Steinbach Tutoring Services

School Success – How to Help Your Child

Celesta — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 20:22:46 +0000

As a parent, it can be so difficult to help your child succeed in school. We all know that reading and math are skills that a child will need in order to excel in life. If children do not learn adequate literacy and numeracy skills when they are young, it will likely hinder them for the rest of their lives. When a child is behind in reading and math, often extra help from home is necessary. Doing poorly in school also affects the way children think about themselves. It is important that children get this help before they become too discouraged.

Many parents agree that their children need more help, but they have no idea how to provide their child with the extra instruction they need. With all the things going on at home, there hardly seems time to practice school concepts. On top of all this, most children are somewhat resistant to using their time off school to do ‘work’.

A Tutor

Sometimes children have difficulty learning from a parent. At times a parent may themselves find the material difficult. In other situations, a child may be opposed to learning from a parent. As a result, tensions grow. Even if the parent is successful in forcing the child to study, the experience makes learning unpleasant. Often a fresh face is the answer. A friendly and positive tutor can really help a child improve his/her academic knowledge and skills. One option is to enroll your child in a daily homework club. The great benefit of a homework club is that the child is finished the day’s homework by the time you get home from work! Another idea is to get regular individual tutoring sessions for your child.

Online Learning Games

One great way parents can help their children practice school concepts, at home, is through online learning games. Computer games are not perceived by children as work. Children will not complain about playing an enjoyable online game! There are many online numeracy skills games and online literacy activities that help students practice basic reading and mathematics. Via The Net is an educational resource organized by grade level, according to the Manitoba curricular outcomes. Do, though, remember to always supervise childrens’ Internet access!

iPod touch and iPad Learning Tools

The iPod touch and the iPad are also great tools for teaching children academic skills and concepts. There are many apps available to assist students of all ages and the prices for these apps are very reasonable. Learn To Read Book apps for iPad are a great way to teach a child to read!

Future Success A Priority

Children are what we leave behind when we depart this world. It is vital that we give our children every advantage we can to benefit them in life. Extra effort and time now will be well worth it for your child in the long run. By providing your children with tutoring and/or guiding your children to age-appropriate online learning games, you will help them achieve success at school now and become confident and successful later on in life.

To Homeschool or Not to Homeschool?

Celesta — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 20:19:21 +0000

Use these questions to guide you in the decision of whether or not to homeschool your child. Manitoba Tutoring Services is here to help.

For most parents, the decision whether to homeschool or not is an easy one. Some feel homeschooling is not an option as both parents work outside of the home. For other parents, money is tight and public schooling is free. For still others, their beliefs guide them to send their children to school where they will be taught by trained professionals and where they will benefit from the social aspects found there.

On the other hand, some parents always intended to homeshcool their children. Their decision to homeschool is often based on a desire to protect children from the very real evils in this world and to ensure that their children will learn specific religious beliefs from their primary care givers.

However, for some parents, the issue of whether or not to homeschool is not so clear-cut. For example, parent may find that their child is not thriving in the public school system. Due to numbers of students, school must assume a child of a certain type and teach to that model. However, as we parents know, not all children fit the cookie cutter mold. When a child is bullied or has a learning disability, ADHD, anxiety issues, or a combination of things, parents may need to reevaluate their position on the matter of homeschooling. It can be very difficult to decide to homeschool it if was never in the plan. Some parents become overwhelmed when trying to decide.

How to Make the Decision

When trying to determine if homeschooling is right for your child, the following factors should be considered:

1. Are you able to homeschool?
a. Can one of the parents stay home to instruct the child? Or are you willing to pay someone else to homeschool your child? Steinbach Tutoring Services does provide homeschooling instruction.
b. Are you able to teach all the subject areas or invest the time and money to locate resources to do so? Manitoba Tutoring Services has tutors who can help students with problem subjects/topics.

2. Can you tolerate having the child with you all day every day? Some parents simply are not cut out for this type of work.

