Bei Reach Out, Wir glauben, dass es sehr wichtig ist, die Erfolge der Studierenden zu feiern. Wir freuen uns, einen weiteren Star-Studenten bekannt zu geben - Emma!
Emma repräsentiert alles, was Studierende mit harter Arbeit und dem Engagement für Spitzenleistungen erreichen können. Emmas Lehrer erkennen sie als eine Schülerin an, die eine wunderbare Einstellung zum Lernen hat, ist sehr empfänglich für Anweisungen, und hat eine äußerst unterstützende Familie, die oft mit ihren Lehrern kommuniziert. Im Unterricht, Emma ist eine aufmerksame und aufmerksame Zuhörerin, die selbstbewusst genug ist, ihre Ideen zu teilen, aber geduldig genug, um jedem seinen Platz zu geben. Es macht ihr nichts aus, Risiken einzugehen, und ist in der Lage, ihre Persönlichkeit in ihre Arbeit einzubringen.
Emma ist derzeit für unsere Stufe „Kreatives Lesen und Schreiben“ eingeschrieben 4 Kurs, und sie hat eine echte Begabung darin bewiesen, in ihren Texten starke Bilder zu schaffen. Zu Beginn des Semesters, Sie verfasste eine Rezension der Disneyland-Filiale von Blue Frog in Shanghai.
Emma zeigte ihre Fähigkeit, bestimmte Aspekte eines Ortes zu kritisieren, und ihre Ideen mit geeigneten Details weiterentwickeln.
„Die Aussicht und die Lage sind beide sehr zufriedenstellend. Abends können wir draußen sitzen und den Anblick des Disney-Schloss und des Feuerwerks genießen.“
Im Laufe des Semesters, Emma zeigte eine Entwicklung ihrer Schreibfähigkeiten, und begann, fortgeschrittenere literarische Techniken zu integrieren. In einer Aufgabe zur Beschreibung von Landschaften, Emma gelang es, mit präzisem Vokabular und bildlicher Sprache ein starkes Bild zu schaffen.
„Flauschiges Moos spritzte auf die salzigen Felsen, als sie sich weit ausbreiteten, wie Marmelade auf Brot. Trübe Wellen bildeten sich, als der Brunnen in den darunter liegenden Teich fiel.“
Emma wandte weiterhin die Lektionen an, die sie im Laufe des Kurses gelernt hatte, und ihre Fähigkeiten als Schriftstellerin wurden stärker. In einer aktuellen Aufgabe zum Schreiben einer Fantasy-Erzählung, Emma hat den Schauplatz und Charakter ihrer Geschichte bewusst und wirkungsvoll konstruiert.
„Glitzernder Sonnenschein schien vom Fenster bis ins Weiche, seidiges Bettlaken. Neben dem offenen Fenster blühten süße Blumen in warmen Farben. Düstere, aber sorgfältige Zeichnungen hingen an der erfrischenden, algengrünen Wand.“
Wie Sie sehen können, Emma weist Merkmale einer vielversprechenden jungen Schriftstellerin auf. Ihre Entschlossenheit, sich zu verbessern, und die sorgfältige Anwendung der vermittelten Lektionen haben dazu beigetragen, ihr Schreiben auf ein fortgeschritteneres Niveau zu heben.
Danke Emma, dafür, dass du so ein STAR bist! Wir freuen uns darauf, Ihr Wachstum noch lange zu sehen. Wir wissen, dass dies nur der Anfang einer brillanten Reise ist.
Als Pädagogen, Wir wurden oft die Frage gestellt, „Wie kann ich mein Kind dazu bringen, nicht mehr Comics zu lesen??Die Eltern sind besorgt, dass Comics keinen Bildungswert bieten, sind nicht akademisch streng genug, oder am schlimmsten von allen, eine Verschwendung der Zeit ihres Kindes. Dazu, Unsere Antwort überrascht sie normalerweise überrascht sie, Und diese Antwort ist, „Lassen Sie sie Comics lesen!”
Es ist verständlich, dass Eltern etwas besorgt sind, da die Wahrnehmung ist, dass Comics nur zum Lesen von Vergnügen sind, Jedoch, Comics haben viele Vorteile, die uns nicht helfen können, die Zeit zu verbringen.
Comics und Grafikromane sind keine neuen Schreibformen. Natürlich, Sie werden seit Generationen viele genossen. Im Laufe der Jahre, Das Genre hat sich mit beträchtlicher Tiefe und Bedeutung in eine verändert, Aus diesem Grund ermutigen wir Eltern, ihren Kindern nicht nur zu erlauben, Comics zu lesen, aber auch um sie dabei zu unterstützen.
Hier sind unsere wichtigsten Gründe, warum Comics gelesen werden sollten (Besonders im Sommer!):
Für Studenten, die keine englischen Muttersprachler sind, Comics bieten ihnen eine großartige Möglichkeit, die englische Literatur zu genießen. Für viele Kinder, Die Aufgabe, von einem Englisch -Lehrbuch zu einem Roman zu wechseln, kann sehr entmutigend sein, Comics können jedoch eine notwendige Brücke für sie bieten, um Selbstvertrauen zu schaffen und fließend zu lesen. Die visuellen Hinweise in den Bildern ermöglichen es den Schülern, ein tieferes Verständnis der Handlung und der Charaktere sowie des neuen Wortschatzes zu erstellen. Zusätzlich, Es führt sie in effektive literarische Geräte ein, wie Onomatopoeia (Denken Sie an pow! KLATSCHEN! ZOOM!) und Redewendungen (eine Illustration, die die Bedeutung einer Idiom wie zeigt, „Katze hat deine Zunge?”Macht viel sinnvoller, als die Idiom selbst zu erhitzen!).
2.Verbesserung der Inferenz
Inferenz ist eine wichtige Lesefähigkeiten, mit der viele Schüler bei standardisierten Leseeinschätzungen zu kämpfen haben. Schlussfolgerung geschieht, wenn wir Schlussfolgerungen basieren, was wir lesen. Einige Beispiele für Fragen, die die Schüler während des Leseverständnisses oder Bewertungen begegnen werden, sind solche wie z., „Wie fühlte sich der Charakter an, als?”, "Worüber kannst du schließen ..." und "Was war die Lektion in der Geschichte??Comics verlangen, dass die Schüler „zwischen den Zeilen lesen“, um Informationen zu schließen, die normalerweise vom Erzähler in einem Roman erzählt werden, Sie können also viele wertvolle Erfahrungen bei der Stärkung dieser Fähigkeit sammeln, indem sie Comics lesen.
3.Wortkraft!
