In fact, recent evidence suggests that mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety and ADHD have increased steadily in Australia (and in many other Western countries) for at least a decade. Today:

•       1 in 7 Australians aged between 4 and 17 are experiencing a mental health condition.
•       As many as 1 in 3 young Australians are experiencing high psychological distress.
•       Almost 7% of young people are suffering from an anxiety disorder.
•       As many as 1 in 10 children are suffering from ADHD.
•       Suicide is the leading cause of death in young people.

But don’t despair! This isn’t a runaway train – the situation is firmly within your control, here we will explore how mindfulness helps students combat stress, anxiety and attention deficiency. 

What is mindfulness?

Mindfulness is nothing more than a deliberate focus on bringing one’s attention to the present moment. It might involve meditation, but it also might not. The practice of mindfulness could be literally hundreds of different things! Eating your lunch, walking to the bus stop, listening to music, playing sport – all of these activities may be a chance to practice mindfulness, so long as your attention is fully focused on that activity.

Why is mindfulness important?

Mindfulness is about training yourself to focus on the here and now, without being pulled away by distractions. It is about slowing down, and enjoying life for what it is, without becoming stressed or anxious or overwhelmed about what has happened, or what might happen – remembering that those time zones do not exist in the reality of the present.

I want you to stop and think for a moment. Bring to your mind the last time you scrolled through Instagram or TikTok, or the last time you sat and watched TV, or the last time you got the train home with your friend. How much of it can you recall? Were you fully focused on that moment, giving it your absolute attention, or did other things pull your attention away? Did you enjoy it? Were you happy in that moment? Or if not, what other things did you feel?

For better or worse, life has become chaotic and overloaded in many, many ways. Technologies have made us more connected than humans have ever been before. It is now so easy to send (and receive) a call, a message, or any other kind of alert or notification at any time on any day. Life is truly 24/7, it never seems to stop! As a result, we live life in a state of flux. It is harder and harder to devote our attention to one thing, without our minds constantly being pushed and pulled away.

How Mindfulness Can Help Students

The practice of mindfulness has been found to have a number of fantastic benefits for life, many of which can be directly applied to school and learning, including:

• Improved emotional and behavioural regulation. This allows us to respond to successes or failures with perspective, recognising that we are not defined by our results. Each day is a new chance to keep improving!
• Improved focus. The practice of focusing our attention on one thing for extended periods of time has obvious benefits when it comes time to work. By working mindfully, we reduce our susceptibility to distractions and can get into the zone. There’s a good chance this will boost academic performance too!
• Reduced feelings of anxiety. The practice of mindfulness is designed to bring our minds and our bodies into a state of unity, in which we feel and observe changes in the moment. It is the opposite of anxiety in the sense that, generally speaking, anxiety stems from a disconnect between brain and body, when we start perceiving our environments incorrectly,
• Better social skills. By practicing mindfulness, we become better at simply paying attention. In turn, this will allow us to connect with people more sincerely and deeply, paving the way for an improved social life.

How do I practice mindfulness?

As mentioned, the practice of mindfulness can take many different forms. Classic meditation is probably the best known, but honestly it can be anything, so long as it is an activity that you can commit all of your attention to. Here are a few easy practices to try:

1.       Meditation.

Don’t be scared off by the name, you don’t have to be a hippie or a Buddhist monk to meditate – anyone can do it! Find somewhere comfortable. Sit down or lie down and close your eyes. Take deep breaths in and out, bringing your attention fully to your breathing as you do. Count your inhales and your exhales. You might like to try counting up to 10, and then backwards down to zero. Don’t put any pressure on yourself, if thoughts creep in or you lose count, simply start again. Also, you may like to set a timer (5 or 10 minutes or so), or else just do it for as long as feels comfortable.

Too many people say they don’t have time to meditate, but honestly we can all find 5 or 10 minutes from somewhere in our day.

2.       Exercise.

Exercise? That isn’t mindfulness? You bet it is, and it can also be fun and healthy at the same time. Think about it, whether you’re simply going for a jog or you’re playing your favourite sport, the physically demanding nature of exercise makes it very hard to focus on anything else. I bet you’re not thinking about your maths homework on the soccer pitch or the netball court! Exercise is a sort of ‘natural’ way of practicing mindfulness. If meditation isn’t your thing, maybe this could be.

Also, exercising is a great way to enjoy some quality time with yourself. In the chaotic, ever-connected way of the world today, finding the time to be alone in your thoughts is becoming increasingly difficult. Switch your phone to aeroplane mode for half an hour, head out for a walk or a jog, and give yourself a bit of space from the mayhem.

3.       Art.

Okay, so you’re not into meditation, and exercise isn’t too appealing either. No worries! An art session can be a fun and wonderful way to practice mindfulness. And it can be anything you like – drawing, painting, sculpting, woodwork – the list is endless. Like the other methods though, the trick is to focus your attention fully on the art. Throw on some relaxing music (but make sure your phone is on aeroplane mode!) and get creative!

4.       Listening to music.

That’s right, practicing mindfulness can be as easy as listening to music. This method does present some challenges though, mostly because for most of us our music library is contained on the same device that pings with hundreds of notifications every day! So again, if you’re going to use this one, it’s absolutely essential that you’ve got your phone switched to aeroplane mode so it can’t be a distraction. Queue up a playlist, or a mix or an album, close your eyes if you like, and focus your attention completely on the music, as if you were seeing or hearing it live. Enjoy the beauty of the sounds and the lyrics and get lost in the music.

5.       Eating or drinking.

Okay, if nothing has caught your eye yet, surely there’s no shying away from this one. Eating and drinking, which we all do every single day, are an opportunity to practice mindfulness. Again, like all of these methods, you need to be fully focused on the activity. Don’t be on your phone or watching TV. Sit down with your meal or your drink, and focus only on that. Try and pay attention to the smells and to the different tastes and textures. Cooking is a true art, and this is your chance to honour and experience it fully!

If you are wanting to improve your child’s mindfulness, our academic personal trainers would be able to help you! Click here to find a tutor today!

The post How Does Mindfulness Help Students Combat Stress, Anxiety and Attention Deficiency appeared first on A Team Tuition.

But with your child’s limited attention span and the family’s busy schedule, it seems impossible to choose between online tutoring sessions and in-person tutoring sessions. Of course, they both have advantages and drawbacks.

Rather than participate in a tug of war about which tutoring style is better, your decision will boil down to what works best for your child’s learning needs. 

Let’s dive into the pros and cons of online tutoring versus in-person tutoring so that you can get your child’s learning experience [and grades] back on track.

When Should You Choose In-Person Support?

Home-Court Learning Advantage

One of the biggest advantages to in-person tutoring sessions is that the tutor works with your child in your home. It has been shown that working in familiar surroundings may improve their learning experience even more. If an in-person tutor comes to your home, that can give your child a home-court learning advantage. Think about it this way. The other 22 kids your child learns with at school won’t be around. Home is quieter, too. And it’s familiar to them.

While there are several benefits of tutoring at home, one stands out above the rest—home is a safe space. When a child learns in a safe space, they’re more likely to relax and focus on the lesson.

Hands-On Learning

Your child’s preferred learning style plays a crucial role in their educational success. For those who thrive on hands-on activities, in-person tutoring becomes the ideal choice. In this setting, tutors can incorporate interactive and practical exercises, catering to the needs of kinaesthetic learners. This approach is also particularly effective for primary school students and those with ADHD, as hands-on activities prove to be engaging and beneficial for maintaining their focus during sessions.

When Should You Choose Online Tutoring?

