Reading is not a ‘natural process that happens overnight, and it takes time and effort. We live in a society where reading is seen as an important skill. Whether it is in the workplace or life, it is a responsibility to be taken by parents and teachers together. However, as working parents, we lack time to sift through the various points of view.

Until they start reading at home, most people don’t give phonics any thought. But being a reader begins with developing phonemic awareness and phonics knowledge. Children learn to read when they identify letters and connect them to sounds.

Children who struggle with phonics have a harder time learning to read, which is why phonics awareness in children is important. Students must be guided step-by-step through a set of alphabetical letters and sounds. Students will be able to read more fluently if they use their decoding abilities on challenging words.

And with so much information, there is no clear answer on how to teach your kids to read. If your child isn’t ready yet, do not put unnecessary pressure on them. Implementing all the strategies of reading at once will not help. Give your child enough time to develop a reading habit.

Although reading isn’t easy, the steps taken to develop these skills are simple and easy. Begin with pre-reading abilities. Then, progress to letters, sight words, building words, and other phonics skills. Start from scratch and allow for the child’s natural development. Listed below are some prerequisites needed for reading before the actual skills. They are as follows:

Pre-Reading skills needed:

Pre-reading skills are crucial in preparing kids for the future. A love for books begins at home. As a result, reading aloud to your children is highly recommended. Some of what you read may be difficult for very young children to understand. Slowly but steadily, they will learn how books work, and they will also be able to distinguish print from pictures.

It’s a must to learn the alphabet before they can read, and they must also be able to recognize a large number of words both visually and audibly. As a result, there is an increase in the rate of progress. Keep their attention using rhymes, sounds, and letters. With this kind of help, they can do more with the books they read in terms of interactivity.

Turning the pages of a book is an excellent approach for kids to work on their fine motor skills. With regular reading, kids begin to develop a love for stories, and it improves their imagination. Also, arranging books in different reading levels helps them to up their level in reading.

Teachers can also help students learn common vocabulary and sight words. This will reduce the cognitive strain of decoding sentences. In turn, it helps them to improve their vocabulary and comprehension skills. Hence they can conclude and give attention to detail.

Tips for teaching your child to read at home:

Make reading a positive and enriching experience for your children. Because every child learns at a different rate, remember that an essential thing you can do is make reading fun for them. It’s easy to instill a love of reading in your child early on, and you need to start reading consistently and work on different activities. You can help them by letting them child pick out their books on occasion.

Many parents are unaware of the different benefits taught to a child by simply reading to them. You’re not only teaching them how to decode words, and you are helping them to improve their comprehension and expand their vocabulary. You allow them to be confident and make them hear what a fluent reader sounds like. More than anything else, encouraging your child to read regularly helps them develop a love of reading, which is the best foundation for future reading success. So:

• Start with a phonics awareness
• Incorporate letters and sounds when teaching
• Repeating words to ensure that they get familiar 
• Building words to expand vocabulary
• Exposure to books and choice of books
• Ask a lot of questions before, during, or after reading 
• Read together every day and have fun

Conclusion:

Our children’s future success is something we as parents worry a lot about a lot. However, we frequently overlook the fact that youngsters pick it up through watching their parents. So, setting an example in whatever we do helps them follow in our footsteps.

We urge most is perseverance; doing a little bit of practicing every day goes a long way. Focusing on activities that help your youngster love reading benefits them immensely. Reading is all about having a good time, discovering new things, and expanding your knowledge!

Take a break and read a book…for the sake of your child, of course!

Every teacher wishes to find a better way to make their social studies lessons more engaging for their students. Unfortunately, some teachers fail in their attempts due to a lack of strategies. Thus, students get bored in Social Studies class. So, how can you make social studies exciting and fun for elementary students?

The truth is there are many exciting and fun ways to teach Social Studies for elementary students. In this blog post, we’ve listed a few fun teaching methods in Social Studies that excite your kids to learn. Ready to explore the teaching methods? Let’s dig into the blog and glimpse your knowledge with some interesting ideas.

Make Social Studies fun to Elementary Students:

1. Play Historical Charades

History is one of the interesting chapters in Social Studies when you help the kids connect the past with the present. You can incorporate it with games like Historical Charades.

Historical charade is a fun way for the kids to learn critical historical figures and developments. How to play it?

