En alcance, Creemos que es muy importante celebrar los éxitos de los estudiantes.. Nos complace anunciar otro estudiante estrella. - emma!
Emma representa todo lo que los estudiantes pueden lograr con trabajo duro y compromiso con la excelencia.. Los profesores de Emma la reconocen como una alumna que tiene una actitud maravillosa hacia el aprendizaje., es muy receptivo a la instrucción, y tiene una familia que la apoya mucho y que a menudo se comunica con sus maestros.. En la clase, Emma es una oyente cuidadosa y atenta que tiene la confianza suficiente para compartir sus ideas., pero lo suficientemente paciente como para darles a todos su turno. A ella no le importa correr riesgos, y es capaz de inyectar su personalidad en su trabajo..
Emma está actualmente inscrita en nuestro nivel de lectura y escritura creativa. 4 Curso, y ha demostrado un verdadero don al poder crear imágenes potentes en sus escritos.. Al comienzo del semestre, completó una revisión de la sucursal de Blue Frog en Shanghai Disneyland.
Emma mostró su capacidad para criticar aspectos específicos de un lugar., y desarrollar sus ideas utilizando los detalles apropiados..
«La vista y la ubicación son muy satisfactorias.. Por la noche podemos sentarnos afuera y disfrutar de la vista del Castillo de Disney y los fuegos artificiales”.
A medida que avanzaba el semestre, Emma mostró un desarrollo en sus habilidades de escritura., y comenzó a incorporar técnicas literarias más avanzadas. En un trabajo sobre la descripción de paisajes., Emma pudo crear una imagen sólida utilizando vocabulario preciso y lenguaje figurado..
“El musgo peludo salpicó las rocas saladas a medida que se extendían, como mermelada en pan. Se formaron ondas turbias cuando la fuente cayó al estanque de abajo”.
Emma continuó aplicando las lecciones que aprendió a lo largo del curso., y su habilidad como escritora se fortaleció. En una tarea reciente sobre cómo escribir una narrativa fantástica, Emma construyó el escenario y el personaje de su historia de manera deliberada y efectiva..
“Un sol resplandeciente brillaba desde la ventana hasta el suave, sábana sedosa. Flores dulces de colores cálidos florecieron junto a la ventana abierta. Dibujos oscuros pero diligentes colgaban de la refrescante pared verde alga”.
Como se puede ver, Emma muestra características de una joven escritora prometedora. Su determinación de mejorar, y la aplicación cuidadosa de las lecciones impartidas han ayudado a elevar su escritura a un nivel más avanzado..
gracias emma, por ser una ESTRELLA! Esperamos ver su crecimiento durante mucho tiempo.. Sabemos que esto es sólo el comienzo de un viaje brillante..
Como educadores, A menudo nos han hecho la pregunta, “¿Cómo puedo conseguir que mi hijo deje de leer cómics??”A los padres les preocupa que los cómics no aporten valor educativo, no son lo suficientemente rigurosos académicamente, o lo peor de todo, una pérdida de tiempo para sus hijos. a esto, nuestra respuesta suele sorprenderles, y esa respuesta es, “Que lean cómics!"
Es comprensible que los padres estén un poco preocupados ya que la percepción es que los cómics son puramente para leer por placer., sin embargo, Los cómics tienen muchos beneficios más allá de ayudarnos a pasar el tiempo..
Los cómics y las novelas gráficas no son nuevas formas de escritura.. Por supuesto, Han sido disfrutados por muchos durante generaciones.. A lo largo de los años, El género se ha convertido en uno con considerable profundidad y significado., Es por eso que animamos a los padres a no sólo permitir que sus hijos lean cómics., pero también para apoyarlos a hacerlo.
