March 2018 - Page 2 of 2

Posted on March 9, 2018 by Edsys SEO

Sparking the reading process in kids so that they fall in love with books all by themselves is no longer a tough task. Parents and guardians now have help that comes in the form of smart reading tips. It is through these intelligent and time-tested guidelines that you can help your kids identify and understand a series of printed words, in a smooth manner. To achieve this objective, you need to concentrate on four important elements of reading including fluency, engagement, and comprehension along with word recognition. Guardians who are keen on keeping this spark of reading alive in the formative years of their children can bank upon the following smart ideas to motivate independent reading in your kids:

Variety is the Spice of Life

Head to a bookstore and you will be thrilled to see shelves arranged with books of various genres. Starting from picture books, you can check out cookbooks, graphic novels and biographies as reading options for your kids. If you are the parent of an inquisitive kid, you can pick up some of the popular “how-to” books which will encourage a strong sense of reading. Interested in jokes? Your kid can make reading as his favorite pastime by reading from a joke book that will keep him in good spirits.

Through these multiple reading options, you can support your kids to become expert readers when they begin to dig deep into the subject they love the most. A host of self-improvement books are up on shelves that will not only motivate your kids towards reading but will also bring about a dramatic change in their lifestyle.

Lead By Example

Parents and guardians play an important role in assisting kids to read on their own. You can pick up a story book and read the first chapter aloud to your kid and then stop reading. This will awaken the curiosity in your kid who will be prompted to pick up the storybook and read it by himself to know what happens next with the plot of the story. The inquisitiveness to know the end of the story will drive your kid to read the entire story; without prompting.

It is the tendency of every kid to mimic the actions of elders. When you exhibit your innate love for books, your kids will see it as an encouragement to experience the joy you derive out of reading. Parents who keep books accessible to kids will be doing a favor to their children to hone their reading skills. The moment you see your kid inclined towards reading, you should be able to suggest a befitting book for him. This way, your reading habits will encourage your kids to become a part of the edutainment world of printed materials.

Technology Steps In To Encourage Reading

Schools can establish what are called as Virtual Book Clubs through which kids will be connected to various authors across the globe via Skype. Teachers can arrange for Skype call which can last for a few minutes. Through such technologically-driven interactions, kids will be able to experience the real joy of reading.

When kids begin to interact with other kids from different geographies, they will be able to establish their opinions about the happenings around them. Following a Tumblr post allows kids to add comments to a blog they just read. A conversation can be initiated between different followers of the blog posts through this innovative platform. This can be a smart move to virtually recognize the reading interests and opinions of other kids. With an intention to express their views about a particular post, kids will be encouraged to read and share their findings with others subscribing to the platform.

Family Reading Treats

Parents should work hard to introduce quality literature according to the age and interests of kids. Families which are accustomed to listening via audiobooks can work in favor of reluctant readers. It is also important to set aside a soft spot at home for reading that can become your kid’s favorite place. It is through this special reading space that kids will be encouraged to pick a book of their choice and settle down to read all by themselves.

Another interesting means to encourage a reluctant reader to set aside time for independent reading is by providing easy-to-read picture books. Encouraging him/her to read a story from the picture book to a younger sibling will work wonders not only for family bonding but also to make reading a pleasurable experience.

A Pat On the Back Goes A Long Way

A job done well calls for appreciation. You can set up friendly reading competitions with an announcement of a reward. This way, you will set the stage for kids to start reading. As part of the competition, teachers can set aside a pre-determined number of books that each kid should read. And once a kid reaches the set target, he/she can be rewarded with incentives.

Book Trivia Battles are innovative literary quiz competitions meant for kids that can be conducted at your nearest public library. And to win such quizzes, it calls for an extensive reading of different books. Social media platforms like Instagram also come as one of the reading tools to kids. A reading campaign titled “What are you reading?” has a lot of success stories to tell with regard to encourage kids to read on their own.

Speak About Your Book

Parent volunteers can team up to initiate a book-a-program, a ritual to motivate kids to borrow a new book every evening. Along with a book tracking system in place to check how many books were returned the next morning, teachers can prompt kids to speak about the book they picked last evening.

Every kid will have a different story to narrate. Such exciting conversations between kids will help them exchange their reading experiences. While expressing what they liked about the book, kids will get habituated to spend time with the printed material.

