Newsletter November 2009
November 17, 2009
_______________________________________________

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.

_______________________________________________

This Month's Headlines:

Shmoop.com: A Love Affair With Learning
Encouraging Social and Emotional Learning
Building a Math Foundation
Understanding Literary Theme
_______________________________________________

Shmoop.com: A Love Affair With Learning

Shmoop.com is an innovative website designed to help students learn about literature and history and their greater relevance today. But it’s not just another site pushing good grades and fact memorization: Shmoop is about celebrating knowledge and the joy of learning—a noteworthy cause in our digital age.

Written by educators and experts hailing from Ph.D. and Master programs at Harvard, Stanford, UC Berkeley and other well-respected universities, Shmoop brings together a host of knowledge and tools for students. Free to use, once members have signed up, they can turn to Shmoop for all kinds of schoolwork issues, from help in deciding what to write in a school paper, finding helpful summaries on difficult reading materials, reading deep analyses of important historical events and issues, or asking questions in discussion rooms. Students can place “stickies” on certain pages or sections, clip notes for later reference, and even use Shmoop as a cited source in papers.

The site is broken down by subject, with Literature, Poetry, Bestsellers, Us History, Civics, Biography and Music categories, and contains helpful information in each one. In Literature, students can reference study guides and overviews (even in Spanish) and discuss classic school reading assignments such as Frankenstein or The Crucible.

Turn to the “Civics” page and they can read up on hot topics like the Constitution or free speech. Having a hard time with poetry? Check out the “How to Read a Poem” page or use the “Poetry Glossary” for help.

But what’s most impressive, in addition to the vast amount of information provided, is that the site actually feels fun. It’s designed in an easy-to-use manner that will surely appeal to tech-savvy students. And best of all, the knowledge presented is an excellent mix of academics and culture. Where else can your child read about bestsellers Twilight or New Moon in between studying McCarthyism and exploring the impact of Bob Marley’s first international album “Concrete Jungle”? Shmoop provides a much-needed remodel of the classic approach to learning that is sure to continue to catch on. After all, as the creators of Shmoop say, they just “want to show your brain a good time.”

Visit www.shmoop.com to see for yourself!

_______________________________________________

Encouraging Social and Emotional Learning

Any parent or child specialist will tell you that adolescence is a time filled with experimentation and self-exploration as children try to figure out who they are and what is important to them. During this time, children are building their inter- and intrapersonal skills, learning to be aware both of themselves and the emotions of those around them.

This journey is a normal part of a child’s development, although it is often overlooked in school curriculums as they focus more on cognitive learning. The emotional and social stresses of growing are real though, and often land on the shoulders of parents, at a time when children are simultaneously trying to assert their independence from them.

Kimberly Hackett, a Social and Emotional Learning Consultant and therapist, understands the importance of social and emotional learning and offers parents tips for helping their children grow into socially responsible and compassionate adults.

The Right Way to Listen
Having a parent who listens and offers support can be crucial for a child forming his or her identity. It’s important to listen without passing judgment, so your child will continue to turn to you for support, but also to because it allows a children to work through their emotions and experiences alone, taking responsibility for who they are and what they value.

Promote Self-Reflection
While reflection takes time to develop and become a natural habit, parents can encourage their children to objectively look at their behaviors, beliefs and values. The practice can take creative forms—from relating what’s happening on TV to important real life issues, or having discussions at the dinner table.

Encourage Creativity
Understanding one’s identity can lead to unfamiliar territory. Creative activities allow children to explore this in safe ways, whether it’s through art, sports, fashion, theater, dance or other activities. You can encourage your child simply by showing a genuine interest in what they work hard to create.

Learn From Mistakes
We all know mistakes make for great lessons and are a crucial part of growing up, and even being an adult. The positive side is that in order to make mistakes one must take a chance and step outside of his or her comfort zone—an experience that always leads to important growth and reflection.

No Pain, No Gain
As parents we often want to swoop down and rescue our children when they are feeling down. While this is certainly a normal part of being a parent, it’s also important to remember that some things your child has to discover or explore on his or her own. It’s true it can be hard to see your formerly-happy teen be riddled with insecurity and doubt, but this allows children to learn firsthand to balance the good and bad, and find self-acceptance in difficult situations.

Developing social and emotional skills allows children to lead fuller, happier lives where they can support and encourage themselves and others, and take responsibility in a world where compassion is a necessity.

