Kinney Brothers Publishing

ESL Teaching & Publishing

Interactive Learning

Nurture a Passion for Learning

by

Kinney Brothers Publishing Guest Blog Post

Image: Freepic

This is a Guest Post by Susan Good, a 38-year veteran of the classroom! Be sure to check out her website at retiredteacher.org for inciteful blog posts about teaching and writing!

Igniting a passion for learning in children is foundational to their lifelong success and personal growth. It’s a journey that transcends mere academic achievement, fostering a deep-seated curiosity and a vibrant imagination. Parents, as the primary influencers, have the unique opportunity to shape this educational voyage. This Kinney Brothers Publishing guide is dedicated to offering actionable strategies for parents eager to kindle this crucial flame within their children.

Enriching Early Literacy Skills

Introducing the power of language and storytelling at an early age opens the door to endless possibilities. Establish a family tradition of reading together, frequent visits to the local library, and encouraging solo adventures among the pages of books. This approach not only builds critical language abilities but also nurtures an imaginative mind, setting the stage for a lifelong journey of discovery.

Transforming Learning Into Play

Learning should be an adventure, filled with excitement and discovery. Incorporate interactive games, conduct experiments, and explore educational applications to make complex concepts accessible and fun. Such activities not only enhance the joy of learning but are crucial in helping children grasp intricate ideas in an intuitive and enjoyable manner. Keep your kids engaged at home with a plethora of fun, including science experiments, art projects, and more.

Exhibit Lifelong Learning by Earning a Degree

Showcasing your curiosity and eagerness to learn sets a powerful example for your children. If you’ve delayed further education, pursuing a psychology online degree offers the flexibility needed to manage your existing commitments. This path not only allows you to delve into understanding the complexities of human behavior but also provides practical support to those in need. Most importantly, your pursuit of higher education serves as a living lesson to your children, illustrating the value and continuity of learning beyond traditional schooling.

Nurturing Individual Passions

Recognizing and supporting your child’s unique interests lays the groundwork for a profound and enduring love of learning. Provide them with the resources and opportunities to delve into their hobbies, showing genuine enthusiasm for their pursuits. This encouragement helps children develop a deeper, more personal connection to learning.

Fostering a Stimulating Environment

Turning your home into a sanctuary of exploration and creativity encourages your children to seek knowledge and ask questions. Equip your space with a variety of books, creative materials, and educational resources to inspire a natural inclination toward inquiry and innovation. Additionally, designating specific areas for reading, experiments, and artistic activities can further stimulate their desire to learn and discover.

Exposing Them to the World’s Diversity

Broadening your child’s exposure to different subjects, cultures, and experiences enhances their understanding of the world and sparks interest in new areas. Whether through travel, attending cultural events, or engaging with diverse communities, these experiences contribute to a well-rounded education and foster an appreciation for the rich tapestry of our world. Introducing them to international cuisine at home can also serve as a delightful and educational way to explore global cultures.

Celebrating Learning Milestones

Recognizing and celebrating your child’s learning achievements, no matter how small, boosts their confidence and motivation. Positive reinforcement plays a crucial role in encouraging them to continue their explorations and efforts in learning, reinforcing the idea that their educational journey is valued and supported. Creating a visual display of their accomplishments, like a wall of fame, can visually remind them of their progress and the joy of learning.

Fostering a love of learning in children is a multifaceted endeavor that requires patience, creativity, and dedication from parents. By integrating these strategies into your family’s routine, you create a nurturing environment that celebrates curiosity, supports personal growth, and values the pursuit of knowledge. Your active participation and enthusiasm as a parent are instrumental in guiding your children toward a future where they not only succeed but thrive with a lifelong passion for learning.

CVC I Have Who Has Activity Set

by

Discover the fun of CVC I Have Who Has games, tailored for your little ones! Perfect for reading, listening, and speaking, these best-selling cards are designed to empower emergent readers. Unleash the magic of language with an 80-word vocabulary base featuring 16 CVC words for each AEIOU vowel group. For each vowel group, there are three versions: cards with picture prompts, cards with picture prompts on half the card, and cards with words only. Included are 15 captivating games in total – print, cut, and laminate for endless fun! Dive into an engaging world that fosters language development and literacy skills.

