The Way I Like to Learn

I just don’t get this! How often have you heard this from a frustrated child when struggling with their homework and/or classwork? One source of this frustration could be due to their learning style and the method of instruction and support that they are receiving.

What is a learning style? A learning style is the way that different children learn. A style of learning refers to an individual’s preferred way to absorb, process, comprehend and retain information. It’s a person’s method of making sense of new material. The four main learning styles are, auditory (sound), tactile (touch), visual (sight), and kinesthetic (movement). Not used as frequently, taste and smell can be effective when trying to solidify ideas in our brains.

Visual Learners learn best when using pictures, graphs, and images to organize their thoughts.  Auditory learners prefer to listen, discuss and memorize and often debate in class. Tactile learners learn best by touch and movement. They will take part in writing or building models. Very young children are often tactile learners. Kinesthetic learners prefer to use their whole body in the learning process. They use gestures and learn best in a hands-on environment.

Over the next few weeks, we will provide further information on learning styles and some helpful and practical ways to assist learners when they are acquiring new knowledge.

The Value of Reading 15-20 Minutes a Day

Reading 15 minutes a day is powerful. Studies show that reading aloud to children is the most important thing you can do to help your child learn to read and read better. 

Reading 20 minutes a day exposes children to many words in a school year. This exposure helps children score higher on school tests and classroom work.

Most children learn to read by 6 or 7 years of age. Some children learn as early as 4 or 5 years of age.

Reading is a skill like many other skills. It takes time and practice to develop. Basketball players are only great because they practice 4 to 5 hours a day. “A child does best what a child does most”. A good reader reads.

There are several ways that your child can read daily even if you can not sit with him/her. They can even read to you while you are cooking or folding clothes. First, make sure the TV is off. Then try these options:

• If your child is very young, they can read the words they know on the page and then tell you what the pictures are saying.
• If your child is older and cannot pronounce a word, have them type the word in google search and type "pronounce" next to the word.
  • Click search and the word will appear with a speaker icon.
  • Touch the speaker to hear the word pronounced aloud. (I use this feature myself.)
  • Google will also list the one-word definition near the speaker icon.
• Select books at your child’s reading level. If you are not certain, ask your child's teacher for their reading level.

Reading stimulates a child’s thinking and imagination, and expands their listening and language skills. Reading helps prepare children to understand the written word and writing. 

Daily Reading Time Guide

• K-2 grades 20 minutes a day.
• 3rd-5th 30-40 minutes a day
• 6th-12th 45-60 minutes a day

It is a pleasure to find books to read outside of textbooks that interest your child. Remember, reading 15-20 minutes a day is magical and will help improve your child’s reading score and grades. Give it a try!

TIPS for Parents During Distance Learning 

What is distance learning?

Distance learning is a way of educating our Kings and Queens online, and it allows them to participate in lectures and receive learning materials over the internet while working from home rather than in the classroom.

Some of our Kings and Queens do well with distance learning, however, it becomes a disadvantage for other Kings and Queens. When they are removed from the traditional classroom environment and are in need of extra help with motivation and organization, they begin to struggle.

As often as we can, the Office of African American Student Achievement (OAASA), will provide you with resources to support your Kings and Queens. We call upon you to stay the course and keep the faith. This is a new normal for ALL of us. Hang in there. This too shall pass.

Below is a link that that will provide you with a few tips to support your Kings and Queens:
http://www.lamarschool.com/editoruploads/files/10_Tips_for_Distance_Learning_for_Parents.pdf

 

What Does the Mars Landing Mean to African Americans?

Katherine Johnson was a NASA mathematician known as a “human computer”. Born August 26,1918 in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. She graduated from West Virginia State College at the age of 18 with degrees in mathematics and French. She was a teacher before being employed at NACA (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics) in 1953. She calculated and analyzed many flight paths for spacecraft over three decades. Her work and research played an important role in the flight paths of Freedom 7 and Apollo 11. She also works on the plans for missions to Mars. Her work sent astronauts to the moon. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama in 2015.

Her work and the work of many African American women at NASA lead the way for groundbreaking work like the Mars landing. Her legacy lives on through her contributions to NASA and science.

Katherine Johnson Spacecraft
Katherine Johnson 2017 Interview
Katherine Johnson Presidential Medal of Freedom Video


Photo Credit: Sean Smith/NASA

NewLife Movement  

Mission Statement:
"CHANGING CRIMINAL & DISADVANTAGE YOUTH MINDS INTO SUCCESSFUL LAW ABIDING CITIZENS”

NewLife Movement is a non-profit organization that provides life skill programs to Richmond youth who struggle with negative behavior patterns. More importantly, we provide a safe place for teens to express themselves and be mentored without judgment. When teens first enter our program we educate and train them in areas such as decision making, conflict resolution, violence prevention, and education preparedness. We also provide transition programs to youth who would like to continue to grow with us and learn about entrepreneurship, branding, finance, and career-training possibilities.

To learn more about how to receive our services, how to volunteer, or how to donate, visit our website at www.newlifemovement.org.