Must-Have Skill for Children #15: Teaching Others

All the focus for students is placed on learning. How well are they doing in school? Are they completing their homework on time? Are they understanding the lessons? But one crucial element of learning that is often overlooked is the opposite approach: are they teaching? How are they teaching themselves and others? This is a surprisingly important component of learning and development, which is why teaching others is this month’s Must-Have Skill for Children. “In teaching others, we teach ourselves.” - Latin Proverb Teaching others is the best way for your child to test how much they know about a subject—and the simpler the lesson the better. This idea is what led to the Feynman Technique, created by Richard Feynman, who won the Nobel Prize for his work in physics. His technique includes four straightforward steps: 1. Identify the subject - Write down everything you know about a subject on one page. 2. Teach it to a child - Try to use the plainest terms and simplest explanations. 3. Identify knowledge gaps - What was missing or what do you still struggle to grasp? 4. Organize and simplify - Fill the gaps and clear up areas of confusion for a better lesson. Going through these steps will show your child exactly why their teachers are experts on the subjects they teach—they had to learn every aspect in order to pass that knowledge onto others. Even if your child never plans to teach professionally, there are many benefits to them picking up this skill. Clearer Comprehension & Thinking The main purpose of teaching others, whether your child uses the Feynman Technique or not, is to understand what they are sharing with others. How much do they know and how well can they explain it to somebody who knows nothing about it? By reviewing what they learned and organizing their thoughts to properly convey the knowledge in the simplest terms, your child can test their understanding, organize their thoughts, and practice thinking more clearly. Efficient Studying Methods The constant practice of teaching others will fortify your child’s study methods and habits. They will be better at recognizing what style of learning helps them the most and where their knowledge gaps usually lie. For example, they may notice that in the subject of history, they often forget dates, and subsequently can’t place events on the correct timeline. Learning with the intention of passing that knowledge onto others later can help your child tune in to the most important points of every lesson as well as stay engaged. Better Speaking and Listening Skills A huge component of learning is your child’s listening skills. Of course they are vital for paying attention in class and picking up the important bits of a lecture. However, they also play a huge role when your child is teaching others. Your kid has to listen to the questions they are being asked, and then analyze what those questions reveal about their lesson and own understanding of the topic. As for speaking, your child must express themselves effectively and speak in a way that’s clear and easy for others to understand. They can check for common problems, like rambling, mumbling, or speaking too fast. Advanced Socialization Teaching others can help boost your child’s social skills, empathy, sense of community, and socialization (how they behave as a part of society). Your child should work on their ability to interact with others because relationships are important for not only having successful careers but also creating meaningful bonds, like friendships and mentorships. Learning how to talk to others, being on the same page, perspective taking, and adjusting behaviors according to the situation are communication skills that will make your child more successful, confident, and sociable. — For more ways to help your child study and take responsibility for their education, turn to JEI Learning Center. We believe that there are a myriad of ways for children to learn, beyond the standards of a traditional school setting that may not resonate with every student. We can find what’s right for your child through our personalized programs. For more information on how your child can become a better learner, contact us at (877) JEI-MATH and schedule a diagnostic test today! Let’s get your child on the path to excellence in a way that complements and enhances their unique talents and needs.

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2021 Math Olympiad: Public Works Challenge

2020-2021 has brought on so many challenges, but these challenges have opened our eyes to the importance of community and giving back. That is why Public Works is the theme of our JEI Math Olympiad this year. Our annual math competition is back with a makeover that gives children a chance to see how they can impact the world on a greater scale. This year, we are opening it up to both JEI and non-JEI students all over the country, but the biggest change is the format of this year’s contest. Why the change? Life may give your child a series of tests, but those of the sit-down variety tend to end with graduation. However, JEI Learning Center is all about lifelong learning and long-term planning. We wish the best for our students for years after they graduate from our programs. For that reason, we have prepared a new type of math competition that centers on the real-life application of everything children learned over the years, from calculations to research analysis. Each division will receive a problem for which they must find and present a solution backed by facts and numbers. This gives them a chance to test out what they learned in an invigorating way so the next time they ask in class, “When will I use this?” it comes from a place of excitement rather than discontent. With this year’s JEI Math Olympiad: Public Works Challenges, we want to encourage and challenge students to take math to the next level. Some ways this may benefit your child is by… Combining your child’s hard and soft skills This is a great opportunity for strong and weak test takers alike to shine a bright spotlight on their other capabilities. This type of math project is the perfect blend of technical skills, like calculating percentages, and soft skills, like creative thinking and time management. Both are important for ensuring successful futures, but the traditional education system with its focus on tests generally forego the latter. Exposing your child’s weaknesses and strengths While it is of course important to know what your child still needs to work on regarding math and other areas of their education, it is also important to discover where their strengths lie. For example, parents may believe that their child is not a strong student based on test scores, but they may realize through this competition that their child’s strengths lie not in test taking but in originality and project management. A thorough rubric will analyze and inform parents and students on what was done well. Rewarding the best of the best with cash prizes and national recognition We believe in rewarding our students for their endeavors. That’s why the best of the best submissions per division will receive cash prizes! There will be four divisions divided by grades: Division I - 2nd to 3rd grade Division II - 4th to 5th grade Division III - 6th to 7th grade Division IV - 8th to 9th grade For each division, third place will receive $100, second $150, and first $250. On top of that, they will be recognized nationwide and their project may be featured on our site! Showing the importance of community involvement The theme this year is Public Works Challenges. JEI wants to show all children how one major way to apply what they learned is to give back to their community. The research and the work they put into finding a solution will instill in them grit and a sense of responsibility that is greater than themselves. This is a wonderful experience that will show them they can make a positive change in the world if they apply their time and talent. It’s an effective reminder of why education is so important. ________________________________________________ Ready to register for this unique and rewarding opportunity for your child? Here are the important dates to keep in mind: Registration opens on March 14. Once you register, you will receive the prompt for each division from the center where you registered your child. Participants will have until April 30 to submit their final projects. Winners will be announced on June 1. All you need to do is find a center near you to register your child in this new type of math competition. It’s FREE to enter for active JEI students and $20 for non-JEI students. We are excited to see what your child comes up with and how they grow from this experience. Best of luck!

