What are the causes of student burnout and what can parents do to help reignite a love of learning?

If you pay attention to the news, and in particular news about K-12 education, you have probably read (or heard) that teachers are leaving the profession in droves; they are burned out. Many educators cite the pandemic as the the proverbial straw that broke their back. Following CDC guidelines, dealing with the controversy of masks, and yo-yoing again and again between at-home and in-school instruction broke many teachers. 

Understandably.

But students are hurting too. And, quite simply, they- like their English and Algebra and kindergarten teachers- are burned out, too. For many of the same reasons as their teachers, as well as a whole slew of reasons that are more children-specific.

There is a huge- Mariana Trench deep- difference, though, between teacher and student burnout: teachers are free to leave and pursue other occupations. K-12 students must stay in school and fight through all the demons that so many people are currently battling, while trying to keep their heads above water.

Student Burnout defined

What exactly is student burnout? In the article “Educators and Students Are Burned Out. These Strategies Can Help,” Harvard Business Publishing defines it like this: “it presents as a combination of three symptoms: exhaustion (a depletion of mental or physical resources), cynical detachment (a depletion of social connectedness), and a reduced sense of efficacy(a depletion of belief in oneself).”

Parents, does your child look or sound like any of these three descriptors? Are they exhausted? Do they feel less or no connection to their friends? Do they feel like school is just too hard? 

Here is the catch: the pandemic did not provoke or cause these symptoms. Students have been struggling with these critical issues for years. The pandemic only shone a 10,000 watt spotlight on the problem! 

What causes student burnout 

A study by research.com revealed what teens are concerned about:

The study also found:

• Seven out of ten teens in the U.S. (between 13 and 17 years old) have named anxiety or depression as a major problem among their peers in the community.
• 75% of U.S. high school students expressed boredom, anger, sadness, fear, or stress while in school.
• On a 10-point scale, where normal values for adults are 3.8, American teens rated their stress rate at an average score of 5.8.
• Three quarters (75%) of American high schoolers and half of middle schoolers described themselves as “often or always feeling stressed” by schoolwork.

Students with learning differences tend to get whacked even harder. The excellent website understood.org lists some reasons as to why. First, they work harder than their peers to achieve a similar result. Next, their schedules tend be busier than their peers due to getting additional help or therapies. Finally, they may struggle with attention and just take longer to complete an assignment.

Denise Pope, a senior lecturer at the Stanford Graduate School of Education, found that in addition to grades, course work, and time management, students were particularly stressed about lack of sleep. Pope thought that remote leaning would provide opportunities for students to catch up on sleep, but her research found that 43 percent of the students reported sleeping less, and about 5 percent said they were getting less than four hours a night. Overall, kids reported being more stressed than before the pandemic began!

Strategies to combat student burnout 

As documented above, student burnout tends to come from exhaustion, a lack of social connections, and/or a loss of one’s belief that they can succeed. A good first step for parents is to decode which symptom or symptoms their child is suffering from. From there, try the following strategies to combat student burnout.

Practice self care

We wrote extensively about the importance of self-care for children here. Start by creating a routine in the morning before school and a routine for after school, which will develop predictability and ease anxiety. Mix in some exercise to get the heart rate up and focus on establishing a sleep schedule.

Create healthy habits

Creating healthy habits can begin with monitoring your child’s diet. Recently we wrote about the importance of a balanced diet and its contribution to academic performance. At least in your home, you control the supply line of food, so ensure there is an abundance of healthy choices available. Additionally, encourage/demand a prescribed sleep schedule. Teenagers ought to be getting about 10 hours of a sleep a night. And as mentioned above, moderate to vigorous exercise will pay dividends with mental health.

Play games

If your child is suffering from burnout, there is more than likely an absence of fun in their lives. A great way to combat the feeling is from playing! Play can take many forms, from good old- fashioned board games like Monopoly and Sorry to card games like Uno. Psychology researcher Peter Gray argues that as opportunities for play decrease in children, it contributes to a rise in anxiety and depression. He argues that anxiety and depression strongly correlate with peoples’ sense of control – or lack of control. Researchers have studied play and arrived at a fascinating conclusion: the opposite of play is not work, it is depression.

Practice mindfulness

The website mindful.org defines mindfulness as the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us. This has become increasingly difficult in our perpetually digitally connected lives. Encourage your child to disconnect! Benefits of mindfulness include improvement in emotional regulation, memory, and cognitive function; better grades; increased focus; improvement in both relationships and physical health; and reduced levels of anxiety and stress. Check out this article for simple suggestions to practice mindfulness.

Stay connected to their social network

Children are wired- all humans are wired- to want to connect. The pandemic has put a huge crick in people’s ability to meet in-person. While everyone’s social networks have been disrupted over the past two years, children especially have been hit hard. If your child has struggled with maintaining their friendships due to the pandemic, or some other reason altogether, encourage them to reconnect, and model this in your own life, as well. Remind your child about how to have conversations, how to take turns, and about the importance of listening. 

A final word

After two years of a pandemic that disrupted all of our lives in unimaginable ways, people are burning out. Children can and do burnout too! Typically a parent will see extreme and prolonged exhaustion, a socially isolated child, and declaration that school is simply too hard. It is also important to acknowledge that children have been struggling since way before the pandemic arrived; it just blasted a Halogen bulb on the issue. By practicing self-care, developing healthy habits, incorporating some game time and play, and reconnecting to their social networks, children can beat burnout.

If you suspect your child is suffering from burnout, please contact Jennifer Disch at Engage the Brain to discuss ways a Learning Coach may be able to assist you child to reignite their love of school and learning.

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Monitoring your child’s vascular health is important. Here are five ways to keep their heart healthy.