At A Team Tuition, online Transformation Programs  are often recommended for families with limited availability or when our in-person capacity near your home is nearly full.

Tutor Availability

Scheduling an online tutoring session is far more accessible than an in-person tutoring session. Most online tutors have very flexible schedules for their classes. As a result, you may have more tutoring time slots available. 

Opting for online sessions also grants your family access to A Team’s extensive pool of tutors, resulting in increased availability and a wider range of subject opportunities.

Tech-Savvy Learners:

Certain students exhibit a high level of comfort with technology, finding joy in utilizing digital resources, collaborative platforms, and multimedia content. For those who may feel a bit hesitant about in-person tutoring but have no qualms about engaging in online conversations with friends late into the evening, online tutoring sessions offer personalized support in a familiar and comfortable platform.

Possible Downsides to Online Tutoring

While online tutoring with the right tutor is still an interactive experience, it still has a few downsides. If there are technical issues on either end, this can interrupt or even end the session. Also, depending on the type of online tutoring you choose, you may find the sessions need a more personal approach. Let’s take a closer look at these downsides.

Personal Approach 

One of the main concerns when thinking about online tutoring sessions is a lack of personal approach. Although, some tutoring companies, such as A Team Tuition offer one-on-one sessions where the tutor and your child communicate in real-time on platforms that allow for interactivity and efficient communication. This allows the tutor to tailor the lesson as necessary to maximise your child’s learning experience, just like an in person session.

Online or In-Person Tutoring is Not a One-Size-Fits-All

Despite the pros and cons of online and in-person tutoring, you’ll want to choose the type of tutoring that best fits your child’s learning needs. 

And if you can’t decide between the two? 

You can always experiment with both. Observe how your child responds in each session. You can take notes and then discuss them with your child and the tutor to determine the best tutoring option moving forward. 

Are you ready to get your child’s grades back on track? Our online and in-person transformative tutoring programs at A Team Tuition can meet your child’s individual learning needs with our proven methods. Our tutors will boost their confidence and help them improve their grades. Let us help you start your child’s transformation today!

The post Online Tutoring vs. In-Person Tutoring: Which One Is Better for Your Child? appeared first on A Team Tuition.

Understanding Bad Grades
Bad grades don’t define your child’s abilities or intelligence. They are often the symptom of challenges in specific areas, whether academic or personal. Emphasise to your child that making mistakes and encountering difficulties are part of the learning process. It’s about how they respond and grow from these experiences that truly matters and will shape them into more resilient adults.

Empowering Your Child
In order to empower your child, it’s important that you show your support and reassure your child that together, you’ll work on coming up with solutions for a better grade. Cultivating a positive attitude toward challenges and mistakes will only benefit your child in the long run. Fostering resilience, helping them develop a growth mindset and reminding them that setbacks can lead to incredible strides forward will not only help their self-belief but will strengthen your relationship.

Top 5 Reasons Your Child May Be Getting Bad Grades

1. Learning Style Mismatch
We all know that learning is personal and that children learn differently. If the teaching style at school doesn’t resonate with your child’s learning style, it can hinder their understanding. Modern educational approaches, focusing on individualised learning, can make a significant impact and help your child retain information easier.

2. Lack of Study Skills
Effective study habits are foundational. Teach your child methods for organising study materials, time management, and active learning techniques. These skills form the backbone of academic success and are an important factor in determining whether or not your child succeeds now and in the future.

3. Distractions and Concentration
External distractions or difficulty concentrating can affect performance in and out of the classroom. Create a conducive study environment at home, free from distractions, and help them develop concentration techniques for when they’re in class.

4. Emotional or Behavioural Challenges
Emotional well-being profoundly impacts academic performance. Address any emotional or behavioural challenges by fostering open communication and seeking professional help from someone like a psychologist or school counsellor if necessary.

5. Subject Difficulty
Some subjects may pose specific challenges. Explore alternative teaching methods or seek additional support, such as tutoring, to help your child grasp these subjects better.

How to Handle a Bad Report Card as a Parent

1. Open Communication
Initiate an open and non-judgmental conversation. Encourage your child to share their perspective on why they think their grades may have slipped. Offer your support and understanding, rather than jumping to conclusions are punishments.

2. Collaborative Goal Setting
Work together to set achievable goals. Encourage your child to take ownership of their improvement plan. Break down larger goals into smaller, manageable steps so that they have a clearer understanding of where they are and where they need to be.

3. Explore Additional Support
Consider tutoring or supplementary educational assistance. Sometimes all a child needs in order to thrive is a mentor outside of the home to believe in them, hold them accountable and encourage learning. Understanding the costs associated with tutoring and finding the right tutor who resonates with your child’s learning style, mentors them and helps them improve their grades is crucial for their progress.

Help Your Child Get Good Grades in School!

Transforming bad grades into a learning opportunity requires proactive steps from both you and your child. Combine additional support like tutoring with nurturing a genuine passion for learning and your child will thrive. This holistic approach can foster a love for education and significantly boost your child’s academic performance.

Turn your child’s bad report card into a learning opportunity! A Team Tuition is here to help improve your child’s grades. With our tried and true tutoring and mentoring methods, we can help your child develop a love for learning with our at-home and online Transformation Program. Find an Academic Personal Trainer near you today!

The post How to Handle a Bad Report Card as a Parent (& Make the Next One Better) appeared first on A Team Tuition.

We’ve had parents come to us asking, “Can you help my struggling child?” And the answer is yes! If your child needs help getting back into the swing of things at school, A Team Tuition’s highly trained team of Academic Personal Trainers are ready to assist by providing transformative tutoring and mentoring. 

Why Is Consistency Important In Schools?

Consistency is vital to a child’s learning – consistency in the way concepts are presented to them, in the way teachers respond to behaviour, and in the way students are rewarded for both academic successes and behavioural successes.

This doesn’t mean that there isn’t flexibility in adapting teaching methods to the various ways individual children learn, but rather consistency in providing controlled spaces and controlled planning to help with children’s learning.

Sure, we can give them a bunch of study tips and hacks, but when a child clearly understands their routines and expectations, they feel confident in their ability to succeed. The more consistent teachers can be, the less intervention is needed and the more successful the child will be in their academic career.  

How to Create a Consistent Learning Environment for Students

Teachers have the power to shape our students’ educational journey and help them thrive. So, let’s explore some practical tips teachers can use to foster consistency in classrooms.

1. Set Clear Expectations

First and foremost, establish clear expectations from the beginning. Communicate the class rules, routines, and procedures, so students know what to expect and how to navigate the learning environment smoothly. Consistency starts with a solid foundation of shared understanding.

2. Create Schedules

Next, create a predictable schedule. Students thrive when they know what to expect each day. Set consistent times for lessons, activities, and breaks. This helps students mentally prepare for the day and creates a sense of structure that promotes engagement and focus.

3. Have a Consistent Teaching Approach

Consistency also means delivering instruction in a consistent manner. Use a variety of teaching strategies, but maintain a consistent approach. This ensures that students understand the format of lessons and can better connect with the content.

4. Organise Everything

Don’t forget about organisation! Keep your classroom and materials well-organised. This makes it easier for students to locate resources, follow along with materials, and stay on track. An organised environment reduces distractions and promotes a sense of order.

 5. Give Feedback

Regular feedback is essential for growth. Provide consistent feedback to students, both individually and as a class. Recognise their efforts, highlight areas for improvement, and offer guidance to help them succeed. Consistent feedback builds trust and shows that you are invested in their progress.

6. Be Flexible

Finally, embrace flexibility within consistency. Every student is unique, and their needs may vary. Be open to adapting your approach, while still maintaining the core elements of consistency. Flexibility ensures that students feel valued and supported.

