| There is something so amazing and joyous about | | | | them online, or even design your own: try to focus on |
| watching a little kid as they learn something new. | | | | letters, or words, or numbers, but group them logically in |
| There's a sparkle in their eye and an unashamed pride | | | | individual lesson books for easier comprehension)o A 1- |
| in their step. And suddenly, you're wearing a goofy grin | | | | or 3-hole puncho Either a folder or the three metal |
| on your face and taking credit for his genetic make-up. | | | | rings to bind the final pages togethero A few |
| Fortunately for us (and them) it's a little bit addictive, but | | | | dry-erase markers (kid sized, not the huge kind for |
| every time you turn around, they've found yet another | | | | whiteboards) |
| way to impress us. | | | | If you have a laminator in your office or home office, |
| My four (almost five, if you ask him) year old is really | | | | laminate each of the pre-printed templates. You can |
| big on writing, and is doing a tremendous job | | | | be plain or creative in the delivery, it doesn't really |
| recognizing, reading and writing small four and five | | | | matter, and your kids will be having enough fun writing |
| letter words. What really turned him on to this | | | | that you won't need to entice them too much. If you |
| wonderful world of writing (besides the fact that every | | | | don't have the equipment, simply check with your |
| time he turns around Mommy's busy doing it) is a | | | | office supply store's print shop and see if they can do |
| wonderful new teacher's resource that showed up at | | | | it for you. Or, as a final resort (with an added benefit |
| his half day Pre-K class - laminated, erasable writing | | | | of changeability) you can simply slide the templates into |
| tablets. | | | | paper protectors (like the kind you use for special |
| Sounds easy, right? You figure you'd find them | | | | reports). |
| everywhere, right? | | | | Got that now? Well, if so the only thing left is the test |
| Well, it's not quite that simple. Sure, you can probably | | | | drive! |
| find them online, at sometimes scary prices, but what | | | | Simply bring each of the items home, do a quick |
| about right now? | | | | demonstration (and believe me, it'll be quick - my son |
| Well, if you're close to an office supply store, or your | | | | was very quick to commandeer the markers) and for, |
| office IS its own supply store, you're well on your way | | | | well, at least the next half hour, you'll all be lost in some |
| to fulfillment. | | | | much needed mental bliss. |
| But before you get ahead of yourself, you'll need a | | | | And, with a little practice and a lot of fun, you'll be that |
| few things.o 15-30 pre-printed "templates" (You can | | | | much closer to the joy of hearing your child read YOU |
| find these in regular Pre-K curriculum, find and print | | | | the bedtime story! |