• List the essential names and events on paper pieces that are covered in the class.
• Please place them in a large bowl.
• Split your class into two teams.
• Pick a person from a group and pull a topic out from the bowl.
• Limit time for the students and let them act out the name mentioned in the paper piece.
• Continue the game with the alternating teams.
• Provide points for the winning team.

2. Geography puzzles

Playing puzzles can be more exciting for the kids. In this game, you can use the names of countries, cities, and other geographical regions like landmarks and oceans. How to play this puzzle game?

• Write names of geographical regions on cards.
• Split the students into teams.
• Pick one person from each team.
• Limit time for the students to give clues about the place.

Playing this kind of game may help the kids excited to learn better.

3. Board Games

It is another way for the teachers to teach students about the countries across the globe in a fun way. How do you play this board game? 

• Split the students into teams.
• Assign different countries to each team.
• Create a board game with rules and questions about the assigned country.
• The team should take the class to the rest of the students.
• The other team should advance their topic and take the class for other students.

So, give each team a helpful topic to play. This will help each team with helpful resources like countries of the world.

4. Visuals

Visual learning is one of the best ways to teach students. Many students love visual classes rather than a traditional classes. This is because, through visuals, one can view photographs, statues, maps, ancient artworks.

5. Integrate technology

Just because you are teaching about the past doesn’t mean your teaching has to be stuck with old methods. There are tons of Social Studies, Geography websites online. Find the best way to get the students to use technology to learn about historical moments.

Some of the technologies that a kid can use are:

• Virtual museum exhibits
• Digital collection of primary sources
• Virtual Field Trip
• Audio or Video Podcasts
• Animated videos
• Augmented reality to print primary sources.

6. Field trip

If your students are still bored of your theoretical class, then take them on a field trip. There are lots of museums and organizations across the globe. So, try picking your students to the nearest museum and let them know about the historical things. You can also invite a guest to do a presentation for the students.

Even there are numerous virtual field trips online for elementary students. So, discover the learning either via In-person or Virtual Field trips.

7. Debate and Discussion

Debate and Discussion is a great method that involves a group of students in different groups and initiates discussion or debate about the historical activities. This will help the students in paying attention in learning Social Studies.

8. Project-based Learning

Inquiry-based instructions in Social Studies are the best way to make students engage in lessons. Experiencing experimental studies provide an opportunity for the students to read and present historical events or data on controversial topics. With these learning experiences, students make a mental connection to the things that they learn and improve in organizational skills. On the whole, project-based learning actively engages the students, not only building interest in studies but also improving the needed skills in learning.

Bottom lines

No matter what we choose for our career growth. We all live in this world. Thus, learning about the world matters. We hope the methods mentioned might have helped you in making Social Studies fun for you and for your students.

If you have any queries regarding Social Studies, leave your comment below. For further updates, please stay connected with us!

Happy teaching:)

Online learning has been around for a long time. Today it is everywhere because of the inaccessibility of things around us. Whether in school, college, or regular jobs, we need it the most today than ever before. Most schools are happy to adapt to this changing world. Many schools have been a pillar of strength for students in these times. Also, some schools have activities online and offline to allow children to grow.

There are one or more teachers teaching in a classroom. The Online courses provide students with greater flexibility, closure, and depth. As a result, they have the freedom to choose. An online curriculum consists of setting specific goals, tracking progress and deadlines. The technology enhances the viewing experience to a great extent. It includes animations and videos used for effective learning.

What are the effects of online education for children if it is here to stay? What effect does it have on children’s behaviour? Let us find out how to use online education in an effective way to improve our children’s behaviour. So that it does not cause children to become confused or have behavioural imbalances.

Let us identify the effectiveness of online education teaching and learning:

Online education on students behaviour

With each grade level, students become more independent. Online learning helps in getting college degrees. It helps students in achieving good grades.

A large number of students can access the content thanks to technology platforms. Students become self-sufficient with the right support. Children can engage in hands-on activities, real-world explorations, and evaluations.

Children from low-income families can also enjoy online learning programs. Such as those who have limited access to learning resources like books.

As a result, students tend to follow the advice they get from others. They have a larger pool of resources to draw from. A global network of online students allows them to exchange ideas with others.

Increase parent-teacher involvement by involving them as learners. Assisting parents with their children’s schoolwork will benefit the children in their academics.

Teachers update their teaching techniques and methods. They assist students in overcoming the difficulties of this type of education.

Why online learning now?

