How to Teach Your Child
Things to Know From Kindergarten Through Grade 6, Revised & Expanded Edition
Veltisezar B. Bautista
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Veltisezar B. Bautista's children did it! Using their father's systematic, comprehensive program for effective studying and test-taking, four of them became honor students in class, one of them finishing high school in three years and completing his four-year course in two years. This son of his graduated summa cum laude from the University of Michigan.
The secret? He taught all of them at home to supplement the school's teaching. He based his studying system on the techniques in used in college to became an honor student.
Now, the system he has used for himself and for his children is now available to you, through his amazing book How to Teach Your Child: Things to Know from Kindergarten Through Grade 6. Buy it now!
Who Says You Can't Teach Your Child?
How to Teach Your Child is a parent's curriculum guide, a textbook, and a teaching aid combined into one. You will be amazed at what this book can do for you and your family.
The book features:
- A kindergarten through grade six school curriculum-based guide you can use to evaluate your child's classroom or home schooling education.
- Concise definitions of fundamental concepts in phonics, reading, spelling, math, science, history, geography, and more.
- Clear, step-by-step explanations of the most effective teaching methods.
- A thorough review of skills with sample lessons for your child to master
Praise for How to Teach Your Child:
"This is a comprehensive little book that should be of value to both teachers and parents."
--Larry Muschamp, Principal, Darlington Lower School, Rome, Georgia"We love the book! This is just what parents need..."
--S.M. de Vane, Director, Countryside Private School, Seffner, Florida"Includes much info parallel to C.D. Hirsch's CORE (Knowledge) Curriculum."
-- Sherri Naff, Director, The Country Day School, Madison, Alabama"The text is clear, organization is good. I will use it, and recommend it to others."
--Norman Levine, PTA President, Sanford School, Hockessin, Delaware"Interesting concept--a handy, concise resource for parents."
--Stella Bicogno, Principal, Our Lady of Sorrows School, South Orange, New Jersey"Very readable. The illustrations are good.... It seems to be very readable--very much to the point. There probably would be some interest on the part of parents who are usually only interested in the student's textbook."
--Sr. Rose Galligan, Principal, Notre Dame Academy Elementary, Staten Island, New York\"Everyone picks it up and looks at it, saying 'What a great book!' One out of four or five so far has bought it."
--Frank D. Hoban, Hoban's Parent/Teacher Store, Dunmore, Pennsylvania"I put six copies on the shelf a week ago and four are already gone. As a retired teacher, I thumbed through it and it seemed quite extensive."
--Robert Horton, The Education Shop, San Antonio, Texas"The test is very 'user-friendly.' There is so much material packed into a concise book. I have recommended it to my colleagues."
--Larry E. Robbins, Principal, Riverview Memorial School, Norridgewock, Maine"Will recommend the book to staff and parents."
--Frank Anerson, Director, Hoodview Christian Child Day Care, Woodbum, Oregon"I will recommend it to parents who need the very basics for their children's curriculum."
--Julia Sutton, Principal, Montessori Elementary School, Statesville, North Carolina"This book is extremely helpful in developing skills for each grade level. I will begin using it in class immediately."
--Rayna S. Hayes, Director, Little Star Montessori School, Winthrop, Washington"I've sold about 17 copies. Parents really like it."
--Susan A. Scott, Central School Supply, Florence, Kentucky"We love the book! This is just what parents need."
--S.M. De Vane, Director, Countryside Private School, Seffner, Florida"It is creative, interesting--a text that supplements our program in academic areas as well as in residential programs."
--Pamela Shea, Director/Media Services, Crotched Mountain Preparatory School, Greenfield, New Hampshire"It fills a niche not covered by other texts."
--Terry Jenson, Playtime and School Supply, Inc., Omaha, Nebraska"How to Teach Your Child has the approval of some of the teachers in our area."
--Jean Fisher, Colborn's Store & Showroom, Billings, Montana"It is great for persons who need those particular items--home schoolers and parents with young children."
