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Better Future Begins With Education And Goals At Early Age

Learning how to read, write, and communicate well at an early age is essential to building better education experiences for children. Research has shown that learning and loving language early on in life has a positive impact on how children read, write, and even socialize with people. From birth to five years of age, children learn language by participating in back in forth interactions with the important adults in their lives (Hanan Centre, 2016) and having this responsive feedback is an essential ingredient in the learning process of every child. So why is it important for children to learn language at an early age?

The period from ages 2 to 7 are the most important years for a child’s brain development and language development. As the brain begins to develop new cells, multiple connections between cells are formed to serve the function of expressive and receptive language (Child Development Institute). During this period, stimulation is key! Parents are encouraged to dedicate time to talking, reading, and even singing to their child, which helps bolster that language development. Young children mimic the sounds they hear around them and begin to talk the way they hear it. Practice identifying words and sounding out letters with your child and encourage them to respond to the language they hear. Lack of stimulation during this time might result in the child making slow progress or end up with poor communication skills.

Oral language is also crucial at an early stage. There are three language components that improve a young child’s communication skills: phonological, semantic, and syntactic. These components help children develop awareness in combining letters to make sounds and understanding how to combine words to make sense. Teaching these components of language and communication in the typical home setting, however, is not always easy. But VSA Future understands this and is here to help by offering online tutoring classes to help fill in the gaps.

VSA Future’s Common Core-aligned curriculum is age-specific and geared toward each child’s physical and psychological development at each grade level. In VSA Future English classes for Kindergarten, First Grade, and Second Grade, students focus heavily on phonics and on recognizing the word sounds that are fundamental to long-term reading success. Our experienced elementary school teachers emphasize correct tongue placement for accurate pronunciation which correlates to how children are able to produce the sounds, segment, and blend letters together. Pronunciation becomes harder to fix as children get older, and an early start is essential to building strong reading and pronunciation habits. While these are challenged for a parent to overcome on their own, VSA Future teachers are exceptional in aiding children in mastering these language basics.

VSA Future English students also study spelling rules and exceptions, which enable them to tackle increasingly challenging readings with confidence. Phonics serves as the foundation of all vocabulary studies, which also leads to improved reading comprehension.

In our VSA Future Writing classes, first-grade and second-grade students begin honing early writing skills, by studying genres ranging from narrative writing to persuasive essays, to learning how to organize their ideas and writing organized paragraphs. As they start finding their own storytelling voice, young students draw on their phonics skills and the language they hear around them to craft sentences with strong adjectives, clear subjects, and fun details. Our online writing classes allow students to look at their writing as an adventure as they learn these critical foundational skills for communication.

At VSA Future, we know that the ability to succeed and to truly love learning is centered on having a growth mindset. In a growth mindset, children view each lesson as an opportunity to grow and enhance their abilities, and they see themselves as full of potential. By consistently praising their child’s efforts from a young age, and modeling receiving helpful feedback and studying, parents can foster a positive growth mindset in their child for years to come. Equipped with strong phonics and vocabulary skills, along with a growth mindset, all young children can discover success in their language learning outcomes.

The VSA Future Summer Program offers all of these important classes in a convenient online format which lets children from Kindergarten to Grade 8 learn the ins and outs of the language, reading, writing, public speaking, and math. This flexible format provides students with morning sessions that allow time for both academic support as well as summertime fun. Campers work hard Monday through Thursday honing in on the skills they need to succeed and on Friday’s they can start to think outside the box through Fun with Science classes, a Global Speech series, Chess classes, and creative art classes.

For more information, visit us at www.vsafuture.com or call 844-VSA-FUTURE today!

Works Cited

Child Development Institute,2019. Language Development in Children. Website:https://childdevelopmentinfo.com/child-development/language_development/#gs.11tusf

Genishi, C. (1998). Young Children’s Oral Language Development. ERIC Digest. ERIC Clearinghouse on Elementary and Early Childhood Education. Reading Rockets. https://www.readingrockets.org/article/young-childrens-oral-language-development

Sririam, Rishi. (2020). Why Ages 2-7 Matter so Much for Brain Development. Brain-based Learning. https://www.edutopia.org/article/why-ages-2-7-matter-so-much-brain-development

Why Are Children Addicted With Games

The Addicted Generation

Statistics say that the generation that’s currently in elementary school and middle school will be one of the safest generations of all times, physically. However, their mental well-being is of great concern—primarily due to their addiction to screens and video games. Will screen time be the downfall of the current generation?

How Did This Happen?

Before we dig into how to help children process and deal with this problem, we must understand how it happened. We must really figure out why some children are susceptible to this type of addiction and why others are less likely to be impacted by it.

Spend any amount of time in front of a video game or a gaming app, and one will see that there is a total sense of control when playing these games. One can become fully absorbed in this sense of control. By using the controller or the phone, one can make the players in the game move faster, move slower, jump higher or any other of a thousand different moves—all dictated by the player. Oftentimes, this type of control is the only sense of freedom and influence a child will have. For many younger children, there is little to no ability to feel like they control anything in the family dynamic, from influencing decisions to simply being responsible for even the smallest of things.

