From lemonade stands to tech startups, the possibilities are endless. So let’s get ready to dive into the fancy and simple world of kids and help them explore entrepreneurship, where even the smallest ideas can lead to big success. Get ready for a wild ride, because we’re about to embark on a journey of innovation, risk-taking, and sweet, sweet profits.

Planting seeds for a brighter future: The enduring benefits of teaching entrepreneurship to kids

Entrepreneurship is not just a career option, it is a mindset and a way of life. It involves identifying problems and coming up with innovative solutions, taking calculated risks, and turning ideas into profitable businesses. While it is often associated with adults, entrepreneurship can also be a valuable learning experience for kids. Here are some of the benefits of entrepreneurship for kids:

• Creativity and Innovation: Entrepreneurship encourages kids to think creatively and come up with innovative solutions to problems. This skill can be applied in all areas of life, including school projects and personal challenges. Students can be indulged in creative games for better understanding. 
• Critical Thinking: Starting a business involves making decisions and solving problems. Through the process of entrepreneurship, kids develop critical thinking skills that enable them to analyze situations and make informed decisions. Books, games, and even movies can help one get better with critical thinking by putting the mind to exercise. 
• Financial Literacy: Entrepreneurship also helps kids learn about money management and financial literacy. By creating a business plan, calculating expenses, and managing profits, kids gain valuable insights into the world of finance. Furthermore, a few activities can also help kids understand the essence of financial literacy. 
• Confidence: Entrepreneurship empowers kids to take charge of their own ideas and projects, which in turn boosts their self-esteem and confidence.
• Communication: Starting a business involves pitching ideas, negotiating deals, and networking with potential partners and customers. Through entrepreneurship, kids develop strong communication skills that can be applied in all areas of life.
• Leadership: Running a business requires leadership skills, including delegation, time management, and problem-solving. These skills can help kids become effective leaders in school, sports teams, and other areas of their lives.
• Resilience: Entrepreneurship involves taking risks and experiencing failure. Through this process, kids learn to be resilient and bounce back from setbacks, which is a valuable life skill.

Building business savvy: Essential strategies to teach entrepreneurship to kids

Here are some strategies that parents and educators can use to encourage entrepreneurship in kids:

1. Start Early: Introduce kids to entrepreneurship at an early age. Encourage them to come up with creative ideas and teach them basic business skills like budgeting and marketing.
2. Lead by Example: Model an entrepreneurial mindset and behavior. Share your own experiences and challenges as an entrepreneur, and involve your kids in your own business ventures whenever possible.
3. Encourage Creativity: Encourage kids to think outside the box and come up with innovative ideas. Provide them with opportunities to explore new interests and pursue their passions.
4. Foster a Growth Mindset: Teach kids that failure is a natural part of the learning process and that they can learn from their mistakes. Encourage them to persevere in the face of challenges and setbacks.
5. Provide Resources: Give kids access to resources that can help them develop their entrepreneurial skills, such as books, online courses, and mentorship programs.
6. Support Networking: Encourage kids to network with other young entrepreneurs, business owners, and mentors. Provide opportunities for them to attend events, meetups, and workshops.
7. Reward Initiative: Celebrate and reward kids who take the initiative and show an entrepreneurial spirit. Praise them for their hard work and creativity, and provide them with opportunities to showcase their ideas and accomplishments.

By following these strategies, parents and educators can foster an entrepreneurial mindset in kids and help them develop the skills and confidence they need to succeed in any area of life.

Kidpreneurs in Action: Engaging and Innovative Entrepreneurial Ideas for Children

Here are 10 ideas for entrepreneurship activities for kids:

1. Lemonade Stand: Encourage kids to start a lemonade stand in their neighborhood. This is a classic and fun way to learn about pricing, marketing, and customer service.

2. Online Store: Help kids create an online store to sell products they have created, such as handmade crafts or baked goods. This is a great way to learn about e-commerce and digital marketing.

3. Pet Walking/Sitting Service: If kids love animals, they can start a pet walking or sitting service in their local community. This is a great way to learn about responsibility and time management.

4. Gardening: Help kids start a gardening business where they can grow and sell plants, herbs, and vegetables. This is a great way to learn about sustainability and environmentalism.

5. Tutoring: If kids excel in a particular subject, they can start a tutoring business or pursue a classroom job to help other kids in their community. This is a great way to learn about teaching and communication skills.

6. Social Media Influencing: Teach kids about social media marketing by helping them create a personal brand and become social media influencers. This is a great way to learn about building a personal brand and content creation.

7. Art Lessons: If kids are talented in art, they can start an art lessons business where they teach other kids how to draw or paint. This is a great way to learn about teaching and creativity.

8. Event Planning: Help kids plan and organize events like birthday parties or community events. This is a great way to learn about event management and organizational skills.

9. Recycling Program: Kids can start a recycling program in their community to help reduce waste and promote sustainability. This is a great way to learn about environmentalism and social responsibility.

10. Personalized Gift Service: Kids can create and sell personalized gifts, such as custom-made jewelry or photo albums. This is a great way to learn about product design and customer service.

By trying out these ideas, kids can learn valuable skills in entrepreneurship and develop an entrepreneurial mindset that can help them succeed in any area of life.

Empowering young minds: Fun and educational activities to foster entrepreneurial skills in kids

1. Shark Tank” Pitch Contest

Welcome to the ‘Shark Tank’ pitch contest! In this activity, you will get the chance to pitch your own business idea to a panel of ‘sharks’ just like in the popular TV show. You’ll need to convince the sharks that your idea is worth investing in, so get ready to think creatively and pitch your heart out!

Have kids come up with their own business ideas and prepare a short pitch. Set up a panel of “sharks” (could be other students, teachers, or parents) who will listen to the pitches and ask questions. Give each student a chance to pitch their idea and answer questions from the sharks.

The sharks can then decide whether or not to “invest” in the idea, providing feedback and suggestions for improvement.

2. Arts and Crafts Sale:

Are you a creative and imaginative child who loves to create unique arts and crafts items? If so, why not turn your hobby into a fun and educational business venture by setting up an arts and crafts sale?

Start by brainstorming some ideas for unique arts and crafts items that you can create. You can use materials such as beads, paper, or fabric to make items such as jewelry, bookmarks, or cards. Once you have a few ideas, create a budget for your materials and determine your pricing strategy.

Next, create some eye-catching displays for your items and set up a small sale in your home or neighborhood. Make sure to be friendly and engaging with your customers, and use this opportunity to learn about customer service and marketing.

3. Pet Walking or Sitting:

Are you a responsible and caring child who loves spending time with animals? If so, why not turn your passion and interpersonal skills into a fun and educational business venture by offering pet walking or sitting services?

Start by talking to friends, family, or neighbors who have pets and offer your services. Make sure to establish clear boundaries and expectations around pricing, scheduling, and responsibilities. For pet walking, make sure to use a leash and be mindful of any special needs or instructions from the owner.

For pet sitting, make sure to follow any feeding or care instructions and spend quality time with the pet. Use this opportunity to learn about responsibility, time management, and customer relations.

4. Yard Work Services:

Do you enjoy spending time outdoors and getting your hands dirty? If so, why not turn your love for yard work into a fun and educational business venture by offering yard work services?

Start by talking to neighbors or family members who may need help with yard work tasks such as raking leaves or pulling weeds. Make sure to establish clear boundaries and expectations around pricing, scheduling, and responsibilities. Dress appropriately for the task at hand and make sure to follow any safety guidelines. Use this opportunity to learn about the value of hard work, responsibility, and financial management.

5. Bake Sale:

Are you a budding chef or baker who loves to whip up delicious treats in the kitchen? If so, why not turn your passion into a fun and educational business venture by setting up a bake sale?

Start by choosing a few simple and delicious recipes for items such as cookies or cupcakes. Make sure to gather all the necessary ingredients and equipment and follow any safety guidelines. Next, create a budget for your materials and determine your pricing strategy.

Create some eye-catching displays for your items and set up a small sale in your home or neighborhood. Make sure to be friendly and engaging with your customers, and use this opportunity to learn about baking, marketing, and customer service.

Conclusion

Entrepreneurship is a fantastic way to teach kids valuable skills like creativity, problem-solving, and risk-taking. By introducing kids to the world of business, we can help them become more confident, independent, and entrepreneurial.

Whether they’re starting a small business or dreaming up the next big tech innovation, the benefits of entrepreneurship for kids are endless. So let’s encourage our young entrepreneurs to follow their passions, take risks, and never stop dreaming big. Who knows – maybe one day they’ll be the ones teaching us a thing or two about business!

Shradha Kalyani Kabra

Armed with a degree in Psychotherapy, CBT and Happiness coaching I have been a counselor for troubled children and their parents for over 4 years. Having a dyslexic child at home made the journey more personal. I have worked at Manovikas kendra for a year as a part time volunteer. In the process I have helped many children overcome learning disabilities and other psychological constraints to lead a fulfilling life! My most tangible victory is my dyslexic child has completed her plus two with over 80% marks and now has trained as a chef from the best college in Asia.

The post Entrepreneurship For Kids: Benefits, Strategies And Activities appeared first on Number Dyslexia.

