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Why private tuition?

Why private tuition?

Many students find that mainstream education doesn’t have the resources to provide sufficient one-to-one attention from teachers. Parents are turning to private tuition to complement the teaching provided in school.

How can tutors help with GCSEs?

Tuition for GCSE students is on the rise. The 2018 Sutton Trust survey found that 27% of students now have a tutor at some point in their education.

Benefits of working with a tutor at StudyBox:

Our tutors provide customised lessons in which they can concentrate on specific areas of the syllabus that are proving problematic

In one-to-one sessions, the tutor can determine and focus upon a student’s weak areas

A student is more likely to ask for help and resolve the problem they’re struggling with

Our tutors can help the student with homework and test practice which helps build confidence in the classroom

Students have access to additional learning resources

Why invest in a tutor for the 11+ exam?

Grammar schools have a reputation as the pinnacle of the secondary education system. With a wealth of resources and a history of exceptional results, parents aspire to see their child attend grammar schools. Places are incredibly competitive and students must pass the 11+ exam to gain entry.

The 11+ exam is extremely difficult, to the extent that many children begin to prepare for it from as early as Years 3 or 4. Our tutors know which techniques to use to improve a child’s score and enhance their chances of getting into a grammar school of their choice.

The 11+ exam is an advanced KS2 level and we provide a specialised programme for students in year 4 and 5. We begin teaching students more challenging topics early on in year 5 to ensure they have sufficient time to consolidate their knowledge and practice applying skills to exam style questions.

The benefits of revision

The sooner a student starts to revise, the better.

In mainstream education, the time to teach the syllabus is limited and students are required to do a large proportion of their revision at home.

By taking the time to go over subjects, again and again, the student’s confidence naturally grows. A tutor can offer various revision techniques to avoid cramming which causes stress and anxiety.

StudyBox is a maths and English tuition centre based in Wallington and Sutton. We provide tuition in English, mathematics and science for SATS, GCSE and 11+. To find out more visit our website. Follow our Facebook!

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Importance of reading skills

Importance of reading skills

Reading skills are critical for children’s development, studies have shown a link between competency in reading and overall attainment. Scientific research has linked childhood reading ability to improve life outcomes such as higher earning.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies conducted a study in 2015: “Overall, it has shown that reading skills are associated with significant increases in gross hourly wages and gross weekly earnings.”

There are so many digital distractions these days, it can be difficult to get children to read, here are some ideas to help:

Dedicate a set time for reading

Create a set time in the day where your child has to read for at least an hour. Turn off all distractions so they can 100% focus on the reading. As a parent, you can also join in and read with them so it can seem like a joint activity.

Reward good reading

Setting a target to read maybe 2 or 3 books a month with a reward at the end will be an incentive for your child to get reading!

Find books that interest them

Reading will certainly be a challenge if your child is reading books that do not interest them. Consider what interests your child has, and then try to find books related to that. For example, if your child is interested in fantasy, there are a great number of ‘fantasy fiction’ books out there that will interest all different readers!

Exhibit a love of reading throughout your household

If your child observes that you as parents love to read, it is very likely that they will develop a love of reading themselves.

English Tuition

If you feel you have helped your child as best as you can but they still need help, maybe consider a tuition centre where your child can get tailored help from a skilled professional. Here at StudyBox each student has a unique lesson plan & works at their own pace guided by the tutor, goals are set and monitored with weekly feedback to parents.

StudyBox is a maths and English tuition centre based in Wallington and Sutton, to find out more click here: https://studybox.london/

Danielle Reid 14/09/2018

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Help your child improve their maths skills

Help your child improve their maths skills

Maths can be a tricky subject for many people and as a parent, you may feel helpless if your child is struggling. There are many easy, simple ways you can help your child improve their math skills, here are a few suggestions we have that you can try out.

Use real-world maths

A worksheet full of maths is not always the best method for some learners, try engaging your child in solving real-world problems with you, this might help them catch on and learn much more quickly.

Some examples:

Have them try to figure out the shopping total before you get to the checkout When out shopping have them figure out how much change you should get back from your purchase Baking, particularly when you halve, double, or triple a recipe is a great way of learning fractions

Ask your child questions.