Oft in Comics und Graphic Novels, Autoren sind ein ziemlich fortgeschrittenes Vokabular, sowohl als Teil der Handlung als auch in den Namen der Charaktere. In 2016 auf der weltberühmten Comic-Con in San Diego, Kalifornien, Ein Diskussionsteilnehmer der Pädagogen diskutierte die Kraft von Comics beim Aufbau von Vokabeln der Schüler. James Bucky Carter, Autor von Building Alphabeta -Verbindungen mit Graphic Novels sagte, „Du hast Koloss, Und er ist so groß, Riesenmetall -Typ. Sie bekommen ein wirklich gutes Gespür dafür, was das Wort Colossus bedeutet, und das ist ein gutes 10-Cent-Wort. Banshees Kraft schreit. Sie haben diese Charaktere, die die Wortschatzwörter verkörpern, die sie sind. Das ist eine unterhaltsame Art, neue Wörter zu lernen, Zusätzlich zu den kontextuellen Hinweisen. “
Nachdem Sie dies gelesen haben, möchten Sie möglicherweise nur Ihr Kind direkt in das Lesen von Comics oder Grafikromanen eintauchen lassen! Das ist Musik für unsere Ohren. Wenn Sie nicht sicher sind, wo Sie anfangen sollen, Wir haben einige Schülerfavoriten, die Ihr Kind gerne versuchen möchte!
Hundemann von Dave Pilkey
Miles Morales Spider-Man von Jason Reynolds
Lächeln, Schwestern, Geister, Drama und andere Geschichten von Raina TeleGemeier
Knochen von Jeff Smith
Auf der Suche nach weiteren Sommerlesemöglichkeiten für Ihr Kind? Wenden Sie sich an einen unserer Bildungsberater, um weitere Informationen zu unseren Sommerlesekursen zu erhalten. Wir freuen uns auf das Lesen mit Ihrem Kind!
Die Prüfungssaison ist da, und es kann sowohl für Schüler als auch für Eltern eine sehr stressige Zeit im Jahr sein. Bei Reach Out möchten wir unser Bestes tun, um Prüfungsangst zu lindern, indem wir einige einzigartige Lerntipps anbieten, die Sie vielleicht noch nicht ausprobiert haben.
Viele Eltern und Lehrer, die es gut meinen, haben sich oft an die herkömmliche Weisheit des Lernens gehalten, Jedoch, Wenn wir uns einige interessante forschungsbasierte Ansätze ansehen, können wir erkennen, dass es eine Vielzahl effektiver Möglichkeiten zum Lernen gibt! Es ist immer gut, neue Dinge auszuprobieren, vor allem für Kinder. Schon in jungen Jahren können sie neue Wege kennenlernen, Dinge zu tun, und wenn sie etwas älter sind, Sie können den Weg wählen, der ihren persönlichen Bedürfnissen und ihrem Stil am besten entspricht.
Jetzt, Werfen wir einen Blick auf drei einzigartige Möglichkeiten des Lernens.
Abwechslung ist die Würze des Lebens – auch im Studium
Für viele, Viele Jahre lang wurde uns das gesagt, um gut lernen zu können, Wir sollten jeden Tag am selben Ort lernen; ein Ort, der ruhig ist, gut beleuchtet, und verfügt über alle unsere Materialien. Während dies für einen Teil der Zeit, in der wir studieren, zutreffen mag, Untersuchungen zeigen, dass es unserem Gehirn tatsächlich besser geht, wenn wir den Ort, an dem wir lernen, wechseln. Ziemlich überraschend, Rechts?
In einer Studie, die schon damals durchgeführt wurde 1978, College-Studenten wurden gegeben 40 Vokabeln zum Lernen. Einer Gruppe wurde gesagt, sie solle die Liste zweimal am selben Ort studieren. Die andere Gruppe wurde angewiesen, die Liste an zwei verschiedenen Orten zu studieren. Was sie fanden, war, Die Gruppe, die ihre Lernorte variierte, schnitt tatsächlich besser darin ab, sich die Wörter später zu merken. Warum ist das so?? Also, Unser Gehirn stellt häufig Verbindungen zu Informationen her, die auf unserer Umgebung basieren, Je mehr wir also unsere Umgebung verändern, desto mehr geben wir unserem Gehirn die Möglichkeit, Informationen zu speichern, da diese sich an mehr Dinge binden. Dies kann auch der Grund sein, warum eine Visualisierungstechnik verwendet wird, Dabei visualisiert man Dinge, an die man sich erinnern möchte, an bestimmten Orten in einer Umgebung, mit der man vertraut ist, kann auch so effektiv sein. Für Studenten, Ein einfacher Wechsel der Umgebung könnte den Zweck erfüllen!
Viel Spaß!
Manche Eltern könnten das fälschlicherweise denken, wenn ihr Kind beim Lernen oder Studieren lacht oder aufgeregt ist, Sie könnten ihre Zeit verschwenden. Jedoch, Dies ist nicht unbedingt der Fall.
Als Eltern, An Ihrem Arbeitsplatz oder im Büro finden von Zeit zu Zeit spezielle Workshops statt. Die Workshops dienen in der Regel als Hilfsmittel zum Erlernen einer neuen Strategie, Idee, oder Informationen, die Ihnen helfen, bei der Arbeit mehr zu lernen. Diese Sitzungen werden häufig von Personen geleitet, die sich auf die Gestaltung motivierender und inspirierender Workshops spezialisiert haben, die die Mitarbeiter beleben und mit Energie versorgen. Die Tage können lang und intensiv sein, aber wenn sie richtig gemacht werden, Mitarbeiter können zuversichtlich in ihr neues Wissen und ihre neuen Fähigkeiten einsteigen.
Das Gleiche gilt auch für junge Menschen. Die Einführung von Spiel und Spaß als Lernmethode für Prüfungen zaubert Ihrem Kind nicht nur ein Lächeln ins Gesicht, Untersuchungen zeigen jedoch, dass Spaß beim Lernen bestimmte kognitive Ressourcen aktiviert, verbindet Belohnungen und Vergnügen mit dem Lernen, stärkt und erweitert Gedächtnisnetzwerke, und schaltet abstraktes Denken und fokussierte Aufmerksamkeit um.
Die Pomodoro-Technik
Konzentriert bleiben, Es kann sowohl für Erwachsene als auch für Kinder schwierig sein, bei der Aufgabe zu sein und motiviert zu sein, bestimmte Aktivitäten zu erledigen. Haben Sie jemals das Gefühl gehabt, stundenlang auf einen Computerbildschirm zu starren?, aber sehr wenig erreicht? Oder vielleicht haben Sie in ein paar Tagen eine Frist, aber wir nähern uns nur langsam der Ziellinie? Kein Wunder, Untersuchungen zeigen, dass unser Geist dazu neigt, dorthin zu wandern 20% der Zeit, vielleicht sogar mehr für jüngere Leute.
