National School Sports Week

This week is important because it celebrates schools all over the country participating in P.E. Since National School Sports Week was established in 2008, more than 5000 schools take part in physical activity, with more than 1.8 million pupils participating across the country!

Why is it important?

The 24th – 28th June highlights the importance of young people keeping active, especially during the long hours of learning whilst at school. That’s why it is important to have a lesson of at least one hour of physical activity per week, alongside studying.

Encouraging children to get active and participate in sports at school is what this week is all about, as well as keeping active in general. There are so many different types of sports to try, from swimming to gymnastics and tennis, there is something out there for everyone.

This week is also the women’s football world cup, so why not give football a go?

There are so many benefits of sports and exercise, including,  increasing the ability to focus; stimulating brain growth, improving mental health and communication, and boosting cognitive performance.

But how do we know all this?

A study conducted with mice (Van Pragg et al. 1999), compared inactive mice with mice that ran 3 miles per night on an exercise wheel. The physical mice showed dramatic brain growth. Learning and memory was doubled compared to the dormant mice. This goes to show that exercise is therefore good for both the brain and the body.

Physical activity is also known to improve mood by releasing endorphins to the brain. A positive mindset is certainly important for learning.

Mind and Body

As well as keeping the body in shape, it is vital to keep exercising the brain, too. Especially during the six week summer holidays, to keep children on-track with learning.

Students attending the Croydon StudyBox centre get one free hour of playtime, using the on-site facilities, before or after their tuition. What better time to make use of this than during National School Sports Week? There are also two other centres in Wallington and Sutton. Did we mention that new members get a free trial?

Sign up here!

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Introducing a Coding Course For Kids During May Half Term

This May half term, StudyBox will be introducing a coding course for students. Further courses will then be made available during the summer break.

What is coding?

Coding is the skill of the future. It is the foundation on which websites, apps and video games are created and maintained. Put simply, through the language of coding we communicate with computers.

Why should children learn to code?

Learning to code might be perceived by students as a welcome diversion from academic study, but it is a great way to develop new skills. Not only is coding fun and “cool”, but there are also many benefits associated with learning to code:

Coding helps students to develop new, transferable skills

• Problem Solving

Coding teaches students to confront complex problems and break them down into smaller parts. This leads to logical, computational thinking.

• Creativity

Instead of just using technology, through coding students put together their own vision of an app, game or website

• Collaboration

By working together on projects, students naturally learn to collaborate and work effectively as a team, thereby developing robust work and life skills.

• Communication

Of computers, it is often said that you only get out what you put in, and this is very much the case with coding. Students must communicate their requirements concisely through the language of coding for their project to be successful.

• Critical Thinking

When coding, a methodical approach is essential. Students learn to map out and rigidly follow the stages of their work.

All these skills are transferrable across academic disciplines and extra-curricular activities.

Coding skills provide wider opportunities in the job market

According to Emsi, the student-to-employment economic specialists, Britain faces a shortage in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) skills. Coding is a skill that is very much associated with this area of learning.

Coding skills improve job prospects:

• When applying to colleges or universities for STEM subjects, having coding experience can give students an advantage over the competition
• Demonstrating coding skills will increase a student’s prospects of securing programming job roles. Computing jobs are growing at over twice the national average of other careers, but it is argued there are not enough skilled people to fill them
• Basic programming knowledge enhances the way students interact with the technologies they use at university and throughout their career.

StudyBox tuition will be introducing a coding course in May half term.

Why Choose StudyBox Coding Lab?

Introduction to coding concepts using a variety of tools and techniques that will enhance their knowledge of coding.

What they will learn:

• Learn about control and sensors while programming a robot

• Curriculum-based activities

• Learn to input commands

• Debug programmes

• Create their own games

 

Transferrable Skills: Problem Solving, Creativity, Collaboration, Communication, Critical Thinking.

 

May Half-Term

10 am to 2 pm

Monday 27th – Thursday 30th 

The course will take place at StudyBox@Kidspace Croydon

Book your free trial.

Course Overview:

5-7 year-olds

1-hour lessons

• A fun introduction to coding.

• Screen-free and hands-on activities to teach coding.

• Learn to program a robot to perform a sequence of steps.

• Children can set up fun cause and effect sequences.

 

8-9 year-olds

1-hour lessons

• Progress from off-screen activities to on-screen coding.

• Team-based projects.

• Create a vehicle and programme it to move and complete tasks.

• Introduction to Python coding language.

