Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Whats a Parent do With a Struggling Math Student

What’s a Parent do With a Struggling Math Student 0SHARESShare Math is a most concerned subject for tutors, students and parents for the reason that it is the most primitive and vast subject. It is used in our day-to-day lives makes parents worried if their child is found struggling Math. However, they do not know how to help their child improving them in Math. The best thing a parent can help their child to improve Math literacy is to regularly make them involved in solving practical applications of Math. This is not like teaching with pen and pencil but help them to develop the capabilities of mathematical reasoning on their own. It is observed that most often what children discover and learn outside the classroom can help learn conceptually than what they learn in class. The former tends to learn concepts more in practical and applicable situations while later often target learning concepts more in abstract and theoretical manner. Parents can merge both these realms. Learning Math outside the classroom should be like part of routine regimen. The parents should help their child develop mathematical reasoning without going much more in detail lessons. While, helping out children learning theoretical Math can be hired math tutor online. Online tutoring is the best choice that works one-to-one with individual child explaining the abstract and theoretical concepts. Online tutor involves children playing mathematical mind games like chess, poker, and monopoly.                                               The parent’s role should primarily focus transforming everyday occurrences into lessons and develop the skills and sense of applied Math. [starbox id=admin]

Friday, March 6, 2020

Maths Help Make Maths Tuition Fun

Maths Help Make Maths Tuition Fun How to Make Maths Fun? Yes, it's Possible! ChaptersMake Maths Lessons Great!Learn Maths Through the Internet! How to Prepare Exciting Maths TuitionLet’s be honest, maths has never been the most popular subject. It’s the age-old problem area that most people find challenging, from childhood right through to adult life.But maths doesn’t have to be hard! That’s where you, the maths tutor, come in. Whether your private tuition is aimed at primary school, GCSE, A-Level, or even university, there are many ways to appeal to students at all levels and find out how they can thrive in what is currently a problem area.You have the power to change your student’s entire approach and way of thinking when it comes to learning maths and retaining information, and help them overcome any fear or anxiety in maths.The classroom isn't always the best place to learn! Source: VisualhuntSometimes the trickiest part of maths is not having an understanding of the basics before moving on to the more complicated activities. This can make stude nts feel lost and confused, and maths becomes a chore.Once a student has fallen behind, it can be really difficult to catch up, and students often feel like they’re drowning. This is something picked up by Ousted (Office for Standards in Education) in a report on maths education â€" they found that students weren’t helped or supported enough if they fell behind, which affected their entire course of study.So it seems that maths is becoming a noticeable issue in national education. But there are many ways that private tutors can pick lost students back up, and redirect them towards success.The first step in getting your students motivated to learn maths is by re-contextualising it. This means that, by putting maths into accessible and relevant situations that your student can recognise and relate to, you will make it comprehensible, as well as fun and engaging.Making maths fun is the most crucial element in changing your student’s outlook. By showing them that maths isn’t a c hore, and that it can be really versatile and exciting, you will spark their interest and self-confidence. MyriamMaths Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £200/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Dr parikhMaths Teacher 5.00 (8) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KamalMaths Teacher 5.00 (9) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PetarMaths Teacher 5.00 (8) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GowsikaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RubenMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ConorMaths Teacher 4.75 (4) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsMake Maths Lessons Great!Of course each student is different, and should be treated as such. It’s important to keep track of how your student absorbs information, the way they understand and approach challenges.Start by spending some time with your student to really work out what it is about maths that troubles them. Is it a specific topic? Is it the way it’s taught in school? Is it because they just aren’t succeeding?Once you can hone in on the issues, you can start exploring what would make maths more fun during your home tuition sessions.And now the world is your oyster! There are so many ways to make your lessons more enjoyable and creative, using tools and media such as:BooksMusicArtVideosApps and websitesBoard gamesCard gamesMock scenarios and transactionsIntroducing play into learning, especially with younger students, is really important for their development and understanding of a subject or challenge. Whatever you use, just make sure it’s age appropriate and gets your student engaged in the activity, and the sky’s the limit!Just by putting maths into a different context, you can help your student look at it with fresh eyes. Whether this is through games, mock transaction activities, cooking, or whatever method your maths student might enjoy , the crucial goal is making maths relevant.This is where you can start getting creative with your home tutoring sessions, personalising them to the individual needs of your student. Play around with different learning techniques that can be carried out through fun activities, and take note of what your student enjoys.There is a much wider scope for what you can do in terms of fun and games with younger students, particularly at primary or early secondary school age. At this age, your student is at a stage in their development where playing is still necessary for learning, so you can use this to your advantage.The most crucial part about playing games is that your student sees how fun maths can be, and how it can be applied to everyday life. In showing your own positivity and love of maths, it will rub off on your student too.Make your student aware of the various daily activities that use and rely on maths. You can think about how you might turn these activities into games that you can play with your student.You can use any games you like â€" and board games, puzzles or card games are a great place to start. Try adding in little maths problems for your student to solve, or play games involving money. A bit of competition is a great motivator â€" and a prize is always fun!Games are a great way to overcome challenges! Source: VisualhuntMaths games are great idea because they will help your student visualise the methods and the application that they need to learn. If you’re teaching your student to tell the time, for example, why not get hold of a clock to teach the lessonâ€" you can buy (or make!) pretend clocks with moveable hands, so that you can call out times and your student can adjust them accordingly.When learning how to handle and count money with younger students, there are lots of fun ways to engage them and put their learning into practice. You might decide that you could have a go at a setting up a shop, or go on a little spending spree, all in th e comfort of your home!By designing a pretend shop or café, you can make money and transactions fun. Outline a budget, a menu and some prices, and let the games begin.If you want to make things a bit more challenging, why not introduce some vouchers and have a go at working out discounts and percentages. Swap places as you pay, so that your student can understand about both sides of a transaction.Learn Maths Through the Internet!The internet is pivotal when exploring fun ways to teach maths. Just a simple internet search of ‘maths games’ or ‘make maths fun’ will bring you pages of results, including articles, advice and guidance, and all sorts of games and resources to try.If you’re looking to work on particular aspects of your student’s syllabus, BBC Bitesize  is a brilliant tool. You can hone in on particular topics that directly follow the national curriculum, available for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, for both primary and secondary school.If you’ re looking for free online maths tools that stem away from specific course specifications and just focus on learning basic maths principles and fun games, then have a look at Educators Technology  who have set out a list of links and ideas to get you started.For more ideas on which games and activities to try to be a fun maths tutor, check out our blog post on maths games!How to Prepare Exciting Maths TuitionTo get started, put aside some time to really research and play around with ideas. Make a list of ideas you might have yourself, perhaps you have something in mind for a particular topic that’s been tricky for your student.As the tutor, it’s important to have a go yourself at any of the apps and websites you might want to use, or that have been recommended to you, before you go on to suggest them for your student to use.This goes for any resources you find during your search, just have a quick scan to make sure they will be useful, appropriate, and most importantly, fun to u se during your private tutoring sessions.Outline a brief lesson plan, to make sure that all the bases are covered and your student is still receiving what they need from you in terms of curriculum and tackling specific problems. But this is where you can start weaving in some fun and games to your sessions.Play around with games and roles. Source: VisualhuntRemember to keep your plan adjustable, as it is subject to change. After all, you need to notice how your student is responding to the activities you have set out. If they are having fun, great! Keep track of what works, what might need tweaking, and your student’s individual progress.If they still seem to be struggling, or if you think they aren’t enjoying something, move on! You’ll find that much of it is a case of trial and error, and practice makes perfect. It’s important here, too, to keep track of what didn’t work and why, and how you could improve for next time.It might be a good idea to set your student a bit of homework as well. It doesn’t have to anything too big or strenuous, it could even be as simple as trying out a new app or completing a section on BBC Bitesize, for example.By encouraging your student to keep working at their maths in their own time, they will naturally get better and better. By setting work that is fun, manageable, and that doesn’t resemble the dull and difficult exercised they do at school, then you can help them build a new relationship with maths â€" one of pleasure and confidence.

