In the exciting world of education, it’s super essential for teachers to keep learning and growing. Think about it: everything in the classroom constantly changes, from the new stuff we learn from research to the cool tech continuously popping up. Plus, what kids need and expect from school is continually shifting. Teachers must keep up with all these changes to be their best.
The Value of Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Let’s discuss something called Continuing Professional Development, or CPD for short. CPD is a big deal for teachers because it’s all about making them even better at their jobs. It’s not just sitting in a classroom and learning stuff the old-school way. CPD is way more than that. It’s about all the different ways teachers can learn new skills and get more thoughtful about what they teach. This means teachers can get what their students need and help them in the best way possible. When teachers dive into CPD, they learn how to teach better, their students do better, and they even move up in their careers. Plus, it shows they’re super serious about being extraordinary teachers. If you want to know even more about CPD and why it’s so important, check out this incredible resource.
Advantages of Continuing Educational Courses
Now, let’s dive into continuing educational courses and why they are essential for teachers. These courses are like a treasure chest of new teaching methods, cool tech stuff in education, and deep-dive subjects. They’re not just courses but are designed to fit what different teachers need at various points in their careers.
These courses are a game-changer for teachers. They’re about more than just getting more innovative in their subjects. They’re also about getting creative with how they teach. Think about it: teachers can explore new ways to make lessons more exciting and compelling. And with all the tech stuff that’s popping up in classrooms, these courses help teachers stay on top of their game.
But it’s not just about the teaching. These courses help teachers grow as people, too. They feel more fulfilled in their careers and confident in their skills. Plus, they’re always learning new things, which keeps them excited about teaching. Staying up-to-date is super important in education. It means teachers can give their students the best learning experience possible. There are many options for teachers looking to check out these courses. Each program is tailored just for their professional growth needs.
Strategies for Teacher Training and Teaching Skills Improvement
Practical teacher training and the continuous improvement of teaching skills are pivotal in fostering a high-quality educational environment. These strategies not only empower educators but also directly influence student success. Here are some essential techniques for enhancing teacher training and teaching skills:
Personalized Professional Development: One size doesn’t fit all, right? That’s why it’s important for teacher training to be tailored to what each teacher needs. This way, they can focus on growing in areas where they could be more robust. And guess what? There are fantastic resources like Prodigy that offer insights into personalized development strategies.
Incorporating Technology in Teaching: We’re living in a world where tech is everywhere, so it makes sense that teachers need to know how to use it in class. Whether smart boards or online learning platforms, using tech makes lessons fun and engaging for students. Plus, it helps teachers teach in a way that’s perfect for today’s world.
Mentorship Programs: Imagine having a guide who’s been where you’re going. That’s what mentorship programs are all about. Experienced teachers help the newbies by sharing tips, giving feedback, and boosting their confidence. It’s like having a teaching buddy who enables you to become an even better teacher.
Continuous Feedback and Assessment: Teaching is a journey, not a one-time thing. That’s why teachers must get feedback on how they’re doing. It helps them tweak their teaching styles and keep up with what’s happening in the classroom. It’s all about staying sharp and ready to adapt.
Encouraging Self-Reflection: It’s super essential for teachers to take a step back and think about their teaching. Self-reflection is like looking in a mirror. It helps teachers see what they’re doing well and what they could do better. It’s a powerful way for them to keep growing and improving.
By focusing on these strategies, teachers can really up their game. It’s not just about learning new stuff; it’s about transforming how they teach. And when teachers get better, students get better, too. It’s a win-win!
The Role of Educational Workshops and Conferences
Let’s discuss the enormous impact educational workshops and conferences have on teachers’ growth. Imagine a place where teachers can soak up the latest trends in education, chat with fellow educators, and get the scoop from experts in the field. That’s exactly what these events are all about.
Picture this: a workshop on a fresh way to teach math or a conference about the most extraordinary new tech for classrooms. These aren’t just talks; teachers get to roll up their sleeves and try out these ideas. It’s like a playground for educators to test, learn, and bring all this awesome stuff back to their classrooms. Are you interested in finding out about these events? Check out EdWeek, where you can find a list of upcoming workshops and conferences tailored for educators.