Over her six decades-long (and still going) career, the artist has adopted myriad styles and appearances. One of her styles is to take numerous names such as Cheryl LaPierre, Cher Bono, Bono Allman, etc. However, the most common name people know her by is Cher. Over the course of her career, she has sold hundreds of millions of albums all over the world and has become one of the top-rated actresses and a television personality appearing in numerous TV shows. But all these success stories have a common behind-the-scene childhood episode. Cher was a child with dyslexia. Cher is a fine example of how dyslexia cannot stop you from achieving all that you aim for.

On various occasions, Cher has spoken her heart out and what she says might inspire many. Her opinions and beliefs about hard work and staying true to the dream are deeply meaningful. . Here are some of her most inspiring quotes which can help motivate and inspire children who are suffering from dyslexia much like her.

Quotes by Cher to inspire individuals struggling with learning difficulties

1. “I have a belief: what belongs to you, comes to you.”

If you have worked hard for something and are determined to reach your goals, then there is nothing that can stop you from reaching the zenith of success. If it truly belongs to you, it will come to you. Hard work, passion, and dedication are some of the most important virtues of life.

2. “Everyone’s got to have a dream… it’s not reaching your dream that counts. It’s going toward them.”

Reaching your dreams and achieving your goals come second; the journey and hard work you devote to achieving the goal are more important and make all the difference. If you are dedicated to your dreams, there is a high chance that you will reach there. If not, there is nothing to be worried about. You will learn from your mistakes and that is what truly matters.

3. “If grass can grow through cement, love can find you at every time in your life.”

Love and hope will always find you if you are patient enough. If something as miraculous as a plant growing from cement can happen in this world, then you can surely find love and hope in your life.

4. “Honesty makes me feel powerful in a difficult world.”

No matter what you do in life, always try to be honest. If you are honest, you will be able to feel powerful as honesty is a very rare virtue that not a lot of people have. You can be proud to possess honesty and that will make sure you get what you want.

5. “The only thing in the world you can change is yourself and that makes all the difference in the world.”

If you want to change the world, the first thing you need to work on and try to bring a positive change in, is yourself. If you cannot change yourself, you will not be able to make a difference in the world. Making changes in your life makes it easier to identify what else needs to change around you.

6. “I can’t spell or do grammar, but I’m smarter and more serious than people think. I’m no featherweight when it comes to digging deep and being involved. So many stars I know to do so much. It’s our duty to give back.”

Just because you have a learning disability, it does not mean that you are any less smart or less dedicated.

7. “I feel like a bumper car. If I hit a wall, I’m back up and going in another direction. And I’ve hit plenty of walls in my career. But I’m not stopping. I think maybe that’s my best quality: I just don’t stop.”

While living with dyslexia, it is more than likely that you will hit a lot of hurdles through life. But it is important that you do not stop even after getting knocked down. It is okay to fail in life as long as you do not give up and keep pushing through all the hurdles.

8. “If you’re waiting for someone to believe in you, you’ll be waiting forever.”

If you want other people to believe in you, it is of utmost importance that you first believe in yourself. If you do not believe in yourself, you cannot expect anyone to believe in you.

9. “Words are like weapons; they wound sometimes.”

You need to remember that words are very powerful. You need to be very wise and think twice before you say anything to anyone. Always remember that you cannot take back your words. Harsh words can hurt an individual beyond repair.

10. “I don’t know what else I would be if I wasn’t me. I am not looking from the outside, looking back. I am who I am.”

To be successful in life, you need to be able to understand who you are and continue to be what you are. If you try to be someone else, your aim might get shifted.

11. “My passion lies with whatever I’m doing at the time… I only see what is in front of me.”

It is essential that you focus on one thing at a time and invest all your concentration into it. This way you can better utilize available times and proceed

12. “I wish that I did the things that I really believe in because when I do, my life goes much smoother.”

Always stay true to yourself and do what you want to do in life. If you are staying true to yourself you will discover that life will seem to be much easier and it will feel like a smooth ride.

13. “Everybody has good things happen and bad things happen, and long stretch where nothing happens at all.”

It is essential for you to understand that time changes and all kinds of things are bound to happen in life. Both good and bad things might come your way all the time. In addition, you will also find that sometimes nothing seems to happen and that is okay too. In life, you need to deal with all kinds of things and this is one of them.

14. “If you really want something you can figure out how to make it happen.”

If you are truly determined towards achieving your goals and dreams, you will surely achieve them. As the famous saying goes, “if there is a will, there will be a way.” If you truly want something and work hard, nothing will stop you.

15. “I am the girl who everyone said was never going anywhere. I guess I shocked a few people.”

In life, you will come across people that will doubt you and your abilities to achieve your dream.

Conclusion

People with learning disabilities such as dyslexia are in no way any less talented than other people. While it is true that they have a hard time learning and adapting to their situations, it is also true that some of the most successful people in the world have struggled with learning disabilities. Cher is a fine example of this. All that she has achieved should be considered a source of motivation and inspiration by people. Taking a cue from Cher, people of all ages, including children, motivate themselves and set forth on the journey to reach success and stop not till they do

Shradha Kalyani Kabra

Armed with a degree in Psychotherapy, CBT and Happiness coaching I have been a counselor for troubled children and their parents for over 4 years. Having a dyslexic child at home made the journey more personal. I have worked at Manovikas kendra for a year as a part time volunteer. In the process I have helped many children overcome learning disabilities and other psychological constraints to lead a fulfilling life! My most tangible victory is my dyslexic child has completed her plus two with over 80% marks and now has trained as a chef from the best college in Asia.

The post 15 Inspiring Quotes Of Cher (Especially For Individuals Struggling With Dyslexia) appeared first on Number Dyslexia.

Due to this challenging condition, it is a common misconception that it will be difficult for children or individuals with dyslexia to prosper in all aspects of life especially when it comes to career part. Contrary to that, some of the most intelligent and gifted people in various arenas have dyslexia. Among them, Albert Einstein is the most prominent name. From musicians to writers– people with dyslexia have carved their niche.

Following is a list of famous chefs with dyslexia that has not hindered them from being famous. You would wonder, “how can you cook if you cannot read a cookbook”? But that is what these chefs have done and become maestros in the culinary industry.

Who are some famous chefs with dyslexia?

Many internationally acclaimed chefs have been experiencing dyslexia for a long. While some of them were identified at an early age, some did not know about it till they reached college or later years in life. No amount of difficulty could stop them from making their dreams come true. In fact, in many cases, dyslexia and its experiences have helped them progress in life. Here is a list of famous chefs with dyslexia.

1. Marco Pierre White

This name is not new to you if you are a culinary enthusiast. The world-famous chef with three Michelin stars frankly admits to his dyslexia and how his childhood has been traumatic due to this. He attended school during the early 70s or late 60s when awareness about dyslexia was little to nil. He was not aware of his condition himself until he reached 20 years of age. Before that, everyone simply called him ‘stupid,’ which he was not.

In an interview, he reminisces how teachers in his school were more into bullying him than other students. Despite his reading disability, they asked him to read from the book. Of course, he could not and became a laughing stock of everyone. In the same interview, he says that, to date, he does not read a book or scroll through the internet at all, for it takes him longer to read and only a moment to forget it all. You will not find Marco delivering a speech with notes in his hand, for he cannot read and memorize those notes either.

All it took to help Marco reach today’s position was his passion for cooking and ambition of doing something worthy. He would express his emotions through flavors and not through words that he cannot read, write or spell. Chef Marco turned his insecurities into his drive and did not let those few calling him ‘stupid’ fail in life. He still struggles to read, spell and memorize though he has come a long way. All these did not keep him from calling three Michelin stars of his own and continuing to be called the Godfather of Modern Cooking.

2. Jamie Oliver

A prominent and successful name in the world of cookery, Jamie Oliver was 38 years old when he completed reading his first full novel, Catching Fire. Does that make him any less worthy of all his fame and popularity? Absolutely not. Dyslexia has made Jamie leave school with two GCSEs only. He has marked his secondary school days as rough times where everybody acknowledged his special needs, but nobody did much to help him overcome that.

Jamie acknowledges his difficulty in writing and reading freely and does not find it awkward. Though he has a number of cookbooks penned by him, he has his editor check them for all the spellings as Jamie knows his own weaknesses. When asked about how he accepts dyslexia, its consequences in his life, and how he coped with it, Jamie responds that it is the idea and passion that matter the most, not the whether you are good at everything.

According to Jamie, stepping outside his comfort zone and looking up to other ‘dyslexic heroes’ such as Paul Smith and Richard Branson motivated him. He ignores cynical people and believes that all of us can do anything we want, dyslexic or not, for “the sky’s the limit.”

3. Andrew Dornenburg

Another big name in the world of cooking and other culinary skills, Andrew Dornenburg, was identified as dyslexic only after reaching college. Before that, he was “lazy and inattentive” to his teachers during his school years. The misspelling was and still is his weakness, even though he is famed as the co-author  (With his wife Karen Page) of many books such as The Flavor Bible, Culinary Artistry, The New American Chef, etc.

According to him, cooking saved him from his struggle to understand math, recognize correct spelling, and maintain proper handwriting. Andrew converted his skill to spell one word in different ways into his creativity and applied it to cooking a new dish or writing a book on a new concept. He never dumped his dream of becoming a writer someday since his childhood despite having difficulty in spelling. That determination and motivation have made Andrew reach where he stands today as one of the world’s famous chefs.