Estas son nuestras principales razones por las que se deben leer los cómics (especialmente en el verano!):
Para estudiantes que no son hablantes nativos de inglés, Los cómics les brindan una excelente manera de comenzar a disfrutar de la literatura inglesa.. Para muchos niños, La tarea de pasar de un libro de texto en inglés a una novela puede ser muy desalentadora., pero los cómics pueden proporcionar un puente necesario para que desarrollen confianza y fluidez en la lectura.. Las señales visuales en las imágenes permiten a los estudiantes crear una comprensión más profunda de la trama y los personajes, así como vocabulario nuevo.. Además, les presenta recursos literarios eficaces, como la onomatopeya (pensar prisionero de guerra! GOLPE! ZOOM!) y modismos (una ilustración que muestra el significado de un modismo como, “El gato te comió la lengua?"Tiene mucho más sentido que calentar el idioma por sí solo.!).
2.Mejora de la inferencia
La inferencia es una habilidad de lectura clave con la que muchos estudiantes tienen dificultades en las evaluaciones de lectura estandarizadas.. La inferencia ocurre cuando sacamos conclusiones basadas en lo que leemos.. Algunos ejemplos de preguntas que los estudiantes encontrarán durante las tareas o evaluaciones de comprensión lectora son aquellas como, “¿Cómo se sintió el personaje cuando?", “¿Qué puedes concluir sobre…” y “¿Cuál fue la lección de la historia?”?Los cómics requieren que los estudiantes “lean entre líneas” para inferir información que suele contar el narrador en una novela., para que puedan adquirir mucha experiencia valiosa en el fortalecimiento de esta habilidad leyendo cómics..
3.Poder de la palabra!
A menudo en cómics y novelas gráficas., Los escritores incluyen vocabulario bastante avanzado., tanto como parte de la trama como en los nombres de los personajes. En 2016 en la mundialmente famosa Comic-Con de San Diego, California, un panelista de educadores discutió el poder de los cómics para desarrollar el vocabulario de los estudiantes. James Bucky Carter, autor de Construyendo conexiones de alfabetización con novelas gráficas dijo, “Tienes Coloso, y él es así de grande, chico de metal gigante. Tienes una muy buena idea de lo que significa la palabra coloso y esa es una buena palabra de 10 centavos.. El poder de Banshee está gritando. Tienes estos personajes que encarnan las palabras del vocabulario que son.. Es una forma divertida de aprender nuevas palabras., además de las pistas contextuales”.
Después de leer esto, quizás quieras dejar que tu hijo se sumerja en la lectura de cómics o novelas gráficas.! Eso es música para nuestros oídos.. Si no estás seguro de por dónde empezar, Tenemos algunos favoritos de los estudiantes que a su hijo le gustaría probar.!
El hombre perro de Dave Pilkey
Miles Morales Spider-Man de Jason Reynolds
Sonrisas, hermanas, fantasmas, Drama y otras historias de Raina Telgemeier
Hueso de Jeff Smith
Buscando más oportunidades de lectura de verano para su hijo? Comuníquese con uno de nuestros consultores educativos para obtener más información sobre nuestros cursos de lectura de verano.. Esperamos leer con su hijo.!
La temporada de exámenes está aquí, y puede ser una época del año muy estresante tanto para los estudiantes como para los padres. En Reach Out queremos hacer todo lo posible para ayudar a aliviar la ansiedad ante los exámenes ofreciendo algunos consejos de estudio únicos que quizás no hayas probado..
Conventional wisdom of studying has often been followed by many parents and teachers who mean well, sin embargo, if we look at some interesting research-based approaches we can see that there are a variety of effective ways to study! It’s always good to try new things, especially for children. They can experience new ways of doing things when they are young, and when they are a bit older, they can choose the way best suited to their own personal needs and style.
Ahora, let’s take a look at three unique ways to study.
Variety is the Spice of Life-Even When Studying
For many, many years we've been told that in order to study well, we should study in the same place every day; a place that is quiet, well lit, and has all our materials. While this might be true for some of the time we are studying, research shows us that our brains actually do better when we vary the location in which we are studying. Quite surprising, right?
In a study done all the way back in 1978, college students were given 40 vocabulary words to study. One group was told to study the list twice in the same location. The other group was told to study the list in two different locations. What they found was, the group that varied their studying locations actually performed better on remembering the words later. Now why is that? Bien, our brain often makes connections to information based on our environment, so the more we vary our environment, the more we are giving our brains a chance to retain information as it will attach to more things. This may also be why one visualization technique, where one visualizes things they wish to remember to certain places in an environment they are familiar with, can be so effective as well. For students, simply switching up the environment might do the trick!
