During the course of their academic lives, children have to change school for a variety of reasons. For example parents may change jobs or separate and as a result their children have to change schools. Sometimes the changes may occur due to personal choices (e.g. search for a better quality of life) or social reasons (e.g. change in financial situation). Census data suggests that up to 18% of American school age children change homes in any given year. Most children will transfer to a new school or district at least once before they graduate from high school.

Although the reasons may be valid, changing schools must be handled with extreme caution since changes can have negative consequences on your child.

Academic changes and challenges

 The curriculum can vary within a grade from one school district to the next. Teachers may adjust their pace to fit a particular class. When a new child arrives they may be ahead or behind the new class. Teachers also have different styles of teaching and new students may have to take time to adapt. In the 1990’s a study by the American Medical Association, involving ten thousand students found out that children who move frequently are 35 % more likely to fail a grade. It can also put a child academically behind by up to six months. The statistics further show that changing high schools puts students at a higher risk of in fact dropping out.

Peer Relationships

 Interaction with their peers is extremely important to children .They may leave a school where they know most of their classmates and move to a new school where they have to begin allover to establish new friendships. This can be quite traumatic for a child.

Relationship between School /Parents and Child

An important part of the success of a school is that there is usually a strong collaboration and working relationship between schools and parents. This takes time to build. This makes it difficult and challenging for all parties to begin building a strong relationship. It can also take a while for records from the previous school to arrive.

Disruption to a class

A new student can have an effect on the class dynamics. It is not only that new students have to adjust, it’s the fact that their new classmates have to as well. In addition a teacher normally has to take time out from normal schedules to assess and assimilate new children.

Increases the risk of Psychotic Symptoms

 Recent research has found that children who had changed schools three or four times in their childhood were found to be at least 60 % more likely to display at least one psychotic symptom. Studies have also shown that changing schools can often lead to feelings of low self-esteem.

Sometimes it is unavoidable that a child must change schools. If this is the case then everything must be done to make the transition as smooth as possible.Whatever the reason for changing school, working closely and positively with your child and their new school will be in their best interest.

Some tips on helping your child through the challenges of changing schools:

• Keep in touch with your kid’s best friends from the former school through phone or occasional vacation meetups
• Teach your child social skills that will help them easily make new friends and connect with new classmates.
• Identify areas where your child could potentially fall behind and assist them in those areas.
• Constantly check your child’s progress and get updates from the school on their current situation.

Math word problems are loved by a few and hated by many. A fun way of teaching math word problems is to keep it informal. Remember word problems could be applied to several real life scenarios which all seem normal until you start making them look complex with math formulas. By relating word problems more to real life experiences (where they are drawn from) than from abstract formulas (that they later become) increases the level of interest.

Fun ways to teach math word problems:

• Primarily, an analysis needs to be done before solving a math word problem based on the age of the student.
• Break down word problems into visual representations which kids can easily relate to. Breakdown different segments of word problems into constitutive building blocs which could be understood individually.
• How you interpret and inculcate the skills is more important than reading out the question and making them solve it. The question might be simple to understand, but to leave a lasting impression on the student, we have to generate interest that lasts longer in their minds. Try to include the answer to the question and get the answer from the students.
• Encourage team work and a problem solving approach. This encourages bonding between students and they tend to think collectively by sharing their views.
• Avoid math word problems that seem monotonous. Include variety in the stories behind each problem; also give students problems that push them further into other innovative ways around solving them.
• Break down math word problem based on the math operations involved. Make students to provide answers for each segment of the math operation. This makes students to have a sense of how mixed operations function in real life. This approach also triggers critical thinking in students. But in the same token let the students do the work.
• In order to make your students answer math word problems keep the calculations simple for a start. Do not start with complex math operations and big numbers. Students are still learners and we need to allocate the time and problems according to their level.
• Do not keep math word problems only in the math class; include math word problems in other subjects as well when the opportunity presents. For example in a social studies class, in a science class or in a language class. This might seem intrusive for students at the start but over time they will soon start enjoying this method of learning. It will also enable teachers to shoot two birds with one stone.
• Make each problem easy to read and understand. Problems that are not clear right from the start set the stage for failure.
• Make your questions more interesting and funny to the students. Remember making kids laugh occasionally reduces the stress levels in class. And making kids laugh is quite easy, you mustn’t be a comedian to do so.
• Students should be taught to identify patterns in word problems. The same question interpreted in a slightly different manner leads to a different result altogether.

Finally, the last trick it to encourage students even when they fail and orientate them in other ways to find the right answers. Let us know your thoughts and share with us other fun ways of teaching math word problems to children.

When students first enter your classroom it is important to initiate a few warm up activities.

Importance of Warm up

Set the tone for the lesson . :- An activity that is too difficult will often make students zone out. A fun activity often raises energy levels and encourages students to participate.

Warm ups should be related to the lesson ahead .It makes students think and may also help them to use their minds to relate pre exsisting knowledge to the upcoming subject

Warm Ups allow teachers to assess character and abilities of a class. Students have good and bad days too like all of us. Warming up will help a teacher determine which student groups to form for collective activities.

Warm up activities for Elementary school classes in particular are an excellent way to settle students down after break or first thing in the morning.It gets the students ready to focus on the lesson .

Here are some ideas for Warm Up Exercises:

Object challenge : All grades

Present the students with an object that they cannot easily identify. ( Old plumbing fixtures ,unusual foodstuffs etc ). Ask the students to describe in detail what they are seeing. They must also hypothesize the possible use for the object. Let the students entertain their classmates and you with their answers . When they have finished tell them the true purpose of the object .