How to Make a Smart Study Routine

How to Make a Smart Study Routine Identifying study strategies that work for you is perhaps the best way to boost your grades in your classes this year. Many students fall into the habit of using the same study skills for different disciplines and not changing the ways they study as their academic careers progress. Other students equate the amount of time spent in front of an open book with the amount of quality studying they didand these students are sometimes shocked to find that their grades dont reflect the time they spent studying. If its time for you to re-examine your study habits, check out these tips on how to make a smart study routine: 1. Ditchthe distractions If you study with music on, your phone next to you blinking incessantly with texts, and the TV on in the background, youre probably not studying as effectively as you could be. Eliminate any extra time in your study routine by creating a good study environment. Four hours of distracted, low-quality studying is inferior to two hours of high-quality, focused attention on your work. Dont make the mistake of simply equating time spent studying with the quality of your learning and understanding. Turn off your electronic devices until youve reached your study goals for the day and you might be surprised at how much better you retain the information youve reviewed. 2.Make a plan Too many students intend to start studying early, but then find themselves cramming in the day or two leading up to an assessment. Adjust your study plan by looking ahead. Put your tests on a calendar and plot out dedicated study time in the weeks leading up to an exam. By scheduling your study time early, youll avoid making the plans that would usually take the place of studying and force you to cram later on. 3. Read actively and do practice problems Simply reading your textbook is not the same as actively engaging with the material. As you study, highlight or underline important text, make margin notes, and ask yourself questions. By talking with the text as you read, youll reinforce the material in an active way and get more out of your study efforts than you would with passive reading. If youre studying a subject that has problem-based assessments, make sure you are taking practice tests throughout your studying. Remember that active studying that includes problem-solving and note-taking can further your understanding of a topic more than passive studying. 4. Askquestions Many students see studying as a solitary act and do not intend to have contact with their teacher in the days leading up to a test. Instead of shutting yourself out from your teacher, TAs, and other students as you study, develop questions as you go through the materialand follow up on asking them! Reconcile any confusion you have by approaching your teacher, TA, peers, or even a tutor. Think about the benefits of group study and form a group that meets a week before the test to answer questions with classmates. Moreover, go to any office hours or extra help sessions your teacher might provide. Additional input as you study can help you go from understanding the material to mastering it. Now that you have these tips, implement them into your routine! Remember: a smart study routine(not just a longer one) is key to academic success.

