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Showing posts with the label Secondary school

Better technology, but worse spelling

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Image via Wikipedia Parents, this is something to be wary of... technology isn't bad - we need it. Just don't over-need it, and become over-dependent on it ----- February 28 2011 at 10:00am By John Walshe London - The increasing use of technology in cellphones and music players is having a detrimental effect on teenagers' language and maths skills. School managers claim the increasing use of mobile phone texting, for example, is eroding standards of spelling and punctuation. In addition, the widespread availability of electronic calculators in phones, watches, music players and computers is eroding students' abilities in basic arithmetic. “Television and other technology-based entertainment are shortening everyone's attention span,” the Joint Managerial Body (JMB), which represents 400 secondary schools , said. In a submission to the Department of Education the JMB said the technology-driven culture of young people is serious challenge to teachers and...

Preventing Teen Burnout

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Image via Wikipedia By Dr Bill Maier Just looking at a secondary school student's schedule book makes me tired. Secondary school students today are busier than ever. Not only does school start early, but after school there's soccer , tuition , piano lessons, gymnastics , events and homework that never seems to end. I don't know how some of them do it. It's good for teens to stay busy and productive. Not only are they less likely to get into trouble, they're learning valuable work habits for their future careers. But there are dangers we need to watch out for. Teens who try to do too much face the risk of burnout and exhaustion . They can get so busy that nothing gets done very well. Their grades may suffer, leading to worry and depression , even physical or emotional sickness. If your teen is too busy, it may be time to put the brakes on certain activities. Teach them to say no and to pace themselves. It's better for them to do a few things well than to ex...

HELPING KIDS GET ORGANISED

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Image via Wikipedia By Dr James Dobson What's the primary reason for failure in secondary school ? According to many teachers, the answer is not laziness or poor study skills . The main reason for failure in secondary school is poor organisation . An achieving student's file is organised with dividers and folders for handouts and assignments. A failing student's file is most often a mess of jumbled papers, if he even uses a file at all. Educational expert Cheri Fuller says it's a skill that should be taught early, even before students reach secondary school. It takes a good degree of organisation to keep them all straight and to prioritise assignments. They need training and other organisational skills such as planning to complete long term assignments a little at a time. This kind of exposure and training can help a flighty adolescent become a self-disciplined and self-propelled individual in time. Organisation. It is one very important key to success in school. Fr...