March 2024 Newsletter

STRESS-FREE HOMEWORK!

Homework

Completion Cycle 

There are practical benefits for parents considering the Cycle of Homework Completion. From assignment to completion, there are numerous turning points when information can get lost, misinterpreted, or forgotten. Typically, children go through the intricate steps of the Cycle at the speed of light.

To succeed, it is key to slow down and mindfully consider every step:

1.    Teacher assigns homework. Where is this homework posted? Is it a handout? Is it on the school’s website? Is it easy to log in? Is there a saved link for easy access?

2.    Read and understand directions! What skills are needed to get it done? Is this a half hour assignment or a project with multiple parts? Is this a group project that needs to be coordinated with others? Use this information to orient the child for skills, time, and needed support.

3.    Find out the assignment’s due date! Write the due date in a calendar.

4.    Let’s plan to get it done! When directions are fully understood, the child is ready to organize and have a strategy to complete the work. Specify the start time and the duration for the work. Review the needed tools and the support it takes to get it done successfully.

5.    Brainstorm! Encourage your child to speak her mind while focusing on the work! Have parents take a facilitative role. Listening and validating the child’s thinking is a motivating factor! Ask questions instead of lecturing and provide assurance instead of criticizing. Guide thinking and wonder together!

6.    Almost done! Review and submit! Check if all criteria have been met and directions were followed. Compliments feed into positive memories for the next homework assignment!

At BriteMinds, our instructors make the Cycle of Homework Completion a feel-good routine! We teach our students that it is always best to try and get your work done sooner rather than later to avoid unnecessary stress. 

 Get It Done & Turn It In!

Agnes’s Free Seminar – Parent Insights – Issues Impacting Children & Teens                   

Join our online focus group discussion on current issues impacting children and adolescents! Zoom meetings are: March 7, 14, 21, and 28, 11am-12pm. We will explore challenging and nuanced questions, listen to how other parents respond to situations, and share our personal views. Informed and confident parenting supports raising well-adjusted and resilient children. Healthy family relationships bring well-oriented values to children in our rapidly changing world! Agnes will share practical tools and techniques while facilitating discussions on:

▪ Establishing clear rules for screen time

▪ Developing healthy attitudes about food

▪ Redirecting impulsive responses and defiance

▪ Productively managing temper tantrums

▪ Preventing inattentiveness and disorganization

▪ Progressively dealing with ADHD symptoms

▪ Creating and maintaining a healthy sleep schedule

▪ Recognizing reasons that motivate lying, such as seeking attention, avoiding trouble, or feeling better about oneself

▪ Successfully handling peer and sibling disagreements and conflicts

▪ Practicing active listening and effective communication

Register Now by emailing a@briteminds.com

BriteMinds Learning Tools and Techniques

Children need learning tools and techniques to feel motivated! Gratifying interactive experiences, such as adaptive feedback and personalized guidance, empower children to navigate learning process complexities. Learning tools and techniques help children develop confidence!

Here are some fun Learning Tools we use at BriteMinds to help our students succeed:

1.    Self-Record (audio and/or video): Like with TikTok, self-recording videos can be a fun and helpful technique when focusing on academic content for memorization and test preparation. Listening back to our own voice or looking back at ourselves on video can help us relate to and become more familiar with our own previous learning memories and build on these experiences. Enjoy this powerful tool!

2.    Partner Work: Whether it’s editing your work, quizzing you, or just overall support, having a “second set of eyes” is beneficial to get different perspectives and MORE help.

3.    ASK Intermittent (surprising) Questions: Never be afraid to ask questions! Asking questions and getting clarification is evidence of thinking! Parents can ask surprising questions when they see their child becoming frustrated. Encouraging children to ask themselves questions can lead to great discoveries!

BriteMinds students practice these tools and techniques because our instructors implement them in every lesson. One of our greatest achievements is that parents report seeing their children use these techniques at home! 

From Chaos to Order

Too often, students are tired, stressed, or feel overwhelming pressure. At BriteMinds, we create a relaxed and fun physical environment, enhanced by our instructors’ positive and motivating energy, to reduce stress. An organized mind positively impacts a child’s well-being. Let BriteMinds support you and your child in creating structure and confidence!

Here are a few tips we use to take a child from Chaos to Order:

1.    Planning Ahead: We create and organize task lists with our students that include due dates, start times, and any specific directions. This allows your child to clearly know what to do, when to do it, and how to do it.

2.    Relaxing and Focusing: The most difficult step for most students is to focus. An overwhelmed, stressed, and nervous student will have a hard time paying attention and focusing. Start by learning how to relax. Find a distraction-free space where your child can focus. Once you have a good workflow going, the rest is like a walk in the park.

3.    Taking One Step at a Time: Sometimes this is easier said than done, but do not rush. Things will get done. However, remember it is up to YOU to complete them.



4.    Learning from Experience: We review and provide feedback on what worked and what needs to be adjusted. Children who develop a self-assured inner voice and the ability to adequately assess their own performance tend to be more adaptive and effective at coping with challenging situations.

Join BriteMinds and Succeed!

Are Computer Games Educational or Addictive?

While some games can be addictive, others may be educational. How can you tell the difference as a parent?

On the one hand, consistent, high intensity neural firing-wiring may lead someone to become dependent on and eventually addicted to computer games. For example, games that require rapid firing, such as shooting or fighting games, can be highly addictive. This is especially true for children who are vulnerable to compulsive and perfectionistic behaviors. Playing as a team online adds another layer to dependency issues. Some children enjoy living out inappropriate behaviors that may be perceived as ‘cool’ online, but would negatively impact In Real Life (IRL) relationships. Examples of these concerning behaviors may include: cursing, inappropriate jokes, biased comments, or aggressive criticism of others.

On the other hand, we cannot live without computers. They are an inherent and integral part of our lives. Every parent’s goal is to help their child develop good balance, allowing them to use computers for fun and entertainment, as well as for learning problem-solving, critical thinking, and real-world practical skills. Recently, learning to code has gained popularity because the apps are creative, user-friendly, and involve creating instructions for computers to execute. Coding uses programming languages to communicate with machines and develop game software, websites, and even other apps. Coding allows children to feel productive while giving computers specific tasks, enabling them to perform various functions and solve problems. All in all, BriteMinds students are supported in their efforts to develop balanced daily life and feel proud of themselves and their achievements! 

BriteMinds Learning Center

(310-541-2005 info@briteminds.com

www.briteminds.com