Category: Education

Comprehension strategies for reading strengthen the learner’s ability to organize and comprehend text to achieve the real purpose of reading!  The ability to comprehend written content is the key to academic success!  Because it shapes up our skill to understand and helps us to connect with the actual thought conveyed through the written text.

Reading with comprehension is also one of the most desirable skills with a lifetime utility. Hence, our formal education processes rightly aims at nurturing it right in students right since the beginning of their elementary school years.

Similarly, homeschooling parents also acknowledge the importance of these fundamental literacy skills and their long-term advantages for the kids. But several parents/guardians struggle with the strategies to strengthen these extremely important abilities in their loved ones.

Comprehension strategies for reading for elementary stage homeschoolers

If you are also a homeschooling parent or have shifted to homeschooling, this information will help you to ‘NAIL IT’ easily.

1. Allow the learner to create meaningful connections-

Reading without understanding is merely the identification of some written symbols. Hence, our aim should be to strengthen the overall reading comprehension of our young learners. The first and foremost thing that helps in developing comprehension skills in reading is the construction of meaning.  This will help students become engage students as they learn to read.

To do this, try to link the content/text with the child’s previous knowledge. And create some meaningful connections to make it more relevant for him/her.

Always go by the child’s pace and do not rush with things. In most cases, kids grasp better when the text is broken down into smaller and easily understandable parts. It is also suggested to focus only on a single part of this information. Because it helps to create clarity through the activities to improve reading comprehension.

2. FUN ELEMENT and understanding check-

Once you complete one part and decide to move ahead, take a few minutes and check the learner’s understanding of the content. Never miss out on summarizing it and add rewards if need be!

Homeschoolers love interactive reading activities. So make these fun by using some simple techniques. For example- You can modulate your voices differently for different characters.

And even add some crazy sound effects!

All this will make it magical for the kid. And he/she will be effortlessly engaged.

At this point, I must mention the greatest advantage of homeschooling- THE FREEDOM TO SELECT THE RIGHT PACE!

So take that extra time and pain and build a sound understanding. And let the child grasp each and every bit perfectly.

During your understanding check, do not expect the child to fully reflect his/her understanding after fun reading activities. Instead, take an idea of the understanding level and figure out learning gaps (if any).

3. Use age-appropriate tools

Fortunately, this INFORMATION AGE offers us some great tools/aids to instill a LOVE FOR READING in our loved ones. And, it is now easier to make use of the most trusted comprehension strategies for reading for homeschoolers.

You can find some downloadable applications and reading programs.  Use them with their online and offline features.

I can give you some quick examples:

• Read Along by Google has an inbuilt reward, assistance, and tracking mechanism- One of the top picks.
• English Comprehension Reading- Promises longer retention.
• Sight words- Ideal to instill a love for reading.

4. Try the STORY GRAMMAR approach

Researches have shown that there is a close relationship between the awareness of text structures and reading comprehension. Hence, we must focus on making the text structure more understandable for the child to improve his/her comprehension skills in reading. The simplest way to accomplish this goal is to incorporate features of the story grammar approach for homeschoolers. Because it strengthens their functional literacy skills and also fosters critical thinking in them.

While homeschooling a child, parent/guardians can follow these simple steps and make use of this tried and tested approach:

1. Present a description of the story parts such as characters, setting, and if possible add some examples to familiarize the kid with these.
2. Create a scenario through some key information. And allow the child to arrange some unorganized parts of the story on his own.

• Explain the core story structure and summarize before ending.

Again use some positive reinforcement techniques to maximize the impact of these activities to improve reading comprehension.

Do not forget to APPRECIATE & MOTIVATE THE CHILD ENOUGH!

5. Choose variations, genres, and types of books as per the learner’s taste

Another aspect that has a make-or-break effect in materializing our comprehension strategies for reading for homeschoolers is the selection of content. It is true that stories, books, articles, comics can all trigger a child’s imagination and transport him/her in an imaginative world. But we need to be careful about the information that we supply to these impressionable young minds.

We must always keep these choices free from our biases/opinions and even our personal interests. And also make sure that the selected material does not support any gender, occupation, and other stereotypes. Do expose your child to a wide variety of content. But make sure that it goes well with his/her linking.