February is American Heart Month, a time to focus on cardiovascular health. And contrary to the latest edition of your favorite podcast, there are no secrets or “hacks” when it comes to heart health. Two words most people think of as four-letter words – diet and exercise – are still the two best tools to promote your vascular health.

But what about children? How is their heart health? Just because someone is young does not mean they have a healthy heart. There are some shocking statistics that ought to sound alarm bells. 

The pandemic ushered in remote learning, and screen time skyrocketed. Even before the pandemic arrived, screen time has been increasing over the past 50 years. Detriments of screen time include a decrease in both focus and emotional regulation. 

According to the National Health Council, 40% of the United States population has at least one chronic disease. Up to 50% have two! High blood pressure is the number one chronic disease in the world. An alarming 70% of the U.S. population is overweight or obese, which yields high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and other risks for heart disease.

As we wrote about last month, nutrition plays a significant role in children’s overall health. Our goal this month is not to rehash or feed you word leftovers – though it is worth the read! Rather, the objective is to shed light on a different type of pandemic affecting both adults and children: sedentary lifestyles coupled with poor diets are ravaging our collective heart health.

Information about the heart

The American Heart Association  provides a layman’s explanation for how the heart works. First, the heart is a muscle that sits in your chest, tilted slightly to the left. Perhaps the biggest difference between your heart and all the other muscles in your body is that the heart never rests! 

The AHA describes the heart like this: “The heart is made up of four rooms or chambers. The two right chambers receive blood from all over the body and pump that blood to the lungs where it picks up oxygen and drops off waste from organs and other cells. Once oxygen-rich blood leaves the lungs, it goes to the chambers on the left side of the heart where it is pumped back out to body.”

It is important to have a basic understanding of how the heart works so that you can comprehend how heart disease may attack the body. Heart disease or cardiovascular disease  (CVD) is a health condition that stops the heart or blood vessels from working properly. When the heart is working properly, blood is pumping and circulating around the body freely. If there is a clog in our blood vessels or if our heart is not pumping blood properly, this prevents blood from being delivered to many important parts of our body. Not having blood constantly delivered to the many important parts of our body can cause serious illness or even death. CVD results most often from poor lifestyle choices, such as eating unhealthily or not getting enough exercise.

Keeping your heart healthy

Though genetics do play a role in our health, diet and exercise are two pillars of a healthy lifestyle. While it may appear children do not listen to parental words of wisdom, they most certainly pay close attention to your actions. Modeling a healthy lifestyle goes a long way to encouraging your child to adopt a similar path.

What else can you do to promote a healthy heart in children? Here are some suggestions from Children’s Health:

• Keep moving

Pick activities that the family can do together. Go for a bike ride on a local bike path or take a walk around the neighborhood. The CDC recommends children get 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise every day.

• Limit screen time

As referenced above, children are on computers during school for the most of the day. Too much screen time often is accompanied by munching on unhealthy snacks. Set limits of TV and video games. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than 60 minutes per day during the week and 2 hours per day on weekends.

• Go to the grocery store together

In addition to feeding the family healthy food choices, bring the kids along to the market. Teach them to read food labels and that a proper diet includes whole grains, low fat dairy products, fish, poultry, and nuts. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia has an excellent summary of nutritional information.

• Drink water

About 60% of our body weight is made up of water, which we require for every single body function. While each person’s needs are slightly different based on things such as age and activity level, WebMD suggests children drink about 6 to 8 cups (48 to 64 ounces) of water a day. Water. Not juice, not Gatorade. Gulping down water helps eliminate waste, regulate body temperature, and protect vital tissues.

• Stay involved

In addition to monitoring your child’s diet while they are in your home, ensure they continue to eat a healthy diet at school. Your child will trade their kale chips for their friend’s sea salt and vinegar chips – in fairness, who wouldn’t?! So, communicate with your child about the importance of adhering to the food you send them into school with. Additionally, consult with the pediatrician to make sure they are monitoring cardiovascular indicators such as BMI, blood pressure, and cholesterol.

Final thoughts

Hearts tend to pop up all over the place in February: candy hearts, heart shaped pendants, and heart decorations in stores and businesses all promoting love in its various and beautiful forms. As you are celebrating the ones you love, don’t forget the most important hearts of all: those beating in your loved ones’ chests. Being intentional with your food choices and keeping active are two ways to promote a healthy ticker in each family member.

Engage the Brain encourages all of our families to eat healthily and adopt an active lifestyle.

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It is January, and talk of New Year’s resolutions typically swirls in conversations. Topping people’s lists often are getting healthier and saving more money during the new year. Parents with school-age children may possess slightly different resolutions. For themselves, it may be a week night without a meltdown about the idiocy of learning their times tables from one of their children. Or that when they open the dishwasher it is actually empty. Small but powerful resolutions to keep their marriage and sanity running smoothly.

As parents are driving to and fro in their minivans, reflecting on the past year and deciding among a few resolutions, may we suggest a powerful one to incorporate for their children? To be intentional as to what food their children are putting into their bodies.

There is so much research about the connection between proper nutrition and learning, and it is compelling! Though we are not necessarily focusing on weight for the purpose of this article, eating healthily and maintaining a healthy weight are generally directly related. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 1 in 6 or 17.2% of students are obese. As many as one third more are overweight. Healthline states that 36.5% of adults are obese; another 32.5% are overweight. Meaning that more than two thirds of U.S. adults are overweight or obese.

Rather than hop on a soap box and extoll the damage excess weight does to the body, the goal here is to focus on food and learning. In other words, what your child is eating directly affects how effectively they learn! There are both long and short term effects related to dietary choices and how a child processes and learns information.

