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Helping your child with math - Tips and support for educators, parents and students, shapes and patterns, measurement, mathematical thinking, math games, sorting, problem-solving games, real life math, money, counting Helping Your Child With Math Here are some things you can try at home to help your child improve math skills: Look for shapes and patterns at home or during daily activities. Have children help with measurement, for example when cooking, sewing, building, etc. Ask your child to explain the math skills they are working on or how they got an answer to a math question. Model different approaches to mathematical thinking. For example when counting a group of objects you could line them up, put them in groups of five or ten, or move them while you count by ones or twos. Play card, dice or board games that involve counting, adding or other math concepts. Compare and sort by height, length, weight, speed, cost, etc. Point out ways that math is part of real life as situations arise; money, music, art, construction, cooking, etc. Have tools such as a ruler, scale, calculator and measuring tape available to use to solve day to day math problems. Help your child find appropriate number and problem-solving games online. Check out these math games from Tang Math .

Growing Hearts And Minds

Language Activities and Resources - Art Lessons - Other Freebies, free resources, free websites, team building activities, ontario curriculum, language lessons, write the room, subitizing, addition strategies, students, educators, parents, teachers, education Free Resources: Lifestyle & Wellness Parents Educators Students Some of My Favourite Websites Collection of language resources from Spel-Lang Tree Learning resources aligned with Ontario curriculum from TVO Learn Art lessons from Deep Space Sparkle Language lessons and resources from Read Write Think (scroll down to the bottom to select grade) Lessons, activities and resources shared by teachers from Share My Lesson (searchable by grade, subject and resource type) Check out my Facebook Group, Busy Women Finding Balance , a supportive space for women to share struggles, wins, and practical strategies for reducing stress and creating balance in our busy lives. As a bonus for joining, you’ll get free access to my 18-page goal-setting workbook, Beyond the To-Do List! It’s designed to help you reflect, prioritize, and take action—one step at a time (you can find it in the Files section). Some of My Own Freebies (shareable Google docs) Write the Room - Beginning Blends (for gr. 1-2) Personal Thesaurus (for gr. 2-5) Subitizing Dot slides (for gr. K-2) Addition Strategies Practice (for gr. 1-2) Team Building Activities (for gr. 2-5) Supply Teacher Toolkit (for gr. K-6) Sample Learning Skills Comments (for gr. 1-6) Also check out the Free Resources for Students . Click here to contact me and start a conversation about how I can support you with custom resources and strategies to lighten your workload!

Contact me for a free and complimentary 30 minute consultation, connect, goal setting, conversation, support, guidance, customized resources I offer a complimentary 30 minute consultation to discuss your goals and explore how I can best support you. This initial conversation will help us determine the right approach to meet your needs and answer any questions you may have. After the consultation, my rate is $50 per hour. This includes time spent connecting via video conference, telephone, or text, as well as any work required to gather or create customized resources. Payments can be made using e-transfer, PayPal or credit card. To get started, please send me an email using the on-line form. Share a bit about your goals and how I can help, and we’ll arrange a time to chat. I look forward to connecting with you! Also, feel free to email me if you have any questions or to request my free workbook: Beyond the To-Do List , a goal-setting guide to help you reflect, prioritize, and take action—one step at a time. Growing Hearts and Minds barb.elvidge@gmail.com Submit Thanks for submitting!

Here are some things you can practice at home to help your child get ready for kindergarten, letter and sound recognition, number matching, school lunches, name activities, fine motor skills, problem-solving skills, washing hands, social skills, children, education, parents, teachers, early childhood education, educators Getting Ready For Kindergarten Starting kindergarten is a big milestone, not just for children, but for parents too. It’s completely natural to wonder, “Is my child ready?” One of the greatest gifts we can give children before they begin school is growing independence. When children learn to do things for themselves they often walk into the classroom with more confidence. Independence builds competence, and competence builds confidence. But it’s equally important to remember this: Every child develops at their own pace. Some children are eager and independent early on. Others take more time. That doesn’t mean they aren’t ready, it simply means they are growing in their own way. Kindergarten teachers understand this. Supporting children through these early steps is part of the job. Your child does not need to walk in knowing everything. They need to walk in knowing they are loved, capable, and safe to learn. The suggestions that follow are simple skills you can begin practicing before school starts... and continue building throughout the year as needed. Think of them not as a checklist to complete, but as opportunities to gently strengthen your child’s confidence one small step at a time: Skills that develop personal independence: using the washroom independently, washing their hands, opening and closing their backpack and lunchbox (as well as any containers inside), putting on and taking off their shoes and coat, follow simple directions with 1 or 2 steps. Social skills: sharing, taking turns, asking for help, allowing someone else to go first, discuss feelings. Letter/sound recognition activities: watch some short, fun videos such as this Letter Factory song, pick one letter (start with the first letter in your child’s name) and discuss the sound it makes then look for it in books or objects in the environment, check out some fun printables at funlearningforkids.com that you can do with your child. Number activities: identify numbers in the environment, count a variety of objects, match numbers with pictures (see my Numbers to 10 Matching Activity freebie). Name activities: point out their name in different contexts, practice identifying their name next to a few other names of friends or family, practice tracing their name, hide a name card and have your child find it. Fine motor skills: drawing, painting, tracing, cutting with scissors, gluing with white glue and glue sticks, using tweezers to pick up small objects such as pompoms or beads. Problem-solving skills: follow your child’s interests (such as creating art, cooking, building structures, conducting science experiments or exploring nature), brainstorm ideas, ask questions, research, try using different tools or materials, discuss challenges, reflect on what went well and what you could do differently. Here is a link from the Ontario Government about Preparing Your Child for Full-Day Kindergarten. You can also check out my blog Creative Ways to Make Learning Fun and Engaging for Kids .