Look over your child’s homework and spend time with them reviewing their answers. Ask them the steps they took in order to get to their answer, this will give you an insight into their level of knowledge and if they understand the process. This will give you the opportunity to understand where they need help and identify any breakdown in understanding. Play games that encourage mathematical thinking or reinforce skills There is a high possibility that when your child thinks of maths they dread it, try and make it fun by playing mathematical games. Playing math games are a great way to have fun and improve skills, you can find math games online or can even find some such as Sumuko, Prime Club and Monopoly, in store!

Develop a healthy mindset

Confidence is key when it comes to learning a subject like math, if your child is struggling and has lost some confidence, go back a few steps to the skills that they feel comfortable doing and go on from there. Praise for effort not for performance, it is the continued effort that is important. Making mistakes isn’t bad, it will be part of the journey for every learner, be sure to use positive language such as “I can’t do it,” to “I can’t do it yet.” to keep your child motivated to learn!

Maths Tuition

If you feel you have helped your child as best as you can but they still need help, maybe consider a tuition centre where your child can get tailored help from a skilled professional. Here at StudyBox each student has a unique lesson plan & works at their own pace guided by the tutor, goals are set and monitored with weekly feedback to parents.

StudyBox is a maths and English tuition centre based in Wallington and Sutton, to find out more click here: https://studybox.london/maths-tuition/

  Danielle Reid 14/09/2018

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How to improve children’s concentration skills

How to improve children’s concentration skills

For your child to make the most of their education, it is vital that they have good concentration skills. The school day will involve listening and doing classwork, so it is important they are able to stay engaged throughout the day.

Here are a few ways you can help your child to improve their concentration skills:

Sleep

Sleep is without a doubt a major influence on how well anyone concentrates, especially for children. It is recommended that children get at least 9 hours sleep a night. Having a designated bedtime will be easier as they can get into a routine.

Diet

Having a good diet is important, particularly amongst children, diet has a great influence on energy levels and concentration skills. Having a well-balanced diet consisting of food from the four main food groups will help brain function and concentration.

We can’t stress enough how important it is to make sure your child never skips breakfast. Breakfast such as oats, whole-grain cereal, and bread release energy slowly, which will help them to stay alert for the day ahead.  

Exercise

Research by educational experts has linked physical activity and improved concentration levels. Regular exercise throughout the week is important, even activities such as walking to school and back will be helpful.

Play focus games and exercises

There are studies that have shown that gadgets reduce attention span and memory power of children.

Some ideas of things you can do:

Thinking games-  playing games such as crossword/jigsaw puzzles and card games like ‘Memory’ and ‘UNO’’  are a great way to strengthen their concentration!

Sitting- if your child finds it hard to sit still for a long period of time, try playing ‘statue’ this involves challenging your child to sit in a chair without moving/fidgeting to see how long they can do it.

Extra Tuition

If you feel you have helped your child as best as you can but they still need help, maybe consider a tuition centre where your child can get tailored help from a skilled professional. Here at StudyBox each student has a unique lesson plan & works at their own pace guided by the tutor, goals are set and monitored with weekly feedback to parents.

StudyBox is a maths and English tuition centre based in Wallington and Sutton, to find out more click here: https://studybox.london/

Danielle Reid 31/08/2018

The post How to improve children’s concentration skills appeared first on StudyBox.

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Easy Back-To-School Breakfasts

Easy Back-To-School Breakfasts

It’s almost time for back to school, which means the crazy school mornings are back! It’s important that you make sure your children have a good breakfast before they head off for the day. Here are some simple back to school breakfast ideas you can prepare to make sure your children get all the nutrients they need.

