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No More Teachers
No More Books
The Last Weeks of the School Year Are a Time to Prepare for Transition | |
Only a few weeks to go until school is out. For students, teachers and parents alike, the last few weeks of school can be both exciting and challenging. Students are looking forward to the summer break and, as a result, their interest in schoolwork may wane. Teachers are completing the strenuous state assessment tests and now have a classroom of students more interested in summer than science. For parents, the end of one school year signals the impending start of another one. So, how do you ensure your child is ready to tackle the next grade?
At this time of year, Sylvan Learning, the leading provider of tutoring to students of all ages, grades and skill levels, advises parents to focus on three areas- helping their children make the most of the final weeks of school, knowing what the next grade level will bring and looking for ways to encourage learning during the summer break.
Make the most of the final weeks of school.
- You can help your children review by asking them to show you what they've learned or by working through homework together.
- Schedule a last meeting or discussion with your children's teachers. Identify successes and challenges.
- Help your children stay motivated so they gain the full benefit of their final days in the classroom by putting a reward system in place.
Know what the next grade level will bring.
- Speak to your children's current teachers or teachers in the next grade about the upcoming curriculum.
- Ask about new subjects and changes in focus. For example, in 4th grade, students usually begin to "read to learn" rather than "learn to read." If your 3rd grade student is struggling with her reading, this summer would be a good time to focus on improving reading skills.
- If the next year will mean a change in schools- such as entering high school- take advantage of orientation sessions where you and your children can learn more about the new school.
Let your kids be kids.
Summer vacation is a great tradition. It's important to enjoy the time off. But, you can also learn as you have fun. In fact, the best learning occurs when children don't realize they're learning.
Parents can design summer vacation activities that are both fun and educational. For example:
- If you know your children will be studying history next year, visit local historical sites or borrow historical books and/or novels from your local library.
- Continue reading throughout the summer. Visit a local library where they can help you select books appropriate for your children's ages and interests. Or, go to www.BookAdventure.com. Book Adventure is a free, Sylvan-created interactive, reading motivation program for grades K-*. Students choose their own books from more than 7,500 titles, take short comprehension quizzes and redeem their accumulated points for small prizes. Book Adventure also offers teacher and parent resources and tips to help children develop a lifelong love of reading.
- Plan family activities that are fun, interactive and educational. To help you get started, Sylvan Learning offers a free activity booklet, Family Learning Fun. The booklet provides seven different ideas and activities that will help sustain and inspire academic discovery. It is available in the "Parent Resources" area of www.SylvanLearning.com.
- Develop writing skills by writing or emailing pen pals.
- Demonstrate the value of continuous learning to your child by showing how you continually learn, such as regular reading, developing new skills for a job or learning a new hobby or sport.
Sylvan Learning offers engaging programs that keep the interest and fun in learning alive through the summer and into the school year. Programs for students in pre-K through college. Visit Our Website for additional information. |
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How To Avoid Email Slang In School Work
Plz practice your writing B4 U head bak 2 school. C U in a few wkz. | |
Millions of children (and adults!) use abbreviated "texting" language to chat with friends, make weekend plans and stay in touch with out-of-town relatives via email, Twitter and Instant Messaging (IM). As students prepare for the end of the year in a few weeks, it is important that this informal writing style of shortened words, improper grammar, lack of punctuation and use of "emoticons," such as smiley faces and other keyboard-created graphics, does not become habit while writing.
Here are a few tips that parents can use to help children boost their effective writing skills and to avoid IM, Twitter and email-style language making its way into schoolwork:
- Talk to children about using different writing styles to communicate with different audiences. Describe the importance of personalizing messages and why it's important that students know their audience. while it's okay to close a letter with "C ya" to a friend in an IM, it is not okay to include this slang in homework assignments. Remind them that formality is required in school.
- Have fun with writing. Provide children with enjoyable ways to practice their writing. Involve your child with writing grocery lists, thank you notes, dates on calendars and messages.
- Review schoolwork for IM and email-style language. Encourage your children to write properly and take the time to carefully review assignments several times before submitting them to the teacher. Review your child's homework to ensure he or she is not using shortcuts or slang.
- Talk with children to establish ground rules for using IM, Twitter and email. Work with your child to develop a plan for using IM and email to make sure other responsibilities, such as completing homework and chores, are met before going online to chat with friends. Discuss time limits with your children and ensure they are kept. Consider putting your family rules in writing and posting them near the computer.
- Create a writing zone. Whether writing on a computer or with a notebook and pencil, it's important that your child has a well-organized place to write. Set up an area in your home for writing- a desk or table with a flat surface and good lighting. Make sure the area is free from potential distractions and that writing tools, including a dictionary, paper and pens, are at your child's fingertips.
Call, email, or visit our website today for more information on Sylvan's writing program. We can help keep your child's writing skills sharpened over the summer. |
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