However, in the gaming world, all of this changes. As a child plays the game and begins to practice more consistently, they do better and better. As they advance in the game, they get more rewards, more powerful equipment, build a bigger and better team, and find more and more ways to win. This is by design and lets the child feel incredibly successful, yet at the same time deepening their addiction to the game.

Children can quickly correlate the sense of control and success with their accomplishments in the game. Their relatively easy successes in the game are accomplished through practice, thus creating a strong temptation to continue their play. This becomes even more heightened if a child is limited in their other channels and opportunities for experiencing a sense of control in their actual life. If a child feels they have little to no power in the family dynamic, they will seek it out in other ways. For example, some children are not even allowed to decide what they wear on a daily basis, what to eat, what types of games to play or activities to become involved in, what books to read, and more. A child ends up without having any say in their own daily life and parents are left to guide them in every single decision. The result is that the child has no control and is left with a strong desire for freedom and responsibility. The attraction to their game or app deepens even further.

What Can We Do Now?

As parents, it’s important to set up ground rules for children, allowing them to understand what’s expected of them and at the same time providing them with a high degree of freedom and decision-making. The goal should be to raise a well-rounded, well-adjusted, and responsible adult, not a child that simply obeys orders. Children must have the right to control significant parts of their lives, understanding that their decisions have outcomes while at the same time letting parents support bigger decisions.

When children are allowed to truly engage in their lives, they gain a sense of much more than independence and control. From a very early age, children are looking to fulfill key psychological needs such as trust in themselves, confidence, the ability to master something, and autonomy. Video games are specifically designed to make players feel good and as if they are only a few minutes away from another big win or reward. This makes it nearly impossible to stop playing! It’s a parent’s responsibility to help meet these needs and provide the same type and level of reinforcement in the real world.

The choice is very apparent – allow children to find control in a digital world that is not based in reality or provide them with the support and confidence they need to find their way in the real world. It is a parent’s responsibility to guide their children in the right direction providing consistent positive feedback as a means of fulfilling these needs that would otherwise be met by a child’s screen time. This allows the child to realize their own confidence, mastery, and autonomy in the real world rather than in a video game. Parents have an opportunity to recognize and praise a child for progress whenever possible. They must let a child know they are proud of their efforts both big and small. Children will then seek this feedback in the same way they crave video games. The result is a confident and well-rounded individual who feels a sense of confidence and trust in their real-world abilities.

Conquering The Fear Of Public Speaking

Rivers of sweat cascade out of your clammy palms, and droplets embellish your green face. Super glue denies permission for your lips to part, and awfully slimy thickness in your throat blocks desperate words from coming out. And worst of all, the fries and pizza you devoured for lunch today are holding a competition in your poor stomach to determine who is the master of black flips. There is no other feeling as disturbing or as distracting as the fear of public speaking. This fear challenges you and beats you. It is a red light on your road to success, and even more so a trash can that collects all your efforts. You fear because of judgment and you fear because of the high standards you hold for yourself at. You fear the embarrassment and you fear the mistakes you are so very sure are going to occur. And in these moments of pure panic and terror, the one truth is that you are not alone in your fear. The fear of public speaking, or to a more extreme level, glossophobia, is the most common fear, being sprinkled into the lives of 75% of people. And although fear is a ferocious and intimidating monster whom you can’t quite just murder, you are more than capable of managing it and conquering it.

Know your audience and presentation setting. How unwise is it to blindly jump headfirst into mystery waters that you have zero knowledge about? You should thoroughly get a general idea of the ears that will hear your speech: Adults? Peers? Young Children? Businessmen? Artists? Teachers? Critical is an understatement for this step because it’s essential to sculpt your speech and presentation format in a way that brings out the best of your audience. On the mentioning of knowing your setting, you need to know the environment you will be speaking in. For example, if you know the presentation will be taking place outdoors, consider pinning up your hair so that wind won’t cause a ruckus. If possible, a huge factor of help would be practicing beforehand in the location without an audience, just to emerge yourself in what you will have to face. If it’s virtual, test out your video and audio before the presentation, and erase any wifi issues. And if possible, practice giving your speech a few times in the designated location without an audience, just to emerge yourself into the environment. Whether it be with knowing the audience or understanding your setting, you should always be playing the safe card and holding both in your comprehension. If you are thoroughly prepared and you know your plan is foolproof, your fear will diminish.

Practice until you physically can’t anymore. Practice is crowned as the absolute most important when it comes down to public speaking. Without practicing your speech, you can consider it a failure before even starting because you have failed to play your assigned role of preparing. Practice in your head, practice out loud, practice to stuffed animals, practice to an imaginary friend, practice to a parent, practice, practice, practice. The more your practice, the more confident and set in stone you will be. At a certain point, the words of your speech will be imprinted as a photocopy inside your brain. They will be as smooth as butter on your lips. They will be assimilated into you. They will be natural to you. And that is the exact stage you want to stand on. When you practice past abundance, you are less prone to making mistakes in your speech, and more prone to giving a marvelous one.