1. Overnight Oats- no-fuss, quick and healthy breakfast!

Ingredients

Oats

Frozen Berries

Water

Frozen Yoghurt, regular yoghurt or soy yoghurt – natural and unsweetened if possible

Equipment

Jar

Method

Spoon 3 dessert spoons, approx 27g of dried rolled oats into the jar

Add 1 teaspoon of water

Add approx 10 frozen berries

Top off with yoghurt and leave overnight in the fridge for best results

  2. Smoothies- Perfect for those who don’t want to eat in the morning!

Ingredients

1 cup – Greek or plain yogurt

2 medium – banana

1 cup – strawberries, frozen, unsweetened

1/4 cup – flaxseed, ground

1 cup – spinach

Method

Add all smoothie ingredients to a high-powered blender. (If your blender won’t mix this, add small amounts of water until it begins to blend, but try to keep it as thick as possible.

Serve immediately

You can adapt this recipe and change any fruits/yogurt that you prefer.  

  3. Oatmeal Breakfast Cookie – Cookies for breakfast are bound to go down a treat!

Ingredients

1/2 cup 1 mashed banana

1/2 cup natural peanut butter (or non-peanut)

1/2 cup honey*

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 cup rolled oats

1/4 cup whole wheat flour*

1/4 cup ground flax seed (or an additional 1/4 cup flour)

1/4 cup nonfat milk powder or vanilla protein powder (+ 2 tablespoons water if dough is too thick)

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup dried cranberries or raisins

Equipment

Bowls

Baking tray

Measuring Cup

Container

Method

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly coat two cookie sheets with cooking spray, and set aside.

In a large bowl, stir together the banana, peanut butter, honey, and vanilla.

In a small bowl, combine the oats, flour, flax seed, milk powder, cinnamon, and baking soda.

Stir the oat mixture into the banana mixture until combined. Stir in the cranberries.

Using a ¼-cup measuring cup, drop mounds of dough 3 inches apart on the prepared cookie sheets. With a thin metal or small plastic spatula dipped in water, flatten, and spread each mound of dough to a 2¾-inch round, about ½ inch thick.

Bake, one sheet at a time, for 14 to 16 minutes or until browned. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Store in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag for up to 3 days, thaw before serving.

Serving Size: 12

  4. Eggo Breakfast Sandwiches- Something different!

Ingredients

8 individual Waffle

4 individual Cheddar Cheese, Sharp, Sliced

4 ½ ounces Deli Ham, Sliced

Equipment

Freezer Bag

Cling film

Baking Sheets

Method

On one side of the waffle place one slice of cheese and two slices of ham.

Place other half of waffle on top of ham to form sandwiches.

Bake sandwiches on a baking sheet for 4-5 minutes, until outside is crispy and cheese is melted.

Wrap the sandwiches you have NOT baked individually in cling film and place into freezer bags and freeze so they are prepared for the week ahead.

Thaw the waffles the night before in the fridge and they will be ready to bake in the morninglog footer

Extra Tuition If you feel you have helped your child as best as you can but they still need help, maybe consider a tuition centre where your child can get tailored help from a skilled professional. Here at StudyBox each student has a unique lesson plan & works at their own pace guided by the tutor, goals are set and monitored with weekly feedback to parents. StudyBox is a maths and English tuition centre based in Wallington and Sutton, to find out more click here: https://studybox.london/

Danielle Reid 14/09/2018

Danielle Reid 31/08/2018

The post Easy Back-To-School Breakfasts appeared first on StudyBox.

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Five ways StudyBox Tuition can really complement school learning

Five ways StudyBox Tuition can really complement school learning

When it comes to after-school tuition, parents have many questions such as “why should I pay for extra tuition? Shouldn’t my child’s school be covering all of their educational needs?” Here are our reasons why we complement your child’s school learning.

1. Truly personalised experience

We have the ability to adapt lessons to suit each and every child based on their individual learning needs. We work in such small ratios allowing time to get to know your child and how they like to learn.

2. National curriculum methods

StudyBox offers English, Math and Science tuition. We aim to complement and support your child’s school education which is why all the methods we teach are based on the national curriculum.

3. We keep the fun in learning

Here at StudyBox, we understand that Maths and English are not every student’s cup of tea. We reward positive behavior and effort with reward cards, once your child has a certain number of stars they will be able to spin the prize wheel and choose a prize!

4. Keep parents involved

As a parent, it is natural that you want to know how your child is getting on. We aim to make sure that parents are always kept involved. Based on the unique lesson plans that we create for your child, at the end of every lesson we always provide parents with in-depth feedback on the session.

