Enrichment Archives - Oxford Learning https://oxfordlearning.com/category/enrichment/ Never Stop Learning Wed, 02 Jul 2025 16:05:44 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.2 https://oxfordlearning.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/oxford-1-favicon.webp Enrichment Archives - Oxford Learning https://oxfordlearning.com/category/enrichment/ 32 32 What Makes Students Not Participate in Class? https://oxfordlearning.com/what-makes-students-not-participate-in-class/ Fri, 20 Sep 2024 11:07:52 +0000 https://oxfordlearning.com/what-makes-students-not-participate-in-class/ There are a number of reasons why students may not participate in class discussions or raise their hands when they have questions. Many students fear they will look silly, nervous, or less smart if they get the answer wrong—and their classmates will judge them for it. Many students feel that keeping quiet and listening to […] […]

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There are a number of reasons why students may not participate in class discussions or raise their hands when they have questions. Many students fear they will look silly, nervous, or less smart if they get the answer wrong—and their classmates will judge them for it.

Many students feel that keeping quiet and listening to the class discuss concepts is safer. However, participating in class is important for developing communication skills and understanding class material.

It takes time and practice, but there are many strategies students can use to make speaking up in class easier.

Read on to learn why it’s important for students to participate in class and how you can encourage your child to join in more class discussions. 

Participating in Class Is Important!

Why is it important for students to participate in class? Firstly, participating in class discussions improves your child’s comprehension of the material. It can also help them become more invested in the class material. Comparing other students’ opinions on the material to their own will encourage your child to think about the course concepts more critically, helping improve comprehension.

Class participation also develops your child’s communication skills. Communication skills are very important in the upper years of schooling when he or she will have to discuss ideas and collaborate with others. The more your child decides to participate in class, the more these skills will develop.

Students who participate in discussions show their teachers that they’re prepared and interested in class concepts. These students tend to score higher on their report cards for in-class participation and communication skills.

Four Reasons Students Do Not Participate in Class

1. They Fear Saying The Wrong Answer

Many students will not speak up in class because they fear that other students will judge them if they have the wrong answer. They worry that their answers are incorrect and that other students will question their intelligence. Though this fear is understandable, it shouldn’t get in the way of participating in class.

2. They Don’t Think They Have Anything Valuable To Contribute

Another reason some students don’t speak up in class is that they feel other students’ opinions matter more. They feel that their own perspective on the material isn’t very valuable, so there’s no point in sharing. This feeling often stems from insecurity or social anxiety. These students need to understand that adding to the conversation only makes for a more meaningful discussion.

3. They’re Unprepared

Every student’s biggest nightmare is being called on in class to discuss course material when unprepared. Students will never participate in class discussions if they don’t know what the class is talking about.

4. They Fear Public Speaking

The fear of public speaking is very common among students of all ages. They often worry that their classmates will judge them if they appear nervous or lose their train of thought.

How to Help Address These Concerns

Wrong Answers

Help your child learn that it’s okay to get an answer wrong! The goal of speaking up and asking questions in class is to better understand the material. By normalizing it at home, you can help your child become more comfortable with not knowing everything. Speak openly about questions you don’t have answers to or times you’ve been wrong in the past. Your child will see that not knowing every answer is something that happens to everyone—and he or she doesn’t have to stress about it.

Nothing to Contribute

Help build your child’s confidence by asking for their opinion. This can mean asking your child which type of cereal the family should purchase at the grocery store or asking what to have for dinner. Be sure to communicate with your child that you know he or she is smart, and that’s why you came to him or her for advice!

Being Unprepared

If your child takes school seriously and wants to succeed, the issue might be that they are overwhelmed. Your child may have too much on their plate and be unable to keep up with the workload. If this is the case, sit down with your child and work out a study schedule. Work with your child to prioritize important tasks and offer him or her your love and support. If your child doesn’t seem to take school seriously, check in and talk about future goals. Ensure they know that doing well in school is important when taking advantage of future opportunities like scholarships and college admission.


Public Speaking

Encourage your child to increase class participation slowly, one answer or idea at a time. Try writing thoughts out and reading them out rather than worrying about losing your train of thought. Your child can also they are speaking only to the teacher rather than the whole class.

