Learning at Home, PreK—3: Homework Activities That Engage Children and Families

"This book is a great resource for educators and families and is filled with practical ideas to engage everyone in the fun of learning."
―Susan Stewart, Curriculum Consultant, Supervisor, Adjunct Instructor
Stark County Education Service Center, Ashland University

"Wonderful! The author has done an excellent job of providing a wealth of materials for the educator and/or parent, as well as answering some tough questions about home learning for young children."
―Ken Klopack, Art and Gifted Educational Consultant
Chicago Public Schools, IL

Create a strong home-school connection through family activities that extend learning!

Because families play a critical role in helping young children develop a strong academic foundation and a love of learning, teachers need to involve caregivers as partners in education and extend learning to the home environment. Learning at Home, PreK–3 helps teachers plan developmentally appropriate, creative homework activities that encourage positive learning experiences and reinforce important home-school connections.

Packed with hundreds of engaging and interesting activities, this resource expands the concept of what constitutes homework and family involvement. Focused mainly on social interactions within the family, these playful, fun activities:

• Relate directly to children′s own experiences
• Employ concrete, easily accessible materials
• Include shared reading experiences, family projects, and games
• Integrate developmental and content areas, including language and literacy, mathematics, science, and the creative arts
• Promote literacy learning in homes where English is not the primary language

These tools and strategies help teachers reach out to families and reinforce learning both in school and at home, ensuring that all students have the chance to achieve and become lifelong learners.

Ann C. Barbour is professor emerita of early childhood education at California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA). A former preschool and elementary teacher, she has over 30 years’ experience in the field of early education. At CSULA, she teaches courses in best practices and trends and issues in early education, the role of play in learning, and school-family partnerships. She has coauthored two books: Prop Box Play: 50 Themes to Inspire Dramatic Play and Portfolio Assessment: A Handbook for Preschool and Elementary Teachers, as well as numerous articles on early childhood education.

Barbour has worked with teachers, district administrators, parent representatives, and her own students in learning-at-home projects based on materials children take home from school. She also helped develop the Peabody Award-winning television series, A Place of Our Own and Los Niños en Su Casa, and was content advisor for each of the 325 episodes produced in English and in Spanish. These series are designed to help parents and caregivers nurture the development and enrich the learning experiences of preschool-age children. They are broadcast daily on public television stations throughout the nation.