5. Our tutor-to-student ratio

It’s no surprise that tuition can give more individual attention to students. At StudyBox we keep the ratios small, tutors are assigned up to 3 students who work independently. The tutors set work and teach the students for the entire hour. Lessons are on the same day and time each week, so your child will always have the same tutor.

Extra Tuition

If you feel you have helped your child as best as you can but they still need help, maybe consider a tuition centre where your child can get tailored help from a skilled professional. Here at StudyBox each student has a unique lesson plan & works at their own pace guided by the tutor, goals are set and monitored with weekly feedback to parents.

StudyBox is a maths and English tuition centre based in Wallington and Sutton, to find out more click here: https://studybox.london/

Danielle Reid 24/08/2018

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How to prepare your child for secondary school

How to prepare your child for secondary school

We’ve prepared five ways to help your child prepare for secondary school smoothly and successfully.

Summer is nearly over, which means it is almost time for the big transition to secondary school. It can be an exciting and daunting time for both parents and children. As a parent, you want to ensure your little ones (not so little anymore), are relaxed and prepared.

Be there to listen

Starting secondary school is a big transition and children are bound to be worried. Encourage them to share what they are worried about, remind your child that everyone is in the same boat when they start.

Help your child become more responsible

Secondary school is a big step up from primary school and requires far more organisation. Get them into the habit of packing bags the night before, help them arrange a homework schedule. Their days are a lot longer, make sure they get enough rest and get into a good sleep pattern.  

Encourage independence

If your child is going to make their own way to school make sure they are familiar with the route. Taking the trip with them over the holidays will allow them to feel confident on where they are going.

Ensure they have everything they need

In order that everything goes smoothly, check your child has everything they need to start the term, the school will often send a starter pack with a list of everything you need to buy.

Stay prepared

You won’t have as much contact with the school as you did with the primary school and you mainly rely on your child to bring home notes and messages from school. If you want to stay in the loop, parent-teacher meetings and get involved with the parents’ association.

Conclusion

According to the Institute of Education, students who have a successful transition display higher levels of self-esteem and confidence once at secondary school. They also adapt much better to school life and find work they completed in year 6 to be very useful for the work they have to undertake in year 7.

Extra Tuition

If you feel you have helped your child as best as you can but they still need help, maybe consider a tuition centre where your child can get tailored help from a skilled professional. Here at StudyBox each student has a unique lesson plan & works at their own pace guided by the tutor, goals are set and monitored with weekly feedback to parents. StudyBox is a maths and English tuition centre based in Wallington and Sutton, to find out more click here: https://studybox.london/maths-tuition/

Danielle Reid 17/08/2018

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How to support your child this exam results day

How to support your child this exam results day

The run-up to exam results day can prove to be an anxious time for your children, and for parents, it is just as stressful. It is a good idea to prepare for the day ahead, here are a few things that you can do to support your child:

Don’t put pressure on them.

Try to avoid putting unnecessary pressure on your child in regards to gaining certain grades. Whatever results they get, they will have a lot to think about and it’s important to remind your child not to panic and that there are always options available. Before the results even come out be sure to re-enforce how proud you are of the effort they have put in.

Find distractions

On the run up to the day it is mostly likely your child may be feeling very anxious, having acknowledged how they are feeling it would be helpful to find some distractions. You could take trips during the day or encourage them to take part in an activity, making sure they have something to keep their mind off results day is key!

Make a plan

Regardless of your child’s results they are going to need a plan on what their next steps will be, sit down with them and make a plan A and a plan B. Plan A can be the next steps if their grades are what they wanted and plan B can be if they receive unexpected results. Although,  you may not want to think about a plan B it is good to have one in place, so your child feels a sense of reassurance if all does not go to plan on the day.

Be supportive

This is the most important of all, let your child know that you are there for them no matter what the outcome is on the day. Your child might want space on results day and that’s okay, just let them know that you are there for them when they are ready to talk.

  For more information about how StudyBox tuition can help your child, visit our website www.studybox.london

Danielle Reid 14/08/2018

The post How to support your child this exam results day appeared first on StudyBox.