Participating in Class is Easier When You’re Confident

If students are confident in their understanding of the material, it will be much easier for them to share their thoughts with the class.

Learn more about the different programs at Oxford Learning and see the difference tutoring can make for your child’s confidence and school motivation today!

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10 Fun Learning Activities for March Break https://oxfordlearning.com/10-fun-learning-activities-for-march-break/ Fri, 10 Mar 2023 14:57:04 +0000 https://oxfordlearning.com/10-fun-learning-activities-for-march-break/ March Break—while many students may be looking forward to a week of rest and relaxation, it’s also an excellent opportunity to continue learning that’s fun and engaging.  Whether you’re a student or a parent looking for ways to keep your child entertained during the break, here are some tips to help you make the most […] […]

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March Break—while many students may be looking forward to a week of rest and relaxation, it’s also an excellent opportunity to continue learning that’s fun and engaging. 

Whether you’re a student or a parent looking for ways to keep your child entertained during the break, here are some tips to help you make the most of March Break.

10 Tips for a Fun and Educational March Break 

March break learning

1. Set March Break Goals

Before the break starts, sit down with your child and discuss what they want to achieve during the week. Do they like to work on a specific subject, learn a new skill or explore a new hobby? Setting goals will help keep them motivated and focused.

2. Explore New Subjects 

March Break is a great time to explore new subjects and areas of interest. Check out local museums, galleries or science centers, or take a virtual tour of a faraway place. This can help to expand your child’s knowledge and curiosity.

3. Read for Pleasure

Reading is a great way to relax and unwind, and March Break is the perfect time to catch up on some reading for pleasure. Head to the library or download some e-books and encourage your child to read books that interest them.

4. Keep a Journal

Encourage your child to keep a journal during the break, writing about their experiences and observations. This can help to develop their writing skills and foster creativity.

5. Play Games as a Family

Games are a fun way to learn and can help develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Consider playing board games, card games, or video games that challenge your child’s mind.

6. Get Outside 

Spending time in nature can be a great way to learn about the world around us. Take a hike, go for a nature walk or visit a local park to learn about the plants and animals in your area.

7. Cook and Bake Together

Cooking and baking can help develop math, reading, and even science skills. Encourage your child to help prepare meals or bake treats during the break. Check out these 6 Focus-Boosting Brain Foods that you can use in your cooking or baking! 

8. Learn a New Skill 

March Break is a great time to learn a new skill or hobby. Whether it’s playing an instrument, learning a new language or trying a new sport, encourage your child to step out of their comfort zone and explore new interests.

9. Volunteer

Volunteering is a great way to learn about the world and make a positive impact. During the break, consider volunteering at a local shelter, food bank, or community center. Check out this I Want to Volunteer to find where you can volunteer near you. 

10. Create a Project 

Encourage your child to create a project during the break, whether it’s a science experiment, a piece of art or a written story. This can help to foster creativity and develop problem-solving skills.

March Break shouldn’t be a week of mindless entertainment. With some planning and creativity, it can be an excellent opportunity for students to continue learning and exploring in fun and engaging ways.

Need Help With March Break Learning?  

Our tutors at Oxford Learning can help your family create great school-year habits to ensure students achieve academic success.

Contact a location near you to get started today!

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Ungrading: What is it? https://oxfordlearning.com/ungrading-what-is-it/ Fri, 17 Feb 2023 18:02:00 +0000 https://oxfordlearning.com/ungrading-what-is-it/ You may have seen the term “ungrading” used recently in news articles or across social media. But what is ungrading, and why would schools use it? The ungrading trend involves removing the focus on grades in order to place a greater emphasis on teachers’ comments and students’ overall progress. According to ungrading theory, grades are […] […]

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You may have seen the term “ungrading” used recently in news articles or across social media. But what is ungrading, and why would schools use it?

The ungrading trend involves removing the focus on grades in order to place a greater emphasis on teachers’ comments and students’ overall progress.

