You kiss your kid/tween/teen in the morning and let them go off to school, while you make your way to your day, and you sometimes dont hear from them till that valuable dinnertime hour where you can sit and discuss each others' day.  Fact is though, that most kids dont tell their parents alot of what went on at school that day.  They may give you the good stuff (ex. a good grade) or something, but how do you know what they've been up to all day???

To give you a little insight, parents, the single biggest thing on most kids' minds when they are at school is TO NOT LOOK STUPID.  They would rather die than to look stupid in front of their friends, peers, and teachers.
This is why so many kids like to sit in the back of the class (less chances of getting called on) and most would rather die than getting something wrong in class and oh my goodness....getting laughed at!!!! (Kill them now)

Teachers normally do a great job of getting kids to feel at ease and comfortable in class.  So how to help your kid avoid looking or feeling stupid?  PREPARATION!  The little time invested in this is well worth the effort, because:
Advantage#1 - There is nothing that boosts confidence more than a kid who has read up on and knows a little something on the topic before even walking into class.
Advantage #2 - More facility with the subject, therefore LESS time (or none at all) on homework....they can get it done in class!
Advantage #3 - Ask better & more insightful questions in class.

I dont know about you, but that seems worth it to me!

1.  Have students use Spelling City to learn their spelling words, vocabulary words, or site words through games, practice, and quizzes.  Spelling City is a free resource for teachers.                                                 www.spellingcity.com

2. Create a game show for your students to participate in as a review for an upcoming assessment.  This site offers free templates.                                                 people.uncw.edu/ertzbergerj/ppt_games.html

3.  Students can track visitors to their blog, wiki, or website through Clustrmap.  This tool can be used for an ongoing geography lesson.                                                 www.clustrmap.com

4.  Have students create a daily or weekly live broadcast on Ustream about school news, new concepts or original ideas.                                                 www.ustream.tv

5.  Let students add free, copyright-free music to their presentations and movies through ccMixter.                                                 www.ccmixter.org

6.  Have students create a comic strip using Make Beliefs Comix.  Students can use this tool to show main idea, sequencing, predictions, and more!                                                 www.makebeliefscomix.com

7.  Introduce a new unit in reading with a vocabulary word cloud.  Have the students guess what the unit/story will be about. Set a purpose for learning.                                                 www.wordle.net

8.  Find out what your students know before a unit or how much they've learned after a unit through an online survey. Surveys give students a way to give feedback quickly.                                                  www.surveymonkey.com

9. Have students create a time line to have a visual representation.                                           www.readwritethink.org/materials/timeline

10.  User KerPoof to allow your students to illustrate their writing, create a movie, and more! 

                                                www.kerpoof.com

Making Learning Fun & Effective for All Types of Learners 

As many of you may know, students of all ages like to engage in and learn things they are actually interested in.  In other words, things that speak to their particular tastes, and that they are exposed to at a pace whereabouts they can actually digest the information.

Case in point: last year I started off one of my grade 8 French classes (who were, by the way, not very happy to be there) with an assignment that included them presenting in French, in order to practice their reading, writing and speaking skills.  After the moans and groans of unhappiness and dissatisfaction at yet another “boring project”, they asked “What does the topic have to be on….the Eiffel Tower, or some other Frenchie type of thing?”  I told them it could be on absolutely anything they desired and that they could set up the presentation any which way they wanted.  Students were excitedly asking if they could do it on this basketball star or this music icon – all answers were an emphatic “YES”.

Then the questions of “Can we use prezi, or skits with props, or music, or can we pre-record it?” – again all answers were met with a resounding “YES”.

The kids got excited because it was something they actually cared about, and we found a way for them to include the French component into it.

On top of that, I managed to stretch the unit out.  Not only did we do the seemingly boring verbs in both present and past tenses, but I gave them the general rule of how to correctly conjugate verbs and they were invited to choose their own verbs on which to practice.  The basketball lover picked verbs like “running”, “jumping”, “playing” and “passing”, while the music lover picked such verbs as “singing”, “dancing”, and “rapping”.  The part that I found the most striking was that not only were students so much more engaged in this project than on anything else I had seen, but because they were happier with what they were doing and because it came more easily to them, they were actually taking the time out to help one another on anything that the person next to them needed.

