Critical thinking is an essential skill at any age. Being able to look beyond the surface of an issue and make better decisions can make a huge difference. But this ability is something that children must learn and practice. While critical thinking is incorporated into their education at school, there are ways you can help at home.
Let them work through challenges.
It can be tempting to jump in and give your child the answer because it is faster and easier. You know from experience what a good solution would be. Be patient and let them try to solve the…
For the past year and a half, students have had to adjust to a new way of learning. They spent most of this time engaged in remote learning, or dividing their time between in-person and virtual lessons. Their schedules and routines were disrupted, and many had to figure out their own strategies for staying organized. This worked better for some students than others.
Now that most students will be returning to the classroom full-time come fall, effective study skills and organization habits will be crucial. …
As summer winds down, many schools are planning to resume in-person instruction in the fall. This can be a major change for students who spent much of the last school year in remote learning or only a few days a week in person. Whereas students have become used to interacting through video conferencing and submitting all of their work and exams online, there is a good chance that manual processes and paper materials will return to some extent.
How can you help your child feel more prepared for the upcoming year?
Get New School Supplies
A lot of students ditched…
Math is a subject that many people either love or hate. It is something that people either feel they are good at doing, or bad at doing. But like so many other things in life, math is a skill that can be learned and requires practice. Just because a child may struggle does not mean that they are doomed to be poor at math for the rest of their life.
It’s time to turn around their negative thinking and boost their confidence.
Pay attention to your own thoughts about math. If your child constantly hears you saying that you’re not…
A phrase that many parents dread during summer break is the age-old, “I’m bored.” When kids are in school, their day is planned for them. They follow a class schedule. Their teacher creates the lessons and activities. They are given projects or assignments. But when school is not in session, there is a lot more downtime, and many kids are unsure what to do with themselves.
Letting your kids be bored sometimes is a good thing. You don’t have to plan out every moment of the day for them. Provide access to resources and supplies such as paper, markers, paint…
School may be out for the summer, but many rising juniors already have the SATs and ACTs on their mind. Now can be a great time to start preparing to take these exams at the end of summer or in the fall. Students can keep the momentum going from the past school year and reinforce what they have learned as they study for these exams. Opting for summer study sessions can have some benefits:
Increased flexibility.
During the school year, students were often limited in the amount of time they had to prepare. Study sessions and test prep were worked…
Not every subject comes naturally to every student. There are certain topics some students find more challenging than others. Not getting a perfect score can be upsetting, but it can also be a learning experience. Children can take these struggles and use them to become better students.
It is important to praise effort over results. Focus on how hard your child worked and their dedication to doing their best. Celebrate good grades, but also improvements in their grades. Everyone has an off day, and expecting perfection with everything is not realistic and can put undue stress on your child. …
Feeling nervous before a test is normal. You don’t know exactly what questions will be asked, or how you will do. Many people calm down once the exam starts and they see the material. But when you are too anxious and have a hard time quieting your mind, it can affect your performance and your ability to show your best work. Even when you know the answers, it can be difficult to focus.
Implementing strategies for managing test anxiety can help you feel calmer and more in control come test day. Figure out what works best for you.
Before the Exam
When you…
Students (and parents) were forced to be incredibly flexible and adaptable this year. Many schools shifted between remote, hybrid, and in-person instruction. A lot of students spent a great deal of time on Zoom or other virtual conferencing platforms and completing work online. There were many disruptions and uncertainties.
But now that summer is here, it’s time to support kids in resetting and gearing up for next school year.
Take a Break from Screens
Make it a point to spend time each day without technology or screens. Give your child’s eyes a break. Have the whole family devote at least…
In virtually every class you take, you are expected to write down notes about what is being taught. These notes become a handy reference sheet for when you are studying later. But they are only useful if you have the right information and understand how to use it. A lot of students get tripped up trying to copy down every word that is said, but that isn’t necessary when you have more effective note taking strategies you can use.
Focus on Key Points
You don’t have to scribble down every single detail. Pay attention to information that your teacher emphasizes…
