Lakesha P.'s Blog at WyzAnt.com

Beware of Being Behind

posted by WyzAnt tutor: Lakesha P.

The most common myth that I am regularly addressing at fairs, on the phone, and in emails, is that someone’s student is behind.

I often diffuse this by asking what the scripture reference is that determines what age a student must be to take Algebra 1 or Geometry or begin studying fractions. Is it in 1st Hezekiah or 2nd Assumptions? There is often a pause, then a light begins to dawn, and the look of consternation from wrongly surmising their child is behind, is replaced with a look of relief when they realize he is right where he needs to be.

Now if you have an 18 year old that is still counting on his fingers I recommend you consult a learning specialist to determine if there is a problem. But in 20 years will it make a difference whether your student is studying fractions when he is 10 or 12? The primary indicator is a child’s readiness and math background, not his age, or God forbid, his grade level. Perhaps the root problem is not the student, but an insecure parent? While I am at it, most studies do not support putting children in school at 5 years old. Neither is it in the law given at Sinai, that children must leave home at 18 and enter college.

All three of our college graduates were 20 when they entered college, and they did fine. In fact I think they did better with a few more years of maturity than they would have done as an 18 year old.

This is not to say children can’t begin formal schooling at 5 or enter college at 17, but please trust your instincts and teach and train your children according to what you know about their abilities and readiness.

I do not have grade levels because so many older students have to go back and redo these levels. Most of these older students were moved through successive math classes based on their age and not their achievement. There’s never enough time to do it right the first time, but there is always enough time to go back and do it again.

Please let your children move at their own pace and not some man made standard from one of the worst math nations on the planet, the good old USA.

Protect your children, those precious individuals that God has placed in your care, from state imposed guidelines and raise them and train them in the way they should go.

Bad Test Takers Cheat Sheet

posted by WyzAnt tutor: Lakesha P.

Many students claim to be just bad test takers. No matter how much they study or how well they understand the information, when it comes to taking the test, they can’t perform. Well, rest-assure that the problem probably isn’t that the student is a “bad” test taker, but that they let stress get the better of them. In 9 out of 10 students, inability to perform on tests is caused by stress and tension. Luckily, there are some test taking tips that will help any student conquer test apprehension.

SECRET WEAPONS

All students should have a few of these secret ways to improve not only their test-taking abilities, but also their confidence and self-assurance on the day of the test. The following tips can make a big difference right before a test. Students should try them all to see which ones work best for them.

Special Advice to Students:

1. Use multi-sensory studying and memorization practices. When we study, we tend to focus on the visual, but actually, other senses can help us study even more effectively.

Kinesthetic study practices use movement to assist memory. Try writing vocabulary words in sand or a pan of dry rice. Or use a large paintbrush and write those hard to spell biology words with water in huge letters on the side of the house or the sidewalk. Large motor movements connect to a different part of the brain, and can help with memory formation. Some students may benefit from walking or dancing as they recite words or formulas that must be memorized. These methods are especially useful with students with dyslexia or learning disabilities.
When studying history passages, or other content areas that are not simple memorization, use smells as cues. Read the history passage while sitting on a freshly cut lawn, or while stirring a cup of hot-spiced cider with cinnamon. Then link the memory of the smell to the passage you want to remember by noting where you were and what scent you were breathing in when you studied. Imagining you smell that scent again will help with recall of the passage. Better yet, every time you pass a newly cut lawn and take a deep breath, your mind revisits that passage you learned sitting on the lawn. Smells trigger a primitive part of the brain that accesses memories without having to go through analytic or verbal thought. By linking to these ancient memory messengers, we strengthen verbal memories.
Create audiotapes of passages, formulas, or vocabulary you need to know, and then play them over and over, whatever you are doing.

