PLRS Learning Cycle

Increase your knowledge !












Although the following may sound quite burdensome, it really isn't.  The main theme is that the more you rehearse material, the better you will remember it.  This is useful for tests, quizzes, and exams; but, more importantly, it is essential for building your own knowledge base.

 PLRS = preview, lecture, review, study.

Preview:   

• This preparation before class is similar to a warm-up before a physical activity.  It develops                  a specific readiness for class as previous lecture notes and textbook study notes are reviewed.  Written assignments and problems are proofread before being turned in.

Lecture:    

• Formal learning begins in the classroom where students and teachers engage in dialogue.  Through efficient listening / note-taking techniques and by means of questions, frequent recitations, and lively discussion, learning takes place in a dynamic atmosphere.

Review:   

• This active response to classroom learning includes both recall and reorganization of the lecture and preparation for later intensive study.  This review requires that lecture notes be edited and summarized and that any assignments be planned while their details are still fresh in the mind.  The review following each course’s final weekly class session can be expanded into a full review of all material covered in the past weeks (assignments and lectures).

Study:  

•  This intensive session normally occurs the night before the next class lecture.  It begins with a brief review of the latest lecture notes.  Then the textbook assignment is over-viewed and mastered with a study-reading technique such as Survey-Question-Study-Read/Summarize-Test. Questions and personal reactions to the study-reading should be written down to be brought up for clarification and discussion in class.

Cumulative learning is far better than cramming and temporary memorization.

Schedule a minimum of 1 hour per night  (more for high school) on the following days:
    Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday
to review your notes, rewrite and correct when necessary, rehearse, and practise various learned concepts.
You have homework on these days whether or not your teacher gave you “homework.”  With additional homework, you will need to add time
Review notes nightly (weekly notes on Sunday and preview for the week).
Rewrite messy or incorrect notes - make corrections.
Self-Test or rehearse material (while not looking at answers - then check).

Note:     Simply reviewing your notes (even many times) before a test will not be enough as you progress.

Well, Back to School !

For many students this is an exciting time.
Time to get new supplies, clothes, etc. and head back to meet up with friends scattered since the summer holiday.
Some students are even eager to get back to learning!

For others, however, it isn't such a great thought.  They aren't looking forward to time in classrooms, teachers' expectations, and ........."work."

For them and for parents (equally inclined), I suggest trying to turn thought patterns into something more positive.  Don't think of it as "work" but more of an opportunity - a chance to expand your knowledge and your understanding not just of history, geography, math, English, etc., but of the whole network of knowledge and how it connects you to the world.
The more you know - the more you can know, and the more opportunities will open up for you time after time.
Turn your thoughts to the idea that school is for you - a tool you use to help yourself.
Once you are in more control, the challenges are acceptable, and you may look forward to proving yourself up to the task.

Being engaged is more than half the battle!

So give it a try.   Turn negative thoughts into positive ones, "work" into challenges, "tests" into games to be conquered.

You can do it !

Fantasy books for Teens

Click on the link below for a list of some fantasy books that might keep your teen reading.  Many of these kinds of stories are in series form which will encourage them to keep reading as well. 

Fantasy | Booklists for Teens | Books & Authors | AdLit.org

Back-to-School Tips for Parents of Children with Special Needs | Reading Topics A-Z | Reading Rockets

There are some excellent tips here - particularly keeping up with your child's IEP.

Also, I'm a big fan of setting a schedule (not only for children/adults with learning challenges) because this ensures a consistent approach to learning.

Above all - stay POSITIVE !!  Learning is not intended to be torture or a punishment. 

Back-to-School Tips for Parents of Children with Special Needs | Reading Topics A-Z | Reading Rockets

Summer schedule

Well, we have just about everybody sorted for the summer schedule ! The first week went very well, with lots of bright-eyed students eager to learn. Of course, it takes a little adjustment to be here in the morning for those that switched to morning hours, but they seemed to handle it quite well.

I always think that if the expectation is they will handle it well - they do!

-Perhaps surprising even to themselves.

A lot of behaviour is somewhat dictated by others' expectations.

(Student: "If I eat this piece of candy, I will be bouncing off the walls." My response, "We won't do candy next time. It isn't essential." Suddenly, there is no bouncing off the walls!)

I hope everyone is enjoying the heat - HOT HOT HOT !!

Visitors to the back yard!

Just a few visitors to our back yard recently. We've had skunks, opossum, raccoons, cats, squirrels, and now a rabbit. A few more creatures, and I think we'll be able to charge admission!

Motorcycles & Sweetgrass

Just finished reading "Motorcycles & Sweetgrass" by Drew Hayden Taylor.

It is really a fun book that has a modern take on some native myths, especially the trickster character - Nanabush.

The conversation between Jesus and Nanabush is hilarious.

The novel was a finalist for the Governor General's award.  
It is relatively safe reading for older children, too.