6. Make use of supportive technology

Make podcasts, audiobooks, and online resources a routine part of your interactive reading activities. And it is now easy to access a wide variety of supplementary content, like grade-wise EBooks, story-based videos, short movies, and animated stuff over the internet.

Even the international online school nurtures fundamental literacy skills in students through researched online pedagogies and highly engaging online content. And their blend of outstanding strategies is a guiding light for all homeschooling parents/guardians.

Top accredited online schools make use of strategies such as reading goals, highlighting key points, visualizing, and random questioning. And these are all highly effective and fruitful for home-based learning.

Final Thoughts

By now you must have shortlisted some great comprehension strategies for reading.

So, go ahead and apply these to empower your homeschoolers to be HIGHLY VOCAL AND EXPRESSIVE INDIVIDUALS

ALL SET TO MAKE IT BIG IN THE YEARS TO COME!

Thanks for Reading!

Are you a responsible parent looking to provide the best schooling and education to your children?  Do you know what are some important factors you need to consider when choosing a school for your kid?  Have you looked at the various schools, boards, and fee structures only to feel completely overwhelmed?

We all know how important it is to select the right school for your kids to help them with their academic journey. The right interest development in certain subjects can help create a favorable career option.

In recent years, both parents and kids are spoiled for choices when it comes to the sheer number of schools that have come up. However, with each promising to be better than the other, the task of choosing the right school can become overwhelming.

Given what is at stake here, there must be no margin for error when it comes to the decision. In this resource article, we look at some of the most important factors that need to be considered when choosing a school for your child.

Why Selecting the Right School matters?

For some parents, the choice of selecting a school is not that complex. In most cases, it is the government school that is within their zone. However, other parents feel that private schools are a better option. These private schools might be within the zone or outside of it. While if you are an expat in another country, choosing an international school might be best for you and your kid.

The right school embodies within an individual a direction. This direction is both in terms of the future academic foundations as well as career decisions that a child might want to take up once they finish the schooling.

According to experts, rather than the parents taking unilateral decisions based on what they feel is right, certain interests of kids matter too.

• It is important that the school fits and aligns with the overall personality of your child.
• Any school should play into the strengths of the child and allow it to further develop.
• Every family has a certain set of values and the school should look to build on that.

When the interests of both children and parents match in terms of the school, we can say that the decision is a successful one.

List of 7 Factors to Consider when Choosing a School for your Kids

1. The Distance between the House and the School

An important consideration that needs to be taken into consideration is the distance between the school and the home. The shorter the distance, the better it is for kids.  How does the school manage their transportation system.  You do not want your children to be spending two hours traveling on the bus or will you as a parent need to drive them.

This is sure to cause a lot of stress to both the child as well as the parent. Shorter distances between the two can allow a child to utilize the time in other important activities. These can be both educational ones or extra-curricular.

2. The Educational Qualification and Experience of the Faculty

A school is only as good as the kind of faculty members teaching there. As a parent, you need to look at the faculty profile and see the kind of experience that they have. Higher educational qualifications and experience automatically mean that the standard of education will be good.

Additionally, you should also look at the attrition rates of the faculty. Experts recommend that a period of four years on average is a good period to understand how good the school is in terms of retaining its faculty. This is a sign that the teachers are satisfied at the school.

3. Scope for Development of Extracurricular Interests

A lot of parents these days are open to the possibility of their kids pursuing professional activities other than education. This means that they want a school that can give their children the exposure to pursue extra-curricular interests like sports, theater, and others areas.

Having a strong extracurricular program also ensures that the physical development of students carries out. Over a period, a child can develop an interest in one such activity and choose to pursue it professionally. Some schools have a strong sporting culture which is a great benefit.

4. The Ratio of Students and Teachers in a Classroom

Every parent wants to ensure that their children get undivided attention at all times. This is only possible when the ratio of students and teachers is low. For example, experts recommend that the ratio of teachers and students in a classroom should be no more than 1:20.

The lower the ratio, the better can be the level of personal attention that can be expected at the school. Most kids when they are unable to get personal levels of attention can become introverts. It prevents them from raising questions about areas that are unclear to them.

5. The Educational and Extracurricular Infrastructure of the School

All parents want our kids to go to schools that are better than the ones we had gone to. This means that we would want that the infrastructure of the school should be great. School safety measures should be in place.  School buildings, classrooms, playgrounds, and other areas should be open and large.

