| In this issue: | |
In the Math-Whizz newsletter we will share information important to you as parents. Each
month, you'll be sent information about how children learn, ideas on how to be invovled in your child's math
education, suggestions for fun math activites, and suggestions on how to get the most out of
Math-Whizz. Share your ideas, questions and comments by emailing me. |
Back to School Tips
A collective sigh of relief from parents can be heard, the 2011-2012 school year has arrived! However, from the kids it may be more of a collective gasp brought on by the start of school jitters. Perhaps your child is just starting school for the first time or will be "the new kid" and may be nervous about fitting in. Maybe he found out his best friend was assigned to a different class, or that he didn't get the teacher he hoped for. Start of the school year jitters can be overwhelming for children, but also for their parents who want to help. Over the past couple of months, we have talked with parents and teachers to gather suggestions on how to help kids be at their best this year.
Here are their suggestions:
- Be Involved! Go to school sponsored events, such as beginning of the year "Meet and Greets," orientations and parent nights. Take these opportunities to help your child feel comfortable. If your child worries about how to approach classmates or teachers, do some role-playing where you help to work through some situations that she might experience at school, such as asking to sit next to someone at the lunch table. Give her the tools she'll need to build new relationships.
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- Get Organized! Create a system to stay organized that works for you and your family. Model this organization for your child, and you will both be less stressed as the year progresses. Identify a place where backpacks should be stored and where papers that need to be signed or homework that needs to be checked should be placed each day. This will help eliminate morning searches for backpacks and the paper that "I put on the table last night." Identify key dates as early as possible and post them on a calendar where everyone can view. Set a time and place for homework that you follow every day. Everyone will have a different system – the goal is to create a system that works with your family’s schedule and stick to it!
Math-Whizz® 101
Everything you need to know about Math-Whizz
One of the quickest ways to get
the most out of Math-Whizz is by reading our new blog series aptly titled Math-Whizz 101. Each week
we’ve taken one or two of our video tutorials from Whizz Education's YouTube Channel and added some extra commentary to give you a fast
and effective way to learn about the many features Math-Whizz has to offer. Each video is hosted by
a Whizz Education team members from our UK headquarters in London. Their narration will help you better
understand the program and how to best make use of it. Unsure exactly what Math
Age™ is? Need some ideas regarding how to keep your child or student motivated?
Are you getting the most out of our reporting features? While we’ve built our program and release updates aimed at being as
user friendly as possible, we also understand the need for additional explanation or general overview of
features and concepts. If there is one thing we truly know here at Math-Whizz it is that everyone
learns differently, which is why we are pleased to offer Math-Whizz 101 to our community. Do you
have a question regarding a feature or tool? Let us know! Please email your comments and feedback to
Math-Whizz customer services.
Math-Whizz and School
Now that school is back in session, should my child continue Math-Whizz? YES!
Over the past couple of weeks, we have received questions from parents about continuing Math-Whizz now that school is back in session. Many of these parents signed up for Math-Whizz to help prevent summer learning loss. These same parents soon realized that not only did Math-Whizz prevent summer learning loss, it gave their child an advantage. Children who used Math-Whizz routinely showed improvement in their Math Age™. Below are answers to a few of the questions we have received:
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I signed up for summer months, will Math-Whizz be beneficial once school is back in
session?
Yes! Math-Whizz will help your child advance in math during the school year. If your child needs extra help, is on grade level, or is ready for more challenging lessons Math-Whizz will deliver the right lessons, at the right time at the right level of difficulty. -
Can I share my child's progress reports with their new school teacher?
Yes, and we recommend you do! From your Parent Dashboard, you can choose to give your child's teacher access to your child's data, or you can opt to email a progression report. If you need assistance with this, our customer support team is happy to help! Email us! -
How much time should my child spend on Math-Whizz during the school year?
We recommend that you make Math-Whizz part of a weekly routine that includes a few shorter sessions rather than one really long session. Visit Math-Whizz 101 tutorial on recommended usage! It includes scheduling information as well as provides resources such as a weekly planner.
Whizz Prof Goes on Tour
Math-Whizz kicks off STEM inspired learning!
Math is fun, and
learning math should be fun – this summer was no exception! So with that in mind, we took the lead in
helping kids avoid summer learning loss. Working within the informal STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics) guidelines, we showcased math in and around London throughout the month of August. This fits
in strongly with government recommendations that beyond the classroom, the inclination of families to take
part in activities is a key factor in determining access to STEM success for the next generation.
Some of the places the Whizz Prof popped up include Legoland in Windsor and the Museum of London at the Barbican. While there, families could participate in math challenges, play online math games and more! For the full scoop, and access to some of the activities visit our UK blog!
Based on the success and feedback from our kick off this summer, we are looking to bring Math-Whizz showcases to the States! So keep a look out for the Whizz Prof in your area!