Meditation: Learn to respond Rather Than React

When we have something happen in our life and we just react out of habit we are giving up our freedom because we are not making a conscious decision to act – we are acting in a conditioned way.

With self-awareness training we can become aware of these automatic reactions that rule our lives and learn to put conscious effort into deciding for ourselves before we act.

Click here to read more on ‘Meditation: Learn to respond Rather Than React’

Early On-set of Puberty Often Due to Psychological Stress in Childhood

You probably feel stressed a lot of the time, I know I certainly do, but share a thought for the children – a lot of them are very stressed too – and this stress is causing their bodies to mature sexually at an earlier age than would be expected.

Click here to read more on ‘Early On-set of Puberty Often Due to Psychological Stress in Childhood’

Why Maths and Science Marks Drop in High School

MOST OF THE CHILDREN IN YOUR CHILD’S CLASS will only be studying maths at an Elementary Level when they reach Year 12.

Research shows that by the time they reach Year 12, less than one third of Australian school students study Maths at Intermediate or Advanced levels – and the numbers have been getting worse each year.

Let me explain why so many children who do well in Maths and Science subjects in Primary School and Junior High School cannot keep up by the time they reach Grade 10 or Grade 11 …

Click here to read more on ‘Why Maths and Science Marks Drop in High School’

“This is boring.” . . . “Bor-ring!!!”

This has become a motto for a lot of our children in the 21st Century – for others it has become their war-cry!

This attitude damages people’s ability to learn because they attempt to avoid any activities that are not perceived as fun – living a life only responding to immediate gratification will mean they will have a very boring life in the long term.

Click here to read more on ‘ “This is boring.” . . . “Bor-ring!!!” ’ and discover the real reason children say “Bor-ring!!”

Basic Skills Testing in Australia – 2012 Update – the Results are Disappointing

Australian school students now have their basic skill levels tested regularly – but what good does it do?

Not much good for the students or the teachers it seems as I will show below. All this testing has not lead to any substantial improvements in teaching or learning – the only consolation is that at least we know that on average, things are not improving despite policies that have not worked such as halving class sizes in recent decades, and giving a computer to every child.

What large scale testing is being done?

Click here to read more on ‘Basic Skills Testing in Australia – 2012 Update – the Results are Disappointing ’.

Meditate With Ease – Free Guided Meditation Audio

When I suggest to a person that meditating is a simple and enjoyable way to improve learning skills, and to promote a sense of well-being, I often get this response:

‘I’ve tried meditation and it didn’t work – my mind is just too active – I just can’t stop my thinking.’

Such comments reflect a popular misconception about meditation. Learn what meditation is really about and enjoy its wide range of health and well-being benefits.

Click here to read more on ‘Meditate With Ease – Free Guided Meditation Audio’.

Active Parenting Pays Dividends for the Whole Family

Spending active time with family and friends is not only enjoyable while we are doing it, we also get a sense of satisfaction that lasts – the experience lasts in our memories so we can savour it in the future.

There is a double whammy if the activities are educational in the sense that they give us skills and knowledge which we can use for the rest of our lives.

Click here to read more on ‘Active Parenting Pays Dividends for the Whole Family’.

How to Get Smarter Every Day

Matthew Syed is the author of a new book ‘Bounce – The myth of talent and the power of practice’.

Matthew’s main point is that people with a Fixed Mindset have a fixed intelligence because they give up easily, whereas, people with a Growth Mindset get smarter every day – because they keep on learning.

Find out how you can develop and maintain a Growth Mindset, Positive Mental Attitude and the Skills you need to succeed.

Click here to read more on ‘How to Get Smarter Every Day’.

Reading Between the Lines

A lot of people don’t read novels, or go to see plays because they ‘just want the facts’ – they say they don’t have time for made-up stories.

Other people just see literature as something to be consumed for entertainment.

These attitudes to literature result from the fact that many people have not been taught the advanced comprehension skill of reading between the lines.

Click here to read more on ‘Reading Between the Lines’.