4. James Martin

All the chefs we mentioned above have found success after they entered their careers in cookery. But if someone failed even there, that will be James Martin. You would find it hard to believe that one of the most celebrated chefs having his own BBC Cooking show, cookware line, restaurants, and cookbooks, failed to receive satisfactory grades even at cooking school. He was poor in noting the instructions down. When fortune took him to a TV show, he found it difficult to read the teleprompter.

James overcame all the struggles with the help of a dyslexia specialist and his determination to make his dream of becoming a chef come true. According to him, having dyslexia is like a benefit, for it has pushed him to pursue his dream.

5. Danny Boome

Currently, Danny Boome is a regular face on cooking programs on TV. He is a trainer and teacher to experienced and wannabe chefs in New York City. He started his career in a bank, and after numerous attempts at diverse sectors, he finally found his passion for food and cooking. The added advantage for Danny was that he had highly supportive parents, and their awareness helped him deal with dyslexia from an early age. At school, he got proper training for sharpening his reading, handwriting, and spelling skills.

According to Danny, his dyslexia gave him the artistic and creative ability he implemented in cooking and came up with innovative yet unique dishes. His motivation knows no bounds. He strongly believes in trying instead of letting go. To Danny, dyslexia is not a disadvantage but rather a “creative gene“.

6. Chris Cosentino

If you have been following cooking competition shows like Iron Chef America, Top Chef Masters, or The Next Iron Chef, Chris Cosentino is a well-known face to you. Some may identify him more readily as an athlete too. However shiny his career seems now, the road to success has not been smooth, for he has had long days of undiagnosed dyslexia.

It has been difficult for him to follow the long texts of traditional cookbooks, a problem he had struggled with since his school days when he had to read textbooks. Three cookbooks by Jacques Pepin helped him as, instead of only words, there were illustrated instructions in those books with step-by-step guidelines.

7. Adam Dickson

There were days in Adam Dickson’s life when he had to look into the dictionary to follow a cookbook. Today, he writes recipes for cookbooks along with the likes of Gordon Ramsay and Marco Pierre White. During his childhood, he was marked as a ‘trouble-maker,’ ‘delinquent,’ ‘disruptive,’ ‘dumb,’ etc., but not dyslexic. By the time he was diagnosed, he had already developed severe dyslexia and was 40 years old.

But Adam still maintains that dyslexia has provided him with barriers as well as the motivation to push through them by learning and adapting continuously. He still has difficulties in spelling words, and he writes letters backward. But none of these has stopped him from serving Sir David Attenborough, Kylie Minogue, John Travolta, and so on.

What makes these stars stand out?

All the chefs mentioned above have overcome challenges that came their way and succeeded in what they do. Some common steps they have followed are:

• Accepting dyslexia as a part of life is important. Or else, the disability would lead to frustration and depression hampering whatever progress one has made.
• If writing and spelling pose problems, they emphasize apt listening. So, if they found following written cooking instructions difficult, they listened to the instructions.
• For writing a book, the help of a Dictaphone or the manual effort of the book’s editor has been useful for them.

None of these famous chefs let go of their dreams even in adverse situations.

Wrapping up,

Dyslexia is nothing that anyone should be ashamed of. Though awareness is on the rise, there’s still a lot to cover to make the common people accept it. Individuals with learning difficulties only need proper care, training, and therapy to overcome the challenges. Motivation and staying true to their passion can enable them to achieve all their dreams in time. The stories of the chefs who have rightfully bagged the title of Master Chefs from many are undoubtedly inspiring. When dyslexia provokes negative and depressive thoughts in the minds of the affected, the famous chefs’ experiences will definitely help them come out of it and encourage them to pursue their dreams.

Shradha Kalyani Kabra

Armed with a degree in Psychotherapy, CBT and Happiness coaching I have been a counselor for troubled children and their parents for over 4 years. Having a dyslexic child at home made the journey more personal. I have worked at Manovikas kendra for a year as a part time volunteer. In the process I have helped many children overcome learning disabilities and other psychological constraints to lead a fulfilling life! My most tangible victory is my dyslexic child has completed her plus two with over 80% marks and now has trained as a chef from the best college in Asia.

The post 7 Famous Chefs Who Once Struggled With Dyslexia appeared first on Number Dyslexia.

Here we have prepared a list of a few such activities that you can engage the children in and make them better understand the concept. But before we do that, let us briefly revisit independent and dependent clauses.

What are independent and dependent clauses?

In a sentence, there can be two parts linked by a conjunction. In such cases, one part of the sentence becomes meaningful only with the help of the other part. The former is the dependent clause, and the latter is independent.

For example, in the sentence, ‘After I woke up in the morning, I found a frog sitting on me,’ the part ‘I found a frog sitting on me’ is not dependent upon the part ‘After I woke up in the morning.’ But if we look from the opposite, the first part does not have any meaning unless we add the second part, i.e., ‘I found a frog sitting on me.’ So, this part is the independent clause, and ‘After I….morning’ is the dependent clause.

Interactive Independent and Dependent clauses activities for the classroom

To help you with developing some exciting activities for the classroom, we have a few ideas listed in the following. Hope these help!

1. Matching sentence strips

You will need:

• Colorful sugar paper
• Black construction paper
• Coloring pens
• Scissors, glue, etc.

You will do the following:

• Write sentences on the sugar paper so you can cut those sentences into two halves- the independent clause and the dependent clause.
• Write various sentences on various colored papers to make them look attractive.
• On the black construction paper, stick the starting portions of the sentences on the left and the last parts on the right.
• Do this for all the sentences. You will have two columns of sentence fragments on the construction paper.
• In the classroom, hang it on the board or place it on the wall with tape.
• Give the coloring pens to your students and call them one by one. Ask them to draw a line connecting fragment one with fragment two.

Example:

Paste “We are having” on the left side and “pizza for dinner” on the right. There will be other options also jumbled up on the list. The student’s task is to match these two fragments and form the sentence, ‘We are having pizza for dinner.’

2. Team game of identifying clauses

You will need:

• A children’s storybook (check once if there are sentences with enough independent and dependent clauses)
• Photocopies of selected passages
• Blue and green pen
• Timer

You will do the following:

• Make groups of five children.
• Distribute the photocopies of the selected passage from the book among the groups (one copy for each team).
• Now give them the blue and green coloring pens.
• Ask them to read the passage and mark the independent clauses in green and dependent clauses in blue.
• Set the timer for five minutes.
• Instruct the teams to finish marking the clauses within five minutes.
• Those who finish correctly and submit before everyone win.

3. Balancing the clauses

You will need:

• Toy pan balance
• Small building blocks of the same size and weight
• Colorful papers
• Glue
• Scissors
• Coloring pens

You will do the following:

• Write fragments of sentences on colorful paper and cut them into various shapes, like rectangles, circles, triangles, etc. (this is only to attract the kids; the shape does not matter here).
• Attach the small building blocks on the back of the papers containing the sentence fragments with glue.
• In the classroom, distribute the sentence fragments among the students and place the toy pan balance in the middle.
• Now ask one student to put one fragment on one pan, for example, the dependent clause part of the sentence.
• This will make the pan balance weigh down on that side due to the weight of the building block.
• Ask which student can put the scale back to the balanced condition.
• The student with the right fragment, for example, the independent clause part, will put it on the other pan.
• Due to equal weight on both sides, the pan balance will remain straight.
• This way, you can teach them how both parts of the sentence balance it out.

4. Clause partners

You will need:

• Small pieces of paper
• Pen

You will do the following:

• Take a piece of paper and write, “While I was doing my homework” on it.
• Take another piece of paper and write, “my pet dog sat in front of me.”
• Write a few more sentences in this manner (estimate how many such sentences you will need by counting the number of children in your class).
• Distribute these among the children so that half of the class gets independent clauses and the rest gets dependent clauses.
• After that, ask the children to find their partners, i.e., those who complete their sentences meaningfully.
• Once they have found their partner, ask them to read the complete sentence loudly and check if they have got it right.

5. Make a team of three with clauses and connectives

You will need:

• Paper
• Pen

You will do the following:

• Write some dependent clauses on a few pieces of paper.
• Write some independent clauses on another set of papers.
• Now prepare another set of papers with coordinating conjunctions written on them.
• Divide the students of your class into three groups, each containing the same number of students, and name them A, B, and C.
• Give group A the dependent clauses, B the conjunctions, and C the independent clauses.
• Now ask them to find which student from group B can form a full sentence with two students from groups A and C (one from each).
• This way, they will recognize the clauses and conjunctions that can join the two clauses to form a new complete sentence.

Example:

Suppose one child from group A has “watering the plants.” Another child from group B has “while.” Lastly, a child from group C has, “I found a snail.” So, these three children can come together to form a sentence, “I found a snail while watering the plants.”

Few other activities you can try

Apart from the five we mentioned above, you can further exercise your creative skill and come up with new ideas for independent and dependent clauses classroom activities. Some of these might include:

• Make a clause clock where you will write independent and dependent clauses underneath the numbers. Place them so that you can ask the children to show a particular time on the clock by moving the clock’s hands, and you get a complete sentence. For example, if there is “We will walk around the park” under 12 and “after the rain stops” under 6, you can ask the children to make 12:30 on the clock. As they do so, they will get the sentence, “We will walk around the park after the rain stops.”
• Draw a table with two columns on a blank sheet of paper. Give headings to these columns- Independent Clause and Dependent Clause. Now, give each child in the class this sheet and a set of ten sticky notes. On each of these notes, write examples of independent and dependent clauses. Ask the students to stick the sticky notes in the appropriate column.

