How to teach the days of the week, months of the year, seasons, weather, today, yesterday, tomorrow, and numbers up to 31:

• Get a calendar
• Everyday say “today is (day of the week, Month of the Year, and then the number).
  • for example,” today is Wednesday, August 20th”.
  • As you say every part of this point to the part of the calendar that tells us this.
• Now ask some questions:
  • If you make your own calendar, put a number out of place then ask the child to find it.
  • What day was yesterday?
  • What day will be tomorrow?
  • How many days are in a week?
  • What are the days of the week?
  • How many months are in a year?
  • What are the months of the year?
  • What was last month?
  • What is next month?
  • Ask what is the current season?
  • Ask what was the last season?
  • Ask what is the coming season?
  • Ask questions about the season/weather such as:
    • What kind of clothes do you wear in this season?
    • What kind of weather do we normally have in this season?
      • Is it hot, cold, rainy, snowy, etc.
    • Ask what is the weather today?
      • Is it sunny, cloudy, partly cloudy, raining, snowing, etc.
      • Is it hot, warm, cool, or cold today?

How to teach counting up to 31 or down from 31 or less.

• Count the days in the month, pointing to each number as you count it.
• Count backwards from any number.
• Ask questions:
  • How many days until the end of the month?
  • How many days have we had in this month?
  • If there is a special day coming up, ask how many days until (special day)?

How to teach about Holidays and other special occasion:

• As you get close to any Holiday or special occasion, do these things:
  • Explain that (Holiday / Special occasion) is coming up.
  • Point out on the calendar where the day is.
  • Ask how many more days until (Holiday/Special occasion).
  • Tell about the Holiday / Special occasions the days leading up to it.

How to teach patterns, shapes, and colors.

• Every month pick a different pattern to teach. The patterns could be:
  • shapes
  • colors
  • shapes and colors put together
• Now decide what kind of pattern. It could be:
  • abab
  • abbabb
  • abcabc
  • ect.
• Draw the pattern on the calendar.
• On the 1st day have the child look at the calendar and see it he/she can find the pattern.
• Discuss the pattern daily with the child. Ask questions about it such as:
  • If the pattern was extended what would the next color/shape be?
  • What type of pattern is it?
    • abab
    • abbabb
    • abcabc
    • ect.