--Jo Miller, Creative Schoolhouse, Inc. Midland, Texas"My child is in public school and we use this book as a guide to help her. It is in sync with her curriculum and quickly aids us in remembering facts we learned so long ago."
--Jo P. Staley, Parent, Taneytown, Maryland"It is very much to the point and well laid out and researched."
--James C. Price, headmaster, The Elisson Scholl, Vineland, New Jersey
Yes, if you want your child to excel in school or learn quickly and easily in teaching him or her at home, buy this book now. This is the most comprehensive book on how to teach a child at home!
Table of Contents
-
Acknowledgment
- The Sounds of Language
- 18 Basic Vowel Sounds and 26 Consonant Sounds
- Rules of Vowel and Consonant Sounds
- How to Teach Your Child Phonics
- How to Raise a good Reader
- Teaching Vocabulary
- Make Your Child a Good Speller
- Perceptual Skills and Word Analysis
- Reading Comprehension
- Grammar and Word Usage
- Hone Your Child's Writing Skills
- Teaching Library and Research Skills
- Introduction to the Study of Science
- How Animals Live
- How Plants Live
- Earth and Space
- Physical Science
- Introduction to Social Studies
- Geography
- History
- Government
- The Way to Teach Math
- Counting, Place Value, and Basic Operations
- Time, Money, and Measurement
- Word-problem Solving
- The Brain: The Seat of Thinking
- Teach Your Child How to Think
- Teaching Study and Test Skills
- the difference between mammals that reproduce baby animals that look like them and animals that are hatched from eggs; and
- that some animals reproduce their own kind of offspring (that is, they look alike), while other animals produce through "metamorphosis"—the creation of living things that undergo different processes (i.e., from eggs to baby animals).
- They have skeletons which have at least 200 bones.
- They have hair, although some become bald or hairless when they become middle-aged or old.
- They may be carnivorous (animal eaters), herbivorous (plant eaters), omnivorous (both animal and plant eaters), or insectivorous (insect eaters).
- They have more highly developed brains than other animals.
- Most live on land, but a few live in the ocean, such as whales and porpoises.
- They lay eggs.
- They have two legs.
- They have two wings.
- They have beaks.
- Their bodies are covered with feathers.
- They are warm-blooded.
- They have four legs.
- They hatch from jelly-covered eggs.
- Most of them lay eggs in water.
- They live on land as adults.
- They have moist skin.
- They have six legs.
- They have a jointed body.
- They have an antenna.
- They have three body parts.'* They are cold-blooded.
- They have outer skeletons.
- An insect's skeleton, called the "exoskeleton," is outside of its body, not inside.
- Ants
- Bees.
- Wasps
- Leeches
- Butterflies and moths
Preface
UNIT I--Phonics
UNIT II--Reading
UNIT III--Language Arts
UNIT IV--Science
UNIT V--Social Studies
UNIT VI--Math
UNIT VII--Thinking and Study Skills
Bibliography and Recommended Reading
Index
Preface
In the early part of 1990, a reader of my book Improve Your Grades suggested: "Why don't you write a book for parents on how to teach their children? I've two children and want to teach them to help them learn in school, but I don't know how."
That was followed by suggestions from other parents. I then researched in libraries, browsed in bookstores, and talked with many parents to see if there were any comprehensive books on this subject. I didn't find any. Thus, I conceived the idea of writing the first comprehensive book on the subject: compact, authoritative, and easy to understand.
As a parent, I know that many parents, like you, want to teach their children at home to reinforce the school's teaching. Or perhaps you are a home schooler who wants to teach your child without any formal classroom teaching education.
Whichever you are, here's a definitive guide that you can now use to teach your child, from manuscript and cursive alphabets to writing sentences and paragraphs, to knowing plants and animals and Earth and space. In the upper grades, you can let your child read some of the chapters that are self-teaching; for instance, the chapters on plants, animals, etc.
In this single volume, which you can use as a manual, you'll find the facts and guidelines you need. With this book, you'll know what your child should know at different grade levels, from kindergarten through grade 6.