How exactly do these activities help in learning clauses?

Engaging the children of your class in these above activities will benefit them in various ways. Such as,

• These activities will motivate them to learn the topic more by heart.
• By finding the counterparts of the sentences from amongst their friends, the children will learn to pay attention and concentrate more on what would complete their sentences.
• Participating in the activities will increase their engagement in the complete learning process. Thus, they will always memorize what they learn from these activities.
• The activities we mentioned above involve all the children of a class. So, when a child is looking for a student with the other sentence fragment or the conjunction, they socialize with everyone. This shapes their personality and communication skill also.
• Engaging them in these activities will let you clear off the class’s monotony.
• As the students come up with correct answers and you encourage them, they become more confident.

Wrapping up,

These activities can potentially increase the children’s thirst for knowledge and, at the same time, help them remember what they learn in a fun and exciting way. When the kids are involved in such activities they find learning entertaining and enjoyable and without even realizing it, they learn the basics of English grammar. These basic lessons are important as they will always need these grammar elements in the future, be it sentence framing or writing essays.

Now that you have some ideas from us, we hope you engage your children in the most productive way possible.

Shradha Kalyani Kabra

Armed with a degree in Psychotherapy, CBT and Happiness coaching I have been a counselor for troubled children and their parents for over 4 years. Having a dyslexic child at home made the journey more personal. I have worked at Manovikas kendra for a year as a part time volunteer. In the process I have helped many children overcome learning disabilities and other psychological constraints to lead a fulfilling life! My most tangible victory is my dyslexic child has completed her plus two with over 80% marks and now has trained as a chef from the best college in Asia.

The post 5 Engaging Activities For Learning Independent And Dependent Clauses appeared first on Number Dyslexia.

Begin by introducing articles to your pupils through reviews, examples, and straightforward explanations. Then, use games and activities to assist your pupils in solidifying their grasp of the articles. Throughout the lecture, invite questions and reiterate concepts that are unclear to your students.

In this blog post, we will navigate through the various online games that can help with a better understanding of Articles and help your kid comprehend the nitty-gritty of the same. 

Have trouble teaching articles? Fun online games to the rescue

Learning a concept like articles which is not just an integral part of English tests but also every sentence we speak can be challenging. Thus to help the little learners master the art we have compiled a list of fun and engaging games. 

1. Wordwall Article Games

Wordwall has a series of interactive games to teach kids articles. For example, you can play group sports where you are given cue cards with the name of a thing or an animal, and you need to seek them in the brackets of “a ” and “an” boxes. Not just that, there are true and false where you need to click “a ” and “an ” based on every passing word.

Similarly, there is an airplane game, anagram game, balloon game, open the box, quiz, and much more. The best part about these games is that they are all free and kid-friendly. The learning objective of this game is simple and yet can help kids immensely. They will learn how to carefully add the photos into each bracket and check for themselves how well they know the concept of articles. 

2. Drop The Article 

In this game by Turtle Diary, there is a deadly hungry Scorpio looking for his food. And when the player answers the question of feeding the Scorpio a bug. Each bug is of a different color and represents an option for the correct answer.

So, using the Scorpio keys A-left, W-top, S-down, and D- D-right, move the Scorpio to the bug that has the correct answer. Be sure of your answer because the wrong answer will kill one Scorpio at a time. It is a fun game to teach kids articles and at the same time indulge them in learning about different insects.  

3. Articles

Articles is a rather simple game where you must read the sentence and choose the correct answer from the multiple choices. There are a series of 9-10 questions each, and by the end of every set, you can click finish or feedback to check your score. If you got any answer wrong, the feedback option would point to the one, so you can try again. It can be an amazing game for when you need to test how well the kid understood the lessons. 

This game is a simple quiz where a child can easily test their knowledge about the different articles by answering the questions prompted. 

4. Identify The Article 

In this game, all you need to do is check the statement mentioned carefully, and then, based on that, select the option “a,” “an,” and “no article.” When you know the correct answer, click the right option, and the rabbit will jump on it; otherwise, if the answer is wrong then, the rabbit will drown.

It is a fun game for kids where they can not only learn about articles but also understand different activities such as jumping and drowning. Furthermore, when the rabbit takes a jump to the answer selected it even enhances curiosity. 

5. Shoot the Articles

Game “Shoot the Articles”, created for third graders, players must determine which articles go with the given words. Here, children have to navigate flying discs to get into the domes. You have to locate the appropriate article on the space shuttle that could be utilized with the provided term and then use the arrow keys to land the space shuttle in the appropriate dome. 

This game sharpens hand-eye coordination while also testing their understanding of articles.

6. Kango Boomerang Game 

This game by ESL Games World is a fun way to test kids’ knowledge about the concept of articles. Wait for the kangaroo to shoot the boomerang at the tree press next, and then answer the question that prompts on the screen. You get a solid 30 seconds to answer a question, click submit, and press next. 

As there is a time limit involved, the kid will feel bound which will allow them to think faster and take action urgently. As the game has kangaroo you can teach your kid about it and its activities which can in turn be another benefit.

7. Wolf And Rabbit Game

The Wolf wants to eat rabbit for dinner since he is hungry! You need to construct a brick wall to keep the wolf out to prevent him from approaching your entrance. To begin, read the text at the bottom and select the appropriate article. Click the hyphen when you are ready to add another brick to the wall. Remember that you can’t put a brick where it is not touching another brick or the ground.

In this game, if you put a brick in the wrong place it will break and leave a hole. If your wall has two holes together, the wolf can get in and eat the rabbit. This game thus creates a lot of thrill for the kids as they need to answer the question correctly to ensure that the wolf doesn’t eat the rabbit. It will allow them to learn about two animals too. 

8. Tiny Tap Article Game

Tiny Tap has a wide section of games where you can learn articles. In this, all you need to do is answer the questions correctly and fill in the blank with the correct article. Drag the article to the box and wait for the fireworks if the answer is correct. 

This is another fun game to teach kids how to pick and choose the correct article for the given statement. As there is no time limit and your answer will bounce if it is wrong you can allow the student who doesn’t know the concept well to make assumptions and then brief them about the rules. 

9. ESL Kids Board Game

If you are looking for a group game for your class, this can be fun. Here you can club up to five kids and ask them to roll the dice and then move the ladder while answering the questions at each step. 

Group activities are in fact kids’ favorite time in class. It allows them to interact with their peers and learn without the fear of scolding. So, if you have a full class of kids who just won’t stop talking, utilize it and engage them in such activities. 

Articles: Crucial in enlightening about the noun they precede. 

Articles are prefixes that appear before nouns or pronoun phrases. They, like other adjectives, aid in the clarification of the meaning of the noun in your sentence. There are only two articles in English: the and a. (and its variant an, used before a word that starts with a vowel sound). Learning and applying a few fundamental principles can significantly improve your article use.  

1. Using Articles to Refer to Classes of Objects

Nouns can refer to an entire group of related objects known as a class. A class can be referred to in three ways. First, this can be accomplished using the definite singular, indefinite singular, or indefinite plural.

Let’s look at the following sentences:

• The tiger is a majestic animal.
• A tiger is a majestic animal.
• Tigers are majestic animals.

All three sentences have nearly the same meaning but differ slightly in emphasis. The first sentence uses one tiger to represent all lions and then asserts that representative. The second sentence effectively states that it will be true for all if any lion class is taken. The third sentence makes a direct claim about all lions. The third usage is most likely the most common. In a sentence, use whichever usage sounds the best.

2. Using Articles In Front Of Proper Nouns

The rules are not all the same and do not apply in all circumstances. Most proper nouns follow simple directions, and there is a misconception that we use “the” with proper nouns. 

In a study^[1] by Lipovšek, the common misconceptions about article use have been addressed, keeping in mind why people fall into the trap of these errors. The researcher mainly talked about how the rules are often misunderstood due to faulty interpretations. The study also talks about the common mistake of overusing articles. 

Nonetheless, one can keep in mind not to place an article in front of-

• People’s names, For example, Anne is Norway’s fifth prime minister.
• Most countries’ names include Brazil, Italy, and Saudi Arabia.
• Academic subjects such as English, mathematics, and literature 
• Team sports like Soccer, basketball, and football. 
• Languages like Spanish, English, and Portuguese

Usage of ‘the’-

• With the names of countries and continents

We don’t use articles for most countries like India, but if the country is divided into parts or the name is derived from a common noun, such as the United Kingdom, United States of America, or the United Arab Emirates, we use the article ‘the’ and say the UK, USA, or UAE.

• With compass directions

Compass directions are capitalized when they designate specific regions (the North, South, East, and West) but not when they indicate direction. For instance, the Northern Hemisphere.  

• With job titles and professions

In these cases, the indefinite article a/an should be used. For instance: I aspire to be a singer—alternatively, general location. For example, look to the north to see the lake.

• With surnames

When collectively discussing members of the same family, the article ‘the’ is used before the surname. A group of people, such as a family, can thus be designated with a single word. However, remember that the surname must be plural. For instance, the Jordans are coming over for lunch today.