10-12 year-olds

1 or 2 hour Lessons

• Learn how coding languages work.

• Create your own code.

• Linking software with hardware.

• Learn how to continue working on their project after the lesson has finished.

Get in touch

To find out more about StudyBox coding courses and how your child can learn the skill of the future, call us on 020 3189 1442 or visit our website.

An additional tuition centre for StudyBox at Kidspace, Croydon

In April, StudyBox opened its latest tuition centre. In addition to our centres in Wallington, Sutton and Epsom we now have our third centre in Kidspace at The Colonnades, Croydon.

This unique setting allows us to provide students with the opportunity to combine exercise and education. As experts in English, Maths and Science tuition, at StudyBox we understand the benefits of exercise on a child’s capacity to learn.

Kidspace provides the perfect setting for learning

The creation of Kidspace was a response to a lack of recreation facilities for children in the local area. The owners maintain that play should be challenging and fun, a mantra that sits perfectly with the StudyBox approach to education. We like to challenge our students while doing everything possible to create a relaxed and inspirational environment.

So, the perfect partnership between recreation and education was born. The StudyBox centre at Kidspace is open weekdays from 4-6pm and on Saturday mornings. There is free car parking, and for those using public transport, the centre is on a busy bus route.

The added bonus for students attending our Croydon centre is that they also get one hour of free play time before or after their class. A report published in PubMed Central (PMC) found that the ability to focus attention is improved among children who participate in physical activities. Having a tuition centre inside an indoor adventure playground must, then, be a win-win!

StudyBox tutors complement the work being done in schools

StudyBox first opened in March 2015. We take great care to hire a wide range of enthusiastic tutors who can adapt to the different learning styles and abilities of students. Close relationships with local schools are also key to serving local communities effectively.

We follow the national curriculum, guiding students through 11+ exams and GCSEs, and helping them transition from year to year throughout their education. StudyBox is proud of its achievements so far.

Get in touch

If you would like any more information about the new centre at Kidspace, call us on 0203 189 1442 (ext 4) or email us at [email protected]. Book your free trial now.

 

Dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s for SPaGs and SATs preparation

Although literacy has always been a key element of the SATs format for Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 students in primary schools, the Spelling Punctuation and Grammar (SPaG) Test was introduced in 2013 to bring a clearer focus to the literacy element of SATs.

What is the SPaG Test?

Informally known as the SPaG test, the English spelling, punctuation and grammar test was originally introduced to replace the previous English writing test in the KS2 SATs programme for Year 6 pupils.

Since the introduction in 2016 of the new format SATs, however, the increased focus on spelling, grammar and punctuation have resulted in the inclusion of a SPaG test in KS1 SATs.

What is the format of the SPaG Tests?

KS1 Paper 1: a spelling test of 20 words.

KS1 Paper 2: a grammar and punctuation test of about 20 questions, including the following: use of suffixes, identification of parts of speech, tenses, basic punctuation including commas and full stops, and the use of apostrophes.

KS2 Paper: a 45-minute test focussing on grammar and punctuation. It covers areas such as suffixes, conjunctions, punctuation types, tenses and use of Standard English.

KS2 paper: a spelling test of 20 words.

What are SATs used for?

SATS, including the SPaG Tests, evaluate a child’s educational progress at the end of KS1 and KS2.

KS1 SATs are marked internally by the school and used to monitor students’ progress. They evaluate potential and decide on the best maths and English group for each student for their KS2 education.

KS2 SATs are marked externally and used by Secondary Schools to group children into streams based on their academic ability. The sets or streams are usually implemented immediately as they join the school.

Why are SATs important?

Primary education is the catalyst for realising a student’s potential. If a student prepares well and gives their best performance in KS1 tests, thereby showing their true potential, they will work to the correct level throughout KS2, giving them the best chance to succeed when they are tested again in Year 6.

SATs results in Year 6 will affect how a student starts their secondary education, as this is the information on which secondary schools evaluate a student’s ability and potential, and stream them accordingly. This can have a significant impact on a student’s confidence and perception of their own ability and progress. Setting off on the right foot to meet optimum potential can reap benefits throughout a student’s secondary education.

Why is it important to prepare for SATs?

At ages 7 and 11, tests can be daunting, but the importance of the SATs can make them particularly overwhelming. You only need to look at the breakdown of what is included in the SATs papers to understand why!

By preparing early and getting used to SATs questions, students become more confident which will lead to stronger performance.