Break out of your shell and engage the audience. Jump through the hurdles of fear and open yourself willingly to the audience. A popularly effective way to instantly engage the audience is to delight them with some humor. When you draw the audience into your speech and give them part in your presentation, they will give you reassuring reactions. Eye contact, laughter, tears. Once you hear that they’re laughing, you will instantly feel validated. You will have proof they are paying attention. And that is something worthy of pride and something that can elevate your confidence to a soaring level.

Get your blood flowing. Before your moment to shine, light exercise and movement can be the greatest helping hand to you if you are abnormally nervous and jittery. Ideal ideas would include perhaps a short walk or a couple of knee bends. Simple movements like these circulate your blood and send oxygen to your brain. If you are speaking on a spacious stage or area, consider maybe even walking around while presenting the speech to release nerves. It’s infinitely times better than tapping your foot or pulling on your shirt while presenting as a much too noticeable effort to release nerves.

Write a speech that you genuinely care about. When the topic or contents of the speech isn’t aligned with your interests and personality, your mouth can be delivering the vain words, but your heart won’t be in it. Your nerves will climb higher and higher. Consider this for a moment… if you barely even care about what you’re saying, how can you expect the audience to? When you speak on something you are truly passionate about, it’s like bursting a dam open. Words, emotions, hand gestures, and facial expressions will lusciously flow out of your mouth in a perfectly passionate way that the audience will acknowledge. You’ll focus less on your fears because it will simply be replaced with the burning and crackling spark within you.

And undeniably the most golden tip of all, remember why you are here. You are on the platform to deliver a speech for a reason. You are significantly qualified and intellectual enough in the speech topic to be gifted with the pleasure of informing the audience. The goal of the audience is to mine a piece of gold out of your talk. No audience member walks in with the intention of picking your speech apart and keeping a hawk-eye on all your mistakes. They aren’t there to embarrass you or humiliate you. They are there to learn from you. Stand on your platform and own your speech because if you were to switch roles with an audience member where they would be presenting, there’s no guarantee it would be a piece of cake for them either. And if all else fails, it’s never too pathetic to pick up the most cliche and most old-fashioned book in the trick. You know what they say. Imagine everyone in the room is naked.

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Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)

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How To Improve Writing Skills At Any Age

How to Improve Students’ Writing Skills

From essays and short stories to emails and college application essays, writing forms an elemental part of a student’s life. It’s how a student shows what he or she knows and if he or she can effectively apply that knowledge. And yet, writing is a difficult skill to learn and to master. Many students struggle to articulate and organize their thoughts on paper, easily becoming frustrated and discouraged by writing.

But fear not — through daily practice and extensive exposure, students can and will write clearly and expressively. Below, we’ve compiled several methods emphasized in VSA Future’s own writing classes that will provide students with a comprehensive approach to becoming good writers.

Get a Good Grip on Grammar

Grammar sits at the core of effective communication. It enables a student to express his or herself fully, clearly, and subtly. Even if a writer has great ideas, improper grammar can garble his or her writing’s meaning and reduce its credibility, losing the reader’s attention. At VSA Future, we lay the foundation for strong grammar and phonics skills as early as kindergarten. We start by introducing basic concepts about sentence structure and parts of speech before transitioning to more advanced concepts like complex sentences and avoiding the passive voice for older students all while using student learning outcomes. We also teach students how to utilize figurative language such as synonyms and personification to add flavor to their writing.

Build a Strong Vocabulary

A strong vocabulary is critical for success in all areas of communication, from reading and writing to listening and speaking. Studies have shown strong links between having an extensive vocabulary and achieving school success. When it comes to writing, a strong vocabulary enables students to choose more descriptive words to illustrate their ideas to a reader and use the appropriate words to write more formally.

There are a couple ways to build vocabulary. The easiest and arguably most fun way is to read! New vocabulary can be picked up from anywhere: across literary genres (realistic fiction, fantasy, biographies, science fiction, etc.) and across different media (newspapers, magazines, blogs). A few recommendations include Time Magazine, the Harry Potter series, and anything by William Shakespeare.

Another fun way is to play word games like Scrabble and crossword puzzles. Students should make an effort to write down any new words and to look up definitions. They can turn them into flashcards (digital flashcard apps like Quizlet are a convenient way) as a handy way to study vocabulary on the go. Most importantly, students should put their newfound vocabulary into practice by using them in conversations and their writing. Even if they use a word incorrectly, through trial-and-error they’ll hone their understanding of each word. After all, the goal is not to use every fancy vocabulary word one knows, but rather to develop good judgement for which words are right for the sentence one is writing.