According to ungrading theory, grades are intrinsically ineffective since they can reduce understanding of complex topics to a single-letter grade. The main reason for using ungrading is that grades can distract students, taking their focus away from learning for the joy of learning. When students know they have to struggle to get a grade, it can demotivate them and make them resent the entire educational process. Conversely, when students know they may be getting a high grade, they may stop putting forth effort.

Grade inflation, bell curve, and ambiguous grade interpretations are the results of a system created to divide, categorize, and compare people. Is a B in one class the same as a B in another? Grades are subjective, based on the teacher and the subject itself. 

Let’s get into what ungrading really is.

How to Use Ungrading

Ungrading emphasizes teachers giving feedback that students can use to enhance their work, evaluate it independently, and incorporate it into future assignments. Feedback without a grade turns into an objective platform for learning without the bias of assigned points or grades.  Some students love it!

Without grades, learning for the sake of learning becomes the main objective.

The #ungrading is picking up steam on TikTok, with many teachers giving their advice on how they use ungrading.

This doesn’t mean that education should do away with grading; it is just offering students a different way of receiving necessary feedback.

Alternative Methods of Grading

students ungrading learning

Grade-Free Zones

Not all school learning needs to be tied to grades. Many soft skills that support learning, such as organization, time management, sleep and nutrition, all play a role in supporting student learning. Shifting the focus away from grades and onto the learning process and developing stronger learning habits and routines helps students understand that grades are not the only measure of learning.

Check out this article on how routines can help support learning.

Self-Assessment

Giving students opportunities to demonstrate what they’ve learned in writing, speaking, or through other processes plays a role in helping students develop their meta-cognitive awareness (becoming aware of their own learning.) Self-assessments are a helpful tool in this process.

When you give students guidelines and information about what to expect from an assignment, encourage them to frame their self-evaluation around those elements. 

Expect self-evaluations from students on all tasks, encouraging them to think back on what they did well, what they would do differently in the future, and what essential ideas and lessons they learned.

Peer-Assessment

Peers can also be valuable feedback providers for their fellow students with training and practice. 

With proper modelling and ample examples from teachers, students can learn more about what is good and helpful feedback versus what is not useful for the learning process. 

Once students understand what is valuable feedback and what isn’t, teachers can set up regular peer feedback sessions around activities and assignments. This helps students to get feedback from someone other than the teacher or parents. 

Read more about making group work successful here.

Ungrading and Oxford Learning

Does Oxford Learning use upgrading?

While Oxford Learning does not follow the ungrading method, it also does not provide grades to students. Similar to ungrading, student learning is measured in observable factors such as learning engagement and motivation, and self-confidence and esteem. While grades are often the focus of learning, the reality is better grades are simply a by-product of improved learning skills and habits. How students feel about their learning and how happy they are with their effort, regardless of the outcome, is the most important part of learning.

For school support and for help building stronger learning skills, contact an Oxford Learning near you.

Contact Us

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How Personalized Learning Helps Students https://oxfordlearning.com/how-personalized-learning-helps-students/ Fri, 05 Aug 2022 13:44:02 +0000 https://oxfordlearning.com/how-personalized-learning-helps-students/ Is personalized learning the key to helping struggling students succeed? Unlike the traditional teaching and learning model, personalized learning puts students in the driver’s seat of their own learning. Traditional teaching and learning centre around a one-to-many model with one teacher for many students. Most parents will have already experienced the struggles connected with the […] […]

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Is personalized learning the key to helping struggling students succeed?

Unlike the traditional teaching and learning model, personalized learning puts students in the driver’s seat of their own learning. Traditional teaching and learning centre around a one-to-many model with one teacher for many students.

Most parents will have already experienced the struggles connected with the traditional model. In a large group of students, is it possible for every student to be able to learn at the same pace as the rest of their classmates? The answer is no. 

Every student learns differently and at their own pace: a group learning environment where students learn an idea or grasp a concept at the same time as their classmates can cause struggles for students who are not learning at the same pace. In the traditional classroom, an otherwise bright student can miss a concept and fall behind. This can create a cycle of poor grades and low confidence that can be challenging to overcome.