The Mixed Bag

It is all about making reading a joyous experience for life. It is only when books become the best friends of your kids that they will spare themselves from the boredom that sets into their routine. Different books offer different perspectives to kids and it is for the guardians to introduce the habit of reading by attaching importance to their choice along with certain formats that blend online and offline reading.

Team these with analog and face-to-face interactions between peers so that kids will find excitement in expressing their thoughts about the book they just read. A subjective judgment about what types of books suit the age and intellect of your kid helps you make reading a life-long pleasure to kids.

Wrapping It Up

Every kid is special in more ways than you can imagine. With different levels of IQ, every kid has his/her interests in books. This uniqueness rests a huge responsibility on the shoulders of parents to come up with reading materials that will attract them. You should help them pick books that are in line with their interests so that they can make the most of their reading time. All the above tips can be of utmost help to put your kid on the right track, looking at books as their best friends for life.

Posted on March 7, 2018 by Edsys SEO

The life of a student, be it in school or college is indeed a golden period that carries pleasurable memories to cherish. A college student is one who graduates from high school and joins a college that offers him/her an education in the field of electives chosen by him/her. Notwithstanding the fact that a college student should undergo certain responsibilities concerning general behavior and academics, you can avail the following benefits of carrying the tag of a student.

A Carefree Lifestyle

Being a college student entails upon a great deal of freedom. Most of the times, since you are still learning, you don’t have to bother about fending for yourself. You will have the support of your parents and guardians who will offer you both financial and emotional guidance at all times.

All you need to do is to attend classes regularly, submit your assignments on time and concentrate on what is being taught in college. Demanding a certain amount of educational discipline from you, you as a college student will also be taught acceptable behavior with peers and lecturers.

Friendships for Life

College life comes with a lot of attractions. One amongst them is the association you develop with students of different backgrounds, cultures and languages. You as a college student will be spending a lot of time with peers and the ones who appeal to you will become your friends for life.

With age, you will find that the most wonderful times of your life were the ones you spent in the company of your college gang; your bunch of buddies that are more than family to you. Who knows, your college can introduce you to your life partner and bind you into a lifelong relationship that you can be happy about.

College Excursions and Picnics

Recreational college tours come as another attraction to students. At times, you can be sent on industrial tours as well, to understand the real-world scenarios of what is being taught in college. All such activities will not only help you bond well with your classmates but will also instill a sense of confidence teamed with a positive perspective towards life.

Alongside having fun, such educational and entertaining trips do a lot of good in shaping you as an individual.

Talents Are Uncovered

Educational institutions come as effective platforms to unveil the hidden talents in students. Colleges conduct a number of cultural and management fests inviting participants from other colleges to partake in events. Debates, personality hunts, and elocution along with fashion shows and JAM (just-a-minute) games are some of the interesting events of college fests. Through such activities, you will be able to uncover your talents. Either you can demonstrate your oratory skills or your confidence in shining as a model by setting the stage on fire with your charismatic ramp walk.

College students who wish to do something for the society will sign up for noble deeds like charity. There can be others who volunteer to become a part of disaster management courses that colleges offer. These humane acts will seep into the psyche of college students, shaping them as responsible citizens of the state.

Rewards and Recognitions

“And the Best Outgoing Student Award Goes To”. This is a popular phrase that makes every college farewell function very special. College life bestows a number of titles to accomplished students in different areas of specialization. While you can be recognized for your winning spirit with sporting events, there will be others who will be tagged with the innate talent you possess and demonstrate.

It is through these college validations that you try to assess your own strengths and weaknesses. It is a type of assessment that will enable you to better yourself as a person.

Room For Regular Physical Exercise

Your college provides you plenty of opportunities to flex your muscles, playing your favorite sport, to represent your college in inter-collegiate competitions. In addition to this, you can also make the most of the gymnasiums that are attached to your college to build your physical stamina through regular exercises. Some colleges conduct periodic physical education sessions that can provide you with the much-needed stamina to counter internal and external challenges.

External challenges can come in the form of safeguarding yourself from physical pains that can be inflicted on you. Exercise comes as a solution to tackle mood swings and feelings of loneliness that are the intrinsic challenges common to college students. Regular exercise makes college students happy and healthy.