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Why is Science Important?

Science is everywhere in our day to day lives.  It can help to answer all those questions children ask, like ‘Why does the moon appear during daylight?’ and ‘How do airplanes stay up in the sky?’

Why should children learn Science?

Encouraging your children to learn science will help them to uncover new beneficial discoveries in the future and develop their knowledge as these skills will be used to prepare for GCSE exams and SATs.

Contents of science

Science is divided into 3 categories such as; Biology (the study of living organisms), Chemistry (investigations of reactions) and Physics (the study of nature and properties of matter and energy).

Science at School

Science is studied in detail starting from KS4 (Year 10). StudyBox provides teaching and learning experiences starting from KS3 to enable children to achieve highest possible standards at GCSE level.

What methods we use to teach

Teaching topics using whiteboard

Verbal Class quizzes

Written Exams

Various levels of Worksheets

Encouraging students to make revision notes in diverse ways (revision cards, booklets)

Interactive Science Education videos

After learning science and continuous practice, many students show positive progress and attain better results. We consistently encourage the development of their scientific skills and attitudes to provide lifelong learning.

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New Times Tables Test for Year 4 Students

16th June 2018 Sophie Lambert, Tutor at StudyBox Sutton

New Times Tables Test

What is it?

The government have introduced the multiplication check to help ensure that children know their times tables up to 12 off by heart. The test will take place in Year 4 and takes no longer than 5 minutes. It will allow teachers to recognise where children need support to ensure they leave primary school with a secure grasp of fundamental arithmetic as a foundation for maths.

Why are times tables important?

Knowing their tables will allow children to confidently solve problems quickly during lessons and later on in life. As we all know, times tables are crucial in every day life. From working out quantities of ingredients when baking to calculating the currency exchange rate when going on holiday!

Encouraging your child to learn tables

The best way for a child to learn their times tables is lots of repetition and lots of practise. Try and incorporate learning their tables into your child’s every day life. Times such as driving to and from school and meal times are great opportunities to ask your child times tables questions. You can also turn it into a fun game and challenge your child to see how many they can get right in a certain amount of it! For children who love screen time, there are lots of apps available on iPads and tablets that use fun, interactive games to help with times tables. There are also lots of videos on YouTube that teach times tables using catchy songs.

How can we help?

Here at StudyBox, we set aside 5-10 minutes of each maths lesson for students to learn and practise their tables. We have a variety of online programmes and worksheets to support children when learning their times tables as well as opportunities to practise under timed conditions.

Sophie Lambert, Tutor at StudyBox Sutton

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Encouraging Your Child to Read

11th June 2018 Annabel Yates, English Tutor at StudyBox Sutton

Encouraging Your Child to Read

Why reading is important

Reading is a vital skill for children to learn as they’re going to need it in their everyday life. Even if they’re not reading books, your child will have to read instructions on the board at school and on test papers. Not being able to read can often make children feel isolated from peers and create low self-esteem. However, if you keep encouraging your children to read, it can expand their imagination as well as their vocabulary and grammar – as well as improve their spelling. Books are a great way to do this as they provide engaging stories and expose children to different sentence types and vocabulary that they can use in their own writing.

How to encourage reluctant students

Some students are reluctant to read as they find it boring and difficult. To help combat this issue it is often helpful to start reading books with interesting covers, with pictures that are about stories they recognise or that friends are already reading.

For example, a book many children want to read is the Harry Potter series. This is because it is a well-known story that many other children they know have read, as well as having movies that children have often already seen. These types of books are then more accessible to children.

What if that doesn’t work?

If books like this still don’t gain your child’s interest, it can often help to choose a book to read together. You can then take turns reading a paragraph each or each reading a different character’s part. This is something I do when my students are reluctant to read as it makes them feel like they are reading less and makes the activity more engaging.

Understanding what they’ve read

Understanding what they have read is an important skill that children will need, especially when they begin taking exams. To make sure your child has understood what they’ve read it can be a good idea to ask them questions after they have read each chapter – this can be done straight after they’ve read it or a little while afterwards. The more they remember over a period of time the more you know that they have understood what they’re reading.