By creating a consistent learning environment, we empower our students to thrive, grow, and achieve their full potential.

Helping a Child Struggling With Consistency

If your child is struggling to find consistency in their education, there is something you can do to help. Even when things are hectic at school, Our Academic Personal Trainers can be a consistent presence in your child’s life, helping them navigate gaps in their knowledge through expert tutoring or anything they may be finding difficult through mentoring. 

A team Tuition’s APTs follow a different approach – they select a Transformation Program based on your child’s unique needs. This personalised transformative tutoring plan provides help in the areas your child needs most. With tutoring support, mentoring and study strategies, your child can get back on track. It’s simple, it’s effective, and it will help.

If you feel like your child’s schooling lacks the consistency they need to succeed, contact A Team Tuition and discover how our APTs can build a stable learning environment.

The post Why Consistency is Key in School: The Importance of Consistency in Learning appeared first on A Team Tuition.

Learn about 15 educational board games that your child will love!

Educational Benefits of Board Games

There are many educational benefits of board games for primary school students. Here are some skills that children develop when playing educational board games:

• Basic Mathematical Operations – Educational maths board games help children count, add, and subtract.
• Logic – Developing logic with board games improves children’s curiosity and critical thinking skills.
• Planning and Strategy – Some educational board games require your child to plan to win. Your child can even develop patience along with these two skills.

Educational maths apps are a great alternative to board games so your child can learn while they use up their screen time. 

Top 15 Educational Board Games Your Child Will Love

Here are 15 of the best educational board games available:

1. Sequence

Age Range – 7+

The objective of Sequence is to get five chips in a row from cards in your hand. This game is excellent for developing logic and strategy, which are great skills to master.

Skills: 

• Logic 
• Strategy 

2. Clue

Age Range – 6+

Also known as Cluedo in Australia, this educational board game involves moving around the board to collect clues. Players take turns rolling dice to move around the board. Logical deduction is needed to solve the case. Whoever solves the case first wins1.

Skills: 

• Deductive reasoning
• Strategy 
• Logic

3. Boggle

Age Range – 8+

Boggle is a repeatable word search game, where players must find words from connecting letters on a 4×4 grid2. The longer the word, the higher the score. Whoever has the highest score at the end of the game wins. This game is perfect for developing vocabulary in children.

Skills: 

• Spelling 
• Vocabulary 

4. Snakes and Ladders

Age Range – 3+

Snakes and Ladders involves a board with 100 squares, labelled 1 to 100. Players take turns rolling the dice to move up the board. The objective of the game is to get to the top of the board (the square 100) first. Whoever does this first, wins. Players can use ladders to help them up the board quickly, but watch out if they land on a snake tile, they go back down the board2. 

Skills: 

• Addition
• Subtraction
• Counting 
• Strategy 

5. Settlers of Catan

Age Range – 10+

Settlers of Catan is aimed at upper primary-age students for its complexity. Players expand their settlements on a board with hexagonal tiles, using resource cards that they earn. The resource cards of sheep, brick, grain, wood, and ore help players build on their tiles. The way to win Settlers of Catan is to be the first player to win 10 points. Players can earn points by achieving certain tasks, such as having the longest road, or the most of any type of resource. Settlers of Catan develop patience in children, as a typical game can take up to two hours to play. 

Skills: 

• Patience 
• Strategy 
• Resource management 
• Trading and Negotiation 

6. Scrabble

Age Range – 5+ (Junior Version)

Scrabble is a board game where players use tiles from their hands to spell words on a board. Scrabble is a great way to develop a child’s vocabulary and gets them to learn new words. It’s also a great way for children to develop strategy, as in when to use their triple word scores effectively. Try the Junior Version for younger children3.

Skills:

• Spelling 
• Vocabulary 
• Strategy

7. Monopoly

Age Range – 5+ (Junior Version)

Monopoly is a classic board game involving competition and economics. The objective of Monopoly is to move around the board in turn to collect as much property and money as you can. Watch out, because if a player lands on a board with a property, they lose money. The winner of the game is the last person standing. This is another board game where children develop financial skills, strategy and basic mathematical processes1.  Try the Junior Version for younger children.

Skills: 

• Strategy 
• Money Management 
• Maths 
• Trading 

8. Yahtzee

Age Range – 6+

Yahtzee is a maths game where players roll five dice to mark off their scoring sheet, but each type of roll can only be made once. This is a great game for developing strategy in younger children, as well as improving their math skills.

Skills: 

• Addition
• Subtraction
• Multiplication 
• Strategy 

9. Ticket to Ride

Age Range – 8+

Ticket to Ride is another strategy game aimed at middle/upper primary school students. Players must connect rail lines via Destination Cards they are dealt across the board in order to win. Here, strategy is needed to win, and Ticket to Ride helps develop excellent strategy skills in children. 

Skills: 

• Critical Thinking 
• Perception
• Logistics 

10. The Game of Life

Age Range – 8+

The Game of Life involves a colourful board with branching paths, simulating the paths of life that people take. Not only is strategy needed to win, by earning the most money and points, but it’s a great way for young children to start thinking about their own future too.

Skills: 

• Strategy 
• Finances

11. Scattergories

Age Range – 12+

Scattergories is a fantastic creative thinking game where players must answer certain categories with answers starting with the same letter. The winner is the player with the highest points. Scattergories is aimed at upper primary school students. Scattergories help children develop their reading, spelling, and vocabulary skills.

Skills: 

• Spelling 
• Vocabulary 
• Creativity 
• Critical Thinking 

12. Rummikub

Age Range – 7+

Based on Rummy and Mahjong, Rummikub uses coloured numbered tiles. Players use these tiles to create either run of same-coloured numbers, or groups of the same number.

Skills:

• Pattern recognition
• Strategy
• Basic maths operations.

13. Blokus

Age Range – 5+

Blokus is a tile-based game, where players must compete to control the largest amount of the board, a 20×20 grid4. Children who play Blokus develop abstract strategy skills, which in turn helps out with their critical thinking skills1.

Skills: 

• Puzzles
• Critical thinking 
• Patterns 

14. Connect 4

Age Range – 6+

Connect 4 is a two-player game. To win, players must match four of their coloured tokens in a row, column, or diagonal. For young players, this game helps develop their counting skills and also helps build a sense of strategy when they play the game3.

Skills:

• Puzzles 
• Critical thinking 
• Counting 
• Strategy 

15. Continent Race

Age Range – 7+

Continent Race is a geography game perfect for primary school students. It features cards of national flags from across the world. To win, players must race to collect a certain amount of country cards from each continent5. Continent Race develops a sense of geography in young players, as they get to learn about other countries around the world for the first time.

Skills: 

• Geography 
• Strategy 
• Problem-Solving 
• Focused Plat 

Need Something More Educational Than Board Games? Try Tutoring!

While board games can be a fun way to learn and develop certain skills, they may not always be sufficient for your child to fully develop the skills needed for school, especially if they’re struggling with certain subjects. That’s when our tutoring services step in! 

Consider signing up for A Team’s private tutoring services to further enhance your child’s academic experience and reach their full potential. Contact us now to schedule your child’s first session and start achieving your academic goals!

The post 15 Educational Board Games for Primary School Students appeared first on A Team Tuition.

As we interact with the world around us, we rely on our five senses to absorb and comprehend information. Naturally, we will favour some senses over others. 

The combination of which of the senses a person uses in this process determines what we call a person’s learning style.

