Printable Materials

Career Exploration

Entomologist (Scientist that Studies Bugs)

It is never too early to start talking about your child's interests, strengths, curiosity, & options for the future

Executive Functioning

Executive Functioning (EF) is basically the brain's management system.  EF is a set of mental skills including working memory, flexible thinking, and self-control that are used daily to learn, work, and manage daily life.

Trouble with executive function can make it hard to focus, follow directions, and handle emotions, among other things.

Social-Emotional Tips

Social & emotional development, especially in early childhood, provides a critically important foundation for children in developing & learning throughout their lives.  
     Social development refers to the ability to initiate, create, foster, & sustain meaningful relationships with adults & peers.
     Emotional development refers to the ability to express, recognize, interpret, & manage one's emotions & the ability to respond appropriately to others' emotions.

Here are some great resources for teaching children to be altruistic, tolerant, & empathetic:

Get Out & Play - Pickleball

Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines elements of badminton, tennis & ping-pong (table tennis).  Pickleball is played on a quarter that is about the 1/4 the size of a tennis court. To play pickleball, players use a solid paddle and a perforated plastic ball (similar to a Wiffle ball). Pickleball can be played one-on-one (singles) or two-on-two (doubles).

Be sure to send Maestra Casiano some pictures! You might be featured on the site & win a gift certificate!

Maestra Casiano Has What You Need to Play Pickleball!  Check These Out!

Family Movie Night

MJR Theater Summer Movie Specials for June

MJR Theaters are offering certain family friendly movies to be shown over the summer for ticket costs of $3. These are fun, air conditioned, budget friendly opportunities for fun for this summer!

After watching the movie, try these enrichment activities:

•Making Connections Activity ("Dog Man"): Have your child brainstorm some positive & beneficial things about being a person and some challenges or disadvantages about being a person. Then, discuss some positive & beneficial things about being a dog and some challenges or disadvantages about being a dog. Ask your child which characteristic of a dog s/he thinks would be neat to have.  Ask your child which characteristic of a person a dog might like to have. [Access Dog Man on Amazon]

•Story Elements Activity ("Bad Guys 2"): Stories can be discussed in terms of the "Story Elements".  This Youtube video might help you understand story elements & how to identify them.  Complete a “High Five” with your child using the five fingers/thumb on your hand. Identify the following as you move through your fingers: 1- characters (WHO or what does or says something in the movie); 2- setting location (WHERE does the story take place); 3- setting time (WHEN does the story tale place: present, past, future); 4- Plot (WHAT happens in the story); 5- Lesson identification (WHY did the events take place) [Access The Bad Guys 2 on Amazon]

•Genre Discussion Activity - Fantasy ( "Shrek 2" &  "How to Train Your Dragon (HTTYD)"): Discuss what fiction and nonfiction are (This Youtube video on fiction & nonfiction might help you... it talks about books but the same applies to movies). Then, talk about how there are different kinds of fiction stories including "fantasy."  What this Youtube video on "Genre Fantasy" and discuss it.  Discuss how the movie, "How to Train Your Dragon" is a fictional story.  Then, identify what characters, actions, events, or characteristics of the movie let you know it is a "fantasy."  Work with your child to create a poster showing how the movie is a fantasy film.   [Access Shrek 2 on Amazon] [Access How to Train Your Dragon (HTTYD) on Amazon]