Thursday, March 5, 2020

The Benefits of Dance on the Body and Mind

The Benefits of Dance on the Body and Mind Why Learn to Dance? Chapters1. Dance to Relieve Stress2. Gaining Confidence3. Improve Your Figure with Dancing4. Become More Flexible by Dancing5. Improve Your Memory by Dancing6. Become More Creative7. Work On Your Concentration8. Become More Disciplined9. Balance and Stability10. Improving Your Heart Rate“The Dance: A minimum of explanation, a minimum of anecdotes - and a maximum of sensations.” - Maurice BéjartA lot of people are interested in taking dance classes London.What about you?No matter what style of dance you do, there are plenty of physical and mental benefits. SeamDance Teacher 4.96 (24) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JamieDance Teacher 5.00 (6) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ErickaDance Teacher 5.00 (1) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamuelDance Teacher 5.00 (4) £100/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FlavioDance Teacher 5.00 (7) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HakimDance Teacher 5.00 (5) £50/h1st lesson free!D iscover all our tutors HannaDance Teacher 5.00 (4) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ClareDance Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors1. Dance to Relieve StressThere are several physical benefits to dancing but we often forget about the mental benefits. Dance classes can help you reduce stress and have a positive effect on your mental wellbeing.Work can often stress us out and your daily routine might be a source of stress, too.Get rid of anxiety through dance. (Source: Wokandapix)Dancing allows us to get rid of our stress! It can help us relax and take our minds off the daily concerns we're subjected to. A bit like a massage, dancing relaxes the body.Dancing is also an opportunity to not think about the things that stress us out for a few hours. A few sessions a week can really help get rid of your daily stress.Additionally, since dancing is a physical activity, it comes with the same mood-enhancing benefits as any other physical activity. When you exerc ise, your brain releases endorphins, a group of hormones that have a positive effect on our mood.Join the discussion: what is the best age to start dancing?2. Gaining ConfidenceDancing is also great for your self-confidence. You can learn more about your body and how it moves. In dance classes, the teacher will encourage their students to express themselves.It’s a new way to express yourself.Bit by bit, dance students will learn to face their fears of performing in front of others. While your first time performing might make you nervous, you'll soon become so used to dancing in front of others that you'll not even give it a second thought.You can get dance classes throughout the year and you’ll see the effects that dancing can have on your self-confidence.  It doesn’t matter what style of dance, either. Since all styles of dance require you to perform in front of others, you can pick whatever style you like!3. Improve Your Figure with DancingDancing is both an art form and a s port. Like most physical activities, dancing can help you lose weight, stay in shape, or tone up.Studies have shown that you need to do at least 30 minutes of physical activity per day. It’s therefore important to have an activity you can do every day. Especially if you spend most of your days sitting down.That’s why activities like Zumba have become very popular in recent years. Zumba is a combination of dancing and physical activities. At the end of a class, everyone’s out of breath and it’s a great way to lose a few pounds, get healthier, and tone up, all while doing an enjoyable bit of dancing.4. Become More Flexible by DancingWith stretching, warming up, and moves like the splits, dancing can help people become more flexible.Have you met someone who’s taken dance lessons? Have you seen how flexible they are?Become as flexible as a contortionist! (Source: Pexels)It’s easier to stay in shape when you’re flexible. It’s easier to climb stairs, sit on the floor, etc.  This also means you’re less likely to get injured.Dance lessons are great for improving your flexibility. You’ll become a genuine contortionist.  With private tutorials, dance schools, and dance courses, there are plenty of ways to become more flexible.While you don't need to be able to do the splits in order to dance, with regular warmups and stretches, you'll start seeing the benefits sooner than you think! SeamDance Teacher 4.96 (24) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JamieDance Teacher 5.00 (6) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ErickaDance Teacher 5.00 (1) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamuelDance Teacher 5.00 (4) £100/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FlavioDance Teacher 5.00 (7) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HakimDance Teacher 5.00 (5) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HannaDance Teacher 5.00 (4) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ClareDance Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors5. Improve Your Memory by