1. Set Aside Study Time Each Day
Setting aside regular study hours gives a student awareness of when to be ready to study. This works because the family does not have to decide each day, the study time is set aside and regular. Parents may need to turn off the television and shut down texting to friends until the study time is complete. For student athletes, the time on any given day may vary. In those cases, book out the week with study times that fit in soccer, basketball or other athletic endeavors.

2. Work Quickly
You may have thought that going slowly was the right choice, but there are advantages to moving quickly and veering away from distraction. For instance, reading in 15-minute segments is shown to be a stronger way to learn than to spend hours and hours exhausting the mind.

3. Set Goals for Your Studies
The goal may be to increase performance by one grade letter, or to finish elementary school well-prepared for middle school. Or high school students may choose to focus on getting into college. The saying “keep the eyes on the prize” is tried and true for a reason. Once you have a goal, remember to say it and write it down. Then make new goals so the concepts are always fresh.

4. Comprehension Matters
One of the ways to remember and comprehend well is to link new knowledge to existing knowledge. You can also outline and use index cards to study and increase comprehension.

5. Note-taking as a Best Practice
Review notes each day on the same day notes are taken, when the meaning is still fresh. Learn how notes are taken in your child’s class as the systems are always changing and each teacher may have unique note-taking requirements.

6. Food, Rest, Hydration
When a student is hungry, tired or distracted he or she may not be able to study even if they try. Take some time to ensure healthy snacks and meals are in place to provide the best environment for getting things done.

7. Manage Stress
When a student goes back to school after time off, from summer, or Covid, the stress can be higher and more difficult to manage. The increased interaction takes energy to accommodate. Plus students now may need to manage more in one day than they were managing in three days due to the sensory overload at school. Make sure he or she has time when arriving home to relax, have something to eat, and recuperate. Build back study skills like muscles that haven’t been used in some time – slowly and steadily adding time and assignments as the student catches on to being back in school.

8. Manage Too Much Homework and Negative Self-Talk
Students on occasion can have more homework assigned than is physically possible for them to complete. If you notice your child keeps getting further behind, stop and meet with the teacher to work out a plan. If your child has special needs, you may need special accommodations. Find ways to reward small successes. Prioritize with your child so the most important work is done first.

9. Check Homework
When a child completes homework, take time to review for errors. Talk with your child about the mistakes, and allow them to correct mistakes themselves. If possible, show examples and allow the student to discover the mistake for himself or herself. “The goal is to help your child become a responsible, independent thinker,” says Knowles.

10. Budget Time for Studying with Your Child
You may need to help your children break assignments down into smaller tasks. Help them plan for tests with extra study time so they can prepare. Be sure to let them relax between challenging tasks.

It isn’t easy managing homework, but these tips should make things easier for your entire family. Remember to stay confident even if you don’t understand the work yourself, as the parent you can help your child focus and stay tuned in on a daily basis. If you find yourself getting behind, remember you can hire a tutor or meet with the school for references and assistance. Just like health, it is better to catch problems early and find the right path with study habits and homework.

About the Author: Jasna Knowles

KnowledgeQuest is a tutoring center in Almaden Valley that specializes in remediation and enrichment for students in grades K-12. Founded in 1995 by Jasna Knowles, the center has served thousands of San Jose and the greater Francisco Bay Area students on their way to academic success.

Ms. Knowles holds a BS in Computer Science and a Masters of Education. She also supplemented her expertise with training in special education, learning disabilities, and how to advocate for children during IEP/504 meetings.

Ms. Knowles started her career as an algebra classroom teacher in both public and private schools. In that role, she became aware of the difficulty to be able to reach a struggling student in large classroom environments. This inspired her to get more engaged with students on an individual level at Britannica and Sylvan Learning Centers. Ms. Knowles enjoyed this challenge, but found existing programs to be too pre-designed and rigid, like educational cookie-cutters.

Pricing:

• On-line camps: $ 55 per day (includes daily Zoom instruction and Knowledge Box)
• In-center camps: $ 455 per week (9am - 3pm. Enrollment is limited to 12 students)

Register ONLINE

Camp Colosseum / Spotlight on Writing

Robin Hood Adventures / Deep Space Voyagers

Around The World in Five Days / Ocean Explorers & Wild Life Safaris

Camp Fairy Tales / Study Skills Secrets

Schedule and Pricing

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Week 1: Camp Colosseum & Week 2: Toy Maker's Workshop
Week 3: Robin Hood Adventures & Week 4: Super Hero Training Camp
Week 5: Deep Space Voyager & Week 6: Around the World in 5 Days
Week 7: Problem Solving Lab & Study Skills Secrets
Week 8: Multiplication Vacation & Spotlight on Writing
Registration Form

*Extended care is available. Please call 408-323-1544 for details.

