Newsletter June 2010
June 15, 2010
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We strive to bring you the most helpful and up to date information every month, and this month's newsletter is no exception.
You can scroll down through the articles below, or you can click on a headline you like to go directly to that article.

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This Month's Headlines:

Fun, Sun and…Math?
How Tutors (and Parents) Can Build Confidence in Students
Summer Exploration for Fall Success
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Fun, Sun and…Math?

It’s no secret that kids can experience “brain drain” over the course of the summer months. While they enjoy their vacation, some of the things they learned in the last school year may start to slip away. But with just a little practice, and a little creativity, you can help your child work in some less formal schooling into their summer.

Numerous studies have examined the loss of learning that occurs over the break from school. Some measure this loss to be as much as 20% of what the student mastered in the previous year. This means that when students return to school in September, teachers often have to back track and review previous concepts to get children back up to date before teaching new material. In subjects like math, this is often more prevalent, particularly because it is a subject that is cumulative, always building on previous knowledge, and because students often don’t get the chance to practice much math over the summer.

Here are four suggestions for infusing some mathematics into your child’s summer, in ways that encourage a love for learning and family involvement.

Math in Music
Music is a fun, engaging way to learn just about anything. There are websites that pair fun songs with actual math lessons, such as www.MathRaps.com, www.songsforteaching.com, and others. Making something that is often considered boring into a fun, catchy song is a great way for students to not only review concepts, but to actually remember them.

Let the Games Begin
It’s not hard to get a child on the computer these days. Many children already play online games, so why not introduce them to a few fun, but educational games? Check www.CoolMath.com or www.MathPlayground.com for a cool way to combine a love for video games with a little bit of math review.

All in the Family
Many daily household activities require basic math, so get your child involved. Recipes are always a sure bet, with measurements, fractions and timings to decipher. There are other ways to practice math in your day, like trying to guess how much gas will cost when you fill up, or how long it will take you to travel a certain number of miles to your destination. Trivia like this helps students see the real life applications of math—something that is often important in getting them to take the subject more seriously.

Summer Camp
Many local colleges and schools offer summer programs for those who are interested in math, or who need some extra practice. Try searching online for Math Camps in your area. Camps are often a great way to put a fun twist on learning. Kids usually feel they are on a vacation more than going to school and get to meet new friends and experience new opportunities. If summer camps aren’t in your budget or aren’t available in your area, you can always set up a mini math camp of sorts at your own home with the help of a tutor.

Source: Kajitani, Alex. “Making Math a Part of the Summer Months.” education.com.

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How Tutors (and Parents) Can Build Confidence in Students

The relationships students and parents build with a tutor can have a very positive, lasting effect. Beyond just an improvement in grades, tutors also help children become more comfortable and in control of their learning experience.

Because they are working so closely with students, tutors are able to quickly identify each student’s strengths and weaknesses. While good teachers hope to do the same, it can be difficult for them to give this sort of individualized attention to each and every student. Tutors, on the other hand, are trained to do so, and to use their expertise to create fun, effective ways to address problem areas and reinforce academic strengths.

The intimacy of a tutoring session is also one of the great benefits. Some children may feel shy or overwhelmed in a class full of students. But when it is a one-on-one interaction, students feel important, respected, and like their individual needs and questions are being addressed in a non-threatening way. The fact that tutoring sessions often take place in the child’s home also adds to this fact. Children are in their own, comfortable environment, without worry about what other students think and so are able to be more open and receptive to academic lessons.

All of these factors help children build more confidence and self-esteem, aspects directly tied to academic success and other successes later in life. Young children and students often face many external pressures in school, from peers, teachers, expectations of parents and more. Building confidence is vital to creating healthy children who will make smart decisions in the future.

Parents can help build confidence at home too, to reinforce and add to the lessons children learn from tutors. There are many ways to do so, here are a few for starters.

• Let your child know that you believe in them. And don’t just say it, show it. Sometimes when we are unsure of ourselves, all we need is the support of another who believes we can accomplish our goals.
• Listen to your child, and acknowledge their feelings. Children and young adults often complain that they don’t feel like parents really listen to them. The more you actively listen to and support your child, the more they will be honest with you and able to express their emotions.
• Give praise and compliments. Even adults like to be recognized for their hard work well done. Children often evaluate themselves by what others around them think about them, so show your child that you think they are as great as they truly are.
• On the flip side, we all make mistakes, and it’s important to help your child understand that this is normal and that mistakes are an opportunity for learning. The key is to criticize behavior and actions, not the child him or herself. This is tricky, but is important to showing children that they are not inherently bad, it’s just that their actions sometimes are.
• Finally, encourage your child and their interests—however fleeting or boring they may seem. Children are naturally curious and self-driven, and research shows this decreases as we reach adulthood. Stay positive and supportive with your child and they will be naturally motivated and interested in the world.

Source: Welford, Heather. “Building Confidence in Children.” bbc.co.uk.
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Summer Exploration for Fall Success

Even though it feels like summer just started, September is not far around the corner, and those summer days can pass by in a breeze. In the meantime, parents hear so much about how students can lose valuable skills over the summer, leaving many parents to wonder, is it ever too early to start planning for the new school year?

It’s important for you and your children to enjoy and take advantage of the summer break, but it’s also important to find ways to keep their minds thinking and growing. Planning ahead for September doesn’t mean you have to be a drill sergeant and give pop quizzes over the summer. Getting a head start can be fun and easy, and engaging for your child.

There are many options for summer education, from formal summer school and academic classes, to summer camps and enrichment programs. Community centers and libraries often offer fun ways to learn in a more relaxed environment, as do music, sports and art programs. In school, students don’t always get to choose how they learn, so it’s beneficial to let them learn over the summer in ways that they connect with.

One of the most important aspects of summer is the freedom for children to explore their personal interests. This is an important part of a child’s development because it allows him or her to think more comprehensively about the world, to analyze information and draw conclusions.

Summer vacations and camps obviously provide fertile ground for exploration, but it can also happen closer to home. Make it easy for your child to naturally explore their curiosities. Leave ample time to play at the playground or park. Bring buckets and shovels to the beach, dig and build sandcastles, examine the shells, rocks and other creatures on the shore. Have bicycles and helmets ready to go for impromptu bike trips and examine the local flora.

Some children may be shy or uncertain about going beyond their comfort zones and may just need a gentle push from you. Having an open mind to new situations and information is a great trait for children to develop, and will be beneficial when they return to school for a new year where they are asked to learn new things, explore new concepts, and push their education even further.

Showing your child that you support and encourage their natural exploration reinforces their desire to learn and ask questions. If you feel your child needs more formal ‘exploration’ of subjects or school material over the summer, there are great tutoring packages available. Tutors can cater to your child’s needs and interests to bring more learning into the summer days, while still allowing your child to have fun. Sessions will also leave your child feeling more confident and secure when September finally does come, laying the foundation for a successful new school year full of new discoveries and knowledge.

Source: Bartell, Susan. “A Teachable Moment: Summer Exploration.” njfamily.com.

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