It’s been said that “Education is not the preparation for life; education is life itself.” Since the beginning, Scholars has strived to play a crucial role in the educational landscape by providing personalized and targeted academic support to students of all ages and backgrounds. This personalized attention has significantly improved students’ understanding of challenging concepts, boosting their confidence and performance, and ensuring that every student can thrive academically. Scholars has always worked to complement formal education, empowering students to reach their full potential and achieve their academic goals.

Here’s to 25 years of turning “I can’t” into “I can!”, transforming “I’m lost” into “I’ve got this!” and changing “I don’t understand” into “Eureka!” We want to thank everyone in the Scholars family who has contributed to our 25 years of excellence in education through their hard work and dedication. Thank you to all our exceptional franchisees across the continent, our incredible tutors who are so passionate about helping students, our team at Scholars HQ, and, of course, every student and family who has walked through our door. Nothing is more rewarding than watching a child’s confidence grow as they become more and more educationally empowered through tutoring.

It has been an incredible first 25 years, and we are excited to continue evolving and expanding as we look towards a future of positively impacting as many communities as possible. Let’s keep the learning—and the laughter—going strong for many more years to come!

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At Scholars, we teach all types of students at every grade level and subject. Not only do each have their unique learning style, but they also face unique challenges on their path to success. Tutoring overachieving students presents us with many opportunities. Many of these students possess an impressive drive for success but can be hindered by perfectionism, burnout, boredom in class, or other factors. Keeping these students stimulated intellectually helps to keep them interested and engaged in school. Tutoring can positively affect these students by challenging them skillfully while supporting their well-being. 

Here are a few ways to tutor overachieving students effectively:

Give Them New Challenges
Providing our overachieving students with advanced problems or topics helps to keep them engaged. Encouraging them to go beyond what is being taught in the classroom and to dig deeper into the topics that interest them provides them with exciting new challenges and allows them to feel motivated to learn without feeling constrained by their textbooks. This helps to broaden their perspectives and encourage them to be curious.

Promote Collaboration
Learning with other students creates opportunities for group discussions and peer tutoring, which can enhance learning through teaching. Solving problems with their friends and peers not only helps to make learning fun but also aids in developing their interpersonal skills, communication, and confidence. 

Provide Resources
At Scholars, we have the resources to help our overachieving students learn beyond the curriculum to ensure further enrichment. We can help them dive deeper into topics that interest them, encouraging exciting research projects at Scholars and home. Aside from the extra research, teaching students overachieving in executive skills such as time management, organization, and problem-solving can help them prepare for college, university, and beyond. Helping them to set goals will also keep them motivated to maintain their high marks in school while hitting personal learning milestones outside of class. 

Providing a Supportive Environment and Celebrating Success
Providing a space where students can feel comfortable discussing their challenges is essential. Many overachieving students benefit from learning strategies to recognize and manage perfectionism. Students need to learn the value of seeking help when it’s needed, both academically and emotionally. Recognizing a student’s efforts and achievements also contributes to a supportive environment as they begin to understand the lifelong lesson about the value of hard work and dedication. We encourage our overachieving students to balance striving for excellence and enjoying their learning journey.

It’s essential to recognize that overachieving students need help and attention too! It’s easy to look at a student getting straight A’s and think that everything is great, but giving these students the attention and care they need to continue succeeding is essential.

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With thousands of game choices, deciding which one to buy can be overwhelming. To help make your choices easier, we’re highlighting some of our favourites that we think your child will love. Here’s a list of our recommendations:

Scrabble Junior
Scrabble Junior is a fun and easy word game for ages three and up! This takes and simplifies the original Scrabble game, challenging players to match the letters on the board to complete words. There are eye-catching picture clues on the board and quirky character tokens to track your score. Don’t worry about your children getting bored because once they have mastered the letter-matching, they can turn the board over and come up with their own words. It’s a great and fun way for children to learn how to spell and build their vocabulary.

