Even though the latest techno-gadget, the iPad, was just released, textbook developers are already considering how it can be used to enrich classroom textbook experiences.

Unlike with a traditional print textbook, the iPad will allow students to not just read about a subject, but also watch, listen, and manipulate.

Though it will most likely be years before the iPad becomes as ubiquitous to classrooms as chalk, program apps are already being developed that can help students have a more interactive and multi-sensory classroom learning experience.

Read the full article on ParentDish.com: The iPad and Education – It’s Not the Size of the Screen, It’s What You Do With It

More articles about technology and learning:

• New Classroom Technology Sounds like a Great Idea
• Nostalgic for chalkboards
• Texting VS Writing: The Problem with Instant Messaging

The process of acquiring language requires an immense amount of desire—a drive to make sense of the world, and a desire to see connections between the sounds that people make and the objects that the sounds refer to.

It’s a huge task, and it’s accomplished when we are little more than babies.

But that’s just the beginning. With this major accomplishment under young children’s belts, kids embark on the biggest journey of their lives—learning to read.

Learning to read calls on the same driving force, the same desires that infants use to acquire language: a need to understand and make sense of their worlds.

Children have an insatiable curiosity. They are limitlessly hungry to figure out their world. To see connections. To make the pieces come together. To figure it out.

With the ability to speak and a basic understanding of the rules of our language, children begin to fit the pieces of written language together. Often, this happens even before they have ever set foot in a school.

Kids make up words, switch prefixes and suffixes, and read the same book over and over. They may not have the mechanics down, but what they are actually doing is developing the reading skills that they will use for the rest of their lives.

It takes time. It takes effort. It takes drive. And it takes patience from parents.

It’s a huge effort, but it’s worth it. Because the pay off is the biggest pay off of all: the ability to read. And with reading, the adventure continues forever.

This week we are pleased to have another guest posting by Brenda from Secret Agent Josephine! Brenda shares the ups and downs of her daughter Bug’s reading journey.

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Our Barrie and Barrie South locations will participate in the Planning Transitions for Students with Special Education Needs event hosted by the Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB).

What:   Planning Transitions for Students with Special Education Needs: an Event for Parents and Educators

When:  Monday, April 19, 2010, from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Where: SCDSB Education Centre, Roy Edwards Room 

             1170 Highway 26, Midhurst

“This event will help people gain a better understanding of transitions for students with special education needs,” says Sue Ducau, SCDSB Special Education Consultant. “Transitions can be defined as ‘big T’s’ and ‘little t’s.’ ‘Big T’s’ involve larger transitions, such as from preschool to school, or from the elementary level to secondary. ‘Little t’s’ are smaller transitions; for example, between classes or grade levels."

Link: Visit the SCDSB website

Report cards aren’t always easy. You probably wouldn’t be reading this if they were. I probably wouldn’t be writing this if they were!

The one thing that can make the whole report card experience worse is getting yelled at by a parent about your grades.

Speaking from experience, getting yelled at or grounded never helped me get better grades. It only makes me angry and not want to talk at all.

The only thing that has ever helped me to get better grades is getting organized.

So parents, instead of getting angry at your child for getting a bad mark on their report card, try to talk to them about their grades. Don’t get mad. Don’t yell. Be calm.

Talk to teens calmly, and hopefully they’ll open up and discuss grades with you. That’s the easiest way to make a plan.

Ask them if they learned anything new or difficult today. If they did, offer to help them out a bit. Work together.

So, next time your child gets an okay mark on their report card, remember to come back to this page for help. And, be sure to tell me about your family’s report card experiences!

About me: Hi! My name is Dylan and I am 15 years old. I have recently been asked to write a few guest posts on the topic Teens: Why Do We Do What We Do?
About me: I go to South Secondary School in London, ON and I have two younger siblings. I have always been a movie guy. In the summer I love to bike with my friends down to the Thames River and ride along the trails. The sights and the entire ride are always beautiful. I also like to bake and listen to old music. I hope that you enjoy my posts! Remember to leave feedback! ~Dylan.

Oxford Learning in the Beach has been celebrating the hard work and dedication of the educators in our community for 7 years. This year’s party, held on March 6th, was a great success! We had over 90 entries from our students, and had our largest attendance to date! Students were given the opportunity to read out their entries to their teachers to show their appreciation, and each teacher was given a special package for their participation. A silent auction was also held, and we managed to raise over $700 for Room To Read!

Toronto, ON—Toronto’s newest Oxford Learning Centre will be opening in York Mills this week.