Better nutrition equals better students

Though it seems like common sense, the better quality food a child eats, the better they will feel, and the better they will perform in school. Studies show that nutritional status can directly affect mental capacity among school-aged children. According to one study in the Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, deficiencies in certain vitamins and minerals- specifically thiamine, vitamin E, vitamin B, iodine, and zinc- are shown to inhibit cognitive abilities and mental concentration. A different study demonstrated that showing improvements in nutrient intake can influence the cognitive ability and intelligence levels of school-aged children. And a third study in the journal Preventive Medicine stated a lack of adequate consumption of specific foods- such as fruits, vegetables, or dairy products- is associated with lower grades among students.

Nutrition education is non-existent

Now that we know that a well balanced diet will improve not only your child’s physical well-being, but also their mental acuity, the question becomes how do we encourage them to eat properly?

According to the CDC, students in the U.S. receive less than 8 hours of required nutrition education each school year, far below the 40 to 50 hours that are needed to affect behavior change. So if they are not teaching nutrition education at school, it appears that parents need to step up and add this to their already full list of responsibilities they must impart on their kids. Parents must not only raise children who know their Ps and Qs but also like their peas and carrots!

Need more convincing that nutrition education is a must? Research shows that nutrition education can teach students to recognize how a healthy diet influences emotional well-being and how emotions may influence eating habits.

Nutrition education at home

Now that you are convinced that teaching your children about nutrition is important, how do you do it? Kidshealth has several suggestions:

• Parents control the supply line

In other words, you buy the groceries and you can control what foods and snacks are available in the house.

• Be a role model

Kids watch every move a parent makes. Make sure you make good choices and eat a healthy, balanced diet.

• Drink calories count

Sodas and other sweetened drinks are full of sugar. Encourage milk and especially plain, filtered water.

• Involve kids in food shopping and cooking

In addiction to learning about a balanced diet, children can learn valuable life skills, such as how much money groceries cost and how to prepare a meal.

Foods that boost brain power

While listing all the reasons to eat healthily and all the missing vitamins in many children’s diets seems like a convincing approach to focus more on the foods we offer our children, Harvard Medical School has streamlined the menu and provides an easy to consult list of foods and their respective benefits. The next time you head to the market or have groceries delivered, make sure to include:

• Green, leafy vegetables

Greens such as spinach and broccoli are rich in brain-healthy nutrients like vitamin K, lutein, folate, and beta carotene. An added bonus for parents to adding these veggies to the menu is research shows they can reduce cognitive decline among adults.

• Fatty fish

Fatty fish are loaded with sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Studies suggest eating fatty fish twice a week, but if the kids balk there are some possible substitutes: an omega-3 supplement or flaxseeds, avocados, and walnuts.

• Berries

Flavonoids, the natural plant pigments that give berries their bright colors, also help improve memory, research shows. Again, a bonus for moms: a study found that women who consumed two or more servings of strawberries and blueberries each week delayed memory decline by up to two-and-a-half years.

• Walnuts

Nuts are excellent sources of protein and healthy fats. A 2015 study from UCLA linked higher walnut consumption to improved cognitive test scores.

• A variety of seeds

Pumpkin seeds are high in zinc, which is required for healthy brain function. Reduced zinc status in the brain can lead to developmental issues such as anxiety and depression. Chia seeds are rich in fiber, magnesium, and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a type of omega-3 fatty acid,.

• Greek yogurt

A healthy brain needs protein, and Greek yogurt is packed with it. It also contains probiotics, which strengthen the gut. Kids generally like it, and it can be customized to include berries and nuts, making it a win-win superfood.

A final word

So much attention gets paid to weight loss around the new year, and rightly so. People who carry extra weight put themselves at risk of many negative health factors. But when it comes to children, it is important to think about not only weight but also about how nutrition affects learning and the brain. As parents, you have an immense amount of influence on what your child chooses to consume. The research is clear: a healthy mix of high quality foods pays dividends in your child’s mind and body. By setting a good example, and by eating and providing a well-balanced diet, you are putting your child in the best position to succeed in both school and life.

Engage the Brain encourages all of our families to lead healthy lifestyles. As parents consider their New Year’s resolutions, we encourage you to resolve to make healthy dietary choices for your whole family as we head into 2022.

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Using active study techniques increases students’ test grades.

Every parent has made this face. It is a complex, contorted combination: part indigestion, an attempt to do long division mentally, a flash of white anger, mixed with stark realization all converging on your face in a split second. What causes this odd yet all too familiar sensation and expression on parents’ faces? When your child tells you he studied for his test and still got a 65! It results in resting test face.

The good news is that your child was at least attempting to study. The bad news was that she was clearly using ineffective test preparation strategies. The best news is that there are many effective study techniques that your child can use to prepare for her next test.

Think of the strategies as Tums and anxiety medication wrapped into one antidote that will help replace that awful look mentioned above with one of pride and awe and a desire to share the result on social media.

Set the Stage for Success

Before a student even gets to a test, are they using the study cycle? The study cycle, developed by Frank Christ, breaks down the different parts of studying: previewing, attending class, reviewing, studying, and checking your understanding. Your child ought to be creating a routine that includes each distinct segment of the study cycle. Students who skip steps in the learning cycle tend to lose valuable opportunities to practice class concepts and use multiple modalities for learning.

In addition to following the study cycle, is your child getting enough sleep? A study revealed a positive relationship between grades and the amount of sleep a student gets. This is not just the night before a test, but sleeping properly over the course of time.

Ineffective Test Preparation Techniques

Now that your child is employing the study cycle and getting enough sleep, let’s move onto test preparations strategies.

Many students think they are studying by reading over notes or perusing the teacher-supplied study guide. In reality these, along with others, are actually ineffective!

