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4 tips on how to raise bilingual kids

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To raise bilingual kids

Growing up bilingual has a great deal of benefits (check out our article on 3 incredible advantages of raising bilingual kids). And the positive aspects of knowing two languages far surpasses all the challenges parents might think there are with raising bilingual kids. So here we’ll give 5 great tips you can use to raise kids bilingually.

1. If you speak a second language, try not to speak anything else with your kids

If either parent is fluent in a second language, it’d be best if that parent speaks solely that language with the kids. This is called a “one parent, one language approach.” The earlier you start this, the better. Your child will associate the second language with that one parent.

As they grow up, be keen on getting your kids to communicate with you only in the second language. If necessary, pretend you simply don’t understand the dominant language your kids may want to use. This will be especially important once they start school.

The Huffington Post has a great article listing other approaches used in terms of who should speak what (linked to above).

2. Read bilingual books, or translate books as you read

If you are able to get a hold of bilingual children’s books, this will make it easier for you to read to your kids in a second language. If not, and if you are able to, translate books for your kids as you are reading them out loud. You can always do this with simple books that have basic vocabulary. This will not only increase the child’s second language vocabulary, it will also reinforce the fact that the one parent always communicates in the second language.

3. Watch cartoons with kids speaking a second language

Netflix has a great variety of cartoons that offer a multiple of audio language choices. There are also kids’ movies in many languages. You can even find cartoons and kids’ shows in several languages on YouTube. Cartoons and TV shows allow bilingual children to hear different tones and accents, and even different expressions in the second language they are learning. Their vocabulary and comprehension will also be greatly enhanced by hearing different characters play out stories in the kids’ second language.

4. Have extended family and friends get involved to raise bilingual kids

If you have family or friends who speak the second language you want your kids to learn, make them aware of your plan. Every time you all get together, use the opportunity for your kids to hear others speak their second language. And, if others can also be consistent in only speaking the second language when they see the kids, it’ll be even better! The more exposure kids get of the second language, the more they’ll pick it up.

Above all, be consistent and don’t give up! Children who naturally switch from one language to another are a wonder to watch. And it will be a huge reward for parents who stick to a plan with an end in sight. So if you are thinking of raising bilingual kids, give these tips a try!

Plus, see these related posts about language development on our blog!

4 ways to help students with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder)

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To helping students with ADD - hand with watch

Traditionally, schools are places where kids learn to sit still, listen, follow instructions, pay attention. But ADD students won’t be able to fulfill such requirements as their brains work in the opposite way. So how can tutors help students with ADD? Here we give you 5 tools you can use to engage these unique kids:

1. It’s all about the chairs

There are several options you have when it comes to “sitting” ADD students:

  • Thera-bands: Wrap these bands around the feet of the chair. ADD students can fidget with it while working on a task.
  • Balance balls: Originally designed for physical therapy, balance balls are proving to be of great help for students with ADD. This is because balance balls require kids to be constantly moving so as to not lose their balance. So their physical energy is redirected into something positive. Gaiam.com offers a great example of a second grade teacher who got a few balance balls for her classroom. She immediately saw a change for the better with of some of the ADD students’ behaviour.
  • Chair-free classroom: The idea here is to redesign the entire classroom so ADD students have multiple choices when it comes to sitting while doing a task. They can sit on the floor, stand by the desks, lay down on floor mats, and other options. This encourages physical movement and allows students with ADD to learn however they feel most comfortable at any given time.

2. Incorporate quick physical games during lessons

Get up and move activities can help kids who can’t sit still for too long. So take 2 minutes a few times out of your lesson and play a game! Jumpbunch.com has a great list of simple games you can play with your students. Some of them include Simon Says, Wall to Wall, and Duck, Duck, Goose.

3. Use individual timers to help students with ADD concentrate

Starrstrangledplanner.com suggests giving students their own timer if you need them to stay focused at a given task. This visual reminder may help students to be less distracted when doing an activity. But still, with ADD students, try to keep tasks short enough so their attention span lasts an appropriate length. Say, giving them 5-10 minutes for one task and then taking a quick movement break. This may be easier to achieve for ADD students.

4. Give them something to chew on

Theinspiredtreehouse.com says that “certain smells, tastes, and textures have been associated with more attentive behaviour in children.” So give them a chewable tool like y-chews, chewable pencil toppers, or a chewable necklace.

ADD students can still learn!

Finally, remember that, although you can help students with ADD, they are quite capable of learning. They just learn in a different way. And each individual ADD student will be different from another. So the above tips may offer general help for teachers struggling with ADD students. If you need more specific tips for helping ADD students, check out the following articles:

Also, check out our articles on similar topics for further information:

3 Ways to manage diversity in the classroom

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kids in mongolian dress

When you think of diversity, multiculturalism may be the first thing that comes to mind. After all, Canada is known for being a multicultural nation. But when we talk about diversity in the classroom we need to go beyond cultural differences. Diversity in the classroom may include:

  • Students coming from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds
  • Lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) students
  • Students with learning and physical disabilities
  • Students with different learning styles
  • Gifted students

And although there are schools that are able to provide adequate extra support in the classrooms for some of these types of students, there are many teachers handling such diverse classrooms on their own.

