One of the key responsibilities for primary early education is developing the student as a whole. Many early childhood institutions focus on brain development because during the early years most brain connections are formed; which means stimulating those connections is essential.
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Last August, FasTracKids employees from the corporate office participated in Mexico’s Congreso de Maestros, a countrywide FasTracKids teacher workshop. FasTracKids was asked to create a presentation on how children can find a passion for learning and what to do about challenging behaviors in students.
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In a recent speech made by the head of the United States central banking system, the importance of early childhood education’s effects on the economy came into focus.
Ben Bernanke, chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve stated: “The research shows that effective educations lead to lower rates of poverty, higher lifetime earnings, and greater satisfaction on the job and at home. And specialists in economic development have identified educational attainment as a key source of economic growth and rising incomes in many countries around the world.”
“The highest-level executive thinking, making of connections, and “aha” moments are more likely to occur in an atmosphere of “exuberant discovery,” where students of all ages retain that kindergarten enthusiasm of embracing each day with the joy of learning.”
– An excerpt from Research-Based Strategies to Ignite Student Learning: Insights from a Neurologist and Classroom Teacher by Judy Willis (2006)
Learning should be fun, but traditional education sometimes doesn’t view it that way. Valerie Strauss is the mind behind “The Answer Sheet”, an educational blog in The Washington Post that discussed “Why fun is important in learning”. Judy Willis’ excerpt made an appearance in the blog post, along with other sources that support the idea of making learning an exciting experience helps information processing and long-term memory.
Developing children’s communication skills is one of the cornerstones of FasTracKids’ curriculum. The goal is if communication improves in the classroom, then the chance of making children even better students increases. Research shows that the average child misses 25% of what is being said in a normal classroom setting. That number can go as high as 40% in lost communication, depending on the classroom environment.
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Have you ever come across a child saying “Math isn’t fun, I don’t understand this?” Maybe you have uttered some variation of that sentiment about a particular subject in your academic career. A man named Sal Khan is trying to change that.
This month, several FasTracKids employees had the pleasure of hearing Mr. Khan speak at the University of Denver in Colorado, USA. Mr. Khan founded the Khan Academy, which is a non-profit organization aimed at providing access to good online education completely free of charge. He has posted educational videos on a wide-range of subjects, including Algebra, Economics and Advanced Calculus.
Teacher Appreciation Week (May 7-11th) is almost upon us and as I reflect on what makes a good teacher, I recall 7th grade with Mrs. Popick as my Social Studies teacher. Just typing her name brings a smile to my face. She was, without a doubt, the most challenging, knowledgeable, dedicated and committed teacher that I had ever met.
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When FasTracKids conducts training for new franchisees and reiterates the importance of the programs, we share insights from The Global Achievement Gap book. Author and education expert, Tony Wagner, conducted interviews with business leaders asking them what skills are necessary when hiring young employees today.
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There are many benefits for children who learn more than one language. Bilingual students are exposed to different perspectives, ideas and cultures. A second language can offer a child new opportunities for self-expression. For students who speak a different language at home than the primary language spoken at their school, bilingual education can be a source for increased self-esteem. In the long term, speaking more than one language may mitigate the effects, or delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
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Sharing, listening, belonging, communicating. These actions and feelings can all be associated with how a child learns an important life skill called socialization. During the critical developmental period of a child’s life, from birth to 8 years old, relationships are created with his or her parents, siblings and friends. These relationships require a bond, whether it’s reading a book, sharing a toy or playing a game. The more social interaction a child can experience, the easier it is for them to achieve shared goals.
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