Other ineffective techniques include:

• studying for one long period of time

• studying a single subject for a long period of time repeating phrases over and over

• reading and rereading a text

• reviewing notes

• blasting Black Sabbath while reading Steinbeck

While good-intentioned, these strategies give the illusion of mastery and perhaps provide your child with that false sense of confidence that often results in the phrase, “I got this,” after you ask if he is ready for his test.

Test Preparation Techniques that Work

The book Make it Stick turns to research to identify proven, effective study techniques. It taps into cognitive psychology to help students become more productive learners. It dispels some of the above mentioned ineffective techniques and in their place recommends “high intensity” study sessions.

Spaced practice

Space out study sessions over several days, keeping each session relatively short. Your child may complain that she will forget the material, but that is the exact point of the strategy. It forces them to truly learn the content. Creating flashcards – an active technique – your child can self-quiz is a great study tool.

Paraphrasing and reflecting

Just like when reading a passage and we zone out or do not follow the author’s intent, we reread and then check our comprehension again. Students who relate what they are learning to previous lessons and ask questions about the material are more engaged and will deepen their understanding. Can they teach the lesson to a younger sibling?

Predict test questions

Act like the teacher and predict the questions you think will be on the test. Teachers have subtle and not so subtle ways of emphasizing what is important during class. If they write it on the board, repeat information or include it in power point, it is important. If they say, “This will be on the test,” then study that material! Write test questions they think will be on the test and then practice answering them.

Silence isn’t golden

Not all students need absolute silence to study. Learn what works for your child. Some students do well with soft music playing in the background (Bach not Black Sabbath), while others prefer working in a public setting such as a library or coffee shop. A study revealed that switching up locations can be effective too. You do not always need to be locked in your room in complete silence.

Study actively

The Learning Center at The University of North Carolina recommends many study strategies that employ active techniques. Among them are creating a student made study guide; saying the information aloud; drawing concept maps or diagrams that explain the material; and make examples that connect the content to your own life. And don’t forget to plan your study sessions. Use a daily planner to map out when you will study leading up to the test.

A final word

If there is a mantra or central theme that you should take away from this article it is Reading is not Studying. Absent of other strategies, that is just what most students do. Look over their notes; read the study guide; glance at the textbook. In most cases, this does not work, and the resulting low grades are the proof. The good news is that there are a slew of highly effective test preparation strategies available to anyone willing to learn.

If your child struggles to consistently perform well on tests, please contact Jennifer Disch at Engage the Brain to discuss how a Learning Specialist may be able to help your child build a toolbox full of highly effective test preparation strategies.

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Working on Executive Functions with your elementary aged child can pay big dividends in middle and high school.

Often times a weakness in Executive Functions skills does not rear its (disorganized) head until a child is in middle or high school. Many students amble on through elementary school with an occasional late or a few missing assignments. Messy backpacks are chalked up to no time to clean it. And poorest grades are blamed on not studying.

Elementary teachers are known to be positive and encouraging and perhaps to a fault generous in their extension of grace, allowing for great flexibility with due dates and multiple test retake opportunities. So the real consequences of poor study habits often do not surface until the students move into deeper waters and swim with the sharks who are middle and high school teachers, teacher who are managing due dates and grading for multiple classes and possibly hundreds of students! They will bite back and their grading policy – or adherence to it – exposes any weak study habits.

What exactly are Executive Functions? Essentially they are the mental processes that enable us to plan, focus attention, remember instructions, and juggle multiple tasks successfully. We wrote about them previously here.

What a weakness might look like

A parent can start to see weaknesses in executive functioning before school even begins. The excellent website Understood has a list of possible behaviors a parent may see in their young child:

• trouble starting and completing tasks

• difficulty prioritizing

• trouble following directions, especially multi-step ones

• difficulty switching from one activity to another

• hard time keeping track of their belongings

• trouble managing their time

Do any of these behaviors look familiar? If so, Additude provides a free online executive functions screening test you can complete with your child. This will give you some data that you can use to help your child.

Strategies to help develop executive functions

There is a good news – bad news arrangement. The bad news is that people are not born with fully functioning executive functions. Most are not fully developed until a person reaches their early 20s. The good news is that they can be taught and developed! The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard has some great information on how to develop these skills in your child at different ages.

We suggest focusing on your elementary aged child. Anyone who has had the pleasure of living with a middle school or high school aged child knows they may not be the most open to suggestions when it comes to their study habits; ironically, those who need it most tend to be the most resistant. Get to them while they are young, still relatively sweet, and coachable.

It is important to note that a weakness in executive functions is not a diagnosis of a learning disability. However, many students with a learning disability may also struggle with executive functions, especially those with ADHD.

Here’s how a parent can help:

Use checklists

Creating a checklist for the morning (or even night-before) routine can help your child start the day with everything they need. Place the list in a place your child will look every day such as in the kitchen. The list may include: lunch packed, homework in folder, laptop charged and in backpack, any sports equipment ready.

Don’t be afraid to use multiple checklists. One can be attached to a backpack or taped inside a locker – if they have one – for the end of the school day. This list may include: homework paper(s), any books or text books needed, study guides for any tests, and the laptop and charger.

Use a planner

When schools moved to digital learning, providing each student with a laptop, many students felt like a planner was not necessary. The common refrain when asked what a student has due is, “It’s all right here,” with the student pointing to the laptop screen. However, depending on the school and the teachers, a student may have to navigate to multiple websites and platforms to find the necessary information. In short the homework assignments are not right there!

These same students are also the ones with multiple missing and or late assignments. Hence, the need for a planner to have everything all in one place. Using a physical planner allows a student to “see” their week and plan homework time and study sessions around other obligations such as sports or family events.