There are three primary learning styles– visual, aural and kinaesthetic – however people may be a combination of any of these, as the diagram below suggests:

“How do I find out my child’s learning style?”

Great question! (And an important one too). A Team Tuition has developed a diagnostic, learning style test which all of our tutor’s use with their students to determine their learning style. This test asks a series of multiple choice questions (some of which are shown below), and offers responses varied by their sensory focus.

‘A’ responses focus primarily on a visual engagement, ‘B’ responses on the use of speech and sound, and ‘C’ responses on actions and the surrounding environment.

Learning Style Test

You can use these questions to help identify your child’s learning style. Additionally, you might think of some more of your own, or pay attention to the way your child behaves in certain situations.

Does your child remember people’s faces while perhaps forgetting their names? Do they decorate school books with colours and drawings? In your child’s opinion, is YouTube the greatest educational tool ever invented? If so, chances are your child is a visual learner who responds well to anything that engages their sense of sight.

Do you ever notice your child staring into space when you’re trying to demonstrate and explain something to them? Yes? There’s a good chance they might be an aural learner who is actually paying close attention to the words, while not engaging with your actions.

Is your child always fidgeting? Maybe they’ve even asked for a stress ball? Do they like to get their hands dirty, finding themselves in their element learning new trades and crafts? Does your child find school a little boring and hard to engage with, but instead thrives in more flexible and hands-on environments? In all likelihood, your child is a kinaesthetic learner. They learn best by simply doing.

Once you’ve identified your child’s learning style, the next step is to understand its unique characteristics, and ways and means to get the most out it.

What is Aural Learning?

The Aural Learning Style

Aural learners lean primarily on their sense of sound. They love words, rhythms, tempos, lyrics and tones. They thrive in the traditional classroom environment, with a teacher explaining concepts mainly through speech, because they can soak up much of what is being said and recall it even after class has finished.

Aural learners tend to make great readers, writers, speakers and musicians. Their intimate understanding of rhythm and sound allows them to analyse and employ language (including the language of music) masterfully.

Think about someone like the great Ray Charles. Despite being blinded as a child, Charles was able to absorb and process information with his ears. Without the aid of sheet music, he became a master pianist and pioneered the soul music genre. Charles enjoyed a long and illustrious career which included 17 Grammy Awards and 11 number ones.

“What are the best aural learning strategies?”

As we have discovered, aural learners respond best to anything that engages their sense of sound, and are more likely to retain information gleaned in this fashion. Some strategies and activities that would be of great benefit to an aural learner include:

• Reciting flashcards aloud. While flashcards are great for visual learners, reciting them out loud brings the ears into the fold, adding a rhythmic dimension.
• Teaching content to someone else. It is often said that you don’t truly know something unless you can teach it to another. Having an aural learner try and express content through speech is a great way for them to synthesise and remember their thoughts and ideas.
• Engaging in discussions. Bouncing ideas off others allows aural learners to hear their thoughts out loud and analyse them more effectively, and also provides an opportunity to soak up other perspectives.
• Using podcasts. The trend of the 21^st Century! The world of podcasts is continually expanding, and you can find one on just about anything these days. Podcasts may be a great way to get some introductory knowledge on a topic, or to complement what may already be known.
• Recording notes for playback. Think of this one like a DIY podcast. If you’ve got a smartphone, it’s as simple as speaking your written notes into the voice recorder, hitting save and then pressing play. Voila, a bespoke educational podcast!
• Inventing rhymes or songs. Aural learners probably know the tune to the alphabet song as well as the order of the letters themselves. Creating rhymes or songs is a fun and effective way to use sound to make content more engaging and memorable.

What is Visual Learning?

The Visual Learning Style

Visual learners engage with the world around them first and foremost with their eyes. They pay attention to colours, lines, designs, patterns and spatial parameters. Elements of the traditional classroom suit them to a tee, such as the use of whiteboards, smartboards, educational videos and worksheets.

Visual learners are intimately aware of their spatial surroundings, and therefore tend to make great artists, architects and designers.

To some, a blank canvas is a no-go zone, or simply a weekend pastime. To people like Pablo Picasso or Leonardo Da Vinci, however, a blank canvas is a masterpiece waiting to be brushed to life, an opportunity for poetic and political expression. Their rich grasp of colours and patterns delivered us the Mona Lisa and the Guernica.

“What are the best visual learning strategies?”

The most effective study strategies for visual learners will engage their sense of sight. Some of the best examples include:

• Colour coding. Those 4-colour biro pens and multi-packs of highlighters are your best friend. Organising different topics or ideas with different colours is an excellent way for visual learners to subconsciously form connections between content and commit it to memory.
• Mind maps. By reorganising content into mind maps, connections between different materials can be seen much more easily.
• Using videos. YouTube is a gold mine for visual learners! You can find a video on just about anything on these days, including educational animations and infographics. The visual dimension of videos can hammer a piece of information home much more quickly and effectively than a wordy textbook for learners that rely on using their eyes.
• Use graphics and diagrams. Visual learners remember things they see. Supplementing written material with graphics or diagrams will dramatically assist their ability to recall material.
• Organise your notes. It may sound like a no-brainer, but this is particularly important for visual learners. Remembering that visual cues are these individuals’ primary means of interacting with the world, an organised work space translates to an organised mind ready to learn.

What is Kinaesthetic Learning?

The Kinaesthetic Learner

Kinaesthetic learners have a feel for the world around them. These learners use their sense of touch as the primary means of interacting with their environment. They won’t necessarily remember the specifics of a conversation, or who they had it with, but they’ll likely remember where they were when they had it, and maybe even what the weather was like too. Kinaesthetic learners are likely to relish the more practical subjects at school like physical education and design and technology, but may find the conventional classroom environment boring.

Kinaesthetic learners remember what they do, and store information through action. Their intimate feel for the world means they tend to thrive in more hands-on professions like cooking and carpentry, and also make great athletes!

Think about someone like Usain Bolt. His imposing physique no doubt gave him an edge in his pursuit of sprinting domination, but his sense of what 10 seconds and 100 metres must feel like would be second-to-none. He would have an intimate understanding of every inch of the track, and what his body must be doing at every stage to achieve running perfection. He would have been able to just feel the difference between hundredths of a second in his training. This awareness ultimately aided Bolt to 9 Olympic gold medals and the fastest 100m and 200m times ever recorded.

 “What are the best kinaesthetic learning strategies?”

The best strategies for kinaesthetic learning are those that engage the learner physically in some way, which could include:

• Use a stress toy or a fidget spinner. These kinds of toys may be seen by some as nothing but a distraction, but for a kinaesthetic learner they are a fantastic way to bring the hands into play while engaging in other tasks like making or reading notes.
• Create physical, hands-on activities and games. Get creative! Grab the costume box and do a Shakespearean role play, or set up an at-home supermarket to practice budgets and working out change. Anything hands-on will have a lasting impact on these learners.
• Try note taking on different platforms or devices. Recent technological innovations like the iPad are perfect for the tactile learner. Even the subtle difference between typing on a laptop and drawing using a touch pen can make a world of difference.
• Carefully curate a suitable study environment. As discussed, kinaesthetic learners are intimately aware of their surroundings. Too hot, too cold, too bright, too dark – if their study space is even slightly out of balance it can be hugely distracting. Creating a comfortable environment is critical.

Ultimately, it is important to remember that we use all of our senses at some point. While we may prefer some over others, the best learners are those who can employ bits of all three learning languages. They can all be nurtured with a little time and effort.

Help Your Child Develop an Effective Learning Strategy

Everyone learns and evolves differently, which is why attuning to our strengths is the best way to go forward. If you feel like your child could use extra support with focus and study motivation, contact A Team Tuition and discover how our tutors can help. 