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How parents can encourage their child toward excellence

Research has shown that parental encouragement is needed for any child’s success. The positive results include everything from excellent grades to can-do attitudes in the workplace. It can even boost elementary school students’ reading motivation and level! If you want to see your child thrive in school, their career, and life overall, you should encourage them as much as possible. However, parental encouragement isn’t as simple as it sounds. There’s a more effective way to lift up your child than telling them they’re smart or leaving them with a solid “You got this!” Here is how you can show up for your child in a way that encourages them to keep striving for more and better. Be Present The simplest way to be there for your child is to be there for them physically and emotionally. When they have a special event, attend it so they see your support. If they are stuck on their homework, try your best to help them. If they are feeling down or confused, hear them out so they can release those negative feelings. Being present, in turn, helps you figure out what they are good at, find joy in, and would like to pursue, so you can continue to encourage them in all those areas. Show that you are someone they can turn to in challenging times and rely on when they inevitably fall during their many trials and errors in life. Be Open Keeping an open mind is an important way to encourage your child. They are exploring and learning, and these are activities you want them to pursue for life. When they are contemplating a different activity they want to try out or career they want to explore, encourage them to give it a go instead of dissuading them. They are also learning to express themselves, so give them the freedom to do so, from how they dress to how they decorate their room. Being open-minded allows your child to experiment in life and discover who they are. In turn, they will be more confident, wise, and independent. Be Realistic While you should be open-minded about all that your child wants to pursue or accomplish, you should be realistic about your child’s capabilities. Having low expectations will make your child feel defeated, like there is no point in trying. Having high standards can make your child shrink from challenges because they fear failure. Instead, help them set achievable goals. Simply believing that they will do the best of their abilities will teach them that there is always room for improvement and that’s okay. This will encourage and motivate them to accept good enough for now while striving for better. The important thing is that they keep trying and harness the growth mindset. Be Positive Even with realistic expectations, there is always room for positive reinforcement! Pick them up when they fall, show that you see how hard they’re working, cheer on all their endeavors, and remind them constantly of their worth. You can do the last one by bringing up past examples of when they worked hard, whether they failed or succeeded. Erase their doubts by telling them that they can accomplish whatever they set their mind on with some help, practice, and time. Being positive includes being patient. A child will pick up on impatience and become disheartened. Show them that there is no rush for them to get to where they want to go. Be Rewarding Rewards are also great motivators. You can encourage your child by rewarding them not only for good results but also for good effort. The important thing, again, is that they try, so show that you see them trying and want to reward them for it. You can do this in a way that is productive and lasting. For example, do not reward them with toys or other material objects for the most part. Reward them with something meaningful and heartfelt. This can range from the mundane, like giving them a hearty hug or high five, to something special, like cooking them their favorite dinner or writing a letter about how proud you are of them. — There is nothing more powerful than a parent’s belief in their child and support for their aspirations. With your encouragement, your child can break past any obstacles to their infinite potential. We sincerely believe that every child, including yours, has untapped potential, and our programs and specialized instruction can further help them explore it. Our instructors and directors know how to encourage each and every child to learn in their own unique way through our JEI Self-Learning MethodⓇ. Encourage your child’s continued learning by enrolling them in one of our programs! They range from JEI English to Brain Safari, a special critical thinking program for young children. Contact us at 877-JEI-MATH to speak to a representative today.

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