UNO & UNO Junior
This classic card game helps children practice matching colours and numbers while also teaching them about pattern recognition, decision-making, and strategy. It’s easy to learn and provides plenty of opportunities for friendly competition and fun. It’s also a very adaptable game, as its simple rules and flexible gameplay make it accessible to young people of all ages and abilities. UNO Junior simplifies it even more, adding matching animal illustrations to each number card so that children who don’t know their numbers can still play.

Catan Junior
Catan Junior is a simplified version of the classic strategy game that teaches children resource management, negotiation skills, and basic strategy while mixing adventure and exploration. As each player collects resources, builds pirate hideouts, and expands their island, they must make critical decisions to increase their chances of victory. The gameplay encourages creativity and imagination and is entertaining for the whole family. 

Ticket to Ride
Ticket to Ride is a cross-country train adventure game which challenges players to connect cities to build train routes across North America. It’s simple to learn and offers a great balance of luck and strategy. It’s a fun and interactive way to introduce children to geography. As they build their train routes, they learn the locations of cities and countries. They also develop their math skills by calculating distances between cities. Overall, Ticket to Ride offers a good blend of educational, strategic, and social benefits and can provide hours of fun for the whole family.

Forbidden Island
This game was a 2010 Mensa Favorite Brainy Games Winner for children ten and over. In this cooperative game, players work together to collect treasure from a sinking island before it disappears into the ocean. The gameplay promotes strategic thinking, problem-solving, risk assessment, and planning. Because the game heavily relies on teamwork, successes are celebrated together, and failures are used as opportunities to learn and adapt as a team. It’s fun to play and look at with its fantastic artwork and game pieces. This is an excellent choice for family game night!

Sushi Go!
Sushi Go! is a fast-moving card game where players pass cards to each other to collect the right combination of sushi dishes to score points. The rules and mechanics are easy to learn, and your children will love the vibrant artwork on each card. The fast-paced gameplay is suitable for kids with shorter attention spans, and it will help develop your child’s decision-making prowess and strengthen their strategic thinking and math skills.   

You won’t be bored with these board games! We hope this helps you plan your next family game night!

The post The Best Board Games for Children appeared first on Scholars Education.

STEM-related jobs are projected to grow 15% by 2031. STEM jobs cover a wide array of fun and fascinating careers. We’re not just talking about scientists, engineers, and mathematicians. There are countless interesting jobs, such as Forest Restorers, Escape Room Designers, Sound Effect Makers, Honeybee Researchers, Movie Animators, and even Ice Cream Specialists!

Aside from learning STEM in school, there are many exciting toys that can help students develop their skills and love of STEM at home. These toys provide children with a dynamic and hands-on learning experience, encouraging them to use their creativity and imagination in ways that will empower them to face future challenges with confidence and competence.

Here are a few new STEM toys that we think are great!

Clixo
Construction kits are fun for children (and adults) of all ages, and this versatile kit from Clixo allows you to build things using magnetic tiles. You can create 3D animals, airplanes, buildings, cars, and much more. This toy will help build motor skills, creativity, spatial skills and more. It’s fun for the whole family, packs easily for travel, and you can even clean them in the dishwasher. 

Turing Tumble
Turing Tumble challenges players (8 and up) to solve logic puzzles by building mechanical computers powered by marbles. It’s a well-designed game that teaches children the fundamentals of coding as they work their way through increasingly difficult puzzles. 

Sphero Specdrums
If your child loves music, these rings allow them to create sounds using any objects that they see! The Specdrums MIX app allows your child to assign tones to tints and create music using the world around them. They are fun for all ages, easy to use, and are a great way to introduce your child to music creation.

Geomag Glow
Geomag is a 3D, glow-in-the-dark magnetic construction set that will keep your child entertained for hours. This fun and educational set comes with 20 rods and 20 ball bearings, allowing you to create various shapes and structures. It’s good for ages 3 and up and is a great way to introduce young children to STEM. 

Represented Collective Legendary Card Collection – Women in STEM
This wonderfully illustrated set of cards provides the stories of women who have made impactful contributions to STEM. With a focus on Black and Indigenous women, this set is a great way for young women to be inspired by their amazing achievements.