When it came time to presenting two months later, the presentations were all beyond what was even asked for in the main criteria.  Students had gone ahead and made other items to enhance their presentations, such as posters in French to promote this person or that, and a slogan to represent the kind of imaging their basketball star should get.  The presentations were imaginative, exciting, fun to listen to, and the students were so engaged!  They even asked if they could continue the entire year by learning a general concept and applying it to their own example.

One of the most important things we do for our children and our students, is to inspire them and engage them by doing things and choosing activities that speak to them!  Of course, it is important to continue to show them how to expand their horizons and learn things that are beyond their immediate interest points, but I believe that many of the curriculum and study items we provide them with already cover many of those things.  We should look more to their chosen topics, as these are the ones that are newer and really still seem to take many off-guard and get their excitement going. 

Why can’t we incorporate TED talks into English class, or invite real astronauts into the Science class via virtual connections with NASA, or learn about home economics and fashion through designer-made videos on YouTube?

I’ll admit that it is still difficult for a relatively old-school teacher like me to admit that things in the field of education are changing, but when I see how it engages the students and how, given certain technologies or new ways of thinking, we can tailor curriculum and instruction to meet the needs of individual learners, how can I say no?

As we are preparing kids for the next generation and for them to be great visionaries, we cannot ignore the growing trend toward technology and all the discoveries being made through research to push the envelope in education.  After all, isn’t it essential that our end goal for these young, intermediate, and senior minds to be able to learn in the most effective way possible?  And face it, how many times have you fallen asleep when an instructor was talking about something that was of no interest to you?

When any student (youth or adult) enters the classroom, they need to ensure that they are prepared.  This is, in fact, one of the first things a teacher looks for when students are filing into the classroom, and is directly correlated to student success.  After all, how can you be successful at something when you’re not prepared??

Top 3 items a student needs to bring to class:

1)      Agenda – this is where they will actually COMMIT to writing down their homework, points to remember and assignment ideas when they are mentioned in class.  If a student just listens to what the teacher is saying but does not bring his/her agenda and write it down, the chances of them forgetting what was said 10 minutes later increases exponentially.

2)      Class materials – this could include anything from the course textbook, papers to write notes down on, and supplies to highlight and write important ideas.

3)      Thinking cap – being focused in class on the subject at hand (instead of wondering whom they’re going to ask to sign their yearbook or worrying about having plans for the weekend) is so important.  If a student is not focused and is not thinking about the subject matter at hand, they aren’t ready and they are not going to be nearly as effective in the classroom.

If a student can remember to bring these three vitally important items for every class, they are already ahead of the game!

Happy Learning!

A recent conversation with a relative stranger who is a parent made me realize something: What sort of accountability is there on the part of a tutoring company to ensure results for their clients??

The woman I spoke with had said that she had previously used a tutoring company (which shall remain nameless) and not only were she and her daughter unimpressed with the company, but the materials they gave her daughter to work on were far below what she was able to do, not furthering the girl's skills at all.  Further, the parent was so dissatisfied with the results, that she did not even finish the program (which she had prepaid for in order to receive a discount).

Now, a lack of an improvement on the child's behalf could be attributed to one (or a combination of) several factors, but the fact remains that the company providing the service needs to ensure that they have completed their professional duty in ensuring that they have done everything they can to at least ensure that the child has understood the information.  Otherwise, what good is your service and how do you justify your price tag???

One last point I wish to make on this.  Parents: there should be a conversation with parents, students and the company at the beginning of the transaction regarding the specific expectations of the Program, the tutoring and the follow-up results.  Otherwise, how can one reasonably gage success?

Technology.

Whether you love it or you hate it, it’s here to stay.

Technology has taken our education system by storm, singlehandedly playing a huge part in getting kids interested in learning , exploring and discovering.  Students devour websites with ease and excitement - they did, after all, grow up with the Internet…meanwhile older foggies (um, I mean people who are more “experienced”) like me began learning about MS Excel later in life – (by the way this is when all the kids I teach burst out laughing and call me old). The beauty of it is, not only is technology awesome for the environment, but it’s a great tool to connect with.  For example, I can’t think of another time where students could sit back and enjoy a TED Talk that features an actual professional pianist talking about the trials and tribulations (near death) of remaining feverishly committed to her craft, despite doctor’s warnings.  Nor can I think of anything cooler than actual scientists, physicians, world explorers, computer programmers and the list goes on and on, whom are able to, with the mere click of a few buttons, come into a classroom and transform the lives of students.