• With names of oceans, seas, rivers, and canals

With these bodies of water, the definitive article ‘the’ is always used. The Amazon, the Indian Ocean, the Suez Canal, and many others are examples. For example, I’d like to visit the Suez Canal.

Conclusion 

When traditional book lessons don’t work in your kid’s favor, there is no harm in introducing kids to different and creative ways to learn hard concepts. You can improve the quality and accuracy of their English by familiarizing them with games like the one mentioned above.

Always remember that languages have different rules for using articles, but using them correctly is necessary to make your writing sound natural. Thus, make kids have fun during classes as it will translate and reflect positively on their next test results.

References

1. Lipovšek, Frančiška. (2006). Misconceptions about Article Use in English. ELOPE: English Language Overseas Perspectives and Enquiries. 3. 99. 10.4312/elope.3.1-2.99-113.

Shradha Kalyani Kabra

Armed with a degree in Psychotherapy, CBT and Happiness coaching I have been a counselor for troubled children and their parents for over 4 years. Having a dyslexic child at home made the journey more personal. I have worked at Manovikas kendra for a year as a part time volunteer. In the process I have helped many children overcome learning disabilities and other psychological constraints to lead a fulfilling life! My most tangible victory is my dyslexic child has completed her plus two with over 80% marks and now has trained as a chef from the best college in Asia.

The post 9 Fun Online Games For Learning About Articles [a,an,the] appeared first on Number Dyslexia.

Social studies are integral to preparing students for life after high school. It’s also the subject that often falls between the cracks in classrooms, where teachers tend to focus on more “practical” subjects like math and reading. But if we want children to learn about history and government and how to read maps or tell time, some fun ways need to be employed in order to make social studies enjoyable! 

Social studies help us to keep in touch with history, society, and the geographical aspects of our world. As it is a very fascinating subject, children usually enjoy stories from history. But the real challenge lies in remembering dates in history or facts about our universe. This can be made simpler by introducing games and manipulatives.

In this post, let us look at a few board games that will help a child gain knowledge of this subject more easily. 

Inculcating social studies through gamification: What do the studies say? 

Play is an important part of mental and social development. Games and activities provide information, presented in a format that is informative and enjoyable. Many board games encourage students to think critically. Playing a board game is an “inquiry-based research process, and in the process of finding answers, the child learns concepts. Board games are also an effective way to employ cooperative learning in the classroom.

Studies^[1] have suggested that games have long been used to teach geography, from primary schools to higher levels. Activities and games simulate the outer world and encourage students to engage in role-playing. The use of games has been aimed at generating a range of cognitive and behavioral impacts on students. They bring about knowledge acquisition and concept understanding and also provide motivational outcomes.

Research^[2] about the relationship between learning and board games has suggested that Board games are spaces for learning and learning spaces can enable the learning of various contents. In addition, board games allow for various interactions that result in players engaging in computational thinking, teamwork, and creativity.

Board games to learn and practice social studies

1. Great States Geography Board Game

The Great States Board Game is ideal for incorporating a little learning with fun. Through this game, the child can learn interesting facts about each state, including birds, flowers, locations, and capitals.

Turn by turn, the players flick the spinner and pick whatever card the pointer lands on.  One must follow the card’s directions before the timer runs out. It’s a fast-paced way to learn about US geography with friends and family. Players answer questions and discover attractions, landmarks, and capital as they go on an adventure on the board. The winner is the player who answers the most questions before the timer goes off.

2. Continent Race 

This exciting game is a global race to see who can collect the most countries from each continent first. The game is suitable for 2-4 players. Each player picks 7 cards. The cards are all color-coded. The goal is to collect four cards from each continent. The players arrange the cards in separate piles according to their continents.

 With every turn, the player discards one card and then tries to arrange cards with the remaining cards in hand under the different continent piles they belong to. The player announces the name of the country and the continent with every card he or she places under the pile.  

One can even pick a card from the discarded pile. After arranging according to continents, the player picks more cards; at any given time, the cards in hand must be 7.

Finally, there is a mystery card that has a question that has to be answered. The countries are checked with the help of the boards and the map on them. The player who has countries with all continents wins the game. Through this game, the children learn geography, the names of countries, and the continent they belong to. 

3. Trekking the world

This is a board game that can be played with multiple players. Players have counters shaped like humans. Cards are distributed to each player. Turn by turn the player reveals a card and has to pick that particular spot on the map. The game begins with the trekker at the airport.

The players follow the instructions on the card which can be regarding mode of travel or other challenges. The player picks up points and rewards at each destination reached. A peg of the same color as the player’s counter is placed on each place visited. Each card has a picture and some info about the place depicted on it. 

This is a very enjoyable game and the players get to know about the popular tourist spots and special facts of a country and continent. The person who completes all the challenges wins.  

4. Flags of the world

This is a game that is suitable for younger children. There is a board with a world map and plastic flags. Each player picks up a flag and has to place it in its corresponding country. The place corresponding to the capital of the country has a hole into which this flag is fitted. 

Small flags of 36 countries are given. The front of the green board is the playing board with the global distribution map. The back is the corresponding country of the flag name and pattern so that the children can check for errors. This game can be enjoyed by multiple players and is a good way to learn about countries, capitals, and their flags too. 

5. Trek the national parks

This is an interesting family board game similar to the popular game, Monopoly. Currency is traded and the players travel to various National Parks across the country. The game is suitable for all age groups and gives an insight into 63 National Parks. The cards have information about the flora and fauna of each Park. 

The game begins with players spending the ‘cash’ to travel to various destinations. The information about each destination is read out aloud. This continues by turns. The player who has visited the most places wins the game. A family board game with a lot to learn, the children discover new destinations through fun. 

6. Chronology

Chronology is a game for children who have an interest in history.  The game has a set of 429 cards and more than 800 events. The players build their own timeline of cards. One of the players will read a historical event from a card. The other decides where that event falls in their timeline. If the guess is correct, the player gets to keep the card, and, the timeline grows. The first player to build a timeline of 10 cards wins!

The game is a good way to recall and remember important historical dates. The double-sided cards have a date mentioned on one side and the event on the other. The sequence of the game makes every round informative and challenging. Chronology is a simple and educative way to learn history. 

7. Constitution Games

Constitution Games is an educative game of American history, the Constitution, and its application in today’s world. It is a good tool for teaching the politics of America.  The players earn stars by correctly answering the 500 questions that teach American history. Answers include background information, historical consequences, and the significance or application to America today. 

Challenges are in the form of a Game Czar who chooses the identity of the players. There are absurd twists and turns on Semi-Capitalist Street and the Path of Social Justice. There are funny rules of social justice and intrusive government. 100+ Social Justice cards that redistribute the player’s money and stars to the pork barrel. The game has 500 history cards, 100+ Social Justice cards, 70 Disappoint Big Brother cards, 50 score sheets, 8 Federal ID cards, 8 pawns, 2 dice, and 1 set of rules.

This game helps the players to understand how tyranny can be and therefore learn and appreciate the value of democracy and freedom.

8. 50 states

Fifty States is a board game where all the states are displayed on the board. Each player picks up a card. The player then shows the state on the map, recognizes the flag, and names the capital city, nickname, or postal code. When the state is identified right, the players get the card. The player who collects the maximum number of state cards wins the game.

The game is very challenging as one has to remember so many facts. Since all the 50 states are mentioned on different cards, this game can be used as a trivia or a card game too. It is an easy way to remember all the states and relevant information about each one of them. The child gains knowledge of the location and capitals of states. 

9. American trivia

American Trivia is a  family board game featuring mostly knowledge-based content rather than trivia. American trivia family cards have two sides.  One has easier questions for younger children and the other with more difficult questions for older people, thereby allowing families of all ages to enjoy the board game together.  The board game includes 1,440 expert-level questions in four categories, geography, history, arts, and general, and 1,080 Junior-level questions in three categories, geography, history, and general. 

The game begins with a player picking up a card and answering the question. Once the child has answered the question correctly the counter can move ahead on the board. The player who gets the most questions right and has moved the most ahead wins the game. 

This game can be played with multiple players. It is very informative and challenging at the same time. The players get to know facts about America with respect to its history, geography, and general knowledge. 

10. Geography bingo

This is a traditional Bingo game with a geography twist. The person hosting the game calls out names of countries or capitals. 

The players check if the called-out country is on their board. They place a wooden bingo chip on the name they have. One has to get five countries in a row to win.  The game improves the child’s reasoning, critical thinking, and social skills. It updates the child’s knowledge about countries and capitals and is a fun way to remember facts. 

Suitable for young children, it is a very good game to be played in groups. The game comes as a set of eight boards with 25 countries on each board. There are 50 country cards that give information about the capitals and their land area. 

Conclusion 

To sum up, board games help children learn important social studies skills including memory skills – by learning how to remember facts about each continent. The game helps to foster communication skills – by interacting with other players during gameplay; problem-solving skills – by strategizing what should be done next during gameplay; critical thinking skills – by thinking critically about what would happen under various circumstances; creativity – by creating new rulesets or scenarios if needed. All these features make board games exciting and learning while playing strategy to learn social studies without making it look difficult.