Have Fun!
Some parents might mistakenly think that if their child is laughing or getting excited while learning or studying, they might be wasting their time. However, this is not necessarily the case.
As a parent, in your work or office you might have special workshops from time to time. The workshops are usually used as a tool to help you learn about a new strategy, idea, or information that will help you learn more at work. These sessions are often run by people who specialize in creating motivating and inspiring workshops that invigorate and energize employees. The days can be long and intense, but if they are done right, employees can walk away confident in their new knowledge and skills.
The same rings true for young people. Introducing game play and fun as a way to study for exams not only makes your child smile, but research indicates that having fun while learning activates certain cognitive resources, associates rewards and pleasure with learning, strengthens and broadens memory networks, and toggles abstract thinking and focused attention.
The Pomodoro Technique
Staying focused, on-task and motivated to complete certain activities can be difficult for both adults and children alike. Have you ever felt like you have been staring at a computer screen for hours, but accomplished very little? Or maybe you have a deadline in a few days, but are only inching towards the finish line? It’s no wonder, as research shows that our mind tends to wander up to 20% of the time, perhaps even more for younger people.
One interesting technique was created by college student Francesco Cirillo as a way to help him stay focused, and that is the Pomodoro Technique, which got its name from the tomato shaped timer Cirillo used while testing this strategy on himself. How it works is you set a timer for 25 minutes, which is work time. Then set it again for 5 minutes, which is break time. This is a great time to get up, stretch, take a lap around the house, pet your cat, or get a drink of water or a snack. After break time is up, set the timer for another 25 minutes and repeat!
It turns out that this strategy is backed up by scientific evidence, as researchers concluded that short breaks help keep your attention span on track. This might be related to the fact that cognitive boredom can lead to an unengaged mind, which is the last thing you want when studying for an important exam.
We hope you have enjoyed exploring these unique study tips as much as we have! Wishing your child the best of luck on exams this month. 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, sin embargo, 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
Como padres, 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 Cómo hablar para que los niños escuchen y escuchar para que los niños hablen.
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. However, 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. Entonces, 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 y 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 y 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.
For students, 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. However, 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.
Entonces, 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, y más. 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, y PA, 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, y PA.
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!
Nuestra misión
La misión de Reach Out es conectar a los estudiantes con educadores expertos que crean y entregan contenido original., inspirador, planes de estudios de clase mundial. Nos hemos embarcado en este viaje para ayudar a los estudiantes a comprender cómo encontrar su propia voz única y descubrir las ideas creativas y valiosas que se encuentran dentro de cada uno de ellos.. con sus voces, ellos tienen el poder de cambiar el mundo, y deseamos empoderarlos para que lo hagan.
Nuestra visión
Reach Out se esfuerza por ser una institución educativa reconocida internacionalmente que permite a los estudiantes acceder a currículos y educadores internacionales de primer nivel., no importa en qué parte del mundo se encuentren. Nuestros alumnos serán perceptivos, curioso, y pensadores críticos que toman decisiones informadas como excelentes solucionadores de problemas y comunicadores. Los estudiantes de Reach Out alcanzarán sus metas y sueños académicos y personales desde la escuela primaria hasta la universidad., poniendo sus brillantes futuros a su alcance.
Nuestros valores fundamentales
Estos son los principios que dan forma a Reach Out:
Our Story
Reach Out was created by a small group of dedicated mothers, tal vez como tú. Los unió una visión común de las necesidades educativas de sus hijos.. Algunos buscaban un programa educativo que pudiera ofrecer a sus hijos acceso a las ideas, enseñanza de la filosofía, y metodología que coincidía con lo que habían experimentado mientras vivían en el extranjero. 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, autorreflexión, y expresión personal - las características de un plan de estudios internacional sólido. Después de pasar un tiempo considerable explorando varias opciones, Estas mamás no pudieron encontrar nada que satisficiera las necesidades de sus hijos..