DancingDancing works your body and your mind. Certain styles, like hip-hop, jazz, and ballet, require the students to remember a sequence of steps in order to create choreography.You have to remember every single step. Of course, you’ll be able to copy someone else in the class, but this does mean that you’ll always be a bit behind.Don’t worry if you have the memory of a goldfish since you can work on it. In fact, over time, your brain will become more adept at remembering dance steps.Throughout the year, you’ll work out techniques and methods to help you remember. You'll also start seeing patterns emerge and know that once you've done a certain step, there are only a few specific steps that can follow it.Music plays an important role in remembering dance steps and certain parts of songs can remind you of what you’re supposed to be doing. It’ll help make learning choreography easier.Do you know what to expect from your first dance lesson?6. Become More CreativeDancing is above all an artistic pursuit which allows you to express an idea through your choreography. You’ll speak using your body language.  Dancers can look for inspiration in other arts or by watching other dancers or choreographers.Dance classes encourage their students to use their imagination to create new movements. The ability to imagine and create is highly sought after in professional domains, too. It’s a good quality to have.Choreographing dance moves requires creativity. (Source: AdinaVoicu)Whether you do tap, ballroom dancing, merengue, jazz, boogie-woogie, waltz, mambo, cha cha, or swing, you’ll need to be imaginative and creative.Dancing is a great opportunity for creative people to flex their creative muscle. Additionally, if you're not creative, dancing can help you become more creative and give you more opportunities to think creatively.Don’t hesitate to get dance classes during your free time or an intensive course during y our holidays.7. Work On Your ConcentrationConcentration is useful for when you’re working, too.  In today’s world, it’s very easy to struggle to concentrate. We jump from channel to channel, skip songs we don’t like, etc.The younger generation has even more distractions to deal with.  Dancing can help you to concentrate.Dance lessons usually last an hour or two. There are often very few distractions in a dance studio. Most dance studios have mirrors on the wall so you can see how you're doing.Dancing is an activity you can enjoy, too. Your brain will learn how to stay focused on one task: following the choreography.Learning to concentrate can take a bit of effort, but you’ll soon see how dance can help you to achieve this.8. Become More DisciplinedWhile dancing is an artistic activity, it’s important to be disciplined and follow certain rules to ensure that the choreography appears planned.This is especially true when a lot of dancing isn’t done on your own. In most da nce classes, there a number of rules you have to follow, too.The choreography is often done for groups or couples. This means you’ll need to follow the rules so that you’re in sync with your dance partners.Becoming a good dancer takes time and commitment. While it might seem easier to skip your dance class because you're tired after work, by sticking at it, you'll start reaping all the physical and mental benefits as well as learning discipline.This can help you a lot in everyday life, too. This means doing the best you can for yourself.A lot of choreography requires discipline. (Source: delo)Of course, there’s nothing wrong with a bit of freestyle, either! Sometimes rules were meant to be broken!To truly invoke your style, discover what dance accessories you will need!9. Balance and StabilityLike a lot of other sporting activities (working out, skating, etc.), dancing can help you work on your balance. You need to be able to balance on one leg or arm, for example.Dance lesson s can help you get to know your body better and learn how to move better. Through training, you’ll improve your balance.Dancing can also strengthen certain muscles. Your hips and legs will get stronger, too. Of course, you need to pay particular attention if you have preexisting conditions. Talk to your tutor, teacher, or doctor in order to find out about any precautions you should take.Learning to dance in group classes or private tutorials is sometimes more effective than certain medical treatments.10. Improving Your Heart RateDo you need to get into sport in order to improve your cardio?Taking dance lessons could be the solution to your problems. Dancing can be as good for you as swimming or running in terms of cardio and endurance.These types of activities can strengthen your heart and improve your lung capacity. Over time, you’ll improve your endurance and be more capable of doing longer sessions.Don’t forget about dancing if you need to be doing more exercises. The advan tage is that dancing can also be a hobby.Why not make the most of doing sport and having fun?Whether you do oriental dance, ballroom dancing, Cuban salsa, flamenco, contemporary dance, Latin dance, African dance, bachata, or rumba is up to you!Aren't you ready to discover how you can start dancing now?