Opportunity to Select And Ace In Your Majors

After passing out from high school, you step into a college to equip yourself with professional skills. All in an attempt to make you job-ready, colleges not only provide the much-needed guidance to ace in the major you have chosen but also prepare you for the long haul. Your choice of subjects will not only provide scope to assimilate holistic information but will also become your means to employment after you graduate.

Scholarships – A Motivator For Academic Excellence

College scholarships enable students to pay for their education on the strength of their consistent academic performance. You will be eligible for an award if you demonstrate a good educational standing throughout your entire course. Potential target employers scouting for talented and hardworking college students can announce scholarships to the students who are good in their academics with an intention to eventually hire them.

While some scholarships are given out to college students based on their elective subjects, sports scholarships are other incentives.

Financial Discipline

While you can be at the receiving end of generous scholarships, you as a college student will learn the principle of effective money management. You will learn to spend money only on essential things in contrast to wasting dollars on unnecessary stuff that will burn a hole in your college budget.

Alongside helping you lead a simple life, college students will develop a sense of saving. Driven by a move to reduce your cost of living, you will think of ways and means to put money aside for emergencies. This financial discipline learnt during college days will set the stage for you to become an employed individual capable of managing finances in the best possible manner.

Scope To Appreciate The Tiny Yet Beautiful Things

Some of the colleges are set up in beautiful environs. Students associated with colleges surrounded by captivating greenery will develop a strong attraction towards nature and its bounty. It is this appreciation towards the things others take for granted makes observant students stand apart from others.

Just to break the monotony, you can enjoy a stroll around your college campus and shake hands with the fresh air and flora that makes your college life exciting. Observation of your surroundings does a great deal of help to you when you identify places of interest within the territory of your college.

Key Takeaways

College students, preparing to become a part of the corporate world will not only learn to set goals for themselves but also to find ways and means to accomplish them. It is this ability that makes you an independent individual capable of taking any challenge that life throws at you. For this transformation to take place, you as a college student should make the most of the academic and extra-curricular activities that your college administration brings to your table.

Posted on March 6, 2018 by Edsys SEO

A kid’s education starts from home. Parents are their first teachers and they have a key role in shaping up their character. A balance of education at home and school moulds a student’s actual learning. Be a helping hand in their educational journey and travel with them with true inspiration. Parental encouragement had played a crucial role in successful students. Their role is not limited to home but involvement in school activities too.

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A child’s learning scale is highly related to how they are treated at home. Here are a few ways which parents can adopt to help with their child’s education:

1. Be a role model

Kids would be easily inspired by what their parents do. So it would be good to be a role model in their learning phase. Parents are a kid’s first teachers and so learn the first things together at home.

Show them how exciting and meaningful a school life can be if they give out their best. Inspire them to learn novel elements in and out of school with friendly reminders and guidance.

2. Read together

Doing things together with parents give them a sense of support and confidence. Reading the lessons together is one of the best ways to be close with the child’s learning at school.

This not only improves their vocabulary but invokes interest in them to read more.

It is also a good idea to visit the library together and share quality books to help them get additional knowledge than classroom lessons.

3. Oversee child’s activity

It is important to have an eye on the child’s activity in school and home. Their general habits are closely linked to how they perform in their studies.

So give timely advice and correct any abnormal behavior right from the childhood days and inspire them to be good citizens.

Help them to be more organized with their daily routine and find enough time for the lessons.

4. No over scheduling

It is not a good idea to over schedule them with learning activities at home.

They are spending about half of their day at school. So help them schedule their extra learning and homework time at home without burdening them.

Balancing the time between lessons, play time and rest is important to have a quality student life.

5. Provide pleasant atmosphere

Parents should make sure that the kids are provided with a peaceful and pleasant atmosphere at home.

It is good to avoid discussing family problems in kid’s presence and don’t create a mess at home with unnecessary quarrels.

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Both father and mother should consider the importance of their study life and give them adequate moral support.

6. Give constructive criticism

If you notice that your kid is not performing well or giving less importance to studies, correct them at the beginning itself.

However, it is not good to spoil their peace of mind with ill words. Have some patience and give only constructive criticism if you notice any downsides. Make them understand what is right and wrong rather than simply blaming them.