Get in touch

StudyBox is a tuition centre based in Wallington and Sutton, providing tuition in English, mathematics and science for SATS, 11+ and GCSE. To find out how we can help students with SATs preparation, visit https://studybox.london/sats-tuition/.

Check out our previous blog!

Exercise and education: the perfect formula for success

Evidence for the positive effect of exercise on learning is gathering pace. The benefits of exercise on attention control, which is crucial for a child’s studies, are proving to be particularly significant.

This April a new StudyBox Tuition centre open in Kidspace Croydon. Students will be rewarded with an hour’s free playtime in the adventure centre before or after each tuition session. It is expected that this combination of recreation and study will lead to a positive response to learning, and ultimately academic success.

Evidence For How Exercise Helps With Study

The Centre for Educational Neuroscience claims that performance in maths and reading is improved with aerobic fitness. Perceptual skills, intelligence, verbal tests, maths tests, memory and academic readiness in ages 4-18 years are positively affected by exercise.

Research conducted by Drollette et al in 2014 found that children who usually performed poorly on attention tasks improved when tested shortly after “moderate acute exercise” such as 20 minutes of walking on a treadmill.

Another study, performed by Scientific American, shared that in their two year study across 12 schools they found that the students who exercised achieved better results with the conclusion that exercise contributes to increased academic performance.

How does exercise help with academic study?

Here’s the science bit! A study, published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, reports that children who exercise have more white matter in their brains than those who don’t.

The areas of the brain where more white matter was observed are important for attention and memory. The results from a range of tests show that physical activity may be an important part of keeping children’s brains active and open to learning.

Regular exercise affects students by:

• Boosting memory
• Improving concentration
• Improving mental health
• Enhancing creativity

Students should exercise physically and mentally

Of course, it’s not just physical exercise that matters for young students. They must also exercise mentally through revision and regular study outside of the classroom. Private tuition boosts confidence by providing students with the opportunity to ask what they may think are “silly” questions and enables them to focus on problem areas of study.

StudyBox believes that the new tuition centre in Kidspace will provide the ideal opportunity for combining physical and mental exercise. Studying isn’t usually seen as a direct route to fun, but the new tuition centre will change that perception.

The new StudyBox tuition centre at Kidspace

The new purpose built modern classroom will be open weekdays from 4-6pm, and on Saturday mornings. There is free car parking and the centre is on a busy bus route.

StudyBox provides tuition in Maths, English, SATs & the 11 Plus for students of all abilities from Reception to Year 6.

Get in touch

If you would like any more information about this new centre, call us on 0203 189 1442 (ext 4) or email us at [email protected]. Free trials are available. studybox.london

Private Tuition Could Benefit Your Child

Many students find that mainstream education doesn’t have the resources to provide sufficient one-to-one attention from teachers. Parents are turning to private tuition to complement the teaching provided in school.

How can tutors help with GCSEs?

Tuition for GCSE students is on the rise. The 2018 Sutton Trust survey found that 27% of students now have a tutor at some point in their education.

Benefits of working with a tutor at StudyBox:

• Our tutors provide customised lessons in which they can concentrate on specific areas of the syllabus that are proving problematic
• In one-to-one sessions, the tutor can determine and focus upon a student’s weak areas
• A student is more likely to ask for help and resolve the problem they’re struggling with
• Our tutors can help the student with homework and test practice which helps build confidence in the classroom
• Students have access to additional learning resources

Why invest in a tutor for the 11+ exam?

Grammar schools have a reputation as the pinnacle of the secondary education system. With a wealth of resources and a history of exceptional results, parents aspire to see their child attend grammar schools. Places are incredibly competitive and students must pass the 11+ exam to gain entry.

The 11+ exam is extremely difficult, to the extent that many children begin to prepare for it from as early as Years 3 or 4. Our tutors know which techniques to use to improve a child’s score and enhance their chances of getting into a grammar school of their choice.

The 11+ exam is an advanced KS2 level and we provide a specialised programme for students in year 4 and 5. We begin teaching students more challenging topics early on in year 5 to ensure they have sufficient time to consolidate their knowledge and practice applying skills to exam style questions.

The benefits of revision

The sooner a student starts to revise, the better.

In mainstream education, the time to teach the syllabus is limited and students are required to do a large proportion of their revision at home.

By taking the time to go over subjects, again and again, the student’s confidence naturally grows. A tutor can offer various revision techniques to avoid cramming which causes stress and anxiety.