Free Resources for Students - Educators - Parents - General Lifestyle and Wellness , podcasts, free websites, motivation, free meditation, nutrition, free vegan recipes Free Resources: Lifestyle & Wellness Parents Educators Students Articles by Me Improving Social Health & Dealing with Loneliness - A practical guide to building connection, confidence and community. Reclaiming You: 8 Week Challenge Checklist - A printable checklist to go alongside the Reclaiming You 8 part blog series. This series is for the women who've spent years holding it all together and are finally ready to hold space for themselves. Reflection Questions for Reclaiming You - Reflection prompts from Reclaiming You, an 8-part blog series for women who are ready to live with more truth, intention, and self-compassion. You can find the full series under the Blog tab. Effective Communication Strategies: Attachment Styles & Crucial Conversations Check out my Facebook Group, Busy Women Finding Balance , a supportive space for women to share struggles, wins, and practical strategies for reducing stress and creating balance in our busy lives. As a bonus for joining, you’ll get free access to my 18-page goal-setting workbook, Beyond the To-Do List! It’s designed to help you reflect, prioritize, and take action—one step at a time (you can find it in the Files section). Some of My Favourite Books Untamed by Glennon Doyle (I recommend this for every woman who wants to wake up and rediscover her true self) Heart Minded: How to Hold Yourself and Others in Love by Sarah Blondin How To Do The Work by Dr. Nicole LePera A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose by Eckhart Tolle The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey (This is an oldie but a goodie that I always find myself coming back to.) Some of My Favourite Websites Insight Timer - Can also download the app. I have paid for a Plus membership, but there are many free meditations and guides. Mel Robbins - Make It Happen - free motivation workshop and workbook Oh She Glows - One of my go to spots for tasty, healthy meals. The recipes are all vegan (I'm not vegan but enjoy everything I make from here) Some of My Favourite Podcasts Live Awake with Sarah Blondin (She changed my life!) Unlocking Us with Brené Brown 10% Happier with Dan Harris In particular, this episode featuring Tara Brach: A Counterintuitive Strategy for Navigating Tumultuous Times This Diary Of A CEO episode about stress featuring neuroscientist Tara Swart Click here to contact me and start a conversation about how I can support you on your wellness journey!

Meal Planning - Parenting Resources - Family Goal Setting - Empathetic Support - Organization - Scheduling - Coaching - Emotional Challenges - Best Life Support for Parents With over 20 years of experience as a teacher and tutor, raising two children of my own, and volunteering with Kids Help Phone, I understand the joys and challenges of parenting. My goal is to provide the guidance and resources you need to thrive as a parent and support your family’s success. How I Can Help You I offer personalized support in the following areas: Meal Planning : Customized meal plans complete with grocery lists to simplify your busy days. Parenting Resources : Practical tools and resources for parenting, organization, and scheduling. Family Goal Setting : Help with creating actionable goals and plans for you and your family’s growth. Empathetic Coaching : A compassionate ear to listen, understand, and stand by your side while empowering you to overcome emotional challenges and create your best life. Let’s work together to make parenting more manageable and fulfilling. Click here to contact me for a free 30 minute consultation to discuss how I can support you as a parent!

Favorite podcasts and websites - Free Articles For Reading Writing Social Skills Kindergarten, free resources, helping your child with reading and math, managing meltdowns, outdoor activities Free Resources: Lifestyle & Wellness Parents Educators Students Articles by Me Effective Communication Strategies: Attachment Styles & Crucial Conversations Promoting Social Skills Development Getting Ready for Kindergarten Helping Your Child with Reading Helping your Child with Math Strategies to Manage Meltdowns Check out my Facebook Group, Busy Women Finding Balance , a supportive space for women to share struggles, wins, and practical strategies for reducing stress and creating balance in our busy lives. As a bonus for joining, you’ll get free access to my 18-page goal-setting workbook, Beyond the To-Do List! It’s designed to help you reflect, prioritize, and take action—one step at a time (you can find it in the Files section). Some Of My Favourite Websites Outdoor Activities for Kids from Run Wild My Child A variety of activities to do with your kids from The Hamilton Public Library Discover at Home Kids Resources, blog posts and podcasts from The Measured Mom Zero to Three offers a resources tailored for parents, covering topics like child development, early learning, and parenting strategies. Browse a variety of topics at Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids Some of My Favourite Podcasts Good Inside with Dr. Becky We Can Do Hard Things episode with guest Dr. Becky Also check out the Free Resources for Students and Educators. Click here to contact me and start a conversation about how I can provide valuable tools and support you as a parent!

As a recently retired OCT (Ontario College of Teachers) teacher and lifelong learner, I am excited to bring my passion for helping others into a new role that aligns with my skills and experience. 1 Hour Session

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