Progress over time

At StudyBox students are often encouraged to complete comprehensions during the lesson – something they will have to do in their SATs in year 2 and 6. The students who read at home often find the comprehensions easier to complete. This increases the child’s confidence in their own abilities as they know that this is a task that they can complete well.

For a free trial, why not contact your local StudyBox centre. Free Trial

Annabel Yates, English Tutor at StudyBox Sutton

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Understanding the new GCSEs:

5th June 2018 Harriet Nokes, GCSE Tutor at StudyBox Wallington

Understanding the new GCSEs: What you need to know

What exactly are the new GCSEs?

We’ve all heard about or are experiencing first hand the recent reforms to the education system, starting with the way in which 16-year-olds are tested at the end of year 11.

Teens are being challenged like never before, so it is important to know how the new GCSEs work, to understand what students are experiencing this summer.

Why did the government change them?

The government wanted to make these changes so that the new GCSEs would be more ‘demanding and challenging’ for students. The new, two-year course aligns more with the essay based, analytical and evaluative skills needed at A-level. This is better preparing students for their future.

It also makes tests ‘fairer’, the government argues, through the limited coursework, there is across the curriculum. Previously, coursework has been varied and dependent on school’s teaching methods. This way, everyone has the same chance at the end of two years to show their skills off in an exam.

Why did the grading system change?

The government changed the grading system to give more opportunity for students of all abilities to achieve higher. Students may now achieve a standard or a strong pass, allowing those who achieved a grade C under the old system to be rewarded a higher grade. Similarly, higher achieving students can now strive further for something higher than an A*, so a level 9 was created.

What’s changed?

Firstly, grades are different. Instead of A*-U grades, they have been replaced with 9-1, where nine is the highest grade achievable. A grade 9 will be harder to achieve than an A* and, now, both a grade 4 and 5 is viewed as a pass. A 4 will be a standard pass and a 5 will be a strong pass. Pupils will need to re-take English Language and Maths exams in the next years if they don’t achieve a 4 or above.

Coursework is also different too. Only in subjects where it is crucial to show a skill, such as drama and dance. This makes the final exam at the end of the two-year course more important than ever.

Other changes will include compulsory double or triple science (foundation or higher), a single science will no longer be available.

What to expect this summer?

One thing to remember in the face of the new GCSEs is that we are all in this together. This is new to every parent; student and teacher so don’t panic!

Prepare for an exam in whichever way is best for you; be it flash cards, posters, past papers or any other way that makes you comfortable. Little and often is always good when revising, and be sure to take necessary breaks.

Remember, you have a great long summer ahead of you, which will make the work you put in now all the more worthwhile!

Harriet Nokes, GCSE Tutor at StudyBox Wallington

For a free trial, why not contact your local StudyBox centre. Free Trial

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Encouraging Creative Writing

Why creative writing is important

Creative writing is important for children to learn as it promotes imagination and helps them to write in a structured and organised style. These skills will help when they have to take exams – such as their SATs and GCSE’s.

How they’ll use it outside of the classroom

Creative writing isn’t just about writing stories; it also involves writing letters, instructions and persuasive pieces, just to name a few. These are skills they can use later on when writing CVs for future jobs or for composing emails to future bosses.

Getting started

Not every child enjoys creative writing and many are reluctant at first. To combat this, I let the students choose what type of writing they want to complete, (fables, myths, traditional stories, letters, instructions or explanations). This helps to get the child excited about working on the piece and gets them involved.

However, some children are so reluctant that they don’t want to choose anything. If this is the case, I ask them what they’re already doing at school and choose the type of writing that best matches this.        

Planning pieces of writing

Children don’t often want to plan their writing and are more interested in starting their work straight away. The benefit of encouraging the child to plan is that it helps them to organise their ideas and to know exactly what they are going to write about.

To help children plan, I write down prompt questions on the planning sheets that come with the task, e.g.

 how does your character feel?

What does the setting look like?

Why did they behave like that?

This helps the child to think about what they’re writing and increases the amount of detail they include.