Entonces, hicieron lo que haría cualquier buena madre, dada la oportunidad, and found their own way to offer their children the best possible learning opportunities designed to help them thrive. Consultaron a maestros expertos y trabajaron con otros padres para descubrir cómo podrían satisfacer mejor las necesidades de otros niños con objetivos similares.. 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.
Lo que nos hace únicos?
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.
Nuestro equipo está formado por educadores altamente capacitados y experimentados que han creado un programa único y riguroso basado en los estándares escolares internacionales., que prepara a los estudiantes más jóvenes para asumir currículos rigurosos como IGCSE, IB, y PA.
-Our one to one programs and curriculums designed to exceed the educational needs of our students
-Nuestra filosofía de enseñanza de inspirar y capacitar a los estudiantes, y metodología de enseñanza para permitir a los estudiantes explorar el conocimiento de manera amplia y profunda mientras al mismo tiempo desarrollan un amor por el aprendizaje
-Nuestro compromiso con el éxito a largo plazo de nuestros estudiantes mientras nos esforzamos por equiparlos con las habilidades esenciales que necesitarán para tener éxito en sus futuras carreras y en el mundo más allá de la escuela.
- Los comentarios detallados que proporcionamos con todas las evaluaciones de nuestros estudiantes, para que los estudiantes sepan dónde están teniendo éxito y dónde podrían mejorar, así como los materiales complementarios y la instrucción necesaria para ayudar a nuestros estudiantes a cerrar cualquier brecha en la comprensión.
-Nuestra dedicación a desarrollar el pensamiento crítico y las habilidades de resolución de problemas de nuestros estudiantes., que será fundamental para su futuro, así como el futuro de nuestra sociedad global
-Our promise to hire all of our teaching and non-teaching staff based on their mutual passion for education
-Nuestra capacidad para capacitar a los estudiantes para usar el idioma., conocimiento, y habilidades que adquieren para desarrollarse más allá del salón de clases y en curiosos, aprendices de por vida que establecen y persiguen desafíos, cumpliendo, y metas que valen la pena.
-nuestra práctica, enfoque individualizado para crear un camino de aprendizaje para nuestros estudiantes, de modo que no importa en qué nivel de grado se encuentren cuando se unan a nosotros, estarán equipados con las herramientas necesarias para mejorar y crecer rápidamente
-Nuestro compromiso de empoderar a nuestros clientes con información y experiencias que los ayudarán a tomar las mejores decisiones para la educación de sus hijos al ofrecer artículos informativos., videos y talleres.
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. Entonces, 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!
Ser padre es difícil. De hecho, con los cambios en nuestro mundo hoy, Podría ser simplemente uno de los momentos desafiantes que hemos tenido que enfrentar en décadas.. El cambio genera incertidumbre, y la incertidumbre puede provocar estrés. Sin duda el estrés afecta a todos los ámbitos de nuestra vida., A veces afectará más nuestra relación con nuestros seres queridos.; especialmente nuestros hijos.
Nuestros hijos pueden ser complicados (seamos realistas, nosotros también podemos!), y es una tarea desalentadora garantizar que cada movimiento sea el “correcto”. que todas nuestras conversaciones, demandas, solicitudes, planes, los elogios y las críticas significan algo. Cada momento que pasamos hablando con nuestros hijos, Mantenemos la esperanza de que estas palabras sean suficientes para llenar a nuestros hijos con la esperanza de un gran futuro en un momento en el que el futuro es tan incierto.. Los tiempos cambian, y esto también pasará, pero una cosa que podemos garantizar es que nunca tendremos una segunda oportunidad de pasar una infancia con nuestros hijos..