Establish a routine

Humans thrive on routine. The last time we checked, students are human beings, at least most of the time! Similar to having multiple checklists, establishing morning routines and after school routines is important to set your child up for success. Research points to the fact that students who have a consistent homework time and place each day tend to do better than those who do not follow a schedule. Examine your child’s after school schedule and help him identify when he can complete his homework and where. Hopefully there is a distraction-free area in the home your child can retreat to. Consistency is the key.

Break bigger assignments down into smaller steps

Using the planner discussed above, help your child break bigger assignments down into smaller, more manageable steps. Establish clear deadlines for each of the smaller steps and write them in the planner. In theory this reduces stress and anxiety and as the due date arrives, the assignment is (hopefully) complete and ready to turn in.

Use self-reflection to help student take ownership of new skills

None of these executive functions skills are any good unless your child learns them AND continues to use them. One way to make these skills “stick” is to have your child create a journal. In it they can discuss the strategy they learned and how it has benefited them. The goal, of course, is for your child to take ownership of their learning and for them to figure out what tools and strategies work best for them.

A final word

Addressing Executive Functions skills while your children are in elementary school will benefit them as they move through middle school, high school, and eventually college. These are skills that can be taught. Parents can use the classic strategy of I do, we do, you do to help your child master these critical executive functions skills.

If you believe your child is struggling with their Executive Functions, please contact Jennifer Disch at Engage the Brain to learn how an Executive Functions Coach can assist your child.

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Dyscalculia defined and strategies to help support it.

While it is October and the word dyscalculia does look and sound like a mix of Dracula and Transylvania, people with the condition are actually more scared of numbers than vampires. But seriously, dyscalculia is a specific learning disability that affects someone’s ability to do math.

It has been referred to as dyslexia with numbers, but that would not be accurate. A student struggling with dyscalculia may excel in reading or writing or history and not have any trouble with processing language. Their difficulties lie solely in working with numbers. The Child Mind Institute states that approximately 5% to 7% of students struggle with dyscalculia and it occurs equally in both boys and girls.

So what does it look like?

Younger children:

• have difficulty recognizing numbers

• have a delay in learning to count

• may have trouble recognizing patterns and placing things in order

• overly rely on fingers or objects when counting

School-age children:

• have significant trouble learning the basic facts in all four operations

• struggle with money and making change

• have difficulty telling time and reading clocks

• get frustrated by games that require keeping score or number strategies

Strategies to support students

In our immediate gratification and silver bullet seeking society, one often looks for quick fix remedies. Unlike ADHD where medication can have a profound and immediate effect on one’s performance, students struggling with dyscalculia will need a comprehensive set of strategies to help them succeed in their math classes and related homework.

What follows is a list of strategies that are research-backed and have proven to help students who struggle with dyscalculia.

1. Use graph paper to line up numbers and problems. Graph paper, perhaps surprisingly to some, comes in different sizes, so a younger student may benefit from paper with 1/2 inch squares.

2. Provide a list of formulas required to solve the problems. For example, if students are working on area and perimeter of rectangles and squares, write the correct formulas on the student’s paper.

3. Use manipulatives. The more hands-on a problem can be and the better a student can visualize the math going on, the better. Pattern blocks, base ten blocks and unifix cubes are all good examples.

4. Teach highlighting and circling of key words. In word problems it is critical for students to know what operation or combination of operations is being asked of them to solve the problem. Circling and highlighting helps a student focus on the most important parts of the question.

5. Teach math language. Directly teach that sum means addition, difference means subtraction, product means multiplication, and quotient means division. Also instruct what the phrases “in all,” “all together,” and “how many more than” mean in a math context.

6. Use a calculator. Allow the student to use a calculator, especially when computation is not being assessed.

7. Provide fact charts. Not only allow a student to use a fact chart but teach them how to use it. A multiplication fact chart can be used to find quotients!

8. Draw pictures. The more a child can visualize a problem, the better the chance they have of solving it. Pictures do not need to be works of art! Stick figures, circles and squares can represent just about anything.

9. List steps for multi-step problems. Not only should the steps be listed, but also provide sample problems already worked out that serve as models.

10. Review, review, review! Constantly review and connect new material to previously learned content.

Final thoughts

While dyscalculia affects approximately 5% to 7% of the student population, it is rare that it occurs as the only challenge. Many students who struggle with dyscalculia may also wrestle with focus and or language processing issues. That is why it is important to get comprehensive testing completed by a competent and trustworthy educational specialist to provide a thorough and accurate picture of a student’s strengths and weaknesses.

As we head into October with the first quarter of the school year coming to an end and ghosts and goblins galloping about the neighborhood, don’t let your child continue to be scared of numbers. If you feel like your child may have dyscalculia and would like to discuss it with a knowledgable professional, please contact Jennifer Disch at Engage the Brain.

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What are the soft skills that 21st Century employers desire? And here’s how to develop them in your child.

Psst. Yes, you, parents. Oh, heck yes, you too, teachers.

We are going to let you in on a secret. Schools and school districts and state departments of education and councils for curriculum development have been getting it wrong for, well, forever.

If the goal is to make students college and career ready when they leave high school, then all these entities are failing. Because they place the focus on the three Rs: reading, writing, and arithmetic. Skills that can allegedly be organized, sequenced, and ultimately tested. Left brain stuff!

But those skills are ultimately NOT what today’s employers are looking for. According to the Department of Labor, companies have identified a list of competencies that they are searching for in a 21st century worker. Included among them are the ability to collaborate and problem solve, and the possession of a strong work ethic.

Don’t trust a government website? Then ask business leaders themselves! An Edutopia article quotes several company executives, and they agree that they do not hire someone for what they know. Rather, they look for an employee who can learn new material rapidly and problem solve, because in the tech industry – along with many other industries – what is currently being used in the marketplace will be outdated in six months.