2. Support the peace warrior in preparing for test days. A positive, self supportive attitude is critical for success. Students must be aware of negative self-talk ("I didn't study enough; I know I'm going to fail; I'm just not smart enough) and shut it down. Instead, students should take excellent care of themselves, and give themselves plenty of positive self-talk as they gird themselves to do battle with those challenging tests. Try the following self-care tactics:

Study two days before a test, instead of one. This practice, shared by a psychology professor, helps deeper memories to form, and also allows a good night's sleep right before a test. Review briefly right before the test to help your memory readiness and boost your confidence.
Use memory aids and mnemonic devices for last-minute memorization (see references below).
Exercise moderately the morning of a test.
Drink plenty of water or other non-caffeinated drinks, and take a water bottle with you to the test.
Eat a good breakfast with plenty of protein and non-sugar carbohydrates for a slower, steadier, release of energy. Make the following recipes ahead of time as brain boosters before the test and for breaks during longer tests.

In the end, students may realize that the Hydra they face is of their own creation – the heads represent anxiety, procrastination, fear of failure, lack of planning, a lack of confidence, and negative self-talk, among others. Good luck! Contact me if you need more help!

The stakes are high

posted by WyzAnt tutor: Lakesha P.

"For a nation that proudly declared it would leave no child behind, America continues to do so at alarming rates." Wow- if that statement alone doesn’t make you scratch your head and get to thinking. Click the red “x” on my page now!

I know that every parent isn’t able to pay for private education. If so, I would be out of a job. But in spite of all that, you can still help pull the c- kid up to an A+ plus student. Even that diggling low D kid can be helped to get it up on the books. Heah really! Kids are the future of our country -Do you trust your kids to run it? In my family, I’d say 3 of my 6 kids I would feel safe handling such a job. Check out these statistics: One kid drops out of high school every 26 seconds. (By the time you finish reading this non stop- that will be 3 dropouts.) These dropouts will be ineligible for certain jobs, less likely to vote, paid $.40/dollar & continue the cycle of poverty. That feeling from a parent's point of view is scary. But as a mom, to feel afraid is not enough. Be your child's Superman. I can help! The time to change the odds is now! Great instructor- Great education- contact me!

Quarters, Nickels and Dimes - Oh My!

posted by WyzAnt tutor: Lakesha P.

By now you should know that I like to get right to the point of each blog. Yes, I love to socialize, but hey, I know that we parents want it quick, correct and easy! Right? Ok, here ya go. BTW, this will be my LAST blog before my newest son comes any day now! Should you need to block tutoring time, e-message me please!

Teaching money is the perfect candidate for hands-on learning. Kids love to spend money. Teaching them to count it, save it, and give it is good training. Each time they have an opportunity to handle money they will become better and better with money and how to handle it! My 10 year old daughter ROCKS! Today, we went to Ikea. They are offering free lunch till the 5th of this month for kids up to 12 yrs old. My yummy food came to $5.99. Although I had my 4 kids with me I only paid for my food- awesome right? So, I gave the cashier a $10.00. Before she could give me my change, my daughter had already chimed in my change. And she was correct! She usually is though. She had been counting money on that level since she was 8 or so! Pretty good I think. This is a great skill because being pregnant sometimes I don't feel like standing in line. This pregnancy got me pretty good. I look for the closest bench, pass her my coupons, and rest for a second while she pays for our order close by. So reading a receipt and then balancing it in against what she has in her hand is a breeze!

Here's how we did it some 5 years ago! PRESCHOOL: Go to the dollar store and purchase play money, coins too-as soon as they learn how to count. They may not know coin values, but show them small sets of coins separated by denominations and let them count with you.

Gather some "in demand" items from around the house. Set prices on them like .01, .05, .25 and dollar amounts. I give them money to begin or let them earn the money to shop with by completing chores or worksheets. At first it took my kids some time for them to get the exact amount but, it's worth it! When all of their money is gone-the store is closed! For the OLDER KIDS, consider opening a savings account at your local credit union. Not only could they earn a little bit in interest, but can practice the goal of the 1/3 rule. Saving 1/3, spending 1/3, and 1/3 giving. We even included making them a offer to match what they saved in 2 months! You'll be surprised at how responsible and wise they will become with their own money!

Your end product is a child with a great relationship with money, whose not only a human calculator, but also a wise, responsible shopper and financially on the right road.

Best Free Math Sites

posted by WyzAnt tutor: Lakesha P.

Juneteenth is this weekend. It is also Fathers day weekend. So why am I in the house and my husband is at the celebration with 6 kids under 12 in the 90+ heat?.......Because I'm about to deliver & he's awesome! Crazy, but awesome.

