How To Motivate Your Child To Study For The 11+ Or Common Entrance During The Christmas Holidays

Preparing for the 11+, Common Entrance, or any other school entrance exam, can cause high levels of stress for parents and children alike. After all , these are high-stakes exams that have the power to determine which school your child can attend, and as a result, it's natural for parents to want to help their child succeed.

However, motivation can sometimes be difficult to come by, especially when it comes to studying and revising. In this article, we’ll discuss some effective strategies for motivating your child to study for their school entrance exam.

First and foremost, in order to achieve the best outcome, it's important to understand what motivates your child. Every child is different, and what works for one child may not work for another. Some children are motivated by the prospect of success and achievement, while others are motivated by the desire to please their parents or teachers. Still others may be motivated by the desire to avoid failure or disappointment. By understanding what motivates your child, you can tailor your approach to their individual needs and preferences.

One way to motivate your child is to make studying for the 11+ exam a positive experience. This means creating a comfortable and conducive study environment, providing them with the necessary materials and resources, and offering support and encouragement. This can help your child associate studying with positive feelings, which can increase their motivation and make them more likely to engage with the material.

Another effective strategy is to set clear goals and expectations. This means establishing a study schedule and providing your child with specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals to work towards. For example, you might set a goal for your child to complete a certain number of practice questions each day or to score a certain percentage on a practice test. By setting clear goals, you can help your child stay focused and motivated, and you can also provide them with a sense of accomplishment as they achieve each goal.

It's also important to provide your child with regular feedback and support. This means giving them praise and encouragement when they do well, and offering constructive criticism and guidance when they struggle. By providing regular feedback, you can help your child stay on track and maintain their motivation. You can also help them identify areas where they need to improve and provide them with the support they need to overcome any challenges they may face.

In addition to providing regular feedback and support, it's also important to offer your child incentives and rewards for their hard work. This can be a powerful motivator, especially for children who are motivated by the prospect of success or achievement. For example, you might offer to take your child to their favorite restaurant or to a fun outing if they achieve a certain goal or score on a practice test. By offering incentives and rewards, you can help your child stay motivated and engaged in their studies.

It's also important to communicate with your child about the importance of the 11+ exam and how it can impact their future. This means discussing the potential benefits of attending a good school and the opportunities it can provide, as well as the potential consequences of not doing well on the exam. By having these conversations, you can help your child understand the significance of the exam and why it's important to put in the effort to prepare for it.

Finally, it's important to model good study habits and a positive attitude yourself. Children often look to their parents for guidance and inspiration, so by showing your child that you value education and are willing to put in the effort to succeed, you can help motivate them to do the same. This means setting aside time to study yourself, being organised and prepared, and maintaining a positive attitude even when faced with challenges. By modelling good study habits and a positive attitude, you can help your child develop the same habits and attitudes, which can ultimately lead to success in the 11+ and beyond.

7 Crucial Skills of Special Education Teachers in 2022

Special Education Teachers need exceptional qualities for creating curriculum plans, working with administrators, instructing students, and interacting with parents. As a crucial part of any school, teachers in SEN careers work and educate students who often need extra classroom assistance due to their face emotional, mental, physical, or learning challenges.

SEN educators can positively impact the outcomes of their students by combining specialised coaching with the finest standard classroom instruction. While special educational needs teachers can develop these pertinent skills through training, some of them may possess such skill sets inherently.

7 Skill Sets of Special Education Teachers 

There are 7 amazing special skills that SEN teachers need to have in order to succeed in contemporary classroom environments.

They include the following attributes:

• The ability to adapt 

• Collaboration skills 

• Effective communication skills 

• Compassion 

• Assessment skills 

• Theoretical and practical knowledge 

• Excellent listening skills 

• Creative organisational skills 

Let’s go through these skills in more depth. This is important as they are essential for teachers who are applying for  special needs school jobs.

Skill No. 1: Collaboration Skills 

According to Intervention in School and Clinic research, students achieve maximum benefits when a special education teacher works with a peer. Therefore, the collaboration between general and teachers in SEN careers is crucial in inclusive education models. Collaboration is important because it enables problems to be solved in a more streamlined manner and at a quicker pace. This is crucial when working with children who have complex learning needs. 