Personalized learning helps all students

By eliminating the one-size-fits-all approach, personalized learning programs focus on student individuality. Rather than leading a group of students through the same exercise, the personal approach allows students to take control of their learning, with their needs, skills, and interests guiding the pace and intensity of their education.

There are three main factors guiding a student’s personalized or customized programs:

  1. Customization: whether it is reading a Shakespearean novel or completing a unit on fractions, customized learning programs help students reach a specific goal using their unique learning needs. A student could be a visual, auditory, or kinaesthetic (or another type) or learner; customization allows both student and teacher to work according to the student’s needs.
  2. Pacing: a major struggle for many students is that the class will move on to a new subject before they have had a chance to fully grasp the current topic. Pacing allows students to spend as little or as much time as they need on a concept before moving on. Pacing also helps students from feeling frustrated or bored with their learning.
  3. Goal-Setting: with personalized learning, students are able to set their own learning goals for themselves. Whether the goal is to not fail the next test or to get the highest mark in the class, students work toward their own unique goals. Incorporating their interests and preferences into the learning help keeps students motivated to achieve their goals.

Start with an Assessment

Identifying students’ unique learning needs is the starting point for all personal learning. All customized programs at Oxford Learning begin with an in-depth assessment to determine each student’s individual learning needs. The assessment provides the details behind how a particular student learns, which allows educational professionals to design a program to match those needs.

Personalized programs are critical to Oxford Learning’s success with students of all ages. Once students realize they have the skills necessary to complete a task, their effort increases, they try much harder, and they start to see success. Pulling that out is the objective at Oxford Learning: to help students of all ages have those “a-ha!” moments necessary to spark a lifelong love of learning.

Contact your local centre today to learn more about how Oxford Learning can help your child learn with a personalized program best suited for their needs.

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7 Essential Skills All Successful Students Have https://oxfordlearning.com/7-essential-skills-all-successful-students-have/ Fri, 15 Jul 2022 09:32:24 +0000 https://oxfordlearning.com/7-essential-skills-all-successful-students-have/ Students need essential skills in order to succeed. Children with a strong foundation of life skills are motivated, resilient, confident and successful. Children need more than just a safe and loving home. They need to master essential skills in order to move through life.  Children need mental toughness, resilience, social competence, self-awareness, and moral integrity. […] […]

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Students need essential skills in order to succeed. Children with a strong foundation of life skills are motivated, resilient, confident and successful. Children need more than just a safe and loving home. They need to master essential skills in order to move through life. 

Children need mental toughness, resilience, social competence, self-awareness, and moral integrity. You can make all the difference in whether your kids become successful adults by teaching them these skills 7 essential skills to your children. 

1. Self-confidence

People often believe that self-esteem is the same thing as self-confidence. These two concepts differ from one another. Self-esteem is how we sense ourselves and how we interact with the world. Whereas, self-confidence measures our belief in our abilities. 

There is little evidence that high self-esteem leads to academic success or happiness. However, studies have shown that children with high self-confidence tend to do better academically. Children with high self-confidence equate their grades with their efforts and strengths. 

You can boost self confidence in children by:
 

  • Modeling self-confidence yourself
  • Not getting upset about mistakes 
  • Getting them to try new things 
  • Allowing them to fail 
  • Emrbasing their efforts 

2. Empathy

Empathy isn’t only a critical factor in life, but it’s also a factor in creating and maintaining healthy friendships and relationships. This helps to reduce conflicts and misunderstandings. Being empathic helps lead to a helping attitude, kindness, and success in life. 

And like any skill, empathy can be taught and developed in children, and children need an emotional vocabulary to develop empathy. 

Here are some excellent ways that you can teach empathy at home:

  1. Model empathy. It’s important to model any new skill that you want to teach your child. This is important because it helps your child understand what empathy looks like, sounds like, and feels like. It’s easier to teach a child a new skill when you’ve already mastered it yourself. 
  2. Discuss emotions. Talking openly about emotions is essential. Do not dismiss or bury their emotions, letting your child know that all feelings are welcome. They need to learn how to manage them in a healthy way through discussion and reflection.
  3. Help out at home or in the community. Helping others helps to develop kindness and caring in children. It can also enable children to interact with people of diverse backgrounds, ages, and circumstances. Being around a group of people different from themselves helps make it easier to show empathy for all people.
  4. Praise empathetic behaviour. When your child shows empathy for others, praise that behaviour on the spot. Make a point of focusing on and encouraging empathetic behaviour. This will help to promote more of that behaviour in the future.

