Empowering the Young Mind: Strategies for Supporting Your Child’s Education

Posted on February 17, 2023February 17, 2023 by addwebseo

As children grow and develop, it is crucial for them to continue learning in order to reach their full potential. Learning goes beyond the traditional classroom setting and can occur through various experiences and interactions. By keeping children engaged in learning, they develop critical thinking skills, creativity, and a lifelong love for knowledge.

While the importance of continued learning for children is widely recognized, sometimes parents face challenges in ensuring that their child is constantly learning. These challenges can range from lack of time and resources to a child’s lack of motivation. However, by implementing some simple strategies and techniques, parents can help their children keep on learning and reach their full potential.

Tips on Fostering Learning

A. Finding the Child’s Interests and Passions

One of the best ways to encourage a love of learning is to tap into a child’s individual interests and passions. By doing so, learning becomes more engaging and relevant to the child. Parents can ask their children about their favorite hobbies, books, and subjects and then use that information to guide educational experiences. For example, a child who enjoys math can practice solving equations, play math games, or participate in math competitions.

B. Creating a Positive Learning Environment

The environment in which a child learns can significantly impact their motivation and engagement. Parents can create a positive learning environment by making it fun, comfortable, and inviting. This can be achieved by incorporating colorful decorations, creating a dedicated study area, and providing ample light and space that is free from distractions.

C. Promoting a Growth Mindset

Promoting a growth mindset is crucial for encouraging a love of learning. A growth mindset is a belief that one’s abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort and learning. Parents can promote this by highlighting the benefits of making mistakes and celebrating their child’s efforts and progress, rather than just the end result. This helps children view learning as a journey, rather than a destination, and encourages them to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth.

D. Encouraging Curiosity

Encouraging children to ask questions and express their curiosity can be a great way to foster independent learning. Parents can ask open-ended questions, listen to their child’s ideas and opinions, and provide opportunities for them to explore and discover new information on their own.

E. Providing Resources for Self-Directed Learning

Self-directed learning is an approach to education that empowers students to take control of their own learning process. Rather than being passively taught by a teacher or parent, children in self-directed learning environments actively seek out information and resources to build their knowledge and skills. This type of learning has been shown to be highly effective in promoting student motivation, engagement, and academic success.

F. Setting and Achieving Goals

Parents can work with their children to set realistic and achievable goals and then provide support and encouragement along the way. This not only helps children develop a sense of accomplishment and pride but also helps them understand the importance of setting and working towards goals in all areas of life.

How to develop structural learning

A. Daily Routines

Incorporating educational activities into daily routines can help support structured learning and make it a regular part of a child’s life. Parents can find creative ways to make learning a part of daily activities such as meal times, trips, or chores. For example, parents can play educational games, have discussions about current events, or work on puzzles together.

B. Classes or Programs

Research has demonstrated that participating in structured learning activities can have a number of benefits for children. For example, structured learning can provide children with opportunities to develop new skills and interests. In particular, programs that focus on the arts, such as music or art classes, can help children develop creativity and critical thinking skills. Additionally, structured learning programs that focus on physical activities, such as sports or dance, can help children develop coordination, motor skills, and overall fitness.

C. Reinforce Learning at Home

Working with a child’s teacher can be a great way to support structured learning. Parents can attend parent-teacher conferences, stay informed about what is being taught in class, and reinforce learning at home by completing homework and studying together. This helps create a consistent learning environment and supports and reinforces what is being taught in the classroom.

Managing Gadget and Screen Time for Optimal Learning

A. Limiting the Amount of Screen Time

Balancing screen time is important for a child’s overall well-being and development. While technology can be a valuable tool for learning, it is crucial to limit the amount of time a child spends in front of screens. Parents can set daily or weekly limits on screen time and encourage alternative activities such as reading, playing outside, or pursuing hobbies.

B. Providing Age-Appropriate Screen Content

When children use screens, it is important to ensure they access age-appropriate content. Parents can research and choose educational apps, games, and websites that align with their child’s interests and learning goals. Additionally, parents can also monitor their child’s screen usage and ensure they are not exposed to inappropriate or harmful content.

