Oxford Learning Center works with all ages from 3 up to College age, and they are there for you and your child if they are struggling with a particular subject, having difficulty concentrating or you want to prepare them for secondary school. What you may not know is there is help and the answer is Oxford Learning Center.

Based on decades of research into how children learn, they designed a radically new approach to teaching and this is how Oxford Learning came to be the powerhouse of better learning that it is today. The Oxford Learning Regina tutoring team will give your child the tools for a life time of learning; You really couldn’t give your child a better gift. 

Oxford Learning Center are your Trusted Regina tutors and educators

With the new school year just around the corner, it’s time to start back-to-school prep.

Shopping for new school supplies and clothes helps kids start thinking about the return to the classroom, but that’s just the start. There are many more ways to prep kids for school year success so they can start the new school year with a fresh and ready mind.

The habits and routines that are implemented at home right now go a long way to helping students prepare not only for back to school success, but for success that lasts the whole school year—much longer than new pencils or running shoes will!

Wondering how to help your child get a jump start on a great school year? Our Back to School Checklist is a handy guide to some ideas to prep the entire household for school year success.

HOW TO START THE SCHOOL YEAR OFF RIGHT

REINTRODUCE BEDTIMES AND WAKE-UP TIMES

Poor sleeping habits can have an impact on student performance, so the sooner you get your child on a regular sleep schedule, the better. Starting the school year will be easier for you and your child, and will help avoid morning—and evening—rushes.

MAKE SURE CHILDREN ARE READING AND WRITING A LITTLE EVERY DAY

Reading and writing helps get children’s minds working and helps keep their brains sharp. Getting back into the habit of reading and writing a bit each day will help maintain school skills like penmanship and vocabulary so your child can start the school year strong.

LIMIT SCREEN TIME DURING AFTER-SCHOOL HOURS

During the school year, after-school hours should be reserved for homework and extra-curricular activities. Start getting into this routine in the weeks leading up to school. The sooner kids turn off the TV and turn on their minds during this timeframe, the less of a hassle homework will be during the school year.

PLAY BOARD GAMES TO CHALLENGE THE MIND

Use TV-free time to play board games with kids during what will become the homework hour. This will help kids get into the habit of doing engaging their mind during this time, so when homework starts coming home again, they already have a routine in place.

GET AN ALARM CLOCK

For children who can tell time, an alarm clock can help them develop time management and organization skills they’ll need during the school year. This will help kids take ownership of their activities and help avoid rushed mornings.

BUY A FAMILY WALL CALENDAR TO HANG IN A VISIBLE LOCATION

A wall calendar makes a great organization tool. Have kids write down their commitments like soccer, dance class, birthday parties, etc. When school starts, use the calendar to note the due dates of big projects, standardized testing dates, and vacation days.

START HAVING KIDS SELECT THEIR CLOTHES THE NIGHT BEFORE

Picking out clothes is a great way for children to develop organizational habits. Having everything picked out and ready the day before also helps cut down on school-day morning rushes and last-minute scrambles.

BEGIN TALKING ABOUT RETURNING TO SCHOOL

Start counting down the days together. Preparation can help make the transition back to class much less stressful and difficult for students. Talking about the upcoming school year can help kids manage expectations, set goals, and prepare.

TAKE A TOUR OF YOUR CHILD’S NEW SCHOOL

If your child is starting at a new school, it can be intimidating. Getting to know the way around helps lessen school-related anxiety and boost confidence. Take a tour of the new school, find out teachers’ names, the location of classrooms, and where the bathrooms are located.

REVIEW LAST YEAR’S REPORT CARD(S)

Unless problems were addressed over the summer, it’s likely they may return again this year. Remind yourself of weak areas so you can make a plan to address problem areas early on.

BUY NEW SCHOOL SUPPLIES

Being prepared with the right supplies is an important part of performing well in school. New supplies also hold a certain magic for getting kids excited about hearing the school bell ring again.

A BETTER SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS RIGHT NOW!

Learning how to have a successful school year starts with the right preparation and a positive attitude. It’s never too early to start thinking about getting back into the school-year routine—getting started now will help make the back to school transition easier on both you and your child.

Check out our Back to school Checklist!

Oxford Learning are your Trusted Regina tutors and educators! 

Oxford Learning Center works with all ages from 3 up to College age, and they are there for you and your child if they are struggling with a particular subject, having difficulty concentrating or you want to prepare them for secondary school. What you may not know is there is help and the answer is Oxford Learning Center.

Based on decades of research into how children learn, they designed a radically new approach to teaching and this is how Oxford Learning came to be the powerhouse of better learning that it is today. The Oxford Learning Regina tutoring team will give your child the tools for a life time of learning; You really couldn’t give your child a better gift.

Oxford Learning Center are your Trusted Regina tutors and educators 

Trusted Regina Tutors and Educators tip on Learning Language from their Oxford Learning Blog

A STAGE-BY-STAGE GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING REPORT CARDS

EARLY YEARS—KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE TWO

From the ages of five onwards, children are learning to adjust to an academic setting. Report cards tend to report on student’s behavioral and social progress, such as how they are getting along with their peers, and whether they can stay focused on a task.

Academically, young children are being introduced to the basic skills that they will use to build all future learning upon. Reading progression is critical during the early years. Students should be continually meeting, if not exceeding, the reading progression standards.

While young students may have their entire academic future ahead of them, poor report cards could mean potential problems in the long run. If issues are cropping up time and again, parents should consider getting extra help for their child so that the issue doesn’t become a major learning roadblock.

