Children love to collect found items! My eight-year-old continues to come home with found feathers, sticks, and interesting rocks. My older kids have built their own collections of rocks, minerals, elements and fossils. Collecting has become a family affair and a wonderful way to encourage curiosity in the natural world. Children’s interest in the naturalContinue reading Encouraging Your Child’s Interests with a Collection
Welcome to the Guided Learning Studio!
The Guided Learning Studio is a home-based learning studio located in the Ahwatukee neighborhood of Phoenix. We are committed to providing engaging learning experiences based on a learner’s needs and interests. The studio was founded by Maria Arana in 2018. Meet Maria Maria is an accomplished educator who brings a wealth of academic excellence, teachingContinue reading Welcome to the Guided Learning Studio!
School’s Out, Now What?
It’s been a little while since I last wrote a blog post. I blame it on the time of year, the end of the school year here in Arizona. I always struggle to stay on top of things, from exercising to getting errands done, during the last week that my kids are in school. ThisContinue reading School’s Out, Now What?
Reflections on Navigating the Middle School Years
In a few weeks my oldest kiddo will be finishing middle school, and my daughter will be finishing the sixth grade. I am grateful that the transition from childhood to adolescence has been pretty smooth for the kids and for our family so far. Yet, it has required an adjustment in parenting and in ourContinue reading Reflections on Navigating the Middle School Years
The Benefits of the Visual Arts
I enjoy looking at art and learning about various artist and art periods. It is an interest I like to share with my kids. I take the kids to art museums during vacations and when there is a new exhibit in town. I also invite and encourage them to learn about art and to makeContinue reading The Benefits of the Visual Arts
How to Help Your Child Become a Fluent Reader
Learning to read is a complicated process that requires several areas of the brain to work together to decode, recognize and make sense of what is being read. In this post, I am focusing on ways you can help you child become a more fluent reader. What is reading fluency? Fluent readers can read aloudContinue reading How to Help Your Child Become a Fluent Reader
Four Invitations to Learn About Shapes
When kids learn about geometry in Kindergarten through second-grade they love to use materials to explore shapes. In the early grades children learn geometric vocabulary by observing, examining, and discussing shapes and their attributes. In this post, I am sharing four activities that invite children to work with shapes in different ways. These are fun,Continue reading Four Invitations to Learn About Shapes
5 Things to Do During Spring Break With Your Kids
In every walk with nature one receives more than he seeks.” John muir When the kids are on breaks, it can be a challenge to getting out of the house in the mornings. My kids enjoy having lazy mornings and full pajama days during their breaks from school. I’ve learned that after a day ofContinue reading 5 Things to Do During Spring Break With Your Kids
Visual Thinking in the Arts and Mathematics
Last summer I hosted an art and math class for middle school girls. I was inspired by the work of Jo Boaler, Lang Chen, Cathy Williams & Montserrat Cordero in their paper Seeing as Understanding the Importance of Visual Mathematics for our Brain and Learning. In the paper they present evidence from brain research toContinue reading Visual Thinking in the Arts and Mathematics
Learning About Mythology
When I think about mythology, the first thing that comes to mind is Greek mythology. My kids and the children I work with enjoy reading Greek myths and learning about the various creatures. Recent popular movies, like Marvel’s Thor, peaked my teen son’s interest in Norse Mythology which led him to read Neil Gaiman’s NorseContinue reading Learning About Mythology
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