C. Encouraging Active Screen Time

Encouraging active screen time can also help balance screen time. This can include playing physical games, educational activities, or virtual reality experiences. These activities can be a great way to engage children and provide a unique learning experience.

How Georgia Test Prep can help Your Child Keep Learning

Georgia Test Prep can be a valuable resource in helping your child keep learning. The web app provides online resources and Georgia Milestones practice tests. These resources can help support structured learning and reinforce what your child is learning in school.

By using the practice tests, your child can become familiar with the test format, understand the types of questions that will be asked, and develop test-taking strategies.

Incorporating Georgia Test Prep into your child’s study routine can help improve their confidence and performance on standardized tests. This can provide a boost to your child’s academic success and help prepare them for future educational and career opportunities.

Overall, it is a valuable resource for parents who want to support their child’s learning and help them reach their full potential. By using the resources and practice tests available on the website, parents can provide their children with the tools and resources they need to succeed.

Parent Strategies for Improving Their Child’s Math Grade

Posted on May 12, 2022May 12, 2022 by addwebseo

Math is among the most essential and fundamental aspects of our existence. Before infants even learn to sit, we use mathematics to interpret and describe the forms and spaces around us. Because we all employ mathematical knowledge from the minute we open our eyes to this environment, how we train and improve our arithmetic skills has a big impact on our lives. That is why, in order to promote their children’s future success, parents must understand the importance of arithmetic and explore ways of improving math skills.

Why Is Math So Important For Kids?

Math preparation is similar to the art of playing with numbers. it takes a strong foundation to obtain the correct shape. It’s not just about complicated mathematical procedures and calculations. Many students face challenging or complex arithmetic problems. Still, they did solve them quickly because they obtain adequate mathematical knowledge as children and thus should nurture to advance a good foundation. Knowledge of mathematics can influence cognitive development in other walks of society as well. It has been proven that children with a strong mathematics education have a simpler way of comprehending life and making cause-and-effect connections. The reality is that, these critical life skills rise in direct proportion to one’s mathematical abilities demonstrates. The learning math skills early in life can have a direct impact on one’s future performance. This especially applies to their child’s numerical and future potential, and parents have a significant role to play.

What Can I Do to Assist My Child in Improving His Math Skills?

Master gets the progressive students, and those youngsters are acquiring immense knowledge. They will be strong in maths. Parents can also see if their child has a math preparation difficulty (Dyscalculia) and discover how to support them before school starts. That is why a student’s learning begins at home, and parents have a significant influence on their after-school activity even after they start school. This suggests that parents have a significant impact on their children’s mathematics achievement.

A parent that wants to help their kids develop their arithmetic skills may consider the following suggestions:

Signs that Your Youngster has Difficulty with Math

# Makes Disparaging Remarks About Math – It can be difficult to detect a child who is struggling with math. However, the master can find them out as they are experienced in handling youngsters.

# When it Comes to Math, your child gets Anxious – When it’s time to perform arithmetic, whether in class, on an exam, or on a school assignment, your youngster becomes increasingly apprehensive. Students can understand basic arithmetic. Still, they can face anxiety in remembering whatever they are learning. Practice can help them to remember easily.

# Having a Hard Time Linking Math Families – Students should start seeing the relationship between different numbers and equations as they learn more arithmetic facts. For example, if your youngster cannot perceive the connection between 2+3=5 and 5-3=2, they may be having difficulty with math.

# Having a Hard Time Keeping Track of Time – Many parents struggle with time management, so this warning may appear ambiguous. Watch your youngster see if he or she has trouble estimating time intervals, adhering to rituals, or understanding timepieces (analogue or digital).

# Having Trouble Relating Math Ideas to Real-life Situations – Your child may understand arithmetic ideas but struggle to see how they relate beyond the classroom. Study the possibility below:

They’re keeping track of the days until their birthday.
Estimating the worth of something and the amount of change they should receive.
Ask your children to keep calculating house hold activities and note down.

# Problems with Mental Math – Figuring out math problems utilizing mental maths can be beneficial in the early years. This is because, as children grow older, they will be confronted with larger numbers and more complex equations that will necessitate mental math preparation, which finger counting can inhibit.