The post What Is Your Child’s Learning Style? Kinaesthetic, Aural & Visual Learning Styles | A Team Tuition appeared first on A Team Tuition.

It’s easy to overlook the challenges that school can present, and the anxiety it can evoke in our young ones. As a parent, you might be unfamiliar with the term “school refusal.” However, understanding it can be crucial for addressing your child’s reluctance to go to school and the potential impact it can have on their education.

The good news? There are many school refusal strategies we can use to motivate, encourage and support our children.

What Is School Refusal?

The manifestation of school refusal can vary among children and households. When a child consistently demonstrates high levels of distress and a reluctance to attend school, it is referred to as “school refusal.” This issue can affect both primary and high school-aged children. Common signs include complaints of illness, genuine or perceived, sleep disturbances, and resistance to attending or discussing school.

As a parent, it can be incredibly challenging to pinpoint the cause of this distress, as your child may not fully understand it themselves or may be hesitant to communicate. I recall experiencing this myself in Year 4; for me, it was related to friendship issues. However, I was more inclined to feign illness than confide in my parents.

Three of the most common reasons your child may be exhibiting school refusal are –

1. Relationships
2. Academic Performance 
3. Diagnosed and undiagnosed conditions such as school anxiety

The school environment could be triggering or magnifying each of these for your child. Therefore, fostering strong communication and mutual understanding with the school and its key personnel is often the best starting point.

What Are The Signs of School Refusal?

COVID has interrupted school attendance and has decreased our children’s social connection while also increasing their feelings of stress and anxiety. 

There are lots of different ways that school refusal may come up with your child but some signs may include:

• Comments and anxiety about their teacher/s and their relationships with teachers.
• Social isolation and withdrawal from activities from friends and family.
• Looking for reasons to be late to school or class and finding reasons to visit the school nurse.
• Complaining about feeling sick before or during school and then not at home. This might include headaches, dizziness, an upset stomach, and feeling excessively tired.
• Stress and anxiety about preparation for school.
• Lots of sick and late days.
• Sleeping issues and excessive tiredness.
• Mood swings and irritability. 

What Happens If Your Child Refuses To Go To School Too Often?

It is common for children to not want to go to school from time to time. If your child’s school refusal is becoming more frequent and affecting their results or attendance records, it can make their underlying concerns more pronounced. 

As parents, we typically worry about our child’s future potential and academic progress being hindered, which is certainly one of the impacts of school refusal. Additionally, in Australia, school attendance is mandatory for all school-aged children, and this refusal can have legal and financial repercussions for parents.

Furthermore, your child’s refusal to attend school can also affect you, potentially requiring you to take time off or reduce your working hours. It can have a significant impact on your child’s mental health, as well as your own.

If you feel that you are being impacted by this, here are some school centric mental health tips for parents and students.

School Refusal Strategies For Parents

Fortunately, there are ways you can support your child in overcoming school refusal. The longer your child stays away from school, the more challenging it can become to reintegrate them. Hence, it’s crucial to seek support as soon as possible for both your child and yourself.

Here are four effective strategies for parents to help their child address school refusal:

1. Be led by your child. 

Most parents find that when you raise concerns with your child, they resist more. In order to combat this, work to be led by your child. Look for ways to build their confidence and sense of belonging surrounding school. Small steps are really important! Don’t make their return to school a big deal, and instead follow their lead on what they can handle, especially for younger students. 

2. Make sure everyone is on the same page

It is crucial that your child’s entire support system is on the same page when your child is expressing school refusal. Talk to your school at the first sign, they are there to help. Your school and your child’s teacher may have great insight into what might be causing the issue and be able to put solutions in place. 

3. Be empathetic 

Recognise that each child is unique, just like adults. Be present for your child and let them know that you understand their struggles. Share your own experiences, emphasising that no one is perfect and everyone faces challenges. Consider introducing relaxation techniques or meditation to reduce stress and anxiety. I love reading about real experiences such as Jayne Demsky who explains that “anxiety is just the symptom”. Ultimately, seek professional guidance when necessary.

4. Buddy up! 

It can be helpful to have a friend or member of your child’s school staff meet your child before the school day. For older students, you may want to encourage them to open up to an understanding friend and inform their friend’s parents about the situation. 

School Refusal Tips For Parents

For many children, having difficulties at school can add to their school anxiety and ultimately, school refusal. The best thing we can do as parents is be our child’s #1 supporter and advocate for what they need as individuals to succeed. Building your child’s desire to learn and attend school is essential.

At A Team Tuition, our tutors are not just educators; they are Academic Personal Trainers. We focus not only on tutoring but also on nurturing your child’s mindset, study strategies, and subject-specific skills.

Our tutors are all trained to support:  

1. Mindset through mentoring
2. Study Strategy through our metacognitive skill development program, STAR
3. Support through subject specific tutoring methods

If you’re seeking support to enhance your child’s enthusiasm for learning and school attendance, consider A Team Tuition’s in-home or online tutoring programs. Find a tutor near you today to help your child develop a genuine love for learning. Find a tutor near you today!

The post How to Handle School Refusal: Strategies For Parents appeared first on A Team Tuition.

Maths learning apps are a terrific way for primary school kids to engage with their classroom content at home, through a medium they find accessible, familiar, informative, and enjoyable. Maths online apps are also perfect for you as a parent to become more involved in your child’s learning. And the best part is, there are so many different online maths app options that will cater for your child’s needs that are free to download and use!   

Here is our guide to help you find the best maths app to help your child’s growth and development. 

The Benefits of Maths Apps for Your Child

There are numerous benefits that mathematics applications can have for primary school students. Maths learning online through the use of maths apps is an important tool for engaging students who do not find the traditional classroom setting, where complex and confusion mathematical concepts are first taught, stimulating or valuable for their learning. Likewise, the variety of free maths apps available online provides the diverse range of topics, skill levels, and learning devices necessary to cater for the needs of every primary school student.  

Maths apps also provide kids with the opportunity to hone their mathematical knowledge and skills on a regular basis, with a fun and engaging learning tool available to them at the press of a button. This is also extremely helpful for you as parents whenever you feel detached from what your child is learning in the classroom and find yourself at a loss for how to assist them when they ask you for help. 

Although there are maths online learning opportunities to suit every type of learning style, it is those primary school children who are visual learners who will benefit most from maths apps. It is important for you as a parent to discover your child’s learning language so you can ensure their work in the classroom and at home is best suited to their unique needs.

Alongside maths apps, one-on-one maths tutoring can also be an effective online learning aid to assist your child, not only with helping them to understand their classroom maths concepts and content better, but also to devise a holistic study plan catered specifically to their needs, abilities, and goals.  

5 Best Maths Apps for Primary School Students

Here are the 5 best maths apps to help your primary school child reach their full potential:

1. DoodleMaths

Available across all devices, DoodleMaths was created by two Maths teachers and is distributed by Doodle Learning, a subsidiary of Discovery Education. This maths app is full of thousands of interactive and fun exercises that focus on the reasoning behind mathematical concepts taught in the classroom and then applying them to problem-solving questions. It is suitable for children aged 4-to-14. It is perfect for primary school students, as the companion app allows you as parents to monitor your child’s progress in DoodleMaths and provides insight into the best way you and their teacher can tailor their learning accordingly.