3. Will homeschooling help the child’s academics and/or self-esteem?

4. Does the child want to be homeschooled?

The answer to all three of these questions should be “yes” if a good homeschooling experience is to be achieved.

Homeschooling Can Be Optimal

For some children, the public school system is simply not a place where they can succeed. Negative self-esteem that develops during the school years may follow an individual throughout life. Parents need to do everything possible to help their children experience a positive and beneficial education. When a child is doing poorly and/or is hating school, it is time to consider the homeschooling option.

How to Study For a Test

Celesta — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 20:16:12 +0000

Explore the optimal conditions for studying for a test. A peer study group or a tutor may be able to help!

Study Environment

When studying for a test, one of the most important things is to create or find an environment that is good for studying. There are many factors to consider, the most important of which are lighting, noise, and distractions. The optimal lighting for studying is bright white light, as close to daylight as possible. Studying outside, however, is usually not a good idea due to wind, weather, insects, and other distractions. Acceptable levels of noise during studying vary widely from student to student. I would suggest a completely quiet study area; some students, however, do find it useful to have instrumental music on or the buzz of conversation in the background. Some students even claim to study well while watching TV. Although it may be possible to study while the television is on, it is certainly not optimal. Other distractions to be avoided, besides the T.V., are cell phones (texting, games, etc.) and computers (games/Internet). If a student needs to use the computer for studying purposes, he/she will need to be very disciplined in order to stay focused on the relevant material.

Study Location

Studying in the location where the test takes place or an area very similar to it is the best idea. The brain associates the content with whatever is near-by when the content is assimilated. Study in an area with seating, lighting, temperature, and smells similar to those found where the test will be written.

Studying in bed should be avoided as it leads to sleeping.

Study Materials

Do not study using materials you will not have for the test (e.g., a calculator if you will not be allowed to use one). Make sure you find out what you are allowed to have for the test. Is it an open book test? Are you allowed to bring in study notes, any essay outline, etc.? Don’t miss an opportunity to bring in something that would help you, and avoid relying on something you won’t be allowed to use during the test-taking!

While you are studying, make sure use the same materials that you will use during the test. Again, using the same materials (pen, pencil, calculator, etc.) during the test as you did while you were studying will help trigger recall of the content.

Study Groups

It is a great idea to get together with others to study for a test. Studying with others is especially important and useful if you don’t understand the material very well and you have smart, diligent friends! On the other hand, if you know your circle of friends will just fool around, studying with them will be pointless. It is a good idea to make friends with intelligent, studious individuals in your classes so that you will have someone with whom to study.

Test Review Tutoring

Some students find it helpful to go though the test review with a tutor who is knowledgeable in that subject area. The tutor can keep the student motivated to go though the material and can also answer any question that may come up. Steinbach Tutoring Services offers tutoring in southeastern Manitoba.

ADHD – My Child Has It…Now What?

Celesta — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 20:14:23 +0000

The fear of all parents is that something will be wrong with their child. That their child won’t be able to succeed. That their child won’t do well in school. That their child won’t be able to make friends. That their child will be unhappy. These symptoms may precede or follow the diagnosis of ADHD. Learning a child has ADHD can cause fear and anxiety within a family. Parents need to be informed and formulate a plan. What can be done?

What is ADHD?

ADHD, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, is caused by a lack of the neurotransmitter, Dopamine, in the brain.

ADHD causes the following primary symptoms:

inability to concentrate
inability to stay still
impulsivity

ADHD can cause the following secondary symptoms:

poor academic achievement
social problems (lack of friends)
behavioral problems (getting in trouble at school)

What Can Be Done?

The decision to medicate a child or not can be made with the help of a family doctor. The most common medication used for individuals with ADHD is Ritalin. Ritalin is a stimulant that increases the level of the neurotransmitter, Dopamine, in the brain. There are many perceived benefits and draw-backs to medicating a child with Ritalin. It is important to talk with your doctor about possible side-effects. It may also be helpful to talk to other parents whose children have ADHD. Be aware that not all information on the subject of ADHD medication on the Internet is accurate.

