Teaching Basic Numeracy & Literacy

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Teaching literacy and numeracy skills to young children involves a variety of techniques and strategies. Key considerations include the child’s age and, importantly, their specific learning style, as every child learns differently. For instance, while your four-year-old might already be able to recite the alphabet or count to 100, my four-year-old may excel at colouring neatly within the lines. Neither child is inherently “smarter” than the other; they simply utilise different areas of their brain to learn.

While you’re at it, check out our Kindergarten Checklist! 

Teaching Literacy and Numeracy through Total Physical Response (TPR)

Total Physical Response (TPR) is a teaching method that involves physical movement in response to verbal instructions. It can be highly effective for young children, as it harnesses their natural inclination to learn through physical activity. TPR can be divided into two main categories: Instructional TPR and Educational TPR.

Instructional TPR focuses on learning through actions. For example, when teaching counting, children might use their fingers to point at each number as they count. To teach a word like “ear,” children could cup their ear to associate the action with the concept of hearing. This approach helps form a cognitive link between the word and its meaning. Similarly, children could use their fingers to mimic the shape of certain letters, further reinforcing the learning process through movement.

Educational TPR addresses the “what” and “how” of teaching literacy and numeracy.

  • WHAT are literacy and numeracy?
  • HOW can we effectively teach these skills?

This method employs physical movements to elicit verbal responses, making it ideal for young, tactile learners. At ages three or four, children are naturally curious and eager to touch, taste, and explore their surroundings. While it may seem challenging to teach a distracted toddler, TPR turns this curiosity into an advantage. For example, instead of expecting a child to quietly recite the alphabet or count repeatedly, physical gestures can be used to represent specific letters, numbers, or words.

TPR mimics the way infants learn their first language by linking speech and action, creating a strong connection between verbal communication and physical movement. This might involve using facial expressions, large hand gestures, body movements, or props. The aim is to ensure literacy and numeracy concepts are taught in a visual and engaging way that young learners can easily grasp.

Encouraging Literacy and Numeracy in Early Childhood

Ensuring your child develops literacy and numeracy skills at the right pace and in line with their unique learning needs is essential. In early childhood, literacy is about more than just writing and recognising letters. It encompasses activities such as movement, music, drawing, and other creative pursuits that encourage communication. Simple acts like reading to your child and engaging them in conversation from a young age are crucial first steps in fostering literacy skills. Outings and activities can also introduce new vocabulary and help develop communication abilities in an enjoyable, interactive way.

Numeracy, similarly, extends beyond basic counting and mathematics. Teaching patterns and shapes can provide a fun and engaging introduction to numeracy concepts. For example, pointing out patterns in nature or sorting objects by shape can be valuable activities for developing these skills.

How BrightSparkz Can Help

Teaching literacy and numeracy

At BrightSparkz, we understand the importance of building a strong foundation for your child’s learning journey. Our Little Sparkz Kindergarten readiness program focuses on helping children to master essential skills that they will need to enter Kindergarten with confidence. 

Our fun and interactive program helps to build basic literacy and numeracy skills, fine motor skills, gross motor skills, coordination, memory and improved vocabulary. The program comprises 10 themed lessons made up of worksheets and activities that engage all the senses and encourage learning for children with any learning style. The program is suitable from the age of three upwards, as well as for children currently in Kindergarten needing a refresher on basic skills. To get started on the Little Sparkz journey, just click here!

 

For more insights into tutoring, check out our Ultimate Guide on Tutoring!

This article has been adapted from our sister site.

Building Fine Motor Skills & Co-ordination

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Fine motor skills and coordination are essential in the modern world, where your child will need all the tools you give them for a successful career and fulfilling life.

These crucial aspects of a child’s physical development enable them to perform everyday tasks with precision and control. They also contribute to a healthy physical and mental profile as adults.

Encouraging activities that enhance these abilities can lead to better hand-eye coordination, improved agility, and greater independence in performing complex tasks. This piece will explore key strategies and activities for building fine motor skills and coordination.

