As an educator, take time to ask your students about their hobbies and interests. If possible, find a way to incorporate these interests into your lesson plans. Also, allow your students to suggest topics and or bring in materials, such as books, games, or apps, that they enjoy and want to share with the class. As a parent, find ways to merge your child’s interests with educational content. If they are interested in trucks, find books and educational games about trucks. If they are into music, use sheet music to explore fractions.
If they have trouble sitting still, give them plenty of breaks to move around. If they are visual learners, incorporate lots of images into your lessons. If you are unsure about your students’ learning styles, try using a quiz or quick assessment to get an idea. There are a number of these available for free online. If you have the resources, you may even consider bringing in a specialist. [1] X Trustworthy Source Edutopia Educational nonprofit organization focused on encouraging and celebrating classroom innovation Go to source
As an educator, provide your students with opportunities to teach each other. Assign each student a topic and ask them to prepare a lesson on their topic—it is now their responsibility to know that topic inside and out. Once they have prepared a lesson, have them present the material to a small group or in front of the class. Have students work in pairs or small groups. Instead of asking you for help, encourage them to rely on each other to solve any problems they encounter. Assign them group projects, which allow them to engage one another and make learning more fun. Partner a student that is struggling with a student that has mastered a topic. Ideally, the student that is struggling will ask the other student questions. As a parent, provide your child with the chance to teach you what they are learning. If your child is struggling to solve a problem, don’t give them the answer. Instead, ask them specific questions about the content, such as “How do you know ____?” or “How would you solve ____?”[2] X Research source
Spend one-on-one time with them. Most children like receiving individual attention because it makes them feel important. When you meet a child’s desire for affirmation, they are more likely to be receptive to the lesson. When the kids sit down for quiet reading time, take the opportunity to do some reading of your own. [3] X Research source
Incorporate more arts and craft projects into your lessons. Have students move around to different learning stations. Group students by interests or strengths. Provide them with activities that let them explore a topic in a way that engages them. [4] X Research source
As an educator, select field trips that promote hands-on learning. For example, if you are studying your nation’s government, take them to your state’s capitol building. As a parent, you have the luxury to use your time and resources a little more creatively. Take your child to an art museum out of state to see their favorite painting or to a distant historic site to experience your nation’s history. Sign your child up for an engineering camp or have them shadow one of your friends at an office.
When teaching students about the judicial branch, have your students hold a mock-trial. When younger students study historical figures, ask them to dress up as their subject for a formal presentation. Provide your children with the freedom to express themselves through a variety of forms. Let them choose how they express their learning by giving them multiple options for projects. You could, for example, let them pick between a writing a story, drawing a picture, or performing a reenactment for a history lesson.
Find a relevant educational game through a quick internet search or download an app on your tablet. Create a review game based on a popular game show or hold a trivia tournament. Encourage your students or children to play board games or card games. [5] X Research source
To explore mathematical and business principles, have the kids set up a store or lemonade stand. Encourage them to set prices, keep track of the inventory, and account for the money. Ask students to find recent news articles or tv clips that relate to what they are learning in school. Have your students role play: Conduct a mock trial. Host a salon and ask each person to come as an important historical figure. Reenact a famous battle. Hold a mini-model UN session.
Instead of writing a journal, let them to document their experiences with a digital camera. Allow students to use computers and tablets to conduct research. Ask students to build websites, create videos, or develop a podcast. Allow kids to listen to required readings.
In addition to lecturing, use digital presentation tools to present your lessons. If you are a teacher, incorporate brief educational videos into your lectures. If you are a parent, use brief educational videos to explain concepts your child is struggling to grasp. Instead of learning a world language, allow your kids to learn how to code. [6] X Research source
Show and listen to materials that are relevant to what the kids are learning. As a reward for completing a great work of literature, take your class or child to see the theatrical adaptation.
Improving kids tech skills Portability and availability Exposure to alternative methods of learning Utilizing leisure time