Eine interessante Technik wurde vom College-Studenten Francesco Cirillo entwickelt, um ihm zu helfen, konzentriert zu bleiben, und das ist die Pomodoro-Technik, Der Name stammt von dem tomatenförmigen Timer, den Cirillo benutzte, als er diese Strategie an sich selbst testete. So funktioniert es: Sie stellen einen Timer ein 25 Minuten, Das ist Arbeitszeit. Dann stellen Sie es erneut ein 5 Minuten, Das ist Pausenzeit. Dies ist eine großartige Zeit zum Aufstehen, strecken, Machen Sie eine Runde um das Haus, Streichle deine Katze, oder trinken Sie etwas Wasser oder einen Snack. Nach der Pause ist die Zeit abgelaufen, Stellen Sie den Timer für einen anderen ein 25 Minuten und wiederholen!
Es stellt sich heraus, dass diese Strategie durch wissenschaftliche Beweise gestützt wird, Forscher kamen zu dem Schluss, dass kurze Pausen dabei helfen, die Aufmerksamkeitsspanne aufrechtzuerhalten. Dies könnte damit zusammenhängen, dass kognitive Langeweile zu einem unengagierten Geist führen kann, Das ist das Letzte, was Sie wollen, wenn Sie für eine wichtige Prüfung lernen.
Wir hoffen, dass Ihnen das Erkunden dieser einzigartigen Lerntipps genauso viel Spaß gemacht hat wie uns! Ich wünsche Ihrem Kind diesen Monat viel Glück bei den Prüfungen. Jiayou!
We know that there is so much we can do to nurture and educate our children, which is why as parents we often go to great lengths to fill their time with enriching activities and classes. Why do we do this? For many reasons of course, but the main goal is to ensure their future success. Parents hope that their children will be even more successful in life than they were themselves. Success, of course, is subjective, and we may all have our own definition of success. Generally however, we might agree that success includes feeling content in one’s personal life, as well having a sense of career satisfaction and financial security.
Recently there has been an intriguing TED Talk being shared on social media, in which former Dean of Freshman at Stanford University, Julie Lythcott-Haims, cites evidence from the Harvard Grant Study that correlates professional success in life to individuals having done chores as children. Not soccer training, not language learning, not painting, but chores.
Surprising right?
Many of our children growing up in big cities may never know what it’s like to scrub a dish, wash a window, or mop a floor. We might feel like there are more important things to do to build their knowledge and their character. Lythcott-Haims explains that those children who do get their hands dirty, Jedoch, may reach a level of success in life that surpasses their no-chore-doing peers. That is because it teaches students how to contribute and step up when work needs to be done, and that doing the “grunt work” that others might scoff at, because it is what is best for all, is what gets noticed in the workplace.
The workplaces of the high-achievers who took part in the Harvard Grant Study were notable, such as the White House, where participant President Kennedy worked, and the editor’s office where Ben Bradlee sat as editor of The Washington Post. We can assume that their parents, like us, had to prod and plead for the chores to be done, and accept that even if they were done, they might not have been done well; and that’s okay.
The important thing, as Lythcott-Haims points out, is that by doing chores, children realize that they, “…have to do the work of life in order to be part of life.” They realize that life does not just happen to them, and for them, but with them.
If your children are already doing chores as part of their daily summer routine, bravo! You are on the right track. If not, no need to panic. It is never too late to introduce chores into the lives of our children. Here are some tips to help get you started!
Let Them Be a Part of It
When introducing the concept of your children completing chores to help, have a “family meeting” where everyone is present to discuss what will be expected of your children and why. You can ask your child to help you write a list of chores they could potentially help with around the house. They might surprise you with their enthusiasm as doing chores is very exciting for some children because it makes them feel empowered and helpful (two things we often like to feel as adults).
Game-ify It
To make things fun, because fun makes everything better, you or your child can write the chores on popsicle sticks and each day your child can choose one stick from the jar. That will be their chore for the day! If you have more than one child at home, you can always turn cleaning into a competition by setting a timer and seeing which child can clean the most toys in the given amount of time, for example.
Reward It
As parents, we are rewarded for our contributions at work with a salary. Shouldn’t our children also be rewarded for their hard work? One idea is that if your child completes all of his or her chores for the week, he or she can choose a small toy from a “treasure box” filled with small toys. Another option could be that if your child consistently completes chores for a month, they can choose an extra special family outing.
Teaching our children to do chores is not always easy, but the potential benefits are worth the time and effort. We hope you found our tips useful, and that they can help lead to a positive experience for you and your child. Happy cleaning!
We are pleased to announce a new summer book club, just for parents! Summer is the perfect time to read that book you have always wanted to read, but have not had the time to. This summer, we invite you to join us in reading How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk.
We know it is not always easy to connect with our children because of the demands of school, work and daily life. Sometimes our anxieties about the future interfere with us living our lives right now. Jedoch, one thing we can guarantee is that we will never get another chance to experience childhood with our own children, and we don’t want to miss out on this precious time. So, how can we make the most of it and have meaningful conversations with our children that will strengthen our bond and help our children feel supported? These are big questions many of us have.
To help us answer these important questions, we invite you to join us in reading one of the most popular parenting books of all time, written by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish. How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk, which teaches us how to accept our children’s feelings, as by not doing so we could be unwittingly causing bad behavior. It also teaches us positive ways to encourage cooperation, as well as independence, autonomy, and self-confidence. These are all the ingredients needed to help nurture a positive parent-child relationship that will indeed help to grow our children into confident and capable adults.
How Will It Work?
The first step is to contact one of our Education Consultants to register. Registration is FREE and open to everyone! We will create a group chat where the book study content and sharing will take place starting on July 1st. Lindsey Fine, our Education Manager, will be joining the group as a parent as well, as she is a mother of two boys, aged 4 and 6, who will be learning along with you. She will also be helping to lead the weekly discussions.
The book can be found in English and Chinese and easily accessible in print, e-book, or audiobook formats.
Then there are two options for how you would like to participate:
The reading schedule is as follows:
Week 1: Chapters 1 & 2
Week 2: Chapters 3 & 4
Week 3: Chapters 5 & 6
Week 4 Chapters 7 & Afterword
At the end of the month, we will host an online workshop led by School Counselor, Regina Wehner. At the workshop, Regina will share additional information and strategies you can use to strengthen your relationship with your child.
About Regina Wehner
Regina Wehner is a Licensed School Counselor that has worked with students in Middle School for over 16 years. Originally from the United States, she lives with her husband and 2 children, ages 10 and 12, in Beijing, China.