Oxford Learning provides quality after-school educational support for students of all ages and grades. Oxford Learning was founded in London, Ontario in 1984 by education experts who were developing an interactive program to help children learn how to learn.

Along with basic school skills such as reading and math, Oxford Learning helps students develop their confidence.

“Confidence is a big part of helping children get better grades,” says Sundip Makani Centre Director of Oxford Learning York Mills. “When children start to feel better about their learning abilities, they can accomplish anything. We’re really happy to be bringing these learning opportunities to the York Mills community.”

Each Oxford Learning program begins with an in depth assessment of a child’s learning strengths and weaknesses. This process allows students to be placed in a program where they will get academic support to best meet their learning needs. Students then work in small groups with teachers to develop their proficiency in math or reading, building their self-confidence as they work.

Grand Opening: Saturday, April 10th, 2010

Grand Opening: Saturday, April 10th, 2010. 11 am to 3 pm
Oxford Learning York Mills will be open in time for the spring rush

“It’s a perfect time to introduce Oxford Learning to the community,” says Sundip Makani.
“This is the last push of the school year, so if there’s a time when students need extra support to improve marks before final report cards, this is it.“

York Mills residents are invited to check out Oxford Learning April 10th during the Grand Opening Celebration. The Hon. Judy Sgro, MP from York West will be on hand for the ribbon cutting ceremony at 1 pm.

Sundip Makani encourages area residents to come down during the grand opening for cake and drinks and to take advantage of the grand opening specials including 50% off academic assessments for the first 10 students, and free season passes to Canada’s Wonderland!

Enter to win our GRAND PRIZE: Free Dynamic assessment (worth $250) + 15% Off on Tuition Fees for 3 months.

For more information about Oxford Learning York Mills, the grand opening, or any of its’ programs please contact Sundip or Chani Makani at 647-341-READ (7323) or via email at yorkmills@oxfordlearning.com

Oxford Learning York Mills [main page with map] is located at 1865 Leslie Street, Suite 201 (Leslie/York Mills)

Stop daydreaming about summer! There’s work to be done!

Midterms have come and gone. Spring Break is over. The days are getting warmer, and what’s left of the school year can be counted in weeks.

Students have a tendency to drift as spring arrives. After spending months indoors, the warmer temperatures and shining sun become major distractions, which make it more challenging to focus on schoolwork.

While the school year may be winding down, this is not the time to slack off!

The school year may be coming to close, but there is still time to get better grades. There’s time to study harder. There’s time to complete an extra credit project. There’s time to develop better study skills. And most importantly, there’s still time to make a big difference on the final report card.

If grades need improving, the time to get started is right now! Slacking off now is NOT a good idea. In fact, can be downright dangerous to grades. Students who have worked very hard the entire year, can actually lose their academic footing if they let their focus slip from school.

That’s why it’s important to remain motivated. After all, there are still end-of-year projects, group work, and final exams on the horizon.

The truth is that this is the perfect time to renew a sense of school dedication. Because even though the school year is coming to a close, a lot can be accomplished in the time left.

So stop daydreaming about summer! There’s work to be done! Here’s how to stay motivated (and even pull up grades) in the time left:

1. Dust Off That Agenda. Agendas have kept students organized throughout the school year and now’s not the time to leave them forgotten in lockers or at the bottom of a school bag. Need to renew the drive to succeed? Flip through the agenda for a reminder of everything that has been achieved so far this year.

2. Work Towards a Goal. It’s easy to coast for the rest of the year, but rather than slacking, set a goal and work towards it. Whether it is by fine-tuning study skills or pulling up a math grade, having a goal to work towards makes staying motivated easy.

3. Take On Extra Credit Projects. Students that need a leg up (whether to pull up grades or to secure a university admission) can really benefit from extra credit projects. Talk to teachers about bonus projects or assignments. Teachers look favourably on students who make an effort, and this is especially important when it comes to creating final report cards.

4. Make Better Grades Your Mantra. To get better grades you have to do the work. To do the work, you have to be motivated, which is challenging this time of year. Create daily reminders of what the goal is—write “I want better grades” in your agenda, put it on post its by your bed, and repeat it to yourself while walking the dog. The more you say it, the more you’ll believe it!

5. Get Extra Help. End-of-year projects and exams can stress even the most organized students. Enlist the help of a professional tutor to help manage current workload and learn helpful tips to make studying for finals stress-free. Oxford Learning has many great programs that help students make the rest of this year as successful as possible. Call today and make the rest of this year count!