Maintaining enthusiasm

When working on one type of writing children can become frustrated and bored. To avoid this, we use different types each week that help them write in different styles for the same topic. For example, in myths, they can complete a character plan one week and a poster, diary entry or a report about that character the next week. This prevents students from feeling like they’re just doing the same thing every week and keeps them interested in their own pieces of work as it keeps evolving.

Progress over the term

One of my current students was very reluctant to complete creative writing tasks as he didn’t enjoy it and found it boring. However, after weeks of working on his writing, he has started to enjoy creating his own stories and even does them at home and brings them in for us to read. He likes coming up with characters – especially villains – and is currently working on his use of description in sentences. He is just one example of a student who has progressed well in creative writing during his lessons at StudyBox.

For a free trial, why not contact your local StudyBox centre. Free Trial

Annabel Yates English Tutor StudyBox Sutton

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Importance of Education in 2017

Importance of Education in 2017

In a fast-changing world where the most valuable skill you have is your knowledge, a good education is no longer just required, its essential.

The future of Jobs

Every day we hear about new inventions such as driver less cars and AI robots that can answer questions and solve problems. These new inventions eliminate the need for humans to perform these tasks. Many current jobs will soon vanish leaving those without adequate education struggling to find employment without going back to school.

The parent’s role

The need for our children to expand their ability to think and learn new skills has become an essential goal for most parents. Teaching our children, the importance of learning starts at home. We can encourage them to seek out and explore topics they are passionate about and foster an inquisitive personality.

Learning for life

Learning is not just about teaching children the curriculum. It is a process of experiences that lead them to the great “aha” moments of life. It’s important to teach children to learn from their mistakes and remove the emphasis of getting things right the first time. Most things in the real world come from trial and error, therefore we should encourage our children to try many different approaches.

Core Skills

There is always going to be a need of core skill in English Maths and Science. Jobs in the future will pay more for skills in the core subjects of English Maths and Science.

English helps us to use our imagination and creativity. It gives us essential skills, reading and writing, and how to communicate effectively.

Maths teaches us skills such as problem solving, analysing data, communication & logical thinking. Simple maths skills are used every day in shopping, baking, journey planning and driving.

Science teaches skills through conducting experiments and forming conclusions, and this encourages the brain to think independently and outside the box.

For more information on how to help your children achieve their full potential, come for a Free Trial

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Ways to expand your child’s vocabulary

Ways to expand your child’s vocabulary

It is a common saying that children learn quicker than older people. It is true, which is why there is less to worry about if you want to teach your child new things. A child’s vocabulary expands as they grow. But, the process needs to be quicker so they can ace their school language exams.

You can very easily incorporate little activities in everyday life to help with this process.

New day, new word

The fun thing about kids being quick learners is that you can teach them new things every day. There can one new word in their vocabulary on each new day. The way you can do this is by making sure they see or read the word a few times that day. For example, you can write the word on a sticky note and paste it on the fridge or on a mirror. Every time they go to get a snack or to look at themselves, a glance at that word will help them remember it.

Backstory

Now that your child knows a new word, it is important that you teach them its proper use and meaning too. Otherwise, the word won’t be of any benefit. There are many ways you can do this. For some children, it could be as simple as reading out the meaning from a dictionary. However, that wouldn’t be very effective because the child is likely to forget the meaning a few days later.

An easier way can be by describing the word through a story. Make connections with the meaning of the words. Try to paint an image in your child’s mind so that every time they think of that specific word, they get a picture in their mind and hence, they will be able to use the word with its proper meaning. Give relatable examples. When you see a real-life example of the word, show it your child. All these little tips will engrave the word along with the meaning in your child’s brain.

Reading or listening

At first, you might have preferred using easy words while talking to your child so it’s easier for them to understand. Change that habit and start using ‘grown-up’ words with them. At first, they might be confused but they will try to figure out the meaning. If it’s hard for them to understand, you can explain yourself. But, hearing new words in everyday sentences would make it easier for them to know how to use a word properly.

Upgrade the bedtime stories. Buy books for older children that will have new words. Otherwise, you can use the same old stories but try incorporating new words. Since your child will be used to listening to the story, he/she will know the actual meaning. This way when they will hear a new word, they would still understand but at the same time, learn something new.