It is also vital to help the child with social and behavioral issues. Encouraging social development is important for the child with ADHD. The parents may need to initiate play dates for their child and then guide and monitor the play to ensure an enjoyable time for the children. Parents can also role-play situations with the child so the child can practice appropriate responses.

Educational Computer Games

Parents should also help students with ADHD practice school concepts so that they will not be behind academically.

One excellent way to practice school concepts at home is through educational computer and online games. Games are fun for children so the ADHD child will tend not resist this type of academic assistance and practice. There are many educational resources online that are geared to help children. A website that contains online educational resources categorized by grade levels, subjects, and outcomes, according to the Manitoba curriculum, can be found at???. Having friends over and letting the children play educational computer games together can also help with social development. Remember that children who have access to the Internet should always be guided to appropriate sites and monitored during play.

ADHD Can Be Overcome

An ADHD diagnosis does not have to mean that your child will do poorly at school or be unhappy. On the contrary, your child with ADHD can grow up to be productive and happy. With intervention and guidance now, your child can mature to become a confident, successful, socially well-adjusted adult.

Childhood Anxiety Disorder – How to Cope

Celesta — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 20:09:41 +0000

All parents who have a child with anxiety disorder know how difficult this can be for the child and for the entire family. The anxious child may cling, cry, refuse to engage and throw tantrums. The cause of these symptoms may be biological. The child experiencing anxiety disorder often has lower than average level of serotonin, a neurotransmitter, present in the brain. Some parents resort to antidepressant medication, such as Paxil, which can be effective in some cases. Medication can cause severe side effects and is not recommended for most children. There is, however, an alternative to medication.

Most parents who have a child with an anxiety disorder simply try to avoid all situations that may cause their child stress. This is understandable as it does reduce the chances of a very unpleasant melt-down. If the child doesn’t like to go out, let them stay indoors and so forth. This approach does avoid strain on the family but does not help the child in the long run. The anxious child needs to be able to overcome these fears and learn to cope in life.

The very anxious child needs to be handled with love and care, yet, at the same time; needs to be challenged to overcome their anxiety. It is not simply a matter of sheltering them from trying situations but instead teaching them to cope with conditions that cause them frustration. When anxious children come up against something that causes them fear and then overcome it they get a sense of personal achievement. Children with anxiety disorder need to be conditioned by facing situations with which they are uneasy and experiencing success time and time again. Achievement will build feelings of self-esteem and confidence. Overly anxious children can come to realize that a feeling of fear in a given situation does not mean they have to avoid that situation or give up; they can overcome.

Controlled Activities

It is a great idea to allow the child to participate in semi-controlled activities where they do experience some anxiety but are not left alone to allow the situation to escalate to an out of control level. It is important to give guidance to the child. Remind them to verbalize any problems using a ‘normal voice’. Crying should be reserved for a bad injury. Screaming is for emergencies. Help the child realize the issues are not that bad (what’s the worst that could happen?) and think of their own solutions to the current problem/issue.

Online Learning Games

One way to help an anxious child is though computer games. Online learning games provide a very controlled environment where the anxious child can be challenged and yet experience success. It is important for parents to select age-appropriate online learning games and to monitor the use of the Internet.

There is hope for the child with anxiety disorder. The key is building on the child’s successful experiences to evoke an increased sense of self-esteem. The fear will diminish as the child realizes, “I can do it!”

Getting Organized – Students

Celesta — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 19:59:16 +0000

For students, getting organized can be extremely challenging. Without organization, it is almost impossible to succeed. Even a hard-working student will receive a poor mark if important details and deadlines are missed due to poor organization. It is important to take time to organize, no matter how hectic one’s schedule may be.

Organizational Answers – What You Need to Know to Get Organized

1. What is the task?

For students attending school, knowing what needs to be done is usually relatively simple. Teachers assign homework/assignments/projects. Most teachers will give a handout or notes explaining what is required for each assignment.

