Whether looking for practice with the fundamentals or a new challenge, the Math Checkup is a useful tool for families to improve their children's math skills. The Math Checkup assesses the level of your child and any foundations that need attention before advancing into more challenging concepts. This assessment enables the learning specialist working with your child to determine the levels and lessons necessary to move forward in our math curriculum.
Have you noticed your child reversing letters such as b and d, or p and q when writing? It is a developmental error that is often seen in pre-kindergarten and kindergarten. By the age 7, most reversals should be fixed. An occasional reversal is nothing to be worried about, however, if their letter reversals are still consistent after handwriting remediation, it may be a sign of a learning disability or dyslexia.
The good news is with the right remediation, your child can fix their letter reversals for good. There are several methods to practice for letter reversals.
Processing speed is the speed in which someone can complete a mental task. Some children struggle with receiving and understanding all the new information they are taking in. In some cases, it is due to a slow processing speed. While this is a cognitive skill, there are activities to that specifically target processing speed and can help your child improve on it.
If your child is in elementary school, chances are that you have heard the term "sight words" or "red words". These words don't follow typical phonics rules; therefore, they can't be sounded out in order to decode the word. There are several strategies to help your child familiarize and eventually master sight words.
Phonemic Awareness is the ability to identify and manipulate individual sounds in words. It is a key predictor for your child's reading success. Skills such as identifying the initial sound of a word (cat --> "c") or distinguishing between two different sounds can be challenging at first, but the more exposure and practice your child gets with these skills, they will become phonemic awareness pros! Here are some fun, easy games to play with your child at home to work on phonemic awareness:
While the summer slide may sound like a fun backyard activity, it is actually a phenomenon that can combat a substantial amount of the progress your child has made throughout the school year. “The summer slide” is a term coined by researchers in a study that showed how children lose a significant amount of the knowledge they acquire in reading and math throughout the school year over summer break.
After a long draining day at school, the last thing on any child's mind is their after-school responsibilities. Between homework, chores, sports practice, family time, and so much more, how can we expect our kids to prioritize their time without a good old-fashioned routine? We’ll help you figure it out.
Age-appropriate chores for children are so important, as it teaches them to work hard and contribute to the family. Learning to do chores at an early age is a life skill that they will never lose. Having children of varying ages can make it difficult to delegate chores, but even a child as young as 2 years old can help around the house.
Dyslexia diagnoses are becoming more and more prevalent, as early identification and intervention improves. However, our society as a whole still has a long way to go in fully embracing the abilities of people with dyslexia and empowering them. In 2018, Ernst and Young (EY), a multinational professional services firm, published a report on the value of dyslexia and the strengths individuals with dyslexia bring to the workforce.
Being a kid with a language processing disorder is tough! Children with language processing disorders often do not possess the vocabulary or patience to adequately express their needs and emotions. This can lead to meltdowns, behavioral issues, and impulsivity. There are a few tricks parents can use to help mitigate these behaviors and promote more positive behaviors.
Language Learning Disabilities (LLD) account for the largest percentage of diagnosed learning disabilities. This type of LD causes children to struggle with language, especially in conversation – the way they engage in it, as well as process it. Parents can help by teaching their children the art of communicating.
As a part of the technological age, there is no question that technology will be a component of your child’s education and everyday life. Technology can be an amazing tool for education as it provides instant access to information and can enhance students’ learning experiences. However, there are dangers when screen time becomes excessive such as behavioral issues, irregular sleep patterns, and academic setbacks. Now more than ever, it’s important to monitor and supervise your child’s screen time due to our current circumstances.
Here are some ways in which you can limit screen time as a household:
Reduce the amount of screens that your child can access
If you limit the amount of screens you have in your household, it is more likely that your child’s screen time will go down. This will encourage them to partake in other activities such as reading books, cooking, art, and free play.
Establish daily/weekly limits to screens
Enforce rules like “No screens 1 hour before bedtime”. Prioritize these rules when planning out the day for your family.
Set an example by limiting screen time yourself as a parent
Be a role model and apply the same screen time rules to yourself. Your child will see that you are following through with the rules and will more likely cooperate with the limits.
Create zones in your house that are technology-free
Mayo Clinic recommends that you keep screens out of your child’s bedroom. Setting boundaries for certain technology locations can help limit the time your child uses technology.
Utilize a timer to monitor your child’s technology use
Hold your child accountable. If you allow 30 minutes of screen time as a reward, make sure that it lasts 30 minutes. No more, no less.
For more ideas and resources, check out our other blog posts here. For more information about how our team can support you with home learning, visit our website.
