HeyJaredSandra: Life, Learning, and Literature
A lifetime of learning and a love of writing, literature, music, and education
- Indexed issues, last 90 days
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- Sep 1, 2026
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- Aug 12, 2026
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Math Monday: Teach Children to Look for Patterns (opens the original)
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All my life, I’ve heard that math skills and musicianship go hand-in-hand.I think its because both require an awareness of patterns. I emphasize patterns frequently as I teach music. I’m thrilled when, in turn, a math student tells me they see the patterns.One of the easiest patterns is the 9 times table. I’ve mentioned this in previous posts. If you haven’t seen the pattern—or learned the techniques of reciting that multiplication table—message me.This summer I’ve been helping some students wit
Writing Wednesday: Reading Aloud Isn’t Just for Little Children (opens the original)
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I began reading to my daughter at bedtime when she was a few months old. There was something about the cadence of reading aloud that seemed to calm her and make those eyelids grow heavy.It’s a family memory I wish all my students and readers will eventually create.I kept reading to her until she was about nine years old. We started with the traditional toddler books: Dr. Seuss, and books like Goodnight Moon and I’ll Love You Forever. Those rhyming stories introduced the cadence and rhythm of rea
Tuneful Tuesday: Helping Your Child Build Good Practice Habits (opens the original)
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The first few music lessons create habits that carry through to adult musicianship.Over the years I’ve learned why parental involvement is necessary for practice and progress.The child’s age is a key to parental involvement: hand and arm positions, recognition of notes, and techniques skills. With little or no musical knowledge, parents can point out:proper hand position (most curricula include a page on proper posture)finger numberingsimple dynamicsFor those students still struggling with readi
Math Monday: A Little Math Often Beats a Lot of Math Occasionally (opens the original)
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There are ways to keep math skills present in your child’s mind without resorting to frustrating worksheets and workbooks.I’ve written previously about playing games, going shopping, trying recipes, and building 3-D objects and paper airplanes. There’s more to try.I love car “school:” Recite the 5 times table. Done.Try the 7 or 8 times table, a little slower is okay. Done!Now on to the next discussion… maybe analyzing an essay or social studies assignment.Have an older child or high school stude
Thinking Thursday: Begin With Paying Attention (opens the original)
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This week, I’ve written about three different subjects: understanding the language of mathematics, planning lessons for a new music student, and helping children choose books they want to read.There is a common thread running through all three: Pay attention to the child.If a child gets a math problem wrong, the first reaction may be to correct the answer. But what if your child misunderstood a word, symbol, or process, and not the arithmetic?If a music student struggles with a music selection,
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