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. More on Fun and Creative Ways to Encourage Older Children to Read
Filed under Education, Reading Skills by More4kids
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. 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: More on Effective Study Skills for New High School Students
Filed under Education, Homework Skills by More4kids
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. More on New School Year Resolutions
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. More on Last Minute Back to School Tips
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. More on Welcome to the Library!
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. 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!
If you are a parent that has been noticed low test scores in your child’s academic work, it may be time to learn how to help your child overcome test anxiety. This is especially true if you are certain that your child studied for the exam. In a typical school day, several students will experience at least a small bout of anxiety when it comes to testing to one degree or another. However, if this rolls over into general performance complications, it could be an indication that test anxiety is being experienced. In this educational how-to guide. Here are some strategies that can be used to successfully help your child overcome test anxiety.
Step 1:
There are many different things that can lead to the onset of test anxiety. Lacking in the area of preparation is often a major culprit. When a student is preparing for an exam, they should devote a certain amount of time each day to studying the material that the test will cover. Time management skills often play a large role when it comes to actually studying, and comprehending the material. If your child tends to procrastinate a little in this area, then attempts to absorb all the material in at once, it is quite likely that they will encounter anxiety when the actual test is put on their desk.
Filed under Education, Learning, Learning Skills by More4kids
by Stacey Schifferdecker
Next year, my oldest child will be a freshman in high school. As incredible as it seems, that means it’s time for him to start thinking about where he wants to go to college and what he wants to study. It also means he has to
- Be sure he is taking the required classes he needs to get into college
- Make sure his GPA stays good
- Participates in extracurricular activities that look good on a college application
More on Preparing for College – the Early High School Years
by Angie Shiflett
Many parents have the desire to educate their child at home, but once they research the costs associated with homeschool programs, they quickly realize that it is out of means. There are a number of excellent programs available today when it comes to homeschooling, but many of these programs come with a very high price tag! If you are a parent that is currently educating their child at home, but pay a high amount annually to do so, you can benefit from the information contained here. If you are a parent that wishes to educate your child at home, but simply cannot afford the curriculums that are involved, you, too, can benefit from this information. You can learn how to educate your child at home – for FREE!
Before my children were born, I decided that I would homeschool them. Naturally, I faced a lot of opposition in my choice, but I realized it was just that – MY choice. Immediately after the birth of my first child, I started to research homeschool programs. I was shocked to see just how much this particular educational choice would end up costing us. Then, I overheard a casual conversation regarding a homeschool program that a coworker used with her children while on a break at work. This homeschool program was not a traditional homeschool curriculum, but I liked the concept. It was actually referred to as “public virtual school”. The program was offered by The Connections Academy.
Filed under Education, Homeschooling, Lesson Plans by More4kids
