It is important for adults to know and understand that learning to read is the single most important skill that a child should master. While reading is not a complicated task, it may be quite challenging in the earliest stages of development. By learning to read, the road that leads to success in school, social situations, and life is paved. The child that knows and completely understands how to read is a child that is self-confident and motivated in all areas of academics and life itself. Whether you are a parent or guardian of a child, or you work directly with children in a professional setting, it is essential that you understand the basics of learning to read.
Why Do We Read?
There are many different reasons associated with why we read. Many simply read to acquire new types and levels of knowledge. There are many that read simply because they enjoy reading. There are some that read to perform various jobs within a professional setting. Many will read on topics that will assist them in obtaining information and skills that are required to enhance their decision making skills and make important choices throughout life. Most people will encounter reading materials that will instruct them on how to perform certain tasks such as cooking, assembling products, installing products, and even acquiring directions in order to travel from one location to another. Reading is participated in to learn about the world around us, as well as to keep contact with those that we are close to.Read More on Tips To Teaching Your Child To Read
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There are many fun and creative ways to teach your child the alphabet. It has been determined that learning the alphabet, as well as developing an awareness for phonics are the keys to success when it comes to successful readers. Successful readers have been found to be more academically inclined and successful in their studies, stable emotionally, and proactive when it comes to detail, and instructions. If you would like to open new doors for your little learner, one of the best ways to start is by teaching them their ABC’s. It is important to understand that young children are often motivated and learn more when they are taught in a playful and fun manner. If you keep that in mind, you are quite likely to experience rapid success in your endeavors.
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Two Friends Reading Together
There are many fun and creative ways to encourage older children to read. Reading is an important skill in many different ways. This is considered to be an active mental process which means that as a child engages in the process, the brain actually becomes "smarter". In addition to this, it helps to increase the vocabulary of the child, which means that they will be able to communicate more effectively throughout their lifetime. There are many other mental processes that are improved when a child reads. These include concentration, focus, memory, and creativity. Reading also assists in building the self-esteem of the child. As parents, we know the importance of reading to our children, but as a child ages, it is important to learn fun and creative ways to encourage them to read to us. In this guide, you will learn some strategies on how to do that.
Bedtime Stories
One of the strategies that can be used in order to encourage older children to read is to have them read bedtime stories to you. It is quite likely that since your child was very young, you have sat down each night when you put them to bed and read to them. As they get a little older and develop their own skills in reading, you should encourage them to read to you! As your child reads to you, encourage them to read with reflection. It is also important that you ask them questions about the pictures and/or concepts covered in the story periodically. This will not only assist in improving their reading, but they will concentrate more and be able to effectively summarize the information that they are reading.
Acting
Believe it or not, even older children enjoy using their imagination. One of the most creative ways that you can encourage your children to read is to get them to physically act out the story that they are reading to you. You may allow them to read directly from the book, or you could encourage them to read the story and then create their own script for it. You can encourage them to use props, stuffed animals, and other things around the house in order to bring the story alive. Children of all ages will enjoy acting out stories to their parents and even their siblings.Read More on Fun and Creative Ways to Encourage Older Children to Read
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by Joy Burgess
Self-Esteem & Teamwork are two Benefits of Extracurricular Activities
There are many high schools out there today that provide a plethora of extracurricular activities. Some occur before school, some after school, and a few may even take place on the weekends. While some parents are a bit dubious about their children participating in extracurricular activities, these activities actually bring with them many benefits. Allowing your child to get involved in extracurricular activities at school is a wise choice, and it can be very important in helping them to develop many working skills, people skills, and more. Of course, while a few activities is a great idea, there is a point where you need to draw a line. Here is a closer look at some of the benefits of extracurricular activities for your child, and how you can know when these activities become too much.
The Benefits of Extracurricular Activities
If you aren't sure whether or not you should let your high school student get involved in extracurricular activities, you definitely need to consider all the benefits that come along with these activities. Here is a look at just a few benefits your teen will enjoy if you allow them to get involved with these activities.
Benefit #1 – Learning Time Management and Prioritizing – One great benefit of your teen being involved in extracurricular activities is that they will learn about time management and prioritizing things in their life. As adults we get very used to juggling a variety of different tasks and commitments. Our teens need to learn how to do this as well, and getting involved in these activities can give them some practice at it.
Benefit #2 – Getting Involved in Diverse Interests – Getting involved in extracurricular activities also allows students to get involved in diverse interests. It is important for your teen to be very diverse in their interests. These activities allow them to explore various interests that they may have.
Benefit #3 – Learning About Long Term Commitments – Teens learn about long term commitments when they are involved in extracurricular activities as well, which is another excellent benefit. When the join one of the activities or clubs, they commit themselves to that activity for a period of time. If they don't hold up to their end of the deal, no doubt they'll hear about it from their peers and perhaps even teachers. Learning to take on commitments is important, and these activities can teach your child this important lesson.Read More on Extracurricular School Activities and the Benefits
Developing good study skills will help make homework less of a chore for your Teen
If you have a child that is just going into high school, it's important that you realize how different high school is going to be for them. This is a time of big transition. Not only is your child transitioning and going through tough physical and emotional changes, but high school brings on all new challenges that can be a bit difficult for freshmen high school students to get used to. Now that your child is in high school, their grades and performance are more important than ever. Colleges are recruiting kids even when they are in their freshman and sophomore years, and all colleges will look as far back as the freshman year at grades to see how the student has performed.
