You are here: Home / Archives for Students

Using Dramatic Play in Kindergarten

July 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Group of children in a primary school in Paris

Image via Wikipedia

Many worry that with so many children watching TV that dramatic play, or using your imagination, is dwindling in today’s kids. Too many rely on outside stimulus for entertainment. Creativity is important for many adults, and with this quality shrinking, it’s important to find a way to re-introduce kids to their imagination. How can this be done?

One way is by using dramatic play in schools, especially with kindergarteners. Most five-year-olds aren’t able to sit and pay attention for very long anyway. By using dramatic play, kids are able to basically play but are able to learn at the same time. For example, you could set up a situation where the kids run a restaurant. Each child is given a specific role in that situation such as server, manager, chef, patron, etc.

In each of the role, the children are given specific tasks. For example, the patron might need to take the total of the check and count out play money to pay for the bill. He or she will need to understand what money represents what and add up the totals in order to know what to pay. For older children, they could even be told to give a 15 percent tip and would have to figure out that amount.

There are a lot of principles that can be taught through dramatic play, but as long as it’s structured, student will be able to learn the information that the teacher is teaching the children. And yet it’s fun for the children as well.

Filed Under: Education, Students Tagged With: , ,

Preparing the Senior High Student for College and Beyond

June 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment
The Reflecting Pool was restored during the 20... 

Image via Wikipedia

As your child enters senior high, a whole new world is going to open up to them. Puberty, being on the cusp of adulthood, and the countdown to college years has begun. However, a parent needs to guide their child through these years with tact and discipline. Many kids find that as they reach their senior year, their desire to stay focused is lessened. A parent has to do what they can to help maintain focus.

About midway through senior high, kids are faced with decisions to make. This is the time to start looking into colleges as well as figure out what field they want to study in. Grades need to be kept up, loans and grants are going to have to be applied for, and most likely part-time work is going to be sought out. All of these issues combine into one gigantic wad of stress for parents and children alike.

The key to surviving these years intact is to find a balance. Grades are the first and foremost important issue. A lesser grade makes or breaks the ability to get into the school of a teenager’s dreams. So while they may want to work in order to have money, you as the parent need to decide if work should win out over grades. Certainly supporting a teenager’s newfound habits are on the expensive side, but no one said children are cheap.

Ultimately you will do what makes the most sense for your family situation. However, no matter how much a teenager will tick you off, support them in whatever they do because they still need you.

Filed Under: Students Tagged With: , ,

Advantages of Private School Education

March 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Private schools are thought by many to provide a more quality education to students. While it can be costly, many parents might not mind paying for it, since the value of learning has no price tag. Each generation of young people become the next generation of adults and experiences within the classroom can offer a percentage of who they become.

Some people consider private education to be a monetary privilege rather than an academic right. Since parents are paying for their children’s experience, they can have the opportunity to intervene in how they learn and are disciplined. In many cases the teachers and students are aware of appropriate protocol. Poor behavior is typically handled with individual students immediately. Expulsion is often a final consequence of ongoing misbehavior, making behavioral problems in general less likely.

It’s not uncommon for children within the private school settings to surpass their peers who attend public school because students are expected to be more responsible for their own academic success. The tuition which parents pay covers the cost of many textbooks and the curriculum offered can allow students to achieve greater educational success. Some college-level coursework is offered in many private high schools, while public school honors programs can be less advanced in some cases.

Since the class sizes are typically smaller in private schools. There may be more opportunities for students to get to know their peers and their teachers better. With this in mind, teachers can help to refine and build a curriculum geared for a student’s individual needs. The private school learning environment is still competitive, but more on the premise of academic achievement. Popularity and fashion are thought by some not to be an issue (at least not during school hours).

Although many students can thrive within various academic settings, they may receive higher testing results and may choose to drop out less often. Whether we choose private schools or not, it’s worth looking into.

Filed Under: Education, Students Tagged With: , ,

Helping Students Avoid Peer Pressure in Junior High

March 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Although peer pressure begins way before junior high, it seems to be when it initially becomes more of an issue in children’s lives. Some of our children are particularly strong and have no problem speaking their mind. For more assertive students, the word “no” can be heard often without regret. Still, parents and teachers can reinforce certain guidelines to help them steer clear of undesirable situations.

For many students who are of middle school age, it can be helpful for them to contemplate about negative scenarios that could play out when peer pressure wins. Parents should not be afraid to talk to their children at any age. State the facts about the harm of drinking, smoking and drugs. Many people feel that anything interfering with bodily and mental health isn’t an acceptable means of getting into the limelight of popularity.