English Quantifiers All, Most and Every with Video, Exercises and a Goldfish Joke

English Quantifiers All, Most and Every with Video, Exercises and a Goldfish Joke All, most and every are quantifiers that are often confused in English. The most common mistake is using all too often when you should use everything/everybody. Another very common mistake is making everything/everybody plural rather than singular and using the incorrect conjugation of the verb.In this English lesson, we have included video of a speech given by American author David Foster Wallace. In the speech makes generalizations using all and everybody. If you are discussing generalities it is extremely important to use these words correctly.The video This is Water also uses advanced vocabulary and many collocations. So if you think your English vocabulary is good, test it by watching the second video.To start, watch the first video below about using all, most and every, then try the exercises. We also have a special lesson about this topic that you can study with our English teachers in live classes via Skype. If you are a current student, ask your teacher about it. If you want to try a first free English class with us, register by clicking here.English Collocations All, Most and Every Video Complete the exercise below to practice using all, every and most. Answer in comments and we will respond.1. We’ve eaten ______cake. (all the/all)2. ________ is ready for the party. We’re just waiting for the guests to arrive. (all/everything)3. _______people enjoy the summer except if it is too hot. (most/most of)4. She goes dancing _________ Friday night. (all/every)5. She is late ________. (all the time/ every time)Listening Exercise: This is WaterListening Questions. Answer as many as you can in comments, and we will respond.1. Tell me the opening joke.2. Getting to the store takes way longer than it ______.3. The checkout line is incredibly long which is ______ and __________.4. What does he say is ‘our’ natural default setting?5. Please don’t think that I’m giving you ____ advice.6. If you really learn how to _____, how to ___ attention then you will know you have other options.7. How does he explain changing the way you think can change your experience at say the grocery store?8. Why does he say capital T truth?9. What do we have to keep reminding ourselves about?What do you think of the video?Do you really think we have a choice on how we think?Do you feel that adulthood is filled with boring, mundane, tediousness? Eliseu Silva 1. We’ve eaten ALL THE cake. 2. EVERYTHING is ready for the party. We’re just waiting for the guests to arrive. 3. MOST people enjoy the summer except if it is too hot. 4. She goes dancing EVERY Friday night. 5. She is late ALL TIME. LOIEnglish Eliseu, very good. Only one mistake. Number 5: It should be all THE time. She is late all THE time. or She is always late.