Professional Learning for Teachers: A Collaborative Approach
Let’s dive into collaborative learning – it’s a big deal in the teacher world. It’s all about educators working together, sharing what they know, discussing problems, and developing fantastic solutions. One of the best ways this happens is through Professional Learning Communities (PLCs).
In a PLC, teachers meet regularly to dig into what they’re teaching and how they’re teaching it. They look at what’s working and what’s not, all to make things better for their students. It’s like a think tank where everyone aims to up their teaching game. This isn’t just about swapping notes; it’s a deep dive into improving how they teach, with everyone helping each other. This teamwork approach helps teachers stay on top of new ideas and education trends, ensuring they’re constantly growing.
Check out this Edutopia article for more on how these communities make a difference. It’s packed with info on the power of collaborative learning.
By embracing these strategies, teachers aren’t just upgrading their skills but also building a community where everyone’s in it together. It’s a win-win: teachers get better at what they do, and students get a better education. Plus, it’s an excellent way for teachers to keep growing and evolving.
Twin Teacher Platform: A Tool for Teacher Empowerment
The Twin Teacher Platform emerges as a pivotal tool in revolutionizing the professional development of educators and teachers. Here is what we offer:
AI Lesson Plan Generator: You can now say goodbye to endless hours of lesson planning! Our platform’s AI tool whips up personalized lesson plans in a flash. It perfectly aligns with the national curriculum and Next Generation Science Standards, covering 36 weeks for years 3-6 (KS-2).
Cutting-edge Teaching Tech: We’re all about the latest in teaching technology. This means you get to teach with methods that are not just effective but super engaging.
Keeps You Ahead: In the fast-paced world of education, staying ahead of the curve is key. Our platform ensures that your teaching methods are modern and captivating.
Let’s talk about our AI CPD (Continuing Professional Development) Sessions. We kicked off our first session on November 9th, 2023, and it was a hit! 🎉
The next one’s lined up for January 17th, 2024, and you don’t want to miss it. Here’s what you’ll get:
Free AI CPD Training: Absolutely no charge for joining.
Easy Lesson Planning with AI: Learn how AI can save time and boost lesson planning.
Build Confidence in Using AI: We’ll guide you through the AI maze, making it simple and effective
Focus on Student Outcomes & School Improvement: Using AI in education isn’t just cool; it’s about making a real difference.
Special Gift for Participants: Join us, and there’s a surprise waiting for you!
If you don’t want to miss it and dive into the world of AI, register now.
Learn more about the Twin Teacher Platform to explore and enrich your teaching strategies.
Interactive Professional Development Activities
Interactive professional development is more than just a buzzword in education; it’s a game-changer. It’s about getting educators out of their seats and into the heart of learning, making gaining new skills exciting and hands-on. Let’s break down what this looks like:
Hands-On Workshops: Think of workshops where teachers aren’t just listeners but active participants. They’re not just jotting down notes; they’re creating lesson plans, trying new teaching methods, and making mistakes in a safe space. It’s all about learning by doing. For instance, platforms like Event Espresso provide numerous ideas for these interactive sessions. These workshops are about more than just imparting knowledge and building confidence and real-world skills.
Role-Playing Scenarios: Here’s where educators step into the shoes of their students. It’s an eye-opening experience that goes beyond textbooks. By role-playing, teachers develop a deeper understanding of their students’ perspectives, making their teaching more empathetic and student-centered.
Technology Integration Training: Teachers need to be tech-savvy in a world where technology is king. These training sessions can include anything from using interactive whiteboards effectively to mastering online learning platforms. Resources like ScreenPal offer guidance on such tech integration. This training is essential in today’s digital classroom, helping teachers keep up with the times and engage their students more dynamically.
Collaborative Group Projects: Collaboration is critical in education. Educators can share ideas, work on curriculum design, or brainstorm classroom management solutions through group projects. It’s all about teamwork and building a community of educators who support each other.
Game-Based Learning: Who said learning can’t be fun? Game-based learning brings an element of play into professional development. Educational simulations and interactive quizzes, like those found on Nearpod, make learning more enjoyable and help retain new information.