So, what are these elusive soft skills, and more importantly, how can they be developed if schools are not teaching them? Great question! Read on to acquaint yourself with these sought-after skills and some ways to cultivate them in your child.

The Soft Skills

Communication

The ability to communicate is critical in today’s business world. Whether face to face, through email or even via a text, it is important to know how to clearly communicate a message. Face to face communication has really taken a backseat during the pandemic, but that does not mean the basics ought to be forgotten. Look the speaker in the eye; wait your turn; acknowledge you are understanding the message by saying, “Yes” or “I understand.” And with the increased presence of social media, one must be competent at and familiar with LinkedIn, Instagram, and the other popular platforms. And do not forget the telephone! Sometimes an actual phone is required, so extending basic etiquette to phone calls is important too.

Problem Solving

In the most basic sense, problem solving is figuring something out without being told how to do it. Extending current knowledge to an unfamiliar situation, generating a possible solution, and evaluating the outcome is critical in 21st century professional environments. How do you develop this? By challenging your child to think through a complex problem and NOT offering the solution. Perhaps Google or YouTube have some hints on how to solve whatever the problem is, but make your child figure it out themselves.

Teamwork

At the heart of teamwork is the ability of a group of people to work towards a common goal. To that end one must be willing to delegate authority and/or be willing to accept being delegated an assignment. The vast majority of 21st century jobs are not performed in a vacuum. Even a sole proprietorship accountant must work nicely with others if he or she is to run a successful business. Students can practice team skills when they are part of a sports team, part of a cast performing a play, or functioning well as part of a group project in school.

Flexibility/Adaptability

Flexible thinking is a critical Executive Functions skill. Most students do well when their daily schedule is rolling along exactly as they expected. However, if an unexpected incident occurs, can they respond with grace and ease to the new situation? One way to help prepare your child to be more flexible is through rehearsal. Discuss a possible situation that could occur at school. For example, a student thinks his math test is on Friday but when your child walks in the classroom on Thursday the teacher is handing out the test. Help your child brainstorm possible solutions. Possibilities are to ask the teacher for an extension; take the test and perhaps be surprised by how much you actually know; ask to go to the nurse if you are truly not feeling well. Rehearsal will provide your child opportunities to practice dealing with unexpected events.

Attitude

One aspect of our personality that everyone can control is our attitude. The Department of Labor says: “Many employers would rather provide job skills training to an enthusiastic but inexperienced worker than hire someone with perfect qualifications but a less than-positive attitude.” Clearly teaching your child to be aware of their attitude and asking them to present a positive attitude can pay dividends. Nobody likes being around a perpetual sourpuss!

Concluding Thoughts

Think of the soft skills as the glue that holds the hard skills together. While schools generally do not teach them, the soft skills can be taught. Nobody doubts that reading, writing, and math are important. But being proficient in the hard skills is not enough. According to business leaders, 21st century workers must be able to think, problem solve, and communicate.

If you would like to discuss ways to further develop soft skills in your child, please contact Jennifer Disch at Engage the Brain.

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School is starting. Here are 8 tips for parents and students to start the school year out well.

As the calendar flips to August, and the Dog Days of Summer settle in, the approaching Back to School season can conjure up different feelings for different people. For teachers it may be excitement to welcome in a new group of students and for a year of learning. For parents it may be elation to get the kids out of the house and back to school. For students, it may be a combustible mix of anticipation, apprehension, and anxiety.

Of course COVID-19 still hovers over society as a whole and education in particular. Mask policies are being set, then changed, then fought over, then negotiated, then changed again. Are schools offering hybrid instruction or is every child going to be back in the physical classroom? While parents and students understandably have questions and concerns, most reasonable people can agree we want everyone to be safe.

How do parents sort through all the information bombarding them to best prepare their child to go back to school? The answer? Read the Engage the Brain blog for the best tips and advice to set your child up for their best school year.

Engage the Brain interviewed several of their Learning Specialists and mined the Internet, searching for the Best Back to School advice. It is divided into two categories: For parents and for students.

For Parents:

Adjust the Sleep Schedule

Transition your child to a school year schedule a few days before school starts. Julie Riddle, a Learning Specialist at Engage the Brain and former classroom teacher, says that children who have had a few days of back to school rest instead of summertime sleep hours were able to transition without a lot of afternoon fatigue.

Encourage Down Time

Every minute of your child’s day does not need to planned out. Stephanie Peterkin, a kindergarten teacher and Learning Specialist, encourages parents to “allow kids to be kids.” She advocates for unstructured time each day for children to simply play and unwind. Julie Riddle echoed the thought. She said, “Students with down time tended to be a little more self-sufficient and were more relaxed and ready to receive instruction.” Keep these thoughts in mind as you create your child’s after school schedule. Sports, clubs, and instrument lessons all take up valuable time.

Communicate with the Teacher(s)

Depending on your child’s age, there may be one, two, or up to seven teachers at school. Learn each instructor’s communication preference. Some prefer email; others a phone call; still others prefer a message through a Learning Management System such as Canvas. Julie Riddle emphasizes that she is not a mind reader! She encourages her parents to send an email introducing themselves. This will set the stage for a yearlong relationship, which will benefit all parties involved: parent, teacher, and student.

Build a Routine

Children thrive on consistency and predictability. Help your child develop a before school and after school schedule to help with transitions from one activity to the next. When is snack time and homework time after school? Peterkin recommends getting in the habit of getting everything ready the night before so mornings are not as hectic. She suggests including the kids in the responsibility of getting their clothes out, making lunch, and packing up their backpacks. Creating checklists can be helpful that your child can follow each evening to ensure every task is completed. Lena Boccio, a speech and language pathologist suggests asking open-ended questions about their day. Instead of asking, “How was your day?” and getting a one-word answer, ask thought provoking questions such “What made you smile today” or “What are you looking forward to tomorrow?” By building and sticking to routines, your child will thrive and and revive and be ready for the next day of school.