2. Vegetable Maths Masters

Vegetable Maths Masters is available for free on Android and Apple devices, and helps kids aged 3 to 7+ to learn basic maths skills using vegetables! Although it contains different levels for different age groups, every child picks a character to play with and then “feeds” them vegetables throughout the game based upon their answers to maths questions. The character will provide your child with feedback on how well they are engaging with the content. The app is designed to be fun and attracting to kids, giving them a sense of identification, ownership, and accomplishment regarding their own learning. It is funded by the British Psychological Society.

3. Maths Training for Kids

Available on Android devices, Maths Training for Kids is a maths online learning tool for any child over 3 years of age that focuses on the four basic algebra concepts of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. This is done through fun and engaging activities, and it gives ample time to practice. This is one of the most straightforward and user-friendly apps on the market for your child!

4. PhotoMath

Available on all devices, PhotoMath is one of the most innovative maths apps on the market. PhotoMath allows you to take photos of any maths problems in your child’s text or homework book and the app will then provide you with a detailed explanation of how to solve it! This is an extremely useful tool for helping your child with learning and understanding maths concepts that you have forgotten how to do fully as an adult. PhotoMath was created by Damir Sabol, an engineer and entrepreneur, after he struggled to help his own child with their maths homework. This maths app can be used by all ages. 

5. Brainscape Flashcards

Brainscape Flashcards, available on Android and Apple devices, is unique because it allows the user to upload the maths concepts they are working on in classroom time, which the app will then turn into flashcards to help with revision. This app is most suitable for ages 5-to-11+. This maths app provides you as a parent with an excellent tool to overcome the stress and hassle of organising and implementing a detailed revision program with your child, especially when they need to memorise a lot of complex formulas. The repetitions of the flashcards the app generates during a revision session are timed according to your child’s ability. It is recommended by teachers and education scholars globally.

Reap the Benefits of Online Maths Learning Through Our Tutoring Services

As technology advances in the post-2020 world, online learning is becoming more prevalent and it can take many forms. Maths apps, on your computer or smartphone, are just one example, but online maths tutoring is another option you and your child can explore. 

Need a helping hand with primary school maths? A Team Tuition is here to help. With our tried and true tutoring methods, we can help your child get better at maths with our at-home and online tutoring. Find a tutor near you today!

The post 5 Best Maths Apps for Primary School: Maths Learning Online appeared first on A Team Tuition.

What is the NAPLAN Reading test?

NAPLAN assesses the literacy and numeracy skills of all Australian school students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. According to the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) the tests provide parents and schools with a better understanding of how students are performing. They are also able to provide schools, states, and territories with information regarding which areas across education need to be prioritised for improvement. 

This is NOT a high stakes test, but the data gathered is valuable in assisting the development of Australian children and their education. For more information, check out the other NAPLAN myths our tutors have busted! 

The NAPLAN Reading Comprehension section varies across primary and high school. Students are given a reading booklet containing short pieces of text. Then with multiple choice and short answer questions, their knowledge, and interpretation of language conventions in context are tested. Students in Year 3 and 5 will be given 45-50 minutes, and students in Year 7 and 9 will be given 65 minutes to complete the NAPLAN reading comprehension section. 

6 Ways to Help Your Child Prepare for the NAPLAN Reading Test

Do not worry! A Team has some tips and tricks on how to support your child for NAPLAN. 

1. Encourage Your Child to Read Regularly

Students with a regular reading schedule will find the NAPLAN reading testing much easier, this is because they have become accustomed to encountering new words and phrases, building up their vocabulary. One great technique is to set up a time or day for family reading! Encourage everyone to bring a book and read together, normalising casual reading for your child can make the task feel less daunting for them!

2. Recommend Books Your Child Will Love

If you find your child is struggling to find books they enjoy, try finding books that correspond to their personal interests or hobbies. For example, if your child loves the fantastical worlds of Harry Potter, try recommending another series like Percy Jackson. 

Another fun strategy is to set up a bookstore shopping day! Allow your child to wander around and find a book that captures their interest and imagination. Make sure that your child knows that reading CAN be fun, that is a way for us to explore new worlds and go on exciting adventures! 

3. Help Your Child Improve Their Vocabulary

When your child is reading, they may encounter language that is new to them, a way of keeping track of this would be to keep track of words they are unsure about as they read. This can be a great way to build up their vocabulary skills and develop their comprehension skills. Building on this skill can also greatly benefit them in their future studies. For high school students who may be struggling to achieve that illustrious A grade, check out “How to Get an A in English”. 

4. Ask Your Child Questions About What Their Reading 

Once your child has found a book they enjoy, ask them questions about it to assist them in broadening their understanding. This can help them comprehend the stories meaning, themes or purpose, which may be asked of them during the NAPLAN reading comprehension test. 

5. Encourage Your Child to Write a Summary About What They’re Reading

Another skill that will be assessed during the NAPLAN reading comprehension test is how well your child can summarise the important parts of a text. This can include major characters, themes, or narratives. To practise this and prepare for the NAPLAN reading section, they can write a summary about each book they read in a journal! Having a fun journal and pen can also help encourage them to do this. 

6. Hire a Tutor

If you need extra assistance, having an English tutor to assist with NAPLAN preparation can be very beneficial. We here at A Team Tuition understand that time does not always allow us to be as involved, that’s why we are here to help and find a tutor that is a good fit for your child! The benefits of tutoring include consistent practice for your child, fun and engaging ways of learning, the comfort of knowing your child will have all the support they need in boosting their confidence or building on any skills that may be lacking as result of COVID-19 school lockdowns, online learning, or busy classrooms.    

NAPLAN Reading Comprehension Example Questions 

An example of the Grade 3 NAPLAN reading comprehension:

Sara’s Early Morning

On Saturday morning, Sara got up early to play football. 

She put on her football shirt and black shorts. Then, she pulled on some long socks. Next, she carried her football boots to the door and put them on. 

‘I thought you played football on Sunday, not Saturday!’ said Sara’s dad. 

‘Oh, yeah!’ said Sara, and she went back to bed. 

PRACTICE QUESTIONS: 

• What did Sara plan to do on Saturday morning? 

1. 1. 1. homework 
      2. play football 
      3. go horse-riding 
      4. make breakfast 

• According to the text, what was Sara’s mistake? 

For other examples and past test papers, check out the ACARA website. 

Need a Helping Hand Preparing Your Child for the NAPLAN Reading Test?

Consistency is important when assisting your child, this can involve checking in with teachers, forming a study group or working with a private tutor. At A Team Tuition, we acknowledge that results cannot be expected overnight, but small, incremental changes are valuable to building a strong work ethic and meeting your child’s goals. 

If your child has a disability, there are programs and systems in place to assist them during the NAPLAN testing. These include – but are not limited to – alternative formatting, assistive technology, and extra time. 

Looking to help your child with their NAPLAN reading test? A Team Tuition is here to help. With our tried and true tutoring methods, we can help your child succeed in their NAPLAN tests with our at-home and online tutoring. Find a tutor near you today!

The post NAPLAN Reading Test: What is it & How to Prepare Your Child  appeared first on A Team Tuition.

One of the best ways to support your child as they undertake NAPLAN testing is to be aware of the different tips and strategies relevant to the subjects under examination, so that you can play an active role in their practice and preparation beyond the classroom. 

In this article, you will learn about the tips and strategies related to the NAPLAN Language Conventions portion of the test. For a general NAPLAN guide, see What Is NAPLAN? The Ultimate NAPLAN Guide for Parents (link after publishing). 

What Is the NAPLAN Language Conventions Test?