Skill No. 2: Effective Communication Skills 

Often, employers list communication skills as a crucial part of job descriptions for nearly all industries. But communication skills for special education teachers are far more complex. A SEN teacher should focus on exaggerated gestures and non-verbal communication to build connections and meet the students' requirements. Special education teachers' critical communication skills consist of reading, speaking, listening, and writing. 

Skill No. 3: Compassion 

Compassion takes several forms in our lives. But this concept can be exceptionally helpful for frustrated students due to their individualised education programmes. For example, compassionate educators can help their special education students realise that they might need more time than others to learn certain life lessons. In addition, compassion from a special education teacher may positively influence general students in the classrooms when they converse with such students. 

Skill No. 4: Assessment Skills 

Assessment tests such as intelligence quotient (IQ), behaviour rating scales, and achievement tests can help special education educators to understand their students better. These special education assessments may occur before, during, or even after the school year. They may help educators to modify or even improve their lessons to ensure that every student receives the maximum classroom instruction benefit throughout the year. 

Skill No. 5: Theoretical and Practical Knowledge 

Most educators know and understand that education is not a stable or ‘fixed’  environment in that it is ever-changing and ever-evolving. Special education teachers gain practical and theoretical knowledge as they spend more time in the field, meeting new students, learning about their needs and working with a wide range of pupils. Furthermore, as time passes, special ed. teachers will often become more aware of new theories and advancements in both general and special education. New advancements in technology and the field of education cause new teaching methods to spring forth and allow for the creation of insights and outlooks that might not have existed when the aspirants started their careers. This is especially true nowadays with the emergence of social media, increasing scholarly research and a higher level of focus on neuro-divergence and its impact on individuals and society as a whole.

Skill No. 6: Excellent Listening Skills 

Listening skills are essential for SEN jobs. According to a publication by School and Clinic, a common challenge for special education students in school settings is listening. Unfortunately, this goes both ways - the teacher's ability to connect with their students is often based on their ability to identify the child's requirements and listen to their parents' concerns. 

Skill No. 7: Creative Organisational Skills 

Creative organisational skills are beneficial in every classroom environment, specifically in special education classrooms. According to research by the University of Wisconsin, physical organisation in special needs teacher's classrooms are crucial in order to create solidity in the school as a whole. 

Wrapping Up 

Finding a beneficial candidate for special educational needs jobs means finding someone who offers person-to-person training opportunities. In addition, highly beneficial special needs programs offer custom timelines, provide a program sanctioned by the government's education agency, and base their instructions on an entire-circle approach. So, with the hope that these tips benefit you guys, let's take a leave.

With thanks to Active SEN for this contribution.

Hiring A Nanny This Summer? Here's What You Need To Know

Hiring a nanny can be one of the most nerve-wrecking decisions to make. It’s not surprising that many parents are fearful of whether to take the plunge or not bother at all.

When hiring a nanny, there are a number of things to look out for.

1. How much real, practical experience do they have?

   There are hundreds, if not thousands of nannies advertising their services on websites such as childcare.co.uk and many will claim to be experienced. However, before hiring a nanny, it’s important to ask them key questions such as:

• What kind of experience do you have?

• Have you worked with a broad range of children?

• How many years have you worked with children?

• Do they have experience with looking after a child over night/during the day?

2. Are they introverted or extroverted?

This might seem like a random question or topic to think about. However, one of the key areas that parents deal with when hiring nannies is their temperament or character.

If your child’s nanny is extroverted they might want to engage in a range of social activities and this could potentially impact their routine and how they interact with your child.

If they’re introverted, they might shy away from engaging in family activities or might need time to unwind and disengage with the family at certain points in the day.

It’s therefore to think about the personality traits of your desired nanny before hiring one.

3. Does the nanny enjoy playing with children.

Some nannies are great at simply monitoring a child and think that this makes up the bulk of their job. Their focus is therefore purely on keeping a child safe. However, a great nanny will prioritise playing, interacting and engaging with your child rather than simply lumping them in front of the TV or throwing a digital device in their face.

It’s therefore important to have conversations around how best to interact and engage with your child. For example, do you want a nanny who can come up with fun game ideas, engage in pretend play and make bath time incredibly fun?