So here we’ll give you 3 ways to manage diversity in the classroom:

1. Highlight the diversity of your classroom to the students

Teach your classroom what diversity means and how it is manifested in their own classroom. A great lesson could include choosing a few different students who represent such diversity (if they’re open to it – don’t put them on the spot!). Then highlight how each of those students adds something valuable and unique to the classroom. For example, we’ve written about religious tolerance in the classroom:

You could then pair up students (as the teacher you may need to use your discretion here to pair up students you know will have notable diversity differences, for the purposes of this activity). Give them a simple questionnaire so they get to know each other. They could then do a mini presentation about the uniqueness of their partner. The key here is for students to value their diverse classroom and therefore, their peers. This may create inclusiveness within the classroom.

And, this can especially be effective depending on the location and demographics of the school, as education in the suburbs and the city can be different. We’ve written about this topic here:

2. Get to know your students and build relationships with them

In order for teachers to be inclusive with their lesson plans, they need to get to know their students. Depending on the kids’ age, teachers could ask them to keep a weekly journal at school. If the kids are younger, a thematic journal of drawings may also give teachers insight into students’ lives. It could be assigned with themes, depending on the need seen in the classroom.

Not only would it be free writing practice, but it may give teachers insight into the student’s life outside school. A strong bond of trust may be formed if students realize their journal is something shared between them and their teacher. Through this, they can manage diversity in the classroom based on issues at hand.

3. Provide an array of different learning tools

Nowadays, technology plays a key role in students’ learning. Edutopia.org has a great article on 100+ Tools for Differentiating Instruction Through Social Media. Essentially, these tools help teachers manage diverse learning styles based on students’ profiles: their interests, abilities, learning levels, and struggles. Thus, incorporating such tools in a diverse classroom may give teachers a great way to meet the learning needs of all their students.

For more on social media tools check out our blogs on these topics:

For more on teaching based on learning styles, check out these posts on our blog:

To conclude, diversity in the classroom needs to be fully understood and embraced by both teacher and students. A positive and open-minded classroom atmosphere is key for a teacher to implement inclusive lesson plans. If such a mindset is created from the start, then managing a diverse classroom will be successful.

 

5 great activities to teach kids about multiculturalism in the classroom

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Teach kids about multiculturalism in the classroom

Canada is known worldwide for being a multicultural society. For the most part, Canadians grow up embracing, respecting, or at least tolerating the diversity of their nation. Multiculturalism is a key aspect of what makes Canada such a warm and welcoming place. And the Canadian government encourages learning about the diversity of the country. Recognizing the value in teaching our kids about multiculturalism may be important in raising citizens who treat everyone equally. So here are 5 great activities you can use to teach kids about multiculturalism:

1. How do you say “hello”?

A simple activity to start with. Get your students to share with the class how the say “hello” in their respective languages, or their parents’ languages (if English is their first language). Then you can make small posters with each greeting and practice a different greeting every week! You could even expand this activity by teaching kids simple but meaningful words like “friend” and “thanks” in other languages that kids (or their families) speak in the class.

2. ‘Learn about a country’ day

This activity would be based on the countries represented in your classroom. You could choose a country once a month and dedicate a portion of the school day (or the whole day) learning about it. You can ask the student(s) from that country (or background) to help you prepare the day. The ideas are limitless: music, food samples, traditional dress, popular games around the world, songs, guest speakers, holiday decorations and crafts, etc.

For example, see these articles on our blog that incorporate cultural learning into lessons or activities:

We also wrote about how you can find educational activities on Pinterest. See this link for more:

3. Explore skin color diversity

Racheous.com has a number of great activities to explore this topic. You can use paint sample cards, cut a circle in the middle and get kids to match their skin tones. You can make puppets using the leftover circles from the paint cards. Ourtimetolearn.com explains that color exploration with paint cards teaches kids that “everyone’s skin is a different shade of the same color.”

In this activity it’s important to emphasize that you’re not trying to get kids to pay attention to differences, but to the fact that differences in skin colour don’t matter. Inclusivity is key here. Use the ‘skin colour’ talk to start conversations with the class about what their colour means to them, and the friendships they create in their lives.

4. Around the world through books

Kcedventures.com has a selection of 30 books that explore cities and countries around the world. Jaquie Fisher, explains that she chose these books because they were written in modern times and a number of them were written from the perspective of children. You could choose books based on the cultural diversity of your classroom. You could read the book to your students in class. Or you can assign kids a reading at home, then create activities based on the themes presented in the chosen book(s).

5. Create continent boxes

This Montessori-inspired multicultural activity gets kids to collect things like pictures or photographs, maps, cultural objects, animals, flags, stamps and anything else that is typical of a particular continent. The boxes (plastic containers would do but you can get fancy!), can be made at the end of the study of a particular continent. It could almost be viewed as a souvenir the kids get to keep after learning about the continent.

