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Downtime Can Be Educational and Fun: Tips to Help Your Child Learn at Home

Nov 27th, 2012 by

Kids need their downtime just like everyone else. After a long day at school and completing their homework, kids deserve to relax and enjoy themselves! This does not mean however that you cannot encourage educational activities for their downtime. Some of these activities are so much fun that your child won’t even realize that they are learning and developing their problem solving skills.

As a teacher, one of my goals is to help children realize the joys of learning! There are endless ways to encourage learning at home, even in our down time. Read below for some tips and suggestions:

Television and Movies: Just like many adults, most kids love to relax by watching TV or a good movie. Try to find channels and programs such as the History channel that promote learning. There are also many great documentaries out there today, and many of them are suitable and enjoyable for the entire family. Take a look at your neighbourhood video store or try Netflix which offers unlimited films for a very reasonable price.

Books and Reading: If your child already enjoys reading in their downtime, then learning and development is already being encouraged in your home! Some kids like to read more than others just by nature, and there is not much that can be done about this. Reading is a great way for your child to expand their knowledge, vocabulary, and to exercise their brain. If your child does not enjoy reading novels, consider other ways to encourage reading, such as magazines or graphic novels. All reading is good reading!

Video and Computer Games: In today’s world, being computer literate is necessary, especially for the younger generations. There is no doubt that technology will remain a part of our children’s education and that these learned skills will be required for future careers. Allow your kids to build on these skills at home. There are many positive video games that encourage learning and/or exercise, such as Wii. If you do not have a game system however, there are many websites and programs online that are educational too!

Day Trips: In Toronto, there are many places to bring your kids for a both fun and educational day. Some examples are the Ontario Science Centre, the ROM, Reptilia, and Black Creek Pioneer Village, just to name a few. Check out their websites to find promotions and discounts throughout the year!

Children learn through play and discovery, especially at a young age. This type of learning and growth should remain significant in the education of children for as long as possible. Remember that learning is not just about math and reading but that the development of other skills such as problem solving is essential for your child.

Downtime is essential for the development of kids, and just as we as adults need our downtime to relax and regenerate, kids need this time too! They will ultimately learn in a more productive way if they are rested and have outlets, and thankfully many of these outlets can provide both education fun and relaxation!

What are your children’s favourite activities? Please share them with my readers. And don’t forget to leave a link back to your own blog if you have one via the commentluv feature here on the site!

Until next time,

Nicole

 

 

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How to Motivate Students at School and at Home

Nov 6th, 2012 by

click to enlarge and print

There are children who really enjoy learning and look forward to going to school. These students are generally motivated to succeed in school because they find the challenge and workload manageable and rewarding. There are however many students who are not motivated to study and complete their school work. These students require additional encouragement from parents and teachers.

As a teacher, I have come to realize that the best way to motivate students is through encouragement and a positive attitude. Consequences and punishments such as the threat of taking away a reward or fun activity rarely motivate a child, especially in the long run. We should ultimately encourage learning and growth rather than numbers and grades. Achieving a certain standard according to the curriculum is important and necessary, but if it is the only thing we focus on, children quickly forget the joys of learning.

Positive Reinforcements are essentially rewards that can help to motivate students. Structure the reinforcement based on something they enjoy doing. See the example scenario below:

Suzie is a 10 year old fifth grade student. She really enjoys playing on the computer in her spare time. She usually completes her homework when she gets home from school but finds it difficult to focus on her daily math exercises which should take 15-20 minutes to complete. Her positive reinforcement would be: If she can complete her math exercises to the best of her ability within 30 minutes, she will be rewarded with an extra 15 minutes of daily computer time for that evening. As the ultimate goal is for her to complete the exercises in 15-20 minutes, gradually decrease the allotted time until she is able to complete her homework within this timeframe.

Another way to structure reinforcements, which I often do in the classroom, is to establish a points system. Each time a student finishes their task, they are rewarded with a point. This can be done with stickers on a chart so that children can track their achievements. Once they obtain 10 stickers they receive a prize or reward.  If you click on the image above, you will get an enlarged version that you can feel free to print off and use at home.

Positive Reinforcements work for many reasons. Mainly, we want to avoid any negativity when dealing with a child who lacks motivation. Showing our own frustration towards their lack of motivation will not encourage them. It should always be about the child’s happiness and goals, not ours as teachers and parents. We want them to feel proud of what they have achieved and we can do this by encouraging them in their growth as learners!

What is your favourite way to motivate your child? Share your experiences with me. And don’t forget to leave a link back to your own blog via the commentluv feature here on the site.

