Try encouraging your child to look up synonyms and antonyms more often. If they are using the word “great” too often in their writing it starts to look quite tired.
“Aftermath” doesn’t mean something you do after working out some fractions. No. It means something that results or follows from an event, especially one of a disastrous or unfortunate nature.
Examples of how to use Aftermath
In the aftermath of the eruption, the volcano fell silent again.
In the aftermath of the battle, the wounded were taken to the field hospital.
In the aftermath of the horrific argument, John finally agreed to Jane’s terms.
The word “aftermath” is especially useful when writing about wars or battles in history, in stories and even in answering comprehension questions.
Add this to your child’s list of useful words to use in homework, tests and exams.
Sometimes a child can work out a question but all they are doing is following a series of instructions from their teacher on how to solve it.
This can leave the child unable to know why solving a question this way works, whereas that way doesn’t.
Often I find that during maths tutorials I have to take a step back to explain why solving a problem works in a certain way and why approach B or C won’t work.
This is in fact a very useful use of the child time. To understand the “why” before securing the “how”.
A great way to start the day is to do a quick page of maths. This is especially true if a child has a maths test later on that day.
With my own children I have found that trying to work on an English question such as verbal reasoning or a comprehension is less effective first thing in the morning.
Maths lends itself to being a brain-starter especially if it is in the form of a series of short and relatively easy questions.
Sometimes a student will be able to solve a maths question, but won’t be able to solve one almost exactly the same. Why is that?
I think it is in part because at school they have been taught how to solve a specific type of question which might come up in an exam. The problem is, if you add a twist or another step to a question, the student is uncertain how to solve it.
This means it is important for a child to learn how to decode and work around a number of similar but different questions.
This makes them more mentally flexible, which I think helps resolve this.
Here’s a testimonial from Sookyung in Hong Kong who’s daughter I have tutored for a number of months now, leading into her new school in Y4 in Hong Kong:
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It is really useful for any child to build up a list of advanced words which they can:
Spell
Understand
Know when to use
I suggest one a one page Word doc with about 20 great words which they can “own”. The word list can continually be updated as the child gets older and requires more complex words.
I can help with Physics Homework, not only in answering questions but also;
Understanding what a question is actually asking for
Making sure the child understand the essential vocabulary for this topic – e.g. velocity, speed, mass, force etc
Any background information the child may have missed in class – e.g. the difference between speed and velocity
Making sure the child can answer another similar but different question which I can make up for them
Ensuring a child knows how to get all the marks for a question, e.g. to identify steps and show all the working out
All of the above will not only enable a child to complete their physics homework but will also help fill any gaps in their understanding. It also means that the child has secured this step and is ready for the next lesson at school.
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At school children learn about verbs, adverbs, nouns and adjectives. This doesn’t mean children always have to use adverbs. Instead, make your own list of powerful verbs which don’t need an adverb.
For example instead of;
The dog ran quickly through the forest.
try;
The dog dashed through the forest.
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