Everyone has access to computers today. Online classes combine education and convenience. It provides top-quality education through a variety of formats. Students can cultivate a positive learning mindset in online classes. An online program’s effectiveness relies on its curriculum, its facilitator and its technology.

Computer learning is one of the biggest motivators for kids today. Students can take part in classes from anywhere across all countries. E-learning has recorded and interactive sessions. Students who are unable to attend traditional classrooms enjoy online learning. After all, online classes only need a computer and a basic internet connection.

With the Pandemic, it is uncertain to get back to traditional teaching anytime soon. With social-distancing, it will have negative effects on learning opportunities. Educational institutions are struggling to find options to survive.  The situation demands unity and togetherness. There is an urgent need to protect and save our students, teachers and institutions.

The main benefits of online learning

It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from any computer, anywhere in the world. In-depth discussion and study of course material. With self-discipline, students can spend more time thinking and reflecting on their experiences. Enhances student-teacher interaction and discussion. An improved learning environment that is more focused on the students.

Incorporating different learning styles; making modifications and improvements.

Improved management: Students are better able to manage and complete assignments on time.

Easy access:  Able to document and record online interactions and manage them.

Saves time travelling and reduces the amount of traffic.

Final-thoughts

Technology and education are in a very interesting phase right now. It has left no stone unturned to reach millions across the globe. It is extending and reaching out to students to make learning affordable. It provides access to unlimited resources from anywhere. The impact of online classes will allow students to enhance their learning.

E-learning provides effective time management. It also motivates the students to learn. It has limitless possibilities and enhances academic performance. Online programmes can help you balance your career, family, and school obligations. It provides knowledge and learning to students, which makes learning seamless.

We have only experienced the starting stages of E-learning. The best is yet to come.

Learning progress usually takes place in the brain, and hence it will be invisible to others. Learning should be assessed by kids’ teachers or parents. But, how to assess students’ learning?

You can assess students’ learning through formal, informal, individual or collective, anonymous or public assessments. However, everything has changed online; why not try to assess methods with technology? Forget the old-fashioned pencil and paper method and advance with new technology.

So… In this blog, we’ll guide you on understanding the methods to assess students’ learning. Before that, let’s discuss what assessment is.

What is Assessment?

Assessment is a process of collecting data on what students learn and experience in education. That is, it plays a significant role in evaluating kids’ learning needs and helps in improving their grades.

Types of Assessment:

Summative assessment – it is nothing but the final exam. Through this, a person can evaluate what the students have gained knowledge after the course ends.

How to assess students’ learning?

There are various ways to evaluate students’ learning progress. But, The best methods may vary based on students’ learning objectives and needs. Here we go with a brief view:

1. Online quiz

The traditional way to assess students’ learning is by conducting an online quiz. It will be pretty easy to create.

A teacher can test the students’ learning progress quickly by creating a multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, and so on. Hence, as a teacher, you should randomize the quiz question and answer options to the students, preventing the kids from cheating.

However, the online quiz can be either non-graded or graded. So, you can conduct it before or after the course.

2. Essay questions

Essay questions encourage your critical thinking and are the best option for evaluating students’ learning. Compared to students, teachers can observe and evaluate a topic from different views.

Thus, add essay questions and make your assessment productive. It prompts the learners to explore their feelings, thoughts, and opinions while answering the comprehensive topic. As a teacher, you should review it one by one, and this will help you assess your students.

3. Written assignments

Give short essays, research papers, or case studies as a written assignment to the kids. Before you give a project, know all the things to consider while creating an assignment task.

• Consider what you want your students to learn in your course.
• Design assignments that are more challenging and interesting.
• Name the assignment accurately
• Schedule it
• Check the feasibility
• Specify the parameters
• Specify the intended purpose of the assignment

4. Concept maps

Concept maps are the graphical or visual representation of connections between the concepts that students have learned. It is a valuable strategy for assessing kids’ knowledge. Do you know how to design a concept map exercise? If not, follow these steps to structure the concept map for your students:

• Create a focus question.
• Tell the students to generate a list of relevant concepts and help them in constructing a preliminary map.
• Allow students to revise.

5. Online Survey

An online survey is a non-graded assessment usually assigned to measure learning satisfaction and collect feedback from students. Each question will have options ranging from disagreeing to strongly agreeing.

6. Game activities

Game activity is a type of assessment method that comes with the combination of test and game. That is, you can create an online game with challenging questions and let the kids overcome them. With this assessment, your students can enjoy the game and answer the questions without any assessment stress.