Of course, school districts have their own curricula. Generally, however, due to the influence of textbooks, the curricula are organized around similar subject areas at different grade levels. Therefore, the subject areas discussed in this book are based on curricula used in the majority of public and private elementary schools throughout the country. Whatever grade your child is in, here's the only comprehensive book that guides you how to teach these subject areas to your child.
To learn the contents of the book, read one or two chapters each night. The purpose of your first reading is not to digest the subject matter, but only to get a general idea of what the book is all about. You may not want to read it from the beginning to the end; you can pick first the chapters that you like. However, I suggest that you read all the chapters in a particular unit because they are related. For example, in Unit IV--Science, you'll read chapters entitled "How Animals Live," "How Plants Live," "Earth and Space," and "Physical Science."
If you're in search of a particular term or subject matter for discussion, "photosynthesis" for instance, you may look it up in the index to find its location.
With regard to the "he/she" controversy, I would like to make this explanation: To avoid the problem, someone said I should use "he or she" or "He/she" when I refer to a child. I tried that, but I found it to be monotonous. Hence, I decided to use "he/him/his." When I say "he," I'm referring to your child, whether a boy or a girl.
As you know, a teacher usually handles a class of thirty to more students and can't teach the students one on one. Possibly not knowing that some of the students have not mastered a particular lesson due to different levels of understanding and learning, the teacher moves on to another lesson. Some of these students may go home confused and discouraged. it is at this time that a parent should help the child in solving any problem or in helping him with his lesson or homework.
However, you should discipline yourself and your child so that he can attain success in mastering the basics of every subject at home. You should teach him day in and day out, even for a short period of time--while cooking, riding in a car, or watching a baseball game. No matter how busy you are, there's always time for teaching--if you know what and how to teach.
As has been proved, the most effective way of schooling is in one-on-one teaching. With this book, you can provide this one-on-one tutoring to supplement the school's teaching or to do your own homeschooling!
--Veltisezar Bautista
Author
Sample Chapter
Excerpted from Chapter 14:
Living Things: How Animals Live
Humans are not the only inhabitants of Planet Earth. Other living things, animals and plants, are our neighbors, friends, and, sometimes, enemies. We share with them the Earth's resources. We give plants carbon dioxide, and they give us oxygen. We eat some animals; sometimes, some of them eat us, too. In a nutshell, whether we like it or not, they are our mates—though they be friends or enemies. That's why we need to study how they live, how they reproduce, and how they die.
For the purpose of teaching your child about living things, the following paragraphs describe what is taught in school at different grade levels.
Subject Areas
Kindergarten
In kindergarten, your child should learn about the different kinds of animals and seeds of plants. For instance, he must learn how animals and plants grow—where they come from, where they live, and where they usually travel as invaders or tourists.
Animals
In the study of animals, you child must be able to identify both wild
and tame animals and classify them by environment and habitat. Likewise,
he should be able to classify them into groups according to size, shape,
and color.
Plants
In the study of plants, he should learn to categorize seeds by
properties and to identify plants in your town or city. Also he must
learn why plants are important to human beings.
The use of the senses (seeing, hearing, feeling, tasting, and smelling) is very important in the study of science—particularly in the study of living things. It is through these senses that your child observes, identifies, and measures animals or plants. For these reasons, you must teach him how to use his senses.
Grade I
At this grade level, your child continues to learn about the kinds of animals and plants and the use of the senses needed to study science.
For example, he should be able to identify and classify animals according to their habitat and care for their young. In addition, he should be able to identify domestic and wild animals. In the case of wild animals, he must know how they move from place to place in their everyday living in search for food or mates.
Grade 2
In this grade, your child should be able to describe where and how animals and plants live. In the study of animals, he should study the animals of long ago, such as the dinosaurs. For instance, knowing how animals reproduce is important. He should learn
In the case of plants, he should learn the different kinds of plants. Examples are those plants that thrive well in wet and dry seasons. Learning wood layers is also a must for your child because through wood formations, he will be able to know how old a tree is.
