Learning at Home, PreK–3
Homework Activities That Engage Children and Families
Stark County Education Service Center, Ashland University
'Wonderful! The author has done an excellent job of providing a wealth of materials for the educator and/or parent, as well as answering some tough questions about home learning for young children' - Ken Klopack, Art and Gifted Educational Consultant, Chicago Public Schools, IL
Create a strong home-school connection through family activities that extend learning!
Because families play a critical role in helping young children develop a strong academic foundation and a love of learning, teachers need to involve caregivers as partners in education and extend learning to the home environment. Learning at Home, PreK–3 helps teachers plan developmentally appropriate, creative homework activities that encourage positive learning experiences and reinforce important home-school connections.
Packed with hundreds of engaging and interesting activities, this resource expands the concept of what constitutes homework and family involvement. Focused mainly on social interactions within the family, these playful, fun activities:
- Relate directly to children's own experiences
- Employ concrete, easily accessible materials
- Include shared reading experiences, family projects, and games
- Integrate developmental and content areas, including language and literacy, mathematics, science, and the creative arts
- Promote literacy learning in homes where English is not the primary language
These tools and strategies help teachers reach out to families and reinforce learning both in school and at home, ensuring that all students have the chance to achieve and become lifelong learners.
“This book has so many rich choices for families to work together at home. The School Home activities are categorized by academic subject and would be extremely easy for teachers or even an entire elementary school to incorporate as homework practices.”
“This book is a great resource for educators and families and is filled with practical ideas to engage everyone in the fun of learning.”
“I am going to use this book and these wonderful ideas in writing my own professional goals for next year. The research, ideas, uses, materials are all very appropriate for me as I continue to grow as an experienced teacher who is interested in getting better every year!”
“I loved this book. What a great resource, full of activities and directions for those activities that parents and other caretakers can easily do at home.”
“Wonderful! The author has done an excellent job of providing a wealth of materials for the educator and/or parent, as well as answering some tough questions about home learning for young children.”
“For young children (and their parents), homework is often a painful, empty experience. Barbour rethinks this age-old task with meaningful and powerful ways parents can joyfully connect with their children with the skills they need for school.”
“At this critical time in early childhood education, Barbour’s book provides a valuable resource for programs seeking to strengthen ties between home and school. Grounded in the research on play and the benefits of family involvement in the learning process, this book provides a rich menu of ideas and resources that can be easily implemented in any early childhood setting.”
"There is no doubt that connecting with family members is of great benefit to a student’s learning. Barbour presents clear and easy-to-implement strategies for successfully making this connection, with an emphasis on building positive home-school relationships and promoting learning together as an enjoyable experience for everyone involved."