STUDYING: A KEY TO SUCCESS

Ways Parents Can Help

Studying is not just completing homework. Study is the way your child learns to remember and apply facts. Study turns factual knowledge into understanding. Studying is the key to success in school and good study habits are the skills your child will use as a working adult.

Make studying a HABIT and BE CONSISTENT! Self-confidence comes from realizing the benefits of hard work and understanding that we each have "control" over challenges in our lives. Learn to MANAGE TIME WISELY

These guidelines are useful:

Homework comes before play.

Quality is critically important.

Help your child prioritize assignments.

Monitor your child to help them avoid "wasting time."

Encourage students to make a chart which shows how they use each minute of the day. Block out a time for studying. Have your student chart the number of minutes he spends each day on homework. Display the chart.

Use "time" as a reward for meeting a specific goal. (20 min. each afternoon on homework and 20 min. each day of outside reading. This may be an extra hour with friends, a special game, or time with mom and dad.)

Studying is THINKING. There are two facts to remember about thinking: You can concentrate on only one thing at a time. Secondly, you can't learn a subject unless you think about it. Keep the study area free from noise and other distractions.

Eliminate Common Distractions people moving around or talking younger children playing cluttered work areas television radio or stereo.

Avoid Common Interruptions telephone calls friends dropping in. chores siblings

Provide Physical Conditions that help good light right temperature table or desk good posture (good chair)
Plan for Study Breaks Set a timer or finish a particular assignment and take a short break. You learn the most at the beginning and at the end of a study session. With more breaks, you have more beginnings and more endings.

Motivation and Consequences It is in your child's best interest to focus on "earned" praise and "earned" rewards. Many children who have problems in school believe that either luck or ease of the task are responsible for their success. We must teach them that they "control" the consequences that come to them by working hard, using their mind and being persistent!

You raise what you praise! Do praise students for working hard. We cannot just expect children to study, we must show them how important they are to us, how important their success is and how proud we are of the effort they are extending. In determining consequences, powerful motivators for students are money, clothing, electricity (ration TV, radio, telephone, video games, etc.) time spent with friends, special loved ones or social activities.

Assist your child with homework by:

Providing encouragement and support
Establishing a well lit area away from distractions
Establishing a consistent time for study each day
Assisting with assignments when necessary
Establishing a regular "drop spot" (a consistent place where students can put school papers after the homework is complete to insure homework returns to school each day)
Supervising and signing the homework calendar
Conferring with teachers regarding any homework questions or concerns
Rewarding your child for doing their job
Eliminate distractions (TV, radio, telephone, etc.)

How can we avoid the "Homework Hassles?"

Problem 1: “My child says that he/she does not have homework, but the teacher says that homework is not being turned in”.

Ask the teacher to send a note home when homework is not assigned. Establish other "academic activities' (e.g. reading a book, writing letters, writing in a journal, practicing spelling words) that your child will do for at least a portion of the scheduled homework time when no homework is assigned.

Problem 2: “Occasionally the work MY child brings home is too difficult and I am not sure how to teach it to my child”.

Homework should be material that has been introduced in class. Your child should be familiar with the assignment before it comes home. You are not expected to introduce new material to your child. Contact your child's teacher and discuss the difficulty of the homework assignments.

Problem 3: “I have other things to do and I can't spend 30 minutes to an hour with my child”.

Fine. Get your child-started on his/her homework. Check back in 15 or 20 minutes to be sure that he/she is still working. When all work is done, check for completion and praise your child for his/her effort.

Problem 4: “My child will simply NOT do his/her homework”.

Establish some additional reinforcement for completion of assignments (e.g., a special event, a treat, a special privilege). Set up a chart and record a point for each complete assignment.

A HOMEWORK SUPER STAR

If you complete your homework, you can earn the following treats.

POINTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TREATS

_______ . . . . . . . . ._________________________

POINTS FOR:

1 - Started homework on time with no reminders.

1 - Completed an assignment.