Download this activity set now! https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/CVC-Word-I-Have-Who-Has-Activity-Set-Short-Vowels-ESL-ELL-Newcomer-Game-1026459

Embrace the versatility of I Have, Who Has activities, perfect for both large and intimate groups. The simplicity of play ensures a delightful experience – just deal the cards, arrange them face-up, and let the language adventure begin! Elevate learning with this thoughtfully crafted activity designed to captivate and inspire. Be sure to check out my blog post about making I Have/Who Has activities walk across the room!

I loved using this resource and plan to continue! I used them with my newcomer students- it keeps them engaged and we are able to read, write, and speak using this activity! — Mallory B.

So much learning is taking place in this one activity: reading, taking turns, comprehending to just name a few. — Sandra C.

Kinney Brothers Publishing I Have Who Has activity set.

CVC Sentence Fishing Activity

by

Fishing isn’t just for the ABCs! Your emergent readers will love this game! This Sentence Fishing activity set corresponds to the reading lessons in Phonics & Spelling, Book 2, but is also compatible with any phonics curriculum! The print-ready pdf file includes a 102-word vocabulary bank plus blank fish for creating your own sentences! Also included are instructions and a set of 18 CVC sentence flash cards.

Download this activity set now! https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/CVC-Sentence-Fishing-Activity-ESL-ELL-Newcomer-Game-460008

My kiddos LOVED playing this game!! Totally engaged and so proud of themselves for making sentences (by matching the words). Thanks! – Patti S.

This is such a fun and engaging way to have students practice putting sentences together during center time! – Nicole F.

To play, make “fishing poles” with a stick, string, and a magnet. Fix paperclips to each fish and voila! Instant fun! I recommend laminating the fish and you’ll have this activity set for many years. The fish can be put into a sensory bin, behind a low barrier, or scattered in a pond-like defined space. The fish cards can do double duty as flash cards and decoration on a classroom board!

The sentences in this activity are not exclusive to but include flash cards with the following sentences:

  • A cat on a mat.
  • A fan on a van.
  • A hat on a lap.
  • A cat on a bed.
  • A red pen and a red cap.
  • A wet pet in a net.
  • A big pig in a wig.
  • My pet hen is in a big pit.
  • I win the big van!
  • The pot on the log is hot.
  • The dog and the cat are in the van.
  • The top and the cap are on my lap.
  • I like to jog in the sun.
  • A red and green bug is on my mug.
  • The cat and the dog run on the rug.

ABC Fishing

by

This delightful ABC Fishing game is a must-have addition to your collection of fun! Little learners adore this classic game that combines ABC review, motor skills, and captivating entertainment! The printable PDF features both upper and lower-case ABCs, as well as blank fish that can be used to showcase children’s names, serve as a lucky fish, or come to the rescue if a card goes missing! Also included is a handy ABC Chart, perfect for brightening up your classroom board or adding a touch of magic to student notebooks. What may seem like a simple game is, in fact, a playful way to reinforce learning! These whimsical fish can also do double duty as flashcards or bring a burst of color to your classroom board!

Click here to download now! https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/ABC-Fishing-ESL-ELL-Newcomer-Game-459999

Create your own fishing poles using sticks, strings, and magnets. Attach paper clips to each fish, and voila! Instant joy and learning combined! For added durability and years of giggles, I recommend laminating the fish. The fish can also be put into a sensory bin, behind a low wall, or scatter them a pond-like defined space.

“I put these in our sensory tubs and made some fishing poles and attached magnets to the letters and string. The kids LOVED this and it was so much literacy going on.” Sandi S.

“A very creative and helpful resource! Thanks for enhancing my students’ learning!” Shana S.

