February 2009

INPUT, INPUT, INPUT Help at Home – PARENT ACTIVITY by Cindy Harvey

Do you remember how effective it is to provide much more INPUT before asking kids for OUTPUT (e.g., showing kids the answer, telling the word/answer/picture, group answers, etc.)? Well,  last month all the kindergarten teachers in our Sitka, Alaska S.M.A.R.T. school were discussing ways they try to use INPUT methods more. They wondered if parents could be taught to do more INPUT when they worked with their kids. So, they asked their mentor if she could write up something to give parents to help them use INPUT methods at home rather than “quizzing” their children. Here is a sample parent activity for you to use or revise if YOU want to share with parents how giving much INPUT before asking for OUTPUT increases learning. Feel free to send it home or put it on your website.
(We called it “Brain Train Activity #1” because, if you find this useful, more will be coming. So, let us know if you’d like more brain-friendly activities to teach your parents.)

This activity would also be good to add to your Open House or Parent Night. Demonstrate to parents how to do INPUT with kids and send them home with the activity directions."

Download Parent letter