Date:

November 2011 (1 post )

October 2011 (1 post )

August 2011 (5 posts )

TIPS FOR WRITING ESSAYS

Getting Started

read instructions thoroughly to understand what the task is
write down key words that name the audience, state the purpose
organize points in an outline or chart
determine the tone/style of writing (formal or informal)

While Writing

reread instructions to ensure staying on task
stay focused on organizational points
write introduction- engage readers w/interesting fact or thought provoking question, write a strong topic sentence provide three points that will be presented in body of the essay
use transition sentence to lead the reader smoothly from introduction paragraph to the body of the essay
a transitional sentence will use keywords that tie information from what was previously written to what will be discussed in the next paragraph
develop the body of the essay to support the main idea, observations and or opinion projected including the 3 points listed in the intro.
use transition sentence to lead the reader from the body of the essay to the conclusion
conclusion should summarize essay, tie everything together and have a clear ending

Completion of Writing Assignment

reread completed essay checking grammar, punctuation and spelling
check the flow of the essay, does it support the main idea
have someone else read/critique essay for organization, content, grammar, punctuation and spelling
make necessary changes

November 2011 (1 post )

October 2011 (1 post )

August 2011 (5 posts )

WHY BASIC MATH SKILLS MATTER TODAY?

Why Basic Math Skills Matter Today
Math - Many Love to Hate It

The equation has not changed, even though teaching methods have; Learning basic math skills still adds up to school success. Through the 1950’s, the school math curriculum taught math basics; addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions and decimals through drills and repetition. Accuracy and efficiency mattered.

Then came the new math, which focused on helping students understand the process of doing math. It soon fell out of favor. A new wave of progressive math programs emerged that emphasized understanding processes and principles over performing calculations , but because the programs left out basic skills , such as multiplying two-digit numbers and dividing fractions, many parents and math scholars feared that schools were producing a generation of math-illiterate children. Without these basic skills, students may be ill-prepared for higher math.

As a result, many parents have turned to supplemental education programs such as Kumon Math & Reading to augment their children’s understanding of math and prepare them for high school courses such as Algebra. Recently, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics revised it’s standards bringing back old-fashioned arithmetic and the memorization of the multiplication tables. The organization also reintroduced two key terms used by Kumon: accuracy and efficiency.

Understanding math concepts and processes is important, but is of little value if a student lacks the basic skills to put math into practice. To succeed in Algebra, children need a strong foundation in the four operations of mathematics and strong mental calculation skills.

If the student does not succeed in Algebra, he or she may lack a strong foundation in basic math or have poor mental calculation skills. These skills must be achieved before high school. If a child is struggling with basic math concepts, high school math will only become more difficult.

November 2011 (1 post )

October 2011 (1 post )

August 2011 (5 posts )

DEVELOPING GOOD STUDY HABITS

DEVELOPING GOOD STUDY HABITS

You can help your child develop good study habits and work ethic by reinforcing the fundamental practices that we use at Kumon. Remind your child of these practices prior to starting their homework. Grading your child’s Kumon homework will help keep you in touch with what he/she is doing and how they are doing it. Students perform better when they are held accountable for their work.

MATH

Write carefully and neatly
Identify and correct mistakes
Use the example problems
Write intermediate steps correctly

READING

Write carefully and neatly
Read directions and study examples
Read and reread passages
Read focus pages and “story” sets
Highlight
Identify and correct mistakes

Playing an active role in your child’s Kumon studies will help to ensure smoother progress and faster advancement.

October 2011 (1 post )

August 2011 (5 posts )

SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS

Student success is largely dependent on each child’s experiences at home as well as at school. As parents, we all want our children to have a successful educational experience. Understanding your child's learning style, the type of study environment that works better for them and how to reduce school related stress can help your child to be a successful student.

There are 3 different types of learning styles:

Visual Learners: these students learn best by watching and use visual recall from past experiences when answering questions. They prefer to picture things in their heads. If your child is a visual learner, flashcards, and written notes will be more beneficial for studying.

Auditory Learners: these students learn best by hearing and listening. They typically spell phonetically and find it easier to remember information if it’s in the form of a song, poem or melody. Auditory learners can benefit from reading aloud and using a tape recorder. Reciting spelling words and math facts, oral quizzing or singing the answers work better.

Tactile/Kinesthetic Learners: these students prefer hands on experience and learn best by moving, doing and touching. They are interested in how things work. Reciting math facts or spelling words while walking around or chewing gum may make it easier to commit them to memory. Have your child make their own flashcards, writing the information down will help the student process the information.

Knowing your child’s learning style helps you to understand the way they process information and will allow you and your child to determine what study techniques to use. Additionally, students should have a designated study space. It can be a desk or a particular chair in a corner. The study space may be well lit or not so bright. Some students need a quiet place, while others like kinesthetic learners, may prefer music in the background. Together, you and your child can decide where that space might be. Appropriate study environment will make your child more comfortable and productive reducing some of the stress that may come with studying and test preparation.

