Kids

Tips for Learning How to Write in Cursive

January 17, 2024 Jen Nickerson Educational, Kids, Methods No comments

1. Familiarize yourself with the cursive alphabet and letterforms. Pay attention to the different letter connections and shapes. Common connections include the loops at the top of letters like “b,” “e,” and “o,” as well as the tails on letters like “g,” “j,” and “y.” Practice writing each letter individually before attempting to write words.

2. Make sure to maintain proper posture. Sit up straight with your feet flat on the floor and your writing surface at a comfortable height. Position the paper at a slight angle to the left (for right-handed writers) or to the right (for left-handed writers) to improve control and visibility.

3. Cursive writing typically has a consistent slant, usually between 45 to 60 degrees. This slant adds a more elegant and uniform look to your cursive writing. Maintain this slant throughout your writing.

4. Emphasize proper spacing. Space between letters should be consistent, and words should be evenly spaced. Avoid overcrowding or excessive spacing between words.

5. Control your speed. Take your time when practicing cursive. Speed will come naturally with practice, but initially, focus on forming each letter correctly. Write slowly and deliberately to improve your control and legibility.

6. Develop your signature style. As you become more proficient in cursive, you can develop your unique style. Experiment with the shape and size of your letters to create a personalized script.

Remember that the goal of cursive writing is not just legibility but also aesthetics. Take pride in your writing, and over time, you’ll develop a unique and beautiful cursive script. If your child needs help learning cursive, call us at 727-441-4444.

Tornado in a Bottle Science Experiment For Younger Kids

October 17, 2023 Kristen Harper Educational, Kids No comments

Fill your bottle about ¾ full with clean water.
Add a small squirt of dish soap to your water.
Add food coloring or glitter for a more vibrant effect (optional).
Tightly seal your bottle.
After all of these steps are finished, rapidly spin your bottle in circular motion until you see a tiny spinning tornado!

Remember to always show motivation and demonstrate a positive attitude about your child’s education.

September 6, 2023 Kristen Harper Educational, Kids, Parenting No comments

Ways to Help Your Child with Spelling

August 16, 2023 Kristen Harper Educational, Kids, Methods, Parenting No comments

Drill daily: Make sure your child is keeping in the work to improve and progressively getting better day by day as he trains to become a better speller.
Encourage spelling: Always acknowledge good work and remind him to keep it up. If he ever loses confidence, be willing to work with him and make learning more enjoyable.
Make spelling fun: Incorporate games in the activities. Learning to spell will be much more fun when your child is able to look forward to games that will help with his progress.
Let your child move at his own pace: Never rush him to learn anything that he’s not getting. Every child has his own gradient. Allow him to process what he is learning at his own pace. It is also important to recognize his progress. Don’t keep him on a spelling level that he has already spent enough time drilling. Acknowledge his progress and allow him to move on once he’s ready.

Is Your Child Having Trouble in School?

June 28, 2023 Kristen Harper Educational, Kids, Methods, School, Students No comments

Imagine the impact that low academic skills can have on your child’s future. Visualize the disappointment they feel when they find it difficult to understand concepts in class or struggle to complete assignments. These obstacles can hinder their progress and limit their potential to achieve greatness. However, there is a solution that can turn the tide in their favor: one-on-one tutoring that is customized to fit what your child needs.

Our students regularly achieve a full grade level of improvement with less that 30 hours of tutoring. Please call us at 727-441-4444. We are eager to help your child succeed!

Fun Volcano Experiment to Do at Home

June 9, 2023 Kristen Harper Educational, Kids No comments

Materials:

-Baking soda
-Vinegar
-Plastic cup
-Food coloring
-Large container (like a bucket)

Instructions:

Pour 1/3 cup of baking soda into the plastic cup.
Add a few drops of food coloring to the baking soda to make the “lava” look more interesting.
Position the plastic cup in the middle of the large container.
Pour 1 cup of vinegar into the container and watch the “volcano” erupt.
Once the eruption has stopped, take a look at the inside of the plastic cup. You should see a mound of baking soda and food coloring — this is the “volcano.”
To make the volcano erupt again, just pour more vinegar into the container.

Help Your Child Study at Home

May 22, 2023 Kristen Harper Educational, Kids, Methods, Parenting No comments

1. Establishing a regular study routine is key to helping your child develop good study habits. Set aside a specific time each day for studying and make sure your child sticks to it.

2. Create a distraction-free environment for your child to study in. This could be a quiet room in the house or a specific desk or table. Make sure the area is well lit and free of distractions such as video games, television, and cell phones.

3. Praise your child for their efforts and recognize their successes. Let them know that you are there to support them and offer guidance and assistance when needed.

4. Encourage your child to take notes, review their material regularly, and break large tasks into smaller chunks.

5. Every child has a unique learning style. Be aware of your child’s learning style and accommodate it when helping them with their academic work.

6. Make sure your child enjoys learning. Find ways to make it fun and engaging for them. This could include incorporating games.

7. Ensure your child always has an age-appropriate dictionary to hand and knows how to look up any misunderstood words.

5 Fun Science Activities to Do with Your Child

May 10, 2023 Kristen Harper Educational, Kids, Methods, Parenting No comments

1. Create an Edible Aquifer – Use different layers of items such as fruits and vegetables to show an example of how water moves through an aquifer.

2. Make a Tornado in a Bottle – Create a small tornado in a bottle by adding water, dish soap and a few drops of food coloring to a large bottle and swishing it around with the cap on.

3. Grow a Bean Plant – Growing a bean plant is a great introductory science activity to explore the life cycle on a small scale.

4. Create a Volcano – Create a volcano using a bottle, clay, and baking soda and vinegar to explore chemical reactions.

5. Create an Electric Motor – Build a motor using a battery, magnet, wire, and a nail to explore the concepts of electromagnetism.

Fun Ways To Practice Addition

May 1, 2023 Kristen Harper Educational, Kids, Parenting, School No comments

Fun ways to practice adding with your child:

1. Make an adding game using cards or pieces of paper with numbers written on them. Have your child pick two cards or pieces of paper and add the numbers together.

2. Create a number line on the floor with tape. Help your child move along the line to add the numbers together.

3. Use everyday objects like blocks, toys or even food for your child to add together.

4. Show your child different addition problems and have him/her draw pictures to represent the problems.

5. Games like Monopoly and Yahtzee can be used to teach basic addition skills. Have your child practice adding up their money for purchases or the score of their roll.

6. Create a game board with different squares and when the child lands on a square have them solve an addition problem.

New Little Library at Community Learning Center!

June 18, 2022 Kristen Harper Educational, Kids No comments

Thank you to the magical Wood Wizard, John Segota, for building CLC our very own Little Library! It’s gorgeous! Thank you to Jim Taylor for installing it right near the front driveway. Feel free to take a book or leave a book anytime!