Parents & Parenting

Why are my child’s math grades low? Guided versus Indpedendent Practice and how to improve in math class

Guided Practice versus Independent Practice We so often hear from students that they “get it” when the teacher shows it to them, but they can’t do it on their own. When a student struggles in math class, it is usually a product of a disconnect between “being shown how” by the teacher and “doing it yourself” by the student. “Guided Practice” is where a teacher demonstrates a lesson and the students follow along. “Independent Practice” is where the student engages the material alone. So when a student “gets it” when shown but can’t “do it” alone, there is a disconnect between the Guided and Independent Practice. The Connector: Feedback What connects — or in its absence, disconnects — Guided and Independent Practice is feedback. When a teacher provides feedback by showing the answers to an entire class, students may not be getting any real feedback because the teacher is not addressing that student’s own process directly, […]

The Third Quarter Grind: How to find success in the toughest part of the school year

The third quarter is when best laid plans either triumph or fall apart. In fact, research shows that students who procrastinated during the first semester may have done well during the fall but they will likely perform worse in the spring, since all the build up of last minute panics, incomplete work and overall stress that had accumulated turns into a heavier and more stressful load in the spring.  On the other hand, students who worked consistently throughout the fall term will reap the benefits of that investment in less pressure, fewer challenges, and higher overall performance. It’s funny, though, because the same thing applies to teachers and schools. Year after year as a high school teacher, I saw how all the beginning of the year administrative, department and individual teacher planning was out the window by the Third Quarter, and it was panic and push time in order to meet the year end goals […]

Announcing: Sycamore School Lecture Series

March 1, 2017: featuring Michael Bromley of the A+ Club!  Wednesdays, March 2017, 7pm, Arlington, VAWednesday March 1st 7:30–9 p.m. Understanding and Overcoming ProcrastinationMichael Bromley will discuss strategies to help ourselves and our children overcome the urge to delay. Michael is a high school teacher, historian, published author and founder and president of School4Schools.com LLC & the A+ Club. Location: Arlington Central LibraryWednesday March 15th 7:30-9 p.m.Navigating Technology: How to help children address cyber bullying & manage electronicsBrooke Carroll, Ph.D. will lead an interactive discussion regarding parenting our tech-connected children. Brooke is an Educational Consultant & former Head of School at Seneca Academy; she has over 30 years’ experience in education. Location: Arlington Central LibraryWednesday March 22nd 7:30-9 p.m.Ways to support your anxious childChristina Tripodi Mitchell, Psy.D. is the Founder and Clinical Director of The Child & Family Practice of Washington, DC & is a Clinical Professor of Psychology at The George Washington University. Location: […]