Our English classes enforce a strong grasp of vocabulary by also offering “Word Studies” which teach students about root words, prefixes, and suffixes to help them deduce the meaning of unfamiliar words in the future.

Read to Discover Different Genres and Voices

Through reading, students learn from the best. By reading the work of writers who have mastered their craft, students gain an understanding of more nuanced and complex topics like usage, tone, and wordplay.

In our classes, we focus on boosting students’ reading comprehension by reading and discussing a range of fiction and nonfiction works. We teach students how to sift for the main idea and analyze characterization, plot, and setting so that students know how to utilize these features in their own writing.

Get Comfortable with the Writing Process

Great writing doesn’t just plop out from a writer’s head. Rather, it takes time and repeated revision. Brainstorming, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing are all part of the writing process. We work with students every step of the way to ensure they are confident enough to put their ideas onto paper and to write multiple drafts until they are satisfied with the phrasing and structure of their final product.

Students receive feedback on every essay they write via an online interactive platform that allows teachers to view and comment on a student’s writing in real-time. This platform also provides students with graphic organizers to organize their thoughts efficiently and plan their arguments if they are writing a persuasive or informative essay.

We want to stress that being a good writer means being an equally good editor. We teach students how to review their writing for sentence flow and clarity of thought, as well as for typos and grammatical errors. They’re also taught tips like reading their revised draft aloud to spot any errors.

Write Daily

Writing doesn’t just have to be for school. Given the fact we use writing in so many parts of our lives, there are plenty of opportunities for students to practice. Students can write thank you letters to teachers, letters to friends and relatives, and even emails to a pen pal. One of the best ways is to keep a journal, which also offers a good outlet for venting feelings and moments for self-reflection.

Adopt a Growth Mindset

A growth mindset is when students understand that their abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. This is opposed to a fixed mindset, in which students assume their abilities can’t be changed. Becoming a better writer can’t be achieved overnight but students shouldn’t let failure tell them it can never be achieved. Rather, they should view failure as an opportunity to grow and understand that their efforts and attitude determine their abilities.

To develop a growth mindset, students should:

Value the process over the end result

Place effort before talent

Acknowledge and embrace imperfections

Portray feedback as a way to help them grow

Take risks in the company of their peers

These steps are part of the writing process as much as drafting and revision are. Parents also, remember to encourage and support your child on the path to becoming a better writer without becoming impatient, as that is be the best way to give your child confidence and determination.

VSA Future works hard to provide students with the appropriate technology in the classroom to allow for the most advanced and dynamic learning model. Students learn to write with confidence and a clear ability to express their ideas as they write in various forms. They study conventions, styles and formats of model text in addition to digging into their own writing. For more information on how you can help your child not only become a better writer but truly love the writing process, find out more about our English, Reading and Writing classes.

A Guide To The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)

About the SAT

The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is an entrance exam used by most colleges and universities as a gauge to assess whether the student should be admitted to their college or not. The SAT is a multiple-choice test created and administered by the College Board.

The SAT is an essential tool for a college to evaluate the student’s scholastic aptitude and readiness for college when compared against their peers across the country. While the GPA represents a student’s academic standing within their own school and shows the average of the student’s overall process, given each school’s different standards and grading, it is hard to use GPA as an absolute value to compare students across different schools. This is why SAT is the go-to assessment tool of colleges when it comes to student admission to their campus.

Since SAT is standardized, it provides colleges with one common data point that can be used to compare all applicants across different schools. College admissions officers will review standardized test scores alongside your high school GPA, the courses you took in high school, letters of recommendation from teachers or mentors, extracurricular activities, admissions interviews, as well as personal essays. Needless to say, SAT scores are vital in the college application process.

In general, the higher you score on the SAT, the more options you would have in choosing the college that you can apply to.

Things You Need to Know About the SAT

A. SAT Format

READING TEST

This portion consists of 52 questions that could be answered in the span of 65 minutes. This is then followed by a 10-minute break.

WRITING & LANGUAGE TEST

This combined test comprises of 44 questions with 35 minutes time allotment.

MATH TEST

This test is divided into two sessions: One wherein the use of calculators is not allowed, and another wherein calculators are allowed.

During the first session, students are given 20 questions that should be answered within 25 minutes without the use of calculators. After a 5-minute break, the second session of the math test will proceed. The students will be given 38 questions with a time allotment of 55 minutes. They will be allowed to use a calculator in answering this set of questions.

TOTAL

In total, the students will have to answer 154 questions in just 180 minutes. Needless to say, excellent time management is vital to accomplish the test as fast and as accurately as possible.

B. Changes to SAT

As of June 2021, the following changes were made in the SAT:

Combined reading and writing language scores. The two test domains would no longer be separate.

No penalty for guessing has been eliminated. Hence, the students cannot randomly guess the answer as there will be deductions for every question you answered wrong.

No more essay writing.