Como padres, A menudo nos preguntamos si en realidad estamos haciendo lo correcto., preguntándonos cómo podemos comunicarnos con nuestros hijos, tratando de comprender mejor a nuestros hijos, y a veces sentirnos culpables porque nos decimos a nosotros mismos que lo estamos haciendo mal. A menudo, ese no es el caso, pero no existe un manual de instrucciones sobre cómo criar a un niño que funcione para todos en todas las situaciones.. Seguro, hay muchos consejos, una cantidad abrumadora, pero de nuevo, la mayoría de los consejos son solo eso; Orientación y recomendaciones de personas que no lo conocen a usted ni a su hijo.. Algo de esto es útil, y algo de eso... no tanto.
Una cosa que no podemos negar es la importancia de una relación sana entre padres e hijos..
La investigación muestra que:
Es esencial dedicar tiempo a fomentar una relación con su hijo., y quizás aún más imperativo, asegurarnos de que las interacciones que tenemos con nuestros hijos durante ese tiempo sean positivas. Esto es algo que muchos padres encuentran desafiante., Es por eso que creamos un club de lectura para padres sobre el libro. Cómo hablar para que los niños escuchen y escuchar para que los niños hablen por Adele Faber y Elaine Mazlish. Juntos aprendimos formas de comunicarnos positivamente con nuestros hijos para fortalecer nuestros vínculos.. Pasamos tiempo discutiendo ideas del libro., además de tener una reunión virtual para representar algunas de las estrategias del libro.. encima de eso, invitamos al Consejero de Orientación de la Escuela Secundaria, Regina Wehner, Brindar a los padres un taller para comprender el desarrollo cognitivo y emocional de nuestros hijos..
Aquí hay algunos aspectos destacados que nos gustaría compartir con usted.!
Primero, de Cómo hablar para que los niños escuchen y escuchar para que los niños hablen, aquí están dos de nuestras estrategias favoritas:
Los niños tienen dificultades para regular sus emociones., ya que el centro de regulación emocional del cerebro es uno de los últimos en desarrollarse. Esto significa que necesitan nuestra ayuda en forma de compasión y ejemplo.. Esto puede ser tan desafiante, especialmente cuando a veces podemos tener dificultades para manejar nuestras propias emociones! Tenemos una estrategia fácil para ti que solo requerirá dos cosas:
Cuando tu hijo llega a casa molesto por algo que pasó en el colegio, en lugar de sermonear y ofrecer nuestros sabios consejos, simplemente podemos escuchar sus inquietudes y repetirles las ideas.. Por ejemplo, si su hijo llega a casa molesto y dice algo como, "Puaj, Hoy Elizabeth y Sarah fueron tan malas conmigo.! Me ignoraron por completo y ahora los odio a ambos.!"En lugar de decir, “Elizabeth y Sarah son tus mejores amigas.. No es gran cosa y estoy seguro de que mañana estarás bien.,”lo que podría invalidar los sentimientos de su hijo, puedes decir, "Oh, Veo. Elizabeth y Sarah te hicieron sentir un poco excluido.. Probablemente eso te hizo sentir un poco triste y enojado”. En este punto, es posible que su hijo siga hablando y se abra a usted., lo cual es genial! Significa que confían en ti y los estás haciendo sentir mejor.. continuar escuchando, asentir, decir, “Mmmmm,” y repetir lo que dicen. El hecho de que usted simplemente escuche probablemente hará que su hijo se sienta 100% mejor y listo para enfrentar su próximo desafío!
2. Deseo!
Nuestros hijos a menudo expresan sus deseos deseando tener cosas que no tienen o deseando que las cosas fueran diferentes a como son.. Por ejemplo, los niños pueden decir, "Ojalá no tuviera que hacer toda esa tarea". podemos responder, "Bien, lo haces y eso es todo!” o “Es lo que tienes que hacer. Es tu responsabilidad, así que debes hacerlo ahora.!"
Esto puede convertirse en una batalla de voluntades ya que los padres se sienten frustrados por seguir escuchando la misma queja y repitiendo el mismo razonamiento.. Los niños se sienten frustrados porque sus opiniones están siendo invalidadas y se sienten incomprendidos.. Bien, no te preocupes, estamos aquí para ayudar! Tenemos un pequeño truco que te ayudará a darle un giro a la conversación., y eso es para aceptar con tu hijo. Puede parecer contradictorio, pero tenemos experiencia de primera mano con este truco y funciona de maravilla!
