Development of Academic Domains

   Children are often referred to as sponges because of their ability to absorb information.  Although children are thought to be such efficient learners, without the proper tools and frequent exposure to different academic domains they may never reach their full potential.  Presenting children with opportunities for academic growth and development is the role of both the child's parents, as well as, teachers.  In fact, children begin the learning process long before they enter formal schooling.  It is important for parents to be educated not only in how to introduce children to the basics, but also promote a positive attitude toward learning in their children.  Parents and teachers need to make learning fun and interactive.  If an effort is not made to cater educational instruction to the age of the child, children may have difficulty paying attention and relating to the subject.

To advance in reading children need to recognize letters and eventually words.  Fine tuning their phonological awareness, or their ability to hear distinct sounds in a word, will allow them to read words correctly.  Being able to sound out syllables can help children figure out what word they are reading.  Of course, reading is more than sounding out a word correctly.  The reason we read is to understand the message that is being conveyed.

To promote reading development teachers and parents should...

• Read to children interactively.  Take time to point out and talk about the pictures or about what they believe may happen next.
• Children should be encouraged to read the words they recognize as they are being read to.  
• Age appropriate literature.  A toddler is going to benefit more from a colorful storybook, while an adolescent may crave the challenge of a poem.
• Reading outside of school.  Planning library visits that are not required by school will allow children to read something they enjoy, expose them to different subjects and promote a positive attitude about reading.

Writing entails a physical aspect, known as handwriting and the meaning of what is written.  Writing, spelling and grammar improves with age and practice.  Composition skills become more complex and advanced with proper instruction and age as well.

Promoting writing development...

• Make writing utensils available.  Even if an infant does not really understand what he is doing by scribbling, becoming familiar with different writing tools will help the development motor skills necessary for legible writing.  
• Challenge children with writing activities they can relate to, like writing a letter. 
• Correct children when they make grammatical errors.
• As children get older, ask them to consider their audience.
• Editing.  Adolescents should be required to write several drafts before turning a paper in.  Also, students should revise each others paper and offer constructive criticism.

Mathematics entails several domains, that may in some cases appear to be completely different from one another, such as geometry and statistics.  To ever understand any of the more advanced math domains basics concepts must be mastered first.  Addition, subtraction, multiplication and ratios are just to name a few. 

Promoting mathematical development...

• Expose children to numbers and counting before they enter school.  While reading a parent can stop and count how many flowers, for instance, are in a picture. 
• By using pictures or candy to materialize counting, children will have a better understanding of what is meant by a specific number.  For example, the number "3" can be better understood by showing the child three apples.
• To improve on visual- spatial thinking allow children to play with puzzles and building blocks.

Nativists believe that we are born with some basic knowledge of the world, while the theory theory approach states that children construct their beliefs about the surrounding world.  Children need to learn that science is how we strive to better understand how both living and non-living things interact.  In addition, science continuously evolves. 

Scientific development...

• Exposing young children to animals by taking them to the zoo or reading simple nonfiction books about animals will give them a better understanding of natural phenomena.
• Assigning age appropriate experiments will show them how to utilize the scientific method.
• Allow children to choose what they wish to investigate to keep them interested.

Although the previously mentioned domains are more heavily focused on throughout a child's academic career, other domains prove to be just as important.  All children are different.  Some may find math to come naturally to them, while others may demonstrate extraordinary artistic abilities.  Unfortunately, if a child is not given the opportunity and tools to explore different subjects they may never development their talents.  In addition, all domains can be related to each other.  For example, a child who finds visual-spatial tasks easy or fun, may also be a talented artist.

Promoting history...

• Read fictional books that accurately depicts certain times and places.
• Have students discuss decisions made in critical times in the past.
• Role-play.  Have students research and act out important historical figures.
• Such activities helps students relate and understand history.

Geography...

• Most children and adolescents have an over-simplified understanding of how symbols are used in maps.
• Have students create their own maps.
• Have students figure out why certain patterns occur in maps, such as a dense population near a body of water.

Art and music...

• Providing tools and opportunities for children to paint and enjoy music.
• When children are not encouraged to draw or be artistic, they develop their artistic abilities very slowly and some never do. 
• Although, there are cases where even without any formal instruction a person demonstrates exceptional talents in music and art, for the most part skills in these areas require training and practice. 

Content Area standards

• These are guidelines for teachers to follow to make sure that all students are learning at least the concepts required.
• Standardized tests are used to measure the overall effectiveness.
• Although used with good intentions, content area standards only concentrate on reading, writing, math and science leaving out other areas.  This may cause teachers to only teach the minimum requirements and not deviate from them.

The following website provides over 500 free educational games for children.  The site is different from others in that it provides games in all academic domains, even history. http://www.kidsknowit.com/