Grade 3
At this grade level, your child should know the life cycles of animals and the importance of animals to man. The identification of animal habits, natural or man-made, is a must. At the same time, teach him the steps being undertaken to protect the so-called endangered species. In the case of plants, he should learn how seeds travel and grow in different kinds of location, soil, and weather. Also, point out to him the importance of trees in the ecological system. As many books say, "Save the Earth!"
He should also learn the importance of animals to man and why some animals are harmful to man.
Grade 4
At this grade level, your child should learn the classification of plants and animals. For instance, knowing how animals live together is a must. How living things survive in certain places or environments should also be taught thoroughly.
Grade 5
In this grade, the activities of green plants are usually taught. At the same time, your child should already be familiar with animals with backbones (the vertebrates) and without backbones (invertebrates).
In living communities, it is also a must for him to learn how predators (the attackers that eat their fellow animals) and the preys (the animals that are hunted by fellow animals for food) coexist in their habitats.
Grade 6
In this grade, your child should already be familiar with plant growth: how they grow, how they reproduce, and how certain plants are adapted to certain climates or regions. Examples are the cactus and other desert plants.
In the case of animals, he should learn how animals adapt to certain habitants controlled by certain weather conditions and why certain animals, like birds, go to certain places of the Earth in winter or whatever kind of season in which they migrate.
Animals
The Classes of Animals
1. Milk-Fed mammals
Mammals are warm-blooded vertebrates (with backbones) that are nursed with their mothers' milk. Human beings are classified as mammals, although many are nursed on their animals' milk.
Here are some characteristics of mammals:
It's not a plane! It's not Superman! It's a bird!
Birds are warm-blooded, vertebrate animals with wings and fly in the air like airplanes.
The characteristics of birds are:
About 8,600 species of birds live in every part of Planet Earth—underground, on land, above ground, in trees. They live everywhere. But, of course, they fly over the oceans during their way to and from migrations. All birds have wings, but they can't all fly. For instance, penguins can't fly, although they use their wings for swimming underwater. So some birds just walk and run; others can fly a little bit over the ground, such as chickens.
Why They Fly. Birds can fly because they are born with strong bones and muscles. Their wings and bodies are aerodynamically designed for flying. They also have efficient lungs that can support oxygen for a long time and a digestive system that can digest food and release energy quickly.
Birds take off in different ways: however, most lift-off methods involve the vigorous flapping of the wings, unlike planes that don't flap their wings while taking off from the runway. Other birds take off from a high point—then fall into the air and spread their wings.
How Birds Reserve Energy. Sometimes we wonder why birds don't get tired while flying. Birds know how to reserve energy. In fact, they don't flap their wings all the time because they have special flying techniques. For instance, when the Sun's heat warms the air at ground level, the air tends to rise, resulting in an upward thermal current. Then birds such as eagles take advantage of those currents to soar. They flap their wings only when they move from one thermal current to another. Then with outstretched wings, they glide like a skier who glides down the ski slope. When the birds are near the ground, they soar with the help of the wind and then glide again—repeating the cycle over and over.
3. Fish
Fish are vertebrate animals that live in fresh or salt water. The parts of a fish include the head, the trunk, and the tail. The smallest fish, the goby fish, is less than half an inch long, while the largest fish, the whale shark, may weigh up to 15 tons!
Fish swim by using their tail fins; other fins are used in maneuvering and balancing. They receive dissolved oxygen in water by playing the water over their gills.
4. Scaly Reptiles
Reptiles are cold-blooded vertebrate animals covered with dry and scaly skin. They breathe through their lungs. Some examples of reptiles are the turtle, the tuatara (similar to a lizard), the snake, and the crocodile.
Most reptiles are carnivorous (meat eaters), but some are herbivorus (plant eaters).
Ordinary lizards, which are also considered reptiles, have four legs, long tails, movable eyelids, and ear openings (but no outside ears like humans have). However, some lizards have no legs at all.
Another reptile is the snake. Even without legs, it can easily chase a human being, especially on grass. "Here I come!" It seems to say as it moves in s-formations while chasing you.
