I love winter! I love snow! Which may seem strange as I grew up in South Florida. I have just always loved the colder weather. (My mother won’t visit me in Pennsylvania, except during the summer months, so she definitely does not agree with me!)
However, snow does present problems for parents, especially during snow days when the schools are closed. If you are at home with your kids during a snow day, this is a golden opportunity to do some authentic teaching.
Plan and write a schedule for the day. Bake and have your kids read the recipes and measure everything. (Even little ones can find numbers in recipes and count out cups, etc.) Trouble shoot how to walk the dog. Discuss how the snow may be impacting an eldelry neighbor, and make plans to help. Read/research/study some meteorology – why does it snow? Watch the weather on tv – great teaching tool.
Most importantly – practice thinking out loud. We are constantly making decisions, and our thought processes/problem solving skills can be taught authentically by thinking out loud. Talk through what you are thinking, in front of your kids.
And, see ya in June, Mom!
The Educational Journey 