StudyBox is a maths and English tuition centre based in Wallington and Sutton. We provide tuition in English, mathematics and science for SATS, GCSE and 11+. To find out more visit our website. Follow our Facebook!

The Importance of Reading Skills

Importance of reading skills

Reading skills are critical for children’s development, studies have shown a link between competency in reading and overall attainment. Scientific research has linked childhood reading ability to improve life outcomes such as higher earning.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies conducted a study in 2015:
“Overall, it has shown that reading skills are associated with significant increases in gross hourly wages and gross weekly earnings.”

There are so many digital distractions these days, it can be difficult to get children to read, here are some ideas to help:

Dedicate a set time for reading

Create a set time in the day where your child has to read for at least an hour. Turn off all distractions so they can 100% focus on the reading. As a parent, you can also join in and read with them so it can seem like a joint activity.

Reward good reading

Setting a target to read maybe 2 or 3 books a month with a reward at the end will be an incentive for your child to get reading!

Find books that interest them

Reading will certainly be a challenge if your child is reading books that do not interest them. Consider what interests your child has, and then try to find books related to that. For example, if your child is interested in fantasy, there are a great number of ‘fantasy fiction’ books out there that will interest all different readers!

Exhibit a love of reading throughout your household

If your child observes that you as parents love to read, it is very likely that they will develop a love of reading themselves.

English Tuition

If you feel you have helped your child as best as you can but they still need help, maybe consider a tuition centre where your child can get tailored help from a skilled professional. Here at StudyBox each student has a unique lesson plan & works at their own pace guided by the tutor, goals are set and monitored with weekly feedback to parents.

StudyBox is a maths and English tuition centre based in Wallington and Sutton, to find out more click here: https://studybox.london/

Danielle Reid

Help your child improve their maths skills

Help Your Child Improve Their Maths Skills

Maths can be a tricky subject for many people and as a parent, you may feel helpless if your child is struggling. There are many easy, simple ways you can help your child improve their math skills, here are a few suggestions we have that you can try out.

Use real-world maths

A worksheet full of maths is not always the best method for some learners, try engaging your child in solving real-world problems with you, this might help them catch on and learn much more quickly.

Some examples:

Have them try to figure out the shopping total before you get to the checkout
When out shopping have them figure out how much change you should get back from your purchase
Baking, particularly when you halve, double, or triple a recipe is a great way of learning fractions

Ask your child questions.

Look over your child’s homework and spend time with them reviewing their answers. Ask them the steps they took in order to get to their answer, this will give you an insight into their level of knowledge and if they understand the process. This will give you the opportunity to understand where they need help and identify any breakdown in understanding.
Play games that encourage mathematical thinking or reinforce skills
There is a high possibility that when your child thinks of maths they dread it, try and make it fun by playing mathematical games. Playing math games are a great way to have fun and improve skills, you can find math games online or can even find some such as Sumuko, Prime Club and Monopoly, in store!

Develop a healthy mindset

Confidence is key when it comes to learning a subject like math, if your child is struggling and has lost some confidence, go back a few steps to the skills that they feel comfortable doing and go on from there. Praise for effort not for performance, it is the continued effort that is important. Making mistakes isn’t bad, it will be part of the journey for every learner, be sure to use positive language such as “I can’t do it,” to “I can’t do it yet.” to keep your child motivated to learn!

Maths Tuition

If you feel you have helped your child as best as you can but they still need help, maybe consider a tuition centre where your child can get tailored help from a skilled professional. Here at StudyBox each student has a unique lesson plan & works at their own pace guided by the tutor, goals are set and monitored with weekly feedback to parents.

StudyBox is a maths and English tuition centre based in Wallington and Sutton, to find out more click here: https://studybox.london/maths-tuition/

Danielle Reid

How to improve children’s concentration skills

How to improve children’s concentration skills

For your child to make the most of their education, it is vital that they have good concentration skills. The school day will involve listening and doing classwork, so it is important they are able to stay engaged throughout the day.

Here are a few ways you can help your child to improve their concentration skills:

Sleep

Sleep is without a doubt a major influence on how well anyone concentrates, especially for children. It is recommended that children get at least 9 hours of sleep a night. Having a designated bedtime will be easier as they can get into a routine.

Diet

Having a good diet is important, particularly amongst children, diet has a great influence on energy levels and concentration skills. Having a well-balanced diet consisting of food from the four main food groups will help brain function and concentration.

We can’t stress enough how important it is to make sure your child never skips breakfast. Breakfast such as oats, whole-grain cereal, and bread release energy slowly, which will help them to stay alert for the day ahead.