5. Two-World Amphibians
Amphibians are animals with backbones that are capable of living both on land and in water. Some examples of amphibians are frogs, toads, and salamanders.
The characteristics of amphibians are:
Like human beings, frogs and toads have hearts, lungs, livers, stomachs, intestines, and bladders. While similar in looks, frogs and toads are entirely different animals.
The salamander is the largest amphibian. In fact, it can weight up to 100 pounds.
Amphibians, unknown to many people, shoot a poison when they are attacked. This poison can kill or scare away their enemies.
6. Swarming Insects
Insects are invertebrates with six legs. They are also called six-legged "arthropods." The characteristics of insects are:
An insect's body is divided into three parts: the head, which contains mouthparts for sucking, piercing, chewing, or lapping (drinking liquid by dipping it up with the tongue like a dog); the midsection, which contains the thorax to which the legs and the wings are attached; and the hind part, called the "abdomen," which contains organs for digestion, elimination, and reproduction.
Insects may be known as:
7. Bugging Bugs and Chewing Beetles
Bugs sometimes bug humans. Bugs belong to the Hemiptera order of insects, which have sucking mouthparts thickened toward the back, such as water bugs or squash bugs. Some of the true bugs are squash bugs, bedbugs, and stink bugs. Some of bugs are pests, such as lice, cockroaches, or centipedes—they drink animal blood. usually, bugs have four wings, but others are wingless. Half of a bug's wing is hard, like a beetle's, but the other half is thin.
Bugs are also known as arthropods. although they look the same, bugs and beetles belong to different groups. The bugs use their mouthparts to suck up liquid food. The beetles use theirs to chew. The bugs' forewings look like leather; sometimes they are similar to the hind wings. The forewings protect the hind wings. The beetles' hard forewings cover the hind wings.
8. Other Invertebrates
There are invertebrate animals which do not fall under any of the above seven classification groups. They are not amphibians, insects, or mammals, but they are also living things. The following paragraphs will describe them.
Microscopic Animals. The smallest animals are the so-called one-cell animals, such as protozoans. Scientists believe that these animals belong to the "protista," a different kind of kingdom not associated with plant and animal kingdoms.
The amoeba is the simplest protozoan. It, like other protozoans, reproduces by asexual means; that is, splitting into two pieces like an amoeba being divided into two. The four kinds of protozoa are ciliates, sporazoans, flagellates, and sardones.
Some protozoans have their own radars, which are called "eye spots"—bright red spots that are sensitive to light. They move by pushing one part of their cells ahead and then they let the rest follow it. To move, the ciliates use their hairlike projections called "celia."
Webbing Spiders. The spiders, for instance, are not insects because they have eight legs, not the six legs that insects have. Each of their legs has seven parts. If a spider breaks any part of his body, it can grow a new one. What a wonder!
Of course, there are different kinds of spiders. According to scientists, about 25,000 kinds of them inhabit the Earth.
The spiders are manufacturers—they make silk, and they build webs made of silk. (Some spiders, however, don't web silk.) Actually the silk is a liquid in their abdomen, but it dries when air touches it. The hub of the wave is made up of "dry" threads; the rest is made up of sticky silk. With this silk, female spiders make sacs in which they lay eggs.
While other insects get stuck in the webs, the spiders don't. Why? Because they have a body-produced oil that covers their bodies. Spiders use webs to capture flies and other insects that get stuck in them, then they finish them off with their sharp fangs that emit a poison, probably similar in some ways to that Saddam Hussein used to spray the Kurds and the Iranians.
How Animals Communicate
Animals communicate with each other by sound, body language, taste, odor, touch, or a combination of any or all of these. However, most of them convey sounds.
For instance, the cats may say "Meow, meow"; the pigs, "Oink, oink"" the dogs, "Gggggrrrrllll"; the hyenas, "Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha": the grasshoppers, "Chirp, chirp." They make all kinds of sounds to call their mates for food or lovemaking or to alert them of any danger.
For more information about animals and plants, see the book How to Teach Your Child: Things to Know from Kindergarten through Grade 6 .
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