BriteMinds celebrates the month of love and friendship and its importance in a child’s life!
Motivation
Children love learning when they don’t see it as a stressful and overwhelming experience. Driven by motivation and curiosity, children can become trailblazers when they are self-directed through fun games, insightful questions, and play-based creative activities. When parents and educators make academic content engaging, children will not see it as rigorous or “boring” schoolwork. Children are driven and motivated when they feel happy while discovering their own contributions to success.
Creativity
The key is to identify a child’s interests and learning style. For example, if a child loves stories, a parent may share memorable photos with the child and create a digital movie presentation that the whole family can appreciate. Using technology creatively to engage the child is guaranteed to grab their attention and develop a love of learning.
Curiosity
At BriteMinds, we collaborate with our students and parents to design a learning plan that encourages curiosity, endorses exploration, and motivates student-led learning. We thrive to inspire children by letting them make and share their observations. Our instructors’ curiosity about their students’ learning experiences ensures a sound partnership. Children get the most out of their learning experiences when they feel free to explore, are able to make connections, and practice strategic learning where they feel self-motivated.
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ADHD Interpreted
At BriteMinds, we have worked with thousands of students who have ADHD, and we recognize the experiences of dealing with an ADHD brain. Our learning interventions are designed to help students make order from the chaos and best enhance their academic journey.
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Here are some of the most common
experiences individuals with ADHD face:
False Perception of Time
Many students with ADHD struggle with time estimation. They may overestimate the time required for a task or the amount of time that has passed. This makes it difficult for students to stay on track, complete tasks, and remain productive. At BriteMinds, we teach time management skills along with course material to help students make the most of their time. Throughout the lesson, BriteMinds instructors implement skills such as time estimation, time allocation, knowing how to utilize time, and more.
Daydreaming
Daydreaming is another struggle many students with ADHD face. “The worst part about this is that I don’t realize I do it,” a student once said while regretfully talking about her experience of not remembering her teacher’s guidance. Zoning out and falling into the world of pleasurable, stress-free imagination is a way we keep our mind from overthinking, chaotic thinking, or becoming frustrated. When we are exhausted or overwhelmed, our mind automatically turns itself off from the tiresome reality. While at times it is healthy for the mind to relax this way, the automatic disengagement and wandering can present many consequences, including missing important information or feeling disorganized. BriteMinds instructors make sure students stay active, attentive, and focused on the lesson through continuously engaging communication.
Hyper-focusing
People with ADHD often intensely fixate on something that interests them, such as a unique topic, activity, or hobby. Without distractions, BriteMinds instructors advocate for students, developing their talents into skills. At BriteMinds, we encourage students to pursue their creative interests, and we incorporate uniquely personalized content into their lesson plans to best enhance their learning.
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Racing Minds
Students with ADHD often struggle with racing thoughts. ADHD is known to cause restlessness and overthinking, so students may find it difficult to slow down and put their mind at ease. They may struggle with changing thinking gears to become more efficient in processing experiences and academic content.
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At BriteMinds, students will find a peaceful, safe environment where they can be open and honest with their instructor and receive the support they need. Instructors may provide their students with a game or “break” time during the last ten minutes of the lesson, if they see that the student is tired and in need of a break. Whenever students feel overwhelmed by racing thoughts, we encourage relaxation techniques, positive self-talk, and practicing mindfulness to relieve any worry or stress. |
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Book Review:
How to Talk So Kids Will Listen &
Listen So Kids Will Talk
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Is it difficult for your children to listen and follow directions? Is it stressful when you try talking to them, and they don’t respond? The book “How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk,” by Adele Fabre, is a great resource for parents who are interested in effective communication strategies. The book covers topics such as coping with children’s feelings, resolving family conflicts, encouraging a child’s cooperation, promoting self-discipline, and much more.
At BriteMinds, we find this book helpful as it has been enriching our repertoire of communication strategies, helping students cooperate and establish a healthy academic partnership with us. At BriteMinds, our parent support program seeks to help parents by providing practical learning strategies for home, creative educational games, organizational strategies, and more. BriteMinds supports parents by helping them understand how a child’s mind works while engaged in academic thinking.
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Parent Support: Problems and Solutions
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Problem: Does my child function at his/her grade level?
Solution: This is a good question for your BriteMinds instructor. At BriteMinds, we base our determination on standardized materials and on the way in which your child interacts with those materials in terms of time and accuracy. Also, don’t panic—there is often a surprisingly wide range for determining grade-level competency, and adjustments can always be made. After all, that is why we are here.
Problem: I get angry and frustrated when I work with my child at home.
Solution: This is a common issue we hear from parents. Do not feel that you are the only one! There are several creative solutions to prevent frustrating situations that arise when parents teach their children. BriteMinds instructors are glad to help you find ways to build a better working partnership.
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