C. SAT Test Dates in 2021-2022

November 6, 2021

December 4, 2021

March 12, 2022

May 7, 2022

June 4, 2022

VSA Future’s Educational Seminar on SAT Preparedness

Last Saturday, October 2, 2021, VSA Future launched an educational seminar that tackles why the acing the SAT matters and how preparing for it could aid in children’s lifelong learning. During this session, the esteemed lecturers at VSA Future–Julia Guo, Patryk Zielonka, and Phoebe Rose–shared insights on the best learning habits, study strategies, as well as brilliant tips and tricks that would aid students in getting high SAT scores.

Common struggles of students when it comes to SAT:

Running out of time.

Completing the reading passages with enough time left.

Not being able to choose between two choices on the reading comprehension questions.

Struggling with drawing extra lines to answer geometry questions.

Practicing on their own.

The Logical SAT Approach: Passage Ownership and Copyediting in English

Patryk Zielonka–a state-certified English teacher with 8 years of experience–shared his insights on how to ace the Reading and Writing part of the SAT.

For Patryk, the best strategy to answer the test is to reconceptualize the questions into your own words. That way, you are taking charge of the material, and you are making sure that you have a better grasp and understanding of the material. When it comes to the writing part, he emphasizes the importance of concision, precision, and consistency in writing.

The Reading Section in the SAT tests the students’ comprehension as well as their ability to infer and synthesize data from reading passages from US or world literature (1), history and social studies (2), and science (2). The students would be asked to read five (5) passages and answer 52 questions in 65 minutes. That leaves the student with around 13 minutes per passage. There may be charts and graphs that the students will have to understand the question.

Patryk’s Technique (Reading Section):

Put notes in the margins.

Use your own symbol system to isolate key information for faster accessibility in case you need to go back and take a look at it when answering the questions. This technique saves time in looking for the relevant information.

Simultaneous learning and mastery to apply directly to the questions. Learn to filter out unnecessary information.

When browsing the questions, identify leading words and line references.

In the process of elimination, find a reason to expel the choice from the pool of choices, not to keep an answer a choice.

Isolate the key verbs to understand what is being asked.

Knock out paired questions at the same time.

When the correct answer emerges, pick it and move on quickly to save time.

Patryk’s Technique (Writing Section):

Be precise, concise, and consistent when writing.

Understand how “less is more” in communication.

Fill in grammar holes for a more confident foundation of knowledge.

Pay close attention to conjunctions, adverbs, and transitional phrases.

Pay attention to subject-verb agreement, dependent and independent clauses, as well as punctuations for enhancing clarity.

The Logical SAT Approach: Nurturing Unique Mathematical Minds

Phoebe Rose–a Mathematical Olympiad Winner and Mathematics coach–shared her techniques in acing the mathematical section of the SAT.

The SAT math test covers a range of math practices with emphasis on problem solving, modeling, using tools strategically, and using the algebraic structure. These three areas of math will play the biggest role in the wide range of college majors and careers:

Algebra: Focuses on mastery of linear equations and systems

Problem solving and data analysis: Ask for fluency in quantitative skills

Advanced Math: Requires manipulation of complex equations

The way Phoebe likes to teach math is through intuitive learning modules that emphasizes investigation and discovery. This way, the students will become experienced in extracting information and developing intuition for math. At VSA Future, we strike a balance between deductive and inductive methods of teaching.

The SAT Math Test

One of the most common mistakes students do when answering this portion of the exam is losing too much time doing math the formal way and making careless mistakes. Remember, you have to work as fast and as accurately as possible because you are allotted only 75 seconds per question.

In VSA Future’s SAT preparation program, we teach students proper time management and strategies on how to avoid careless mistakes, quickly know the answer, avoid trap choices, and study efficiently. We also provide them with self-tracking tips and exercises to practice on with difficulties ranging from easy to hard.

Ace Your SAT and Have the Freedom to Choose the School You Want!

Acing the SAT is a surefire way to enroll in your dream school. If you get high scores on this test, there is no doubt that the school you prefer would have no doubts admitting you to their program. Let our brilliant teachers at VSA Future help and guide you in attaining a high SAT score. Enroll in our program now!

VSA Future Presents: Why the SAT Matters/SAT Prep for Life Long Learning

While strong academics help students thrive in school, the SAT takes a unique strategic approach and study techniques that every student advantages of learning. At VSA, we give you a systematic set of test prep guidelines and test-taking strategies that transforms the test from a stress-inducing race right into a practiced procedure.

Time management doesn't come through repeated races with a stopwatch, but alternatively a balance between careful question selection and concise note-taking. At VSA, our experienced SAT prep teacher offer targeted

practice tailored to each student, test-taking and time-management strategies that boost confidence and actually work, and content review that hones reading, writing, and math skills. Each SAT class is tailored to its students' specific needs, levels, and abilities, and we give you a personalized class policy for each student with this 20-, 40-, and 50-hour classes.

Online Learning: How the Internet Changed School

The internet has revolutionized the way we learn.