Georgia Venue for Parents of Children in Math grade (3rd to 8th)

Parents of students in Math grade (3rd to 8th) transition from using hands-on approaches to someone using visual aids to solve math problems.

Students in 3rd grade should use the following strategies-

Multiplication and division problems should be represented and solved.
Understand the principles of multiplication and how multiplication and division are related.
Solve problems utilizing the four operations, as well as recognize and explain arithmetic patterns.
To execute multi-digit arithmetic, use place value comprehension and attributes of operations.
Develop a numerical grasp of fractions.
Appreciate a fraction like a figure on the line segment and use a number schematic view to illustrate fractions.
Explain fraction equivalence using visual fraction models and logic. By thinking about the magnitude of fractions, you may compare them.
Solve issues that require the measuring and estimation of time intervals, liquid quantities, and object masses.
Understand area principles and how they relate to multiplication and addition.
Recognize circumference as a feature of planar figures and understand the difference between straight and area measurements.

Students in 4th grade should use the following strategies-

Recognize that a distributive comparison occurs when one number is multiplied by a given number to produce another amount.
Develop a generalized understanding of place value for multi-digit whole values.
Gain a better understanding of fraction equivalence and sequencing.
Apply and suggest additional conceptions of procedures on whole numbers to create fractions from unit fractions.
Understand and evaluate decimal fractions using decimal notation.
Solve problems concerning measuring and measurement conversion from a larger to a smaller device.
Draw and recognize lines and angles, then classify shapes based online and angle attributes.

Students in 5th grade should use the following strategies-

Using numerical expressions, write and interpret them.
Recognize the placing value system.
To add and subtract fractions, use fractions as a technique.
Within a given system of measurement, convert like measurement units.
To address real-world and mathematical problems, graph points on the coordinate plane.

Students in 6^th, 7th and 8th grade should use the following strategies-

Begin with an unspecified number in basic algebra-

Graphing ordered pairs is the process of using coordinates to locate locations on a grid.
Use fractions, percentages, and proportions to solve problems.
Experiment with lines, angles, triangle kinds, and other fundamental geometric shapes.
‘Estimate and round.’

A Parent’s General Advice

To recap, Georgia educators are doing an outstanding job of teaching and maintain the standards set for Georgia’s Test Prep curriculum in the classes. keep cheering up your child for a positive attitude. Your child will be trained with a higher mathematics knowledge.

Conclusion

When it comes to practicing math in home, keep in mind that how you approach your child, it can have a big impact on their motivation. You can suggest them to practice Georgia’s Test Prep. As a consequence, keep an optimistic attitude throughout the process, and you can expect favorable results in conclusion.

Smash Your Kid’s Math Anxiety: 7 Simple Tricks Parents Can Use

Posted on August 28, 2020October 1, 2020 by addwebseo

Math has a bad rep, and the reason is that a lot of people feel at least some level of math phobia. For them, anxiety and math just go hand in hand. The truth is that math anxiety isn’t a natural condition, but that it develops in our minds early in life.

If math anxiety is not addressed early on in a child’s life, it can lead them to develop an emotional block and cause a mental paralysis when they are faced with math. Students will then develop an aversion to math, making it even more difficult to learn new math skills.

Children then wind up carrying this block with them for the rest of their life. In fact, one study reported that 93% of adult Americans experience some level of math anxiety.

The good news about this is that, if you detect that your kids have math phobia then there are concrete things that you can do to help them in overcoming math anxiety. And it’s not just about math tutoring, so you don’t have to be a genius yourself. It’s not the role of parents to be professors, but you can still help them be successful in math simply by:

Reassuring them, giving positive reinforcement, and helping them shake off mistakes.
Providing practical assistance that is at a level that both you and your child are comfortable at.
Making math fun and relatable. Yes, it is possible!

The cause of math anxiety

Math anxiety in kids begins when they don’t master early math skills. Lessons move on, and they are continually expected to learn more difficult math when they haven’t yet gotten the basics down.