Until next time,

Nicole

 

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Promoting Good Study Habits at Home

Oct 17th, 2012 by

Motivating your kids to study and do their homework can be a challenge for any parent! Even when your child enjoys completing their school work, it can be hard to compete with the endless options children now have for entertainment. In my last post, I wrote about how essential it is to establish routines at home for your children. When it comes to homework and study time, there should be no exception. Schedules can often seem hectic with extra-curricular activities in the mix, which means it may not always be possible for homework to happen at the same time every day. As long as there is an allotted amount of time devoted to studying each evening, your child will benefit from this routine. Talk to your children and decide on the best time for them to complete their homework or study. This time might be anywhere from 30 minutes to hours each day depending on the age of your child. If your child is young and does not yet have daily homework, then you can spend time reading with them or work on spelling, phonics, vocabulary, etc….

Below are some helpful tips to help create a manageable and effective Homework routine:

  • Set aside a specific time for your child to do their homework each day. If your daily schedule changes due to extra-curricular activities, ensure that you keep track of the allotted homework times for each day of the week.
  • Find a comfortable and quiet space! Ensuring your child is in the right environment is essential! You want to ensure they are away from distractions such as the TV, siblings, or a room with a lot of traffic. The right space will depend on the individual and what they require in order to concentrate. If your child is young or requires support, then you will want to be nearby or in the same room. You might find that this is the best time for you to get your own work done, such as responding to emails.
  • Communicate with your child! Remind them in the morning when their homework/study time will be after school, especially if the schedule changes day to day. Don’t forget to also remind them of the down time that they will also be rewarded with!
  • If your child requires some extra motivation to complete their school work, create positive reinforcements for them. A special prize or treat at the end of the week, or extra time on the computer might help to encourage them. Base positive reinforcements and rewards on what your child enjoys.
  • Give your children some space! Unless the teacher’s instructions calls for parents and children to work together or your child needs support, allow them to have some independence. If you have a consistent routine and your child knows the expectations, there is no reason why they should not be able to work independently. You can remain nearby to answer questions, offer support when necessary, and to check on progress. Feeling independent and accountable for their own learning is essential to the development of your child’s study skills.
  • Realize that we all need breaks! If you have decided that your child requires one hour of homework/study/reading time a day, be mindful that you may have to factor in a small break for them to stretch their legs or get a snack.
  • Stay in contact with your child’s teacher. Communicate with them to find out what your child’s strengths and weaknesses are. If you know your child requires extra support in one particular subject area, find out how best to support them at home!

Do you have any tips to share on creating homework routines? I would love to hear your feedback! Don’t forget to leave a link back to your own blog if you have one via the commentluv feature here on the site.

Until next time,

Nicole

 

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Creating Manageable & Consistent Routines for School Kids at Home

Sep 25th, 2012 by

Between the chilly weather, early morning alarms, and homework, the transition from summer to fall can be tough for everyone! We are now into the fourth week of school, and both students and teachers are getting back into the swing of things. There is no better time than now to ensure that you are creating manageable and consistent routines for your kids at home. Having established routines is one of the best ways to help your child succeed in school whether they are seven or seventeen!

Students are inundated with routines and schedules at school, but it is for a good reason! Kids thrive on consistency, knowing when they have each class and for how long, and more importantly when they will have recess and lunch breaks! Teachers implement a variety of classroom routines to help kids stay focused, and also to encourage them to take responsibility for their role within the class.

Having school-like routines at home can be just as helpful to ensure your child is succeeding at school. Just like at school where students are encouraged to relax and play during their scheduled recess and lunch breaks, the same can be done at home. Some kids prefer to do their homework right away when they get home from school, whereas others prefer to have a bit of a break from school work and would rather opt for down time before homework. If your child does not have homework yet, schedule a time for reading. All kids can benefit from reading regardless of their age or reading ability!

Routines can be established for practically anything your child does at home, such as homework, preparing and eating meals, bedtime, chores, downtime, TV and computer time, etc…

As a teacher, I know how important choice is for children of all ages. Having children take part in a decision making process makes them feel important and like their opinion matters, which it does! Kids often know what best works for them, especially as they get older. To ensure that your routines will work for everyone in the family, decide with your child what is best and build your routines based on that. If you need help establishing good habits, I would be happy to help. Feel free to contact me!

If you have any routines that work well for your family, please share them!! I love getting feedback. And, don’t forget to leave a link back to your own blog if you have one via the commentluv feature here on the site.

Until next time,

Nicole
Your Toronto Tutor

 

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Introducing Nicole Reid, Your Toronto Tutor

Sep 11th, 2012 by

Hello everyone and welcome to my new site, Your Toronto Tutor! Thank you so much for visiting today!
I set up this site because I am passionate about teaching and education, and I strive to make a difference for students who require a little bit of assistance and who are motivated to improve their study skills!

I am an experienced teacher and tutor, and I have worked both here in Canada, and overseas in South Korea and Saudi Arabia. As an experienced tutor, I understand the importance of creating individualized programs and lessons for students. I strongly believe that everybody learns in a unique way. When working with students, I take the time to understand their academic needs, goals, and focus on creating a plan that works for them.

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