7. Help with home assignments

Giving good support to kids in their studies would really lift their spirit for learning.

Show it with small gestures such as helping them with home assignments or projects. However, it is not advised to do every lesson for them and let them play.

Do it together and help them with some tips and guidance in doing the assignments better.

8. Prepare them for tests

When it is their exam time, don’t leave them alone with their lessons. Help them to prepare for the tests with good guidance and support.

You may even conduct mini tests at home before the actual test to lessen their exam worries and tensions. You may also give additional help with the lesson areas in which they are weak.

9. Reward them for results

Giving good motivation is important for a kid to perform better with studies.

So don’t hesitate to reward them if they come up with some good results in the tests. This also gives them the spirit to perform better every next time.

However, keep a limit and it is not good to over shower them with gifts for an average performance which fades away their killer instinct.

10. Go for educational trips

It is a good idea to go for educational trips during the holidays. Include destinations that have some relevance with what they are studying to help them have a better understanding of the lessons.

Occasional trips to museums and zoos would also help them to interact with the nature and learn new things.

11. Maintain parent teacher relationships

Don’t skip the parent teacher meetings and interaction sessions. It is good to keep a good relation with your kid’s teachers.

Learn from them about the child’s activities in school and make sure to correct the child if something is wrong.

Maintaining parent teacher relationships also shows your interest in your kid’s matters which gives them a good feeling.

12. Set aside time for kids

It is a fact that working parents would be busy with their tight schedules.

However, set aside some time for your kids and don’t leave them lonely at home.

Make a comfortable space for them at home by maintaining a good parent child relationship. Eat together and play with them in the free time and go for occasional trips to free up their mind.

13. Monitor their learning

Some kids will take up initiatives themselves to spend time for learning at home.

However, it is not the case for all and parents should make deliberate interventions for many kids.

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Don’t force them to do anything but do a proper monitoring about their learning at home and give friendly advices. Have a check on their leisure time if they are lacking in performance.

14. Prioritize child’s learning

Study life is an important phase of a kid and parents should give enough importance to it when deciding on other matters.

Make it a priority and avoid unnecessary trips or functions that can affect their study schedule.

Don’t encourage them to take unnecessary leaves from school for silly matters and make them understand the importance of daily class attendance.

15. Share your personal experience

It is good to share some of your school life experiences with your kid in your free time.

This can include positive and negative experiences to help them understand the importance of learning.

Also inspire them with your success stories to teach them about the importance of hard work and how it pays you back.

16. Devise fun ways to learn

Make learning a fun activity with devising some interesting ways. Gamification is also a good idea to adopt for home learning too.

Utilize the travelling time and playing time to help them memorize and revise the difficult subject areas with some fun tricks.

Perform fun quizzes and friendly debates at home that cover their lessons or include flash card activities to revise their subjects with fun.

17. Talk with your kid

Spend enough time everyday to talk to your kid even if you have tight schedules. Learn from them about their concerns or doubts about any happenings in and out of school.

Make sure that they are not worried about any thoughts or scary things and give them moral support for the problems they are facing.

18. Encourage active learning

Active learning has a lot of benefits over the sedentary learning. It is the role of parents to encourage them for active learning at home which reflects on the way they perform in classrooms.

You may also take initiatives to help them form a good friends circle with the neighbourhood kids and organize interesting activities.

This not only makes them lively but also gives a spirit of peer to peer learn with fun experience.

19. Help them relax

In addition to the busy study schedule and play time, make sure that they are getting proper rest at the end of the day

. Help them to relax with a good night’s sleep and proper food.

Take effort to know your child’s areas of interests and include them in the holiday time to give them a good relief from the stress of studies.

20. Be a good friend

Last but not the least, it is important to be a good friend of your kid. Give them a space to share anything that comes to their mind and express their true feelings.

Give them assurance that you would offer a helping hand despite what all comes their way.

This would boost their confidence level and help them to excel and perform better in learning and other school activities.

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Besides school learning, parent’s active role during their study life can help them to grow up with better social skills and improved behaviour.

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Many studies and surveys have noted the importance of parent’s involvement in the child’s education. Students with good support from home have achieved better grades at school and grew up with a higher self-esteem.