Regina works at the Western Academy of Beijing (WAB), a diverse international school. A big part of being a school counselor is helping students learn about themselves and others as they are growing. Regina also hosts monthly Parent Coffee Mornings to bring parents together to learn more about their children's developmental changes and how to communicate during these times of transition.
Contact us today to join!
Helping Your Child Learn New Vocabulary
Research indicates that if we want students to succeed in the academic context, on important assessments and high-stakes exams, as well as their future careers, we must help them develop their vocabulary. The reason for that is this: our understanding of new information is directly linked to our understanding of the vocabulary used to communicate that new information.
Für Studenten, increasing their vocabulary is one key to success in mastering a language; the more words we know, the more words we understand, and the more words we can use in our writing to make it more impactful and effective. Jedoch, learning now vocabulary is sometimes viewed as a tedious or elusive process. Sometimes parents are not sure how to guide their children, especially as the way we approach vocabulary study study may vastly differ from the way parents studied it when they were in school.
Don’t worry, Reach Out is here to help! Let’s explore vocabulary acquisition (the process of memorizing and applying new vocabulary), and we’ll tell you how you can help your child build their vocabulary!
Talk About It!
It might seem overly simple, but when it comes to learning new words, one effective way young people do it is by talking with others. Children learn new words best when they are in context, such as in a conversation about a certain topic. They can infer a bit of new words’ meanings based on how they are used along with the other words they are already familiar with.
You have likely been interrupted by your child on many occasions when you use unfamiliar vocabulary and they curiously ask, “What does disaster mean?” You might have been referring to the state of their bedroom (as in it is a complete mess), and by taking a moment to explain the multiple meanings of disaster to them, you will not only have taught them a new word to describe a messy room, but also a failure or a naturally occurring phenomenon, such as a natural disaster.
So, talking with your child is a great way to teach them new words!
Explore It!
Students generally understand that they can use a dictionary or a translator if they encounter a word they do not know, but sometimes even the definition of a word might leave them with more questions than answers.
In our experience, many students do not utilize one very important tool for learning and applying new vocabulary, and that tool is a thesaurus! If you notice your child overusing a word when speaking or in their writing, for example, “pretty”, “cute”, “good”, or “bad”, then take some time to show them how to use a website such as thesaurus.com to look those words up. When they search for the word such as “pretty” they will see that there are so many interesting and unique words to use instead! I
In our experience, students really enjoy using new vocabulary, and feel empowered to know there is a tool to help them make their words mightier.
Play!
Having fun while learning isn’t just something teachers do to make students happy, it’s actually been proven by neuroscience to be an effective way to help students learn more and more deeply. Research shows that when students are both stimulated and challenged, their brains release dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that stimulates the memory centers and promotes the release of acetylcholinem, which increases focused attention.
In our courses here at Reach Out, vocabulary instruction is an important part of each lesson. We also have courses launching this summer, Vocabulary Builder Levels 1-3, in which we will focus exclusively on helping your child expand their vocabulary knowledge with challenging new words. While the words chosen offer the challenge, tools like Quizlet and games such as Guess Who and Sentence Racer provide students with the chance to interact in a meaningful and engaging way.
How do we know these methods are effective? Because our decades of experience, and study of educational psychology and methodology have taught us how students learn best!
We would love to help your child learn new vocabulary as one of the ways he or she can become an effect more effective and successful reader, writer, and speaker. To learn more about how we can help, contact one of our Education Consultants today!
If you are looking for a more individualized educational service, Reach Out offers 1-on-1 services with our expert educators!
What do We Offer?
Our teachers offer a wide range of 1-on-1 subjects including English, Social Sciences, and Maths.
Meet some of our highly qualified and experienced teachers!
Why Should I Choose 1-on-1 Services?
Perhaps your child is preparing to study abroad or applying to a new school and he or she would like a more intensive and targeted approach in order to polish his or her skills. Alternatively, your child might not feel challenged enough with his or her current curriculum, and needs an alternative approach that is more appropriate for his or her ability level.
There are a number of reasons a parent might be searching for services such as this, and we can assure you that we will always work to understand you child’s unique situation and provide the service that is best for them.
How Does it Work?
With our hands-on approach, and orientation process, we will assess your child’s knowledge and skills based on current assessment data, writing ability, and more. Based on our findings, we will select the teacher best suited for your child’s needs. All of Reach Out’s teachers have been carefully selected, and have years of experience in teaching challenging curriculums, such as IGCSE, IB, and AP, in top schools from around the world.
Our process is goal-oriented. We find out exactly what your child needs to reach their educational goals, and then we create a unique and tailor-made learning path that will best suit your child’s particular needs.
What Else Does Reach Out Offer?
In addition to 1-on-1 services, Reach Out offers a wide variety of courses specifically designed to challenge and engage your 2nd to 8th grade child with above grade level content in order to help them prepare for the rigor of programs such as IGCSE, IB, and AP.
How Can I Learn More?
To find out more about our 1-on-1 services, please contact one of our Education Consultants today to find out more! We look forward to helping your child reach his or her educational goals for a bright future!
Who We Are
As you may have noticed, we have been growing and have some exciting additions to what we offer here at Reach Out. As it has been a while since we introduced ourselves, we thought we would share our story with you to help you better understand who we are and what we do!
Our Mission
Reach Out’s mission is to connect students with expert educators who create and deliver original, inspiring, world-class curricula. We have embarked on this journey so that we may help students understand how to find their own unique voice and uncover the creative and valuable ideas that lie within each of them. With their voices, they have the power to change the world, and we wish to empower them to do so.
Our Vision
Reach Out strives to be an internationally recognized educational institution that allows students to access top level international curriculum and educators, no matter where in the world they are. Our students will be perceptive, curious, and critical thinkers who make informed choices as excellent problem solvers and communicators. Reach Out students will achieve their academic and personal goals and dreams from Primary School to University, placing their brilliant futures within reach.
Our Core Values
These are the principles which shape Reach Out:
Our Story
Reach Out was created by a small group of dedicated mothers, perhaps much like yourself. They were brought together by a common vision for the educational needs of their children. Some were looking for an educational program that could offer their children access to the ideas, teaching philosophy, and methodology that matched what they had experienced while living abroad. Others were looking for an internationalized curriculum that their children could access to enrich their educational experience in China. What they shared in common was a desire for a rigorous program that also opened the doors to creative and critical thinking, self-reflection, and personal expression - the hallmarks of a strong international curriculum. After spending considerable time exploring various options, these moms were not able to find anything that quite met their children’s needs.
So, they did what any good mother would do, given the chance, and found their own way to offer their children the best possible learning opportunities designed to help them thrive. They consulted expert teachers and worked with other parents to discover how they could best meet the needs of other children with similar goals. Children, we hope, like yours.
