Build Reading Skills During Break

Summer gives your child free time to read books they can’t fit in during the busy school year. A reading response journal helps kids think about what they’re reading and boosts their understanding. Here’s how to set up a summer reading response journal at home.

What You’ll Need to Start a Reading Response Journal

There are only a few supplies needed to start a reading response journal. Everything you’ll need is very inexpensive and can probably be found around the house.

1. Find a Simple Notebook

Look around the house for a notebook with lined pages. Nothing fancy needed here – just something your child can write in daily. If your kid wants to decorate the cover and make it their own, that’s a bonus that might get them more excited about using it.

2. Pick Writing Tools

A pen or pencil works fine. Since no teacher will grade this journal, mistakes aren’t a problem. Just cross them out and keep going. Let your child use their favorite pen or colored pencils if that makes the writing more fun.

3. Gather Some Writing Prompts

Writing prompts help your child know what to write about. Have them copy one prompt at the top of each entry and write their thoughts below. Using different prompts each day helps your child think about the book in new ways. Simple prompts like “My favorite character is…” or “I was surprised when…” work well.

4. Set a Short Daily Time Limit

The main goal is reading, not writing. Young kids might only write for five minutes, while teens might need 10-15 minutes. Keep it short enough that it doesn’t feel like a chore but long enough to record real thoughts about the reading.

5. Make it a Daily Habit

When keeping a journal it is good to form a habit of writing on a daily basis. Every day after reading a portion of your book you should record the date in your journal along with the title of the book and the page numbers you read that day followed by the prompt and your written response.

Summer Reading Success

Taking a few minutes to think about what they’re reading helps your child understand and remember the story better. The key is reading daily and writing briefly before moving to the next section. This summer, as your child dives into their reading list, those few minutes of journal writing each day will build stronger reading skills that last.

Need help getting your child excited about reading? School is Easy tutors can create custom summer reading plans that match your child’s interests and reading level. Book a tutor today and watch your child’s reading confidence.

How an Interest in Learning Drives Student Success: A Parent’s Guide

The impact of interest in learning goes beyond simple curiosity about a subject. When students develop a genuine interest in learning, education transforms from a task into an engaging journey. An easy example is substituting interesting objects (like nail polish or Lego pieces) as countable items for your young one to grasp simple math concepts. This is a great example that shows how personal connection sparks understanding.

Natural Learning in Early Childhood

Watch a toddler fascinated by trucks and cars – they’ll spend hours exploring their toy vehicles. Many speak their first words about these beloved objects, identifying dump trucks and car models before mastering full sentences. This natural curiosity demonstrates children’s remarkable capacity to learn about subjects that capture their attention.

Elementary Years: Deep Dives into Passion Projects

Elementary school often brings an intense focus on specific subjects like dinosaurs or horses. Children eagerly absorb complex dinosaur names before reading fluently, driven by genuine interest in learning. This natural process shows our brain’s incredible capacity when fueled by curiosity.

Teenage Years and Beyond: Keeping the Spark Alive

While younger children naturally pursue their interests, teens face more structured learning requirements. Parents and educators should connect abstract concepts to students’ existing interests – just like the nail polish math example shows. This approach maintains an interest in learning through challenging academic years.

Nurturing Student Engagement

Educators and parents can spark curiosity by:

• Connecting abstract concepts to students’ existing passions
• Presenting information through engaging storytelling
• Providing one-on-one support through tutoring
• Creating personalised learning experiences

Individual attention from parents or tutors helps incorporate student interests into new subjects. This approach works for learners of all ages – when we develop genuine curiosity, learning becomes a lifelong journey.

Ready to transform your child’s learning experience? Contact School is Easy and discover how our personalised tutoring approach can ignite your child’s passion for learning.

Mastering effective study skills for high school is crucial for academic achievement. Many students juggle multiple subjects and assignments, often feeling overwhelmed and falling into procrastination traps. These proven strategies will help students manage their workload and learn more effectively.

1. Create a Strategic Homework Schedule

Map out specific days and times for each subject. This organizational approach builds valuable time management skills that extend beyond the classroom. Students working with tutors can align their sessions with these designated study blocks, ensuring balanced attention across all subjects.

2. Reinforce Learning by Teaching Others

One of the most powerful study skills for high school students is explaining concepts to others. Whether teaching a younger sibling or walking a parent through a complex topic, verbalizing the material helps cement it in long-term memory.

3. Focus on One Task at a Time

Avoid juggling multiple assignments simultaneously. Switching between your science project, English essay, and household chores splits your attention and reduces productivity. Complete one task before moving to the next for better results.

4. Choose Study-Friendly Background Music

While some students study effectively with music, be honest about whether it helps or hinders. If you catch yourself singing along instead of absorbing your history readings, it’s becoming a distraction. Consider music specifically designed for study, like classical, or work in silence if that better suits your learning style.

5. Eliminate Digital Distractions

During study sessions, phones and social media must be off-limits. Since many high school students find it challenging to resist these distractions, parents can help by holding devices until homework is complete. For assignments requiring internet access, maintain strict boundaries around social media use.

Master These Skills for Long-Term Success

These techniques work beyond high school, serving students well into college and university. With the right mindset and consistent application of these study strategies, students can take control of their academic journey.

Ready to transform your learning experience? Connect with School is Easy and find out how our expert tutors can help you develop stronger study skills and achieve your academic goals.

Sometimes, no matter how hard your child may try, they will not be able to get past a particular problem with their homework. So, how can you encourage a breakthrough as a teacher or parent?

One way is by encouraging them to take a break. Research shows that brains build bigger creative webs when in a good mood. This means that resting and taking time to relax may help your child improve their mood and spark their creativity.

Why taking a break from studying can help improve your child’s creativity.

Have you ever thought about why some of your most profound thinking or best ideas happen in the shower? There is a scientific explanation for this. According to scientists, when you are not focused on any task, your brain is in a state of wakeful rest. A part of your brain, known as the default mode network, becomes activated. William Haynes expands on this concept in a short video on YouTube. He points out that when your default mode network is activated, you become less aware of your environment and more aware of your internal thoughts. Thus, when your child takes a break, their thought patterns also have the opportunity to change and give them more ideas on how to solve a problem.

One way to activate the default mode network.

Researchers at Stanford University recently discovered that walking can help get your creative juices flowing. So, the next time your child starts getting fidgety or is stuck on a problem, encourage them to walk the dog with you. Or, if they’ve been working on a project non-stop and seem to have run out of ideas, have them take the afternoon off and go for a hike with you.

Make sure you balance taking a break from studying with getting things done.

Of course, just because study breaks can be good for your child’s creativity, that doesn’t mean they can say they want to go on a hike whenever they want instead of doing their homework. Instead, this method should be utilized when your child is struggling to think of new ideas or is getting frustrated by not being able to figure a problem out.

Different age groups will have various levels of capacity. Some ten-year-olds might need a brain break after 15 minutes. A 16-year-old might be okay for an hour before needing to stop. It all depends on the individual learner.

Whatever the capacity of your child, try to make sure that they try taking a break from studying when they need to. That way, they get the most out of their study sessions. And if they need help in their classes that can’t be helped with a break, contact your local School is Easy.