Google Fiber and Wells Fargo Provide School Sponsorship-level Grants to Heart Math Tutoring - Heart Math Tutoring

Google Fiber and Wells Fargo Provide School Sponsorship-level Grants to Heart Math Tutoring - Heart Math Tutoring Google Fiber and Wells Fargo Provide School Sponsorship-level Grants to Heart Math Tutoring Google Fiber and Wells Fargo Provide School Sponsorship-level Grants to Heart Math Tutoring May 16, 2016 We are excited to announce several new grant awards that will help Heart serve additional students in the 2016/17 school year! Through a $25,000 sponsorship from Google Fiber, Heart will be expanding to Merry Oaks International Academy! Wells Fargo will sponsor Hearts school site at Billingsville Leadership Academy for the third consecutive year with a grant of $30,000. Heart provides an invaluable service for our students through its curriculum and dedicated tutors who are also personal cheerleaders to our students, says Michelle G. Johnson, principal at Billingsville. Sisters of Mercy of North Carolina Foundation also made a School Sponsorship-level grant of $40,000 this spring. Grants of $10,000 were also made by Bank of America Foundation, Duke Energy Foundation, and First Presbyterian Church. Adds Elliott, With a waiting list of sixteen schools, these grants are so important for Heart to meet the need in CMS. We are excited to keep growing the programs impact and appreciate the fantastic support we have received from the community. The organization’s goal â€" through its Spring Funding Initiative â€" is to raise $750,000 by June 30, 2016 to expand its service and support 750 students and 860 volunteer tutors across 15 schools in 2016/17. To date, $505,000 has been raised from grants, corporation donations, and community support. See the full press release here.