If your child is athletic, you might want to opt for a nanny who is sporty and enjoys playing sports with your child. In essence, try to select a nanny whose interests align with your child’s so that they’re more likely to bond with them and partake in key activities.

4. What Is their approach to discipline?

This is an issue that’s often missed. Some nannies are super strict and have old-fashioned views on discipline. Such nannies believe children should be seen and not heard and will keep your child on a tight leash. Others take a far more relaxed approach and are more carefree when it comes to discipline. Before hiring a nanny, it’s crucial that you ask them about their approach to discipline and ask them to elaborate by providing examples of how they might discipline a child.

5. Are they comfortable with a trial run?

No matter how much money you spend on nanny agencies, nannies and support for your family, things can go wrong. It’s therefore advisable to avoid making long-term commitments with a nanny unless you’ve already worked with them before or have had a paid trial run with them. The trial run should last at least a week so you get a feel for how they work and their approach to child-rearing. A longer trial run of around 1 month is preferable, if possible. Ultimately, it gives you the chance to gauge how suitable the nanny is.

6. Is the nanny first aid trained?

This is incredibly important. Ask for proof of their certification(s) and ask questions about how they’d handle situations such as choking, drowning, injuries etc.

Have you ever hired a nanny for your child?

What did you learn from the experience?

Share by leaving a comment below.

Virtual School vs Homeschool: What's The Difference & Which One Is Best For Your Child?

The education system across the globe has been disrupted due to the pandemic. But this did not stop various institutions from delivering their services to the learners.  Traditional schools explored the use of technology to continue to reach students through virtual classes. Meanwhile, homeschool providers have also seen a significant increase in their enrollees as more and more parents are looking for alternative ways to educate their children while at home. 

So what exactly is the difference between virtual schools and homeschools? While these learning setups are both done in the comfort of the home, that is where the similarity ends. Virtual schools are also called distance learning or online education. This is primarily sanctioned by a traditional “brick-and-mortar” private or public school that has expanded virtually to adapt to the demands of the times.  The delivery and assessment of the lessons still depend on a teacher. For some schools, another viable option is to avail of the curriculum and have a parent or any other adult guide the child. But the assessment will always be done by the school. In the case of homeschoolers, a parent builds the curriculum or purchases one from any established provider. He is then responsible for teaching the child. An assessment is not always required depending on what part of the country you are in. 

Another remarkable difference is the schedule of the lessons. Since a virtual class usually meets online as determined by the school, the schedule could be rigid. Some younger children benefit from this because the routine gives a sense of security. Children are empowered when they can predict what happens next. On the other hand, a homeschool setup can be more flexible because the parent decides on the best time for optimal learning. Parents can even incorporate the “class time” to their daily activities as a family. There is freedom to make necessary adjustments along the way since the parent is the primary decision-maker here. Lessons can even take place while you are on the road or during any teachable moment. 

The third major difference between the two approaches are the socialisation opportunities. In virtual schools, the child attends a class with other children using an online learning platform. The teacher is there to facilitate the class and the students can interact with one another. They can also be tasked to do group works outside of class time. Depending on the socialisation restrictions imposed by the government due to COVID-19, field trips and other gatherings can be arranged by the school. Those who are homeschooled do not belong to a class so their companions are only their parents and siblings, if they have some. This can limit their interaction with children their age if the parents do not intentionally give them opportunities to do so. This does not mean however that there are no other occasions for socialisation. The parents can join communities for homeschoolers and do life with these people. That can even be a good place for sharing experiences and getting tips from other families who are faced with the same challenges. Homeschoolers can even organise events that happen in regular schools. They can have sports day, a music concert and Christmas parties. The possibilities are limitless when you have creative parents who want the best experience for their kids. 

Next on the list will be the use of gadgets or personal computers for learning. Virtual schools obviously conduct their classes through online platforms such as Zoom and Google Meet. If the child has a set schedule per day of at least four hours, then that would also mean a lengthy screen time for her. This is the factor that does not sit well with many parents. The student might experience eye strain, headaches and even poor posture as he sits for long hours in front of the computer. This is the reason why most schools opt to reduce the number of school hours per day. This can also be taxing on the part of the teachers as they struggle to keep the attention of the students. Meanwhile, homeschoolers do not really have to deal much with this concern. Part of the appeal of homeschooling is the freedom to use any method of teaching as the parents deem appropriate. This means that art activities, outdoor play, sensory activities and other experiential means can be incorporated to the delivery of the lesson. The computer is just one of the many options to use as a tool for learning. 