The parents were committed to:
We are happy to say that these mothers have achieved their goal. Today Reach Out boasts a complete line of rigorous yet engaging courses in which students learn deeply while having fun and creating meaningful relationships with their teachers and peers.
All of this because of our founding mothers’ commitment to their children’s education and happiness.
What Makes Us Unique?
While we understand parents have an array of choices when it comes to programs that enrich their children’s education, we believe we offer many unique qualities that are not easily found elsewhere.
Our team consists of highly skilled and experienced educators who have created a unique and rigorous program based on international school standards, which prepares younger students to take on rigorous curriculums such as IGCSE, IB, and AP.
-Our one to one programs and curriculums designed to exceed the educational needs of our students
-Our teaching philosophy of inspiring and empowering students, and teaching methodology of allowing students to explore knowledge widely and deeply while at the same time developing a love of learning
-Our commitment to the long-term success of our students as we strive to equip them with the essential skills they will need to succeed in their future careers and the world beyond school
- The detailed feedback we provide with all of our student assessments, so that students know where they are succeeding and where they might improve, as well as the supplemental materials and instruction needed to help our students close any gaps in understanding
-Our dedication to developing our students’ critical thinking and problem solving skills, which will be essential for their future, as well as the future of our global society
-Our promise to hire all of our teaching and non-teaching staff based on their mutual passion for education
-Our ability to empower students to use the language, knowledge, and skills they acquire to develop themselves beyond the classroom and into curious, lifelong learners who set and pursue challenging, fulfilling, and worthwhile goals.
-Our hands-on, individualized approach to creating a learning path for our students so that no matter what grade level they are when they join us, they will be equipped with the tools necessary to improve and grow rapidly
-Our commitment to empowering our clients with information and experiences that will help them make the absolute best choices for their child's education by offering informative articles, videos and workshops.
Our Curriculum
Our Blue Line curriculum, which includes courses for students in Grades 2 to 8, was designed by expert educators with advanced level degrees in their subject areas who have spent decades in some of the top international schools in the world. We use backwards curriculum design working our way from the first year of programs such as the widely recognized and respected IGCSE program.
As our educators have spent years teaching courses pre-IGCSE, IGCSE, IB and AP or A Levels curriculum, they understand what students need to succeed in those programs. So, each aspect of our curriculum has been created to make sure that all of our students enter their first day of Grade 9 feeling confident, equipped, and prepared to meet the demands of these rigorous courses.
We offer a wide range of courses in the subjects of English, Math, History and Geography. See below for more detailed information on our full course offerings.
Additional Services
We are also pleased to announce the creation of our Silver Line, which offers bespoke educational services that take an individualized approach to meeting our students' needs. We begin with a deep assessment of each student's educational goals and needs, and then create and implement a scheme of work with which our expert educators will use to guide your child through the academic challenges of High School in order to prepare them to eventually attend their dream university.
We also offer 1-on-1 services at all grade levels for parents who wish to offer their children more individual care and instruction. Our expert Education Consultants will make sure to match your child with the best educator for his or her specific needs and goals.
Join Us!
We look forward to meeting your family and discussing how you can be part of our Reach Out family; one that learns together, cares for each other, overcomes challenges together, and celebrates successes with one another. Please contact us today to find out more.
We hope to hear from you soon!
Being a parent is hard. In fact, with the changes in our world today, it might just be one of the challenging moments we have had to face in decades. Change leads to uncertainty, and uncertainty can lead to stress. Stress certainly affects all areas of our lives, sometimes it will impact our relationship with our loved ones the most; especially our children.
Our children can be complicated (let’s face it, so can we!), and it is a daunting task to ensure that every move is the “right” one. That all of our conversations, demands, requests, plans, praises and criticisms mean something. Every moment we spend talking to our kids, we hold the hope that these words will be enough to fill our children with the hope of a great future at a time where the future is so uncertain. Times change, and this too shall pass, but one thing we can guarantee is that we will never have a second chance at spending a childhood with our children.
As parents, we often ask ourselves if we are in fact doing the right thing, wondering how we can get through to our kids, trying to understand our children better, and sometimes feeling like a guilty failure because we tell ourselves we are doing it wrong. Oftentimes, that is not the case, but there is no instruction manual on how to raise a child that will work for everyone in all situations. Sure, there is a lot of advice, an overwhelming amount of it, but again, most advice is just that; guidance and recommendations by people who don’t know you or your child. Some of it is helpful, and some of it…not so much.
One thing that we cannot deny though is the importance of a healthy relationship between parent and child.
Research shows that:
It is essential to make the time to nurture a relationship with your child, and perhaps even more imperative, making sure the interactions we have with our children during that time are positive. This is something that many parents find challenging, which is why we created a parent book club for the book How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish. Together we learned ways to positively communicate with our children in order to strengthen our bonds. We spent time discussing ideas from the book, as well as had a virtual meet up to role-play some of the strategies from the book. On top of that, we invited Middle School Guidance Counselor, Regina Wehner, to provide parents with a workshop in understanding our child’s cognitive and emotional development.
Here are some highlights we would like to share with you!
First, from How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk, here are two of our favorite strategies:
Children have difficulty regulating their emotions, as the brain’s emotional regulation center is one of the last to develop. This means that they need our help in the form of compassion and modeling. This can be so challenging, especially when we may have difficulty managing our own emotions at times! We have an easy strategy for you that will only require two things:
When your child comes home upset about something that happened at school, instead of lecturing and offering our sage advice, we can simply listen to their concerns and repeat the ideas back to them. Zum Beispiel, if your child comes home upset and says something like, “Ugh, today Elizabeth and Sarah were so mean to me! They completely ignored me and I hate both of them now!” Instead of saying, “Elizabeth and Sarah are your best friends. It’s not a big deal and I am sure you will be fine tomorrow,” which could invalidate your child’s feelings, you can say, “Oh, I see. Elizabeth and Sarah made you feel a bit left out. That probably made you feel a bit sad and mad.” At this point your child might keep talking and open up to you, which is great! It means they trust you and you are making them feel better. Continue to listen, nod, say, “Mmmhmm,” and repeat what they say. Having you simply listen will likely make your child feel 100% better and ready to face their next challenge!
2. I wish!
Our children often express their desires in the form of wishing they had things they don’t have or wishing things were different than the way they are. Zum Beispiel, children may say, “I wish I didn’t have to do all that homework.” We may reply, “Well, you do and that’s that!” or “It’s what you have to do. It’s your responsibility so you need to do it now!”
