It seems to be that every parent and teacher wants their child to get 100%. I understand this - it's very important to aim to get every question correct. There are two concerns: it's demotivating when the child doesn't get full marks, and there is little opportunity to try again. It's a little old fashioned to talk about practice making perfect but, at least in maths, there … [Read more...]
Arnie Schwarzenegger terminates textbooks
I'm sure thousands of school children celebrated the decision, by Arnie Schwarzenegger, to not purchase any more textbooks. Unfortunately there is too little money available and, as Governor of California, Mr Schwarzenegger has frozen any further spending. Arnie Schwarzenegger is the real terminator. Certainly it seems an awful shame but it could have a real benefit. The … [Read more...]
Let your brain take the strain in learning to concentrate
Have you ever asked your brain a question? Not the Homer Simpson two way dialogue - although I'm sure this happens to me frequently. Just simply asking your brain can lead to some amazing results. Take a pub quiz question, such as the name of a well known actor. It's just 'on the tip of your tongue' but you can't think of the answer just now. You go on to talk about other … [Read more...]
How to learn to concentrate
How to learn to concentrate I wish I had a pound for every parent who said "If only he would just learn to concentrate." It's a comment that appears frequently and seems to be at the root of all learning. The fact that "my child can't concentrate" is blamed for all the problems. There have been studies involving diet, exercise and a number of other factors. Some are … [Read more...]
Fun ways to learn times tables
For many children learning multiplication tables can be difficult. It's an essential part of the curriculum and is helpful in a number of ways. From being comfortable with numbers, to estimation skills, the times tables should never be very far from Year 3-5 homework. There's quite a few fun ways to learn times tables and lots of different toys. In past times, and still in … [Read more...]