At the end of the day, the decision to enrol your child in a virtual or homeschool setup is really yours to decide. There isn’t one, perfectly great way to teach and the mode by which learning happens is also very diverse. Consider where your child is most comfortable and where her learning style will fit. Our educational system is ever-changing and we have to welcome these developments and find ways to take advantage of these new modes of learning.     

How To Raise A Confident And Resilient Child

 The complexity of adult life is so real that we tend to underestimate problems that children have to wrestle with. But make no mistake, their concerns are valid and assisting them during childhood will do a lot to improve their confidence and resilience. Childhood is not stress-free so the loving support of the adults in their life is a necessary ingredient to building them up.

Resilient children are natural problem-solvers. They will find ways to resolve a difficult situation with or without adult help. Their creativity and confidence to accomplish a task goes into full gear and you would be surprised at what they come up with. No shelf is too high for a determined little one who wants to grab her favorite toy. 

This doesn’t mean though that young children will be left to do things on their own. They still require adult help and supervision to ensure their safety in particular. Raising confident children involves teaching them to determine when and whom to ask for help.

The ability to bounce back from a tough situation is not a natural skill. But the good news is it can be taught. As our children grow, they can learn, practice and develop this if they are provided enough room to do so. This is crucial because everyone faces challenging situations at some point in life and the confidence to face them is a must. We want our children to be armed with the emotional and mental toughness that resiliency brings.

Parents, caregivers and teachers alike have the responsibility to impart these valuable life skills to children under their care. Here are a few tips on how to do just that.

1. Get involved but do not hover over.

The presence and expressed support of loving adults will surely boost the confidence of children. Some may otherwise be afraid to try new endeavours if not for the assurance from the people they commonly depend on. But be warned, adults should not overly do it. Give the child enough space to experiment and make the necessary mistakes to foster hands-on learning.

2. Expect effort, not perfection.

Let the child do the work and learn in the process. Remember that failure is a part of learning so set expectations that are at par with their developmental stage. Recognize their willingness to try and do not be too focused on skills mastery. Applaud them when they try instead of saving it for only when they succeed and meet your expectations.

3. Promote problem-solving.

Do not spoon-feed with all the answers. Instead let the child explore possible situations by guiding them into thinking about the possibilities. Intentionally put them in situations that you know they can safely figure out on their own. Again, you might be surprised at what they will discover. 

4. Play, play, play.

Never underestimate the effect of play on children. It is a proven fact that their brain is most active when they are playing and having fun. This means that learning happens as they play. When they manipulate objects and use them according to what their imagination dictates, they are learning. As they play, their fine and gross motor skills are also exercised. New and more advanced skills are then acquired. And as they get to “practice” real life situations during play time, they then develop the confidence to actually try to do these activities. If they have a chance to pretend to cook, care for a baby or even wash the dishes, they will gladly do these activities beyond the four corners of their playroom.

5. Recognise and label emotions.

Confidence and resilience does not mean the absence of fear. You may still feel worried or frightened, but you are able to openly admit and manage the emotions. Identifying the emotion is the first step to finding the corresponding coping strategies to regulate them. A child who can honestly admit that she is nervous about going to a new school will hopefully receive the proper intervention from the adults in her life.

6. Teach kids different coping strategies.

As our children age, we can help them develop coping strategies that will work for various situations. For example, we can teach them when to ask for adult help and whom to ask. Involve them during your personal relaxation moments so they will also realize what works best for them. It can be something as simple as taking nature walks, listening to music or reading a book. Encourage them also to develop habits and relationships so that they will have a go-to activity or friends whenever life gets a little tough to handle.

Remember that resilience and confidence is not developed overnight. It takes an intentional and long term approach to help our children develop these important life skills. Our patience and commitment as adults are warranted so that we can properly groom our little ones for the storms they may likely face later on in life.