Kindergarten students are eager to learn! Many people think that kindergartners don’t know much, but the truth is that they have a lot of knowledge already! After all, within the first five years kids are sponges for information. This rapid development continues into kindergarten.

Therefore, it’s vitally important that students are taught six different subjects.

These subjects are:

1.  Reading

Reading is the most important subject you should teach your kindergarten students because it is the foundation of everything. If a student doesn’t have good reading skills, they will have a hard time in their future classes. Reading involves knowing how to read, sounding out words, spelling words, and using good grammar when speaking or writing.

2.  Writing

Writing is another very important subject for your kindergarten students because they need to know how to communicate in writing! Even though learning how to write might seem difficult for some kids at first, it’s really easy after you spend some time practicing! Kids can learn how to write by forming letters correctly (both uppercase and lowercase), starting sentences with capital letters, forming full words instead of just a letter, and writing words they know.

3.  Math

Math is the study of numbers and operations. The most important math skills for kindergartners are counting, identifying shapes, sorting objects by attributes (such as color or shape), comparing numbers to ten, drawing given number patterns, and recognizing quantity relationships. For example: during your child’s first year in school, they should be able to learn how to count from 1-10 to show their understanding of quantity relationships.

4.  Science

Science is one of the most interesting subjects because there are so many cool things to discover! Some science topics that kindergarten students might be interested in learning about are animals, weather, space/planets, how light works, and anatomy for kids. The best way to teach your students about science is by taking them outside to explore nature or visiting a museum where they can learn more about science in a fun way!

5.  Social Studies

Social studies is a combination of history, geography, economics, sociology, and civics/government. It teaches children about different cultures throughout time and around the world. To make social studies more interesting for students, it would be helpful to create games that involve learning new vocabulary words for each unit you teach your class.

Again, art is also a fun subject to teach your students! There are plenty of avenues an artist can take, but some examples include drawing, painting, sculpting with clay or Play-Doh™, making music using instruments, and dancing! Just like science, the best way to teach your students about art is to teach them about colors.  Taking them outside to be creative or visiting an art museum where they can learn more about art in a fun way!

6.  Health and Physical Education

Health and physical education is a very important subject for students because it helps them stay fit and healthy! During kindergarten, students should be taught the names of different parts of their body (such as eyes, nose, mouth, etc.) and keep their bodies healthy by washing their hands before they eat and after they go to the bathroom. Also, kids need to know that it’s okay to say “no” when someone asks them to do something harmful for them, such as smoking cigarettes or doing drugs. By teaching these six subjects in your kindergarten classroom, you can prepare your students for future success in school.

Also, health and safety go hand-in-hand because, without health, we cannot have safety! In kindergarten, students should learn all about staying healthy and happy. This means learning how to wash their hands, brush their teeth, be active throughout the day, eat nutritious food, sleep well, not get sick easily by taking care of themselves. Health is our most important asset, so it’s important to take care of ourselves!

Conclusion

In conclusion, teaching kindergarten students is an important job! These six subjects will help your students learn, prepare for future grades and build good study habits. Remember, learning resources aren’t just found in books or online – whether it’s a field trip to the library or a science experiment during science time – exciting hands-on experiences will keep students engaged and eager to learn! Thanks for reading, and be sure to share this article with other school teachers you know!

Coding for kids is never an easy undertaking. Aside from getting our kid’s full attention, we have to overcome communication barriers and teach complex lines of codes in the simplest way possible. We need to think outside the box so that we can get our kids excited about coding.

That being said, we have listed a few tips on how you can teach your kids how to code without all the tech jargons.

Make them interested

One of the most common mistakes that educators and parents often make is that they immediately jump to teaching the basics and fundamentals. While these information are crucial when it comes to learning how to code, it does not give our kids enough room to process and absorb all the information that they are receiving.

Remember that learning is an academic, social, and emotional undertaking. Studies have shown that kids are more inclined to learn more about the subject if they are interested. With that in mind, you need to make them interested in coding first. This way, they would not only learn how to code, but they would also learn to love the subject and even the learning process.

