School

Fun Science Experiments for Kids

April 19, 2024 Kristen Harper Educational, Kids, School No comments

Glowing Water: Create this by adding a highlighter ink cartridge (the part that contains the fluorescent ink) to a cup of water. Let it soak for a few hours and then shine a blacklight on the water to see it glow. This experiment demonstrates fluorescence and can be a visually striking demonstration.

Homemade slime: Mix together equal parts of white school glue and liquid starch in a bowl. You can add food coloring or glitter for extra flair. Stir until the mixture forms a slimy consistency and knead it with your hands until it reaches the desired texture.

Egg in a Bottle: Place a hard-boiled egg on the mouth of a glass bottle. Light a match and drop it into the bottle, then quickly place the egg back on the mouth of the bottle. As the match burns, it consumes the oxygen inside the bottle, creating a vacuum. The difference in pressure between the inside and outside of the bottle will push the egg into the bottle.

Static Electricity Butterfly: Cut out a butterfly shape from a piece of paper. Charge a balloon by rubbing it against your hair. Hold the charged balloon near the butterfly, and watch as it sticks to the balloon due to static electricity.

Rainbow in a Jar: Fill a clear glass with water, leaving some space at the top. Carefully pour different liquids with varying densities on top of each other, such as honey, corn syrup, water, dish soap, vegetable oil, and rubbing alcohol. You can add food coloring to some of the liquids beforehand to make it more colorful. Each layer should float on the layer below it, creating a colorful rainbow effect.

Fun Division Games For Kids

April 5, 2024 Kristen Harper Educational, Kids, School No comments

Bingo: Create bingo cards with division problems instead of numbers. Call out division problems, and have your child solve them and mark the answers on their bingo card. The first to get a line or a full card wins.

Tic-Tac-Toe: Create a tic-tac-toe grid and write division problems in each square. Players take turns solving the division problems to claim squares. The first player to get three in a row wins.

Memory: Create pairs of cards with division problems and their solutions. Place the cards face down and take turns flipping over two cards at a time to find matches. If a player correctly matches a division problem with its solution, they keep the pair. The player with the most matches at the end wins.

Teach Your Child How to Use a Dictionary

March 28, 2024 Kristen Harper Educational, Kids, Parenting, School No comments

1. Introduce the dictionary: Start by explaining what a dictionary is and its purpose. Show your child a physical dictionary. Explain that dictionaries contain words, their meanings, pronunciations, and sometimes additional information like word origins.

2. Help your child understand that words in a dictionary are arranged alphabetically. Practice with simple word lists or alphabet cards. Emphasize the importance of knowing the order of letters in the alphabet to locate words in the dictionary. Show your child how using the guide words at the top of the page can help speed up finding your word.

3. Practice pronunciation: Teach your child how to read pronunciation symbols in the dictionary. Practice pronouncing words together, paying attention to vowel sounds.

4. Encourage your child to look up words they encounter while reading or during conversations. Provide assistance as needed, but allow them to locate the word independently once they’re able to. Praise their efforts and reinforce correct usage

How to Help Your Child Learn About the 50 States

March 20, 2024 Kristen Harper Educational, Kids, Parenting, School No comments

Start by introducing your child to a map of the United States, pointing out each state and its location. You can use songs or rhymes to help him remember the names of the states. Make it a hands-on experience by incorporating flashcards, puzzles, and interactive games that challenge him to match states with their capitals. Encourage exploration by sharing interesting facts and discussing the unique features and their landmarks. Regular review and practice will help solidify knowledge of the states over time. With patience, you can inspire your child’s curiosity about the world around him.

Why Exercise is Important for Children’s Education

March 8, 2024 Kristen Harper Educational, Kids, School, Uncategorized No comments

Regular exercise has been linked to improvements in skills like attention control and working memory. These cognitive abilities are essential for effective studying, problem-solving, and maintaining focus amidst distractions. Exercise can also positively influence sleep quality and duration which are critical factors in thinking clearly and concentration.

Incorporating regular physical activity into children’s routines can have profound benefits for their ability to study effectively. PE will always play an important role in our children’s lives and should be included in their regular routines.

Fun Syllable Games for Kids

February 23, 2024 Kristen Harper Educational, Kids, Methods, School, Students No comments

Word Building Blocks:

Give your child letter blocks or tiles and multi-syllable word cards. Have them build the words by arranging the blocks according to the syllables. This visual approach helps reinforce the structure of multi-syllable words.

Syllable Clap and Count:

Say multi-syllable words aloud and have your child clap or tap out the syllables as they say the word. This helps them break down the word into its individual parts and improves syllable awareness.

Word Race:

Divide a group of children into teams and set up a relay race where they have to run to a board, pick a multi-syllable word card, and correctly sound out the word before the next teammate goes up.

Syllable Sorting:

Write multi-syllable words on cards and have your child sort them based on the number of syllables. For example, they could sort words into categories of two-syllable, three-syllable, and four-syllable words.

Should your child need help with learning multi-syllable words, contact us at 727-441-4444. Our tutors can help.

Back-to-School Tax-Free Shopping!

July 24, 2023 Kristen Harper Parenting, School No comments

Today begins a two-week Sales Tax Holiday so you can save on school supplies!

Items that qualify:

*Most school supplies selling for $50 or less

*Learning aids and jigsaw puzzles selling for $30 or less

*Clothing, footwear and accessories selling for $100 or less

*Computers and related accessories selling for $1,500 or less (when purchased for non-commercial and personal use)

Ways to Improve Your Child’s Reading Skills

July 12, 2023 Kristen Harper Educational, Methods, Parenting, School No comments

Read aloud together: Make it a habit to read aloud to your child every day. This helps them develop a love for reading and exposes them to a variety of vocabulary and storytelling styles.
Set aside daily reading time: Have them choose a convenient time each day to read independently. Encourage them to choose books from genres that they enjoy and find most interesting.
Create a reading-friendly environment: Set up a cozy reading nook in your home with comfortable seating, good lighting, and a selection of age-appropriate books. Make sure it is a quiet and distraction-free space, where your child can concentrate on reading.
Visit the library regularly: Take them to the library on a regular basis and let them choose their own books. Librarians can also recommend age-appropriate books and help your child find topics they are interested in.
Encourage writing and storytelling: Encourage your child to write their own stories, poems, or journal entries. This helps them develop their writing skills and allows them to express their creativity.
Be a reading role model: Make sure that your child knows why reading is so important and that they are going to need it in life. Encourage them to keep reading and to find the definition of any misunderstood words so they can always understand what they’re reading.

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!

Learn Multiplication through Games

June 19, 2023 Kristen Harper Educational, School, Students No comments

Multiplication War: Shuffle a deck of cards and deal out the cards between two people. Both people flip over the top card of their pile at the same time and say the answer of the number on each of the two cards when multiplied together. Whoever says the correct answer first gets both cards and the person with the most cards at the end wins the game.

Math Games With Dice: Roll two dice, multiply the two numbers, and then add that number to their total to create a running score.

Bingo Math: Create bingo sheets with random numbers on them. Call out multiplication equations and have them figure out the answers. Once a number is revealed, they can mark it off their sheet depending on if they have it or not. Whoever gets five numbers in a row on their sheet will have a bingo.

Multiplication Math Trails: Draw an irregular route on a piece of paper, covering it with different multiplication equations to solve in order to figure out the way.

Multiplication Race: Time how long it takes to solve multiple problems with the goal of beating their own record as they get faster.