What are Fine Motor Skills and Coordination

Fine motor skills refer to precise movements made by the muscles in the hands, fingers, and wrists. Writing, cutting with scissors, brushing teeth, and tying shoes all require these skills. Many of the most coveted career paths, like surgery or dentistry, require these skills, and developing them early can be of great benefit.

Coordination is the process of using different senses together to complete tasks. Most tasks use hand-eye coordination, but cross-body and bilateral coordination are vital for sports and recreation. Any technical career path, like mechanical engineering or flying, requires coordination skills.

fine motor skills and coordination

Fine Motor Skills Activities

When developing fine motor skills necessary to cope with the demands of kindergarten, we look at how to develop the smaller muscles in our hands and fingers. This is done through activities such as:

  • Playing with play dough
  • Creating pasta necklaces
  • Tearing paper
  • Using scissors
  • Using glue to stick paper or other objects 
  • Building puzzles
  • Playing with food and feeding themselves
  • Colouring in
  • Drawing and painting
  • Playing with sand or water
  • Building with blocks or lego
  • Learning to brush their teeth

Coordination Activities

Additionally skills like coordination are also essential when starting kindergarten. Parents can assist their children in developing their coordination by:

  • Practising balancing on one foot
  • Throwing and catching a ball
  • Running 
  • Jumping
  • Walking backwards
  • Playing tug of war
  • Jumping on a trampoline or jumping castle
  • Swimming
  • Playing sports like football or tennis
  • Learning to ride a bicycle or tricycle
  • Learning to play a musical instrument

It is important that preschoolers develop their coordination and fine motor skills as these are essential for their development. They help with various daily activities in both the classroom and on the playground. 

By creating activities that get children to use their fingers and their hands, you’ll be assisting them in developing their fine motor skills.  These skills will build the foundation for writing, being able to pick up and manipulate books, tie shoelaces and do various art activities. 

By developing coordination, children will show more confidence in walking, running, climbing and will have more fun on the playground. This is important for their self-confidence, and for almost all activities they’ll need to do as an adult. 

When should I expect my child to develop fine motor skills and coordination?

Your child’s fine motor and coordination skills will develop throughout childhood, with every child hitting milestones at different rates. 

Fine Motor Skills Timeline

  • 0-3 months: Limited fine motor control, grasping reflex (automatically grabbing objects placed in their hands).
  • 3-6 months: Starts to swipe at objects, brings hands to mouth, and holds objects with both hands.
  • 6-9 months: Grasps objects using the whole hand can transfer objects from one hand to another.
  • 9-12 months: Develops a pincer grasp (thumb and index finger), picks up small objects like cereal, and starts to point at things.
  • 12-18 months: Begins to scribble with a crayon, turn pages in a book, and stack blocks.
  • 18-24 months: Can use a spoon, attempts to undress, and begins to build simple block towers.
  • 3 years: Can draw circles, manipulate playdough, use scissors to snip paper, and build towers of 6-8 blocks.
  • 4 years: Improves cutting skills, dresses and undresses independently, and draws basic shapes or stick figures.
  • 5 years: Can copy letters, use a fork and knife, tie shoelaces, and build more complex structures.
  • 6-7 years: Refined pincer grasp, can write legibly, button clothes, and manage more intricate tasks like cutting out complex shapes.
  • 8+ years: Fine motor skills become more advanced, allowing for activities like playing musical instruments, typing on a keyboard, or drawing detailed pictures.

Coordination Development Timeline:

  • 0-3 months: Developing head and neck control, limited gross motor coordination.
  • 6-9 months: Rolling over, sitting up, and starting to crawl, developing gross motor coordination between arms and legs.
  • 9-12 months: Begins to pull to stand and may start walking with support.
  • 12-18 months: Walking independently, starting to run, and improving balance.
  • 18-24 months: Kicking a ball, beginning to climb, and showing better coordination with hands and feet.
  • 3 years: Your child should be running with more coordination, jumping with two feet, and catching a ball using arms and body.
  • 4 years: Can hop on one foot, throw a ball with more control, and balance on one foot for a few seconds.
  • 5 years: Your child will be mastering skills like skipping, riding a bike with training wheels, and balancing on one foot for a more extended period.
  • 6-7 years: Further refinement of coordination, participating in sports, dancing, and activities requiring gross and fine motor skills.
  • 8+ years: Coordination improves with more complex physical activities like gymnastics, soccer, or swimming.

