Articles by Betty Ward Cain
Betty Ward Cain has written several articles to help parents and teachers. She loves to help others. If there is an issue you would love for her to address or if you have questions, please fill out the form below. You can request the Vowel Story with the same form (see the article "Answering a Mother's Questions".)
Make the Room conducive to learning
Find a quiet, well-lit space in your home to use for learning. A special room would be ideal, but not necessary. A friend of mine used a tree house.............................more
Every Child Deserves to feel successful
No matter what skills a child has or doesn’t have, they need to feel successful. It is important to build a child’s self-esteem and help them feel good about learning. Give them games..................................more
Phonics comes first
There has been a lot of controversy about should I do phonics or should they learn sight words or where do I start. When I taught kindergarten I found that beginning with phonics and then adding in the sight words to be the best way.........................more
Now we're ready to read
Now that the student has mastered the sounds of the letters, they are ready to begin to decipher words—read. This is one of the easiest and hardest skills to master. Some students just take off and fly at this point....................................more
Kindergarten......A Most Important Grade!
Kindergarten is one of the most misunderstood grades, but a very crucial one. Many adults have the idea that children only play in kindergarten. I once had that opinion myself……..before I became a kindergarten teacher...................................more
Answering A Mother's Questions
These are excerpts from a conversation I had with a mother who was home schooling her child. I gave her some practical ideas and thought you might benefit from some of my answers:
SUSAN: I am homeschooling my daughter...of course, she's only three and a half, but I started doing preschool with her over a year ago and she's on to kinder. work right now. I'm going to have to take a break with her and study music, or something...I'm running out of things I think she's ready for! :)
But I love it, and will continue to do it. I know a few people doing the virtual school, but I plan on doing traditional home schooling.
What subjects and grades did you teach?
By the way, I loved school...really...and I love talking to teachers!
BETTY: I taught kindergarten for almost 30 years. (My first year was in 2nd grade and then I switched to kindergarten.) I loved this age. They are so eager to learn and there is so much to help them with at this age. People who didn't understand kindergarten thought we just played all day............................................more
SUSAN: I am homeschooling my daughter...of course, she's only three and a half, but I started doing preschool with her over a year ago and she's on to kinder. work right now. I'm going to have to take a break with her and study music, or something...I'm running out of things I think she's ready for! :)
But I love it, and will continue to do it. I know a few people doing the virtual school, but I plan on doing traditional home schooling.
What subjects and grades did you teach?
By the way, I loved school...really...and I love talking to teachers!
BETTY: I taught kindergarten for almost 30 years. (My first year was in 2nd grade and then I switched to kindergarten.) I loved this age. They are so eager to learn and there is so much to help them with at this age. People who didn't understand kindergarten thought we just played all day............................................more
Teaching Preschoolers
There are so many ways to prepare preschoolers for starting school. Learning can be fun. Making the child feel they are playing a game will help them to enjoy learning so much better. Learning can take place anywhere and at any time you and your child are together. Nature is the place to start with preschoolers.......................................more