How to Have Your Child Help With Laundry and Do Math At the Same Time

Socks can lead to a few different math activities. Sorting, even/odd, pairs, skip counting by 2....

5 Fun and Easy Science Activities That You Can Do At Home

Children are natural scientists. They are always asking 'why'. As adults it is important for us to foster that inquisitiveness and help them to discover the answers to the their questions rather than just give them the answers.

Science is fun, and it can easily be done at home.

5 Ways to Easily Incorporate Math at Home

Doing Math at home can be easier than you think. Math is much more than worksheets of adding and subtracting. Kids love many math activities and they don't even realize that they are doing math.

Here are 5 fun and easy ways...

Beyond 'Sound it Out' - How to Read With Your Child

It is important that the reading times be enjoyable so that you child learns to love reading and will want to keep it up. Below are some suggestions to help your child read. We grew up learning to 'sound it out' when stuck on a word but there are so many more strategies that not only help your child figure out the words, but help them make sense of their reading.

These were taken from First Grade Wow

Great Online Resources for Kids

I often get asked for some good online sites for kids.  Our school website has links for some of the paid ones and many of the others so be sure to check out the Maquinna School Website!

NOTE: To access the digital classroom for students:

 Go to the Maquinna Website

Scroll down to Digital Classroom

What Did You Do At School Today?

How many times have you asked your child, "How was school today?" or "What did you do at school today?" and you get a simple answer like, "Good" or "Nothing".

Here are some great ways to open up the lines of communication and find out about school with them even knowing you are doing so!

As seen on the Huffington Post:

1. What was the best thing that happened at school today? (What was the worst thing that happened at school today?)

2. Tell me something that made you laugh today.

3. If you could choose, who would you like to sit by in class? (Who would you NOT want to sit by in class? Why?)

4. Where is the coolest place at the school?

5. Tell me a weird word that you heard today. (Or something weird that someone said.)

6. If I called your teacher tonight, what would she tell me about you?

7. How did you help somebody today?

8. How did somebody help you today?

9. Tell me one thing that you learned today.

10. When were you the happiest today?

11. When were you bored today?

12. If an alien spaceship came to your class and beamed someone up, who would you want them to take?

13. Who would you like to play with at recess that you've never played with before?

14. Tell me something good that happened today.

15. What word did your teacher say most today?

16. What do you think you should do/learn more of at school?

17. What do you think you should do/learn less of at school?

18. Who in your class do you think you could be nicer to?

19. Where do you play the most at recess?

20. Who is the funniest person in your class? Why is he/she so funny?

21. What was your favorite part of lunch?

22. If you got to be the teacher tomorrow, what would you do?

23. Is there anyone in your class who needs a time-out?

24. If you could switch seats with anyone in the class, who would you trade with? Why?

25. Tell me about three different times you used your pencil today at school.

Do you have any to add?  The important thing is that we are chatting with our kids about their day and sometimes we just need some creative ways to do so.  

Brain Yoga

A very simple exercise with great results.  I will be incorporating this into my morning carpet routine. It is something you can do at home too.

A spiritual Teacher from the Philippines rediscovers an ancient exercise to raise I.Q.'s
Posted by Journalist Jennifer Sabih on Friday, August 28, 2015