The IRIS Center: Research-based resources for educators
"The IRIS Center is a national center dedicated to improving education outcomes for all children, especially those with...
#Early Childhood
Promoting Self-Regulation in the First Five Years
Self-regulation is how we manage our feelings, energy level and thoughts in productive ways that help us stay connected with others and focused on goals in spite of challenges or disruptions.
Read this summary of findings on self-regulation from the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It’s one of a series of five briefs on self regulation.
Diet and Hyperactivity
As shared in Exchange Every Day, from Child Care Information Exchange, a new study reports a link between consuming food dyes and sodium benzoate, and hyperactivity in children.A UK study reported in Work & Family Life (November 2007; www.workandfamilylife.com) demonstrates the impact of food additives on children's behavior. Researchers at the University of Southampton served 300 children in two age groups (3's and 8-9's) three different fruit drinks...
TRUCE Toy Guide Now Available
TRUCE (Teachers Resisting Unhealthy Children's Entertainment) has released its 2008 Toy Action Guide, just in time for the holidays. In their own words, This guide is intended to help adults promote children’s creative and constructive play by making informed choices about toys, and by working with others at home, school, and in the community to promote positive play and toys. The guide includes indispensable tips for how to...
Meet Peter Reynolds… again!
I keep coming across one of my favorite children's authors & illustrators Peter Reynolds again and again. I first found him at the TRLD conference in San Francisco, in 2000. He was there to promote his software, but I convinced him (it wasn't hard) to sign a copy of The North Star for my newborn nephew Joe. Not only did he sign it to Joe, he added a...
Best Web Sites for Reading and Writing with Kids, K-5
Here's my outline for a half-day workshop on using web-based resources for K-5 literacy instruction, including links to my favorite literacy-oriented sites.
ASL Pro
ASL Pro is a web site that offers a free American Sign Language video dictionary and quiz tool for teachers and others who want to teach or learn sign language. Words and phrases are organized into a Main Dictionary, Religious Dictionary, Conversational Dictionary (including idioms), and ASL for Babies Dictionary. The quiz and learning tools include finger spelling quizzes and customizable quizzes.
The Color Bug: Radio-Controlled Art
The RC Color Bug is one cool idea (and one we used to rig up ourselves with remote controlled cars, markers and rubber bands). This lady-bug shaped toy holds markers point down so kids can draw by steering the bug with a button-operated remote. With a little work, we could probably adapt the remote to work with ability switches used by many kids with physical disabilities. At the...
What Will $1,000,000 Buy?
Reprinted from Exchange Every Day by Child Care Information Exchange: What Will $1 Million Buy?April 26, 2007 The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.Helen KellerDid you ever play the game, "What would you do if you had $1 million?" Well, here are some ideas for you:For $1 million you can pay for....1. 22...
By-pass Pizza Hut’s BOOK-IT Program
The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood writes:As part of our ongoing effort to counter commercialism in schools, CCFC is encouraging parents and educators to stop schools from using Pizza Hut BOOK IT! programs. BOOK IT! is one of corporate America's most insidious school-based brand promotions. It reaches 22 million school children in 900,000 classrooms each year. Through the BOOK IT! Beginners program (which runs this year from March...