Tailoring Professional Development to Different Learning Styles
Like students, every educator is unique, and so is how they learn best. That’s why professional development needs to cater to different learning styles. Here’s a rundown of how to do just that:
Visual Learners: These educators love visuals. They learn best with presentations, infographics, and video content. Online resources packed with visual aids are their go-to for learning new concepts.
Auditory Learners: They prefer listening to learn. Podcasts, webinars, and group discussions are their jam. Platforms offering educational podcasts and webinars hit the mark for these learners.
Kinesthetic Learners: Interactive workshops and simulations are perfect for those who learn by doing. These educators thrive in environments where they can move, build, and create.
Reading/Writing Learners: Give them articles, essays, and extensive reading materials. These educators absorb information best through reading and writing.
Social Learners: They flourish in collaborative environments. Peer mentoring, group discussions, and professional learning communities are ideal for these social butterflies.
By blending these methods, professional development becomes more inclusive and effective, catering to educators’ diverse learning styles. It’s all about creating an environment where every educator can thrive and grow, making the journey of learning diverse and adaptable.
Conclusion
Alright, let’s wrap this up! Professional development for teachers is a huge deal. It’s not just about getting a few new tricks up your sleeve. It’s about changing your teaching to make a real difference in your classroom. This kind of growth and learning is super important for teachers. It helps them keep up with all the new stuff happening in education and grow in their careers.
Think about it like a toolbox.
Professional development fills that toolbox with all sorts of useful tools and skills. We’re talking workshops that make you think differently, courses that open up new ideas, and conferences where you can meet other teachers and learn from the pros. This is crucial because it keeps teachers at the top of their game. And when teachers are rocking it, students do better, too. It’s all about giving teachers what they need to help their students shine.
Now, let’s talk about the Twin Teacher Platform. If you’re a teacher looking to make your job a bit easier and a lot more fun, you’ve got to check it out. Plus, it’s loaded with content that matches what you need to teach. It’s like having a super assistant to help you out.
🔗 Try the Educator Portal for free and see how it can transform your teaching. Get ready to dive into a world where teaching is not just a job – it’s an adventure.
By now, climate change is no breaking news — children are already hearing about it and seeing it around them.
As with every difficult subject, developmental psychologists recommend that caretakers and educators should step in to ensure children are learning about climate change in an age-appropriate and factually correct way, while being mindful of their emotional wellbeing. Climate change is a reality. Rather than avoiding the subject, you can talk about it in a safe place to help them develop resilience.
Climate change awareness has two dimensions: scientific understanding and conscience. In other words, it requires a double-winged learning approach. What do we mean by that? Nurturing the kids’ interest in science but giving equal importance to a moral sensibility towards the world.
It may seem challenging, and it’s definitely a sensitive topic. All you need is to do some homework and come up with the right strategy. We hope this article helps you clarify climate change for kids.
Talking to Your Kids About Climate Change
The first step to being a great teacher is being a great student. It’s one thing to know about it, and another to know it well enough that you can explain in basic terms! So let’s start with the basics of climate change.
What is climate change?
Shortly defined by scientists on NASA ClimateKids, climate change is a change in the average conditions in a region over a long time. It may not sound so dire, but it is. Global temperature is not simply changing. The change is gaining acceleration year by year.
In the last 100 years, the Earth has warmed by 1 degree Celcius. Here’s how significant that 1 degree can be — in the last ice age, it was only 6 degrees Celsius colder than today.
What is greenhouse gas? What is the greenhouse effect?
Some gases wrap up the Earth like a blanket. The heat coming from the Sun in the day are released back into the air at night. That blanket, our atmosphere, traps some of the heat. This is called greenhouse effect. It’s actually a good thing that keeps our planet warm.
Most of the greenhouse gases naturally exist in the Earth’s atmosphere. They consist of water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons.
Now, imagine putting too many blankets on. It creates an excess of heat. These “blankets” in question are massive and permanent, and they can do irreversible harm to ecosystems.
How to Explain Climate Change to a Child
Unlike its name, global warming is a cold harsh truth. Especially for younger kids, the raw scientific explanation may be too much to digest at once. Hence, you need strategies to talk about effects of global warming for kids.
In this section we will briefly touch upon tactics and ideas you can use while teaching kids about climate change. Of course, it eventually comes down to the age group, level of knowledge, interests, and likes of the child.
