| Stop! Don't throw away those old calendars! | | | | date of the fourth Wednesday? When does |
| There is so much you can do with a calendar to | | | | Autumn begin (day and date)? Which holiday is on |
| reinforce academic skills. Here are a few | | | | September 5? |
| suggestions: | | | | 7. Math - Ask questions to review before and |
| 1. Writing - Use the pictures as story starters by | | | | after. For instance, what will the date be five |
| having children write an original story, poem, or | | | | days after Labor Day? What will that day be? If |
| song centered around them. | | | | National Farm Animals Awareness Week is |
| 2. Art - Cut out the pictures and use them to | | | | September 18, what was the date nine days |
| make your own greeting cards. Write original | | | | earlier? Which day of the week was it? What |
| sayings to go inside. | | | | would the sum be if you add the dates of all |
| 3. Classification - Have a selection of different | | | | Tuesdays in the month? For older children, make |
| kinds of pictures available so your children can | | | | it a 2-part problem and have them subtract from, |
| sort them according to general similarities...all pets, | | | | multiply, or divide the answer. Using the dates of |
| all cars, all buildings, etc. Older children can sort | | | | the calendar, what is the difference of the last |
| them into more specific categories such as sports | | | | Friday and the second Friday? Are you multiplying, |
| cars, SUV's, etc. | | | | yet? Skip color all the boxes in multiples of 8, for |
| 4. Flash Cards - Make your own by putting a | | | | instance. You would then have boxes numbered |
| picture on one side and writing the word on the | | | | 8, 16, and 24 filled in. Since you will have several |
| other. For older children, write a sentence including | | | | days left over, children can learn the term |
| the word. Have children make their own flash | | | | 'remainders' and get ready for division! |
| cards! (NOTE: Cut out the numbers to make math | | | | 8. Reading - Alphabetize all the holidays and special |
| flash cards.) | | | | days. How many syllables are in each name? List |
| 5. Left-to-Right Progression - As you teach young | | | | the holidays, then the special days. Which |
| children the days of the week, always point out | | | | countries are represented? Do some research |
| that you are starting from the left and going to | | | | and find out more about unfamiliar days. |
| the right. | | | | I hope these ideas have been useful and have |
| 6. Days and Dates - Ask questions that review | | | | ignited your own creativity. |
| days, dates, and ordinal numbers. For instance, | | | | And remember...Reading is FUNdamental! |
| which day of the week is the third? What is the | | | | |