Students now have access to information and knowledge from around the world at their fingertips, through online databases, videos, websites, and more.

The days of picking up a textbook for every subject are long gone. Students now use digital sources for research papers in just about every class.

This is not only a positive change because it saves time and money on books but also because it allows students to pursue topics they're particularly interested in without having to worry about being punished by teachers who disapprove of "going off-topic."

The Internet has changed schools dramatically over the years as well - giving instructors greater ability to share course materials with students all over the globe and make classes available 24/7 via an online portal.

For many people, the internet is their #1 source of information.

This blog post will outline some of the ways the internet has changed education as we know it!

The Internet has changed the way people access information.

The internet has changed how students learn and what they're learning about.

To make connections, ask questions, or gather information on any topic imaginable, all you need is a connection to the World Wide Web!

The Internet has changed education in a variety of ways, both good and bad. It is important to be familiar with these changes as they only continue to grow more influential over the years!

One way that the internet has changed schools is by providing students access to information all around the world through online databases, videos, websites, etc.

It has also increased creativity in students. Studies have shown that kids who use technology are more open-minded and innovative than those who don't.

For example, creative expression, in terms of both visual arts and music with multimedia tools makes it possible to become a composer without years of training. Opening up this level to new creators not only might produce a lot of rich hits but may also widen the range of artistic styles available to take into account.

Additionally, the internet has also increased student/teacher connections. It is much easier now for instructors to reach out and get feedback from students all over the world, leading to a more interactive learning experience!

How has the internet changed schools for students in different parts of the world?

In many countries, internet access is not as widespread and has yet to seep into the education system.

However, there have been many studies that show an incredible value in online learning because of how easy it is to acquire information when presented in the right way.

Plus with the push for more technologically savvy classrooms, incorporating technology seems like the natural next step.

You can even get college credit by taking free online courses offered by top universities even if you don't plan on pursuing a degree.

The accessibility to information about virtually anything online opens up new educational opportunities for remote communities where the nearby library might have limited resources or outdated books.

There are several different benefits when it comes to digital, or e-textbooks.

First, less paper is used because students don't use physical copies of their textbooks anymore.

Second, some studies have shown that students with electronic tablets experience increased instructional participation because they can build relationships more easily with their classmates through online discussion boards, chats, and message groups.

Thirdly, it allows for adaptive assignments which helps customize learning according to each student's area of need to increase engagement and enjoyment." This ability is called "Accommodative Learning."

And finally, there are also psychological benefits to e-textbooks:

The ability to reread passages and annotate sections as needed.

Ability to speed up or slow down the audio narration of content, which can be especially helpful for people with reading disabilities.

Increased motivation because students are more likely to complete assignments when they know that there is immediate feedback.

What are some pros and cons to having an internet connection at school?

Pros

The advantages of Internet use by students have expanded over time. Technological advances such as increased speed and affordability have made information readily available near their fingertips anytime they need it.

Students from different cultures and backgrounds will be able to encourage each other, share their ideas, and learn how to work together.

Apart from their academic endeavors, students can use the web for research and entertainment.

In addition, it is a great way for children who come from single-parent homes or busy families that don't have the time to help their kids with homework, so they need that kind of assistance.

In this modern age, job applications are not only sent by email or fax anymore. Students can now apply to schools online and get their education from the comfort of home using a computer, tablet, or other electronic devices.

Cons

One major con would be that it slows down the lessons in class thanks to all the distractions people have when trying online.

Also, there are some dangers on certain websites that can affect students negatively. This can include seeing inappropriate or violent content that could potentially scar them for life.

There are as well many things that break down about socializing from lack of face-to-face contact which affects both teachers and learners.

Students can now take courses online that were once only available in person

Social media and the school curriculum

Social media platforms such as Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter make it easy for students to stay connected with their classmates and teachers outside of school hours.

In fact, the use of social media in schools has increased significantly over the last few years.

An advantage to schools using social media platforms would be having immediate feedback when correcting mistakes or grading papers. This could certainly motivate students to complete their assignments.

However, some parents and school administrators are concerned that these platforms can be a distraction for students who often spend more time on them than they do with their homework or other classwork.

This could lead them away from academics, which can make some parents and school administrators concerned about the potential risks involved.

With social media's popularity on the rise amongst teens, it also makes staying connected much easier and opens up potential risks such as cyberbullying.

The Future of Online Learning

The Internet has had an unprecedented impact on our society's education. It is now easier than ever before for individuals of all ages to learn new things or gain knowledge about topics they were previously unfamiliar with, from anywhere around the world.

We have seen how this vast resource has significantly impacted classroom learning by providing students with more resources outside of their schools' reach which includes higher quality textbooks (e-textbooks), educational videos, and even live lectures online given by prominent faces in their fields such as professors and PhDs.

"Technology has changed nearly every aspect of modern life that it touches - including education." -Bill Gates

The internet, as a tool for learning, is now equal parts necessity and luxury. All over the world, schools are using technology to provide their students with opportunities not previously available when studying from books alone.

