In our world of technology there is absolutely no avoiding the battle of too much screen time! There is however a simple solution, or at least a happy barter. Educational apps have emerged as vibrant tools that not only engage children but also enhance their learning experiences. As there are SO many to choose from, which can be daunting for parents, we have put together a top 15 list. We have chosen these apps for their unique features that serve in the growth of foundational skills, creativity and curiosity. 1. Khan Academy Kids Khan Academy Kids is a treasure trove of interactive learning experiences tailored for children aged 2-8. With an extensive library of activities ranging from math to reading comprehension, the app employs delightful characters who guide kids through lessons with stories and games, making learning not just educational but also entertaining. 2. PBS Kids Games Featuring beloved characters from PBS shows, the PBS Kids Games app offers a host of interactive games that focus on subjects like literacy, math, and science. The engaging animations and familiar faces turn educational content into a playful adventure that captures children’s attention and makes learning a shared experience with family and friends. 3. Duolingo Duolingo transforms language learning into a fun and gamified experience. With bite-sized lessons, colorful visuals, and a reward system, kids can embark on their journey to learn new languages like Spanish, French, or even Japanese. Its bright interface promotes daily practice and encourages kids to embrace challenges in language acquisition. 4. Prodigy Math Prodigy Math presents a unique blend of role-playing games and math practice. Perfect for teachers and parents looking to support math skills, the app adapts to each child’s skill level, building confidence as they advance through increasingly challenging levels while defeating fantasy creatures along the way. 5. Epic! Epic! is a digital library providing unlimited access to thousands of children’s books, audiobooks, and educational videos. With curated collections across various subjects, it sparks a love for reading and supports literacy development while allowing kids to explore genres and topics that pique their interests. 6. Tynker For aspiring coders, Tynker is a stellar platform that equips children with the basics of programming through engaging games and projects. It cultivates problem-solving skills and critical thinking by allowing kids to create their own games, songs, or animations, thus nurturing their creativity and technical proficiency. 7. Hopscotch Hopscotch makes coding accessible and fun for children aged 9 and up. The app allows kids to learn programming concepts while creating games and animations. Its user-friendly interface enhances their understanding of logical thinking and the computational aspects of coding, all while having fun with design. 8. BrainPOP With its animated educational videos covering topics from science to history, BrainPOP captivates young minds. The accompanying quizzes and interactive activities reinforce what kids learn from the videos, allowing for engagement and interaction that transforms passive learning into an active exploration of information. 9. Osmo Osmo takes educational gaming to the next level by blending physical play with digital experiences. Using hands-on activities with physical pieces combined with an iPad or tablet, kids engage in creative problem-solving and strategic thinking. Osmo’s apps cover subjects from math to spelling, affirming the blend of tactile and digital learning approaches. 10. Cut the Rope: Magic While it may seem like just a fun game, Cut the Rope: Magic incorporates aspects of physics and problem-solving. Children learn to think critically as they navigate puzzles that require them to strategize and apply logical thinking to progress through levels, seamlessly merging entertainment with educational value. 11. Starfall Ideal for preschoolers and early elementary children, Starfall focuses on literacy and math skills through engaging stories, games, and songs. Its phonics-based approach helps young learners develop reading skills, while the colorful graphics and cute characters keep them entertained and eager to learn. 12. Classdojo ClassDojo is an excellent app for fostering communication between home and school. This platform facilitates classroom management, encouraging positive behavior and engagement. Parents can follow their child’s progress, while students are motivated to develop their social skills and teamwork, thereby enhancing the educational experience. 13. ScratchJr ScratchJr serves as a gentle introduction to programming for younger kids, teaching them how to create interactive stories and games. With easy-to-use programming blocks, children learn foundational coding skills while expressing their creativity, promoting a sense of achievement and confidence in their abilities. 14. Brainly Brainly is a homework helper that connects students with a vast community of peers and experts for academic support. By fostering collaboration and peer-to-peer learning, the app allows children to ask questions and receive guidance on various topics, promoting critical thinking and self-directed learning. 15. National Geographic Kids With its stunning visuals and captivating content, National Geographic Kids engages children’s curiosity about the world around them. The app is filled with articles, videos, and quizzes that cover a range of topics—from wildlife to geography—helping to shape informed global citizens who are passionate about the environment. The infusion of educational apps enhances their learning journey through reading, math, science and even coding and critical thinking. Embracing these tools can transform traditional learning experiences, paving the way for children to thrive in an increasingly digital and interconnected world, not to mention saving you from the dreaded screen time fight!