7. Drag-n-Drop Activity

One of the excellent methods to assess students’ learning is using Drag-n-Drop. That is, add some visual tasks to make your assessment more engaging. In this activity, students are required to drag a text or image and drop it in the corresponding drop-zone.

8. Forum

A forum is an online discussion board where you can organize a topic and ask the student to contribute to the discussion board in a good way. Further, in this assessment method, students will be given critical thinking questions based on the subjects that students have read through. The answers provided by the students will be posted to the discussion board, and the peers will be given a chance to respond to them.

Final words

Well, online assessments play a critical part in assessing students’ learning. Hence, it would be best if you were more careful while creating your test content. However, the good thing is, you don’t need to be more creative or a programming master to build them. There are many assessment tools accessible online. Just get them and generate engaging tasks for assessing.

For more updates, please stay connected with us!

Good luck:)

Are you excited to send your child to kindergarten?

Kindergarten today is different from how it was two decades ago. There are many things kids are exposed to today. With a solid foundation and knowledge, kids will have a much easier time adjusting. Kindergarten is full of learning and growth. They learn to play games, enjoy music and arts. They learn new letters and words. They play with blocks, sand, and straws. They recognize names, they count, and they identify. They make friends, eat together at breaks, and do hands-on activities. The kids will love the idea of learning something new through play.

It is an excellent experience as parents to see your child start a new journey. Parents want their kids to have a terrific experience at school. Kids this age will ask a lot of questions and are always curious. They have the funniest things to say. They learn to think to themselves, “how can I do this?”. Stepping into a new school or learning something new will be fun for them. This kindergarten journey helps them to gain self-confidence, independence, and self-reliance.

As parents, you have doubts whether your child will be able to take care on their own. Will they have issues staying long for many hours at school? Are they potty-trained? Will they eat without making a fuss? Will they be shy to answer? Whatever the case, be sure you lovingly deal with them. Instill the love for learning and school in your child in the initial days. Also, develop play-based learning into their routines. Know that preparing your child will go a long way in giving them a solid foundation.

How do you know whether your child is ready to go to kindergarten?

The best way to know if your child is ready is to prepare them for it. Playing with your kids, reading books, and helping them reach out will all matter. Even before going to school, parents should teach their kids manners. They should teach them to show kindness and respect. Teach your kids to listen without interruption. It increases their listening and hearing skills. Ask them to focus on little things without distraction.

Give them responsibility and ask them to finish it. Expose them to numbers, letters, and alphabets. Would you mind helping them to open up and mingle with other kids? There are some skills needed before sending your kid to school, and you can help them by practicing some of them ahead of time. Here I have listed some easy-to-follow a checklist that you might want to check. This will make sure that your kids are ready to go to school.

Some of the academic skills expected are:

• Recognizing letters starting from 1-2
• Identifying primary colors- red, blue, green, yellow, white, and black

• Identifying alphabets a to z

• Say words that rhyme

• Sort by color, size, shape

• Ask them to hold the pencil, crayon, or scale properly

• Point at objects and say their names

• Write their name with uppercase and lowercase

• Hold a book, note, and turn pages

• Say parent’s name, number, and address

Nursery rhymes are a great way to get kids ready. Reading out to them also helps a lot. Over time they will start reading by themselves too. Take time in between reading to make them understand. Talk to them how much ever you can.  It could be just about anything. Be clear in your ideas and teaching.

Let them understand your instructions. Would you mind helping them to pick words and process them? This will ensure they get familiar with the information you give. There are some non-academic skills needed for your child to get familiar with, and you can start teaching them at home before they make their way to kindergarten.

Some of the non-academic skills expected are:

• Teach them bathroom needs
• Speak about wants and needs

• Throw a ball and ask them to catch it

• Focusing on activities for a few minutes

• Listening without interruption

• Clear up after playing

• Follow directions

• Washing hands

• Coughing and wiping manners

• Carry his backpack

• Using glue and scissors

Conclusion:

However, your child may be ready and head out for her first day of school. You have to ensure that your child is prepared to do some things required in their starting years. Start with the basics at home.

Don’t put pressure if you feel your child hasn’t got everything right.  Kids learn a lot when they enter kindergarten.  The most important thing is to teach children to do themselves and not rely on you entirely. Give a chance to your kids to show you what they can do. You might be surprised to know what they are capable of.

 Till then, have fun learning and teaching your child as always!