The NAPLAN Language Conventions Test is the third and final part of NAPLAN’s assessment of Literacy. In this section, your child will be tested on their knowledge and comprehension of NAPLAN spelling and NAPLAN grammar, by answering over 50 multiple choice and spelling correction questions. Although this part of the NAPLAN test may appear more straightforward than others, it is still vital that your child prepare for the Conventions of Language questions. Silly mistakes in spelling and grammar are easy to make!

It is a common NAPLAN myth that the test is designed to assess your child’s intelligence. This is not true. The NAPLAN Language Conventions test exists to determine your child’s current competency in NAPLAN spelling and NAPLAN grammar, so that resources can be properly allocated to ensure they have the best opportunity to cultivate their strengths and overcome their weaknesses. 

5 Ways to Help Your Child Prepare for the NAPLAN Language Conventions Test

These are five tips and strategies to equip you to help your child reach their potential in the Language Conventions portion of the NAPLAN test, and to avoid many of the common pitfalls that this section can bring! 

1. Help Your Child Learn Common Spelling Rules

It is important first and foremost in preparation for the Conventions of Language NAPLAN test for you to review some common spelling rules with your child. 

A major part of the test will be for your child to identify and correct spelling mistakes in a given sentence. Sometimes the mistake will be identified by a circle, but otherwise your child will have to find the misspelt word themselves and correct it. For example:

Some of the most common and helpful spelling rules include: “i before e except after c,” “q is always followed by u,” “every word usually has at least one vowel,” “f, l, and s are doubled when placed at the end of one syllable words (stiff, spill, pass),” “watch out for the silent k before words that begin with an n sound (knight, know, knit, knee),” etc.

2. Review Commonly Misspelled Words Together

Not only is it important for your child to know common spelling rules, but it will also be beneficial for them in the Language Conventions NAPLAN test to be familiar with commonly misspelled words. This is necessary because a child might believe that a misspelt word in a sentence is how it is supposed to be spelled and thus not identify it as a word that needs to be corrected. 

Some of the most commonly misspelled words are “which/witch,” “their/there/they’re,” “to/too/two,” “believe,” “license,” “separate,” “weird,” “weather/whether,” knew/new,” “beginning,” etc. But there are many others.

Practice Grammar and Punctuation

NAPLAN spelling is not the only component to the Language Conventions NAPLAN test. NAPLAN grammar is also critical.

Ensure that your child understands how full-stops (.), capital letters (A), commas(,), colons (:) and semi-colons (;), question-marks (?), apostrophes (‘), quotation marks (“”), exclamation marks (!), hyphens (-), brackets (), and slashes (/) work.

Your child should also know and understand these basic grammatical terms. They are often called “parts of speech:”

• • Nouns: Words denoting people, places, things, or concepts (Mum, Australia, Bike, Love).
  • Verbs: Doing words (run, swim, read, watch, think, know, ride, look, speak).
  • Adjectives: Words that describe nouns (blue, loud, small, stinky, intelligent, dangerous, annoying).
  • Adverbs: Words that describe verbs (quickly, always, patiently, loudly, rarely, extremely, more than).
  • Prepositions: Words that describe the relationship between two nouns and a verb (in, out, from, beside, on, across, towards, after, below, up) .
  • Pronouns: Words that are substitutes for nouns (he, she, it, we, you, they, them, us, this, that, these, those).

• Conjunctions: Words that join together clauses, phrases, and other words in a sentence (and, but, for, because, therefore).

• Articles: The words “the” and “a.” The former describes a “definite” noun (the school), the latter an “indefinite” noun (a school). 

3. Get a Tutor

Hiring an English tutor is an excellent way to ensure that your child will be fully equipped with the knowledge and tools they need to reach their potential in the Conventions of Language NAPLAN test. 

At A Team Tuition, our Academic Personal Trainers (tutors) are equipped with the expertise surrounding what is assessed in the NAPLAN spelling and NAPLAN grammar portions of the test and are trained specifically to work alongside your child to create the best academic plan that will help them achieve their NAPLAN goals. It’s easy to find a tutor!

4. Give Your Child Emotional Support – NAPLANs Can Be Stressful!

Perhaps the most important thing to remember when assisting your child with their preparations for the Language Conventions NAPLAN test is not to push them to the point of breakdown, but instead to remember to provide them with emotional support and encouragement, as well as academic. This means making sure that they are eating healthy foods, getting plenty of exercise, sleeping well (especially the night before the NAPLAN test), taking study breaks, and receiving words of affirmation and inspiration.

NAPLAN Language Conventions Example Questions  

Here are some examples of questions taken from a previous Conventions of Language NAPLAN test. There are questions from each year level. You can use them as revision with your child.

Year 3:

Year 5:

Year 7:

Year 9:

Need a Helping Hand With the NAPLAN Language Conventions Test?

The most important thing for you as parents to remember is to be consistent and resilient in supporting your child. Achieving your child’s goals in the Language Convention NAPLAN test isn’t necessarily going to be something that happens overnight. But never forget that you don’t have to do it alone. Help is always available. This might look like asking your child’s teacher for help, forming a study group with other parents and their children, or working with a private tutor. 

Looking to help your child with their NAPLAN language conventions test? A Team Tuition is here to help. With our tried and true tutoring methods, we can help your child succeed in their NAPLAN tests with our at-home and online tutoring. Find a tutor near you today!

The post What is NAPLAN Language Conventions & How to Prepare Your Child appeared first on A Team Tuition.

By nurturing these abilities in your child through consistent practice, expanding on their continually developing skills, and emotional support, these exams can become a lot less intimidating. 

What is NAPLAN Writing? 

The NAPLAN writing exams are fairly straightforward; students are given a stimulus or prompt and asked to write a response in a particular genre, which is then assessed using several criteria. These exams value creative thinking, which is an overarching skill that is prevalent through a child’s academic development.

The overall purpose of these exams is to see how well your child can generate ideas and effectively communicate them on paper. However, some schools do not always effectively communicate NAPLAN marking criteria to parents and students, which has led to some cases of misinformation. 

As misinformation often travels faster than truth, it is not uncommon for your child to have heard of some NAPLAN myths in the lead up to these exams. For example, some students enter these exams under the impression that all spelling and punctuation must be perfect to do well. In actuality, these count for relatively few marks in comparison to the other criteria. 

NAPLAN Writing Test Sections: Persuasive vs Narrative Writing 

For the NAPLAN writing exams, your child will have to sit either a persuasive or narrative writing task. Both tasks will have a variety of stimuli, prompts, as well as choice in genre. 

The persuasive exam will assess your child’s ability to express, discuss, analyse, and evaluate an opinion. Your child will likely have to play the role of an authority on the subject-matter and can draw from personal knowledge and experience in order to make their case. Familiarising your child with the components and layout of a persuasive essay along with fostering topics of interest will help prepare for this exam. 

The narrative exam will assess your child’s ability to create and narrate events, while also being able to entertain and emotionally move an audience. Whichever story your child can think of it will need to follow the orientation, complication, and resolution structure for a relatively short text. 

For more in depth information about NAPLAN testing, read our article: What Is NAPLAN? The Ultimate NAPLAN Guide for Parents 

6 Ways to Help Your Child Prepare for the NAPLAN Writing Test 

These 6 steps help ensure your child is as prepared as possible for their upcoming NAPLAN writing exams. 

1. Make Sure They Understand the Importance of the Text Structure 

Layout and structure for persuasive and narrative writing exams are incredibly important. Persuasive writing typically involves a rigid structure where your child will need to make introduce, argue, and summarise their point within 3-5 paragraphs. Narrative writing has a looser structure; however, students may find it difficult to effectively build their imaginative story in a page or two. 