Start with Basic Climate Change Facts
Educators and developmental psychologists suggest keeping things simple, especially with younger children in preschool. In these ages, children are inclined to believe that the world is a good place, and the adults can handle pretty much everything.
You can start by asking what they already know, and introduce them to the overall picture. The blankets around the earth are getting thicker, but there are things we can do to change back to the right kinds of blanket!
Don’t forget to talk about the actions that scientists and climate change activists are taking, so that they will feel safe, and feel like they can participate in saving our dear planet Earth!
Explain Human Causes of Climate Change
Showing the effects of human influence over time is a concrete and actionable method. Moreover, children learn through concrete examples. It’s a good strategy to help them relate the science to their personal experiences.
Luckily, there are many resources online. You can use graphs and satellite images to show examples of climate change and its correlation with human activity.
For example, most adults today know human chlorofluorocarbon emission has affected the ozone layer, and how it repaired itself over time as global awareness increased and the use of chlorofluorocarbon product decreased.
A similar direct link was observed in the beginning of the pandemic when motor vehicle activity ceased briefly during lockdowns. In many cities, the air quality increased dramatically. Imagine what longer term measures against air pollution can do!
Explore Climate Change Activities for Kids
We have curated just the solution for a fun way to engage children with climate action – Climate Change Action content on the Twin app featuring British polar explorer Antony Jinman! Want to explore the STEM activities, games, and educational content on the Twin app specially geared towards climate awareness?
Use the code CLIMATECHANGE100 to claim your free gift — one-month of digital subscription!
Access all exclusive STEM and climate education content on the Twin app and instill the love of science in your child.
There’s a broad range of activities to try while teaching climate change to kids. You just need to find a fit with the child’s age, interests, and talents:
Experiments about melting ice and rising water levels
Do a puzzle about climate change keywords and terms (e.g.: climate, weather, global warming, carbon footprint, carbon emission, fossil fuel, greenhouse effect)
Make a Climate Action Plan
A current study on climate anxiety surveying 10,000 young people in 10 countries revealed that overall, 75% of the youth finds the future frightening. Such fear of the future comes from a sense of lack of control, hopelessness.
Teaching about climate change is a great first step, but you should also leave room for hope and action. This is where a climate action plan comes in! There are so many things you can change in your daily practices that can make a huge impact in the long run.
It can be anything from small habits such as paying attention to unused light bulbs, not wasting water, to larger projects you can carry out as a family, such as going zero waste, reducing food waste and recycling.
Overall, the aim is to build a sustainable relationship between your child and the nature based on love and not fear so that they become eco-responsible Earth citizens!
Science and children have an organic bond, since children are naturally equipped with a curiosity towards the external world and how things work. The important thing is to nurture this relationship by integrating science into early childhood education, and keeping them interested in science as they grow.
As most parents and educators know, children’s attention span can be volatile. Teaching science to preschoolers and primary school students requires extra care and reinforcement through fun elements to keep their enthusiasm alive.
In this article we will talk about ways to instill a love of science in early childhood that will last for a lifetime!
How to get your child involved in STEM
Take walks in the nature
All great innovations and scientific breakthroughs involve a curious pair of eyes closely observing the world. Exceptional scientists and innovators come out of those with an exceptional bond with nature. What better way to encourage the same relationship between science and children than spending quality outdoor time together!
You can collect leaves and flower petals and identify the species, make some non-human friends, and talk about natural phenomena while you hike, and keep an exploration journal to note down what struck their interest, and reflect on your experience.
Visit science centres
Science museums and centres can provide a complete immersive STEM experience for your little ones. For example, London’s 150-year-old Science Museum houses the Wonderlab interactive gallery, which offers live experiments, a fun maths zone, giant slides, and the opportunity to stargaze.
With a wide variety of hands-on activities and informative sessions, such visits are perfect for creating experiences of science and technology for kids to remember and cherish for a lifetime.
Watch videos and documentaries
Humans are primarily visual learners. According to the Visual Teaching Alliance, 90% of information transmitted to the brain is visual. This is great news, since we live in an era with access to so many quality nature, science, and technology content both on TV (e.g. Discovery, National Geographic) and digital video platforms such as YouTube and Netflix.