4 Ways Kumon Helps Preschoolers Develop Important Handwriting Skills

4 Ways Kumon Helps Preschoolers Develop Important Handwriting Skills 4 Ways Kumon Helps Preschoolers Develop Important Handwriting Skills As we watch three-year-olds easily navigate iPads and teens communicate primarily through smart phones, it’s easy to question the value of handwriting in today’s society. While it may not seem as important as it used to be, research indicates that handwriting positively influences reading, writing, language and critical thinking. Without overcomplicating things, the brain just engages differently when we write something as opposed to typing on a keyboard or touching a screen. Yet, 25 percent of all elementary students are lacking competency in this foundational skill. That’s where Kumon can help! From counting pictures to repeating words, thousands of early learners enrolled in Kumon develop a love of learning and a solid academic foundation. Kumon’s Pencil Skills level provides even greater support, complementing the early level of the math and reading material. Handwriting is an important part of completing the Kumon Worksheets. For students to begin learning their letters and numbers and writing them correctly, proper pencil grip and a certain level of pencil skills are needed. Let’s take a closer look at the Pencil Skills level. Introduction to Fine Motor Skills through Coloring Young students are introduced to holding and using pencils or crayons in a fun,colorful and engaging way. Through coloring, scribbling and drawing freely, students enjoy the experience of using a pencil for the first time. Proper Pencil Pressure Similar to the math and reading worksheets, the expectations of writing increases incrementally through the Pencil Skills level. As children become more comfortable with pencil grip, they will start practicing proper pencil pressure. They learn the amount of hand strength it takes to draw lines by connecting two pictures. Children will start to practice the direction of writing by drawing from top to bottom and left to right. Pencil Control Stamina As children progress, they increase pencil control by drawing longer lines and actively staying inside curved lines. Worksheets go from relatively wide spaces with short lines to progressively longer, thinner lines. This helps children become comfortable with moving their hands in different angles and directions. Even as adults, our hands tend to tire easily when writing. The Pencil Skills level helps preschoolers develop the proper stamina before advancing into the more difficult levels. Introduction to Pre-Reading Skills The Pencil Skills level is meant to compliment the Kumon Math and Reading material. As children progress through this level, they are introduced to pre-reading skills, while developing the proper pencil skills needed to excel in school. As they are not expected to read on their own yet, colorful worksheets with illustrations help them develop word association skills. In combination with other activities that advance motor skill development, the Pencil Skills level prepares children to write their letters and numbers for the first time with excitement and confidence. Discover even more study tips and resources that will give your preschoolers a head start! You might also be interested in: 3 Benefits of Enrolling Your Toddler into an Early Learner Program Developing Fine Motor Skills: How Kumon Helps Strengthen your Child’s Handwriting Skills What are the School Readiness Skills that Preschoolers Learn in Kumon? Is your Child Ready for Kindergarten? 4 Ways Kumon Helps Preschoolers Develop Important Handwriting Skills 4 Ways Kumon Helps Preschoolers Develop Important Handwriting Skills As we watch three-year-olds easily navigate iPads and teens communicate primarily through smart phones, it’s easy to question the value of handwriting in today’s society. While it may not seem as important as it used to be, research indicates that handwriting positively influences reading, writing, language and critical thinking. Without overcomplicating things, the brain just engages differently when we write something as opposed to typing on a keyboard or touching a screen. Yet, 25 percent of all elementary students are lacking competency in this foundational skill. That’s where Kumon can help! From counting pictures to repeating words, thousands of early learners enrolled in Kumon develop a love of learning and a solid academic foundation. Kumon’s Pencil Skills level provides even greater support, complementing the early level of the math and reading material. Handwriting is an important part of completing the Kumon Worksheets. For students to begin learning their letters and numbers and writing them correctly, proper pencil grip and a certain level of pencil skills are needed. Let’s take a closer look at the Pencil Skills level. Introduction to Fine Motor Skills through Coloring Young students are introduced to holding and using pencils or crayons in a fun,colorful and engaging way. Through coloring, scribbling and drawing freely, students enjoy the experience of using a pencil for the first time. Proper Pencil Pressure Similar to the math and reading worksheets, the expectations of writing increases incrementally through the Pencil Skills level. As children become more comfortable with pencil grip, they will start practicing proper pencil pressure. They learn the amount of hand strength it takes to draw lines by connecting two pictures. Children will start to practice the direction of writing by drawing from top to bottom and left to right. Pencil Control Stamina As children progress, they increase pencil control by drawing longer lines and actively staying inside curved lines. Worksheets go from relatively wide spaces with short lines to progressively longer, thinner lines. This helps children become comfortable with moving their hands in different angles and directions. Even as adults, our hands tend to tire easily when writing. The Pencil Skills level helps preschoolers develop the proper stamina before advancing into the more difficult levels. Introduction to Pre-Reading Skills The Pencil Skills level is meant to compliment the Kumon Math and Reading material. As children progress through this level, they are introduced to pre-reading skills, while developing the proper pencil skills needed to excel in school. As they are not expected to read on their own yet, colorful worksheets with illustrations help them develop word association skills. In combination with other activities that advance motor skill development, the Pencil Skills level prepares children to write their letters and numbers for the first time with excitement and confidence. Discover even more study tips and resources that will give your preschoolers a head start! You might also be interested in: 3 Benefits of Enrolling Your Toddler into an Early Learner Program Developing Fine Motor Skills: How Kumon Helps Strengthen your Child’s Handwriting Skills What are the School Readiness Skills that Preschoolers Learn in Kumon? Is your Child Ready for Kindergarten?