It seems that the term “friend” is so widely and loosely used. For some students in junior high, who they are unfortunately can equate with how their peers perceive them. Maybe it would be useful for parents and faculty members to ask children to differentiate between friendship and popularity. As many of us are aware, popularity doesn’t necessarily mean the same as wholesomeness. Consequently, some schools hold mandatory workshops several times within the school year.

Our children can mirror us early on in life and although morality cannot be taught, we need to practice good teaching, parenting and role modeling. In addition it’s important to discuss personal values with kids. Many of us want to be well-liked but we don’t always stop to think about other people’s behaviors.

As adults, we should surround ourselves with others who have things in common with us and come from a good background. As we age, super-stardom may seem irrelevant. True friendship and self-respect remain in their own realm. if there are no boundaries set, than peer pressure might as well win the war for life.

Filed Under: Education, Students Tagged With: , ,

College Student Necessities

February 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment
My sophomore dorm room. (Sharp hall, Universit...

Image via Wikipedia

When heading to college for the first time, new students may not know exactly what items they need. When moving from their parents’ home to living on their own for the first time, there are many things were always available that may be taken for granted, and these things must be on the list when preparing to outfit a dorm room or apartment.

First, students must remember everything for the bedroom: an alarm clock is a necessity, as well as bed linens for the size of bed that will be in the room, a stereo, television set and DVD player if desired, hangers for the closet, a laundry basket or bag, and (since roommates often can’t agree on a temperature) a fan and space heater.

Depending on the apartment or dorm room setup, students may need to bring a microwave, quarters for on-site laundry facilities, a mini-refrigerator, and furniture such as couches, chairs, and kitchen sets. For the kitchen, every student will need a set of dishes and silverware, since some roommates prefer not to share. It also makes the process of moving out simpler, since the sets can be kept separate if desired. Dish soap, laundry detergent, cleaning supplies, towels, medications, and vitamins, as well as toiletries, a shower caddy, and flip-flops (especially if using a shared shower that is separate from the apartment or dorm) will also be necessary.

A sewing kit may also come in handy if a button falls off or an item of clothing tears and needs a quick repair. New college students always enjoy decorating their new home to reflect their personal style, so posters, photographs, rugs, lamps, and other unique pieces can add color to a room. Every student will also need to be prepared with school supplies and a computer and printer to make sure they can do research and print assignments to make sure everything is turned in on time.

Filed Under: Students Tagged With:

How To Provide Guidance For Students

January 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Teachers are very special people and trained professionals for a number of reasons. However, they are true heroes to their students, for meanings that go beyond their expertise. Students feel close to their teachers in class. Almost as close as they feel to their beloved parents. Teachers like parents do make a difference in the life of impressionable youngsters. Who thirst for the taste of new experiences. Teachers not only lay the foundation for learning. They also arm students with valuable tools for the future.

Parents are as important in providing guidance to children as are educators. This is because a child does look up to his or her parent or parents for guidance. Part of helping your child achieve academic excellence is to help them along the way. No one can get success in the beginning. It is something that takes time, determination, and most importantly practice. Help your child to pavé their way on the road to education. This preparation begins at home and goes from there. A parent can best give their youngsters guidance by being there to care. Every step of the way from start to finish. Students get guidance not only from school but also from home. Young minds do need direction and this direction can be given from both teachers and parents equally.

Providing a continual source of dedicated guidance to your child is advisable. Because it is the very thing that will help to propel him or her to learn as much as they can at school. Teachers also do inspire students every day in class. By freely giving of themselves to their students. The guidance that teachers do give is not only professional but caring in tone. Parents help to establish guidance by making sure their children do their homework. They also help them get organized and assist them with any real frustrations. Parents also know how to give praise and construtive criticism that works positively.
.

Filed Under: Students Tagged With:

Taking Time for Students

January 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

With increasing budget cuts, teachers face more students each year. Cuts in the budget can lead to cuts in the number of teachers, or worse, cuts in the number of schools in the district. While shake-ups in schools and districts occur, teachers must carry on the task of teaching to a more diverse classroom, including diversity in student learning and achievement. What can teachers do to make sure all students are reached and can achieve in their classroom?

Teachers must offer various learning activities to students in order to accurately assess student learning. While some students are happy to listen to a lecture and work from the textbook, many students must learn by doing instead of learning by listening. This may add more work to an already demanding workload for teachers, but allowing students to learn through different styles can help the students understand their own learning better.