Photo Challenge – From Grades 4 upwards

Show students an interesting picture. It can be related to the topic  that you may be about to discuss. Any special photo of a world famous event or other topics that might be of interest. Get the students to comment and complete their descriptions. Students could then share their thoughts and feelings with others. Photos should be age relevant.

Three words – Grades 7 and above

Students should be asked to pick three words that they associate with a topic . It can be a topic that they are about to have a lesson in. Students should be able to explain why they chose these words.This warm up will help teachers to establish the mind set of their students as well as their possible depth of knowledge on that subject

Simon Says – Elementary School Grades 1- 6

This is perfect for elementary school. It has the added benefits of increasing basic coordination skills. Ask students to copy your actions but only if “Simon Says” Students who perform the action when Simon didn’t say should be made to sit down for two turns .

If you had a magic wand – Grades 7 upwards

This activity is great for middle school and high school . Pass a wand around and then where it stops that person should be asked a question if your magic wand can change anything what would you change ? It can also be topic specific to the subject that will be taught. It can break the ice and allow students to open their minds.

Use these warm up strategies in the classroom. If you start a lesson with a good “hook activity” students will be alert and positive to start their lesson. Give us your thoughts on other warm up activities we failed to mention in this article.

Kindergarten is the second place after home where children spend a maximum amount of time. It is also the place where children are not accompanied by their parents or guardians. Hence, kindergarten should be like a second home for kindergartners to learn and grow in life. There are many excellent teaching methods for kindergarten children which can make them feel at home.

Below are the best teaching methods for kindergarten children:

• Sometimes kids feel more comfortable if  instructors are cooperative and friendly. Hence, a kindergarten instructor should understand that children need a lot of pampering. This should not result to over pampering though; moderation while pampering is required to maintain a balance in the class dynamics.
• They should inculcate fun activities with learning like reciting rhymes with dancing. This will make children to remain active and also enjoy learning.
• They should have some time for theater. During theater time they should listen to and partake in the pictorial representation of moral stories. This method of learning stories will have a lasting impact on children and also inculcate moral values.
• They should be taken out to the playground for outdoor activities. Playing in the sand and other outdoor activities will make them feel lighter and happier. With this approach children won’t get bored and will enjoy school.
• Since a majority of parents reside in cities, city life has restricted or limited interaction with domestic animals. Kindergarten instructors can arrange visits to a farm and create awareness about their importance in our lives.
• A wildlife tour can also be arranged. Like a tour to a nearby zoo.
• Educators can engage kids in protecting and conserving animals and the environment around us. Environmental protection awareness can be triggered through a ‘one child one tree’ planting exercise. At the end of the year, children can come back to see how far their plants have grown.
• Make them aware that each and every one in the class is important and ensure that group work is practiced.
• Kindergartners can engage in sporting activities to make them strong and active. They can inculcate yoga and other light physical exercises that suit the child’s age.
• Make learning fun and simple through illustrations; children get involved easily when their real-world surroundings are represented as illustrations. Hence, emphasize more on real-life examples for children to learn easily. Get them crayons to draw and color different objects in around them.
• Keep the classroom decorated with pictures that are engaging for students. This in turn will make students love their classroom.
• As you interact with  children, give them descriptive words and make them differentiate the words. This in turn will enhance their vocabulary. There are many instances where children start speaking fluently with better vocabulary after joining kindergarten.
• And most importantly, be attentive to children’s needs. They might not be able to express it properly; hence  instructors should have a good entente with their children.

The list is not exhausted and we imagine that there are other good methods for teaching kindergarten kids not mentioned here. Feel free to contact us with other great ideas.

According to the National Center for Education Studies approx 10 % of students attend private Schools in the United States. These figures have been decreasing and are not expected to reverse .The reason for the decline is mostly the growth of Public Chartered Schools which allow a greater amount of autonomy than public schools. However in many areas Private Schools are still considered a “better” option than Public Schools .

So what are the benefits of choosing a Private School over a Public School ? have a look at the list below:

Smaller classes
Private school are on average about half as large as public schools. Many parents prefer to send their children to private schools as they will in a smaller class and receive individual attention .A private school often nurtures a sense of community and pride in the school .The teacher student ratio in private schools is much smaller . Averagely a private school will have a student teacher ratio of 9:1 as opposed to a public school with 17:1.

Less Rules and Regulations
Private schools do not have to work with all the state regulations on schooling .There is less time needed to be spent on filling out mandated forms and instructions .Teachers tend to have more flexibility in the classroom and additional creative control . This normally impacts positively on the students.

Extensive Curriculum
As previously mentioned private school do not have to conform with all government regulations . This leads to a private school being able to modify the curriculum and introduce a wide range of subjects .There is often ample resources to provide extracurricular activities as well . Many private schools have advanced sports programs which result in a well rounded school education .

Parents are very involved
Private school parents seem to be very committed to their child’s education. In part this will be because they are, after all ,having to reach into their pockets to pay for this education but also they do seem to be affected by the community  of their school .

Religion and single sex education
Many private schools are run by the church and support a particular religion . A parent often chooses for their child to attend this school as their family values and needs can be met exclusively .
Of course some private schools only offer same sex education .Parents who advocate this will send their children to these schools.

Safe Environment
Many private schools have reputations for maintaining very high standards of discipline and respect.The strong sense of community found in private schools tends to discourage dangerous behavior. Private schools are allowed to expel dangerous and disruptive students.

Choosing to send your child to a private school has many advantages with your child receiving an excellent rounded education. Hence, although they are expensive, they are worth considering.