5 ways to help your child learn

It's no secret that reading is one of the keys to academic success. Active reading, a technique that focuses the reader’s attention, is an excellent learning strategy. But how to you teach your child to be an active reader? All you have to do is encourage them to do the following:

• Underline words or sentences they think are important
• Rephrase titles and subtitles in their own words
• Identify the main idea in each paragraph
• Summarize what they’ve read every few sentences
• Sum up, in their own words, the end of a paragraph, chapter, or section in the book
• Read as if they were going to explain the text to another person (e.g., to answer questions)
• Write down key words in the margins or on a separate sheet of paper
• Look up any words they find difficult or don’t understand
• Etc.

Taking notes not only prevents young minds from straying, it’s a way for students to review and absorb the material learned in class. But it involves more than simply writing down what the teacher says word for word. Good note taking means summarizing the information the teacher delivers. This can be done in various ways:

• Writing down key words that summarize main ideas
• Leaving space to add other notes and details after class
• Creating charts and diagrams to make concepts easier to understand
• Using symbols or abbreviations for expediency (e.g., b/c = because, w/ = with)
• Writing the date and including relevant textbook pages
• Etc.

Mind maps (also known as concept maps, spray diagrams, or spider diagrams) are a highly effective means for retaining or presenting information. Why? A mind map is a visual tool that allows you to group information in a logical way. Here are the basic elements it should contain:

• The central theme or topic
• Primary and secondary ideas
• A visual hierarchy of the ideas
• Images and keywords
• Etc.

It’s no surprise that a good memory is another essential ingredient for learning. Fortunately, memory can be improved with a little training! Here are some great tips to share with your child:

• Practise, practise, practise!
• Read aloud when studying
• Organize information into categories
• Use mnemonic devices (e.g., a phrase or rhyme)
• Start studying well ahead of tests, doing a little bit each day
• Etc.

Last but not least, learning comes easier when it’s combined with having fun. Kids are more relaxed and more receptive when they enjoy the learning process. It takes less effort to understand material and even to commit it to long-term memory. Here are five great tips that’ll help your child have fun while they learn:

• Create a relaxed environment
• Set realistic goals
• Praise your child’s efforts
• Play educational games
• Make them laugh (e.g., use humour to make a situation less stressful, come up with funny examples that are hard to forget)