Friday 28 December 2012

Mental Health & Education

Improving Education and everything about our lives is all about Mental Health.

The mentally healthy are those people who feel able to identify their own needs and issues, and can negotiate for themselves civilly, within the context of a community.  Kids and adults alike must learn to take responsibility for their daily moods, feelings and the nasty messages they allow their heads to tell them.  (Like:  “I’m too weird to have friends.”)  Those who can’t manage feelings on their own need to talk to a friend, a mom, a professional.
But talking takes time.  And to professionals, time is money...read more HERE

Wednesday 19 December 2012

New Year Activities - New Year Resolutions

A series of activities to start off the New Year such as reviewing the year, talking about traditions, New Year resolutions and ways of celebrating. The materials, teachers' notes and weblinks are available for each activity. To visit this site click HERE

Monday 17 December 2012

The Best Canadian Business Schools

The seven Canadian Business Schools that employers like best 

 

Seven Canadian business schools have made the list of 39 “elite global” institutions sought out by international employers who hire MBA graduates, according to a new survey...more

Saturday 15 December 2012

Thursday 13 December 2012

LearnEnglish Kids has lots of free online games, songs, stories and activities for children to have fun and learn English too.Click HERE to visit their site

ESL Lessons - promoting English conversation

Designer Lessons, a blog run by George and his colleague Neil McMillan, is designed to provide lessons which aim to engage and promote conversation in a semi-controlled way. There are several fantastic lesson ideas for all ages and levels...click HERE

Wednesday 12 December 2012

Free Christmas Activities for Teachers & Parents

These Free Christmas activities are available at the Teachers Pay Teachers website...click HERE

More Tips For Homework Help

 Are you and your child struggling with homework? Are homework issues ruining your evenings? Are you looking for ways to make homework less of a problem for both you and your child?

Here is a link to 30 possible ways to alleviate homework stress:

http://www.nannypro.com/blog/30-blogs-with-tips-for-homework-help/

Tuesday 11 December 2012

Curriki - Free Algebra 1 Course

This course consists of five units aligned to the Common Core. Each unit culminates in a project that utilizes mastery of conceptual understanding taught in the individual lessons.
Unit 1: Relationships between Quantities and Reasoning with Equations
Unit 2:Linear and Exponential Relationships
Unit 3: Descriptive Statistics
Unit 4: Expressions and Equations
Unit 5: Quadratic Functions and Modeling

click HERE to go to the Curriki site

One Great Teacher

It only takes one great teacher. Do you agree? Who was yours? ...read this article...

Monday 10 December 2012

When Can Children Walk to School Alone?

When Can Children Walk to School Alone?
"Shelby wants to walk to school on her own," a client said to me recently, twisting the scarf she wore until I feared she might choke herself. "I don't know what to do -- tell me what I should do." ...continue reading this excellent article...

Teach to Each Child's Intelligence

Teach to Each Child's Intelligence

Why do we make so many students wait until the last couple of years of college to finally find pleasure in learning? Why can't primary and secondary schools follow the model of colleges and teach to the intelligence of their students? Continue reading...

Monday 3 December 2012

Solving Homework Problems - Is There A Problem?




IS THERE A PROBLEM?

The first thing you need to determine is whether there is a problem. If you and your child are tearing your hair out, yelling and screaming at each other over homework issues then it is an easy diagnosis.
There is a difference between occasional problems and regular problems. We all have an off day now and then.  Gentle reminders and prompts to do homework are also normal for most families.
However, if the homework issue is pervasive, with regular excuses for homework not done and constant battles to get your child to complete homework then there obviously is a problem.
While this analysis might seem somewhat simplistic, there sometimes is a thin line between determining whether you and your child have a homework problem or not. In some instances it may be a demanding parent expecting perfection.
If there is even the slightest doubt in your mind, call your child’s teacher and get another perspective. If the teacher is noticing similar behaviours in class then that will help you to make a sound analysis.
If you have gotten this far and determined that there really is no problem, then your worries are over.
If, however, you know you and your child have a homework issue, then the next step is determining what is causing the homework problem.

Friday 30 November 2012

HTML - easy to learn tutorials

This tutorial teaches you everything about HTML.
HTML is easy to learn - You will enjoy it. If you need a tutor to speed up the learning process, we can help! Lernit.ca
http://www.w3schools.com/html/default.asp

Wednesday 28 November 2012

free online English games, songs and stories. You can also print worksheets and flashcards to use at home or in the classroom: click here

Hacker High School - Internet Security

This is a great series of lessons on internet security suitable for teens and adults:

Hacker High School - Security Awareness not just for teens : click here

Saturday 24 November 2012

Early Learning - why it has no value for kids.

"Early learning” programs for young children have no benefits for kids. Don't think so? Then you need to read this article: click here

The Role of Play in Children's Lives

Turn off the TV. Hide the tablet and computer. Here is an excellent article on why we should let our kids just play:  click here

Thursday 22 November 2012

Homework Tips For Parents #2

Many parents have the expectation that their child's homework should consist of studying spelling lists, completing arithmetic questions or doing some other form of rote exercise. Unfortunately, these kinds of homework assignments do little to tie children's school learning to what is happening in their daily lives. This article will outline some homework tips parents and families can use at home to help their children make those all-important connections.