Crayola Colour Chemistry Set
This set allows children to use bright Crayola ingredients to become scientists in their own homes! With 16 out-of-the-box experiments, and more than 50 using household items (including the classic build-your-own volcano), this kit will keep your child challenged and entertained for hours. Fun for the whole family!

Click here to learn more about Scholars exciting STEM program for students of all ages!

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For students, New Year’s resolutions can focus on education-related aspirations and personal achievements. Combined, they can help your child grow and succeed in all areas of life. Here are some resolutions that can help students have a productive, enjoyable, and rewarding year:

• Practice Healthy Habits
  Practising healthy habits can help decrease stress, improve focus and performance, and improve overall quality of life. Resolving to find time to include exercise into your weekly routine, getting a good amount of sleep, eating nutritious foods, and drinking a lot of water are all things that can boost your mood and cause a rise in productivity.
  
• Don’t Procrastinate
  Procrastination is a bad habit which can undermine a student’s ability to manage time effectively. This can lead to last-minute cramming and an increase in stress and anxiety levels. It can also set a precedent for poor work habits later in life. Making a resolution to be more diligent about staying on top of assignments and starting them early can lead to current success and foster a foundation of resilience and success in the future.
  
• Study More Effectively
  Having strong and efficient study habits can help your child to build confidence in the classroom. Making a resolution to strengthen their study skills will make them more prepared for class and enhance their comprehension and retention of information. These improvements can be made by creating and keeping a consistent study schedule, having a comfortable and well-equipped study area, and avoiding distractions during study time.
  
• Read a Book a Month
  Reading more is always a good idea, no matter your age. For children, making a resolution to read one book per month can have many benefits, including stimulating their minds, expanding their vocabulary, encouraging creativity, and fostering a deeper understanding of different cultures, ideas, and perspectives. Making reading a habit also instills discipline and time-management skills. Encouraging your child to make this one of their resolutions will help to create a lifelong love of reading and prepare them for a future of intellectual exploration.
  
• Reduce Screen Time
  We are living in a screen-filled world. Almost everywhere you turn, screens offer endless – and often mindless – entertainment, information, and distraction. Making a resolution to reduce screen time will benefit your child in many ways. Not only will it encourage them to increase their physical activity, but it will also prevent issues such as disrupted sleep patterns and eye strain. Putting down the screen and encouraging face-to-face interactions can also help to strengthen relationships with friends and family. Developing a healthy relationship with technology teaches children to use devices responsibly and can help them develop a healthy and balanced approach to online and offline life.
  
• Learn a New Skill
  Learning a new skill or picking up a new hobby can add a lot of fun and excitement to a child’s life. Whether trying out a new sport, learning a musical instrument, learning to cook, or getting into creative arts, resolving to try something new can go a long way in their personal and intellectual development. Aside from the fun of learning, acquiring new skills encourages goal setting, perseverance, social development, and can boost their self-esteem. Encourage your child to learn a new skill this year, and you may open a new world of enjoyment for them.

Some other great resolutions for kids are: to help others more, to give at least one compliment every day, to complete all your chores each week, to use less plastic, to try to save a certain amount of money each month, to keep a journal, or to start a family game night!

Setting a resolution will give you motivation and accountability and can lead you to push yourself to new and exciting places. We wish you all good luck this year and beyond!

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Podcasts have increased in popularity with young people in the last few years, with a recent study showing that one in five children aged six to eight reported listening to podcasts, along with 48 percent of children aged 13 to 17 tuning in. Podcasts are also an excellent co-listening option, with 63% of parents in the study reporting that they listened to the podcasts with their children while driving or doing chores around the house. They provide an excellent opportunity for family members to connect and bond over fun topics and information.

In terms of the variety of podcast content children want to hear, some of the more popular topics are stories, science, fact-based non-fiction, animals, and music. In this article, we will list some of the most entertaining and informative podcasts for your child to listen to, which will keep them entertained for hours.