Online courses allow teachers and learners alike to take classes on subjects they can't find near their home - without leaving it!

Furthermore, connecting with classmates through social media platforms such as Instagram makes staying connected outside of school hours easier than ever before while increasing creativity amongst peers who may never have met otherwise.

And let's not forget how even job applications can be submitted online these days!

Participating In Virtual Classes

Participating in class is a common struggle that students face. Some jump out of their seats to answer a question or share ideas, while others prefer to listen rather than insert themselves into a discussion. Virtual learning has brought new challenges to the forefront, with the added difficulties of getting a teacher’s attention, navigating the mute and unmute button, and being “spotlighted” when called on.

If your child is struggling with participating in virtual classes and needs some strategies for speaking up, try out these activities!

Have “school conversations” often. To help your child become more comfortable speaking up in class, have frequent conversations with them that they might have in school. For example, ask them to explain one new thing they learned after a virtual class or review their homework with them out loud. Giving them opportunities to speak like they do in school will help your child gain confidence.

Create a goal with your child at the beginning of the week or each morning. The goal could range from “Raise your hand one time in each class” to “Answer two questions today.” Talk with your child and decide together what goal would be challenging, but still be achievable. Remember to change the goals as they make progress and to celebrate their accomplishments!

Read out loud together! Have your child choose a favorite book (one with a lot of dialogue is best!) and take turns reading out loud. Encourage your child to change their voice when reading for different characters, raise their volume when saying something exciting or surprising, and change their tone. The sillier, the better! By taking risks with their voice in a comfortable environment, they will gain confidence in both reading and speaking in class.

For children who are eager to share ideas, answer questions, and participate in class, try these activities to support your child in sharing the classroom space and being articulate and thoughtful in their responses.

Encourage your child to write down their thoughts before they answer a teacher’s question or participate in discussion. Writing down a few bullet points or even just two or three key words will help them be more focused in their answer. The classic phrase “think before you speak” works not only with kindness, but articulation as well.

Think of a short phrase your child can use if they find themselves interrupting. For example, a VSA teacher tells her students to “breathe the thought back in” when they start to interrupt. They know to take a deep breath and wait until it is time to share. The teacher doesn’t want them to think their thoughts are undervalued, so she encourages them to write it down on a Post-It. Therefore, they don’t forget and can share with the class when there is time to truly listen and focus on them. Create a phrase together, hang it in their virtual learning area, and make sure to always have Post-Its near them to capture their valuable thoughts.

Create a list with your child of a few sentence starters they can use when participating in class. If your child is waiting to share something to the class, they are most likely thinking about what they want to say rather than listening to their classmates. Sentence starters will support them in listening and responding to classmates before sharing their own thoughts. “I agree with you because…” and “What you said reminds me of…” are good places to start.

As you and your child work to improve their participation in virtual classes, remember that the saying is “practice makes progress,” not “practice makes perfect!”

Why It’s Important That Your Youngster Keeps Studying Over The Summer

Minnesota Public Radio hosts posed this question to listeners to evoke responses to the question “Does summer vacation still serve a useful purpose?” Responses from moms and dads flooded in. That survey was taken before Covid-19 upended academic programs as parents turned into quasi-teachers to their home-bound kids during quarantines.

Advantages of Enrolling Children to Summer Classes

In some cases, schools are electing to hold summer classes. In others, kids won’t be given this opportunity. As a result, those who do undertake some type of learning shepherded by moms and dads will benefit big time.

Perhaps the time has come to consider the ages-old question about year-round learning. After all, summer vacations came about as a direct result of kids being needed during a time the U.S. was less technologically advanced and more agrarian. Without children’s labor on family farms, families couldn’t have brought in crops.

That’s not the case today, which is why the non-profit group Edvocate has joined other resources in promoting year-round schooling and offers three of the biggest reasons to rethink this subject going forward. Among the top 3 compelling reasons to keep your kids learning over the summer include:

Year-round students remember what they learn more comprehensively since they don’t fall into the summer slide during which time their brains begin to lose some of the information they worked so hard to retain. When it comes to information retention, summer learners have lots more to gain in terms of being ready for fall since their minds will have been engaged all summer long.

Summer learning bridges achievement gaps. Every student is unique. Some are economically or socially disadvantaged while others suffer conditions like dyslexia ADD, ADHD, diagnoses on the autism spectrum, and more. As a result, kids burdened with such conditions lose “about 27 percent more of their learning gains in the summer months than their peers,” according to Edvocate researchers. For minorities and disadvantaged children, this figure may be higher, notes Anna Habash of Education Trust, another non-profit.

Students engaged in learning year-round actually like a school rather than thinking of it as a burden! Without a summer of interruption, continuity strengthens the bond between students and instructors and supports social continuity. As a result, students do not feel detached from the process of learning that frequently occurs during long-term breaks like summer. In fact, scientists have proven that kids attending school year-round are more confident, have higher self-esteem, and tend to exhibit fewer inhibitions about questioning what they learn, traits all parents want to instill in their kids.

