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Nine Tenths of Education....

Nine tenths of education is encouragement. 
Anatole France (1844-1924) French poet, journalist, novelist.

How true this statement is for students. (And we are all students!)

I often say to parents that the content information is often the least important component compared to helping students believe in themselves.
Once students have changed thinking patterns to believe they can succeed, they often excel beyond first expectations.
Always encourage your children / students to challenge themselves and reach beyond their last attempt.

Having said this, encouragement does not mean lying to the student.
Not everything is GREAT !
Today, too often every stroke of the pen or idea is given equal and elevated status.  There is nothing wrong (in fact everything right) with redoing a written article to make improvements or reworking a math problem that wasn't fully completed.

I have found that even very young students appreciate honest assessments.  Then, when they do get that "A" or "excellent" on their page, they feel especially proud.

Those with learning challenges need to know that their work is valuable and that they can continue to improve.  It isn't important that their work is the same as everyone else in the class.  It is important that they continue to challenge themselves!

Summer Learning Loss

 

Stop Summer Learning Loss 

but

Don't Stop Learning!

Studies vary concerning learning loss over the long summer holiday; however, they all do show substantial losses for those students who are struggling in the first place.
Even straight "A" students tend to show some loss if not engaged over the months away from learning.

How to avoid summer learning loss: 

       Read  !
This cannot be overstated
Reading is so important.  The choice of reading material is less a factor than the act and the follow-up.
Don't read "blindly" - engage yourself with the material by talking about what you've read with others, look to learn more about the topic, write about what you've read, comment or blog about it.  Use any method you like to make sure that you aren't forgetting as fast as you are reading.
Also, remember the library - often free reading material of all kinds there!

       Write !
Write a journal.
Write about what you have been reading (see above).
Start a blog about your favourite topic.
Write letters (astonish your friends and the world!).
Write some poems.

Parents

Engage your children with daily / weekly chores.
Plan grocery trips with a list.  (They can make the list.  They might even be able to help plan the recipes for  the week and then work on the list with you.)
Math can be practised when cooking with a recipe (especially if you are halving or doubling the recipe, etc.)
Ask for opinions and comments on T.V. shows or Internet/video games, etc.
NOTE:       Be sure to ask open questions not closed questions.
An open question invites more conversation, whereas a closed question generally illicits only a  "yes" or "no" response.
Example:   
      Open question -   "What did you like about the main character ?"
      Closed question - "Did you like the main character?" 

Don't be too quick to judge opinions (despite the lack of logic or maturity). It is just important to keep paying attention and engaging with material.  A great deal of learning comes from talking it out and hearing one's own ideas aloud.  Self-correction tends to happen in stages.

Tutoring

Of course - a couple hours of tutoring per week can also help retain past lessons and help to prepare for the next year! 

Come see what a professional tutor and personalized program can do for you or your child!
www.tutoringcentral.com

Incredibox

 This is a fun site!
I made a little musical composition for my wife's birthday.

 Please vote !! 

  http://www.incredibox.com/?music=51A90D3E0DB55

Happy Birthday, Gay !

Incredibox

New Programs !

I am pleased to announce that I am offering new programs. 

I am especially looking forward to incorporating some of the Reading Assistant™ programs. 

While I don't think computers should take over the learning process, they are an excellent tool to assist in gaining ground - particularly in repetitive technical practice. 

Also  Summer Tutoring will soon be starting - check website for further information:

www.tutoringcentral.com

 The Reading Assistant™ program

combines advanced speech recognition technology with research-based instruction

helps students strengthen their reading fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension

feedback to participants is supportive and individualized 

The Fast ForWord® program

Accelerates learning for students across a wide spectrum of ages and abilities

Applies proven research on how the brain learns

Builds cognitive skills in the areas of memory, attention, processing, and sequencing

Learners can realize rapid achievement gains 

For more information, don't hesitate to call or e-mail:  

519 824 0982 

tutoringcentral@inbox.com

Fish Ladder

Gay and I had an amazing week at the Royal Habour Resort in Thornbury.

Here is a short video of the Dam at Thornbury and the fish ladder.  The Beaver River empties into the Nottawasaga Bay (part of Georgian Bay).

From:  http://www.visitgrey.ca/travel-experiences/fall-in-grey-county/fish-ladders/

Thornbury Fish Ladder - Located on Hwy 26 just east of the lights in Thornbury.  
The fish ladder runs under the bridge over the Beaver River.  It was designed to provide fish passage from Georgian Bay to spawning beds on the Beaver River, south of the Thornbury dam.
It can best be seen from an attractive stairway and platforms which are accessible from the public parking lot next to Town Hall.  There are interpretive story boards sponsored by the Thornbury Clarksburg Rotary Club along the walk known as Riverwalk which follows the shore of the Beaver River.  The best times to visit the fishway are spring and fall.  Rainbow Trout swim up the river in spring and salmon in fall.

History

History - of course, sometimes needs a rewrite!

It should be altered to reflect new facts or facts that were deliberately ignored (or covered up) in earlier versions.
Alternate voices are important to give history its depth.  True, this creates a bit more mess.  It isn't quite as simple as good guys/girls versus bad guys/girls, but the 'truth' generally isn't so clear-cut anyway.

Have a look at some of the various discussions around Louis Riel.
(Canadian History: Red River Rebellion and North-West Rebellion)

A good starting place is Canada's History magazine (Feb-March 2013): Thunder on the Prairie and
Shifting Riel - ity.

Was he a rebel, a defender of human rights, a hero, a crazy man ?  Perhaps he was all of this and more.  
For sure, he wasn't just a hero.  He wasn't just a rebel.

1984

I just finished re-reading George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four.

Despite the date of the title, there are still many relevant themes.

                         Telescreen - Facebook / Twitter anyone ?

Some modifications -but who knew so many people would be willing to forgo their privacy.

Also, ideas around the haves and have-nots.  There is lots of fodder for conspiracy theorists as well.

                        reality control - spin
   
       correcting history - politically correct translations of classic texts.

Still lots to think about! 

Snow !!

Good Luck on Exams!

Wishing all of my students (and all students) the best of luck on their Exams!  

Of course, if you have been following along with the lessons, you know that luck is the smallest part of doing well.
Your preparation and excellent study skills will take you to the top!

Don't panic, relax, use what you have learned, and you will do fine.

For a reminder of tips, check out the website link below:

http://tutoringcentral.com/teaching_tips__quotations.htm

30% Off College / University Tuition !

 Check this website out if you are soon aiming to go off to college or university.  It is worth it.
 
http://www.ontario.ca/education-and-training/30-off-ontario-tuition