Reading

This is the single, most effective way for children to develop good language skills and, at the same time, it is an effective way for them to learn interesting facts about the world around them and relationships. Children should read at least 15 to 20 minutes a night - preferably with an adult. When parents read books, together with their child, they can facilitate the child's understanding of difficult concepts and vocabulary. Try to choose books from a variety of genres such as fiction, non-fiction, poetry, mysteries, and science fiction, to name a few. Reading lists for age groups and grade levels can be easily found on the internet or at the local library.

Writing

Writing skills are usually the most difficult set of skills for the average student to master. Writing is the culmination of good language and speaking skills applied to the writer's knowledge base. Like any other skill, writing does require practice - a lot of practice. While these skills are taught in class, there simply are not enough hours in the school day to provide the amount of practice that is needed to develop all the writing skills necessary to develop confidence and succeed in school. There are a number of fun and valuable activities parents can do with their children at home. For example, a parent can encourage their child to write the weekly shopping list, write emails to friends and family members, keep a journal and even create their own greeting cards for special occasions. Helping your child to create and maintain their own, personal dictionary goes a long way to helping the child develop a sophisticated vocabulary. Most important is that the parent shows an interest in the child's writings and use the material as a means to carry on discussions (and even debates) about the content.

Mathematics

There are dozens of home activities that will help your child to develop facility with numbers. Again, the secret here is to be consistent, regular and interested in what your child is doing. Use the shopping list and a recent grocery store flyer to develop a projected cost of the week's groceries. Understanding measurement and capacity is made much easier when activities centre on carpentry, sewing or cooking.Of course, we cannot forget board games, many of which are excellent for reinforcing number skills and problem solving strategies.

Social Studies

By the age of 7 or 8, children are starting to develop an awareness of the world. Discussions about what is happening in other parts of the world are great springboards to mapping, social customs, languages and geography. A wall map can be used to locate and pinpoint places in the news and calculate distances between foreign lands and home. A travel journal is an excellent way to encourage your child to become more observant when on vacation. All of these activities involve the practice of important academic skills and, at the same time, make excellent souvenirs.

Communication

Good communication skills are essential, not only for success in school, but also for success in life. It is vital that a child learn how to express their thoughts and ideas in a manner that is easily understood by others. The activities listed above are perfect for setting an atmosphere that leads seamlessly into conversation. Avoid questions that require just one word answers. The classic is the question, "What did you do in school today?" and the answer, "Nothing." Instead, ask specific questions about what happened in a particular class or in a certain activity, field trip or recent assignment. Remember, if your child is reluctant to talk with you, then the first place you should look for improvement is at yourself. If you have a genuine interest in your child's world, then conversation should flow naturally. Once you and your child are at ease with conversations on a variety of subjects, then you are well on your way to providing a platform that benefits all members of the family - especially during the critical teenage years.

This article provides only few of the countless methods for helping your child with their homework and facilitating the development of sound communication skills. The more creative you are with ways to help your child, the more you both will benefit and enjoy family life.

For more information on Homework Tips For Parents, use this link

Homework Tips For Parents #1



Here is a checklist for helping your child with homework:

    It is important to set aside a unique, quiet place with sufficient lighting.
    Keep necessary supplies such as paper, pencils, pens, markers, rulers, in the homework area.
    Have a regular time each day to do homework.
    Help your child to regularly use organizational tools such as a school planner, calendar, and folders. This is especially important When they are assigned larger projects that require a few days or weeks to complete, help them to schedule their time and break the assignment into manageable pieces.

    Questions you should ask your child:

        What are today's homework assignments?
        Do you understand the directions and what you have to do? If not, suggest that they call a classmate to get things straight.
        When is the assignment due?
        When it is a major project, encourage them to create a work plan to ensure it is completed on time.?

    Other ways to help:

        Always be positive, supportive and encouraging. Keep your eye open for ways your child can improve their homework skills.
        Don't forget: it is your child's homework, not yours, so do not try to take control - you are a supporter not a director.
        Show confidence in your child. If necessary, when they are feeling a unsure, remind them of past successes.
        Show interest and praise them when they have done something well.
        Always make suggestions in a helpful, positive way.
        Meet the teacher early in the year and make yourself familiar with homework policies and expectations.
        Call the teacher if there are homework problems you can't resolve. Do it early, rather than later before it becomes a major issue.
   
Children learn both in and out of school. Outside of school they learn things at home and in their surrounding community. Children also learn a great deal from their parents, who are important partners in the learning process. Positive parental involvement can help make school a successful learning experience for children. Parental interest sends a strong message to children - that education is important, and that learning can be fun and worth the effort.

Homework is assigned by teachers for a variety of reasons. It gives students extra practice time, apply information learned in class and help them expand their knowledge beyond what was learned in class. Assignments are also a good way for students to learn to work independently. Homework assignments can also help students learn how to manage and work on bigger projects, learn about other resources and visit libraries.

For more information on homework tips for parents use this link