THE DREADED MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS! Multiple choice questions often test a range of skills, from reading comprehension and vocabulary to grammar and critical thinking capabilities. Normally posed in a format where a question or statement is followed by several answer options (usually four), these questions may challenge your child’s understanding of subtle linguistic nuances, inferential reasoning, and context clues. With the increasing prevalence of standardized testing, equipping your child with the skills and strategies to navigate these assessments can make a world of difference. Types of Questions They may include direct questions about a text, interpretative inquiries that require your child to deduce meaning, or questions that test grammatical usage and structure. Familiarizing your child with these different types can guide their focus during study sessions. Common Pitfalls Students often find themselves misled by distractors—answers that seem plausible but are ultimately incorrect. Another problem is not fully understanding the questions which can be convoluted or feel misleading. Tips to Build Skills Read the Questions before reading the material, this helps your child to know what they are looking for in advance and gets the brain to start thinking about the material on a deeper level before even beginning. Reframe the Question! Have your child practice putting the question into their own words. This creates clarification and a deeper understanding of what they are looking for. If time, do a “light read” first in which they get a broad understanding of the material and can ask themselves some questions, then do a Critical Reading. Critical Reading! Encourage your child to engage deeply with texts. This means pinpointing the main ideas, themes, and details, and understanding the author’s purpose and tone. Practicing active reading by highlighting important points or jotting down notes can foster engagement. Context Clues! Teach your child to look for context clues in questions and answer choices. Understanding the surrounding text often sheds light on unknown words or ambiguous phrases. Grammar Knowledge! A solid foundation in grammar is essential. Regular practice with sentence construction, subject-verb agreement, punctuation, and parts of speech will ensure your child feels comfortable when they encounter grammatical questions. Study Techniques Create a Structured Study Plan: Help your child develop a study schedule that breaks down their review into manageable chunks. Maybe certain days are vocabulary, while others are reading comprehension practices. Simulate Test Conditions: Every so often, have your child complete a practice test under timed conditions. This not only helps them practice time management, but also allows for an evaluation of their comfort level with the material. Discuss Mistakes: After your child takes practice tests, go over their incorrect answers together to highlight misunderstandings and of course their correct choices. Reflection helps solidify understanding. Helpful Resources Online Practice Tests: Khan Academy and Quizlet offer practice questions and great tips specifically designed for kids preparing for standardized tests. These platforms often simulate the experience of actual tests, building familiarity and reducing anxiety. Educational Apps: “Magoosh SAT Prep” or “Duolingo” incorporate language skills into fun games and practice questions. These can make studying less daunting and more enjoyable for your child. Reading Comprehension Books: Look for workbooks that focus on reading comprehension and multiple choice questions. Books like “Reading Comprehension for Dummies” can be both accessible and thorough, helping to reinforce strategies. ISEE is a great way to practice, Ivy Global offers online and books. Engaging with Literature: Encourage your child to read widely—both fiction and nonfiction. Discussing books can strengthen their analytical skills. Taking turns summarizing chapters or quizzing one another on key elements can create an enjoyable learning experience. Tutoring Services: If your child is struggling, consider enlisting the help of a tutor who specializes in English language arts. One-on-one attention can target their specific weaknesses while providing tailored strategies for improvement.We are always here at Elite Tutoring to give the help you need.
Does your child struggle with reading comprehension? If so, know that your child is not the only one, in fact schools are struggling with literacy rates on a whole-this is why there is a current reading reform happening throughout our schools. 40 years of research, show there are ways of teaching literacy beyond phonics that are more effective in helping your young reader grasp the full meaning of any given text earlier and easier. What is the Science of Reading? In short, after years of research, it is an evidenced way of teaching students to read. The focus is developing both word recognition AND fluency of expression so that the understanding of the text is the main goal. The Main Principals: Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Fluency, Vocabulary and Comprehension The brain of a child needs to first know the different sounds of spoken language, then connect the sounds to written letters, then blend those sounds for words-this is called decoding. In other words, reading does not come naturally! Students need to have decoding AND strong language comprehension skills to achieve reading comprehension. The structured approach of Reading Science has an overall scope and a sequence that builds on itself so that students are not feeling as though they don’t understand something that hasn’t been introduced to them yet. This structured approach helps ALL students including those with learning differences such as dyslexia. Currently many students are still learning under the balanced literary approach. Though this may work for many, the focus still tends to be on the Phonics and is developed in more macro-learning. The Science of Reading is structured within micro-learning, leaving less readers behind, especially in terms of comprehension. WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE IN THE CLASSROOM? Rather than “at the right level” reading groups, there will be a use of varied, complex text for all the students. Student should be able to hear multiple reads of the same text, first modeled by the teacher. To develop fluency, there should be partnering with students and teachers engaging in conversations centered on the language of the text, the structure of what’s written, the meaning of the text and the possible deeper meanings. In it’s essence, it is a more hands on approach that starts developing critical thinking, and engages all aspects of language. WHAT CAN YOU DO TO ENSURE LITERACY FOR YOUR CHILD? Elite Tutoring can provide tutors who will be able to help you, and your child take a structured approach to literacy.