Teach the Basics Differently

You can do away with the tech jargon if you are just teaching them the basics and fundamentals of coding. If your kids are just starting in their learning journey, then you can simply find alternative ways to teach them the basics and make them excited to learn more about coding.

Many coding for kids programs and courses have already cracked the secret to teaching kids how to code. Nowadays, teaching is no longer confined to the traditional approach like reading from a textbook or printing outputs like “Hello, World!”

There are now several coding apps, games, video explainers, computer programs, software, toys, and other educational materials that you can use to teach your kids.

Block-based coding

Once your kids finish learning all the basics and fundamentals of coding, it is time to start developing their critical and computational thinking. You can do this by simply utilizing programs like Scratch or Blockly.

These blocked-based programs are the most effective and convenient way to teach your kids how coding works. Rather than having them memorize lines of codes or understand complex syntax, you can just use programs like Scratch or Blockly.

To give you an overview of block-based programming, Scratch or Blockly lets you drag-and-drop lines of commands without having to type or memorize the codes. Your kids can create their own games or apps in these programs even though they do not know any single line of code.

Therefore, your kid can easily learn syntax and conditionals without you detailing or explaining tech jargon like assignment operators, loops, functions, if statements, and so on.

Physical and relatable concepts

No matter how long you put off or avoid using tech jargon, there will still come a time when you have to explain these complex matters to your kids.

And when that time comes, you can still be an effective teacher.

This video explainer from the University of South California’s website is the perfect illustration of teaching complex concepts with relatable examples. Rather than simply read off of a textbook and discuss branching, variable review, or python syntax basics, they instead use relatable examples like text messaging, lunch menus, and food groups.

Even though they tackled coding concepts and other complex subjects, they still managed to convey the information in a much simpler and easy-to-understand form. By doing this, your kid would be able to start learning a more specific and complex coding language in no time.

Fun Projects

Learning how to code is a continuous undertaking and has many benefits outside life of coding. Keep in mind that learning does not stop at the end of every lecture or session. Kids should be able to use and apply the information they learned.

One study even found that students prefer active learning over the traditional learning approach when it comes to programming. That said, kids learn better when the approach is more engaging and interesting. And what better way to do this than through fun projects.

These fun projects can be anything. You can assign them projects like making simple cartoon animations, Roblox games, Minecraft mods, and so on. The key thing to remember when assigning projects is to consider their existing interests as well. If your kids love playing Minecraft, then their next project can be about Minecraft mod or shaders.

Think of a project that would not only help them learn but would also pander to their interests.

Build on Success

Part of the learning journey is failure. It’s one of the biggest obstacles to learn coding for kids.  It is also one of the reasons why kids often lose interest or quit halfway in their learning journey.

So to overcome this hurdle, you should celebrate their achievement and find ways to extend that achievement even further. For example, if your kid finally learned how to use programming tools like Scratch, then you can share their finished project online for their friends to see. Doing this would boost their confidence and push them to learn more complicated projects in the future.

Just Have Fun with Them

Even though coding is a complicated subject to teach, you can make learning the coding process even more bearable for your kids. Inspire your kids to learn more through play.

Given that the learning process can be long and tedious, you should find ways to make the learning journey a lot more fun and exciting.

This way, your kids would be able to understand all the tech and coding jargons in no time.

The internet offers a wealth of education and opportunity for kids, but many parents worry about the dangerous side of the online world—namely, the opportunity for their kids to stumble across inappropriate content or unsafe websites.

Or a child may unknowingly reveal private information to a stranger. This is where a few all in one parental monitoring apps come in handy. Some of these apps are free, while others employ more parental controls in an app as well as on desktop.

These apps were designed with parents’ concerns in mind to help you keep your kids safe online.

1. Qustodio

Qustodio provides parental controls on all devices, not just phones and tablets. It is the all-in-one parental control app and software with a focus on digital well being, including screen addiction prevention via the setting of time limits and ensuring a better sleep schedule.  Account sign up is free.  In addition to filtering access to online content and monitoring activity on any device, this program allows parents to track calls and SMS for Android devices.   On both iPhones, Androids and tablets, you can locate family members at any time as long as they have their iPhone or Android device. There is also an SOS feature, which enables your kids to instantly notify you of trouble.  