Therefore, KnowledgeQuest will be offering a Creative Writing Camp for elementary and middle school children from February 19-23. 

Becoming a good writer requires commitment and confidence. But first your children need to figure out how to turn their creative thoughts into ideas, and ideas into written works. This is exactly what the writing camp will teach them. Using thought-provoking prompts, writing tips, and editing skills from the masters of the craft, your children will learn how elevate their writing competence.

If you are interested in enrolling your child, please fill out the registration form and email it to KnowledgeQuestNews@gmail.com as soon as possible. The space in this exciting writing camp is limited.

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Special recognition by the public!

Who will your children be competing against for future jobs?

Read the statistics published by the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) and decide for yourself: 

* Today, 53 million American children are in grades K-12 versus 211 million in India and 200 million in China.

* PISA tested students in 71 countries, of which 35 countries are considered industrialized nations. The assessment measured students’ reading, math, and science abilities.

* Among the 35 advanced industrialized nations, American students ranked 17th in reading, 21st in science, and 26th in math. Based on the same assessment, students in Singapore outscored every other school system in the world.

* Other top-performing countries were: Hong Kong, Japan, Finland, Estonia, China, Slovenia, Taiwan, South Korea, Switzerland, and Canada. The highest performing state in the US was Massachusetts.

* There is only one category in which the US students ranked number 1: self-confidence in their academic skills.

* Even the top students in the United States are behind – for example two years behind Shanghai.

* America is particularly struggling at math. One in four US students did not reach the PISA baseline level 2 of mathematics proficiency. At this level, “students begin to demonstrate the skills that will enable them to participate effectively and productively in life,” according to the PISA report.

* With 180 teaching days, we have the shortest school year. South Korea, for example, has 220 school days.

* The average class size in Swedish elementary schools is 9 students vs. 22 students per class in the US.

* American students, not engaged in any educational activity over the summer, lose skills equivalent of 2.6 months of grade level.

* This summer learning loss of 2 to 3 months in elementary grades compounds to a gap of 12 to 18 months by the end of 6th grade. By middle school, the loss adds up to 2 or more years. By comparison, many foreign countries have a year-round program in place.

* The daily average that college-bound students spend on homework:
       a. USA: 1 hour, none on Fridays and weekends
       b. India: 3.5 hours, 6 days per week
       c. China: 4 hours, 7 days per week

* Nearly 40% of US high school students do not take any science class more challenging than general biology. High school students in Europe take four years of biology, four years of chemistry, and four years of physics. That is all three subjects, every year.

* The high school graduation rate is 97% in Germany and 93% in Great Britain and Japan, while it stands at 77% in the US.

* Calculus is a mandatory class for every 10th grader in Europe, India, and China. At the same time, 70% of parents in America think that their children do not need to take Calculus classes in high school.

* The average American student spends about 900 hours in the classroom and 1,500 hours in front of TV each year.

* If an American student is engaged in sports, practice consumes approximately 20 hours per week. No other country offers pre-professional sports training in school. Students around the world receive only regular Physical Ed classes a few hours per week.

* Many European countries graduate high school students after 13 years instead of 12.

* Close to half of American students enter college under-prepared in essential skills such as writing and math.

* About 600,000 engineers graduate in China every year in comparison to 60,000 in the US.

* Nearly 60% of Ph.D. degrees in the USA are earned by foreign nationals. Many of them continue to pursue careers in their home countries.

How seriously should we take these findings?

Separate study found that PISA scores are an economic indicator: rising scores are a good sign that a country’s economy will grow as well.

Therefore, in this global economy and competitive workforce, the American students will be required to do much better!

Please call 408-323-1544 for more information or send us an email, and do not forget to check our individual camp descriptions, calendar, pricing, and registration.

• June 12 - June 16: Camp Picasso
• June 19 - June 23: Camp Courageous
• June 26 - June 30: Camp Colosseum
• July 3 - July 7: Camp Discovery *
• July 10 - July 14: Camp Robin Hood
• July 17 - July 21: Camp Rising Sun
• July 24 - July 28: Camp Frontier
• July 31 - August 4: Camp Voyager
• August 7 - August 11: Camp Maestro
• Summer camp Pricing
• Summer camp Calendar
• Summer camp Registration

* No camp will be offered on July 4th. Happy Independence Day!