SUMMER READING CHALLENGES AND WRITING COMPETITIONS We are at that summer midway point. Which also means finding new ways to keep your child engaged and active in their minds. There are many summer camps out there, but there are also plenty of resources at your finger tips. Summer reading and writing prevents learning loss while maintaining a sense of play and imagination. As it may be difficult to be self-motivated without deadlines or a social group, I have included some wonderful online Reading Challenges and Writing Competitions for your child to enter. After an exhaustive search, I have compiled some of the best and recent (2024) sources that will link you directly to the challenge and competition sites. Of course any of our tutors can help guide your child through any of the summer reading and writing challenges they choose, or we can personalize a plan for them. ******* READING CHALLENGES: Scholastic offers a summer challenge for children ages 3-13. There are 10 downloadable badges for goal completions as well as book lists according to age. https://www.scholastic.com/parents/books-and-reading/raise-a-reader-blog/reading-challenges-kids.html PBS Kids for Parents Summer Adventure has reading charts, and activity ideas It also has math activities and out door adventure ideas. https://www.pbs.org/parents/summer The New York Times challenge has students read any 2024 article published in their paper and kids can write in, or even video their response. They publicly list the winners-The New York Times! The National Education Society has an amazing source of information to help you raise your readers. Amongst many, their list of summer reading challenges includes Barnes and Noble summer reading program where you can receive a free book, and Pizza Hut’s ‘Camp Book It’. https://www.nea.org/resource-library/get-serious-about-summer-reading Don’t forget to check your local libraries, many have summer reading challenges of their own! ******** WRITING COMPETITIONS: Writing competitions deliver a fun angle to writing. They deliver prompts, deadlines, the feeling of being linked into other’s writing and do you need an extra motivator?! Many come attached with cash prizes! We Are Teachers is a personal favorite site offering some of the best writing competitions for students up to age 18. https://www.weareteachers.com/student-writing-contests/ The National Youth Foundation is geared towards diversity and empowerment and has 4 competitions: “I Matter” poetry and art, Amazing Women’s Edition, Youth Writing Workshop and Student Book Scholars Contest. The site also offers a library of the past winners works to read. A very positive site! https://www.nationalyouthfoundation.org/our-programs If you love the idea of having your child published you can go to Young Writers USA. https://www.youngwritersusa.com/contests And two other helpful sites with informative lists of competitions: Aralia -Top 9 Writing Competitions: New Pages: https://www.newpages.com/young-writers-guide/young-writers-guide-to-contests/#July
Elementary students face a higher level of demand to learn and use Common Core Standards in Elementary School English Classes: Many elementary students face challenges learning and using Common Core English Language Arts (ELA) standard requirements now used in many public and private schools throughout the United States. Why do students need to know Common Core in elementary school English classes? These standards were created to help students be more competitive and prepare them for middle and high school and ultimately college and/or the workforce. Since college entrance exams, specifically the new SAT, incorporate skills students learn through common core, mastering these skills becomes even more important at the elementary school level. English Language Arts/Literacy (ELA/Literacy) and Common Core Standards: ELA/Literacy based on Common Core standards call for a deeper understanding of how students reach their answers and they must analyze, reason, and apply their own thoughts in class and homework assignments. There is an increased demand on students in elementary school to master a deeper understanding of reading materials and be able to implement their understanding in real-life scenarios. Shifts in ELA/Literacy Requirements at the elementary school level: Students must think for themselves and be able to use their own reasoning. They will need to be able to explain or write about what they have in read and be able to infer meaning from text. They are also required to provide evidence based on their reading and writing exercises. In addition, students are exposed to more nonfiction, informational texts rather than exclusively literature based reading assignments. How can tutoring help students with ELA/Literacy based on Common Core standards? Many tutors specialize in Common Core standards and can help students understand what is expected of them and assist them with the required skills needed to succeed in elementary school English. Contact Elite Home Tutoring for questions or information concerning ELA/Literacy Common Core standards and tutoring, www.elitehometutoring.com.
What is the California High School Proficiency Examination (CHSPE)? The CHSPE is a timed test that measures a student’s knowledge and proficiency in reading, writing, and math. Passing students will earn a Certificate of Proficiency by the California State Board of Education, which is recognized in California as an equivalent to a high school diploma. The exam allows students currently enrolled in high school to earn the certificate and leave high school early to go to college or start working. Who can take the CHSPE Exam? Students currently enrolled in public high schools in the state of California can take the CHSPE Exam if they are at least 16 years of age and are in the second half of their their sophomore year or later. The exam is only valid for students in the California public school system. If the student plans on attending a college in another state, they must verify with the college if it will accept the exam. Which subjects are on the CHSPE Exam? The CHSPE Exam covers English Language Arts, including an essay, and Math. The English section covers reading comprehension, spelling, grammar, and writing skills which correspond to tenth grade English in the California public school system. There are 84 multiple choice questions in the English section, plus an essay. The essay question is open-ended and requires students to outline and present their point of view. The Math section covers math skills learned in seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth grade in the California public schools system. There are 50 questions in the math section and the focus is on daily math problems and situations. The CHSPE Exam is timed test, and lasts three and a half hours. Students must pass both the English and math sections of the exam, but can retake the test as many times as needed. How can tutoring help prepare for the CHSPE Exam? Since the CHSPE Exam covers several years of high school, a specialized tutor can help students prepare for the exam. Contact Elite Home Tutoring for questions or information concerning the CHSPE Exam, www.elitehometutoring.com