Geerlinks Educational Therapy

Anyone remember these?

Books have changed a lot over the years, but the joy of getting lost in a good story has remained the same.

From well-loved McGuffey Readers to classic Shakespeare texts, these books offer a glimpse into how generations before us learned to read, studied literature, and experienced the written word.

Today, we have e-books, audiobooks, online resources, and endless information at our fingertips.

Yet, these old books remind us that, no matter how much reading changes, the power of words—and the love of a good book—endures. ❤️

What was your favourite book to read growing up? What is your child’s favourite book?

Back-to-school brings lots of big feelings for our kiddos —excitement, worry, anticipation, frustration, and everything in between. 💛

These social-emotional resources are a great way to help young children identify, name, and work through their emotions as they adjust to new routines, new experiences, and all the changes that come with a new school year.

Remember: big feelings are a normal part of growing. Sometimes, a little connection, conversation, and the right resource can make a big difference. 🌱📚

There’s a certain kind of hard work that doesn’t look like hard work from the outside. 🛶🌿

Last week, I was paddling through lily pads, working my way through the thickest parts to get to the portage.

It was slow. It took effort. I had to keep paddling, adjust my course, and trust that there was a way through.

And I thought about all you mamas out there!

Sometimes learning feels like paddling through the lily pads.

Progress can be slow.
The path isn’t always obvious.
Your child may need to work harder than their peers just to get to the same place.

But hard doesn’t mean impossible. And needing a different path doesn’t mean your child isn’t capable.

Sometimes they just need someone alongside them who understands how to navigate the weeds, find the open water, and keep going toward the portage. 💛

Mamas, if your child is struggling, you don’t have to paddle through it alone.

We would be happy to help you find the path that works for your child—and celebrate every bit of progress along the way.

Keep paddling. The open water is out there. 🌿🛶💛

Every Learner. Every Journey. Every Story.

Today I had two grandkids over and they decided to “play school” with my educational therapy supplies.

They are eagerly getting ready for the big opening school day to arrive!

But every learner is different.
Every journey looks different.
And every story unfolds in its own way.

For some, back-to-school brings excitement and anticipation. For others, it can bring uncertainty, challenges and a whole lot of emotion.

Thinking of all you mamas as you step into this new season—whatever your child’s journey looks like, their story is worth celebrating. 🤍

🌲📚 Learning doesn’t always happen at a desk! 🗺️🥾
A summer hike at Algonquin Provincial Park can become a classroom filled with opportunities to learn, explore, and grow!

On this adventure, the kids were:

🗺️ Reading maps and learning to navigate

📖 Reading the trail booklet and gathering information from signposts

🔎 Using observation skills to notice plants, wildlife, and changes in the environment

🧭 Following directions and thinking about where they were going next

💬 Building vocabulary and talking about what they were seeing

🧠 Problem-solving and making decisions along the trail

📏 Exploring math concepts through distance, time, pace, and measurement

🌿 Connecting learning to the real
world through hands-on experiences

🤝 Practicing communication, cooperation, and confidence along the way

These are the kinds of authentic experiences that make learning meaningful—and they remind us that summer learning can happen anywhere!

What summertime experiences have your kids turned into learning adventures? ☀️

A trip to the library? Gardening? Cooking? A visit to a museum? Exploring a new trail? We’d love to hear about it! 👇

Thank you, Dr. Shaywitz for this reminder!

Accuracy is only part of the journey to becoming a skilled reader.

When reading is slow, laboured, or requires significant effort, a child's brain is working so hard to decode words that there is little energy left for understanding and enjoying the text.

Fluency is the bridge between decoding and comprehension.

Too often, reading intervention ends once students can read the words correctly. But if fluency hasn't developed, the instruction shouldn't stop.

Because learning to read isn't just about getting the words right—it's about reading with ease, understanding, and confidence.

Let’s talk about memorizing multiplication facts! This is where a lot of kids get stuck in their math—and a multiplication chart can be a great stepping stone!

Let’s help them see the patterns behind the numbers!

As they practice, they begin to recognize relationships, build confidence, and rely less on the chart over time.

Here are a few fun ways to use one at home:

• Challenge your child to find number patterns.

• Cover parts of the chart and fill in the missing answers together.

• Practice a different times table each day.

• Celebrate progress—every new fact they remember is a win!

Learning math is a journey, and confidence grows with consistent practice. A multiplication chart isn't "cheating"—it's a tool that helps children understand before they memorize.

❤️ What other tips have you used to help your child learn their multiplication facts?

There’s something special about learning to tell time with an analog clock. 🕒💙

And if you know me, you know how much I love hands-on learning! This is still one of my favourite spur-of-the-moment math activities.

Watching these students work together to build a clock, carefully place the numbers, and intentionally move the hands to show different times engaged so many cognitive skills!

Think about everything involved in learning to read an analog clock:

• Strengthens number sense
• Builds sequencing skills
• Develops problem-solving
• Enhances visual-spatial awareness
• Deepens understanding of the passage of time

And that's even before considering the important life skill of learning to manage routines, transitions, and daily schedules.

In a world filled with digital devices, understanding an analog clock remains an important skill that supports cognitive development, independence, and real-life learning.

I'm so proud of these students for their creativity, focus, and growing confidence. Every tick of the clock is another step toward independence! ⏰✨

🍁 Flashback Thursday 🍁

Look what I found! ❤️

This photo is from almost 30 years ago, when our family was homeschooling around the dining room table with books, maps, pencils, and plenty of questions.

On this particular day, we were exploring Canada—and probably discovering a few fun facts that none of us had heard before!

Some of my favourite memories are from these simple moments of learning together. They weren't just about history or geography—they were about asking questions, sparking curiosity, laughing (and ya some arguing) together, and discovering that learning can be an adventure.

Looking back, I can see how those moments shaped not only our family but also the work I do today through Geerlinks Educational Therapy.

Every child is capable of learning when they're given encouragement, patience, and the freedom to be curious!

Do you have a favourite family learning memory? I'd love to hear it! ❤️🇨🇦

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