Just in case you are not familiar with the holiday, here's a brief summary. Juneteenth's importance in American history is celebrated as Emancipation Day or Freedom Day. It commemorates the ending of slavery in the US.

On this festive day of celebration, there are guest speakers, picnics, family gatherings an African Name Ceremony and even African Drumming. It is also marked with education and achievement. With that being said, here's my contribution to the cause. Free your time with these math links!

Learning Games For Kids- Below you will find great ways to help build your child's foundational skills that elementary school curriculum requires. These learning games are fun, and more importantly they teach important skills for pre-school and elementary age kids. And best of all--they're free! So, if you want educational games that help build skills, you've come to the right place! Till next time- be blessed!

www.apples4theteacher.com
www.coolMath4kids.com
www.APlusmath.com
www.LearningGamesforKids.com
www.Quiz-Tree.com
www.Lumosity.com
www.PrimaryGames.com

Summer of NO Brain Drain

posted by WyzAnt tutor: Lakesha P.

They say that millions of American children will lose about 25% of their reading skills and approximately 2.6 months of math computation skills this summer (according to the U.S. Department of Education and the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management). If that wasn’t bad enough, teachers typically spend 4 to 6 weeks re-teaching or re-reviewing material that kids forgot over the summer break (Johns Hopkins Center for Summer Learning).

To prevent these typical summer-time losses, known as “The Summer Brain Drain” or (which occur when kids do not engage in educational activities), I am offering offering tips and lists of games and activities for parents. I am also offering my own 3-month, hour a day, summer program for kids of all ages. The brain works like the body. The good news is that mental exercises can not only prevent the losses but raise cognitive function and IQ, in a short amount of time. Reinforcing cognitive skills (tools that enable kids to successfully focus, think, prioritize, plan, remember, visualize and solve problems) is the answer. My tips for summertime include:

* BOARD GAMES such as Simon (for auditory processing, memory), Uno (for logic and reasoning), Speed Cards (for visual processing and attention), 20 Questions (for memory, logic and reasoning);
* ONLINE GAMES and websites such as www.primarygames.com, www.funbrain.com, www.thekidzpage.com/freekidsgames;
* PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES that energize mind and body (e.g., counting while dribbling a basketball or jumping rope, or working math and geography facts while on a Trampoline).

I also offers tips to choose a fun and educational family trip this summer to incorporate learning opportunities (including hands-on activities, brain-boosting car games, reading, research and more).

Recent studies also show that the brain is capable of remarkable change and growth. Until the 1990s, scientists believed the brain was stagnant. We now know that the brain is capable of growth at any age, and that intensive one-on-one cognitive skills training can treat the root cause of learning struggles like ADHD, dyslexia or memory issues. These do not have to be lifelong labels. It's also good news for anyone who wants to strengthen their cognitive skills, increase their IQ, reduce medications, and become a better learner – whether six or 106 years old. Cognitive skills training does for the brain what physical exercise does for the body.

Be sure to try me for my 3-month summer program, where kids can drop in for about an hour a day each day, at an local library and still get to enjoy their summer fun. For more information about it, cognitive skills testing, Summer No- Brain Drain, ADHD, dyslexia, autism or age-related cognitive decline, contact me via this site.

Talking About Bad Math Skills

posted by WyzAnt tutor: Lakesha P.

If you're looking for hands-on ways to build your child's math skills, head to the kitchen. Math skills are important along with text books, manipulatives and games. Even very young children can help in the kitchen. At ages two and three, my niece and son assisted me in making a pumpkin pie. Having all the ingredients and tools ready to use will help when working with youngsters who aren't great at waiting.

Math: Weights, liquid measures, dry measures - it's all there. Plus basic counting, fractions, addition, multiplication, and division.

Reading: Recipes are predictable texts - they use the same words over and over again. That means that beginning readers can decipher them with just a little practice.

Geography: Cook something from another country for an international learning experience!

Science: Recipes work because of science - leave out the baking powder and the muffins won't rise. Cooking is full of hands-on science. Plus, your kids can develop art and creativity in ingredient choice and presentation. And learning to cook, they'll be learning important life skills.

Math skills really add up in the kitchen because recipes are boiling over with math! For further tips continue reading my blog or contact me!