But Kids Need to be Kids!

That sentiment is certainly true, but in today’s world, children are on short tethers because the world can be a dangerous place, and just because parents prioritize summer learning, that doesn’t mean kids can’t be treated to parks, swimming pools, park district and camp programs that complement time spent at-home learning. It’s up to you to set the tone, creating a virtual summer camp so you’re not bored either!

Michael French of the Family Features Editorial Syndicate has come up with a long list of ways to boost a summer learning experience for kids of all ages that includes online academic support, so if you are looking for somewhere to start, borrow his ideas.

Set a specific daily schedule of virtual classes that take into account your child’s attention span

Build in multiple, intermittent playtimes so kids work out the stress that builds up while sitting

Arrange a “work area” that’s dedicated just to daily lessons that’s distraction-free

Make your learning area a device-free zone so there are no distractions during your child’s virtual classes

When it’s playtime or break time, follow the advice of Harvard behavioral specialists and join in or take “field trips” to the Zoo or other local attractions designed just for kids

Don’t discount real-world learning opportunities at your virtual summer camp. It won’t seem like learning if you teach kids to bake or find an overseas pen pal since kids won’t have a clue they’re actually learning math and writing skills.

Allocate library time. Now that the worst of Covid has passed, library trips are especially important, not just for the books but for the kid-focused activities that are once again being added to library program menus.

Importantly, take advantage of the wealth of online academic support currently available that can add structure and diversity to a daily learning menu.

Why an Online Summer Program?

Because over the past year, your kids have likely become accustomed to some measure of online learning after schools were closed to in-person learning, so this virtual summer camp won’t be a new experience for them. According to Oxford Learning, your youngster benefits significantly for these reasons:

Convenience: No need to drive anywhere, change kids’ clothing, or pack a lunch; you’ve already got the set-up.

Flexibility: Since you’re in charge, you can schedule virtual classes around doctor and dental appointments and other tasks that need doing.

At-home learning is safer and less stressful for kids and your youngster can learn at his or her own pace

You can repeat lessons and review information that didn’t sink in the first time since every child learns differently

Customize online summer program curricula to suit your child’s unique interests and learning proclivities

The variety of resources on today’s market make it easy to find the right online academic support for your child, whether you intend to pay for it or you are seeking help that doesn’t cost a cent.

Health event by VSA Future - Online Virtual Learning on Sunday, May 16 2021

VSA Future Seminar

How Young Minds Become Strong Readers and Writers

Hosted By: VSA Future - Online Virtual Learning

When: Sunday, May 16, 2021 at 8:00 PM EDT

Online Event: http://bit.ly/vsareg0516

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VSA Future Educational Seminar: Importance of Building Vocabulary

That is the main Series of VSA Future Education Seminar on Just how to Build Strong Middle School Writers for Grades 6 - 8. Studies demonstrate strong links between having an extensive vocabulary and achieving school success. The teacher will show the keys to understanding what they hear and read in school, how to enjoy reading which makes them more eager to read for fun and share the important thing to a fruitful verbal and textual communication. Primarily we make it more enjoyable while attending the VSA Writing Seminar.

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VSA Future Educational Seminar: It’s About Stepping Down, Not Climbing Up

How do we learn? There are countless videos, people, and techniques that show up when you google this question. Want to know a math equation? There’s sure to be a TikTok dance that’ll teach you just the trick for acing that test tomorrow! But learning—really learning something—can be a challenge, but one that we can overcome with more knowledge. In order to understand the process of learning, it’s essential to know how we learn. For students, oftentimes teachers, tutors, parents, or even an older sibling will take on the role of instructing you on how to do something. However, that’s barely the tip of the iceberg—or the learning theory pyramid.

VSA Future LLC

310 Cedar Lane, Suite 3A, Teaneck, NJ 07666

844-872-3888

https://www.vsafuture.com/

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In this virtual seminar, VSA Future writing teacher Ms. Monika will explain how middle school students can be ready for new challenges in essay structure, content, and depth. As students make the jump into well-researched informative essays, while drawing on personal anecdotes for narrative writing, they can begin to develop effective strategies for organizing, drafting, and revising written literature that they can draw on for years to come.

Ms. Monika shared concrete strategies for how parents can support their children as they tackle new rubrics or standards and begin to develop their unique writing voices!

You can also reach out to us via email ( [email protected] ) or our customer hotline (908 - 666 - 3892).

VSA Future LLC

310 Cedar Lane, Suite 3A, Teaneck, NJ 07666

844-872-3888

https://www.vsafuture.com/

https://goo.gl/maps/KVF1zBRWgmuNQE138

#middleschool #vsafutureseminar #vsavirtualcamp #vsasummercamp #virtualcamp #campguide #virtualremote #academic #Youtube

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