• Story Pirates
  Story Pirates features performances of stories written by children using professional actors, musicians, and entertainers. These often humorous stories highlight the vivid imaginations of young people and are a great way to motivate children to write their own stories and develop their creative writing skills.

• Brains On!
  Brains On! is a science-based podcast that both children and adults can enjoy. It has over 100 episodes, each featuring a different topic related to STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math). In each episode of this award-winning podcast, a young co-host joins the primary host, Molly Bloom, to explore topics such as “How do birds communicate?”, “Why do we like some foods but not others?”, “Why do we need bugs?”, “How heavy is the sky?”, and many more.  

• Wow in the World
  Another science-themed podcast, Wow in the World, is a fun and often nutty show packed with comedy, music and exciting information. It features a cast of characters, including the hosts Mindy and Guy, who take listeners on an entertaining journey through the latest science, technology, and innovation news. Brought to you by NPR, it’s an excellent show for children and grown-ups alike. 

• Circle Round
  Circle Round is a podcast that adapts worldwide folktales and turns them into radio plays. These 20-30-minute stories explore kindness, generosity, patience, and courage. They feature tales from every corner of the earth, including the Middle East, South Asia, Africa, Europe, and many more. In these episodes, you’ll also hear familiar voices playing parts, often featuring famous actors and musicians. 

• Smash Boom Best
  Smash Boom Best is a podcast aimed at starting spirited debates between family members. In each episode, a different panel of debaters takes two things, smashes them together, and lets the listener decide what’s best. Recent episodes have featured matchups such as “Pancakes vs. Waffles”, “Baths vs. Showers”, “Scuba Diving vs. Skydiving”, and “Dogs vs. Cats”. Along with being a funny and entertaining podcast, it will allow your children to work on their debating skills and lead to some fun discussions for the whole family.

• Peace Out
  The Peace Out podcast aims to help children go to sleep feeling calm and peaceful. Each soothing story focuses on meditation and mindfulness, helping your child slow down their thoughts and fall asleep peacefully. These short episodes are a great way to introduce your children to visualization and breathing exercises and can be an excellent addition to bedtime routines. 

We hope you like these podcast suggestions! No matter what topics, hobbies, or subjects your child is interested in, there is a podcast out there that can help them learn more about them or just be entertained for a while!

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Thousands of children’s books are published annually, with over 250 million sold each year, making up 32.8% of all book sales in the United States. Because we know that walking through the children’s book aisle at the store can be pretty overwhelming, we’ve prepared a list of some great children’s books released in 2023 that we think your kids will love. 

The Artist (Ed Vere – ages 3+)

This book tells the story of a brave artist (and dinosaur) who goes on a journey to share her creativity with the world. While overcoming setbacks, the artist brightens things up with her talent and generosity everywhere she goes. Aside from being wonderfully illustrated, it teaches kids to stay positive in the face of obstacles and how much of an impact you can make by sharing your artistic talents. 

Mary Can! (Mary J. Blige – ages 3+)

This inspirational story was written by the multi-talented award-winning artist Mary J. Blige. After being constantly told “no,” Mary decides she won’t let negativity get her down as she chases her dream of being a famous singer. It teaches kids to be confident and ambitious and to believe in themselves no matter what. 

Woo Hoo! You’re Doing Great! (Sandra Boynton – ages 6+)

A New York Times Bestseller, this uplifting book shares an important message about trying your best, no matter what you’re doing. Throughout the book, there is an exuberant chicken there to give you a pep talk to help you overcome any fears or trepidations you may have about learning a new skill or feeling stressed. It’s a funny and heartfelt book that will help foster positive self-esteem in your kids. 

Wants vs Needs vs Robots (Michael Rex – ages 6+)

This book explains the important difference between wants and needs. Using robots as an example, the author explores what happens when a robot sacrifices its needs for wants, compared to one that prioritizes its needs and is more creative and selective with its wants. It’s a fun read-aloud book with excellent illustrations and an important lesson for kids.