The Internet has absolutely revolutionized our ability to find anything we need at anytime, and has changed the face of research assignments forever.  Many teachers are also seeing the benefit of including the internet and social media into their daily lesson plans, activities, and projects.  The fact is that students need to know how to use this (and put it into application) so we aren’t doing them any favours in keeping it from them. People are now able to communicate with friends, family, share photos and blog postings, and to connect with people on the other side of the world…instantly! When my students realized that I was not, as of yet, a Smartboard wiz, they couldn’t believe it, seeing as how they reported to have been using it since grade 4.  Mind you, we also can’t ignore the negative effects of the Internet.  As wonderful as social media is, let’s not forget that we are no longer allowing our eyes to read ink, but instead, we are now reading light.  I’m no doctor but I have to wonder what the effects will be to our eyes in the next decade.  Also, with global access to people of great minds and great messages, we are also opening ourselves up to people of unsound mind, who may wish to hurt children and more.  Parents and guardians often think that by locking the main house door they are keeping intruders out.  Maybe so.  But don’t forget about those intruders whom, with some basic computer savvy, can very easily find your children. Computers and the Internet are great.  They can, do and should serve as incredible tools to further education and on a larger scale, civilization.  We just need to be mindful that with the good, (or I should say great) we are not also letting in the very dangerous.

Have you ever wondered why people are sometimes better at performing certain tasks than others??

Well, I certainly have, and let me tell you, my inquiring mind has led me to a very interesting find:
People have what are called Neurodevelopmental Systems, which are pathways of thinking that, based on the person's specific brain connections, affect those things they are best at (and sometimes don't allow some functions that we consider basic, to work at all).  This will help explain the incredible frustration people feel when they cant get a math problem or they cant get their many ideas together to write that book they've been meaning to write.

Here is a list of all the Neurodevelopmental system pathways that affect different parts of your learning:

1.  Attention Control System - how much focus and attention you can give to any one thing.
2.  Memory System - how much you remember about something and how well.
3.  Language System - how writing and languages come easily to you.
4.  Spatial Ordering System - how we deal with and configure information in a spatial, organized manner.  ex. Whether Jimmy can figure out how to put his left shoe on his left foot.
5.  Sequential Ordering System - how well you remember the sequence of events and/or instructions.

6.  Motor System - how well Alice can ride that 2-wheeler, or whether Julie can write in cursive or play the fiddle.
7.  Higher Thinking System - how you can problem-solve and reason logically, to form and make use of concepts, and to get the point of a complicated idea.
8.  Social Thinking System - ability to speak and interact thoughtfully with others, without saying something off-putting.

People sometimes start off by saying "I will try this" or "I will try that" and then when they are in the midst of it and the going gets tough, they just throw in the towel and say forget it!  I definitely recommend kids and people in general to check out and try new things and if you dont like it, leave it alone.  But when what you're looking for is to cultivate your leadership skills in an area, thats not the way a person with passion gets somewhere. 

People who are really sure of themselves and have a vision (doesnt have to be a very clear one at first but they have a vision) really can get around ANY problem.  These are people who are COMMITTED and will DO ANYTHING to achieve their vision.  No matter what field you get into or you are in, there will always be obstacles to overcome and this is one way that the Universe tests you to see whether you are committed to your vision or you have a non-chalant or too much of a relaxed attitude toward it.  Those who are committed are the ones who consistently really get somewhere!

I can guarantee you that all of the greatest leaders and businesspeople in the world today have had many obstacles to overcome, but they used each of those obstacles as stepping stones to learn their industry and their craft and to get that much better at what they do.  Just read up on any of them...if you find one who had everything just handed to them without even having to really work at it or keep it and make it larger, please let me know!

Do what you like, just be decisive in doing it because Henry Ford's quote that I have sitting on my desk at school still rings true: Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right!

