Are your kids at an age where they can read and write complete sentences? Rather than just giving them time-out when they misbehave, why not have them put together an essay on what they did wrong and how they will abstain from it in the future?

Writing a paper not only will force your kids to think about their indiscretion, but will enhance their literary skill as well. You may even ask them to do a little research to boot. Make sure the essay is done to the best of their ability. And let them know they are forgiven and loved.

For a free article on how to have your kids write an essay, click here.

Posted with permission from www.allprodad.com

While I was getting my degree in Music Education one of the classes I took was titled "Reading - A whole language approach". I had never heard of the "Whole Language" concept before, but throughout the 3 months of the class the method seemed to have merit and provided a more creative and fun approach to learning to read compared to the way I had learned to read which was a phonics based approach.

Whole language learning stresses the flow and meaning of the text, emphasizing reading for meaning and using language in ways that relate to the child's own life, cultures, and interests. Whole language classrooms tend to teach the process of reading, while the final product becomes secondary. The "sounding out" of words so central to phonics is not used in whole language learning. Instead, children are encouraged to decode each word through its larger context. ... read more >>

It's been a few weeks, so I thought I would revive a fledgling feature on my blog, Story Time with Zoë. It's not that we haven't been reading much lately. Quite the contrary. Zoë has moved on to some very interesting chapter books and has thoroughly enjoyed the adventures she is able to take in her mind with these new gems. Even Zane is stepping up his game. He just doesn't realize that maybe he's not supposed to be reading as well as he is and although he will struggle with new words and how to pronounce them, he has yet to become frustrated in any endeavor. His latest undertaking is the Book the First Lemony Snicket's a Series of Unfortunate Events. Although he needs help with many of the words he has yet to indicate frustration and plows ahead. ... read more >>

I remember the first time Zoë read Go, Dog. Go! by P.D. Eastman on her own. It seemed to take an eternity, each turn of the page leaving her stumbling over and phonetically attempting to sound out words. I would start a word giving her the sounds and she would finish it. We repeated the process page after page my frustration level rising though not in proportion to her excitement level as the end of the book neared. "Look how much I've read, Daddy," she would exclaim after every couple of pages. She refused every offer and attempt of mine to take over the reading and let her just listen to the story. She was on a mission. By the time she had finished I was completely spent. She was totally stoked. "How many pages was that? Did you see me? Daddy, look. I just read this whole book!" Pride transformed my weariness and my frustration dissipated. ... read more >>

Welcome to All Pro Dad's 10 Ways to be a Better Dad online courses.
Continuing with number Eight:

"Read to your Children"

Click on above link to view a video clip that, once viewed, will provide you a basic outline on how to be a better father.

Thanks for participating and please share your success stories with us as you put these 10 Ways to be a Better Dad principles to work in your family.

Keyword: "Future"

Read a book
Read a magazine
Read from the internet

Posted with permission from www.allprodad.com

Last week's initial offering of Story Time with Zoë was a resounding success. Dr. Seuss is an all-time favorite of mine and Green Eggs and Ham still ranks as one of my top choices. All of my kids seem to like his works and I find that the rhyming and meter of his stories lends itself to not only an engaging active listen but also encouraging early reading. It helps that the stories are fun, timeless and bring to mind some of my most fond childhood memories. We could read a Seuss book every day and scarcely grow tired of the story. It is pure joy to be able to pass that on to my children.

This week's story also reminds me of my youth, of times when what was going on in the world around me didn't matter because there was a little place nothing short of utopia deep within the heart of the city. A place where I could lose myself and become a part of someone else's wonderful world learning to read, count and bang a drum like an animal. Wait, animal was a Muppet. Anyway, I'm talking about Sesame Street. Good times! ... read more >>

Welcome to the first of what I hope to be a recurring entry on the pages you see before you. I got the idea for this as I painstakingly labored to bring my adoring masses (all three of you) some Christmas Cheer. It was my first attempt at a podcast. Songs were mislabeled, some were left out, others snuck in there all in an attempt to provide some Yuletide Cheer. Honestly, the entire process was horribly painful and by the time I had completed the podcast, I could care less if Old Saint Nick ever came to see me or for that matter any of you. That's right. For all I cared the fat little elf could find himself stuck in your chimney only to be discovered as his rotting charred corpse began to fall into the embers of your fireplace after months of winter log burning. "Honey, you forgot to open the flue, again. No. Wait. Good God! Honey, take the kids and run, get outta here. That's not soot--it's Santa! ... read more >>