In fact some of them are specifically tailor-made for teaching kids science. SciShow, TheBackyardScientist, and Crash Course Kids are very popular on YouTube among kids interested in science. There are great shows on Netflix to kickstart science education for kids such as Emily’s Wonder Lab, Street Genius, and Explained.
Play video games
If you’re battling with screen addiction at home, maybe it’s time to revise your strategy and come up with healthy ways to use your kid’s screen time. Is your child interested in playing video games? This is actually a great opportunity to ignite an interest in science in early childhood.
Video games that are suitable for children and have world-building, creative, and analytical elements can support STEM learning in kids.Endless Ocean offers an underwater exploration adventure, Minecraft promotes creativity and engineering skills, and the famous strategy game Civilization both improves analytical skills and encourages critical engagement with world history.
What is the best way to get kids interested in science and technology?
There is no single recipe to get your kids interested in science and technology – the one and the same method can be met with one kid’s indifference, and another’s enthusiasm. What you, as a parent or educator, should do is opt for a diverse, well-rounded science education rooted in everyday life and fun!
Conduct experiments at home
Experiments and hands-on science activities for children are a great way to jump directly into the world of science in early childhood. And no, you don’t need a fully-equipped laboratory for that. As long as you put in the effort and guide your kid, there are infinitely many ways to carry out experiments and STEM activities at home.
Don’t know where to start? Check out the wide range of challenges on the Twin STEM games appwith detailed how-to guides! Most of them are easily replicable with materials at home and minimal effort, yielding great fascination and a sense of achievement in children.
Integrate science into play
If there’s one thing that all children love and never get tired of, it’s play! Effective integration of science into their world of play (or making science “child’s play” in a double sense) is the key to igniting sustainable interest in science and technology for kids.
Nowadays there are many STEM toys tailor-made with expertise for the purpose of science education for kids. One such example is the award-winning Twin Science STEM kits offering endless ways to explore, create, and invent for kids.
Not only do they support the development of fundamental 21st century skills for kids such as programming, engineering, AI & robotics, problem solving, scientific thinking, and creative thinking, but they also come with LEGO™ compatible modules easily attached with magnets.
Talk about the science of everyday life
Remember how we talked about the scientific mindset above, ofestablishing a curious relationship with the world? For us adults, most things have lost their mystery and fascination, but it’s not the same with fresh minds – always inquiring about why and how things are the way they are!
When you’re mixing ingredients in the kitchen, explain what you’re doing and which materials have which purposes. What makes the cake batter expand and become fluffy? Where do the sugar grains go when you stir them in a liquid? Always be welcoming and encouraging of inquiry, and make space for them to explore the answers themselves whenever possible.
How do you make STEM learning fun?
We have talked about how to spark interest in science and technology, but how do you create an overall sustainable STEM learning journey? What can you do to adopt an effective and fun science education for kids?
The earlier you start, the better, as is the case with all types of learning. You may be wondering how complex concepts and ideas in the STEM field can be introduced to younger children in a consistent manner. We have a one-stop-shop solution for this: Twin’s hybrid plan.
Not only will children benefit from the guided interactive tools and resources in the app that gamify learning STEM skills, but also get all 6 STEM kits for a full hands-on experience. The hybrid plan is specially tailored for STEM education for ages 8-11 that complements the UK, US, and IB school curricula.
STEM education with Twin’s kits and app also proves useful in teaching science to preschoolers. Children between ages 5-12 can benefit from the Robotic Art Kit and Curiosity Kit under the guidance of an adult, participate in the STEM challenges in the app, and even try out the rich catalogue of STEM trivia.
Shop the STEM kits or try out the hybrid plan to get all 6 kits and unlimited access to the app at a special discounted price!
The amount of time people can give their undivided attention to a task, or in short ¨attention span¨, can differ with age in children and for some kids, this time span can be quite short. Read further to learn what is ¨attention span¨, how it changes from age to age, what are the symptoms for a short attention span and small tips for improving it.
What Is the Meaning of ¨Attention Span¨ and When Is It ¨Short¨?
¨Attention span¨ is the name given to the amount of time a person can give attention to a certain task without getting distracted. As it is easier and more possible to sharpen and improve attention span during childhood, it gains extra importance in the case of children.