Por ejemplo, si tu hijo dice, “Ojalá pudiéramos ir al parque hoy como quería!"
en lugar de decir, "No puedo, estoy demasiado ocupado,” o “Sí, pero no podemos, Está lloviendo,"Podemos decir, “Ojalá nosotros también pudiéramos! Podríamos ir al parque y hacer un picnic.! Podríamos volar una cometa y soplar burbujas.! ¿Por qué no hacemos un picnic en la sala de estar y luego hacemos burbujas en el baño?!"
La primera parte entusiasma a los niños y hace volar su imaginación., llevándolos a un lugar feliz. La siguiente parte los hace sentir escuchados y conectados contigo..
Ahora, algunos aspectos destacados de la Sra.. El taller de wehner:
*Por favor ayúdame a elegir estos! :)*
Si desea unirse a uno de nuestros talleres o clubes de lectura en el futuro, Asegúrate de seguirnos y estar atento.! Tenemos grandes cosas por venir este otoño.!
Many parents ask us what the fastest way their child can improve their writing. While we firmly believe there are no shortcuts to becoming a truly effective and skilled writer, there are some things students can incorporate into their writing to help take it to the next level more efficiently. Like with anything trying to be mastered, the key to success lies in hard work and repetition. Practicing these skills regularly will help your child reach their educational goals.
This article will be the first in a series of articles that will focus on skills suited for different types of writing. This week, we will focus on descriptive writing tips.
Descriptive Writing Tips:
Descriptive writing is a true art form, as its purpose should be to create an image in the minds of the readers. One cannot tell a story on action and dialogue alone, and one cannot convey deep meaning and emotion in a poem without painting a picture with his or her words.
One powerful way to excel in description is to add adjectives and adverbs wherever possible. Por ejemplo, if your child is writing a story he or she might write something like:
“Harry went outside and started looking for his friends.”
While this sentence conveys a basic meaning, it’s effect on the reader is also basic. By adding descriptive language in the form of adjectives and adverbs, we can quickly and effectively add imagery to the sentence:
“Harry zipped out the front door, slamming it shut behind him. His heart raced as he ran around the neighborhood eagerly looking for his friends.”
In the revised sentence, we see descriptions that tell us not only the action that is taking place, but also helping us feel the emotion of the character, an important aspect of storytelling.
Another great way to make a story or poem more effective is by adding figurative language, such as similes. Similes are comparisons that use like or as that can be used to help the reader imagine what is happening more clearly.
Por ejemplo, your child might write something like:
I was so happy!
It was so cute!
He was so scared!
We can add similes to help create an even better result:
I was as happy as a a kitten in a yarn shop.
It was a cute as a baby panda playing in the snow.
He was as scared as a rabbit that just heard a wolf howl.
Our final tip for descriptive writing is to choose vocabulary that is so precise that it communicates exactly what the writer wants the reader to feel. Often, students will write descriptions that are a bit vague, with sentences like:
He was very tired.
The movie was very boring.
They were very cold.
The room very hot.
Again, these sentences convey a simple meaning, but in descriptive writing, that is simply not enough. Effective description uses vocabulary that has an impact, and we can achieve that by choosing only the best words to convey the most exact meaning.
See how we can take the sentences above from ordinary to extraordinary by replacing part of the sentence with powerful vocabulary:
He was exhausted.
The movie was unimaginative.
They were chilled to the bone.
The room was roasting.
The good news is that your child doesn't need to rely on his or her current vocabulary knowledge in order to succeed in creating sentences like those above. The thesaurus has all of the words they need to create memorable descriptions.
We hope these tips have been helpful! If you would like for your child to learn how to put these skills into practice with one of our passionate educators, stay tuned for coming announcements on our new summer and fall courses!
Next week, we’ll have a look at persuasive writing tips!
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 estudiantes, 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 años.
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, Señor. Craven.
Señor. 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 estudiantes.
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. However, 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. De hecho, 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, y 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. However, 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. However, 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. Entonces, 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!