They may feel anxious about not getting the answers right and not understanding what is being taught, leading to frustration. They may also see their peers excelling in math, and doubt their own skills and capacity to learn. It leads them to get stuck in a fixed mindset that they “are just not good at math” –and this simply is not true! (Do have a look at our article on the growth and fixed mindset; promoting a growth mindset in your child ties in crucially to this post).

Once anxiety sets in, it creates a negative feedback loop. It can impact a lot of the things that are important for learning, like attention, memory, and processing speed, thereby compounding negative effects as they get older.

How to help ease your child’s math anxiety

So, we’ve covered why early intervention in math anxiety is important. Now let’s get right into what you as a parent can do to help your kids smash their math anxiety with these 7 simple tricks.

1. Build a positive attitude toward math – starting with your own

The most foundational thing you can do to help your children in math is to build a positive attitude around it. This might involve assessing how you feel about math and how you express it!

Have you ever said things such as, “I’m not good at math,” or “I just don’t like math”? If so, then perhaps it’s time to reset the way you think about math. After all, kids pick up attitudes from their parents.

So express positive emotions about math, even if only for your kid’s sake! Also, ditch the idea that some people are not good at math, and be verbal about this. Constantly reassure your kids that anyone can learn math (and extend this attitude to all subjects).

2. Promote the student’s confidence

Students with math anxiety are almost always insecure about their abilities. They will approach a math problem or concept with the assumption that they will not understand it.

Teach them that it’s normal, and even OK, to feel negative feelings when faced with a problem. Everyone goes through it! This will teach them to handle their emotions better.At the same time, keep giving them positive reinforcement. Sometimes it takes time to overcome the belief that we can’t do something, but constant encouragement helps. Remember to check out our article on promoting a growth mindset for more depth on this concept.

3. Make a game of math

There are plenty of math-themed games to play. Whether you want to play an online game specifically designed to teach math, or play a game that inherently involves math (like Monopoly Deal, or something), it will give children a chance to apply math skills in a playful context.

4. Practice with your child

Parents read to children to develop reading skills. But somehow doing math with kids at home for fun is just not as common, or almost unheard of.

Make it a habit to practice math with your kids. This helps them develop positive associations with math before they start school. But even if your kids are already in middle school, it will still be a positive experience when you take the time to practice with them.

5. Make math relevant to them

Bring math out of the context of solving a problem, and associate it with real life. After all, that’s where most of us wind up using math the most!

Ask them to help with calculations while cooking, or with change at the grocery store. Use metaphors with their favorite sport (how many touchdowns does Team X have to score to tie with Team Y who is 12 points ahead)? Get in on a game of Pokemon cards if you have to!

This will help them come out of the “classroom mode”, which might be serving as a blocker to developing their math skills.

6. Read math books at bedtime

Sounds a little strange? Well, this one is backed by a scientific study. In a 2018 study from Columbia University’s Barnard College, researchers assessed how effective math-related bedtime stories would affect 1st-grade children’s math potential.

They used an app called Bedtime Math (available for free on Google PlayStore), where kids would answer content questions, simple addition, or math word problems after hearing a story. After one year of observation, it was determined that such an intervention can have powerful lasting effects on children’s academic achievements.

Note: Bedtime Math is actually an app aimed at helping parents with math anxiety to help their kids, but it can help all parents to bring math to their young child in a fun way. This app has numerous benefits.

7. Let kids take time to answer questions

The elegance of this solution lies in its simplicity and the science behind it.

A study has shown that teachers wait 0.7-1.4 seconds after asking a student a question before moving on. But it takes students up to 10 seconds to process questions and formulate answers. Simply allowing your children time to think after asking them a question will foster an environment for critical thinking and success.

In fact, another 1972 study showed that when you give students at least three seconds of undisturbed wait-time, there are numerous positive outcomes.

Preparing Your Children For the New School Year With The COVID-19 Situation

Posted on July 27, 2020October 1, 2020 by addwebseo

The coming school year will be unlike any new school year that kids – or parents – have ever faced. Schools in Georgia will be reopening for the new year come fall, but counties are doing it their own way. In-person instruction, virtual learning, and a combination of these are the possibilities.

The prospect of a new school year is exciting and anxiety-inducing for children as it is. But this year will have the added anxiety of being the first school year since the COVID-19 pandemic shook the world.