How Can BrightSparkz Help?

Not sure where to start? BrightSparkz’s Little Sparkz™ is a fantastic way to introduce the basics of fine motor skills and coordination, as well as some other important skills your child will need in addition, such as memory. 

During each lesson, your child will have the opportunity to strengthen their pencil grip, practice colouring in, using a paintbrush, using glue to stick objects, handling paper and other materials in art activities, as well as learning to cut. Here’s what a happy Mom had to say about Little Sparkz™:

“In just 3 sessions they went from not being able to cut with scissors at all, to being able to cut out small objects. They also quickly learnt the difference between big and small letters in writing their names. 

I think all preschool kids would benefit from this program. Big schools seem to expect so much from kids at Kindergarten level and the leap is just too big for most kids. This program really seems to bridge that gap!”

Based on an article written by Jade Hales, ECD student and BrightSparkz Blog Writer. A version of this article first appeared on brightsparkz.co.za.

Preparing for Your First Year at University

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Well done! You have successfully completed high school and are now eagerly awaiting to embark on the next step of your life – starting university!

university

You may be feeling a mixture of excitement and anxiety, particularly if you are attending a university, college or another tertiary institution far from home or your friends are not attending university with you. This is normal! 

Here are some practical tips to consider to ensure that you are as well-prepared as possible to prevent adding unnecessary stress:

Before University Starts

  • Ensure that all necessary documentation and payments required by the university are up to date as early as possible.
  • Attend all orientation or induction events hosted by the university. These are a great way to meet new people, as well as familiarize yourself with the campus and where you’ll need to be on your first day.
  • If you are commuting, ensure that you know the route, bus or train stops and where to park if you will be driving. Organise a parking token if necessary. 
  • Ensure you have the required resources for your course – you will get a list of all textbooks and requirements which it is best to try and obtain early in the semester so you don’t fall behind. 
  • Buy the necessary stationery – plenty of pens and notepaper if you like to take lots of notes!
  • Pay attention to all communication from the university for your first day instructions. 
  • Start setting an alarm clock, particularly if you’ve got into the habit of sleeping in since the end of school. You need practise and discipline for your new routine????
  • Ensure you have some comfortable shoes – most campuses are vast and you may have to walk a lot (or run) between lectures! What good are pretty shoes if your feet are aching?
  • If you will be living in res, or away from home, make sure you give yourself enough time to move in before university activities start. 
  • If you are living in self-catering digs, buy food for at least the first week.

The First Day (& Week)

  • Set your alarm clock to ensure you will wake up on time.
  • Have a small, healthy breakfast to provide power for your new routine. 
  • Arrive at your first lecture early. This will give you time to get a good seat and time to check the other students out!
  • Become familiar with your timetable and the campus layout so you know where all your lectures are and how much time you’ll need to get there. 
  • Make adequate notes during lectures (or record the lecture on your phone if you can). 
  • Be friendly to the other students (most of whom are feeling exactly like you are) and smile. The 3 best ways to start a conversation? “What are you studying?” “Where are you from?” “Which res are you in?”
  • Get into good study habits from the beginning – once you get home after class, read through your lecture notes to see if you have any gaps in understanding. The university workload is far greater than high school, so you need to keep up from the beginning. You’ll get through the whole high school curriculum of a subject within a month at university!
  • If you are living away from home for the first time, establish some good routines. Ensure you are cooking and eating simple, healthy meals. A fast-food diet will soon lead to weight-gain and illness, as well as impact you ability to focus in lectures. 

university

From Week 2 Onwards

  • Continue establishing healthy habits – exercise if you’re used to it or start exercising if you’re not. This increases oxygen to your brain and helps you concentrate better.
  • If you have to work with a budget for the first time, be responsible with it. Chat to your parents, older siblings or older friends if you’re not sure how to set up your budget.
  • Join some clubs – take up some new interests or continue with established ones. Hobbies are really important for your mental wellbeing, plus they’re a great way to make new friends!
  • Keep in touch with your family regularly (especially if you’re living away from home, it can be hard on your parents and siblings and they will want to know that you’re okay). 
  • Keep up to date with your assignments and assessment projects – the volume of varsity work is great and you will find yourself pulling plenty of all-nighters if you don’t keep up!
  • If you feel like you’re falling behind or struggling, chat to a friend who is competent in the subject or consider engaging the services of a private tutor who has successfully walked the path ahead of you. They may have done the exact course (or a similar one) to what you’re struggling with and be able to identify with you, as well as give you course-specific tips. 

