When Kids Have Structure for Thinking, Better Learning Emerges

Good morning!

Today we are sharing another article from http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift entitled 'When Kids Have Structure for Thinking, Better Learning Emerges.' This article talks about how when kids are provided with the correct structure enabling them to learn how they are learning (or not learning/comprehending), it teaches them the essential skills and understanding they need to become life-long learners.

"Helping students to “learn how to learn” or in Ritchhart’s terminology, become “meta-strategic thinkers” is crucial for understanding and becoming a life-long learner. To discover how aware students are of their thinking at different ages, Ritchhart has been working with schools to build “cultures of thinking.” His theory is that if educators can make thinking more visible, and help students develop routines around thinking, then their thinking about everything will deepen." To view the entire article visit: http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2016/03/31/when-kids-have-structure-for-thinking-better-learning-emerges/

Here at Linder Educational Coaching we work with students of all ages to provide them with the skills they need to be able to recognize their own learning patterns and help them achieve greater awareness of their thinking.

"Research shows that when fourth graders are asked to develop a concept map about thinking, most of their brainstorming centers around what they think and where they think it. “When students don’t have strategies about thinking, that’s how they respond – what they think and where they think,” Richhart said. Many fifth graders start to include broad categories of thinking on their concept maps like “problem solving” or “understanding.” Those things are associated with thinking, but fifth graders often haven’t quite hit on the process of thinking.

By sixth grade a few students are starting to include some strategies for thinking in their maps, such as “concentrate” or “don’t get caught up in things that aren’t relevant.” But by ninth grade many students include specific strategies for thinking on their concept maps, including “making connections,” “comparing” and “breaking things down.”

If you are looking to help your child become a better learner and enable them to recognize their distinct patterns of learning, contact us today! Very rarely do teachers in school have the time or ability to focus on one student and understand the struggles and problems with that student’s learning method. Sadly, there is no required class in study skills for school and, even if there was, there is no system that works for everyone. Each person learns differently and needs to find a way to use his/her natural abilities in school.

With private coaching here at Linder, we work with students intensively, at least a few hours a week at first, to analyze what their current strategies are and how we can improve on them. Visit http://www.lindereducationalcoaching.com/programs/ to learn more about our services and our private coaching!

Why Listening to Podcasts Helps Improve Kids Reading Skills

Good morning,

Today we are sharing an interesting article written by Mindshift which talks about how one English teacher pushed the Status quo and found that there was a connection between using podcasts as a teaching tool and students wanting to read more as a result.

"Listening to stories does not immediately seem connected to reading, and in fact, readers of MindShift stories about podcasts in the classroom have commented that they don’t offer enough rigor. However, English teacher Michael Godsey discovered that most of his students prefer to listen to a podcast while reading the transcript over listening or reading alone. The combination of audio and text allowed for reading breaks and helped students learning English as a second language connect the text to the sounds." To view the full article, please visit: http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2016/03/18/why-listening-to-podcasts-helps-kids-improve-reading-skills/

Photo courtesy of Mindshift 

Each person learns differently and needs to find a way to use his/her natural abilities in school and that's one of the many things we help students do. Here at Linder Education we employ a variety of teaching tools and methods to help your student improve in and out of the classroom. If you are looking for help for your student, please contact us at: http://www.lindereducationalcoaching.com/

Why Parents Should Help Your Kids Clean Out Their Backpacks (And what Linder can do to help!)

Today we are sharing an article which highlights a simple practice which often gets overlooked: cleaning out backpacks (regularly!). In a recent article from The Washington Post, author Daniela Loose talks about five steps which you can do to help your child stay more organized with their backpacks.

"All parents know that students receive enough handouts to wallpaper a house, and unless they use an organizational system, their backpacks will soon resemble an experiment in hoarding.' What some parents don't realize is that 'while students might want to do their homework, they often give up if they can’t find it within a reasonable time. Cluttered backpacks are overwhelming and it’s easy to miss something in the chaos. Students’ failure to do their homework might be due not to inability or laziness, but to a lack of organizational skills,' and 'many students find doing homework easier and much less time consuming after they have tidied their backpack."