You do not want students to feel suffocated or get injured because of rusty chairs and tables. Good schools invest a lot in terms of their infrastructure. The rise of smart classrooms also requires sizable investments. All this makes for a great learning environment for kids.

6. Fees, Affordability, and other Economic Considerations

There is no doubt that fees are one area that forces most of us to start rethinking our decisions. As parents, we need to think about whether we will be able to afford the fees not just now, but right up until kids finish their schooling (10 to 12 years).

Student fees are not the only area of expenditure parents should worry about. Schools these days take additional fees in the form of several other heads, some of which are not so transparent. Parents need to go for an affordable option to ensure they do not have to change schools.

Families working abroad may want to consider an reputable international school with ISP Learning opportunities.

7. The Educational or School Board that is Prevalent

Last, but by no means the least important consideration that should be made is the School Board. An easy decision is to go for a school that follows the recommended Government Board. An alternative would be to go for an International Board that follows a set curriculum.

Parents that are on the move would prefer an international school that follows the Cambridge Curriculum. Choosing a board will come into play later on, especially if you are looking to make your child sit for competitive examinations.

The Bottom Line

The quest of finding the right school for your kids is probably one of the toughest decisions you will make as a parent. The start of a child’s academic journey needs to begin with the best. It does matter whether you send them to the best preschools or public schools.

If you have any more questions that you would like us to answer or discuss, please write them down in the comments section below. We will try our best to request our experts to help you out to the best of our abilities.

As a parent, you want the best possible future for your child. You want them to be safe and successful and happy. For many parents, this dream for their children includes attending college, an educational pathway that opens many doors to excellent career prospects.

Depending on how old your child is currently, it can be tough to know if it’s time to have that conversation with them yet.  You might be asking yourself if it’s too early to talk to your kids about going to college and what their choice of college in the future may look like.

Your concerns are completely understandable, and we’re here to help.  Here are a few things you should keep in mind to make your decision.

Experts Recommend Starting Early

If you ask the education experts, earlier is actually better when it comes to discussing college options with your children. By starting the dialogue early on in your child’s education, you’re informing them of their potential pathways well before they even need to make a decision. Plus, it can be quite motivating because it gives your child a goal to work toward throughout their education.

 Tailor Your Approach to Your Child’s Grade Level

Depending on your child’s age and grade level, you’ll want to take a different approach in your conversations with them. Here’s a brief breakdown of how you should broach the topic for each grade level:

• Elementary school – This is a great time to start sharing stories of your own college experience to start planting the seed and producing excitement in your child. If you live close to a college, consider dropping by for a sporting event or a talk that might be of interest to your child.

• Middle school – When your child reaches eighth grade, this is an excellent point to start researching universities and exploring the topics of the grades needed to get into a good university. It’s also important to discuss the monetary component of going to college, especially if your child will need to contribute financially down the line. This gives them lots of time to familiarize themselves with the numbers and to plan accordingly.

• High school – This is when the conversations will turn a bit more serious. You’ll want to encourage your kid to get good grades and SAT scores and to become involved in extracurriculars to boost their college applications. At this point, you’ll also want to propose campus tours of a few different schools.

 Don’t Pressure or Preach

You may mean well but try your best not to pin all your hopes and dreams onto your child, especially if their own goals might look a little different. Don’t try to sway them into choosing one degree or one college over another and don’t focus on what worked for you when you attended university. Instead, ask them questions to get them engaged and excited. Focus on their interests, strengths, and passions and make recommendations based on that information.

If you’re wondering where to start when exploring college options for your child, check out American International College to kick start your journey.

Clearly, it’s never too early to start discussing college with your kids – it’s simply all about your approach. By customizing your approach to align with where your child is, you’ll support them and guide them to a successful future, whatever that may look like.

Millennials: Online Learning vs. Traditional Education

Parents are always worried about the safety of their children while sending them to school. That’s perhaps the key reason why they choose a school that is closest to their residence. Along with the quality of education and other better facilities, transport services have also become one of the priorities of parents when searching for the best school for their kids.

