tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011594031714741411.post3216216094570497647..comments2023-10-14T03:07:08.670-05:00Comments on EARLY CHILDHOOD BRAIN INSIGHTS: IS THIS THE WAY THE BRAIN LEARNS?Deborah McNelishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06330779787764684567noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011594031714741411.post-24011719580090129692013-04-28T19:20:27.896-05:002013-04-28T19:20:27.896-05:00Deborah - as I get ready to post my "Children...Deborah - as I get ready to post my "Children and Experiments" article for this week, you sent me the link to this article to go along with our "Orange juice" experiment. I'll be blogging it in a moment but first, I wanted to comment. I have four kids. My eldest son LOVED flashcards. I didn't like them but he did. Every time we walked into a store he'd ask me to buy some. He thought it was hilarious to drill ME. From the time he was two until he was about 6, he enjoyed flashcards. He is now 14. My other kids don't like flashcards so I never offer them or use them. However, my first son did, and so I gave him what he enjoyed.<br /><br />Did we also do countless hands-on activities with real objects? You bet!<br /><br />Interestingly, I began tutoring a child last week. His native language is Chinese and the parents want him to speak English. As we played and played in my home, I said "Ball! You are playing with a blue ball." Or, "That toy is pink." Or, "Soft!" Or, "You have a truck now." Or, "Fish. That is our pet fish." By the end of our time together he was repeating numerous words, very clearly. I will have him three more times this week and I'm even more excited after reading your post! Thanks. :-)Shara Lawrence-Weisshttp://earlychildhoodnews.net/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011594031714741411.post-41007109691361527472011-01-17T21:26:52.031-06:002011-01-17T21:26:52.031-06:00I agree - children need meaningful experiences in ...I agree - children need meaningful experiences in order to really learn. I wouldn't question that thought a single bit. But I do question your thought that learning the ABC's or even Janet's thought on Counting numbers. I am not questioning the use of flashcards - this I think is just a boring way to learn anything. <br /><br />However, does it not make sense to share letters, shapes, numbers, counting, and other similar content along with meaningful connections along the way so children can begin to organize these concepts and patterns as they begin to emerge in a way that will make sense to them? I am not the expert you are so this is not a challenge just something I wonder about.Deborahhttp://www.teachpreschool.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011594031714741411.post-82596859520142094542011-01-17T18:18:01.050-06:002011-01-17T18:18:01.050-06:00Amen, you're totally right!
Why do parents c...Amen, you're totally right! <br /><br />Why do parents continue to go for the flashcards? I keep trying to figure it out.Melissa Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15351051698870860742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011594031714741411.post-69304046835261230072011-01-17T17:28:08.562-06:002011-01-17T17:28:08.562-06:00Simple, yet so important and brilliantly presented...Simple, yet so important and brilliantly presented. Thank you for this post.<br /><br />Similarly, when we teach preschoolers to count they learn little about math. It's much more productive for children (and feels much more natural to us) when we simply acknowledge the 'amounts' they deal with while they play, eat, bath, etc. "You're trying to carry three of those balls. That's hard to do. Oh, now you put one down and have two. Easier, isn't it?" Or, "We can share these four apple slices. I'll have two and you can have two."<br /><br />The good news is that what is easier for us is better for our children. What's not to like?janetlansburyhttp://janetlansbury.comnoreply@blogger.com