Expanding your child’s vocabulary is a very simple task. You only need to start adding effort to everyday activities.

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How to prepare for the SATs

How to prepare for the SATs

SATs exams are taken by year 2 and year 6 students. It helps the students, as well as the parent, know where the child stands. Along with this the more important role of these SATs is that it judges the school in comparison with the National Curriculum to find out how the school is performing. SATs help maintain a quality education throughout all primary schools.

SATs have developed a pretty intimidating image. However, it is not a very difficult test. You can easily help your child ace it with little effort.

What the test is about

SATs for primary students take place during May. This means your child would appear for the exam during the summer term in school. It will be a basic level test that would test the knowledge your child learnt at school.

The exam has two parts. One of these is held at year 2, when the children are aged 6-7 years. Second part of the tests is in year 6 when the children 10-11 years old. For both these exams, the contents include English grammar, English reading and Mathematics.

You don’t need to especially worry about preparing your child for these particular exams. In fact it will be better if you don’t spend extra time teaching them before the exam. This way you can find out the accurate results of how much your child learnt by their own in school. If you want your child to score good in the SATs, make sure you help them throughout the years every single day. Help them understand concepts when they learn them. Making them cram a few days before SATs just so they score good will not be an effective method of teaching. Secondly, since the results will also be a representation of the school performance, the school teachers will provide most of the preparation material and help.

If you want to help your child, you should incorporate activities in everyday habits like mental math games, story reading, etc. Try to help your child learn new words. To prevent your child from panicking during the SATs, make them attempt past papers that you find online.

What do the results imply

Firstly, you should not worry about bad results. It will not affect your child’s admission procedures in the future. The exam’s sole purpose is to find out how well the school teaches and how much your child learns. It will be a comparison of same aged children who would have received similar education up till this point. If your child scores badly, it would mean you need to help them cope up since they are lagging behind the rest of their mates.

The result is calculated in such a way that a score below 100 would mean below average performance in that particular section. Similarly, a score above hundred would indicate over average performance where as a score of 100 will show that your child’s performances is as expected at this age.

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Year 1 Phonics test

Year 1 Phonics test: All you need to know

A phonic screening test is a type of test that is conducted to evaluate whether a child has learned phonic decoding or not. This will be done by comparing the results to a specified standard. The results of the test will also highlight the children who still need helps for the improvement in their skills. Support will be provided by the government or the parents to that children. However, if the child passes it, it will mean that they have a detailed understanding of the phonics.

The phonics test was introduced and implemented in June 2012. The test is designed in a way that it effectively highlights the current phonic information of the child. Teachers and parents will be able to know whether the child is progressing at a satisfied pace or not.

What is included in a phonics check?

The phonics check consists of two different sections. These sections contain 40 words check as a whole that are asked to assess the current knowledge related to phonics. Also, it will highlight the knowledge attained through the reception and year 1. The child will have to read four different words from a single page to the teacher to complete the test.

There is a common question in the minds of parents related to the compulsion and the type of phonic check. The answer to this question is, it is not a formal process of analyzing the abilities of your child. Instead, it is used to analyze the skill or learning level of the child. This is done just to make sure that they are performing up to the mark. Before the start of the activity, children will be asked to practice few words so that they can have a better understanding of the activity which will be carried out.

The focus of phonic check:

The phonics check is conducted to check certain points which are explained below:

Whether your child is able to sound out and blend graphemes to read simple words.

Whether they can read a selection of nonsense words. These words are also referred to as pseudowords sometimes.

Whether they are able to read phonically decodable one and two syllable word. For example, sand, cat, windmill etc.

The inclusion of nonsense and pseudowords:

The phonics check includes some words that are nonsense and pseudo. These are basically those type of words that are decodable i.e. there is no meaning attached to them and they are not the actual words e.g. snorb or brip. The pseudo-words or the nonsense words are included into the test to analyze whether the child can recognize them or not. They are usually shown to the kids with a picture of a monster and they have to tell their teacher about the details of the monster.

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