3. Self-control

Self-control is staying on task and interrupting any undesired impulsive reactions by not acting on them. Students’ ability to control their cognition, emotions, and impulses may play a part in performing well academically.

These self-regulatory skills also reduce stress and increase well-being. Here are a few tips on how to teach self control at home. 

  • Help kids avoid temptation: out of sight, out of mind
  • Create an environment where self-control is rewarded
  • Encourage children to practice planning
  • Play games that help practice self-control
  • Remember that kids need autonomy

4. Integrity

Integrity means making ethical decisions, asking questions, and following instructions—even when faced with difficult situations. It’s a set of learned beliefs, capacities, attitudes and skills that create a moral compass that children can use to help them know what’s right.

Helping your child learn to be integral can be as simple as calling out it when you see it and recognizing it. This allows students to see and understand ethical behaviour. 

Teaching children the five fundamental values of integrity will help them to achieve academic success. Here are the five values of integrity:

  • Honesty
  • Trust
  • Fairness
  • Respect
  • Responsibility

5. Curiosity

What is curiosity? Curiosity is having a strong desire to learn or know something. 

Children who are curious often don’t need the information they seek. They seek answers to their questions for the sake of gaining knowledge. Students who are curious may also actively seek out challenges and new experiences to broaden their horizons. 

How curiosity helps students: 

  • Because it is a key ingredient in learning
  • Helps to keep students always learning 
  • Helps students in their decision-making 
  • Can be useful in navigating arguments or confrontations

You can help students develop curiosity by encouraging questions. Also, you can also find media that stimulates curiosity and helps them find credible sources to build their knowledge.

6. Perseverance

Perseverance is the ability to keep going when things are tough. Some call it grit; others call it a growth mindset, but perseverance is the ability to keep on trucking. 

For many students, perseverance can be challenging. Mistakes and failures can be something that frustrates students and keep them from succeeding. 

It’s all about doing things that may not come easy right away, which is hard for many students. Here are four tips on how to teach students to preserve.

  • Encourage a positive inner voice and mindfulness
  • Praise their effort and process, not their intelligence
  • Put their failures and mistakes into a new perspective
  • Give them the chance to struggle

7. Optimism

Knowing the difference between pessimism and optimism can help students improve how they respond to challenges. Optimism is a healthy mindset for students; it’s the mindset of looking at the glass as half full rather than half empty. 

There are various techniques to teach students to stay optimistic rather than switching to a pessimist mindset. 

Here are some things to try:

  • Have students notice good things as they happen 
  • Try to train student’s minds to believe they can make good things happen in their life
  • Don’t have students blame themselves when things go wrong
  • When something good happens, give them credit
  • Remind students that setbacks are only temporary
  • Be optimistic yourself; students will notice it in you

Oxford Learning Can Help Teach These Skills

Contact your local centre today to learn more about how Oxford Learning can help your child learn these important skills to get the most out of their education. 

Contact Us

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5 Steps to Unlocking Every Student’s Potential https://oxfordlearning.com/5-steps-to-unlocking-every-students-potential/ Fri, 08 Jul 2022 15:13:00 +0000 https://oxfordlearning.com/5-steps-to-unlocking-every-students-potential/ Is it possible to unlock students’ potential? Within every child is the potential to achieve great things in both school and life. Helping students tap into their potential can be a challenging task—even for the most experienced teachers. What if there were methods that could be used to help students unlock their full potential? 5 Steps […] […]

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Is it possible to unlock students’ potential? Within every child is the potential to achieve great things in both school and life.

Helping students tap into their potential can be a challenging task—even for the most experienced teachers. 
What if there were methods that could be used to help students unlock their full potential?