Camp locations:
KnowledgeQuest Learning Center: 6055-90 Meridian Avenue, San Jose, CA 95120
Los Gatos Christian School: 16845 Hicks Rd, Los Gatos, CA 95032

Register by April 15th and save 5%!

More info will follow.

• Study Skills Secrets
• Manga 101
• Spotlight on Writing
• Hands-On History

Here are some questions to consider:

• Has the current IEP worked well? What are the pluses and minuses of this year's program?
• Has your child experienced any significant changes in the family, changes in medications or treatments since the last IEP was written?
• Do you have adequate information about your child's present level of performance: Have you received progress reports? Do progress reports provide information to you about how your child is doing on the goals and objectives in the present IEP?
• Are you aware of any testing that may need to be done? Is your child due for a comprehensive three year reevaluation? Under IDEA '97, it is not necessary to repeat all of the original standardized testing if there is enough information to show from the student's work samples and classroom performance whether or not a disability still exists. However, you can certainly ask for comprehensive testing if you think it is necessary.
• Is behavior a problem for your child? Has your child had a recent functional behavioral assessment? Is there a need for a positive behavior plan in the next IEP?
• Is your child receiving his or her education in the regular classroom? If not, would your child benefit from a regular classroom placement with appropriate supplementary aids and services? Remember your child does not need to be in a separate special education class in order to receive special education. Special education can be delivered in the regular classroom.
• If your child requires supplementary aids in order to remain in the regular classroom, be sure that these supplementary services are outlined specifically in the IEP. Supplementary aids can include things like the use of a computer or communication device.
• What academic goals do you think are realistic for your child? Be sure that the goals and objectives in your child's new IEP show connection to the general education curriculum. Does your child's IEP reflect high expectations for learning?
• In order to benefit from education in the regular classroom, does your child require modifications of the regular curriculum or program? Does your child need a modified grading scale? Be sure that these modifications are clearly spelled out in the IEP.
• How will regular education teachers be involved in the IEP process? Will next year's teacher or teachers participate in planning the program? How will the necessary curriculum modifications be communicated to all teachers?
• What related services are necessary for your child to benefit from his or her education? Does your child need speech, additional tutoring, physical therapy, occupational therapy, transportation, rehabilitation counseling, social work services, school nursing, or school counseling in order to benefit from his or her education? If your child receives school counseling, there should be goals in the IEP related specifically to what is supposed to be accomplished in counseling.
• Does your child take medication at school? How will it be administered and by whom?

As you prepare for the next IEP meeting, you may have some other questions or concerns. Please don't hesitate to call us! One of our KnowledgeQuest directors will gladly help you.

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy! You buy a bunch of guidebooks and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas of Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting. After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland." "Holland?!?", you say. "What do you mean, Holland? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."

But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guidebooks. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.

It's just a different place. It's slower paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around, and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills. Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy, and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say, "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."

The pain of that will never go away, because the loss of that dream is a very significant loss. But if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things about Holland.

The pressure of finishing projects and taking tests is small payment for the pleasures ahead. The month of June, like Fridays for us adults, is sweet with anticipation.

Yet we all know about too much of a good thing. Sun, fun, and leisure lose their allure along about the second week of July. Time starts to hang heavily and parents begin to hear the standard moan "There's nothing to do...".

Studies show that approximately 80 percent of what children have been taught in school is lost within a month, unless that knowledge is reinforced quickly and continuously. Therefore, summer is an ideal time to expose children to various types of learning activities. Parents should interact with their children by taking aside some time for summer reading. Reading requires exercise for proficiency just as physical skills do. The more one practices, the stronger and easier the skill becomes.

Visit the library with your child or ask the teacher to provide you with a list of recommended books to read over the summer so your child will retain the reading skills learned during the school year.

Summer is also great time to expose children to various types of non-fiction reading. For example, cookbooks, game instructions, newspapers, and magazines relate everyday activities to reading and make it fun. But perhaps the best result of children's summer reading experiences is that children learn to view reading as an activity they can choose to do for personal pleasure.

Another thing you can do is to purchase a special journal/diary for the summer. On a daily or weekly basis set time for journal entries. It is a great way to practice writing skills and have a fantastic keepsake for years to come.

For reinforcement of math skills set aside one night a week as Kids Cook Night. Allow children to select a simple menu. Help them purchase the ingredients and budget the cost. Then, with limited assistance, allow them to cook the meal. This will give them experience with measurements, reading, and following directions.

Museums, zoos, and galleries are also vital sources of information and many have special showings and children's activities during the summer. Check for a schedule of special events.

If you are taking a vacation, allow children to map out directions and orally direct you as you travel.