Here at Linder Educational Coaching, we can work with your student to help them learn practical organizational skills which can help them succeed in and out of the classroom. Organizing backpacks is just one small part of a larger organizational mind frame which we can help instill into your student. We focus on organization, planning for the week and month, study skills, test-taking skills, subject comprehension, and independence. If you think your student can benefit from learning these skills, please visit:  http://www.lindereducationalcoaching.com/ for more information to contact us today!

To view the full article, please visit: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/parenting/wp/2016/03/14/teacher-says-want-your-child-to-succeed-in-school-help-them-clean-out-their-backpack/

The Benefits of Private Coaching/Tutoring

Good morning,

If you have a student who is struggling academically but are unsure if private coaching/tutoring is the right solution, then this post is for you! Today we are sharing an article from Enlighten Me highlighting a few of the many benefits of private tutoring.

Here at Linder Education, with private coaching we work with students intensively, at least a few hours a week at first, to analyze what their current strategies are and how we can improve on them. Each student goes step-by-step through the following aspects of our program:

• Evaluate Executive Skills
• Create a Goal List with Students and Parents
• Implement a System

To learn more about our private coaching/tutoring services and what each aspect entails, please visit: http://www.lindereducationalcoaching.com/programs/

Here is the article from Enlighten Me:

Benefits of Private Tutoring

If your child is struggling in school, the answer may very well be private tutoring. When you hire a private tutor for your child, you are essentially investing in an individual teacher who’s going to be dedicated to meeting your child’s specific learning needs. Private tutors can assist in so many different ways, from helping your child get through homework, to catching them up with the rest of the class, to getting them through difficult topics or subject material. Here are some of the benefits of arranging private tutoring for your child.

Fewer distractions. Sometimes, a child who is struggling is simply easily distracted and has a harder time focusing in the classroom setting due to noise and the other children in the room. In contrast, private tutoring is conducted in a much more controlled environment (often the home), giving your child a better opportunity to focus. In addition, the one-on-one structure of private tutoring can facilitate a mentor-protégé relationship, which can be a huge motivation for some children and also improve comprehension and retention of information.

Greater focus on problem areas. Often, children struggle not so much with a single subject but rather with certain topics within that subject. Therefore, a child may be competent in math overall but be lost when it comes to fractions or calculus. A private tutor will be able to identify these weaknesses and focus the lessons accordingly. Another common cause of difficulty in school is when a child has somehow missed some key points that are holding them back from understanding more advanced concepts. Again, private tutors will be able to pinpoint these specific areas and get your child back on the road to success.

Stylistic compatibility. Every teacher has a different style and way of working, and the reality is that not every classroom teacher is going to work well with your child. But with private tutoring, you’re able to handpick the best fit for your kid, someone who has the experience, teaching approach, and personality that complements the learning needs of your child. And if you have a child with ADD or a learning disability, you can even find a tutor who specializes in working within that set of circumstances.

Flexibility. A private tutor will be able to work with your child at their individual pace and level. Your child’s tutor will be able to determine the teaching methods that work best. Every child is different, but a private tutor can develop the approach that best meets your child’s individual needs and capabilities.

To view the full, original article visit their website at: https://enlightenme.com/private-tutoring/

ADHD in girls often misdiagnosed, and how you can help your daughter!

Today we share an online segment from CBC Radio which calls attention to the alarming fact that for some young women, their ADHD is going undiagnosed. Because the symptoms are recognized differently, girls are being underdiagnosed with ADHD, leading to other problems in school and later in life.  

"According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, boys are three to four times more likely to be diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder than girls.' 

But increasingly doctors and researchers who study the condition believe those numbers can mean girls are being underdiagnosed with ADHD or misdiagnosed altogether. That's because ADHD can look very different in girls than it does in boys."

Here at Linder Educational Coaching our specialty is working with students with ADD, ADHD, other LDs, behavioral issues and problems with executive functioning. If your child has been struggling and you believe that she may have ADHD or another behavioral issue that you want help with, please contact us at: http://www.lindereducationalcoaching.com/ . In addition to the standard medications from doctors, there are other forms of help which we can provide to can enable your child succeed not only in the classroom but later in life as well. 

To listen to the online segment visit: http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-march-1-2016-1.3470403/adhd-in-girls-often-misdiagnosed-leading-to-mental-health-issues-in-adulthood-1.3470433