In order to succeed in high school, new high school students need to have great study skills. Here are some important study skills that you can teach to your new high school student to help them have an easier transition into high school.
Effective Time Management
One of the most important skills your new high school student needs to learn is effective time management. Teens need to learn that they are responsible for managing their time. Many students end up spending hours in class, they get involved with extracurricular activities, and also have to keep up with homework. Most teens want to spend their time socializing with others, going out, getting on the computer, or talking on the phone. However, it's easy for them to forget about their responsibilities for school work. Now is the time for them to learn how to manage their time. Having them keep a daily planner can be helpful and can teach them important skills in managing their time. Just
Basic Study Habits
Just some of the basic study habits are going to be important for your teen as they go into high school as well. Some kids already may have developed these habits during middle school, but for others, they come a bit harder. Here are a few basic study habits that are very important for your teen to have:Read More on Effective Study Skills for New High School Students
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Back to school
Some families make new year resolutions in January with everything they plan to change in the coming year. In our house, the problem isn't January, it's September and the chaos that comes with the new school year. This year, we are working on new school year resolutions with the new year looming.
Every family I know complains about the morning rush. When making resolutions for your family, focus on the consistent problems that plaque your family and ruin the harmony in the morning rush. Talk about this with your kids and get their input. Here are our resolutions:
We will stop losing our shoes: I put a shoe rack by the front door to corral school shoes and prevent the recurring problem of lost shoes. The morning starts spiraling out of control when sneakers can't be found and its gym day.
We will have our clothing and supplies ready the night before school: This is a lofty goal and we always seem to fall short. Our kids wear uniforms, so choosing clothing is easy, but we do still have to navigate whether the girls are wearing the pants or jumper and who has gym and needs to wear the gym uniform. Getting organized, setting out clothes the night before and sticking to it is a big part of our plan.Read More on New School Year Resolutions
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Last Minute Back to School Tips
It is August, which for many children across the nation it means that school is just around the corner. While we as parents try to pack in as much end of the summer fun as possible. We also need to make sure that we are getting our kids and ourselves ready for school to start. Regardless of whether you excited about your little ones (no matter how old they are) heading back into their routine, or you are rather anxious over the first day, these tips are going to help make that first day easier for everyone.
Remember when it comes to children, big or small, they are able to adjust better when they have a schedule or routine to keep. For you the parent that means reinstituting the earlier bedtime. Depending on the age of your children you want to make sure that they are going to bed early enough that they are going to get the amount of sleep they need to make it through the school day. Each age group needs a certain amount of sleep. Read More on Last Minute Back to School Tips
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by Jennifer Shakeel
Libraries open up whole new worlds for young children
My most favorite place in the entire world is the library. When I was a kid I lived in the library, not really but if I could've believe that I would've. I was so excited when we moved into a neighborhood that had a library a few blocks from our house. I would spend hours there. I can thank my grandmother for that. She made it important for us to go to the library so she would take us every week. The library is one of the most magical places in the world, each book an entryway into a new world. More importantly though for children heading off to school, it is a valuable resource for research and learning new things.
Do not kid yourself into thinking that just because your child is in kindergarten or first grade they couldn't possibly need to do research. Research projects really start in the first grade. It may be as simple as talking about important facts of their favorite animal or favorite super hero. Each child needs to know how to walk into a library and get the information that they need. Read More on Welcome to the Library!
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Whether or not you homeschool your child, it is important that you have a good understanding of the different learning styles. This will not only help you to understand the method that your child uses to learn, but it will also help to customize the method that you use to teach your children. As a parent, don't assume the way you learn, is the way your child learns best. If you are able to teach in ways that compliment a specific learning style, you will find that your child is able to retain more information over a longer period of time. You will also find that learning is more exciting for both you and your child. Learning how your child learns can open up many exciting opportunities for them. Here, you will gain an understanding of the importance of learning styles.Read More on Understanding the Importance of Learning Styles
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by Stephanie Partridge
My daughter will be in an internship through her school next year, which will be her senior year. She is planning to go to college and on to veterinarian school. The academy where she will be going has several programs that allow students to work in internships to gain practical, hands on experience in the field of their choice. The program in which she will be participating teaches animal care, dog grooming and related things dealing with animals. It allows students to actually work in an environment where they are caring for and handling the animals, giving them real life, practical experience.
Located just outside of Washington, D.C., this academy has several programs including computer science and gourmet cooking. Some of the programs even pay the students. But internship opportunities for high school students are available all over the country. Some are small, local programs like the one my daughter is attending, while others take students for several weeks in the summer to a major city where they gain real life experience in a professional setting.Read More on Internships for High School Students: Paving the way for the Future
by Stephanie Partridge
I personally think I have some of the neatest kids in the world. They are intelligent, friendly, articulate, compassionate and fun. As they swiftly approach adulthood, we are drawn into new and challenging situations that sometimes push me to my limit. I must admit, there are days that I long for a return to the toddler days. They were tough at times then, but in retrospect we had many years ahead of us, a lifetime it seemed. Now I am preparing my teens to leave the nest. Where have the years gone? I sit with my 17 year old daughter as we discuss, gasp! College.
How did we get here so quickly? Just yesterday she was an adorable little girl with bright, wide green eyes and a mop of curly honey colored hair. It seemed that she never stopped talking and she was into everything. Now as she sits with me, she is beautiful, still the same bright green eyes, her hair is darker, a little straighter and much longer. She still has that always ready smile and easy laugh, so full of joy. I watch her, her eyes dancing as she looks at her options for college. My baby girl is going to college!Read More on The Great College Search
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