Educational Learning for Toddlers : Week One

Week One: September 6-12

Learning New Words!

My four-year old daughter knows how to spell and write over 50 words in just under 3 months time.

First weeks words are: CAT and DOG!

Make sure to check back for next weeks words and lessons!


Supplies Needed for Learning Projects:
     Index Cards, 1 large foam sheet or 2  6x8 foam sheets, yarn, 5   8x10 sheets of card stock, hole puncher, little foam book, foam letters.


Making Child's First Book:

1. Cut one large foam sheet in half or have 2  6x8 foam sheets.
2. Fold 5  8x10 sheets of card stock in half.
3. Place foam sheet on top and bottom of the card stock.  This will make the cover of the book.
4. Punch 3 holes on sides: top, middle and bottom.  Make sure to go all the way through the layers.
5. Thread yarn through the holes and knot them.
6. Write your Child's name then First Book. Example Belle's First Book. Or make up your own title. 
7. Have Child decorate outside of their book.
8. On the first page of my book I did the following: 

                A cat

             (leave enough space for picture)

                A fat cat

            (leave enough space for picture)

              A fat cat sat on a mat

           (leave enough space for picture)

Make sure not to write it to small and print clearly.

I stuck with only 2-3 letters words starting out. This worked well for my toddler.

 9.  The next page I wrote:

            My dog

         (picture)

          My moms dog

        (picture)

          My moms dog sat on a log with a hog.

       (picture)

One doesn't have to follow the exact sentences I used. You can write any sentences you prefer. Just keep it simple.

I made sure I repeated sentence one in sentence two and sentence one and two into three and so forth.  My child starting learning the other words I hadn't taught her yet because she kept saying the same words repeatedly.  By using words similar to the words learning like cat, bat, mat it easier for them to learn because they are so similar.

 10.  After writing the sentences and reading them to your child, let them draw pictures of each sentence.  Not only will they see the words, but they will have their own pictures they made to help them out a little.  This also makes the book their own.

I read the book to my child in the morning and at night.  Just keep to two new pages a week for easier learning. 

Let your child try to sound out the word and see if they can spell the word just by listening to the word slowly.

I am not an expert in this, but this is what worked for my toddler.  I didn't want to overdo it and I wanted to make learning fun. 


Index Cards Project:

1. Write the words Cat and Dog on index cards. 
2.  On the other side have your child make a picture of the word or glue pictures of a cat and dog cut from magazines or Internet or pictures of your own pets. 
3.  When you show the picture of the cat or dog to your child have them try to spell the word.  This will take time to learn the words at first, so give them a couple days.
4. You could write the words on index cards and tape them to doors or walls so the child sees the words throughout the day. 

You can even have them laminated if you want.
I bought index cards that were hooked together with a couple rings, so they all stayed together.

Key-chain index cards:

1. Cut index cards to your desired size.
2. Punch holes in the cards.
3. Put a small ring through the holes.
4. Write your words on the cards.
5. Can laminate them it your want, so they last longer.
6. Place keyring on your keys.
7. When your standing at the checkout you can practice the words with your child.

When to teach the words:

1. Throughout the day. Ask your child "Do you remember how to spell...?" If they remember make sure to praise them, act all excited.  They will feel great and want to learn more.
2. When driving in the car, ask them to spell.
3. When going for a walk bring it up.
4. When waiting at the doctor's office.
5. While waiting in a line.
6. While waiting for the bus.

Teaching your child to write the words:

 On a plain piece of paper write words Cat and Dog.

1. Have your child trace over your words.  You can write each word in dots so the child can connect the dots. There is a great Internet site with print-ables.   
2. Your child will not write perfect at first, this will take time and practice.
3. Have the child try writing the words on their own.
4. Buy Learn to Letter with raised ruling made by Mead, to help your child learn to stay in the lines when writing.  These can be found at Wal-mart, Target, K-mart, most any place that sells school supplies.
5. In the dollar section of Target they have Reading Readiness workbook with reward stickers.  This workbook is great for children just starting to learn.

Little Foam Books:

1. I bought little foam books, which can be found a Hobby Lobby, dollar tree stores, Walmart or craft stores.
2. On the front of each book I stuck big foam letters spelling out the 2 new words for the week.  I made a new book each week.  So the first weeks book I had cat and dog. Then the second week I had a whole new foam book with the next two words.
3. Inside I wrote the words Cat on the first page, Dog on the second page, Cat on the third page and so forth.  This way they could practice one word on each page.
4. Take this book with you when you and your child are in the car.  Make sure your child knows what to do with the book.
5. You can make your own little books just like you did the reading book above.  Make sure you put writing paper inside instead of card stock.

Great page to go for handwriting worksheet print-ables

Great Starter Books:

• The Fat Cat Sat on the Mat by Nurit Karlin
• Big Egg by Molly Coxe
• Otto the Cat by Gail Herman
• Sleepy Dog by Harriet Ziefert
• Curious George The Dog Show by Monica Perez
• Clifford Makes a Friend by Norman Bridwell
• Biscuit Finds a Friend by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

 While reading the books to your child, point out the new words they are learning about. They will think its great that they are helping you read.  Every time they see their words have them say it and let them bark or meow to make it fun for them.


Find a coloring book with cats and dogs in it or print out a couple pictures for your child to color.
http://coloring-page.net/coloring.html

http://www.nickjr.com/printables/index.jhtml

Videos/Games for Learning Words:

LeapFrog:

• Talking Words Factory
• Learn to read at the Story Book Factory
• Let's go to School
• Math Circus

Game Systems for Leapfrog:

• Leapfrog Word Launch Learn to Read it System (My daughter has this and loves it)
• Leapster  (Check clearance sections at Target and Walmart for these systems, I picked mine up for $10)
• Leapfrog Tag Learning Systems (Check out my sister's site http://www.coupongeek.net/ and get great discounts on this system.  I picked mine up for $15.  Also in the clearance sections at Target and Wal-Mart you can find the books between $7-$10. They also have tag jr systems for ages 24 months - 4 years.
• Leapfrog Scribble and Write (Great system for kids learning how to write.  They get to trace over the letters, to help them learn how to write them.)

WordWorld:

•     Rocket to the Moon
•     Lucky Duck
•     Flying Ant
•     Welcome to WordWorld
•     A Kooky Spooky Halloween
•     Castles in the Sea

They have great stuff animals on this site too!  Each letter has magnetic sides that stick to other letters to form words just like in the movies.  These learning stuffies can also be found a Toys R Us for around $10.

A great game for ages 3-6 is Boggle Jr.

Hooked on Phonics is a great learning kit for kids of many ages.  (You can find these kits at Waldenbooks/Borders for under $20. Even more of a discount if you have a coupon )  (Sometimes they have great sales on these kits.  Just check my sisters site http://www.coupongeek.net/ or http://www.slickdeals.net/ for deals and coupons.)


If you have a cat or dog let your child help feed, water, bath and comb them.

Remember to check back for next weeks words and lessons!!!


         

Educational Learning for Toddlers : Week One