5 Steps to Unlocking Every Student’s Potential

There is an idea called Whole-Child Design Blueprint, which has five steps to help unlock students’ potential. Here are the five steps in no particular order:

  1. First, begin by establishing a shared purpose and commitment to holistic development and fair results for all kids as the foundation for setting improvement goals and priorities.
  2. Then co-create a secure, supportive school and classroom atmosphere that promotes a strong sense of community and belonging.
  3. Now change the basis to developmental relationships — among teachers, students, leaders, and the community.
  4. Help to facilitate rich learning experiences that integrate knowledge, skill, and mindset development to set students up for success.
  5. Now participate in transformational change as a class by sharing leadership and ownership.

Source

The Power of Personalized Learning

Personalized learning is the hero.

Many educators and students around the world believe that personalized learning can be a great teaching method. This is because personalized learning tailors the learning materials and pace to reflect each student’s needs and abilities.

Moreover, science is always discovering more and more about children’s brains. They’re unlocking students’ potential and gaining valuable insight into how teachers can unlock a student’s brain.

This is also why many teachers are moving toward personalized learning. It helps to give students more control over the materials used, learning style, and learning pace. Above all, this shift toward a more holistic education provides students with a more engaging learning experience, which will give students a solid foundation for the future of learning.

Subsequently, there has been a fear that personalized learning does remove human intelligence from the school environment. However, this is no longer the case—it extends it. For example, empowering teachers with learning resources will increase student engagement, improve grades, and autonomous learning. Most importantly students will build stronger resiliency and their curiosity will also be fostered.

All of which are key to unlocking students’ full potential.

Unlock Student’s Potential with Oxford Learning

Learn more about how Oxford Learning can help unlock your students’ potential. Contact your local center today to learn more.

Contact Us

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The Power of Active Learning https://oxfordlearning.com/the-power-of-active-learning/ Fri, 25 Mar 2022 14:27:00 +0000 https://oxfordlearning.com/the-power-of-active-learning/ Curiosity is the foundation of active learning. Thankfully, children come by both naturally with their imagination and inquisitive minds. They ask questions, seek understanding of the subject matter, and relate it to what they already know.  But often, once children start school, that curiosity that supports active learning starts to fade due to increased passive […] […]

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Curiosity is the foundation of active learning. Thankfully, children come by both naturally with their imagination and inquisitive minds. They ask questions, seek understanding of the subject matter, and relate it to what they already know. 

But often, once children start school, that curiosity that supports active learning starts to fade due to increased passive learning. Although there are some benefits to passive learning, active learning should be encouraged whenever possible.

Active vs. Passive Learning

Passive learning is when students receive information through reading and listening, and reflect internally on what they learned without further review or engagement with the material. 

Active learning involves more engagement from the student since they are more involved with the learning process. They dive deeper into the material with their teachers and peers before internalizing it and relating it to their real-world experiences. Active learners participate in interactive discussions and activities related to the material and engage in quality study time—often using various study styles to absorb the information. 

Read more about the difference between these two learning styles, including the pros and cons of each here.

Even though learning can sometimes be passive—sitting in a classroom, taking notes—the brain should always be turned on, actively thinking about new material.

Encourage Active Learning in The Early Years: Kindergarten to Grade 2

Parents play a significant role in providing structure and guidance in the early grades. Children’s habits in these grades will stay with students, so it’s important to build the right skills early on.

Here are some tips for encouraging active learning in the early years:

  1. Ask questions to ignite their thinking. Questions like “What do you think you might learn?” during the activity to make connections or “What does this remind you of?” afterward to encourage reflection!
  2. Create learning experiences that encourage the use of all five senses. 
  3. Participate in outdoor learning activities.
  4. Use role-play or crafts to build storytelling skills and grow their creativity.
  5. Building blocks help develop problem-solving skills through trial and error and the ability to identify spatial relationships and relative weight, size, and balance.

Encourage Active Learning in The Middle School Years: Grade 3-8

Grades three through eight are essential in terms of development and progression. Students draw on established skills and continually apply learning skills in new situations to progress successfully to the next grade. Get help as soon as something is off track.