This may escalate into a battle of wills as parents feel frustrated that they keep hearing the same complaint and repeat the same reasoning. The children feel frustrated because their opinions are being invalidated and they feel misunderstood. Also, don’t worry, we are here to help! We have a little trick that will help you turn the conversation around, and that is to agree with your child. It may sound counterintuitive, but we have firsthand experience with this trick and it works wonders!
Zum Beispiel, if your child says, “I wish we could go to the park today like I wanted!”
Instead of saying, “I can’t, I am too busy,” or “Yes, but we can’t, it’s raining,” we can say, “I wish we could too! We could go to the park and have a picnic! We could fly a kite and blow bubbles! Why don’t we have a picnic in the living room and after that we can blow bubbles in the bathroom!”
The first part gets the kids excited and their imagination going, taking them to a happy place. The next part makes them feel heard and connected to you.
Jetzt, some highlights from Ms. Wehner’s workshop:
*Please help me choose these! :)*
If you would like to join one of our workshops or book clubs in the future, make sure to follow us and stay tuned! We have great things coming up this fall!
Viele Eltern fragen uns, wie ihr Kind sein Schreiben am schnellsten verbessern kann. Wir sind der festen Überzeugung, dass es keine Abkürzungen gibt, um ein wirklich effektiver und kompetenter Autor zu werden, Es gibt einige Dinge, die Schüler in ihr Schreiben integrieren können, um es effizienter auf die nächste Stufe zu bringen. Wie bei allem, was man meistern will, Der Schlüssel zum Erfolg liegt in harter Arbeit und Wiederholung. Das regelmäßige Üben dieser Fähigkeiten wird Ihrem Kind helfen, seine Bildungsziele zu erreichen.
Dieser Artikel ist der erste einer Reihe von Artikeln, die sich auf Fähigkeiten konzentrieren, die für verschiedene Arten des Schreibens geeignet sind. Diese Woche, Wir werden uns auf beschreibende Schreibtipps konzentrieren.
Tipps zum beschreibenden Schreiben:
Beschreibendes Schreiben ist eine wahre Kunstform, Denn sein Zweck sollte darin bestehen, ein Bild im Gedächtnis der Leser zu erzeugen. Man kann eine Geschichte nicht allein über Aktion und Dialog erzählen, und man kann in einem Gedicht keine tiefe Bedeutung und Emotion vermitteln, ohne mit seinen Worten ein Bild zu malen.
Eine wirksame Möglichkeit, sich in der Beschreibung hervorzuheben, besteht darin, nach Möglichkeit Adjektive und Adverbien hinzuzufügen. Zum Beispiel, Wenn Ihr Kind eine Geschichte schreibt, könnte es so etwas schreiben:
„Harry ging nach draußen und fing an, nach seinen Freunden zu suchen.“
Während dieser Satz eine grundlegende Bedeutung vermittelt, Die Wirkung auf den Leser ist ebenfalls grundlegend. Durch das Hinzufügen beschreibender Sprache in Form von Adjektiven und Adverbien, Wir können dem Satz schnell und effektiv Bilder hinzufügen:
„Harry sauste durch die Vordertür hinaus, schlug es hinter sich zu. Sein Herz raste, als er durch die Nachbarschaft rannte und eifrig nach seinen Freunden suchte.“
Im überarbeiteten Satz, Wir sehen Beschreibungen, die uns nicht nur die stattfindende Aktion verraten, sondern hilft uns auch, die Emotionen der Figur zu spüren, ein wichtiger Aspekt des Geschichtenerzählens.
Eine weitere großartige Möglichkeit, einer Geschichte oder einem Gedicht mehr Wirkung zu verleihen, besteht darin, eine bildliche Sprache hinzuzufügen, wie Gleichnisse. Gleichnisse sind Vergleiche, die „like“ oder „as“ verwenden und dem Leser helfen können, sich das Geschehen klarer vorzustellen.
Zum Beispiel, Ihr Kind könnte so etwas schreiben wie:
Ich war so glücklich!
Es war so süß!
Er hatte solche Angst!
Wir können Gleichnisse hinzufügen, um ein noch besseres Ergebnis zu erzielen:
Ich war so glücklich wie ein Kätzchen in einem Garnladen.
Es war so süß wie ein Pandababy, das im Schnee spielt.
Er hatte die gleiche Angst wie ein Kaninchen, das gerade einen Wolf heulen hörte.
Unser letzter Tipp für beschreibendes Schreiben ist, einen Wortschatz zu wählen, der so präzise ist, dass er genau das vermittelt, was der Autor dem Leser vermitteln möchte. Oft, Die Schüler schreiben Beschreibungen, die etwas vage sind, mit Sätzen wie:
Er war sehr müde.
Der Film war sehr langweilig.
Es war ihnen sehr kalt.
Das Zimmer war sehr heiß.
Wieder, Diese Sätze vermitteln eine einfache Bedeutung, aber in beschreibender Schrift, das ist einfach nicht genug. Eine wirkungsvolle Beschreibung verwendet Vokabular, das eine Wirkung hat, Und das können wir erreichen, indem wir nur die besten Worte auswählen, um die genaueste Bedeutung zu vermitteln.
Sehen Sie, wie wir die obigen Sätze von gewöhnlich zu außergewöhnlich machen können, indem wir einen Teil des Satzes durch aussagekräftiges Vokabular ersetzen:
Er war erschöpft.
Der Film war einfallslos.
Sie waren bis auf die Knochen durchgekühlt.
Der Raum brannte.
Die gute Nachricht ist, dass Ihr Kind sich nicht auf seinen aktuellen Wortschatz verlassen muss, um Sätze wie die oben genannten erfolgreich zu bilden. Der Thesaurus enthält alle Wörter, die Sie benötigen, um einprägsame Beschreibungen zu erstellen.
Wir hoffen, dass diese Tipps hilfreich waren! Wenn Sie möchten, dass Ihr Kind mit einem unserer leidenschaftlichen Pädagogen lernt, wie es diese Fähigkeiten in die Praxis umsetzen kann, Seien Sie gespannt auf die kommenden Ankündigungen zu unseren neuen Sommer- und Herbstkursen!
Nächste Woche, Wir werfen einen Blick auf überzeugende Schreibtipps!
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I grew up in five different countries (Sweden, England, Germany, South Africa, and Canada). Integration into a diverse spectrum of cultures growing up has made me see the world with an open mind. I currently reside in Canada and work as both a university lecturer and a Math teacher at Reach Out. Outside of work I really enjoy sports such as badminton and chess, which I played at a competitive level for many years.
What is your educational background and qualifications?
I received a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of British Columbia (UBC) and an obtained my MSc at the same university. My graduate work involved experimental geoscience where I designed an apparatus to investigate how diamonds reach the surface of the Earth through high velocity magmas. I published articles in two high impact journals and presented the work across Canada and Europe.