The Importance of Reading Fiction and Studying English Literature

Fiction is Not Safe – That is Why We Need It!

Fahrenheit 451 is a great example of why it is so important to read fiction – fiction is a great vehicle that helps us question our lives by immersing us in someone else’s life so we can view their life – and our life – from an external perspective – rather than just being caught up in all the day to day tasks that keep our minds focussed on ourselves rather than the bigger picture.

Click here to read more on ‘The Importance of Reading Fiction and Studying English Literature’.

Research on the Internet Using Google Advanced Search

I don’t know about you but this scares the pants off me:

Google and some of the other search engines know so much about you when you search the internet that they tailor the results so they give you what they think you might want based on everything that they know about you including:

• what you have searched for in the past,
• what websites you have visited recently,
• where you live,
• even things like your gender and your age.

So how can you get WHAT YOU WANT rather than what the search engine wants to give you?

Click here to read more on ‘Research on the Internet Using Google Advanced Search’.

Making Sure Your Computer Files Are Safe

The Case of the Missing Essay

I was working with a Grade 11 student the other day who wanted help with an English essay he was writing on his laptop. When he turned his computer on he couldn’t find the essay. I asked him where he had saved it – he said he couldn’t remember – he just saved it where the computer suggested.

We spent a few minutes trying to find where he put it but it wasn’t in any of the likely places. He was about to give up and …

Click here to read more on ‘Making Sure Your Computer Files Are Safe’.

Tutoring to Help Your Child Overcome Maths Problems & Get Better Grades

Maths is the Easiest Subject to Learn – Provided Your Child Learns it the Right Way.

Learned the Wrong Way, Maths Will Eventually Become a Nightmare with Poor Maths Skills Severely Limiting Your Child’s Career Choice!

Click here to read more on ‘Tutoring to Help Your Child Overcome Maths Problems & Get Better Grades’.

Government Guidelines for Teaching Systematic Synthetic Phonics

Because of generally poor levels of literacy among school students despite many years at school, governments of all the major English-speaking countries (including USA, UK, Canada and Australia) have recently conducted major studies into the best ways of teaching basic reading skills.

ALL THESE STUDIES CONCLUDED THE SAME THING: The best way to teach basic reading skills is to teach the spelling rules for each of the 44 sounds in English – this is called Phonics.

Click here to read more on ‘Government Guidelines for Teaching Systematic Synthetic Phonics’.

How to Get Your Child Ready to Start School

Many parents, especially with their first child, are reluctant to start educating their child until their child starts school. This is because they do not feel they have the expertise or are scared that what they do may conflict with what is taught at school.

Little do they realise that the school is relying on the parents to have taught their child quite a number of skills before sending their child to school.

Click here to read more on ‘How to Get Your Child Ready to Start School’.

Improving Handwriting

Since most schools moved away from teaching proper cursive writing in favour of print or a semi- linked script style, there has been less emphasis on teaching handwriting technique. Consequently, many children hold their pens in an awkward manner, which in turn forces them to use a technique called ‘finger-writing’ which is slower and more difficult to do than traditional ‘hand-writing’.

If your child is left-handed you need to be especially vigilant because left-handed children are not always taught the special techniques needed to compensate for the fact that they must push the pencil rather than pull it (like a right-handed person).

Click here to read more on ‘Improving Handwriting’.

What Is Phonics?

The word ‘phonics’ comes from the ancient Greek word for ‘sound’. Since the Greeks were the first culture to develop an alphabet to represent the sounds in their language, it is fitting that in English we use the word ‘phonics’ to mean the teaching of the letter-sound rules for reading, and the sound- letter rules for spelling.

Why is English such an irregular language?

Actually, English is much more regular than most people think, it is just that there is a relatively large number of rules to learn (about 200) as a result of the history of English spelling. In short, English is not irregular, it is just that the rules for reading and spelling are complicated – this makes it even more important that we teach our children Phonics well.

Click here to read more on ‘What Is Phonics?’.