For Students:

Adjust Your Attitude

Students have had one heck of a school experience over the past year and a half. Virtual learning, hybrid, and in-person instruction have all taken place. As the new school year begins, Peterkin reminds students that it is okay to not know everything or understand everything the first time they try. She encourages her students to keep practicing… practice makes better, not perfect!

Adjust Your Attire

Many of us have become too comfortable with our hybrid Zoom meeting clothes. As long as our shirt is appropriate we could be in our gym shorts and fuzzy slippers for all the other meeting participants know. But back to school, in-person requires appropriate attire. If your school has uniform policy, this is moot point. Otherwise dress appropriately.

Have Fun

Going back to school should be a fun time of the year. Tara Karch, a former classroom teacher and Learning Specialist, recommends celebrating the return to school. She reminisced about her mother making a day of going back-to-school shopping and ending the excursion with a post-shopping lunch at the same restaurant each year. Peterkin reminds students that learning is meant to be fun. She encourages the students to “be curious and creative” and to ask questions.

Get Moving

The pandemic has not been kind to some people’s waistlines. Lockdowns have meant less exercise for both adults and kids. A sedentary lifestyle is easy to settle into. Don’t! Get outside and move. In a previous blog post, we discussed the importance of exercise and self-care. Increasing your endurance through walking, running, or biking is great for both your physical and mental health and positions you to meet the challenges of school.

Concluding Thoughts

Many parents worry about their child returning to school. Will they be behind academically? Perhaps. But students have worked on other more valuable skills during this unprecedented time, such as perspective, negotiation, empathy, and flexible thinking. Arguably skills that will benefit them long after they have forgotten how to solve an algebraic equation.

If you have questions or concerns about your child returning to school, please contact Jennifer Disch at Engage the Brain.

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What is the difference between Engage the Brain and a national learning center? Highly trained learning specialists and a passion for student success.

We all do it.

Whether it is for our home, our car, or even our bodies, if we have a problem that we cannot solve, we Google. For example, if my brakes are squeaking on my Jeep, I might Google “best brake repair in Orlando.” Immediately dozens of national businesses that paid to have their company appear on the first page of Google pop up in front of me.

But as a savvy consumer, I do not click on the first one. I refine my search words and try again: “best Jeep brake mechanic in Orlando.” Suddenly a new list of possibilities lights up on my screen, including some of the same ones from my first search. Now I use my critical thinking skills and narrow my search down to a few possibilities, check their customer reviews, and make plans to call them.

Not to confuse the importance of brakes and children, but parents often go through the same digital dance outlined above when it comes to finding a tutor for their child. Johnny comes home struggling in math and a panicked mother grabs her device, opens Google and types in “math tutor Orlando.” Guess what comes up in the search results? A list of national tutoring centers.

While reliable and accurate statistics are difficult to find, at least 10% of K-12 students have used a tutor at some point in their school career. The percentages climb in middle school and high school with up to 50% of secondary students seeking a tutor.

Learning Specialist Vs. Tutor

Of course not all tutors are created equal. An excellent high school math student may offer their services in exchange for volunteer hours or a low hourly rate and call themselves a tutor.

A Learning Specialist is highly trained, often in one area of expertise. According to the Child Mind Institute, learning specialists are “professionals, who often hold a master’s degree, are trained to evaluate and aid children with learning disabilities. They work with you, your child, and your child’s school to develop strategies to compensate for any learning deficits.”

Jennifer Disch, owner and founder of Engage the Brain, says a big difference is a learning specialist really dives deep to target a student’s area of weakness. Specialists at Engage the Brain are trained in intervention techniques like Orton-Gillingham or Lindamood-Bell Processes so they have experience and training in “truly teaching using direct instruction with appropriate feedback.”

Emily Hickman, Director of Instruction and Student Support for Engage the Brain, says that in addition to working with students with dyslexia using the Orton-Gillingham program, specialists also focus on Executive Functions coaching, speech and language therapy, and academic support in reading, writing, and math. Specialists have pursued training in these areas to help support students who may have diagnosis such as Dysgraphia, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, or Speech and Language Disorder.

Engage the Brain Versus National Learning Center

National learning centers are just that: large, nation-wide conglomerates that provide tutors – often teachers from local schools working after school hours – to students in small group settings.

Engage the Brain’s learning specialists work with students one on one, targeting specific skills, using researched-backed techniques. Jennifer Disch said, “Engage the Brain aims to not only close academic gaps, it also strives to help students build confidence and rediscover a love of learning.” She added that sessions are taught “in an explicit and multisensory fashion, that are emotionally sound.”

And a student that attends Engage the Brain is supported by more than just their assigned learning specialist. Emily Hickman shared, “There is a team of people in determining each student’s needs and best match for a specialist.” Further, Engage the Brain’s presence extends beyond the office. Hickman added, “We can serve as liaisons to help support parents in school meetings or help parents explore alternative school settings.”

Questions Parents Should Ask

Learning Specialists and the administrative team that supports them at Engage the Brain have a tremendous bandwidth when it comes to experience with a variety of student backgrounds. And of course these students come to Engage the Brain via their parents. When a parent first contacts Jennifer Disch to inquire about services for their child, she wishes they would ask her a simple question: What is the benefit of coming to Engage the Brain? The answer? “Students start to (re)discover a love of learning.” She adds that personalized, one on one instruction provided by the Learning Specialists not only builds a student’s academic success, but it really aims to build learners.

Final Thoughts

In this current school climate of big data and high-stakes testing, it is no wonder students have lost their love of learning. Emily Hickman adds that the Learning Specialists do not take for granted the power of working one-on-one and seize the opportunity to rebuild confidence in struggling students. To accomplish this specialists “love incorporating creativity, games, and movement into our sessions.”

