Family Education

Videos & Resources

The most valuable resource in our world for developing human potential is parent talk and parent and child conversation.

Science tells us that the human brain has completed approximately 85% of its physical growth, a significant part of the foundation for all thinking and learning, by the end of age three. The development of the brain is absolutely related to the language environment of the young child.

A child’s vocabulary as early as age 3 can predict third grade reading achievement.

However, it is never too late to help a child expand their vocabulary and language facility through meaningful parent-child conversation.

This video is one example of turning a child’s snack time into a richer brain-building conversation time.

The websites available below contain some good ideas for engaging young children in conversations that will expand their vocabulary and language ability which will pay huge dividends in school performance.

https://www.anxioustoddlers.com/family-dinner/

http://drkristiwolfe.com/conversation-starters/

http://www.playworks.org/blog/34-conversation-starters-your-family

By all means have time talking with your child and just enjoy their ideas and creativeness.

"Five Little Monkeys" - Use rhyming and repetition to reinforce number sense

Babble. Talk. Read.

Find out why reading to children and exposing them to words as early as possible is so very important. Learn more >

Bill Martin Jr Picture Book Award

The Bill Martin, Jr. Picture Book Award aims to promote an appreciation of quality literature in young children across Kansas. Books receiving the award named for the author of the children's classic Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do you See? is now conducted by a committee organized by the Jones Institute for Educational Excellence. Find out what books have received and been nominated for the award. Learn more >

Kansas People - full booklet .pdf

The KMLC exists to promote and assist literacy development in Kansas. The worksheets provided below are the individual pages from Kansas People, which is now out of print. These resources are provided to engage children and their parents in not only literacy, but language development and Kansas history and its people. Have fun learning about Kansas and Kansans!

Babies Need Words Every Day Booklist

Need suggestions to read to infants, babies, and toddlers? This list contains more than 90 recommendations in areas ranging from first words to nursery rhymes to daily routines. Click here!

Reading Aloud with Children of All Ages

Have you lost touch with your inner child and need some tips on how to read to babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and Kindergartners and primary school children? Click here!

Engaging Readers: Suggestions and Resources to Encourage Independent Reading

Tips for parents, web sites to visit, how to pick a book, and how to nurture a growing reader are available here.

Why It Is Never Too Early to Start Reading With Your Baby

When parents talk, read, and sing with their babies and toddlers, connections are formed in their young brains. Learn about how these connections are formed. Click here!

Why Read Aloud to Children?

http://www.trelease-on-reading.com/read-aloud-brochure.pdf

Ten Facts Parents Should Know about Reading

http://www.trelease-on-reading.com/10-reading-facts-brochure.pdf

Reading: The Most Powerful Social Force in America!