Blog entry by Louisa Howes
In parallel, the writing curriculum starts from mastering the proper formation of letters, proceeding to simple words, and then onto complete sentences. Options such as Handwriting Without Tears and A Reason For Handwriting can provide ample practice for these initial skills. Beyond this, the writing curriculum must provide a solid foundation in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and vocabulary with resources like Grammar Galaxy and Easy Grammar helping in this area.
As the educational fraternity embraces this online methodology, it not only stands to revolutionize the way students approach reading but also empowers them with a deeper understanding and better grasp of their subjects. The potential of this tool is vast, and its incorporation in the day-to-day teaching methods could shape the future of education for the better.
Moving forward, the student will begin learning about various forms of writing, starting from narrations to persuasive essays, research reports, and creative writing. There are comprehensive programs available like Brave Writer and Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) that take a step-by-step approach to teach these different writing forms.
Observational researchers have long been fascinated by the behavior of children in natural settings. A recent study focused on their interactions in playground or school yards, observing them as they actively interacted, played, and improvised. What emerged was a fascinating correlation between how kids spend their time outside the confines of the classroom and how this develops their time management skills.
"The ease of access and understandability of these online passages has tremendously helped my son in improving his comprehension skills, and I have seen a remarkable improvement in his grades," says Lisa Wellington, mother to a middle school student.
Kids on the Yard also strategically implements a multi-sensory approach to help improve children's writing skills. This innovative method engages all the senses, facilitating diverse learning opportunities. Whether it's listening to the varied sounds around them, touching different textures, smelling distinct odours, or observing vibrant visuals, these experiences aid in the generation of new, exciting ideas that children can later articulate in their writing. This comprehensive sensory approach can profoundly enhance their vocabulary, narrative abilities, and overall linguistic articulation.
Hence, schools and academic institutions need to acquaint their students with these empirical findings. Encouraging and guiding students to develop these habits at an early stage can significantly enhance their academic performance and pave the way for lifelong success in any learning endeavour. After all, effectively developed study habits are the seeds for the growth of a successful learner.
1. Use Time Blocs: Just as children rotate games and activities on the playground, students can divide their study time into sections. Spending focused time on one subject and then switching to another will help avoid burnout and maintain interest.
2. Take Regular Breaks: Mimicking children's play-rest cycles, regular pauses during study sessions will refresh the mind. The Pomodoro Technique, where a five-minute break is taken every 25 minutes of activity, is one such method.
3. Prioritize Tasks: Like allocating turns on a swing, learning to prioritize tasks depending on their importance and urgency aids efficient time management. Tools like the Eisenhower Matrix, which categorizes tasks based on their urgency and importance, can be a helpful guide.
Here is more info on online options For homeschooling look into our own webpage. 4 year old homeschool worksheets. Learn to Negotiate: Playing games with limited resources forces children to negotiate and compromise. Similarly, students often juggle multiple assignments, group projects, and extracurricular activities. Learning to negotiate time and resources with peers will develop skills for collaborative work in the future.
5. Use Resources Wisely: Just like how children maximize playground equipment, students should maximize their resources. This includes making the best use of time, study material, and human resources like teachers and classmates for help.
This observational research shows the importance of playground or yard time for children, not just as a means of burning off energy, but as a key component in developing time management skills. Schools, educators, and parents should recognize these unstructured periods as valuable in teaching kids how to manage their time—lessons they can carry through their academic careers and into adulthood.
Nurturing these skills in children and encouraging students to apply them can help shape more organized, focused, and successful individuals, contributing positively to their personal, academic, and eventually, professional lives.
Setting and adhering to a time schedule was another common strategy observed among students with good study habits. Dividing the workload into manageable chunks, a technique often called the Pomodoro Technique, is a great method adopted by students. It involves studying in blocks of 25 minutes, followed by a five-minute break. This maintains mental and physical freshness and helps in better assimilation and understanding of information.