Blog
To Reward or Not To Reward – That is the Question
Parents often fear bribing their children to do things and ending up with a child who expects to be paid every time they are told to clean up their bedroom or do their homework. Should parents reward their child for things that are somewhat aversive or punish them for not doing those things? It may be helpful to first ask, "Is there a difference between rewards and punishments?" The long answer is yes, but the more practical answer is not really.
2018 Summer Reading Recommendations
We put together a list of our favorite reads for your child to add to his/her summer reading list to enjoy beside the pool or during long road trips. And, don’t forget, you can find most of these books on audio, so stock up and enjoy the summer!
Why Is Recess Important?
The discussion of recess has taken center stage in recent years, as parents, teachers, and educational leaders all over the country work to make the best decisions regarding how our children spend their school day. Schools have seen an increased emphasis on standardized testing since the 2002 No Child Left Behind Act, and more recently, the adoption of the Common Core Standards. This has prompted school leadership to minimize and even eliminate recess time in order to provide more classroom instructional time.
I Loved Wonder! What Next?
If you and your child were among the millions of readers to fall in love with Auggie Pullman over the last year, you are in good company. This best selling book paved the way for parents and teachers to discuss important issues like empathy, acceptance, and bullying in a whole new way. We have a few suggestions for you to use that momentum to point him or her to other outstanding novels with similar themes and unlikely heroes you can’t help but root for.
New Year, New Look, Same Personalized Academic Support
Have you seen our new logo? Maybe you already noticed our new name. If so, you probably suspect changes are underway for Connections. Don’t worry! These are all valuable for the students utilizing Connections’ services, and they’ll help us increase our ability to support student learning in the Greater Cincinnati area.
Fall Newsletter and Updates
Hello Connections Families! It’s hard to believe, but most of our students are already a quarter of the way through the school year. Where did first quarter go? The coming months are busy ones, and we want to share some new services we’ll be providing, along with some options coming in the future.
Fostering Independence in Middle and High School Students
n the fourteen years that I taught middle and high school, I saw the same scenario play out over and over. Well-meaning parents realized college was looming in the not-so-distant future, looked closely at their kids’ learning and study habits, and realized it was time to start fostering some independence. And of course, the logical way to foster independence is to take a step back, right?
Summer is a time for learning, too!
School’s out for summer! It’s time to celebrate all the hard work that went into another academic year, and take a little break from the busy schedule that overtakes our lives during the winter.
But the break in the school year doesn’t – and shouldn’t – mean a break from all academic activity. In fact, wise use of the summer months can make or break the coming school year. The months of June through August offer a prime opportunity to catch up, work ahead, and otherwise prepare for the rigors awaiting in September.
Making the Most of the End of the Year
As the school year comes to an end, now is the perfect time to get in touch with your child’s teacher one last time before summer vacation. Do not wait until the last week of school. This is a hectic time for teachers, and they may not be able to give you their full attention and insight if you contact them in June.
Connections Updates-May 2017
It’s hard to believe that the end of the school year is already here. Wasn’t it just August? It was a busy year at Connections Tutoring, and we’re grateful for each and every family that chose to partner with us. Just because school is ending doesn’t mean we’re taking a break for the summer. There’s a lot to be excited about in the coming months.
Sleep, Academics, and ADHD: Not as Simple as it Sounds
Every parent knows the value of a good night’s sleep for their child. For many parents, this is easier said than done. Studies consistently show that as children transition to adolescence, the number of hours slept each night drops. Approximately 60% of middle school students sleep less than the recommended 9 hours per night on school nights and this figure rises to almost 90% among ninth grade students and to 95% by the end of high school. Given the changes in the body and brain during adolescence, as well as increased academic and social demands, shortened sleep duration has become an area of concern for many parents and schools.
15 Minute Reading Challenge
I know reading with my kids is incredibly important. I’m an English teacher, for heaven’s sake. I also know reading needs to happen every day. And I know that for quite a while now, I’ve been doing an awful job of it. Reading with emergent readers isn’t exactly fun, especially for someone with a secondary mindset. It takes lots and lots of precious time while the “to do” list sits on the counter and seemingly gets longer by the minute. So even though my six-year-old has been reading to me every day, I recently realized that my approach wasn’t doing him any favors.
The Power of Self-selected Reading
There is great power in choice. This is true for adults, and it is true for young readers. When every book is chosen for a reader, by either a parent or teacher, or worse, when students are restricted to books within their reading level, motivation and interest are quickly lost. One of the greatest ways to empower young readers is to teach them to independently choose books they will love. This will set them on a path to becoming a lifelong reader.
January Newsletter
Happy January, Connections Families!
It is hard to believe that the school year is already (or almost) halfway over! As always, fall semester saw Connections students growing, learning, and challenging themselves to achieve academic success. We are so proud of the work our tutors and students are doing!
Let the exam countdown begin…
It’s December! All the joy and bustle of the holiday season is upon us, along with all the stress. If you have teenagers, your household is probably dealing with another source of stress: exams. Whether your school system gives exams before or after winter break, most likely you are seeing signs of the pressure your teen is under.
Holiday gift ideas…. Great books for your favorite reader
I love to talk books, and I am constantly on the hunt for books that will get students talking. I know I have found a winner when my younger students break into applause at the end or my older students create a list for who is next to borrow a chapter book.
The following recommendations are a few of my hot-off-the-press favorites, all published in the last two years, and books my students keep talking about. A holiday break is around the corner – a time just begging for a new book. These would all make excellent holiday gifts or great finds at your library.
Encouraging a love for writing
We were three months into the school year as I sat across the table from Anthony’s mom. Anthony was a strong student, particularly when it came to math and science. He devoured nonfiction books and could recall unusual facts with precise detail. He enjoyed school, participated in class discussions, and got along well with his classmates. I had only positive things to say about Anthony, but his mom was concerned. Anthony didn’t like to write. Furthermore, she wasn’t sure how to help him. As I discussed Anthony’s reluctance toward writing, his mom said something that has stuck with me for years.
Maximizing the Impacts of Tutoring
If your family has used a Connections tutor at any point, you know tutoring is an investment in your child’s future. For many families, that investment can be a sacrifice, so in this blog, we’ll be discussing ways to maximize the value of your child’s tutoring sessions. Your child’s tutor might have other, situation-specific suggestions for you; don’t be afraid to ask!
Fostering a Love of Reading
Whether you enjoy it or not, reading is an integral skill for educational success. When I was teaching middle school, my colleagues used to refer to the science and social studies tests as “the other reading tests” because in many ways, the student scores reflected more on their reading ability than their actual subject area knowledge. Almost every class a child takes will have a reading component: written texts, written instructions, written feedback, and written assessment questions. The stakes are just as high after graduation, where almost every real job requires reading comprehension skills.
Summer Work
If you are the parent of a school-aged child, you likely have a pile of paper in your kitchen that everyone is trying to avoid. That ominous pile is the summer work assigned by your child’s school – work that is traditionally put off throughout June and July, until suddenly August arrives with a deadline. Cue the tears and panic. Like its cousin, the science fair project, summer work tests the mettle of the strongest family, but it doesn’t have to be awful.