Source: Hackett, Kimberly. “Eight Ways to Promote Social and Emotional Learning in Your Adolescent.” adolescentwork.wordpress.com.

_______________________________________________

Building a Math Foundation

Math skills are inherently important to your child’s schooling; especially as they get closer to high school, where more advanced concepts are taught. Math skills can also be important for college admissions, and a variety of careers. If your child is struggling with math, here are a few ways to help them brush up on and improve their skills.

Cover the basics
Make sure your child understands the basic concepts and facts of math or they will have difficulties as they advance through the grades. Flash cards can be helpful in practicing areas where their skills need help, and some students can benefit from using objects or visualization to better understand problems.

Do Homework the Right Way
Math homework is a central part of driving home the lessons taught in the classroom. Teach your child to start each assignment by first reviewing the examples given. It’s also a good idea to have them try to redo the examples before starting the assignment. This calls to attention any gaps in knowledge or places where they are working incorrectly. It also avoids the frustration of them struggling through an assignment they don’t properly understand.

Practice, Practice, Practice
Practicing math problems is one of the best ways to check for understanding. The teacher may have only assigned one page of problems, but encourage your student to do a few extra problems here and there. The more they work on the concepts, the more they will become second nature to them.

Math Vocabulary
Mastering the concepts with numbers is one thing, but when it comes to word problems, many students get intimidated or frustrated. You can avoid this by helping students in their approach to word problems. Have them read the problem multiple times and identify exactly what they are trying to figure out. If they have to draw diagrams or describe it out loud, that’s okay. If they are having problems with certain steps in a sequence, try substituting smaller, easier numbers to work with and then move up to larger numbers or decimals. Word problems also require a fair amount of vocabulary, so it’s important to check for understanding of basic and new terms. Sometimes working through actual examples is the best way to teach new vocabulary.

Encourage Math in Their Head
It’s not always appropriate, but your child should be able to do math in their head. Discourage them from using a calculator with numbers that are easy to work with. Using a paper and pencil reinforces their knowledge and leaves them less dependent on a machine to figure out the work for them. Doing math in their head doesn’t only have to involve homework. There are plenty of opportunities throughout the day to do some simple arithmetic, keeping the brain fresh. Ask them to calculate the change you are owed at the store, or to help you double a recipe or balance the checkbook.

Don’t Wait to Help
It’s very important that math questions and uncertainties be addressed as they arise. This is especially true for math because it is always building upon previous knowledge and concepts. Children who feel lost can quickly get discouraged and become uninterested in or intimidated by math. If you feel your child is not grasping the material, tutoring is a great alternative for them to practice specific skills, brush up on class material, and build their confidence.

Source: Gisler, Peggy and Marge Eberts. “Top 10 Ways to Help Your Kids Do Well in Math.” school.familyeducation.com.

_______________________________________________

Understanding Literary Theme

As a child progresses from elementary to middle school, language arts classes will start to focus on less concrete aspects of reading and comprehending literature. Where a child may have been asked to provide details of a book’s plot in elementary school, in middle school they may be asked to identify underlying themes and messages in literature.

Because determining things like themes and tones in a book is less obvious and involves more critical thinking and analyzing, students may struggle with this at first. Not only do they have to pay attention to what’s happening on the surface, they also need to learn to detect other clues in the literature, in order to figure out what is also going on under the surface of the plot.

If your child is struggling with these kinds of reading activities, here are some general questions they can use as a guide.

What is the central conflict? Make a list of the characters and how they relate to the protagonist. Are there conflicts between certain characters, or perhaps within the protagonist himself?

What are the character’s struggles? What are the needs and desires of the main and supporting characters? What are they trying to obtain or achieve, and does this change throughout the novel?

What are some of the symbols and motifs in the story? Look for clues in the details of the novel. Do seemingly simple things, like descriptions of color or smell, suggest deeper metaphors about what is going on?

What does the dialog reveal? This relates to the question above and learning how to read between the lines of the story. Are people really saying what they mean or hiding something? Do you believe their stories or find inherent holes and inconsistencies in them?

Does the title of the book, or its chapters reveal anything? Authors are often careful in choosing their titles, allowing them to foreshadow events or provide deeper understanding through word choices.

Uncovering themes is an important developmental step in your child’s reading comprehension. Students who struggle with this will benefit from practice with the guidance of parents or tutors. The more they read and make connections between plots and messages, the easier and more naturally it will come to them in the future.

Source: Lucas, Cheri. “Tackling Theme in Literature.” education.com.