Video stores and libraries are also a wealth of educational resources. Set aside one night a week to watch movies about historical people or world events. This can provide a rich opportunity that allows history to come alive to young people. Recommendations include "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman", "Anne of a Thousand Days", "Roots", and "Pearl Harbor".

And, of course, there are always supplemental educational programs and summer camps that you can enroll your child in.

The goal of most parents and educational professionals is to provide the best learning environment for each student. Here are some activities parents can do with their children during the last few weeks of summer and the first few weeks of school, before school work becomes too difficult:

• Getting back into the swing of things can be difficult after a long, relaxing summer. Get back into scholastic shape by reviewing some academic skills (especially math facts) before the beginning of the next school year.
• Together with your child, select a quiet place with good lighting and a comfortable temperature to use as a study area for the rest of the school year. Keep the study area free from distractions.
• Organize binders and stock up on school supplies such as: pencils, paper, erasers, a ruler, a calculator, a dictionary and a thesaurus. Use a shelf, drawer or box to store the supplies close to the chosen study place.
• Develop a time-management calendar. Set a definite study time each day, but also include time to play and relax.
• During periods of study, allow time for breaks. Try the 30/10 rule: 30 minutes of study, and 10 minutes of break.
• Preview new textbooks with your child. Check the titles, table of contents, chapter headings, sub-headings, maps, charts, and graphs. Locate the index, glossary, and other reference information.
• Renew you family's library cards.
• Encourage your children to find out more information about the classes they are taking. What is the instructor's teaching style, his/her expectations, grading and homework policies, project deadlines, etc?
• Encourage your children to review new information soon after each class, and to ask for help if they do not understand the material.
• Most of all, keep a positive attitude and help your children set attainable goals for terrific first quarter grades!

Most children are able to count by two's and five's, and so they can multiply by two's and five's. You can further reduce the number of facts your children need to learn by showing them the associative property of numbers. This means explaining the concept that 3 x 4 is the same as 4 x 3. Get a deck of multiplication flash cards, apply the associative property of multiplication, and show them that the number of multiplication they need to learn is only half. This will greatly reduce their fear of learning a large number of multiplication facts and will help to raise their confidence.

On another day, cover the concept of zero times any number. Give a page of multiplication problems with 0's, 2's, and 5's for practice and to build confidence. For more advanced students you can point out that five times any even number is equal to half the other number with a zero at the end. For example: 5 x 8 = 40 (half of 8 is 4, with adding a zero to give you 40). Also, five times any odd number always ends with a five.

Show your children that any number multiplied by one results in the number itself, and that multiplication by 10 is the same as multiplication by 1, only with a zero added to their answer.

Teach your children squares (3 x 3, 4 x 4, 6 x 6, 7 x 7, 8 x 8) faster and more easily by teaching them in a rhythmic fashion. For example, your children could do these five problems while jumping a rope, bouncing a ball, singing, or doing any activity that has a rhythmic pattern. Another way to remember these facts is to make up little stories about them. For example, in order to drive a 4 x 4, you have to be 16 years old (4 x 4 = 16).

Nine's are easy if you know the following trick. Have your children put both hands down flat on the desk and number their fingers from 1 to 10, starting with left pinky. Whenever a number is multiplied by 9 (emphasize only 9), they can use their fingers as a calculator. Here is a sample problem to show how the finger calculator works for 9 x 3. Tuck finger 3 (middle finger on left hand) under and count the number of fingers to the left of that finger. Write down the number (2). Then, count the number of fingers to the right of finger 3. Write this number (7) behind the 2. The answer is 27. This works for all 9's except when multiplied by 0 and 10. Remind students to check their answers. Whenever a number is multiplied by 9, the sum of the digits in the answer always equals 9. For example, 3 x 9 = 27 and 2 + 7 = 9.

There are now only 10 facts left to learn. At this point, the children will feel so accomplished about what they already know that ten more facts will seem simple. The last ten facts are 3 x 4, 3 x 6, 3 x 8, 4 x 6, 4 x 7, 4 x 8, 6 x 7, 6 x 8, and 7 x 8. Two memory sentences that will help children remember 3 x 4 and 7 x 8 are: "Before you go to 3rd and 4th grade, you will have to go to 1st and 2nd (12 = 3 x 4)." "Before you go to 7th and 8th grades, you will go to 5th and 6th (56 = 7 x 8).”

Remember that multiplication facts will be easier for your children to learn if they are broken down into parts. The success your children will feel after mastering these simple techniques can instill the desire to learn more. Before they even realize it, they will know all their facts.