References

1. Robinson, G. M., Hardman, M., & Matley, R. J. (2020). Using games in geographical and planning-related teaching: Serious games, edutainment, board games and role-play. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 4(1), 100208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2021.100208
2. Bayeck, R. Y. (2020). Examining Board Gameplay and Learning: A Multidisciplinary Review of Recent Research. Simulation & Gaming. https://doi.org/10.1177/1046878119901286

Shradha Kalyani Kabra

Armed with a degree in Psychotherapy, CBT and Happiness coaching I have been a counselor for troubled children and their parents for over 4 years. Having a dyslexic child at home made the journey more personal. I have worked at Manovikas kendra for a year as a part time volunteer. In the process I have helped many children overcome learning disabilities and other psychological constraints to lead a fulfilling life! My most tangible victory is my dyslexic child has completed her plus two with over 80% marks and now has trained as a chef from the best college in Asia.

The post 10 Engaging Board Games For Learning Different Social Studies Concepts appeared first on Number Dyslexia.

Digraphs are two characters that form the same sound, such as the letters th, sh, ch, wh, ph, and ck. You might wish to devote about 2-3 weeks in Kindergarten to digraphs, studying the structures and sounds for each, reading words using digraphs, and even constructing simple words with digraphs. So you’ll just be adding additional words for your children to understand and read!

This post will show you some of the interesting digraph exercises for Kindergarten kids. These digraph activities can be used in a whole group class, as a center activity, or as independent practice!

How do you explain a digraph to a kindergartner in an easy and engaging way?

There are plenty of ways using which you can kick start this journey in a fun and engaging way with your kids, including online and offline games. 

1. Circle them!

A teacher can orally utter the word “Ship” and then ask the children which digraph they heard- “sh.” Once answered correctly, ask them to find the words starting with the digraph “sh” in their book and circle them using a pencil or a crayon. Encourage them to find as many as they can and share it with their friends too.

This activity is simple, fun, and engaging if done in a group format. Kids can practice spelling and enhance their observational skills. This helps children identify the digraph sounds, which will assist them later when they start reading sentences with bigger words in it.

2. Words Time Me Out

This is another digraph indulgence that will make kids better at reading and spotting words. Keeping it very simple and basic, teachers need to hand out a print of paragraphs or maybe 10 different sentences filled with digraphs. Once distributed, students need to read the printout (in their own mind) and circle the digraphs spotted per sentence.

However, this task comes with a twist of a timer! Teachers need to provide say 60 seconds for this task to be performed in time. At the end of it, teachers can reveal the answers per sentence. The ones with the most correct digraphs confirm their hold at it. 

However, if in case there are digraphs left that students weren’t able to mark, then as an educator, the teacher must narrate its essentiality and conform how it works. Through this fun and engaging way of reading, concepts of consonant-centric digraphs will become easy to learn, given that vowel-centric digraphs are rather commonly used.

3. Dot Painting

Dot Painting is a classic way to help kids learn digraphs better. It is so versatile and easy that young learners absolutely love it. To perform this play, kids must have dot markers, stickers, stamps, Wikki Stix, or even crayons with them to make their share of pictures. Teachers, or if done at home, parents can start by reading out elements that have a digraph in them. For example, “fish”, chick” and so on. Kids need to spot them one-by-one per narration and circle them elements using their markers, stickers, stamps, or crayons. And there you are! Finishing and acing it like a pro.

This activity will help kids learn how to spell words that contain digraphs by sounding out the word and then placing a sticker or dot on each letter sound they hear. Funneling the “listen, command, and perform” skill better, is a colorful way to make them understand digraphs easily.

4. Dictation Stamps

Once kids are acquainted with the concept of digraphs, they can indulge in this suggested form of learning by following mere dictation practices with a twist. Teachers can start by asking simple riddles to the children. For example, “I live underwater and I can swim. I can breathe air like you and I am thin. I have feathers and they call them fins, guess my name dear friend, who I am?” The answer is Fish. 

Once kids have determined the answer, teachers can ask them to draw a fish on their notebook and spell it out too. This is a fun dictation way of practicing digraphs that will challenge the kids to use their sensory and logical skills to solve the riddles and then have fun drawing, coloring, and spelling the element at ease. This humble way of learning involves- art, craft, writing, reading, listening, and aptitude side-by-side. 

Get more than 10,000 + Kids Worksheets, Activities Pages, Coloring Pages, Templates, Classroom Posters, and Other Educational Resources visit our store .

Vowel digraph list for kindergarten 

1. ow – as in know or snow
2. ui – as in fruit or bruise
3. oe – as in toe or goes
4. oa – as in boat or road
5. ea – as in thread or lead
6. ee – as in feet or sheet
7. ie – as in pie or lie
8. ue – as in glue or fuel
9. ai – as in gain or main
10. oo – as in wood or flood
11. au – as in fault or pause
12. oi – as in soil or coin
13. ay – as in play or stay
14. ou – as in soup or sour
15. aw – as in straw or crawl
16. ey – as in they or prey
17. oy – as in boy or toy
18. ei – as in vein or ceiling
19. ir – as in girl or bird
20. ew – as in few or new

Consonant digraphs

1. CH – as in Chin and Switch
2. SH – as in Shut and Bash
3. TH – as in Thin and Bath
4. GH – as in Ghats and rough
5. PH – as in Phone and Graph
6. NG – as in Sing and Ring
7. KN – as in Know and Knife
8. FA – as in Fact and Alfa
9. ME– as in Meal and Frame
10. WH- as in Whale and What
11. CK – as in Back or Duck
12. FF – as in Cliff or Off
13. SS – as in Dress or Class
14. QU – as in Quack or Quiz
15. WR – as in Wrist or Wrong
16. DG – as in Judge or Fridge
17. LL – as in Well or Doll
18. MN – as in Hymn or Autumn
19. GN – as in Design or Sign
20. RH – as in Rhyme or Rhino

How to use this list?

Children are usually taught digraphs once they have mastered the individual sounds of consonants and short vowels. During first and second grade, digraphs are reviewed. The teachers can hand over these lists to the students without the bold. The kids can then underline the consonants or vowels using colored pencils. 

They can first start with consonant worksheets and then move on to vowel worksheets. Gradually, after enough practice, the teachers can also test the children by giving them a vowel, and they can write the words which come to their mind. Again, it’s crucial to note that practice and enough practice can help them become fluent in this. 

Summing up,

Digraphs is a very interesting concept to start teaching your kids. It’s important that we have the right start so that they don’t lose interest throughout. Teachers may often point out different digraphs to students while they read books. 

They might be handed word cards to sort into groups based on their digraphs. They will also be provided phonic activities to assist them in creating words that contain specific digraphs. It is critical that kids get the chance to practice writing words so as to learn proper spelling.

Shradha Kalyani Kabra

Armed with a degree in Psychotherapy, CBT and Happiness coaching I have been a counselor for troubled children and their parents for over 4 years. Having a dyslexic child at home made the journey more personal. I have worked at Manovikas kendra for a year as a part time volunteer. In the process I have helped many children overcome learning disabilities and other psychological constraints to lead a fulfilling life! My most tangible victory is my dyslexic child has completed her plus two with over 80% marks and now has trained as a chef from the best college in Asia.

The post Printable Digraphs List For Kindergarten [PDF Included] appeared first on Number Dyslexia.

When the topic gets tricky to follow, it may be a good idea to take the support of humor to not only beat the stress of learning but also ensure that the teacher has the child’s attention. Humor helps in remembering concepts better if they are linked o a funny anecdote. 

A few laughs will help the children feel at ease and thereafter concentrate better on the subject. Humour also makes the teacher more approachable to the student, which will foster an ambiance open for discussions, questions, and holistic learning. 

Verb Jokes: Helping teachers create a chucklesome environment for learning. 

A language is learned not by just learning its rules but by actually practicing it. To practice the rules one must understand and remember them. Jokes help to remember these rules and recall them when needed. Learning verbs and their usage might seem a very boring task for the learners. It then becomes very challenging for the teacher to hold the attention of the class. 

Humorous activities in the classroom tend to also improve the student’s comprehension of the

most difficult topics. Humour and fun also serve to develop a good social connect with peers, thereby learning occurs in a more friendly environment. It can also make seemingly difficult subjects like math seem fun. 

Here are some jokes based on verbs that might elicit a few laughs in grammar classes. 

Verb jokes: Learn and laugh

1. Why are verbs afraid of talking about people?

        Because they’re followed by the subject.

 2. Three intransitive verbs walk into a bar.

         They sit. They converse. They depart.

3. People ask me why I chose to teach Maths rather than English. I tell them,

“Fractions speak louder than verbs.”

4. Teacher: “Nick, what is the past participle of the verb to ring?”

     Nick: “What do you think it is, Sir?”
Teacher: “I don’t think, I KNOW!”
Nick: “I don’t think I know either, Sir!”

5. What English word can be both a noun and a verb at the same time?

     Verb

6. The verb is my favorite part of a sentence…

     That’s where the action’s at.

7. Why were the nouns afraid of the verbs?

     Because the verbs were always so intense.

8. What every Irregular verb wants to know?

So, How do you stay so regular?

9. What do you call a verb that went professional?

Wait for it…..
A Proverb (Pro-Verb)

10. Do you know what’s inconvenient about English verbs?

They’re rather tense.

11. Where did the verb stay when they camped?

       Past tents!