2. When to do the task?

Again, for students, knowing when to do the task is fairly straightforward. Teachers will give a due date for the homework/assignment/project. Students then need to determine how long it will take to do the work and plan their time accordingly. It is much more desirable to be finished early than to have to try to ask for an extension.

3. What materials are needed for the task?

Students need to take note of what they will need in order to do the assignment. The materials needed are usually listed on the handout provided by the teacher. Supplies should be assembled well before they are needed. If you wait until the day before the project is due to look at the assignment handout, you may not be able to get everything you need in time.

Organizational Tools A calendar is the most important tool to get and stay organized. This may be in the form of a large wall calendar, a three-holed calendar that fastens into a binder, or a small calendar that can be carried in a backpack.

Another calendar option is to use Google calendar. It is free to get a Google account. If students already have an email address somewhere else and don’t want to have to tell all their friends a new email address, they can simply set the old email address to forward to their new Google account. The Google calendar is an electronic online version of a paper calendar. The student can enter events or assignment due dates. Google will send email reminders at times set by the student. A great way to make even better use of the Google Calendar is to have it send text message reminders to the student’s cell phone as well.

A ‘to do’ list is vital so that the student knows what all needs to be done. Such lists can also help students spread work out evenly over the time available. One option is to keep ‘to do’ lists in a notebook and cross off or checkmark items as they are completed. Alternatively, student could use gmail to help keep track of the tasks. Gmail has a “tasks” feature which allows students to mark down their ‘ to dos’ and strike them out when done. Students can even attach a related email to a certain task on the list. As well, it is possible to look at and modify the tasks list using a smart phone.

Just remember what you have to do, when you have to do it, and what supplies you will need. Get a calendar and make a ‘to do’ list today if you have not already done so. Getting organized will help you reduce stress and succeed in school.

Crafts – Learning and Bonding

Celesta — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 19:54:06 +0000

Most kids love crafts and art projects. Some parents tend to view these endeavors as a waste of time, or worse, as a nuisance because of the inevitable mess that precedes the final product. Doing crafts can. However, provide very important experiences in a child’s life. Parents can guide children towards crafts that enhance learning. For example, crafts and art projects can make learning Science or Social Studies facts pleasurable and memorable.

Reinforcing Academic Concepts through Art Projects

Using crafts to review ideas being taught at school is a great way to help your child appreciate learning and identify personally with the subject material. When students think back through their school years, it is often the hands-on projects that they remember – the life sized tee-pee made of paper and sticks, the large, paper mache elephant made during a study of India, the small clay octopus, painted orange and set in an underwater diorama, plasticine pictures of the four seasons. As a homeschooling parent, it is even more important to make use of arts and crafts projects that reinforce Social Studies and Science concepts.

Bonding by Making Crafts Together

Making crafts together with you children can be a very bonding experience. Spending quality time together doing things that the child enjoys sends a message of love to the child. For some children, quality time is their primary love language. For these children, spending time with their parent is needed to fill up their ‘love tank’, so to speak. Parents can, therefore, use craft time not only to reinforce learning but to bond with their children as well.

It is a great idea to give the child some choices when doing arts and crafts projects together. Even if the parent chooses the project, the child should be invited to choose the colours, etc. Allowing the child to make choices will make the experience more fun for the child.

Where to Find Great Craft Ideas

Ideas for craft projects abound. There are so many good projects available that it is possible to get craft instructions for free, on just about any topic you can imagine. Numerous books describing great art projects exist. These books are organized around a wide variety of topics such as “Fall Crafts”, “Things That Fly”, and “Paper Folding”. Many craft books are likely to be available at your local library. At the library, there is usually a computer terminal where one can search book titles and topics. The librarian can also be of assistance in finding the right craft-project instruction book.

Another great source of free instructions for the making of crafts is the Internet. Simply search for the type of craft you would like to make with your children using the search box in the browser. You will, of course, find some useless sites on the net, and you will likely also uncover sites that ask for money. Don’t give information to these sites. Some of them are scams. But don’t be discouraged. If you search and then go through the results, you will eventually find what you are looking for. There are many fun art and craft instructions online!