Download for Windows, Mac, Chromebook, Android, iPhone/iPad, Kindle

2. FamilyTime

This is the app blocker that blocks all those other distracting apps that steal your family time.  It’s parental control at your finger tips that filters the internet, manages content and usage on iPhones, Andriods and tablets. You can set the time limits you want for bedtime usage and during homework time.  Additional features include monitoring your child’s cell phone texts, their contacts, phone logs, all while knowing their location.  In addition to internet browsing restrictions for home use, this app has developed robust controls for schools to ensure kids are protected on all devices in their classrooms.

Download FamilyTime parental controls for Andriod and iOS at home

School administrators, download parental controls for schools

3. Covenant Eyes

This app offers basic monitoring of your kids’ smartphone activity with the added feature of having accountabilities partners to help you stay away from pornographic websites. You can also view your family’s account using the Covenant Eyes parent dashboard and set levels of freedom according to age and times of day.  It idea is that if kids know you are going to get an alert if they visit a bad website, it will give them the freedom to explore online and learn how to make good decisions.  Covenant Eyes has been providing parental controls since before apps where even a thing and today you can download it according to your family needs.

Create your Covenant Eyes account for iOS devices or Android

4. Parentaler

Parentaler is the single download that can handle parental monitoring and filtering of the web for both Apple and Android mobile devices.  You can block websites and specific apps, set usage time limits for each child, and customize age-appropriate settings according to each child’s level of maturity. Of course, all porn is blocked outright, regardless of age.  The geo-fence setting ensures you are notified if one of your kids is not where they should be.  And at any time, you can check their location to see where they are when on route from point A to point B.  Parentaler filters and monitor the web, as well as online social media connections, to give parents peace of mind around the clock.

Download for Android and iPhone

5. KidzSearch Internet Filtering

Sometimes something as simple or harmless as a misspelling can result in a search result gone afoul. Instead of letting your kid use Google.com for searches, KidzSearch automatically filters Google to remove inappropriate content and unsafe websites. It also blocks misspellings of words that could lead a child to a bad website. With this app, your kids can use the internet as they typically would, and the parental filter helps keep them safe. This is the same filtering being used on our website Safe Search Kids, only through an app for mobile devices. Whether on our site or through the app, use of this internet filtering service is free.

Download the KidzSearch App for iOS devices or Android devices

KidzSearch also available on Kindle Fire / Amazon

6. FamiGuard Android Monitoring

This app was designed with a focus on keeping kids safe on Android phones.  It has everything you need to monitor your kids’ Android smartphone activity, viewing phone files, recording and filtering phone calls, to monitoring over 30 apps including WhatsApp, Snapchat, Instagram, SMS, and more. It’s easy to use and there’s no need to root the target device.  Block bad websites, set time limits and no remotely monitor the current and past location of any family member without detection.  

Download the Parental Control App for Andoird

7. Kaspersky Safe Kids

This app has everything you need to monitor your kids’ smartphone activity, from blocking access to adult content and suspicious search results, to monitoring app usage and setting device screen time limits and GSP location tracking.  Enjoy peace of mind thanks to award-winning parental controls that provide protection for kids both online and offline. The Kaspersky Safe Kids also offers tips from psychologists on how to teach kids about the dangers present online and how to take proper precautions.

Download the Kaspersky Safe Kids app for iOS and Android devices

With a few parental control monitoring apps on your phone, you can always oversee your kids’ online activity. And remember, for these apps to work, you and your kids should have reliable internet access on your phones.

Setting up a hotspot will keep your child connected so you can use these apps and monitor their whereabouts and online searches any time you need.

Consider running a speed test as you’ll want to make sure you get at least 10 Mbps from your internet connection (more if you use a lot of devices in your home).

Once your apps are installed, you can feel more at ease with your kids’ online activity.