Little People, BIG DREAMS: Lewis Hamilton (Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara – ages 6+)

Little People, Big Dreams is a popular series of biographies for kids that tells the stories of exceptional people from the world of music, education, sports, film, activism, and more. This edition looks at the inspiring story of F1 Racing Champion Lewis Hamilton, who overcame adversity to become one of the greatest race car drivers ever. Aside from his trophies, he has been an advocate for racial justice, racial diversity in sports, as well as positive mental health. The story is told in simple sentences and is perfect for reading aloud to toddlers. 

The Eyes and the Impossible (Dave Eggers – ages 9+)

Acclaimed author Dave Eggers offers an endearing story about a free dog (and a very fast dog) named Johannes, who unwittingly becomes a hero to the other animals in the park where he lives. Beautifully illustrated, it’s a wild, witty, thought-provoking story about friendship and liberation that can be enjoyed with the whole family. 

The One and Only Ruby (Katherine Applegate – ages 9+)

This book is the second sequel to the award-winning modern classic “The One and Only Ivan” and stars Ruby, the baby elephant from that wonderful story. It picks up a few months after the end of the second book, “The One and Only Bob,” and finds Ruby living in a wildlife sanctuary in Africa. When she is visited by her caretaker from the orphanage she grew up in, it brings back a flood of memories which she shares with her friends. It’s beautifully written and is humorous, heartfelt and sweet. 

Four Eyes (Rex Ogle & Dave Valeza – ages 9+)

Four Eyes is a heartwarming graphic novel about fitting in, standing up to bullies, and finding the right pair of glasses. It follows the story of Rex, who’s having trouble fitting in with his sixth-grade classmates in his new school. It tackles themes of loneliness and change and takes the reader through some emotional highs and lows, ultimately spinning a funny, heartfelt tale about finding connections and overcoming adversity.

The post Some Books From 2023 That Your Kids Will Love appeared first on Scholars Education.

Although feeling some nerves and having feelings of anxiety can be expected for any student who is preparing for a test, it’s crucial to stop these feelings from growing to the point where they impact a student’s performance and cause adverse effects. To prevent them, we must first identify what causes them. Some common reasons for test anxiety include unpreparedness, fear of failure, embarrassment due to poor grades, a lack of control, and inadequate testing history. 

Here are some ways that you can help your child overcome test anxiety:

Say “No” to Negativity

Identifying negative thoughts that can cause you to think unfavourably about yourself leading up to a test can help you manage test anxiety. Making an effort to replace thoughts like “I’m going to fail” with “I am ready to succeed” or “I can’t do this” with “I will do this” can go a long way to building confidence and pushing away anxiety and self-doubt. Focus on the fact that you’ve worked hard and prepared well instead of making up for adverse scenarios.

Relaxation Techniques

Utilizing relaxation techniques before a test, such as visualization, breathing exercises, meditation, and yoga, are all proven to help manage anxiety and stress symptoms. Learning how to calm your mind and body down can be an invaluable tool to have at your disposal when you are in a high-pressure situation such as a test or exam. If your body is used to going into a stress response under pressure, relaxation techniques can teach it to enter a relaxation response instead. 

Take Your Time

It’s important not to rush during a test, as working too fast can provoke feelings of anxiety. Starting with questions you know and can more easily answer can give you an early sense of accomplishment that you can carry through the remainder of the test. This will also allow you to spend more time on more complex questions. Also, read over the test first, so you know what’s ahead of you and can formulate a plan on which areas to start and end with.

Be Prepared!

This seems like a no-brainer, but it’s worth talking about. If you take the time to study correctly and do all the little things that can help you to feel good on the day of the test (get a good night’s sleep, eat a good breakfast, show up early for the test), then you’ll feel more confident when you begin the test. Reviewing materials in the weeks leading up to the test or using tutors and study partners to prepare can go a long way in keeping negative thoughts away and reducing or eliminating any test anxiety. 

Turn that test anxiety into test assurance! Don’t let those negative thoughts keep you from achieving the grades and goals you worked so hard for.

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