Having a normal attention span is crucial for children as it affects their academic lives, relationships with their peers and even their careers in the long run. Having a short attention span means that specific amount of time given to a task in hand being shorter than it normally is. As it can have such a huge impact in their overall lives, it is important to address and accept whether a child has a short attention span and seek treatment if needed.
What Is the Average Attention Span by Ages?
Even though every child is different, experts give a broad formula to determine the average attention span by age. Experts state that two or three minutes per year of their age can give a broad idea for a child’s average attention span. Some experts even take it as far as five minutes per age but if we stick to the general formula and accept the first one, here is a list for average attention span by ages:
2-year-old – 4 to 6 minutes
3-year-old—6 to 9 minutes
4-year-old—8 to 12 minutes
5-year-old—10 to 15 minutes
6-year-old—12 to 18 minutes.
As the child’s age progresses, so does the attention span. Yet, like we mentioned before, every child is different. So, rather than taking this list as an invariable basis and molding your child according to it, observe your child and try to come up with your own basis for an individualized attention span for them.
What Are the Common Symptoms to Detect a Short Attention Span in Kids?
Every child can show their lack of focus and discontent in different ways but the following 6 can be counted among the most common ones.
1. Lack of eye contact
Eye contact is everything, not only in children but for everyone. So, if you realize your child stops making eye contact with you at some point during finishing a task, you may be right to think that their attention is long gone.
2. Not being able to sit still
Constant need to move like restlessness and fidgeting is common among children who want to show that they no longer have an interest in doing the task in hand.
3. Constantly forgetting what to do
If at some point, your child starts asking the same things over and over again, or if ¨What was it again?¨s are floating around the room, that means that most probably your child has lost their attention.
4. Making frequent small mistakes that normally they wouldn’t do
Making small mistakes is okay, yet if they are too frequent and too obvious, it is a common sign that the focus of your child is somehow distracted.
5. Not seeming to listen or not answering accordingly
If you realize that your child only ¨seems¨ to be listening to you, ask a simple question to see if they answer accordingly. If not, you’re right, they are already distracted.
6. Not being able to finish off tasks at time or not being able to finish them at all
Deadlines, even for children, can bring about a bit of stress, but they also create a sense of responsibility and improve focus as well as they specify a time frame for the goal. If your child keeps getting out of that time frame or start giving up before finishing a task, it means that they lost their attention.
These 6 symptoms can be seen in every child and every person from time to time and they don’t necessarily mean that your child has a certain attention problem. Yet, if they occur constantly, they might be good starting points to think about whether your child has a short attention span and might also lead you to look for what can be the causes for it and ways to improve them.
What Can Be the Causes for a Short Attention Span?
There can be many causes for a child’s having a short attention span from a simple reason like a sibling distracting the other or the child being hungry at that moment to more serious ones like ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).
As we live in a world dominated by technology, outside technological stimuli can be counted as the number one reason for a short attention span in today’s children. However, the place of technology in education is increasingly gaining significance, and with the right attitude you can transform your child’s relationship to digital devices and actually reap the benefits of technology.
It is crucial to know whether a child’s short attention span stems from more common and less serious ones like technological distractions or from more serious and treatment requiring ones like ADHD as the latter requires third-party help from a pediatrician or a specialist.
How to Increase and Improve Your Child’s Low Attention Span?
Having a child with a low attention span can be tiring and even daunting sometimes. But, don’t worry! Improving short attention span is always possible. Here are 10 ways to help you improve your child’s attention span:
1. Be present, be attentive, be collaborative.
But of course, to a certain degree. Rather than issuing commands to your child from a different room or while looking at your phone, be at your child’s side while they are dealing with a task.
Make them feel that you are there for them if they need help, collaborate with them if needed. Yet, after some point, don’t make this a ¨must¨ as to make them feel like they can’t succeed at anything without your presence. Don’t forget that after all, your child is an individual by himself or herself. Make them feel like you are there when needed, not always.
2. Know your child, familiarize with their needs and wants.
Like we said earlier, every child is different. Get to know your child and ask them what they want or what they need so that you know what would be the right place or time for them to start and finish a task whether it be doing homeworkor playing a game. Remember, the reason for a short attention span need not always be something like ADHD, a simple hunger or a need for a change of scenery can also be a cause.