12. ‘Ed’ and ‘ing’ are always found in tense situations. They always show action. 

13. Tense? Moody? Irregular?

You must be a verb. 

14. I hate it when people say humor is only subjective.

It can also be a verb.

15. Some people are pro-life, others are pro-choice. As an English teacher, however….

I am pro-verb

16. The teacher asked the class to stand one by one and compose a simple sentence using appropriate be verbs.

“She is beautiful”, said Kate.
“My dogs are fat”, shouted Mark.
“I is…”, stuttered Joe when the teacher interrupted.
“You always say ‘I am’. Never say ‘I is'”, said she.
As fast as he could, Joe uttered,
“I am the ninth letter of the alphabet.

17. Q: Why did Shakespeare only write in ink?

A: Pencils confused him — 2B or not 2B?

18. What is a pronoun?

        Yes. It can also be an adverb.

19. What did the intransitive verb say when told it was pretty?

Nothing. Intransitive verbs can’t take complements.

20. Teacher to Student…?

Conjugate the verb “to walk” in simple present.
The student: I walk. You walk ….
The teacher interrupts him: Quicker, please.
The student: I run. You run …

That’s it..

Jokes are fun, and they’re also a great way to build rapport with the class. They can help break the ice with students, too! If the educator is having trouble getting them to open up to, the teacher can try asking them questions about jokes or how they make their own.

To sum up, humor adds levity while also providing a point of reference for the audience. In the end, jokes are a fun and effective way to entertain the students and make them more engaged with what the teacher has to say!

Shradha Kalyani Kabra

Armed with a degree in Psychotherapy, CBT and Happiness coaching I have been a counselor for troubled children and their parents for over 4 years. Having a dyslexic child at home made the journey more personal. I have worked at Manovikas kendra for a year as a part time volunteer. In the process I have helped many children overcome learning disabilities and other psychological constraints to lead a fulfilling life! My most tangible victory is my dyslexic child has completed her plus two with over 80% marks and now has trained as a chef from the best college in Asia.

The post 20 Jokes & Puns On The Usage Of Verbs appeared first on Number Dyslexia.

Kids are naturally curious about the world around them, and the weather is a significant aspect of that world. Playing an educational game can teach children about the seasons and other natural occurrences. It provides a platform where they can understand their surroundings when they are familiar with the four seasons, weather patterns, and the water cycle.   

Below are some interactive online games to engage kids in learning weather vocabulary and building a solid grip on it.

Why is it important to know the weather for kids?

Did you know that the US, Haiti, India, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam were among the nations most severely damaged by severe weather conditions in 2016? Children will find it difficult to escape this; whether it be hurricanes, tornadoes, or heavy snowfall, even those who are glued to their screens are aware of the extreme weather surrounding them. However, do they understand why there is so much of it here?

Children won’t learn how the weather works or any of the other fascinating weather-related facts unless they are exposed to it from an early age. Young children, in particular, frequently lack knowledge about our immediate natural surroundings, making it essential for parents and teachers to foster a fundamental interest in science and nature as early as possible. 

The value of weather education for children impacts our future. Despite how much it affects our daily lives, teaching kids about the weather can be challenging. While many kids are terrified of thunder and lightning, they adore splashing around in puddles and are enthralled by the sight of a stunning rainbow.

Young children must develop a suitable vocabulary through reading or playing online vocabulary games, in order for them to be able to talk about the weather, as adults frequently do. After parents, kindergarten teachers are in the ideal position to teach the kids about the weather in the hopes that it will spark a lifelong fascination with the wonders of the natural world.

Learn the hard weather concepts with these fun games

Teachers and parents often find kids struggling while learning about the weather. Thus, the best way to teach kids is by introducing them to online games. These interactive games are fun and engaging! Whether kids are using online games to learn punctuation or for learning about weather, they are surely going to enjoy them.

1. Season Memory Game 

The Weather Memory Game is the easiest way to teach kids different seasons. This game is ideal for the age group ranging from 3-6 years. All you need to do is match the cards that depict the same season. 

How to play the Weather Memory game 

• Start by flipping the cards.
• Memorize the placing of each card and match the one that appears similar 
• Once you have matched the cards, check the time you took to flip the cards and how many times it took for you to complete the game.  

This frolic game will allow you to learn different seasons by matching them. Not just that, you will be able to enhance the child’s observational and retaining skills. 

2. Dress for the weather 

Not just vocabulary and complicated concepts, it is equally important to teach kids what kind of clothes they must wear in different seasons. The game does exactly that. Here, you need to style the dog according to the season. 

How to play Dress For The Weather?

• Start by selecting a puppy of your choice. 
• Note the season stated and based on that select the clothes. 
• The clothes are divided into four sections: Tops, bottoms, shoes, and accessories. 
• Check the puppy face below to check how well you are styling them. 
• Select the play button and see the result. 

The game’s motive is to teach kids how to dress appropriately and according to the season.  

3. Weather Surprise

This game is based on the fact that some things are meant to exist or be used in certain types of weather. When kids play this game, they use their logic and experience to place items in the weather they are related to.

How to play Weather Surprise?

• The game begins with two images of different weather conditions. Along with them, there is a selection of items that are related to the given weather.
• The player must drag and drop each item to the respective weather and click on the green tick button when finished.
• On the next level, a new set of weather conditions and items to sort appear, which must be tackled in the same way as before.

Let kids play this game to see and learn how the environment and things we use change depending on the weather.

4. Weather Crossword Puzzle

Use this online crossword puzzle word game to improve your English listening and spelling skills for terminology related to weather conditions.

How to play the Weather Crossword Puzzle? 

• Click on the photo in the across and down section. 
• The photo will highlight the number you can spell on. 
• Click the keyboard option and then spell the word recited. 
• Complete the puzzle and click check. 

This game is an entertaining way to teach kids how to listen and spell.   

5. Collect the water drops   

Teaching kids about the water cycle, water bodies, water forms, etc., can be tricky. However, this app can make your kid learn these challenging chapters without much hard work. The game lessons are divided into two practice exercises: kids shoot the birds and then a set of questions they need to answer. The game is an ideal mix of both fun and learning. 

How to play Collect The Water Drops? 

• Start by watching the tutorial and then click skip. 
• Place the arrow in the exact direction of the bird and shoot. 
• You will be presented with a series of questions; read the statement carefully and select the correct answer. 
• If you cannot guess the answer, it will be shadowed in red, and the correct answer will be highlighted in green. 

 The game is developed to introduce the kids to the concept of different water bodies, their forms, and the hard concepts of evaporation and condensation, to name a few. 

6. Weather

Weather is an easy-to-learn game wherein a child learns all about different weather conditions. The format of the game is divided into four sections: each set includes matching the season’s photo with its name, seasons in other countries, and weather-related actions by checking the image.   

How to play Weather?

• Start by clicking start. 
• Match the words and the associated season and drag it to the box. 
• Once you fill the set correctly, you will be taken to the next step. 
• In this set, you must drag the season to the country mentioned above. 
• In the following set, you need to visualize the picture and mention which season it is associated with 
• Following this, you must fill in the weather-related action as depicted in the photo. 

The game’s purpose is simple; you learn the season from the first set. After which you learn about different countries through their flags and in the last section know what kind of activities are done. 

7. Sid The Science Kid: Weather Surprise

Sid, the Science Kid is a game where a kid needs to dissect things and animals based on which season setup they belong to. For instance, the image showcases the winter and spring seasons along with polar bears and butterflies in the first section. Then the kid must place the polar bear in the winter snow and a butterfly in the spring photo. 

How to play Weather Surprise? 

• Start by clicking play. 
• Check the images and then thoughtfully place the vegetation. 
• Once done, click the check sign below. 

The game embeds the undeniable benefit of teaching kids about the different seasons and the types of vegetation and animals present in them. 

8. Weather Clothes

Styling according to the season is a fantastic way to teach kids what kind of clothes they must wear to shield themselves. The game showcases different garments and then asks the kids to select the correct season they will wear them. 

How to play Weather Clothes?

• Start by clicking the tiny tap button. 
• Select a box and answer the question “On what day you would wear these clothes.”
• Click the correct image associated with the season you would wear these clothes. 

The learning objective of the game is to familiarize the kids with the different seasons and the outfits associated with them. 

9. Weather Report

Give your child or your students a glimpse of how weather reporting is done through this intriguing weather reporting game. Players take on the role of a weather detective and do their job of reporting a city’s weather through symbols and clues used by the weather department.

How to play Weather Report?

• A description of a city’s weather conditions is displayed on top of the screen.
• Players must go through the report and use the related symbols available on the right side of the screen to display the correct weather using simple drag-and-drop method.
• They must also set the correct temperature on the thermometer before placing it close to the city’s location on the map.  

The game continues until the player has covered all the places on the map. There is also a timer to show how much time a player has taken to complete the challenge.

10. Weather – Matching Game

This is another online game that requires players to flip and match the cards displayed on the screen. All cards are related to the weather and give kids a nice round of practice on the subject.

How to play Weather – Matching Game?

• When the game starts, fourteen cards appear on the screen. Different weather conditions are depicted on these cards in text and image formats.
• Flip one card at a time and try to find its matching pair on the very next flip.
• The game will conclude when all pairs of cards are found.