Children are changing greatly during the early years, and what was a problem today, may not be a problem tomorrow. Even if a particular area might be of concern, parents should watch for incremental improvement from one report card to the next. Always discuss report cards with the teacher, who can give a better picture of a child’s progress.

Each report card marks a milestone of achievement. Just because a child is under performing on one report card, does not mean that there won’t be significant improvement by the next report card.

MIDDLE YEARS—GRADES THREE TO EIGHT

The middle years of school are all about progress markers. While the early years focus on behavior and development, the middle years are very important academically. Children are introduced to increasingly difficult academic skills and their ability to learn these foundational skills is very much the focus of report cards.

Low grades on report card, while problematic, are not as much of a cause for concern as grades that are dropping. Consistency is key on report cards during the middle years; children should not be going down in grade points.

At this stage, the emotional impact of report cards becomes an issue. Worry about grades can cause stress among children and parents alike. Parents can offer incentives to students to help increase their study time, or learn to ask for help in order to maintain grades.

When poor grades are present on multiple report cards, parents should consider it a red flag and seek help before the problem becomes a major issue.

TEEN YEARS—HIGH SCHOOL

In high school, report cards are the biggest indicator of academic performance and progression. The first report of the school year is a warning flag—if there are issues, students should get help as soon as possible. There is plenty of time for students to improve grades before the second and final report cards.

In high school, students’ grades should reflect their short and long-term goals in life. Students need to consider the long-term outcomes of what their grades will mean to them based on what their future goals are.

The pressure is on; students are moving quickly on the fast track towards higher education, and every grade counts. Students should seek extra help as soon as they realize that they need extra support, whether in a particular subject, or in study or homework skills. The sooner that students get the support that they need, the less stressful that report cards become.

Oxford Learning are your Trusted Regina tutors and educators! 

Oxford Learning Center works with all ages from 3 up to College age, and they are there for you and your child if they are struggling with a particular subject, having difficulty concentrating or you want to prepare them for secondary school. What you may not know is there is help and the answer is Oxford Learning Center.

Based on decades of research into how children learn, they designed a radically new approach to teaching and this is how Oxford Learning came to be the powerhouse of better learning that it is today. The Oxford Learning Regina tutoring team will give your child the tools for a life time of learning; You really couldn’t give your child a better gift. 

Oxford Learning Center are your Trusted Regina tutors and educators

Ideally, kids’ motivation would come from within (intrinsic motivation) but sometimes it takes some support to get them to that point, and the messages children get at home can play a huge role.

Here are 5 areas you can focus on to help your child:

1. SHOW YOUR CHILD THAT YOU VALUE EDUCATION

Valuing education starts with making sure your child is present at school – only legitimate illness is a reason to be absent. Talk about school and ask about your child’s day. We use the “high and low” conversation starter around the dinner table, which really helps. When your child has an interest, help her research on the internet to learn more, and take educational trips – library, museum, etc.

Make time for learning outside of the classroom as well. Incorporating activities like reading into your child’s schedule doesn’t have to be hard – right now for our girls it’s “Bed at 7:30, lights out at 8”.  Also ensure your child has all the supplies that are needed at home to complete school work. I suggest keeping a caddy with all materials that can be moved from room to room.  Model reading and writing yourself, and call attention to real-life math you’re using in everyday life.

2. REWARD…THE RIGHT WAY!

I never recommend cash for report card grades, or buying “stuff” to reward achievements, but there are other ways to condition your child to feel positive about her school accomplishments. Praise is best. Verbally reinforce not only final results, but efforts and improvements. I make sure to read nice notes from the teacher out loud to my husband (so the kids can hear) and sometimes we call Grandma and Grandpa to share, too.

Your attention and time are valuable commodities to your child. A visit to the park, movie night on the couch, or trip for hot chocolate or ice cream can be surprise celebrations after the fact (not offered as a bribe in advance). Make sure that TV/video games/social media time come after homework and chores are completed for the night.

3. SUPPORT THE SCHOOL  – YOUR CHILD IS ALWAYS LISTENING.

It’s always important to speak respectfully about staff and school/classroom decisions when your children are in earshot. Show your child that you’re going to be involved in the school year by signing their agenda, and follow through by communicating regularly with the teacher throughout the year. Always follow-up with consequences at home when there is an issue at school.

4. GIVE YOUR CHILD OWNERSHIP.

Starting at a young age, model unpacking bag, setting out homework, etc., (this will make life easier for you, too!). Then expect your child to begin taking responsibility for the routine. Help your child develop daily/weekly to-do lists, in order to be ready for school and bed each day, and for older kids to manage assignments.

Gradually allow your child to have control over the completion of tasks. Allow some choice. Let little ones pick their own bedtime stories (yes, even if it’s the same one every night) and older kids can choose where in the house they want to complete homework.

5. BE POSITIVE

You want your child to take in more positive messages about school than negative. If she’s struggling (academically or behaviorally) it may seem that every discussion about school is “bad”. Make an effort to give positive feedback. Enlist the teacher’s help for this, so you have material to use. One little boy in my class struggles with focus, and the mom and I have chatted about that a few times. She was thrilled (and so was her son) one day when I wrote a glowing message about his time on task.

If work truly seems too difficult or your child seems to have social concerns, speak to the teacher right away so action can be taken to make school the safe, happy and challenging place it should be.

They are your Trusted Regina tutors and educators!