2. Encourage Your Child to Read as to Expand Their Vocabulary 

While spelling and punctuation don’t offer the largest capacity for marks, having a wide range of vocabulary in your child’s arsenal will help them either articulate their point, or paint a more vivid image to their audience. This skill can be easily fostered by encouraging your child to read a variety of texts. Encouraging your child to keep building their vocabulary through their schooling will help them get an A in English when used in tandem with other key skills. 

3. Practice Grammar and Spelling With Your Child 

Grammar and spelling skills can easily be developed through simple consistent revision. Perhaps on the way to or from school, think of a handful of words and get your child to write them out on a notepad. You and your child will be amazed with how rapidly their spelling skills develop. 

4. Encourage Your Child to Practice Writing Long Form

Long from writing is especially intimidating for younger students who may be used to writing a paragraph or a few sentences.  With some practice, it needn’t be as stressful. Familiarise your child with the overall structure for persuasive and narrative writing, then encourage them to recount an experience they’ve had or write about a topic they feel passionately about. Once they’re done, discuss their writing with them and encourage them to do another. 

5. Get a Tutor

By having the resources of a tutor at your disposal, they will be able to walk your child through anything they may be unsure about when it comes to writing in different genres, getting feedback, or even asking what these exams are like. We can assist you to find a tutor that your child can build a relationship with, this will help ensure your child skill develop both in NAPLAN and other assessment. 

6. Provide Emotional Support – NAPLANs Can Be Stressful

NAPLANs can be extremely stressful; younger students may find themselves anxious at the thought of more exams, while older students may find it hard to revise for on top of their normal workload. In either case, by talking through your child’s feeling and ensuring good nutrition and sleep, your child should have the mental energy to get through these exams. 

NAPLAN Writing Example Questions 

NAPLAN writing exam try to provide prompts or writing instructions in areas where students are likely to have interest.

For example, the 2015 Year 7 persuasive exam instructions, asked students to:

• Choose the best TV, movie, or performance that you have seen or book that you have read. Persuade the reader to watch or read what you have chosen.

In 2016 the NAPLAN narrative exam had a handful of images that the students could use as a prompt, or they could imagine their own. The prompt asked students to: 

• Construct a story about what has happened to your characters after reading a sign.

As you can see, in either scenario, NAPLAN has tried to make the exam relevant to students’ interests or provide some ideas for generating a story. 

Need a Helping Hand Preparing for the NAPLAN Writing Test? 

NAPLAN is an experience that universally shared with all Australian students. In order to ensure your child can perform to the best of their ability, consistent practise and resilience is needed. The skills your child will be examined on take years to develop, overnight results or cramming are definitely not options. instead encourage your child to ask questions about writing in class, find some friends that they can study with or work with a private tutor.

If you are looking to help your child with their NAPLAN writing test? A Team Tuition is here to help. With our tried and true tutoring methods, we can help your child succeed in their NAPLAN tests with our at-home and online tutoring. Find a tutor near you today!     

References

NAP National Assessment Program

Sources Used for Example Questions:

https://www.acara.edu.au/assessment/naplan/naplan-2012-2016-test-papers 

https://acaraweb.blob.core.windows.net/acaraweb/docs/default-source/assessment-and-reporting-publications/e1-naplan-2016-final-test-writing-prompt—sign-said-(years-7-and-9-only).pdf?sfvrsn=2 

https://acaraweb.blob.core.windows.net/acaraweb/docs/default-source/assessment-and-reporting-publications/naplan-2015-final-test-writing-prompt—the-best-(years-7-and-9-only).pdf?sfvrsn=2 

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What Is NAPLAN?

The ‘National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN)’ is an annual assessment for students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9. It is the only nationwide testing process that all Australian students undertake. Government education services have designed NAPLAN to measure literacy and numeracy skills that underpin further learning. The testing allows for critical understanding of student’s progression throughout primary and secondary education streams, informs school performance, teaching, and learning. 

For more in depth information about NAPLAN testing, read out article: What Is NAPLAN? The Ultimate NAPLAN Guide for Parents 

How You Can Help Your Child Prepare for the NAPLAN Maths Test

These tips and strategies are invaluable to your child’s success in NAPLAN numeracy tests. Consistently implementing these tips will help your child build healthy study habits and foster long-term success.

1. Keep Track of Your Child’s Progress

It is important for you, as a parent, to be engaged with your child’s progress in their numeracy studies. Kathleen Cotton states that “research overwhelmingly demonstrates that parent involvement in children’s learning is positively related to achievement.” Numeracy can often be confusing when explained. Reading your child’s reports, communicating with teachers, and/or being actively involved in their learning process can help alleviate this confusion. Consistent engagement allows for timely support and an understanding of where they may need further encouragement or assistance.

2. Encourage Your Child to Do Practice Tests

Practice tests are an extremely important part in preparing for the NAPLAN numeracy exam. Studies show that completing practice tests can help achieve greater test results. Firstly, practice exams can highlight gaps in knowledge. Practice tests allow for you, your child, and their support team, to understand where they are most struggling and then focus study time in these areas. Practice tests also provide an opportunity for students to implement learnt knowledge. This is critical to retain and apply information. Finally, practice tests can help students gain understanding of the format and timing of the test. When your child comes to complete their NAPLAN numeracy test, they will be familiar with its layout, the style of questions and how they must manage their time. Thus, completing practice exams are a vital tool in NAPLAN preparation.

3. Explore Different Maths Study Approaches

Every child has a unique way they best learn. Your child must find ways in which they best remember, understand, and implement information. A Team Tuition refers to this as your child’s ‘learning language’. To help your child discover their ‘learning language’, we must encourage their individual expression. This could include a greater focus on aural learning by reading and responding to cue cards. It could implement visual exam preparation by drawing diagrams or mind-maps. By fostering learning languages, you can assist your child in developing learning strategies that both resonate and excite them.

4. Get a Maths Tutor

Having one-to-one support in the form of a tutor can be an invaluable resource in preparing your child for their NAPLAN numeracy test. Tutors can help investigate where your child most needs support. Unlike a classroom, tutors are not restricted by large class numbers and thus can spend greater time thoroughly explaining content and understanding your child’s specific needs. If you are looking for this extra support for your child, at A Team Tuition we can help you find a maths tutor that is a good fit for your child’s personality and learning language

5. Give Your Child Emotional Support

It is important to provide your child with the necessary emotional support for them to succeed in their NAPLAN numeracy test. Whilst we all want our children to succeed, our eagerness can often lead to demotivation. Just as parents do, children need times to rest, recover and enjoy life surrounding study. As parents, we must aim to ensure our children maintain proper sleep, healthy eating habits and regular breaks from study. This can support stress relief, whilst allowing for greater motivation in their chosen study periods. Balance is just as significant to your child’s success in NAPLAN numeracy as their study.

Need a Helping Hand with the NAPLAN Numeracy Test?

NAPLAN numeracy can be challenging for many students and academic success does not happen overnight. Thus, it is important as parents to be resilient and consistent in our support. This blog has outlined many proven strategies that parents can implement to assist our students in achieving exam success. Yet external resources can also play a critical role in fostering student’s study habits and patterns. This can include promoting your child to ask for a teacher’s help, form a study group with friends, or working with a private tutor. The combined effort of both internal and external resources will help ensure your child’s success and confidence in NAPLAN’s annual numeracy assessment.

Looking to help your child with their NAPLAN numeracy test? A Team Tuition is here to help. With our tried and true tutoring methods, we can help your child excel at numeracy with our at-home and online tutoring. Find a tutor near you today!

The post How to Prepare Your Child for the NAPLAN Numeracy Test  appeared first on A Team Tuition.