These are just a few activities you could do to teach kids about multiculturalism. Here are a few more links for you to explore:

Multiculturalism can be fun, interesting, and a very valuable subject to teach kids of all ages!

Plus, see these posts on related teaching resources and topics:

 

Pros and cons of kids playing Pokémon Go

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kids playing Pokémon Go

If you take a walk around your city and see people looking at their phone while walking, chances are they are playing Pokémon Go. This nintendo game has taken Canada by storm! And it’s timing couldn’t have been better, right in the summer break when youngsters have lots of time to spare. So, is it all good fun or is there something to consider before letting our kids get hooked in this Pokémon Go craze? Here we give you some pros and cons of kids playing Pokémon Go to think about.

The good side of kids playing Pokémon Go

It’s mostly played outdoors

Kids can certainly play Pokémon Go at home, but the fun of this game is that there are Pokémon around the neighbourhood, at the park, at stores, they can be anywhere you go to! So kids are encouraged to go out, exercise a bit, and be outdoors for extended periods of time. That’s always a good thing, especially in the summer!

It encourages social interaction

The mother of a 6 year old Autistic child shared her incredibly positive experience with Pokémon Go on Facebook. She explains how, thanks to Pokémon go, her Autistic child is interacting, verbalizing, and sharing something in common with other kids.

Along similar lines, Psychology Today says Pokémon Go may help with social anxiety and even depression. Kids can go out to play on their own but they may be surrounded by others doing the same thing. So kids may not feel as fearful of being in such a seemingly social environment. But since so many kids are probably playing Pokémon Go, it makes it easier to start conversations and make friends.

The downside of kids playing Pokémon Go

Kids are outside, but distracted on their phone

There are distracted drivers, but what about distracted walkers? If you google Pokémon Go accidents, you’ll find a surprisingly large number of reported injuries and major accidents. From walking into doors, bushes, and trees to crossing streets and highways without looking! Two men fell off a cliff while playing Pokémon Go! So having to constantly look down at your phone can be dangerous for kids.

Too much screen time?

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that screen time for kids be limited to “no more than one or two hours per day.” They explain that excessive use of technology and media can lead to a number of negative issues, including attention problems, learning difficulties, and sleep disorders. So it may be a good idea to limit your kid’s time playing Pokémon Go, if too much screen time concerns you.

For more on this topic check out our other articles:

As parents, it all comes down to balance and personal values. If they aren’t yet, your kids will eventually want to play the game everyone else is playing. So weigh the pros and cons because as soon as your kids start playing Pokémon Go, they’ll quickly get hooked on this popular craze!

3 incredible advantages of raising bilingual children

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Advantages of raising bilingual children

According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, “most children have the capacity and facility to learn more than one language.” Raising bilingual children may seem challenging for some, and it does require some level of determination from the family involved. But the advantages seem to surpass the challenges of raising bilingual kids. Read on and you’ll learn about some of the advantages of raising bilingual children.

Bilingual children work at a more complex level than monolingual kids

The brains in children who speak two languages can handle “higher cognitive processes.” Incultureparent.com outlines some of these:

  1. “Better ability to focus and be less distracted”
  2. “Better at multitasking”
  3. “Increased mental flexibility and creativity”
  4. “Stronger logic skills”

And, according to the Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, they have better memory skills too.

Bilingual kids can have a wider range of work opportunities in the future

Consider Canada as an official bilingual country. Many may argue that learning French may not be worth the trouble as most Canadians function in English. However, according to an article by huffingtonpost.ca, there are thousands of federal government jobs that need to be filled every year.

Canadian families don’t need to speak french for their kids to be bilingual. They can choose to enrol children in the Canadian French Immersion program. So Canada will teach kids French for free. In exchange, these bilingual children may be the only ones qualified to fill up these government positions in the future.

See more from our site on this topic, as it relates to French Immersion tutoring and education:

But looking at how globalized everything has become, children who grow up speaking two or more languages will have much wider access to career opportunities than monolingual kids across the globe. It may be much easier for bilingual kids to work for international companies and abroad.

Being bilingual can help delay dementia and Alzheimer’s in old age

BBC.com says that “scientists examined almost 650 dementia patients” as part of a research that wanted to know what impact bilingualism had on dementia. The results showed that bilingual patients developed dementia a few years later than monolingual patients.

The New Yorker has a great article on bilingualism and the aging brain. They mention the research done on Alzheimer’s patients and how being bilingual has acted as a protection against the onset symptoms of the disease. The research concluded that bilingual patients developed delayed diagnosis and symptoms of the disease compared to monolingual patients.

To conclude, if your child is already bilingual, learning even more languages may be easier for them as their brains are already trained to handle such a complex task.

For families who already have bilingualism in their midst, exposing your kids to a second language can start as young as infancy. The younger, the better! Consistency and perseverance in keeping a second language is key. But taking into account the above advantages mentioned in this article, seems worthwhile!

Plus, see these related posts about language education and brain stimulation on our blog!