Some tips for these crucial years include:

  1. Prompt in-depth conversations about school and learning with your child—we’ve compiled a list of after-school questions you can ask. 
  2. Incorporate more physically-active learning activities such as science experiments, games, building models, and other hands-on projects. 
  3. Encourage discussions of the material with friends and peers. Some students learn better when they are taught the material by someone else!
  4. Problem-solving activities, diagrams, multimedia presentations can support mental stimulation and involve more engagement from the student. 
  5. Use music, art, and pop culture to help students relate the material to what they know.

Encourage Active Learning in The High School Years: Grade 9-12

In high school, every grade counts, and students feel lots of pressure to get top marks. Every quiz, assignment, essay, and test matters, and students should look for strategies and ideas to make studying and learning easier. Active learning helps students get the most out of their in-class time, and it helps make studying simpler.

Teens can become more active learners by:

  1. Reflecting on what they learned in the previous class before the next class. This primes their brains to review the information and prepares it for something new!
  2. Participating in class discussions, even if they don’t have the correct answers. This allows them to think actively in class and listen to their peers. 
  3. Taking hand-written notes. Even in our digital age, handwriting study notes has many benefits
  4. Attempting to find patterns or similarities to other information they’ve learned. 
  5. Setting academic goals. Looking ahead and asking, “what’s next?” allows students to control their learning and be better prepared for upcoming tests and assignments.

In Summary, Engagement is Key!

In order to engage students in the learning process, we need to build active learning into their lives, in and out of the classroom. Engagement increases attention, sharpens focus, motivates students to expand their thinking, and promotes meaningful learning.

Contact your local centre today if you want to learn more about how Oxford Learning can help your child become a more active learner and get the most out of their education! 

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Positive Sleep Habits for Student Success https://oxfordlearning.com/positive-sleep-habits-for-student-success/ Fri, 04 Mar 2022 10:42:35 +0000 https://oxfordlearning.com/positive-sleep-habits-for-student-success/ Sleep habits are an essential part of learning. Studies show that sleep hours have a direct impact on academic performance. That’s why it is crucial to ensure children get a full night’s rest. After a long day learning at school, a good night’s sleep is key!  Sleep Promotes Brain Growth Children’s brains are in a […] […]

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Sleep habits are an essential part of learning. Studies show that sleep hours have a direct impact on academic performance. That’s why it is crucial to ensure children get a full night’s rest. After a long day learning at school, a good night’s sleep is key! 

Sleep Promotes Brain Growth

Children’s brains are in a growth stage until the age of 21. The majority of that growth occurs while children sleep, so even a short reduction in sleep time—even as little as 15 minutes—can negatively impact academic performance. An extra 15 minutes of sleep can mean the difference between an A and a B for teens! 

How to Improve Sleep Habits

  • Set a consistent bedtime routine to wind down. Learn more about establishing a nightly routine.
  • Create a comfortable environment to prevent tossing and turning at night.
  • Reduce technology during your family’s nighttime routine. Screens emit blue light, which can suppress the sleep hormone melatonin, making it harder to fall asleep.
  • Follow a sleep schedule, even on weekends!

Meditation Can Help With Brain Growth, Too!

A full night’s sleep is the best way to recharge the brain so it can properly process and store information, but did you know that meditation can help boost brain growth, too?

Meditation can help with relaxation (try it before bed!), stress management, improved memory, and more, which can help with better sleep habits and school performance! Understand the benefits and how to implement meditation into your child’s daily routine here

Oxford Learning’s customized learning programs help students unlearn bad study habits while providing support as students learn healthier habits and work toward achieving their dreams.

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Identifying The Source of School Stress https://oxfordlearning.com/identifying-the-source-of-school-stress/ Fri, 25 Feb 2022 21:27:00 +0000 https://oxfordlearning.com/identifying-the-source-of-school-stress/ Unfortunately, school stress is something all students experience. For adults, stress management comes with experience—the more life throws at us, the more we adapt. Most adults have learned mechanisms to cope with stress over the years!  However, children handling stress presents challenges since their coping skills are not fully developed. Since school takes up a […] […]

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Unfortunately, school stress is something all students experience. For adults, stress management comes with experience—the more life throws at us, the more we adapt. Most adults have learned mechanisms to cope with stress over the years! 