During my graduate studies I had the privilege of lecturing a few classes which transitioned into a lectureship position. Teaching at the university level involves lecturing a class of over 200 students, which is very different to the work I do at Reach Out, but has helped me develop a dynamic teaching style.
Additionally, I have been teaching Math and Science both privately and through educational organizations for over 6 years.
Why did you join Reach Out?
I joined Reach Out because the prospect of being able to deliver high quality education from around the globe without border restrictions resonates with me.
I feel that the reason I am committed to staying at Reach Out is more important. The personalized classes being delivered has allowed me to connect with the students, making their progression much more meaningful to me. Some students have been together with me through multiple grade levels and I feel immensely proud to have played a role in their education.
What is your educational philosophy?
Having a background in experimental science has allowed me to see value in making breakthroughs through experimentation. By allowing students to experiment with different methodologies while offering guidance is an extremely effective way of teaching students to not be afraid of failure. Richard Fuller correctly said, “There is no such thing as a failed experiment, only experiments with unexpected outcomes.” Students often start my classes afraid to answer questions, discuss with their classmates, or write on the board since they don’t know the answers. Since I am always more focused on solutions rather than answers, students’ are rewarded for trying new techniques, discussing failed methods, and asking questions about their classmates’ work. I found this to produce a phenomenal learning environment and takes a lot of pressure off the students.
What is your favorite thing about teaching Math?
My favorite thing about teaching Math is the exciting challenges it provides. After teaching Math for many years, I have come to realize that students see the world from a unique perspective, which more often than not, is very different from my own. This diversity produces a wide spectrum of learning styles and requires me to stay very flexible with the methodologies I use in my teaching.
Math is a complex subject which has provided us with a universal language to better understand the universe that surrounds us. Having a good problem solving ability is a byproduct of learning Math and crucial for success in the modern world. For these reasons I have the responsibility to transform a traditionally dry and boring subject into something exciting by creating compelling lessons and using creativity to inspire my students. This will always be something I love about my job.
Who is your favorite mathematician and why?
This is a tough question, and it’s hard to pinpoint one Mathematician since I utilize the works of so many Mathematicians in just one lesson. If I had to pick it would be either Johannes Kepler or Nicolaus Copernicus since I also love astronomy. Their Math not only challenged everything that was believed about our solar system at the time, but also formed the foundations for understanding planetary motion. Space travel has relied heavily on these concepts.
If you could only give parents one piece of advice when it comes to helping their child improve in Math, what would it be?
One thing I have worked on a lot with my students, is getting them to explain their solutions to me regardless of how easy it may seem. Being able to arrive at the correct answer in certain school curriculums may not require a complete understanding, but being able to explain a solution well does require a good understanding. Make sure that your child is always showing very clear steps in their work and that they can explain their steps to you. This certifies understanding and shows they are prepared for questions which test the same concept but may be worded differently.
What is one fun fact about yourself?
I really like learning languages! After growing up in many different countries I can speak English, Swedish, and German fluently. For the past two years I have been working to add Chinese to my collection and have enjoyed the unique challenges that learning this complex language has provided me with.
The Secret Garden is a piece of classic literature that has been part of an untold number of childhoods (if you missed our article on why children should read classic novels, see it linked below!). It is a powerful tale of friendship and discovering oneself that resonates with our souls.
The Secret Garden is about a young girl named Mary Lennox who loses her family and everything familiar with her due to a cholera outbreak in India, where her father was working as a British Army Captain. As a child, Mary was quite neglected, but indulged by family’s servants, so she was a spoiled child with a terrible disposition. She had very few traits that would help her cope with a new life in England, where she was sent to live with a grouchy distant relative, Mr. Craven.
Mr. Craven had very strict rules for Mary to follow at her new home at Misselthwaite Manor in Yorkshire, which included her being forbidden to enter various rooms inside the giant mansion, as well as forbidden to enter one of the gardens on the sprawling property, which belonged to his beloved late wife. As Mary begins to explore her new home, she begins to find a sense of happiness and regains her health after being sickly for much of her childhood. After a robin helps her find the key to the secret garden, she finds a sense of purpose in restoring the garden, much as she restores her inner self. Through the thorns and dried leaves of winter, she finds much more lies within.
Aided by new friend Dickon, Mary develops her first friendships, and uses her newfound strength and kindness to help her bedridden cousin Colin, whom she finds tucked away in the manor. Friendship strengthens both Mary and Colin, and in the end, everyone witnesses a miracle only made possible by these close bonds and belief in oneself, two very important themes in the novel.
Young people will love reading this fantastic story of friendship, overcoming obstacles, and experiencing the healing power of nature. The characters and the lessons they teach us will surely touch your child and help them experience the power of a great story.
If you would like an opportunity for your child to experience this story with others, we are happy to let you know that we will be reading The Secret Garden as the first novel in our Young Classics Level 2 Course this summer.
In the course, we not only read the novel, but we also learn and apply new vocabulary from the book, discuss important literary techniques used by the writer, and practice writing summaries, a key skill that many students find challenging
If you are interesting in learning more about Young Classics, or and of our other excellent and engaging courses, contact one of our Education Consultants today! We hope to work with your child very soon!
Literature study is an important aspect of any excellent academic program, and that is because it helps to teach students a wide range of knowledge and skills that are essential for success in many areas of life. While studying literature, students learn about important events and people throughout history, they consider cultural perspective and increase their own understanding of acceptance of different ideas and beliefs, and they learn how to analyse the words of others in order to form a deep understanding of new ideas and ways of communicating. In short, it exposes students to a toolbox of ideas, techniques, strategies, theories, and more that they will carry with them throughout their life, shaping the way they approach the world.
Why do we offer this course?
Reach Out students typically pursue high school programs such as IGCSE, which includes challenging courses such as English Language and Literature and English as a First Language. Later, most of those students will take on the challenge of IB and AP level programs, in which they must take on the task of reading a variety of literature. Our aim is to expose students in upper primary and middle school to a wide range of advanced literature so that by the time they reach high school they possess the knowledge and skills to hit the ground running, and therefore achieve to a higher level.
This course is designed for Grade 7-9 students.
The Objectives of our Advanced Literature Course are to:
✪ Enhance students’ ability to understand and discern literary techniques used English and American literature, and the ability to communicate the effects of those techniques;
✪Improve children's literary comprehension skills and increase their understanding of British and American culture;
✪ Under the guidance of our expert educators, learn the power of language and storytelling in a challenging yet engaging way.