This game not only helps kids learn about the weather but also enhances their memory as they try to remember the position of cards when flipping them one after the other.

Conclusion 

Teachers who teach meteorology can easily prepare their seasons lesson plan and weather lessons for their courses using learning activities and games. Thanks to instructional games that children enjoy playing while fast becoming experts on various weather situations, children’s interest and knowledge of the weather increases.

Thus, online games, learning songs and watching movies produce the outcomes teachers look for in their pupils. As a result, multiple elementary and middle schools are adding enjoyable online activities and printable worksheets into their curriculum.

Shradha Kalyani Kabra

Armed with a degree in Psychotherapy, CBT and Happiness coaching I have been a counselor for troubled children and their parents for over 4 years. Having a dyslexic child at home made the journey more personal. I have worked at Manovikas kendra for a year as a part time volunteer. In the process I have helped many children overcome learning disabilities and other psychological constraints to lead a fulfilling life! My most tangible victory is my dyslexic child has completed her plus two with over 80% marks and now has trained as a chef from the best college in Asia.

The post 10 Fun Weather Games To Play Online appeared first on Number Dyslexia.

This can be beneficial for an inclusive classroom as just one teacher may be burdened with the responsibilities to provide learning to the entire class which includes children with special needs. If there is another teacher who specializes in learning difficulties, the quality of the education will be much better as the workload will be divided and there will be expertise for special students. There are many models for co-teaching that can be adopted, and teachers may choose what suits them.

Co-teaching model: The What and Why

Co-teaching is pairing teachers together in a classroom to share the responsibilities of planning, instructing, and assessing students equally. In a co-teaching model, the teachers involved are all responsible and accountable for the classroom. 

Co-teaching is often implemented with general and special education teachers together as part of an initiative to create a classroom that creates a learning atmosphere for all students. 

• Co-teaching allows for greater efficiency, which can mean more time spent on students’ academic needs, as opposed to administrative or clerical tasks.
• CoTeaching (or Collaborative Teaching) involves two teachers working together and sharing responsibility for an individual child’s educational program, It requires both parties to share information about the student’s progress. This helps them provide appropriate instruction based on their needs at any given time.
• In this method of teaching, it could mean that one teacher focuses primarily on the student. At the same time, another specializes in providing enrichment activities for all members of the class or working with one or two other students with similar needs. The main goal is to ensure that each individual receives optimal instruction from both teachers and is therefore satisfied. 

Co-teaching models: Explored

1. One teach one assist

One Teach One Assist is a model that allows the teacher to teach and provide direct instructional support while the assistant provides independent learning activities. The two are not required to work together at all times, but they can if they choose.

This model allows for the best possible learning environment for students with special needs by providing them with specialized instruction from an experienced educator who knows how to work directly with these individuals based on their individual needs. It also helps teachers who may be more comfortable working alone because it gives them more time for planning purposes. 

2. Station model

Station teaching is a model that uses a teacher and an aide to work in separate areas of the classroom. The teacher works with one group of students, while the aide works with another group of students. Because station teaching involves two people working together, it can be more efficient than other models of special education teaching because there’s less need for communication between them as they work on different parts of their tasks simultaneously.

Aides may also help students with tasks that teachers cannot do by themselves because they lack knowledge or expertise in certain areas. For example: helping with writing activities.

3. Alternative teaching

The alternative teaching model is one small group of students receives intensive instruction from one teacher, while the rest of the students are instructed by the other teacher. Alternative Teaching is used when a handful of students may have different needs than the rest of the class, whether they need more support or an extension of the lesson. 

For example, the general education teacher leads a small group, rather than the special education teacher. Both teachers take turns leading the groups so that it is not just one teacher becoming prominent in that role to the students. This also provides both teachers the opportunity to know all of the students well and to provide updates on each child’s individual goals.

4. Parallel teaching

Parallel teaching is another model used to help children with learning disabilities or other special needs. A teacher and specialist are in the same classroom, but they work separately on their subjects. The specialist may teach a different group of students than the teacher, or even a different subject altogether. 

 In this case, the child will learn from both teachers at once and have a better chance of understanding what’s being taught because they can compare notes between each other and themselves.

5. Team teaching

Team teaching is a good way to ensure students have access to high-quality education. In this model, teachers share responsibility for their student’s learning and work together to plan lessons. Teachers may be in the same classroom but share different roles: some may teach all subjects while others teach only one subject at a time.

Teachers also work together on assessment tasks and goals for each student—so that everyone has an opportunity to contribute as much as possible.

Co-teaching models; What does the research say?

Co-teaching is a strategy that can be used to provide extra help and support to students who are struggling in the classroom. It also offers an opportunity for both teachers to develop their own professional development skills as they work collaboratively with each other. However, while co-teaching can be a valuable tool for improving student learning outcomes, it requires careful planning and implementation in order to be successful. 

Co-teaching has gained a positive perspective^[1] from teachers and students who adopted it and significant improvements in academic and behavioral aspects were found in comparison to previous years when co-teaching was not put to use.

Co-teaching appears to be an effective option for inclusive classrooms, to meet the needs of students with difficulties placed in general classrooms as the presence of a general education teacher along with a special education teacher fulfills the needs of all students. Both teachers assist one another on various matters and complement each other’s expertise. This ensures that along with meeting the needs of special students, the needs of other peers and the environment of the classroom as a whole flourish. 

Co-teaching has produced many positive benefits^[2] for educators and students as it generates more student and teacher engagement as well as creates a support system. The general education teacher contributes with their grade-level knowledge and the special education teacher puts in the content knowledge needed to meet the requirements of students with disabilities. In addition to that, teachers develop a positive relationship of support and companionship and this collaboration works best for both teachers and students.

Although co-teaching seems like a smooth way of delivering learning in an inclusive classroom by facilitating general and special education, it requires a great deal of support, partnership, and compatibility. For co-teaching to work in an efficient manner, planning, and preparation for lesson plans, roles, and responsibilities of both the teachers and common ground on teaching approaches. Considering each other’s viewpoint and reaching a mid-way during times of disagreement is very crucial for this method of teaching as it can go south if both teachers do not work as a team. 

Pros and Cons

Pros

• The most significant advantage of this method is the lesser student-to-teacher ratio. This ensures more attention is paid by the educator to the learners. 
• There is an inclusive classroom where the child with special needs feels comfortable.
• The children benefit from the knowledge and experience of both the teachers.
• The teachers have reduced workload which helps improve efficiency.
• The children receive immediate feedback as the teacher has more time. 
• No monotony because of one teacher

Cons

• can lead to interference with a child’s ability to become an independent learner.
• Both teachers must support the classroom environment equally for this arrangement to be useful.
• There must be a factor of trust between the teachers without which it becomes difficult to implement this method. 
• the cost of providing education can increase exponentially in communities that adopt this system as the staff has to be increased. 
• Meticulous planning is required, without which there may be situations where the instructors might find themselves teaching different content on the same subjects. 

How do co-teaching models help students with LD?

Co-teaching provides students with learning difficulties, access to the general education curriculum by providing them with more opportunities for peer interactions and hands-on learning, thereby making the classroom more inclusive and sensitive to their needs. It allows teachers to create a positive classroom environment, teach social skills, and promote friendship between children with special needs and their classmates. It fosters an environment of mutual respect and friendship.

Through co-teaching students with learning difficulties receive specialized instruction. They will have the opportunity to be taught in an intense manner. Being in a classroom and learning helps the child with special needs to improve social skills as well. Interacting with peers, and teachers adds to self-confidence. 

Co-taught lessons help all students learn from each other, regardless of ability. Students with difficulties can serve as role models, leading their classmates in study groups, team projects, and cooperative learning activities. They may serve as a source of motivation to their peers. The co-teaching model provides a setting that promotes maturity and an understanding of each other. It helps to build trust with the educators and peers and instills a sense of confidence in the child. 

Conclusion

To sum it up, although teachers, parents, and schools do their best to ensure that all students participate in the same learning environment, it is difficult to provide a resource custom fitting every student’s needs. Co-teaching models provide a lesser teacher-to-student ratio, allowing teachers to provide specialized instruction to meet the unique needs of each child. 

Many parents face one issue when enrolling their child in school the lack of accommodation for their child’s special needs. In addition, the diversity within the student population is changing so rapidly that most schools struggle to develop curricula to accommodate learning differences adequately. This is where co-teaching can play an important role; in providing an inclusive environment for all.

References

1. Hang, Q., & Rabren, K. (2008). An Examination of Co-Teaching. Remedial and Special Education. https://doi.org/10.1177/0741932508321018
2. Stortenbecker, J. (n.d.). The effectiveness of the Co-Teaching model. NWCommons. https://nwcommons.nwciowa.edu/education_masters/369/

Shradha Kalyani Kabra

Armed with a degree in Psychotherapy, CBT and Happiness coaching I have been a counselor for troubled children and their parents for over 4 years. Having a dyslexic child at home made the journey more personal. I have worked at Manovikas kendra for a year as a part time volunteer. In the process I have helped many children overcome learning disabilities and other psychological constraints to lead a fulfilling life! My most tangible victory is my dyslexic child has completed her plus two with over 80% marks and now has trained as a chef from the best college in Asia.

The post Everything You Need To Know About Co-Teaching Models In Special Education appeared first on Number Dyslexia.