If a teacher notices a problem with a students learning or classroom behavior, they may single out the student and talk to them before or after class. This may make the student feel uncomfortable if other students do not receive the same attention. If a teacher makes a habit of talking with each student at various times during the school year, they can address issues concerning all students while reaching those who may have more severe problems in school.

Teachers must have the support of school administration if they are taking on extra work addressing student achievement. The added stress could affect teacher performance, so support from within the building and district can help the teacher focus on teaching. With more students to assess and more learning disabilities acknowledged, teachers may feel overwhelmed by their responsibility. But diagnosing and helping these students early can set them up for a lifetime of success.

 

Filed Under: Students, Teacher Tips Tagged With:

Helping Students with Disabilities Achieve

January 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment

When a teacher has a student with learning disabilities, there are many options for that student to receive the help they need in order to succeed in school. Most learning disabilities involve reading, writing, and speech, so these tips are geared towards these areas. Teachers should always work with both parents and support staff in order to develop the best education plans for their students.

Many students with learning disabilities may need more time to take tests and finish assignments. Test taking should be accommodated by support staff in the resource room. If a student will be handing in late assignments, the teacher must be in constant, positive contact with the student’s parents.

Students with learning disabilities may find it helpful to have assignments broken down into smaller tasks. Sitting down with the student and explaining the overall assignment, then the steps that need to be taken to get there, can help the student feel confident about completing the assignment instead of overwhelmed by it.

Students can also benefit from having a designated note-taker in class or borrowing notes from another student. Some students with learning disabilities can find it frustrating to keep up with the teacher during a lesson and can miss key concepts if they’re not taking notes fast enough or if they’re not writing down the important information. Designating another student or classroom aide to take notes can help that student listen to the teacher and have the information they need when they study by themselves.

The school may decide on a number of accommodations to help the student succeed. It’s important for teachers and other school staff to keep in contact with the student’s parents so they can have a consistent learning environment. The student should feel comfortable studying and learning at both home and school so they can feel confident about their education.

 

Filed Under: Students Tagged With:

Reading Expectations When Entering Elementary School

December 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

One of the many parents worry about as their children are about to graduate from the Kindergarten level of education to grade school is what their child should know once they hit first grade and what they will learn over the course of the year. This can be a trying time in parents, especially new parents lives simply because they do not want to think that their children are somehow underprepared or behind the rest of their kids’ class. What most people don’t realize is that for the most part if the parents are spending time with the kid, reading to him or her and with him or her then their child is pretty much ready for first grade.

During first grade, one of the most important aspects of the child’s education will be determining sight words. Sight words are words that a child recognizes right away and can basically actually read. Sight words can be learned fairly easily as long as they spend kindergarten engaged and they are also practicing reading at home. Of course a first grader, especially when they first enter the grade will not be expected to recognize every word in the dictionary but they should also be able to do what is called decoding. Decoding basically means that the child is able to figure out a word they have never seen before based on familiar looks and sounds.

Again, decoding is a skill that can be learned as long as the parents are taking a concerted effort towards making sure the child is getting plenty of reading done while they are at home. Parents who work with the schools to help their kids get the best educations, parents who do not lean on the schools to be the only providers of education will see children who learn faster and more effectively.

Filed Under: Students, Teacher Tips Tagged With: , ,

Navigating Trhough Grade 1

December 25, 2010 By Leave a Comment

If you are feeling a bit nervous about whether or not your child is on par with other kids when it comes to reading skills, fear not! You are not alone. Almost all parents see their little ones heading into first grade and wonder if their kids are truly prepared for the beginning of grade school. This is after all when things get real as far as educating the kids to the ways of the world and when they being their long trek (which can seem to shoot by in an instant) towards college.

In a nutshell, the thing that all first graders should be able to do is recognize sight words. This basically means that as long as you team up the reading skills they have learned in kindergarten with steady practice at home there should be no problem. Of course each child learns at their own pace and if the sight words are not coming to them as quickly as you would like don’t despair. The old adage of “if at first you don’t succeed, try try again” certainly applies when it comes to young children grasping the art of reading.

Sight words are exactly what they sound like they would be. These are words that your youngster can actually recognize just by looking at them. Usually at this grade level they will be very simple words and no one should be getting nervous because giraffe or xylophone are registering as sight words for your first grader. Of course the more sight words your child knows the better for their long term development but as long as they have some arrows in that quiver they will be well on their way to progressing as they should through the new mine field that is elementary school in today’s culture.

Filed Under: Students, Teacher Tips Tagged With: , ,
«Older Posts