Unfortunately organization and time management skills are not innate.
It is the responsibility of both parent and teacher to help your child maintain routines and make "sense of time.
" This process begins by introducing sequence.
In primary grades icons are excellent models.
We select a routine and introduce sequence words -first, next, then and after.
This teaches him to learn the order in which he does things and now is better equipped to plan his day.
After this concept is mastered the child can understand the meaning of today, yesterday and tomorrow.
At this point you are ready to introduce the calendar.
One of the eight mathematical standards in the common core is the reading and understanding of the calendar.
Calendar study begins with knowing the names and sequence of the days of the week.
What come before Monday? After Tuesday? This now sets the stage for reading the calendar and planning the Monty's events with your child.
This study needs to "come alive" and be lifted off the old fashioned paper calendar.
It needs to be made relevant to the child's daily activities and the learning should be engaging and entertaining.
This must be a multi sensory approach and work Kinesthetically by swiping an iPad and then reinforcing it with voice activation.
begin by doing one day at a time.
This approach is successfully accomplished through our app world, which youngsters of today are able to take advantage of at such a young age.
Constant practice with the app will reinforce the skill in an entertaining and memorable one.
Another abstract concept to understand is elapse time.
Students must be held accountable for their time and develop a "sense of time.
" There are a variety of ways to refer to time- a quarter to 5 or fifteen minutes to 5.
Time must be taught in daily living situations so we can relate to their importance.
Practice with your child by using relevant questions.
if it is now 3:00 and dinner is served at 5:30, how long will you wait? Or I put the cake in oven at 1;20 and it will be ready in 45 minutes.
When will the cake be finished? Or I spent 45 minutes doing math, 30 minutes doing history and 35 minutes doing English, how long did I spend doing homework? There are many strategies available.
Do not select the subtraction algorithm because this does not always work.
Best strategy is to have an understanding of what is asked.
Some teachers prefer the T Chart, time line or large clock.
I strongly recommend the technology approach of an appropriate app.
Have them move the hands of a large clock ( hour hand and minute hand in different colors) and be involved in the movement.
This activity should then revert back to the calendar.
How many days until my birthday? We expose the child to the topics and then reinforce with games and fun icons and voice to enjoy and cement our knowledge.
The technology makes these abstract concepts concrete and part of our everyday life so they can be an innate part of their life.