it, only his letter was from a lion to a rabbit.  

Rabbit!  I'm Expecting You!

by The Free One

Rabbit!  I’m expecting you!

The carrots are grown.

The turnips are ripe.

The lettuce is green.

All the other rabbits are here 

waiting for you.

All the ducks are swimming 

at the pond, a party’s going on.

It’s spring, come on.

Have fun.  I’m not lying.

Trust me.

Your friend, Lion.

Fun Fact:  Did you know that no one knew that Emily Dickinson wrote poems?  After she died, her sister found her poems in a dresser drawer.

Organize Children's Books, Grow Interested Readers

I had the sad realization that my kids would soon be growing out of children's picture books in the next few years.  Yes, I know, all ages can enjoy children's books, and we're definitely not going to stop reading them, but by and large we're really going to have to move on to books made for an older audience soon.  Brown Bear, no matter how cute and colorful it is, just doesn't capture the imagination of a seven year old quite the same as a toddler's; the teacher always sees the children looking at her in the end.

Since children's books have been on my mind I am dedicating this post to the organization of children's books.   I am also including some tips on how to nurture your child's interest in reading.

 #1:  Out with the old.  Get rid of books that are bitten, torn, or otherwise sadly mistreated.  Also, get rid of the books that have no value whatsoever.  If you don't like the pictures or the text, just get rid of it.

#2:  In with the new.  If you don't already have a vast collection of children's books, start collecting them from garage sales, thrift stores, used book stores, and clearance sales.  

#3:   Don't just organize.  Display!  It is best to store books at the child's eye level or on the floor in a basket with the front cover facing forward.  Books should be at a height where children can access them without help.  This also means they can be responsible for putting them away!  

#4.  Think out of the box.  In the picture below you see a galvanized rain gutter that my husband cut to fit the size of our sons' bedroom wall.  We taped up the rough edge and fastened it to the wall with screws.  This is a very cost effective "bookshelf."  What else could be used to display books?

#5.  Modify.  I painted this old shelf a vibrant yellow for the boy's playroom.  My husband, Mr. Incredible, cut strips of wood and fastened them on to the front edge of each shelf.  This allows the books to be displayed with the cover facing forward and prevents the books from falling off the shelves.

#6.  Keep books separate from toys.  Books are too easily damaged to be thrown into a toy box along with Mr. Potato head and a pile of wooden blocks.  The picture on the left shows the yellow bookshelf in the boy's play room.  Toys are kept separately in a toy barn (I'll save toy organization for another post.) 

#7.  Rotate.  If certain books are stored downstairs, rotate them with some books upstairs.  Switch books that are at the end of the shelf with the books that are in the middle.  Grocery stores do the same with their products to create interest and get you to spend more money!

#8:  Teach children to respect books.  I do not allow my kids to draw on or tear pages in books.  If a book gets torn I make a big deal about taping it up immediately.  If the book is fragile keep it out of sight and bring it out for supervised times only.  Small board books and cloth books are best for very young ones.

I couldn't resist putting in these pictures of my "Free One" enjoying board books when he was only months old.

#9.  Read to your kids.  This may seem obvious, but how many of our "well organized" bookshelves never get touched?  If you don't already have a scheduled time to read to your children, pick one (or two or three) and start today.  Our favorite times to read are after lunch and before bedtime.  My oldest son is starting to read more difficult books, so reading is hard work for him.  (There have been tears lately.)  So I think it is important that he continues to have a time each day when he can just sit back and listen to a good story.  It is also good to encourage siblings to read to each other.  In the picture below, the Free One is reading Curious George to his little brother.

#10.  Read Yourself.  OK, now I sound like I'm just repeating myself, but I want to emphasize that it is important that your children see you reading for your own enjoyment as well.  They usually want to do what they see mom or dad doing, so pick up a good book for yourself and don't feel guilty when you hear yourself saying "just a minute, I'm at a really good part!"