3. Be creative. Creativity brings joy. Joy brings attention.
Rather than setting rules and asking your child to follow them, try to be creative during a task. You can turn a math problem into a story, or gamify a rather boring task so that you can keep your child’s attention at the moment. The more they have fun, the more they will want to spend time continuing doing that task. Remember, when you are dealing with a child, gamifying is the ultimate savior.
4. Stay away from alluring your child with a reward every time.
Promising a reward at the end every time your child starts a task isn’t a healthy way to make them pay attention to something. Such an attitude might lead the child to expect gifts and rewards for even the smallest and necessary things they are supposed to do. Remember, life doesn’t work that way. Encouragement doesn’t necessarily have to be a material thing.
5. Motivate their effort—either with words, actions or even with a look.
As offering them a gift every time they finish a task isn’t a healthy attitude, it’s also not healthy to make children feel underappreciated. Encourage your child’s efforts rather than the final product as much as possible. Remember, what matters is not the destination; it’s the journey. Do not criticize or discourage; be constructive.
6. Normalize your expectations; take breaks.
Always be aware of the fact that every child is different, so don’t compare your child’s attention span with other kids’, not even with a brother or a sister. Do not expect them to stay focused like an adult and take frequent breaks so that they don’t feel overwhelmed. Remember, everyone needs a break at some point.
7. Find a physical activity through which they can release their surplus energy.
Children are fidgety. And if that energy that makes them fidgety isn’t somehow discharged, it comes out at the most unwanted moments like during finishing a homework or a task that needs to be done. During their free time and breaks, direct their energy to a certain physical activity or various ones to make sure they are spending that extra energy in the right way.
8. Try to come up with a routine.
Routine is everything, especially with kids. Rather than trying to get your child start or finish a task whenever they want or whenever you want, set a routine. That works for both of you and your child will know that part of the day is allocated for that specific task.
9. Turn the outer distractions into outer advantages.
During a task, if you realize that your child is distracted by an outside stimuli, like a bird in the window or a sibling eating an ice-cream and you don’t seem to bring them to the moment no matter how much you say ¨Focus!¨, the solution is simple: turn it into an object to be earned. Tell your child that it is only possible to touch that bird or eat that ice-cream once they finish off the task and you’ll see that the word ¨Focus¨ won’t be needed again.
10. Supervise their screen time.
All of us can be distracted and feel that our attention span is shorter than it used to be or should be from time to time. When it comes to children whose minds are working faster than we could imagine, it is highly normal they lose their focus and attention easier and faster than adults or some of their peers.
We live in a world of technology and it is almost impossible to keep children away from screens. Rather than prohibiting screen time altogether and making it an object of greater desire and wonder for your kid, focus on ways to manage screen time for kids. You can set up a regulated screen time and direct them towards both enjoyable and educational applications.
Most of the time a short attention span can be improved with certain attitude and environment enhancements. As the child grows, so does his or her sense of responsibility and as the formula shows, the attention span doesn’t stay the same for a lifetime.
How do we see Colour? Join Twing on a fun adventure to help bring colour back to the island on theTwin App!
Where did the Colours Go? An island has lost its colour and is completely black and white. Twing needs your help bringing colour back through the power of learning and science! Go on a fun learning adventure with Twing and discover the secret behind light and colour by playing fun games and watching interactive videos.
Here’s a Preview of What You’ll Learn!
What is Colour?
The grass is green, the sky is blue and rainbows are, well, colourful, right? But what exactly are colours? Where do they come from? And how do we see them? Well, those very questions were asked a long time ago by a very famous scientist called Sir Isaac Newton, too.
Let’s answer these questions together! But first, some fundamentals:
How Do We See Colour?
You can’t see colour without light. But how does light reach us? When light leaves its source (for example the Sun), it moves towards us in straight lines called rays! You’ve heard of the term “ray of sunshine” before, haven’t you? Well, that’s where that phrase comes from.
When light hits an object, it is reflected off in different colours. We see things only when the light that is reflected off of them reaches our eyes. That’s why when it is very dark we can’t see anything. With this logic, we know that a tomato is red because it absorbs all colours except red. Same goes for a banana – it is yellow because it reflects the colour yellow.
