Help when learning is hard
Last week I wrote a post about the way in which I help my HSC students prepare for their final exams. I'm also in the process of preparing my Year 7 students for their first yearly exams. This too has its own set of challenges. A few students have already experienced some exam style situations… Continue reading Preparing for the First Exams
In NSW students are in the process of completing their final year exams in the High School Certificate (HSC). This will occur throughout all Australian states at varying times over the next few weeks. These are my final parting words to my students as they are ticking off subject completions before entering the examination halls.… Continue reading Exam Strategies
As your child's parent you have the best possible knowledge of what your child needs for the best outcomes. Professionals may be able to advise you about individual courses of action or suggest ways to encourage your child to learn, but you are the holder of all of that knowledge as you have taken your… Continue reading Your Child’s Best Advocate
It is an enormously difficult task to be parent of a child with a learning disability trying to determine where precious financial resources should be spent to help your child. What complicates this is the number of individuals and organisations who make promises about guaranteed cures and quick fixes. I'd be tempted too, but in… Continue reading Buyer Beware
It is at this time every year that final year students begin to focus their attention on essay writing practice in the lead up to their exams. I use this time for some special instruction for my year 11 students. Here are my best tips for practicing to write an essay. Stick to the suggested… Continue reading Exam Essay Writing Practice
Term 2 in NSW was a short term and has flown by but everyone seems to be nearing the end of the term tired and definitely ready for a break. I have not set any home practise at all for my students during this school holiday because everyone needed time to refresh and relax. The… Continue reading School Holidays – Time for a Break
The internet is a wonderful resource to find out information about almost anything. The internet is also a horrible resource where you can become lost in a maze of website's claiming to be able to "cure" your child's learning difficulties with their unique program. I often receive calls from families who have spent hours searching… Continue reading The Website Cure Maze
This is really a mantra for life - too much of anything is not great and the best of outcomes are always achieved through balance. This is also the case with technology and in particular typing. New research is encouraging educators not to abandon paper and pencil tasks as they are integral to the process of… Continue reading Typing or Writing?
The corporate world is filled with acronyms and SMART goals have certainly appeared in a project or strategic plan in probably every workplace across the globe. It is something we can apply to students in their study plans as well. SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Based. There are some derivations of this (realistic… Continue reading SMART Goals
I have yet to meet anyone who is sunshine and flowers 24 hours of the day, there are definite early risers and night owls in the world! This is also the case for children and teenagers. There are some commitments we cannot change - the school day sticks out in my mind! 9-3pm is hard for… Continue reading Your’s Child’s Optimal Learning Time