Exercise

Research by educational experts has linked physical activity and improved concentration levels. Regular exercise throughout the week is important, even activities such as walking to school and back will be helpful.

Play focus games and exercises

There are studies that have shown that gadgets reduce attention span and memory power of children.

Some ideas of things you can do:

• Thinking games- playing games such as crossword/jigsaw puzzles and card games like ‘Memory’ and ‘UNO’ are a great way to strengthen their concentration!
• Sitting- if your child finds it hard to sit still for a long period of time, try playing ‘statue’ this involves challenging your child to sit in a chair without moving/fidgeting to see how long they can do it.

Extra Tuition

If you feel you have helped your child as best as you can but they still need help, maybe consider a tuition centre where your child can get tailored help from a skilled professional. Here at StudyBox each student has a unique lesson plan & works at their own pace guided by the tutor, goals are set and monitored with weekly feedback to parents.

StudyBox is a maths and English tuition centre based in Wallington and Sutton, to find out more click here: https://studybox.london/

Danielle Reid

Easy Back To School Breakfast

Easy Back-To-School Breakfasts

It’s almost time for back to school, which means the crazy school mornings are back! It’s important that you make sure your children have a good breakfast before they head off for the day. Here are some simple back to school breakfast ideas you can prepare to make sure your children get all the nutrients they need.

1. Overnight Oats- no-fuss, quick and healthy breakfast!

Ingredients

• Oats
• Frozen Berries
• Water
• Frozen Yoghurt, regular yoghurt or soy yoghurt – natural and unsweetened if possible

Equipment

• Jar

Method

1. Spoon 3 dessert spoons, approx 27g of dried rolled oats into the jar
2. Add 1 teaspoon of water
3. Add approx 10 frozen berries
4. Top off with yoghurt and leave overnight in the fridge for best results

 

2. Smoothies- Perfect for those who don’t want to eat in the morning!

Ingredients

• 1 cup – Greek or plain yogurt
• 2 medium – banana
• 1 cup – strawberries, frozen, unsweetened
• 1/4 cup – flaxseed, ground
• 1 cup – spinach

Method

1. Add all smoothie ingredients to a high-powered blender. (If your blender won’t mix this, add small amounts of water until it begins to blend, but try to keep it as thick as possible.
2. Serve immediately

You can adapt this recipe and change any fruits/yogurt that you prefer.  

 

3. Oatmeal Breakfast Cookie – Cookies for breakfast are bound to go down a treat!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup 1 mashed banana
• 1/2 cup natural peanut butter (or non-peanut)
• 1/2 cup honey*
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1/4 cup whole wheat flour*
• 1/4 cup ground flax seed (or an additional 1/4 cup flour)
• 1/4 cup nonfat milk powder or vanilla protein powder (+ 2 tablespoons water if dough is too thick)
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries or raisins

Equipment

• Bowls
  
• Baking tray
• Measuring Cup
• Container

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly coat two cookie sheets with cooking spray, and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, stir together the banana, peanut butter, honey, and vanilla.
3. In a small bowl, combine the oats, flour, flax seed, milk powder, cinnamon, and baking soda.
4. Stir the oat mixture into the banana mixture until combined. Stir in the cranberries.
5. Using a ¼-cup measuring cup, drop mounds of dough 3 inches apart on the prepared cookie sheets. With a thin metal or small plastic spatula dipped in water, flatten, and spread each mound of dough to a 2¾-inch round, about ½ inch thick.
6. Bake, one sheet at a time, for 14 to 16 minutes or until browned. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
7. Store in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag for up to 3 days, thaw before serving.

Serving Size: 12

 

4. Eggo Breakfast Sandwiches- Something different!

Ingredients

• 8 individual Waffle
• 4 individual Cheddar Cheese, Sharp, Sliced
• 4 ½ ounces Deli Ham, Sliced

Equipment

• Freezer Bag
• Cling film
• Baking Sheets

Method

1. On one side of the waffle place one slice of cheese and two slices of ham.
2. Place other half of waffle on top of ham to form sandwiches.
3. Bake sandwiches on a baking sheet for 4-5 minutes, until outside is crispy and cheese is melted.
4. Wrap the sandwiches you have NOT baked individually in cling film and place into freezer bags and freeze so they are prepared for the week ahead.
5. Thaw the waffles the night before in the fridge and they will be ready to bake in the morning.

Click Here.

Danielle Reid
14/09/2018