Our Eyes and Light
So, how does our eyes help us see? Light enters our eyes and is turned into information for our brain to process. That information is sent to our brain where it can make sense of the image!
White Light and the Rainbow
Unlike popular belief that sunlight is yellow, it’s actually white! And in fact, white light is made up of all visible colours combined. Sir Isaac Newton famously discovered this when he conducted his famous experiment to refract light and see the colour spectrum! By sending light through a prism, light was bent, or refracted, by the prism and each wavelength of light is refracted by a slightly different amount. Because each colour is refracted differently, each bends at a different angle, resulting in the separation of white light into the colours of the spectrum, much like a rainbow!
Fun Fact!
You know, Newton wasn’t in school when he discovered the mysteries about colours and light. In fact, he was at home quarantining because of the Plague in England in 1665! He was in his house when he conducted the experiment where he discovered that white light traveling from the sun was actually composed of 7 colours! These colours were red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet, also known as ROY G BIV to help you remember.
Another fun fact!
Did you know that water droplets in the atmosphere bend light? Exactly like Newton’s prism, water droplets in the atmosphere bend light and that’s why see rainbows!
You’ve learned a ton about light and colours! Learn more in the Twin App and help Twing bring back colour to the islander’s lives in our adventure titled “Where Did the Colours Go?.”
Also, be sure to complete the activity “How to Make a Newton Disc” here on our website or in the Twin App!
Twin App is an educational app that kids can play educational games on. Inside we have Trivia, DIY projects, and Adventures that have many learning games for kids. Both the Twin App and Twin Science Kits teach STEM (Science,Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) & Arts subjects and 21st century skills.
You may have heard of STEM education before, right? Well, if you haven’t heard, STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Though not mentioned in the acronym, the Arts play an important role in a well-rounded STEM education.
Adding the ‘A’ to STEM
The addition of the Arts to STEM is about applying creative thinking and applied arts to our lives. Art can often times help students discover inventive ways of problem solving, applying principles or presenting information. The addition of the ‘A’ (The Arts) to the original STEM discipline is important in part because skills such as data modeling, developing visual explanations and engaging in critique and evaluation, are increasingly needed in the context of math and science education. Incorporating creative thinking and applied arts to various fields can have the positive impact of revealing ingenious ways of problem solving, integrating principles or presenting information.
Why STEM?
Many education experts regard STEM as an essential component of 21st century education. Why? In a nutshell: The key component of this teaching method is integration and its interdisciplinary nature. Instead of teaching each discipline in independent subject silos, lessons are well rounded, project and inquiry based, with a focus on interdisciplinary learning. Additionally, STEM embraces the 4 key components identified as key in 21st century education: Creativity, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, and Communication. In this way, a STEM education more closely aligns with how we work and operate in the real world, making it a great launching pad for students to succeed after they’ve finished their schooling.
Twin’s award-winning STEM Kits teaches kids critical skills through play!
The Robotic Art Kit is an award winning LEGO®-compatible creative maker kit that combines technology with art.
Why is STEM Education Important?
Reports from various research institutions, international organizations such as the United Nations and World Bank, as well as numerous countries’ labor departments, project that automation will increasingly have an effect on the job market, requiring the workforce to be equipped with the right skills to adapt to new, emerging fields related to new technology. These reports also project an increase in STEM-related occupations. While the world economy and job market have continued to rapidly evolve over the past several decades, many education systems have not. For the most part, students continue to learn the same subject areas in the same classroom setting. Or, a one-size-fits all model.
The goal of STEM-based learning is to help students develop the skills they need to be successful in the future. Regardless of the specific role or industry, it is now critical that students go off to college and/or enter the workforce with a set of well-rounded skills that allow them to adapt to an evolving and fast-paced environment.
Start your child’s STEM education on the right foot with Twin App
Twin App is a fun educational app that takes your child on learning adventures. They can have fun and play while developing their 21st century and STEM skills along the way!
Twin App is an educational app that kids can play educational games on. Inside we have Trivia, DIY projects, and Adventures that have many learning games for kids. Both the Twin App and Twin Science Kits teach STEM (Science,Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) & Arts subjects and 21st century skills.
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