Victoria Schmid enjoys writing about technology for the “everyday” person. She is a specialist in online business marketing and consumer technology. She has a background in broadcast journalism.

Enhancing the development of computational thinking is an essential mental process for all children in today’s information and knowledge society. Mainly because mastering it will allow them to adequately face their future work and, above all, it will give them the ability to be decisive in the day to day and in any area of their lives.

Moreover, it is a fundamental resource for any child, since the development of this type of thinking reduces the digital divide, helps their integration into today’s society and facilitates the acquisition of many important transversal skills. These include critical thinking, adaptability, information management in different environments – such as interactive – and, of course, mastery of digital technologies themselves.

Therefore, although its development implies the approach of complex concepts, it also involves competencies that we use and develop in multiple areas of our daily lives. This approach simplifies its teaching, by giving examples that are simple and familiar to children.

In this article we are going to analyze some resources that facilitate the teaching and understanding of computational thinking, but first we need to understand what exactly this concept consists of.

What is Computational Thinking?

There are multiple definitions, but they all agree that its main objective is to solve problems. This is reflected, for example, in the description of computational thinking by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA).

For these bodies, computational thinking is a problem-solving process that includes at least the following characteristics:

• Formulation of problems in such a way that it is possible to use a computer and other machines to solve them.
• Logical organization and data analysis.
• Representation of data through abstractions such as models and simulations.
• Automation of solutions through algorithmic thinking – understood as a series of discrete and ordered steps -.
• Identification, analysis and implementation of possible solutions, with the objective of achieving the most effective and efficient combination of steps and resources.
• Generalization and transfer of the problem-solving process to a wide variety of situations.

This definition allows us to understand the different elements that make up computational thinking. But it is also important to understand that this type of thinking is not only used to solve problems with computational means, but can also be used to solve other problems in very different fields.

Just like a child may be learning how to code for the purposes of education, there are so many other benefits of coding.

In short, computational thinking allows children to learn to solve everyday problems by analyzing them, breaking down the process of solving them into small tasks, identifying patterns, following algorithms and detecting errors in order to fix them.

In what activities in our daily lives do we use computational thinking?

Computational thinking is based on reasoning to understand problems and seek the most efficient solutions. Therefore, it is essential that the exercises focused on developing this skill are based on interaction with students, and that they are invited to continuously reflect on the concepts they learn. And one of the best ways to achieve this is to use games and other resources that encourage their participation.

As computational thinking involves the development of several and very diverse skills, you can use these games and exercises to learn each of them.

Examples of Computational Thinking

• Logical thinking: Sudokus are an excellent resource to develop it.
• Decomposition: both the analysis and the description of dance choreographies allow children to analyze the parts of a whole, to define and structure them.
• Patterns: series of numbers are a classic resource that helps students identify the patterns on which their construction is based.
• Abstraction: the game “Guess what” allows children to recognize and abstract the essential elements of an object or entity.
• Algorithms: with a simple game in which the student is invited to describe an activity such as, for example, getting dressed or going to class, it is easier for children to understand what an algorithm consists of.

These are just a few examples, but the possibilities are endless. In addition, many of these options are available through computer resources, a good way to develop computational thinking.

How Critical Thinking Relates

Critical thinking is closely related to the logical aspects of computational thinking.  However, critical thinking allows for less strict process of the evaluation of conditions.   Critical thinking identifies positives and deficiencies to come to a conclusion with limit data.  The process includes debating and judging the parameters or state of a situation.

Examples of critical thinking are the grading of a subjective essay and determining whether to believe something or not.

Resources

In this resource on computational thinking, created by ProFuturo, you will find not only simple to understand definitions -mainly for 8-10 year olds, but also for older children-, but you will also have access to fun and easy to follow exercises and dynamics. These will help students to understand in depth and reinforce their learning of concepts such as decomposition, patterns, algorithms, error detection or bugs.

In short, computational thinking is a key mental process that can be taught in a simple way to all children from a very early age, also favoring the reduction of the digital divide. The best way to explain it is by applying computational thinking strategies that make children use logical reasoning and reflection to understand the concepts in depth.