The scenario is usually as such: Parents come to me (or their kid's teacher) at the beginning of the school year or some time during the first set of Parent-Teacher interviews and ask me "How can I help my kid do better at school this year?"

My answer to them: To consistently train their children on good study habits as early as possible and to expose their children to the very thing they are trying to improve in.  This answer often makes parents (and their children) happy because it means that the answer to their question isn’t something crazy and outlandish, but something that is totally reasonable and within reach.  (And it is.)

Taking the Example of the Much-Dreaded French Subject

For example, taking the subject of French (a subject area not too keenly adored by many children of varying ages and grades); most children do not enjoy French and therefore do not wish to practice it at home and consequently, do not get better at it.  The key here is to find ways of teaching students and exposing children to French in a FUN way.  This should include as many hands-on and interactive approaches as possible.  Great activities include having them do a food activity where they get to look through real grocery store flyers and budget their spending within a given and set dollar amount.  Following this, they could actually decide to make French foods (that are pre-approved by the teacher and perhaps by the home ec teacher), take a trip over to the local market, purchase the ingredients and actually make the food themselves.  I have tried this and it’s consistently one of the most fun activities of the school year, the kids tell me.

Bringing Quebec and France to Life

The beautiful thing about making the subject interactive, is that the students will actually wonder and question things related to French life, all on their own.  For the sports nut in class, we could talk about the French soccer, basketball or other player.  For the fashionista, Paris fashion is where it’s at.  And the list goes on.  There are so many ways of making things fun and interactive and we need to cater things to their level and liking.  After all, how many times have you fallen asleep when an instructor was talking about something that was totally out of your area(s) of interest??

What You Can Do At Home

Parents should work on and practice things that were done at school with their children, as much as possible.  They should also, from an early age, work on empowering their children with the idea that in order to do better at school, they need to get into the habit of reviewing things at home that were covered in school.  The reason that this needs to be taught from an early age is because this will get them into the habit of doing it, and then they will do it without even thinking about it.

The following are just some of the benefits of developing great study skills and habits early on: ·        

+ Without even having to put much thought or effort into it, children will know to get their work done early and then be able to relax the rest of the time ·        

+ When it comes time to the teacher announcing a test or a quiz, children will be ready and not need to worry about it ·         Being prepared in advance or reading ahead allows children the time and convenience of asking their teacher clarification questions if need be ahead of evaluation time ·        

+ There is not too much that IMPRESSES a teacher MORE than a student who is prepared ahead of time and puts effort into their work on a consistent basis (not just when report card time comes near or when interview time is looming around the corner).  Teachers love to see effort being put forth! ·        

+ No feelings of dread on Sunday evening, a time when you want to and deserve to rest and spend time with the family ·         This will allow them for one heck of a competitive advantage later on in later school years as well!   The best part is: it’ll be so ingrained in them that it will be effortless. In summary, creating good study skills and habits early are a major key to child and student development

Tips and Info for Parents : Helping Your Child Do Great At School

As a teacher, parents often ask me if they are keeping their children too busy with extra-curricular activities, either within or outside of school, and whether that is negatively affecting them. 

The good news is that generally speaking, when a child has at least 2-3 other activities that they are doing, whether it be in school or outside of school, they learn to manage their time better and be more productive than if they know they have all the time in the world to finish that Science or Math homework and instead, just go home and plunk themselves down in front of the tv.  Often times, being busy and having some after-school activities can lead to even better grades at school, since kids recognize that their time to learn something is limited, therefore they are motivated to study more productively and not leave class with lingering questions.  Why should any kid take home the homework that was frustrating them in class and just continue to get frustrated with it at home?  If they didnt get it in class, the smart and strategic thing to do would be to ask the teacher either on-the-spot or at another time that is convenient; not take it home and just keep getting frustrated.

Kids who do after school activities can also benefit from new friendships made outside of the classroom.  Especially if you ask French Immersion or Extended French kids.  These kids have generally been together since the very beginning and so they only have those same 30 or so kids as their resources.  Why not expand it out and learn from new people?

Parents, make sure your child gets into some after school or even lunchtime activities.  The variety will add to school enjoyment.  Whether it's basketball, soccer, craft club, theatre group, or environment club, enroll and enjoy!