Mistakes are easy to make when you are starting to learn and speak any language.
Some mistakes can be funny, others become a habit that are difficult to fix.
All mistakes children make come from either directly translating and using sentence structures from their mother tongue or a language they are better versed in or simply from learning from a weak source. Naturally, problems can arise when a new language is learnt in such ways.
Oh English, why must you be so confusing? This is a question often asked of us at I Can Read by both parents and students. Whilst all languages have their quirks, there seems to be many more in English. We are confident that at I Can Read, we can set your child on the right path to English success.
Homework is a bit of a touchy subject for younger learners.
We often think about practices that are fun and enjoyable like singing songs, learning the alphabet and playtime before your child goes into primary school.
But, we want to share with you how your child can benefit from the structure of homework from a young age.
So, let’s look at the serious benefits of introducing the concept of homework early!
What is the purpose of homework at a young age?
It is somewhat questionable what benefits homework will have for young children as many assume it is unlikely to pay off in the greater learning of a young child.
However, many teachers vouch for homework in the early kindergarten years as a way of socialising kids into a school environment.
The crux of the idea is that the students should get used to homework since it will be a natural aspect of their learning at school.
Hence, starting them early will give them the idea of what can be expected once they reach the more formal level of schooling.
The learning value of this concept will acclimatise your child into what to expect as a student.
With the right introduction to the concept, young kids can come to actually enjoy homework.
Setting up a routine of doing their homework when they get home sets them up for the future.
How much homework is appropriate?
Some of the biggest arguments against homework at a young age tend to be linked to whether the amount of homework is the right amount or is appropriate.
It has been suggested that ten minutes of homework corresponding to the kindergarten level the child is in is ideal and is in good alignment with research.
That means in grade 1, kids would do 10 minutes of homework per night,
in second grade it would be 20, third grade 30 and so on.
While not all parents and kids may be willing to commit to the practice, homework is beneficial to kids at some level.
There’s no point holding back something beneficial just because not everyone will or can take advantage of it!
Parents can play a big role too
While we love to see kids participate in class and learn to enjoy the process of homework, this often requires parents to play an integral part of the process.
We’ve already talked about homework as not just being a learning tool but a practice of responsibility.
In fact, at such a young age, focusing on your child’s behaviour and response to structure is definitely more important than the actual practice of doing homework content.
Things may not always go as planned when structured homework practice is out in place.
There may be instances where your child just cannot accomplish the work assigned due to lack of understanding or just a lack of motivation to do it.
In those cases, it is actually best to allow your child time away from having to do the homework.
This strategic break will allow your child to distract themselves positively from what they were uncertain of or unwilling to do at the initial stage.
Helping your child to reset their mind and give the homework a fresh effort is very important.
You may also need to help your child manage their uncertainties towards their homework and guide them to do it.
It can be managed with your help for the first few questions and then set the expectation of independent effort thereafter.
Sometimes children just need a physical presence of a parent to get them through the homework at hand and being the positive motivational figure for them will be crucial in setting up good habits towards homework in general.
It also helps a parent to track what subjects and areas of homework your child needs more support in.
By developing this proximity of trust and guidance, your child will be more willing to not only do their homework but to do it very well.
When the homework does get too challenging and you notice your child struggling with the foundations of how to attempt the homework, it would be a good idea to engage the teacher in charge so they can guide your child in better methods or strategies for finishing their homework! From a purely academic perspective, the teacher will be able to manage and improve the knowledge of the child to do the homework. Working in partnership with the teacher will only bring out the best in your child!
Don’t do your kid’s homework!
While it may be tempting for you to just simply fill in the answer yourself to spare yourself the hassle of explaining the question or even of showing the method to doing it accurately, it does not set the right tone of expectation you should place on homework.
In order to save your child from any embarrassment when they are in class, continually struggling with the way a question should be answered or not being able to manage a topic or idea with accuracy, it can be a lot more beneficial to engage your child in the process of what they need to with guidance, teaching and support.
If your child makes a mistake that they cannot overcome within the expectation of the homework, it is also fine for them to acknowledge they have made a mistake and so they will need to learn how to correct it at school.
This also provides teachers with a great opportunity to learn about your child’s areas of weaknesses or knowledge gaps that they can help to patch strategically.
It is equally important for your child to be able to reach out to help but know that help does not mean no more effort is needed.
Working through the steps teaches your child the power of being able to ask for help, acknowledge when help is needed and the right strategies to overcome the area of help they had initially will be the best way forward!
What to do if you’re not great at English
Any kind of involvement and support can make a difference in your child’s enthusiasm and effort towards homework.
It can be as simple as sitting by their side, looking through a dictionary with them and even keeping track of time for them.
Working through specific homework with positive strategies is most important.
For instance, focusing on practicing sight vocabulary for about 10 minutes per night can have amazing results that speed up your child’s reading development.