Meet Our Teachers
*Insert teacher bios here for Barry, Anthony, and John*
Our Book Selections:
Cry the Beloved Country by Alan Paton
Set in South Africa in the 1940s, award-winning Cry the Beloved Country tells the story of a Zulu Pastor, Steven Kumalo, who travels from his village to the city of Johannesburg. Along his arduous and heart-wrenching journey, he discovers that his sister and son have found themselves in terrible situations that he must now face with them. The characters’ vastly different lives become unexpectedly woven together through tragedy during a dark time in South Africa’s history. Jedoch, through tragedy and challenges, the true nature of the human spirit can be found and uplift those who need it most.
Dracula by Bram Stoker
The legend of Dracula has loomed large in the minds of readers and movie-goers for generations. Bram Stoker based the infamous character of Dracula on the legend of the real life ruler of Wallachia, Vlad the Impaler. Stoker was able to take this dark corner of history and turn it into a legendary novel told through journal entries, letters and telegrams. As with any classic, Dracula has stood the test of time because it speaks to something very deep and meaningful within the human psyche.
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
The Great Depression was a defining moment in American history that tested its strength as a nation, and placed the population in a precarious balance between life and death. In what is considered one of the greatest American classics, readers are introduced to two displaced migrant workers, George and Lennie. George is an intelligent young man, while Lennie is mentally disabled. George takes Lennie under his wing as they seek employment where few opportunities exist, trying to survive, yet still dreaming of the day they will have their own land and build a life. Their hopes are dashed when a devastating incident occurs that alters their lives forever.
What Students Will Gain
Develop an early sense of literary appreciation,
See the world from a more mature perspective
British and American classics contain thought-provoking moral and social issues. Reading the most influential classic literature thoroughly helps students become better readers, and begin the process of pursuing self-realization.
Improve understanding of culture and history
Learning allusions from classic British and American literature can help us bridge cultural differences. "The classics have opened the door to different worlds, different cultures, and different historical perspectives. Literature crosses race, culture, religion, and geography."
Self-reflection and personal growth
Many classic literature allude to our lives from the side: books that reflect similarities to our own lives are called "mirrors"; and those that give us a glimpse of different lives are called "windows." Whether it is a "mirror" or a "window", it further enriches the students' life experience and increases the courage and strength to face life.
Join Us!
Contact us to discover more about our course. We sincerely hope to meet your child soon, and develop a love of reading classic literature together.
It’s back to school time and we know parents are getting ready for a new year with new beginnings. The start of a new year is usually met with a mix of excitement and a bit of anxiety, as students and parents look forward to new skills and experiences, but also might feel nervous about new routines and expectations.
Don’t worry, Reach Out it here to help! This year, we have 5 top tips to a fantastic start to the school year.
Understanding how your child’s school approaches education, what curriculum they use, what systems, and standards are used can be overwhelming for non-educators. Spending a bit of time each day reading your school’s website content, handbooks, and other resources can help you feel more confident in understanding what your child is learning at school and how they are learning. It’s also important to attend your child’s back-to-school night and informational sessions to get a better understanding of your child’s program as a whole. It also provides a great opportunity for you to establish a relationship with your child’s teacher. At any time if you still have questions, you can always e-mail your child’s teacher. They are there for you and your child, as they know that a great relationship with parents is a fantastic way to ensure academic, social, and emotional success for all students.
2. Make Sure to Catch Enough Zzzzs Before the ABCs
Sleep is so important for a child’s growth and development, and a lack of it can negatively impact a child’s academic achievement. In fact, research shows that sleep depravation in children can lead to higher rates of anxiety and depression. When we sleep, our brain processes the information from he day, finds the best system to file it away in out memories, and re-charges our systems for a new day. For various reasons, parents often find sticking to an early bedtime difficult, but with a clear routine, and time for adjustment, it can be easy! Children 3-6 years old should be getting 10-12 hours of sleep per day, 7-12 year olds should get 10-11 hours per day, and 12-18 year olds should get 8-9 hours per day. Creating a schedule where children get to bed earlier will make mornings easier as well, hopefully with less stress for both parents and children as they will be well rested and ready to start their day!
3. Ask the Right Questions at the Right Time
Sometimes parents are anxious to know how their child’s day was as soon as they get home from school, especially during the first few weeks. Those weeks are especially exhausting and full of ups and downs as your child learns to navigate new material, new friends, new teachers, and new expectations. Giving them time to come home and decompress is extremely important for their emotional and mental well-being. Once they have had some “me” time, parents can ask specific questions based on what they know they are working on, if they happen to know. They can go through their child’s homework diary with them and help them make a plan on how to tackle each task, as well as share in their enthusiasm for specific subjects, books, or information they also enjoy. Avoid asking, “How was school? What did you learn?” as kids respond much better to more specific questions, such as, “What did you do with your friends at lunch? What was the best part of your day? What was the weirdest or most wonderful thing that happened at school today?” Most importantly, parents should be fully present and listen intently when students answer, so they really feel valued and hear when they share.
4. Let Them Learn From Failure
This one can be extremely hard for parents to allow. We want our children to do well and reach their full potential, which means we might go over each assignment with a fine-toothed comb, correcting every mis-calculation or grammar mistake. Although parents have good intentions when we do this, we are taking away important learning opportunities from children when we do so. Back when we were students, many of our parents were often too busy or didn’t have the knowledge or capacity to help us with our school work, but we found a way to push through and try our best. If children are never given opportunities to fail when they are young, they might resist taking on challenges later in life for fear of failing at them. Jedoch, when we let them fail gently, such as on an assignment or at a little league soccer game, we are teaching them resilience. It’s not the end of the world, and they learn a valuable lesson; that we can try and not succeed, dust ourselves off, and try again next time.
5. Nurture Their Passions
New school years are an exciting time for many reasons, one of them being that they provide children a chance to discover new passions. If they are lucky, they will stumble upon something they truly love, and that they can become fascinated with enough to spend hours on end discovering. Helping a child find his or her passion is not always easy and takes time. Sometimes parents worry if their child focuses too much on a couple of things, and feel they need to expose them to as much as possible to help shape them into well-rounded individuals. Jedoch, if we look at the people who have shaped our world, it was because they had a laser focus on what they were passionate about. It was all they ever did or do. As humans, we naturally gravitate towards what we love most, and as long as it provides some sort of value on top of fulfillment, we should continue pursuing it. So, don’t worry if your child protests going to one activity while running out the door to attend another. Maybe the one they love is the most valuable to their growth and development, and the one they don’t like isn’t that necessary after all.
We hope these tips have helped, and we wish you and your child the best in the coming school year! We are excited for the new school year and all of the challenges and hope it will bring.
Reach Out will be with you every step of the way, so be on the lookout for more information and more articles we hope you will love!
