Jennise Conley's Blog

Scientists at University of Pennsylvania found that the more mental stimulation a child gets around the age of four, the more developed the parts of their brains dedicated to language and cognition will be in the decades ahead (Farah, 2012).

Engaging young children with picture books of well-loved folk songs and rhymes accelerates their oral language development and builds phonemic awareness naturally while the child is delighting in the sounds of language and connecting that joy to print.

Reading Tip: The first time you read a book, discuss the illustration on the cover. “What do you think this is going to be about?”

There is a powerful way to fine-tune a child's hearing for the emotional aspects of speech: musical training. Researchers in the Chicago area showed that musically experienced kids—those who studied any instrument for at least 10 years, starting before age 7—responded with greased-lightening speed to subtle variations in emotion-laden cues, such as a baby's cry. (Medina, 2010)

I Think There's a Monster Under My Bed!
A Fish, a Frog, and a Gnome: My Favorite Poems
Jennise Conley

Making up about 90 percent of the world by weight, the most abundant element in the universe is hydrogen. It is also the lightest of all the elements and, being found in all organic compounds, is essential to all forms of life (Celeste, 2012).

Science Guru Sudoku: The Periodic Table
Jennise Conley

Repetitious reading not only increases language and vocabulary, but it also allows children to predict the story’s outcome. Predicting rhyming words and phrases is an essential step in the process of learning to read and developing a positive attitude toward books and literature. (Schaper, 2003)

So why do we love fireworks so much, and why did America’s founding father John Adams decide they should remain a part of it’s heritage during 4th of July celebrations from 1776 onward? Fireworks are enjoyed by humans because of the controlled fear factor they bring. Just like a roller coaster, fireworks give off the feeling we may be in danger, but in a controlled setting and in an environment in which we know we are safe. The release of adrenalin coupled with the controlled fear factor puts our minds in a state of euphoria known as Eustress. This is a state where our minds are at their most stimulated state due to the fear factor, noise, and vibrant colors all combined into one incredible show or moment.
Jennise Conley

Children naturally employ basic scientific method as they explore their environment. They intuitively ask questions, form hypothesis, experiment to test those hypothesis, and come up with ideas about how the world works. So allow your child to engage in hands-on learning. (SWYBB)

A Fish, a Frog, and a Gnome: My Favorite Poems
Science Guru Sudoku: The Periodic Table
Jennise Conley

For speech and vocabulary development of a child, the critical window is open between birth and 3 years of age. The sounds a child hears in those years will largely determine the size of his/her adult vocabulary. So speak and read-aloud to your child regularly early in life to expose them to a lot of spoken language.
A Fish, a Frog, and a Gnome: My Favorite Poems

While most people naturally associate Sudoku with mathematics, the puzzle actually has nothing to do with the latter. Rather, it's based on a combination of logic and intelligent guesswork based on our abilities of associative memory. Recent studies have even shown that solving Sudoku puzzles on a regular basis can help prevent Alzheimers.
Science Guru Sudoku: The Periodic Table