If your child is struggling in school or has lost their love of learning, don’t Google. Allow Engage the Brain and one of their highly trained Learning Specialists to work with your child. Contact Jennifer Disch and ask her about the benefits of Engage the Brain.

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Why should your kids write this summer? And 13 writing activities to get them started.

Depending on where your child goes to school, he or she may have been given reading and math activities to complete over the summer. Perhaps they are to read two books from a grade-level list and work on an Internet math website for 30 minutes per week. Noticeably missing for most students is the requirement to write.

Why?

Because formal writing is not tested on many states’ high-stakes assessments typically given at the end of the school year. Just because it is not tested does not mean writing should be ignored over the summer. Not surprisingly according to Nation’s Report Card, only 27% of middle and high school students write proficiently.

Why get your kids writing

Summer writing activities can benefit students in numerous ways, including most notably their reading comprehension. Yes, if you want your child to improve as a reader, encourage him or her to write!

But do not take our word for it.

In an article on Ed Week, Larry Ferlazzo, an English and social studies teacher at Luther Burbank High School in Sacramento, CA, says, “Writing directly benefits students’ reading skills. For example, if you have students write about what they’ve read or learned (for nearly any content or age), you’ll dramatically improve reading comprehension. Students are often forced to reread and think more deeply about what they’ve read.”

Ferlazzo continues, “Writing also improves students’ reading fluency. When students have to stop and think about what spelling patterns to use when they write, they are making a deeper connection in their brains about sound and spelling patterns. This deeper connection makes it easier, and faster, for students to recall those same patterns when they read.”

Need more convincing to get your child writing this summer? In her article Why Students Should Write in All Subjects in Edutopia, Touki Terado says that researchers reveal that writing improves learning by consolidating information in long-term memory. This of course allows students to retrieve this information and make deeper connections while learning.

And how about younger students? Is there a benefit to summer writing for them too? Recent research has revealed that students who are given latitude to use inventive spelling become better readers (Oulette & Senechall, 2017). Inventive spelling is a young writers attempt to spell out words as they hear them. Encourage the practice, not admonish.

Activities to get your kids writing

Now that you are thoroughly convinced your child ought to be writing this summer, here are some activities to get you started. Engage the Brain scoured the Internet and curated the following 13 writing activities to spark your child’s inner author.

1. Rewrite the ending to a favorite book

Whether it is a short story, a picture book, or a longer novel, challenge your child to rewrite the ending to the story. Use the characters and solve the problem differently. Or add a new character.

2. Write fanfiction

Many popular authors have fanfiction websites where admirers of the writer can scribe their own version of the author’s popular stories.

3. Pen pal

Ask your child to pick a favorite relative such as a grandparent and begin a pen pal relationship. The back and forth will provide a real-life opportunity for your child to use the writing process, whether it is through email or good old fashioned paper and pen.

4. Create a travel brochure

With the pandemic slowly loosening its grips on the country, maybe your family has planned a trip this summer. Encourage your child to research the location(s) you are visiting and to create a travel brochure highlighting all the destinations they would like to see.

5. Enter a writing contest

Sometimes a child needs a little more motivation to get writing and competition and money or prizes can be the motivating factor. Check out this list. Pay attention to the entry dates.

6. Create a new word

Your child will love to make up new words. Here a few examples: hattitude, adjective, a person with an attitude but they are wearing a hat; prevoid, verb, you do this to stop bad stuff from happening. Engaging in this activity reviews parts of speech and definitions of words.

7. Madlibs

Madlibs are those wonderful, silly, short stories that have blanks in them that your child then inserts a word for. Often times the blanks require a part of a speech such as a proper noun or adverb. There are physical books that can be purchased or there are many free websites where your child can spend time laughing up a storm at the nonsense stories they create.

8. Build vocabulary

Often times in school the study of vocabulary gets overlooked due to time constraints. While there are many avenues to improving as both a reader and a writer, building vocabulary is one such way. There are many good vocabulary books aligned by grade level that could be purchased. Another method is for your child to create their own dictionary and add to it every time they hear or read a new word. By the end of the summer they could have a wonderful resource to use in school.

9. Typing/Keyboarding practice

With so many schools moving to digital instruction, learning how to type is now mandatory. Fortunately there are many great programs available. Common Sense Education lists some good ones.

10. Write a graphic novel

Most kids know Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney and Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey. Now it’s their turn. Most kids love to draw characters, so let them flex their creative muscles and create their graphic novel.

11. Write about a photo

Allow your child to pick a favorite photo. Challenge him or her to write a descriptive paragraph about the picture. Encourage them to tap into the “senses” of the photo: what they might see, hear, smell, touch, or taste.

12. The Most Disgusting Sandwich

Every kid loves to eat! Challenge them to come up with the ingredients for a disgusting, not edible sandwich. After they have brainstormed the ingredients, have them write out the directions to make their creation.

13. I Wonder journals

Journals are a great, nonthreatening way to get your kids writing. Have them start each entry with the two words I wonder. This could lead to some philosophical thoughts about why they must learn algebra or some silly ideas about why dad always burns the hamburgers. Either way, you win because the kids are writing!

Final thoughts

There are so many great reasons to get your kids writing this summer, from improving their reading comprehension to internalizing spelling patterns to simply recording their thoughts. As Mary K. Tedrow, an award-winning high school English teacher said, “Reading is the inhale; writing is the exhale.” Just because the school does not require it, allow your child the chance to breathe in literary air and exhale some creative writing this summer.

If you have any questions or concerns about summer writing activities, please contact Jennifer Disch at Engage the Brain.

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