It is best to address all issues sooner rather than later before they get out of hand. Whether you’re struggling with academics, homesickness, depression or anything else, reach out and accept the help from friends, family or professionals. Please do not struggle alone. This will help you adjust easier to the big and exciting life change that is your first year of university and ensure you remember this year as something positive and rewarding!

Remember!

Wow! If this was too much information for you, remember these 3 main tips:

  1. Keep on top of your coursework from Day 1. If you’re struggling, get a tutor.
  2. Keep a healthy lifestyle – exercise, sleep and eat well. 
  3. Be sociable – make new friends in your course or varsity clubs, and keep in touch with family and friends if you’re going to university away from home.

 

This article first appeared on www.brightsparkz.co.za, and was written by Natalie Wilke, BrightSparkz Staff & Blog Writer

Is Your Child Ready for Kindergarten?

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The idea of letting your children start big school may seem overwhelming as a parent, as you want to ensure that your child has a successful learning experience. This begs the question: How do parents ensure that their children are ready for kindergarten? One of the answers is to work with your children to help them develop certain skills that ensure school readiness. This task can be broken down into some easy steps: 

  • Help with Physical Development

This aspect involves encouraging the development of coordination, fine motor and gross motor skills and balance. Get your child to practice cutting with scissors, throwing and catching a ball, hopping on one leg, balancing on a beam or a line on the floor, riding a bike or building a puzzle.

 

  • Both Emotional & Social Development are Important

Talking to your child about emotions and how they feel when they are angry or sad is vital. It will enable them to identify their emotions in different situations. Build healthy boundaries and rules for your child as this will be implemented in schools too. Allow your children to have play dates or participate in outside activities where they can learn to socialize, how to share, how to listen and compromise. 

 

  • Develop Literacy & Numeracy Skills

These skills are extremely important in children’s success at kindergarten. No need to include difficult or advanced tasks – just simple activities that give your child simple and fundamental skills that they take with to schools. This can be done by practicing counting with your child, teaching them colours and basic shapes, reading to your child and exposing them to basic sight words.

 

  • Overall Healthy Development

It is important to try to limit the amount of screen time you allow your child and encourage outdoor time or playing with toys instead. Stimulate their senses with a variety of fun activities like tasting different foods (sweet or salty), smelling different scents, hearing and identifying different sounds, for example. Make sure that your child is maintaining a balanced diet and getting all the nutrients and vitamins that they need to grow and develop their body and brain!  

Most importantly, remember that children learn through play, so try to ensure that your child is having fun while learning! This doesn’t have to be time consuming – it’s all about making the small changes in your daily routine to help your child. Instead of TV at night rather read with your child, while driving in the car you can talk to your child and play games. Games can Include I spy, can you spot this? Or counting practice. Make it fun for both you and your child! Lastly, children will mimic you, so make sure you express excitement in this new adventure of their life. They will in turn feel positive as they go on this adventure!

 

  • Little Sparkz to Aid Development

If you’re not sure if your child is ready for kindergarten, or you feel that your child may lack even some of the skills needed to enter kindergarten with confidence, Little Sparkz is the perfect solution! Created by experienced Early Childhood Development educators, Little Sparkz focuses on an introduction to literacy, numeracy, gross and fine motor skills, coordination and memory, through a variety of activities designed to teach your child in a fun and engaging way. Taking your child through the Little Sparkz program will introduce learning as something to enjoy and get excited about, while building your precious bond! 

 

Book your Little Sparkz program today!

Written by Jade Hales, ECD student and BrightSparkz Blog Writer. This article first appeared on brightsparkz.co.za.