ABC Fishing Kinney Brothers Publishing

Easy Sight Word Fishing

by

My preschool and kindergarten students just LOVE this activity! With a base vocabulary of 50 words, this activity is easy to set up and so fun to play! Easy Sight Word Fishing is an excellent resource for sight word recognition, vocabulary expansion, phonemic awareness, fine motor skills, reinforcement and review, and most importantly, a positive learning experience.

Click here to download this activity set! https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Easy-Sight-Word-Fishing-ESL-ELL-Newcomer-Game-3731428

Included in the pdf download are two print-ready Word Charts, great for tacking to a classroom board or directly in student notebooks. The vocabulary in this activity is aligned to Easy Sight Words 1 and Easy Sight Words 2 by Kinney Brothers Publishing.

To play, make “fishing poles” with a stick, string, and a magnet. Fix metal paperclips to each fish and voila! Instant fun! I recommend laminating the fish and you’ll have this activity set for many years. Teachers can put the fish in a sensory bin, behind a short wall, or in an enclosed circle like a pond. The fish can also be used as flashcards, game cards, for sorting and ordering activities, or decorating a classroom board! Remember, what looks like a game is actually a fun review!

“This resource made making a fishing game for my students so easy!” Niki H.

“My students absolutely love this. They’re so engaged. It was easy to prepare and use. Great game!” Julie E.

Blank Board Games

by

Swimming with Sharks Kinney Brothers Publishing

Growing up in a family with six siblings, there was no end of board games to play. I remember playing Candy Land and learning colors. Checkers and chess taught me strategy. Monopoly presented a world of real estate, property taxes, and banking. The Game of Life taught me about life insurance and the cost of living. There was Scrabble, backgammon, and tons of card games. Negotiating the rules, playing fair, and of course, arguing, were all important elements of the learning process. There were also important life lessons in all these games: playing a game is an exercise in cooperation, taking risks can be thrilling and advantageous, and when supportive, competition can push you to be better.

Fast-forward twenty years, and I found myself making board games for my ESL classes. When I was building the textbook, Phonics & Spelling, Book 2, interactive games and puzzles were important and I included many, as well as a game on the back cover! On one page, I constructed a simple CVC game board that I decorated with shark clip art and titled Swimming with Sharks! Like every page in the book, I tested the game in class many times. Of all that I created, none of the board games excited my kids like the threat of being eaten by a shark.

Click on the image to see larger.

Phonics and Spelling Book 2 Kinney Brothers Publishing

Swimming with Sharks! is very simple. Players take turns rolling dice, moving their counters around the board, and saying the word they land on out loud. The goal is to be the first to reach the “Safe” ship. If they land on “net,” they can cross over to the next space. Landing on “red,” means returning to the previous “red,” or “Start.” If players land on the “shark’s nose” toward the end of the board, they have to go all the way back to “Start.”

So popular was this board game, my brother, Michael, urged me to create a blank board so that different vocabulary could be inserted in place of the CVC words.

Michael explained in his blog post how he used the blank version of the board for dialogue drills, such as What’s your name? How old are you? Where do you live? Do you like…? Do you have…? What’s this? and What’s that?

Swimming with Sharks free download

“To practice simple dialogues, I use a separate Swimming with Sharks! game board that has blank spaces instead of words. When students land on a blank space, they must ask another player a question. If the student cannot think of a question to ask, they must go back the same number rolled on the dice. Likewise, if the student who is asked cannot answer the question, they must move their counter back that many places on the board. The same rules apply for landing on “net,” the color “red,” and “shark’s nose” as the original game in Phonics & Spelling, Book 2.”

The blank version of Swimming with Sharks! can be used with any set of vocabulary, Q&A, or dialogues you want your students to practice. I always have several laminated boards in my desk ready at a moment’s notice. You can download the blank game board here. It’s on us! Enjoy!

Board games to get your kids talking!

Blank Game Boards Bundle Donald's English Classroom

If you like to play board games in class, take a look at this Blank Game Board Bundle from Donald’s English Classroom.  These blank boards offer teachers the flexibility of creating their own games. For preschool through adult language learners, board games give students repetitive practice in a format that makes learning fun!

As always, best of luck in your classes!

Donald Kinney
Kinney Brothers Publishing