As a parent, you must be prepared for whatever protocol is to be followed. No matter what it is, it’s going to be different for your kids for sure. Here’s what you can do to prepare your child for getting back to school this fall.

Establish New Routines

Start getting them into the rhythms of the school day at least a week in advance of the reopening.

This will be especially pertinent for children who will be doing distance learning. It will be very important for them to mentally separate time allotted for learning and school work from regular home time. Many kids will just not be used to attending classes without the direct supervision of their teachers, especially when all the comforts of home are right at hand.

Involve your children and make the process positive. Discuss with them the issue of homework, and establish when would be the best time for them to study. Help them set up their virtual-learning area. Activities like these will help kids prepare mentally for the coming school year.

Just remember that there is no one-size-fits-all solution for this. Be flexible and patient with your kids while they figure it out.

Limit Technology After Certain Hours

Phones, tablet, PCs, and gaming devices are always a ready distraction. Since kids will need to get back into the flow of school time, start limiting their use of technology after certain hours.

This will help them be rested and mentally ready for school the next day. Also, it will help them get reacquainted to the practice of focusing and not relying on the constant instant gratification of their devices that they have enjoyed over the summer break.

You set the pace. But start slow, and gradually keep winding down. It’s better not to start with a sudden and strict cutoff. Make the process easy for them.

Make Sure They Understand The Need For Safety

Only very young children would be unaware or not understand the gravity of the COVID-19 situation by now. But no matter what age your kids are, start strongly reinforcing personal safety protocols. It may sound like repetition, but it is very important to emphasize their importance.

Encourage them to wash their hands often and be wary of touching their face. They should carry a mask at all times. Implore them to tell a teacher if they feel anything like a symptom of the flu.

These are good practices for all children, and not just those who will be attending school in-person. With the country testing the waters with reopening, this is a good opportunity to reinforce these practices with your kids.

Address Their Feelings

Things are going to be different. Class sizes might be reduced to allow for social distancing and certain activities might be restricted. Even seemingly simple things, like the sight of everyone wearing masks, will be a major departure from normality.

Change can often be difficult for a child.Help them navigate these changes. Have open and honest discussions with them, understand how they feel about this situation and its implications. Remember that adolescents will have the added burdens of puberty to deal with. Really listen to them instead of just offering your own opinions. Talking to them can do a great deal to put them at ease.

Participate In Safe Back-to-School Activities

Check whether your child’s school organizes virtual get-togethers. A lot of anxiety can be assuaged by meeting their new teacher, having a look at their classroom, and maybe even getting to know some of the other kids.

If such get-togethers are not an option, you can always help your child review their school’s website for information and pictures.

For Those Starting A New School

Your kids are probably already talking to their friends about starting school again. But if your child is joining a new school at this time, then it’s important to take extra care to make them as comfortable as possible.

Give a little more time for transition talk to address their back-to-school worries. You and your child could look for pictures of the school online, or on their official social media account if the school has one. Reassurance is the key.

Make Back-to-school Fun

Don’t lose out on the fun element of getting back to school. One of the activities that kids love most at this time of year is picking out their new school supplies and new clothes, and needn’t be missed. Help them plan what kind of things they would like to take for lunch. And remember, always keep up the positivity!

Learning Is Still The Priority

Make sure this is not lost on your children. The reason that schools are reopening in spite of the current situation is because of the importance of their education. Classwork, homework, and study are the priority. Help your children come back to this mind-state, and to maintain it throughout the school year.

It’s going to be a challenging time for children and parents. The school districts are doing their best, but it is up to everyone to stay vigilant. The most important thing to remember is to keep an open dialogue with your children, actively listen, and keep giving them positive reinforcement.

How Georgia Test Prep Can Help

It’s going to be difficult for children to adjust to the new modes of learning in this very novel time. And although the State of Georgia will not be having standardized tests like Georgia Milestones this year, Georgia Test Prep can still help. Repetition and practice is the key to establishing a good foundation. With Georgia Test Prep, children can practice GSE questions based on their math and language curriculum online and from the comfort and safety of their home, giving them an edge in their schoolwork.