To begin with I will never claim I have not run up against something new or difficult that I have difficulty in figuring out how to teach...but given enough time and effort (and searching enough books, references, and people) I can usually figure out something to help me.

One excellent book I found to use as a reference is "Parents are Teachers, Too" by Claudia Jones. She discusses everything in an easy and clear to follow format with easy and inexpensive ideas. There are many many good books in the libraries, in bookstores, and on line here in the internet computer books stores, with excellent prices. But before you loose your wits end...stop take a breath..and start all over. I keep saying to myself is this child developmentally delayed...but then I remember I did not learn to walk in one day or even in a week...and anything as abstract as math needs time to learn and absorb. Incidentally I am talking about a family member...I guess I expect her to be a wiz at four but she is more interested in the playground than anything else...so we bargain...do this for the playground...If it is not given in advance it is an incentive not a bargain or a bribe.

Even though I do not like to coerce Kyla...I will if I have too. I prefer to find things that will interest her. I have had foam blocks for a year and now she is playing with them because she understands that letters and numbers are something interesting that people look at on the computer and in the newspapers. Even though she has not learned as quickly as other children she will learn at her own pace. When she is ready. But she is smart in other ways...she helped me select a dog house and build one - to a size she could play in it..Do you think a three year old is that smart? I know, she helped me design and pick out the stuff...her father is in construction..it must be in her genes.

I remember a child that everyone said would not make it out of kindergarden. I began to see this child just thought different...not wrong just different. And in some ways even better. This child was able to learn shapes when I pointed out the shapes in constructions like buildings and doorways, but not from pictures. After I spent only 15 minutes more with him on a one on one instruction mode he learned all his shapes for he then transfered the shapes in buildings and constructions to the pictures we were studying. Today he is in the third grade doing as well as the rest of his children, when he was predicted that he would fail kindergarden. So if you don't like what you hear, find another opinion or get another teacher for your child. No one has the right to predict what a child can or cannot do. For some children are just having a bad week or month.

When you first begin teaching your child(ren) anything you must be patient for they learn slower than we do. They are still developing their brains and minds along with their ability to understand. This is called cognitive schemata. The child is building a frame work like for a building in which to house their ideas, thoughts and memories where they can access and use these ideas. Sometimes they end up being lost, frameworked wrong for many reasons, or misplaced. Then you will simply have to reteach the concept again.

When you teach your child(ren) remember to speak slowly and clearly. Enunciate each word well. Have the child point to the items you are discussing with you and repeat the words you say. Be sure to give a positive verbal encouraging response when the child gives the correct response...and an encouraging reassuring correction when they do not give the correct response. Kyla still is upset about the bicycle because I insisted she learn to pedal instead of me just pushing her. That will come in time. So now I just push her to get her interested in her two wheeled bicycle. She is very cautious with new or difficult things so I have to encourage her, coerce her, and motivate her to do new things. Often I just pick her up and put her into the middle of things just like her mother, who is now very outgoing.

If you would like some help there are many resources out here, you may write me at Eeiren@hotmail.com. And I will see what I can help you find out here. There are many many educational search engines, teacher help sections, teachers out here, and resources on the internet.

These are my mathematic computerized art for beginning ideas. You and your children can draw many of these and the ones on my numbers shapes page.