However, children handling stress presents challenges since their coping skills are not fully developed. Since school takes up a lot of space in your child’s life, ensuring that it is free from stressors is essential in making school less daunting. Learn more on how to loose all that stress and anxiety building up at Hollyweedcbd.com.

Recognizing School Stressors

When children learn how to overcome challenges and setbacks, they become more resilient students. But, school stressors could be presenting your child with more than they can handle, which can have long-term negative effects on their mental health. Identifying what is causing your child stress at school and teaching them how to manage these stressors are the first steps toward being able to perform at their fullest potential! 

11 Potential School Stressors

  1. Getting a good grade on upcoming tests
  2. Too much homework, which can lead to a stressful cycle of procrastination and stress
  3. Overwhelmed with the workload
  4. Poor organizational skills, resulting in no organization at all
  5. Busy schedules, leaving no free time to relax
  6. Poor sleep habits
  7. Anxiety around participating in class discussions
  8. Lack of support
  9. Transitioning to a new school or new grade
  10. Increased class difficulty
  11. Lack of a consistent daily routine

See a full list of school stressors by grade here.

Is Your Child Experiencing School Stress?

Thankfully, once school stressors are recognized, they can be worked on! Our experts can help your child better manage school stress and provide them with healthy stress management skills for life!  Contact an Oxford Learning centre near you to learn more.

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Teaching Your Child to Pay Better Attention https://oxfordlearning.com/teaching-your-child-to-pay-better-attention/ Fri, 11 Feb 2022 21:04:00 +0000 https://oxfordlearning.com/teaching-your-child-to-pay-better-attention/ Let’s be honest: we all struggle with staying attentive to a task every once in a while. Thanks to modern distractions such as cellphones, television, and the internet that are constantly testing our attention spans, it’s extremely easy to lose focus and get sidetracked. Albeit frustrating, getting distracted now and then won’t take away from […] […]

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Let’s be honest: we all struggle with staying attentive to a task every once in a while. Thanks to modern distractions such as cellphones, television, and the internet that are constantly testing our attention spans, it’s extremely easy to lose focus and get sidetracked. Albeit frustrating, getting distracted now and then won’t take away from success in daily life. 

However, when maintaining attention on a task becomes a struggle every day—possibly multiple times a day, it can eventually lead to negative consequences. Especially with your child’s education!

Poor Attention Does Not Equal ADHD

First of all, just because your child has difficulty focusing in class does not mean they have a learning disability such as ADHD or ADD. These days that seems to be the default reasoning, but in reality, kids have never learned how to focus.

Your child’s attention span plays a huge role in learning to improve attention. When you better understand how long your child can maintain focus on a task, you can customize the way they learn. A new way of learning tailored to your child’s needs can result in less frustration and improved learning that feels good again!

Equip your child with strategies for success—see the guide here.

The Typical Attention Span for Children

Childhood development experts say that a reasonable attention span to expect of a child is two to three minutes per year of their age [source]. 

But remember, it can vary depending on the time of day and be affected by mental health and environmental factors.

Nurture The Skills

Like many study skills, paying attention needs to be practised and used regularly to improve! Here are some strategies you can implement at home to help your child improve their focus on schoolwork and other tasks in their daily life:

  • When giving directions, start by saying your child’s name to let them know you will be telling them something important. Also, make sure you are physically near your child instead of shouting from the other room and instructions are clear and concise. 
  • Break down the tasks into smaller, more manageable chunks. 
  • Teach them to keep their eyes on the teacher or whoever is speaking when in class. When the eyes wander, the brain follows. 
  • Do not multitask! Switching between different tasks creates opportunities for distraction. 
  • Repeat and emphasize the instructions you gave to your child to ensure they’ve understood. Assuming they heard you the first time isn’t beneficial for either of you. 
  • Encourage concentration games and things like word searches and crosswords instead of turning on the tv. We all focus better on FUN things, and your kids are no exception!  

We Can Help!

Our programs focus on teaching your child how to learn, including focusing on the task at hand. If you’ve tried a variety of strategies to no avail, it might be time to dig deeper. Learn more about our cognitive learning approach here or reach out to your local centre and get in touch with one of our experts! 

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