School related stress can be a result of students not feeling prepared, disorganization, low self confidence and lack of sleep. Allowing plenty of time for homework, projects and test preparation will enable your child to give their best effort, feel better prepared and improve their confidence. Help your child to prioritize and manage their time when working on projects or studying for tests. A tidy work space with supplies readily available helps students to be better prepared to complete their tasks. Good nutrition and adequate sleep are also ways to reduce stress. The National Sleep Foundation recommends that school age children (5-10 years) require 10 – 11 hours of sleep, while teens (10 – 17 years) require 8.5 to 9.25 hours of sleep. Proper sleep is important for children because it directly impacts their mental and physical development.

Written by: Christine Cady Owner/Director Kumon Math and Reading Center of Perrysburg. Kumon Math and Reading is the world’s largest supplemental education program. For more information visit www.kumonperrysburg.com. Resources: http://urbanext.illinois.edu; pesdirect.com

November 2011 (1 post )

October 2011 (1 post )

August 2011 (5 posts )

ELIMINATING HOMEWORK HASSLES

Is it like pulling teeth to get your kids to do their homework? Is it causing unnecessary stress and tension in your household? You’re not alone. Many children invent excuses for putting off their homework. Experts suggest that kids do better when they are on a schedule and know what to expect. You don’t need to account for every hour of the day but let your kids know what the expectations for them are and what the consequences are for not doing their work. Here a few simple ways to restore order and balance to your household and eliminate homework struggles.

First, take a few moments each Sunday to plan your family’s schedule for the week, including after school activities, doctors appointments, etc. Once you see the week laid out, it will be easier to determine the best time to block out for homework, for example: right after school, before dinner or right after dinner. Don’t plan to do homework too late, if your child is tired they may be less accurate with their work and more resistant to doing it. Worse yet, it may be forgotten as a hectic day comes to an end. Share the schedule with your family so they know what to expect.

Second, have a set area for each child to complete homework on a daily basis. The homework spot should be well lit and have a few supplies they may need like pencils, highlighter and paper easily accessible. For younger students, keep them close by, like the kitchen table in case they have questions and to keep an eye on what they are doing. Older students may need a quieter area to concentrate, like a home office or their bedroom. Out of sight doesn’t mean out of mind, so be sure to check on them. Your interest in what they are doing shows them that homework and studying are important.

Third, teach your children independence by not over helping. You should guide them to the answer, not give them the answer. Ask them to read or reread the directions out loud. Have them show you how they complete the problem or answer a question. Ask questions like what is the next step? Or how did you get this answer? Refer students to other similar problems or examples and walk through. This may help them to come to the correct answer on their own.

Finally be sure to praise students while they are working on assignments as well as when they’re finished. Praise helps to build confident, capable students.

If you aren’t sure what the best time is for your children to complete homework, experiment. Some students do better right after school, provide a snack to refuel their brains and get started. Others may need a little down time to regroup before jumping back into work mode. Eventually the kids will catch on and initiate homework on their own. Routine teaches students organization, how to manage their time well and helps reduce stress. Once you have a routine established your household will run a little smoother.

November 2011 (1 post )

October 2011 (1 post )

August 2011 (5 posts )

PRESCHOOL ENRICHMENT

Parents and care givers play a major role in nurturing learning in young children. Experts recommend incorporating learning into everyday activities. Here are a few suggestions to help your child develop a love for reading, fine motor skills and number sense.

One of the most important activities is to read age appropriate books aloud to them. Reading aloud helps children to develop oral vocabulary, increase background knowledge, enrich imagination and develop a love for reading.
Development of fine motor skills prepares children for writing. Try these activities: play with stickers, fold paper, use crayons or markers, finger paint. Play with blocks or Lego’s. Have your child use a wash cloth, let them squeeze the excess water from the wash cloth and wash the table or plastic dishes – kids love to play in the soapy water.
Counting is a great way to introduce numbers. Start with counting everyday objects. It helps students learn their numbers and develop one to one correspondence. Try counting cereal pieces and explore what happens when you eat one or two pieces.

You will know when your child is enjoying an activity but if they are having difficulty doing something and not having fun, discontinue the activity and move on to something else. Preschool enrichment is a great way to get your child ready for school. For more resources visit www.kumonperrysburg.com.

Written by: Christine Cady, Owner/Director of Kumon Math and Reading Center of Perrysburg

Ways Parents Can Help

A HOMEWORK SUPER STAR

Getting Started

While Writing

Completion of Writing Assignment

SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS

ELIMINATING HOMEWORK HASSLES

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