Today, most schools have their fleet of school buses to provide pick-up and drop facilities to their students and staff. They take all the essential measures to ensure student safety, especially while traveling on school buses. To achieve this, many schools are adopting the latest technology in the form of a school transport management system that makes the transportation management task much easier for the schools.

A Brief about Transport Management Systems

In today’s time, technological advancements have transformed the entire transportation management to a great extent. Today, most buses and other vehicles have GPS, Wi-Fi, satellite radio, and various other facilities that allow efficient and systematic management of transportation systems. The school transport management system is one such technological advancement in the field of education.

A transportation management system is a database-driven software system that allows users to plan, execute, and monitor their transportation system to ensure utmost safety and less chance of any accidents. By automating the whole process, the system significantly reduces the need for manual interferences. Also, various metrics can be analyzed in real-time and instant reports can be generated with all the key details of the transportation system.

The transport management system for schools consists of various robust, secure, and reliable transport management solutions. It can be one of the factors parents consider for their kids when choosing a school.  It allows school administration to keep an eye over their entire transportation system in real-time. The system delivers various functionalities including vehicle tracking, route details, driver’s details, driver profile management, and more. Even parents can take the benefit of live tracking of school vehicles to determine the exact location of their children. Also, schools can connect with students as well as their parents easily via centralized transport management solutions.

Features of Transport Management System

Some of the key features of a transport management system are mentioned below:

GPS Tracking

The transport management system for schools facilitates real-time GPS tracking. GPS or Global Positioning System is a technology that acts as a navigation satellite system and offers location, time, and speed synchronization. GPS technology works in almost all weather conditions. It is an ideal solution for tracking location, determining accurate time, and for navigation purposes. With GPS technology, school authorities can make their transportation system more efficient while ensuring student safety. The technology helps to optimize route management together with managing student’s pick-ups and drops in an efficient manner.

Live Tracking Facility for Parents

The system allows parents to remain updated regarding the pick-up and drop stops, traveling route, driver details (name and contact number), details of the school vehicle like number and identification, and other important details. With the help of a transport management system, parents can track the school bus and other details in real-time through their phones. This provides them the accurate details of the transportation system that their child is using. For any queries or concerns, the system allows them to connect directly with school management.

Transport Attendance Management

Transport attendance management is an essential feature of the transport management system. It allows school authorities to update details in the system with regards to holidays, vehicle scheduling, changes in routes, driver work shifts, assigning students, parents, and teachers to a particular school route, and various other details. With the help of the transport management system’s attendance management feature, it becomes very convenient for school management to create a precise and efficient schedule for the transportation system. This way it also helps to save a lot of time and resources by eliminating the requirement of manually deciding and managing things related to school transportation.

Carrier Contracts Management

The carrier contracts management feature of the school transport management system allows school authorities to track all their terms and carrier agreements in real-time. This allows authorities to access the carriers based on their specific requirements or parameters. Even the system can suggest the best carriers based on the specified parameters.

Transport Reports and Analytics

The transport management system also helps to keep a record of all the transportation related activities. It enables school administration to record and update details such as bus and transport insurance, license renewal, bus identification details, school bus route details, vehicle maintenance, expenses, student attendance, transport staff salary, etc. The report for all these details can be generated and analyzed easily.

Better Decision Making Ability

Based on the reports like vehicle usage, fuel consumption, driver’s behavior, any delays in pick-up or drops, and various other reports, school management can make important decisions. These informed decisions can contribute to improved vehicle performance, enhanced student safety, better service, etc.

Conclusion:

To create a secure and advanced school environment, education institutions must invest in the right transport management system. Nowadays, there are several school transport management system providers available in the market that can customize the solution based on the specific requirements of the education institutes. After all, investing in such systems is not only beneficial for school management in terms of automation, improved efficiency, better security, superior transport management, and cost-effectiveness but also beneficial for parents as they get peace of mind regarding the safety of their children.

Author Bio:

Shobhit Srivastava holds the position of Digital Marketing Executive at Ecosmob, a Customized VoIP and Web-IT Solution provider company. A writer at day and a reader at night, he is having keen digital marketing skills along with an experience in writing an SEO-friendly, creative & informative contents for distinct industries.

For those living close enough to school to walk or ride a bicycle, discover innovative ways that parents are using cargo bikes designed to transport kids instead of driving.