Setting up a simple reward system to ensure they meet goals and targets set at home will be very useful. This will free-up the parents needs to be specifically involved in the knowledge content and delivery of it but re-emphasise the need for focus, discipline and effort.
The standards set at home will develop room for success for the child in class.
The teacher will be able to focus on more complex aspects of reading or practices if the foundation skills are managed through homework practices effectively.
As children move up through the school years and levels, homework practice will get easier because children generally can read and write more independently and therefore achieve higher order skill in the classroom.
So, by simply increasing the amount of accountable reading students do for homework, eventually reading and answering questions, reading and preparing discussion notes, reading and writing will naturally develop and create more opportunities of learning for students.
It can help with reading in time
In all, from the age of 3 and upwards, homework has a fairly consistent impact on achievement — and the payoff tends to increase as students advance through the years.
Remember, motivate, encourage and support your child and you will see them embrace the process of homework with great willingness.
Teaching a child to find strength to continue learning even though they may not feel motivated is teaching a child to be resilient. Digging deep and using that sense of resilience when the child has lost their momentum is teaching a child to bounce back and be better. A child with such a mindset is more likely to succeed than one who fails and gives up. In this post, I Can Read (ICR) would like to give you some insights on raising a resilient child.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year once again! And there’s nothing children love more about this time of the year than getting their presents.
And for many of our students who are bookworm converts, a good book might just be the ticket!
The school break is over and it’s time to go back to school!
But, is your child ready for the term ahead?
After a long vacation, children can find it difficult to get back into the school routine.
Picking up on activities and routines such as waking up early, packing bags, preparing for classes and doing homework may cause unnecessary unhappiness.
Hence, it is crucial to get your child mentally and academically ready for the term ahead.
Here are some tips from the I Can Read Team to help your child to ease into the transition back to the classroom and to help prepare them for the new school year.
Approach it in the best way for your child
Although many parents make going back to school fun and relatable, some children still worry about the first day and the new term.
Not every child will relish the thought of going back to school.
If this is the case, then keeping processes like counting down to the new school year, purchasing of books and even new sets of uniform can be done with less flair.
Parents usually know their own child’s personality and will intrinsically understand whether speaking about returning to school is exciting for them or if it fills them with panic.
It’s better to get a sense of your child’s mindset and hype them up for the new year positively in exciting ways to get them ready.
Keeping it positive and relatable should be the main approach in helping your child get back to school eagerly.
Get Organised
Before the school year starts, try to ensure you have everything your child will need for school.
School supplies, books, pencils and anything else that is required should be prepared in advance.
This process should ideally be done with your child so as to prepare them for what is to come.
Allowing them to select some of the items for school like their stationery, their school bags and even their water bottles can also be a great way to bring them on board.
Children usually love picking out new school supplies and it will help them get excited about going back to school and bringing things they chose for themselves.
Talk About It
Starting in a new school, tuition centre or even moving up a class can be a big adjustment for your child.
Keep the lines of communication open and listening to your child will make life a lot easier for the both of you.
Such conversations should be carried out to encourage your child to understand the changes the new year will bring to them, what they can expect and even what they will encounter in their new environment.
Before classes start, talk to them and ask them how they are feeling.
Assuring them that the new year will be positive and enjoyable will help them to be more open to the experience. It will also allow them to discuss their uncertainties with you, which you can easily clarify and provide assurance for. Remember: Communication is key.
Stay active
While school is naturally a more indoor and classroom centric environment, it is encouraged that parents attempt to balance your child’s school days with some form of physical activity.
Making exercise part of their daily schedule will help them release any pent-up emotions and thoughts they may have had for the day at school.
Going to the park or riding a bike while getting the whole family involved are simple yet effective ways of helping your child feel more receptive and adapt better to the daily rigours of school. Staying active can help your child better focus better on homework and relieve any stresses they may have in a day.
Get Rest
Waking up early for school again can be difficult to adapt to, especially if they have enjoyed a long holiday of late movie nights and flexible sleeping hours over the holidays.
Re-establishing a regular bedtime closer to the start of the school year can help your child realign themselves to the idea of returning to school while ensuring that they get sufficient rest to wake up refreshed in the morning.
It’s widely encouraged that children get a minimum of 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep during the night to have them do better the next day.
That’s all from us at I Can Read! We wish you and your child the best of luck and a hearty congratulations on starting another school year!
If you are looking for a bit of a headstart in building a strong foundation in English, it’s never too early or late to start with us. Check out all our courses here, and we will see you next year!
Positive Reinforcement at I Can Read
As parents, we often hear about how sparing the rod may spoil the child, but in this day and age where corporal punishment is increasingly frowned upon, how should we teach our children to behave?
In fact, we’re such proponents of this method that we’re going to share some tips on how you can replicate it at home.
At I Can Read, we pride ourselves on encouraging our students to work hard and enjoy the benefits of their own hard work.
Our teachers use positive reinforcement with our students to reward them for working hard and trying their best. Essentially, this helps to motivate our little ones to strive for improvement.