Author: Noel

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Greater Than, Less Than: 3 Ways To Teach It

Knowing something and knowing how to teach it, are two different things. Like so many things in life, most people don’t remember learning how to recognize that one number is greater than another number. However, we didn’t know this until we were taught. As adults it seems as something we know intrinsically. How can we teach greater than and less than means when you don’t recall how you learned it?  

If you want to increase the potential in your kid and help them in school, knowing how to teach some of these topics can help them out, especially if they don’t have the best teacher. You can also do this by using a learning enhancement program like MindFinity – click here to learn more.

For teaching greater than, less than, we have some tips:

The Chocolate Approach

Split a chocolate bar into two unequal pieces and see which piece your child chooses. They know intrinsically that one piece is greater than the other, even if they don’t understand this is what they are doing. Cut out greater than, less than, and equal signs, and pull out your favorite sectioned chocolate bar. Break it into pieces and use this hands-on approach to teach greater than and less than.

Move the squares around have your child put the right sign in the correct place.

The bonus? You both get a sweet treat!

The Alligator Method

Many teachers use the Alligator Method analogy to teach greater than and less than. They will draw an Alligator mouth on the greater than and less than signs (just adding teeth). Use the same philosophy as before: just like you, the alligator is going to want to eat more. This means that the mouth should always be open towards the bigger number.

You can start with food so that your kid understands the concept, but you do want to move to numbers fairly quickly. It can be a little more difficult to teach “equal” here, but you can just explain that the alligator is looking forward because he doesn’t know which one he wants to eat first, and he thinks you might be the food.

Be Sure They Know The Names

One thing you want to be careful about when using the alligator approach is that your child still needs to know the names of the symbols. While it may help them understand this abstract concept now, they also have to grasp the idea that < and > are symbols for something else. One easy way to do this is to have them say the answers to their problems out loud. When they read the symbols out loud, they are cementing that idea in their brains.

Another great way to do it is to have them write out “<ess” on a piece of paper. The “less than” sign looks a little bit like an “L.”

Use MindFinity To Help Them Love Learning

Children who can spot patterns and quickly make connections, use analogies to help them understand greater than, less than, and can apply thinking algorithms, learn faster.  Those who build these specialized skills will likely enjoy school more than their peers. This is because when you teach through play, you are taking away a ton of the pressure that they feel. By taking just a few minutes every day to play MindFinity games with your child, you can make school easier for your child, and learning, faster. Not only that, but you will help them to use their imagination to become more adaptable to change, which can help them succeed long into the future!

MindFinity will have you dancing, drawing, singing, and more with your children all while learning these skills and building Inventive IQ. MindFinity is a great tool for younger children and their families to have fun learning together for just a few minutes every day. For more information, reach out to our team today to get started. 

If you want your child to have fun in school and take advantage of all the opportunities they are given, MindFinity is a great place to start.

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6 Tips For Interactive Learning In Elementary School

6 Tips For Interactive Learning In Elementary School

Interactive learning, whether you are doing it for a long time or just the next few months, is difficult. It can be even more difficult for elementary school students, smart kids, and those who have attention problems. Interactive learning is possible, but it requires a certain amount of preparation and skill, something we don’t always have time to do.

If you are struggling with interactive learning in elementary school, you aren’t alone. Many parents are struggling right now – but we have some tips to help you:

Make It Into A Game

The first thing you need to do is make it fun for your child to learn. While not everything can be a game, games can help to increase Inventive IQ and ensure that your child enjoys learning. 

Something as simple as giving stickers or rewards when your child sits and pays attention is enough to make it just fun enough that they do the work. If you do want to incorporate play and games into your child’s daily routine, consider checking out MindFinity. We have quick daily activities where your child will build their Inventive IQ and have fun doing it. Click here to learn more.

Encourage Your Child To Get Their Energy Out When Possible

Think about it: are you sitting at a desk for hours at a time? Most of us get up and move around just to clear our minds and take a break from looking at a screen. Your child has a ton of energy and needs to use it. Consider getting them a standing desk (or one that converts from sitting to standing) or even an under-the-desk pedaling machine.

When possible, have your child take a lap around the house, have a dance party, or just use whatever energy they have so that when they do need to focus, they can. MindFinity offers a free 5 Days of Play challenge where you can learn to build essential skills to prepare your child for the future into fun activities that get them moving.

Stick To That Schedule

If you are worried about your child’s education, there’s a chance that interactive learning and remote learning aren’t serving your child as well as they should be. Teachers are overwhelmed and cannot spend as much time with gifted students or even those just meeting grade levels. They need to focus on those children who are underperforming.

Interactive learning has led to a bit of freedom in that your child can work on projects or schoolwork at various times of the day, but try to avoid that if possible. Instead, give your child designated school hours and break up their day with Mindinity’s games and activities.

Check Out The Resources

Teachers all over the country are noting that parents and students aren’t using the resources they provide. Be sure to check out the “extras” that teachers post so that you can supplement what they are getting in class.  If your child finishes an activity early, there is certainly something that they could be doing to fill that time. 

Create A Learning Space

We know that space can be at a premium in your home, but carve out some sort of space where your child can sit and learn. This should be a place that is free from distractions and other siblings (especially younger ones).

Help Them Find Their Own Motivation

While this isn’t the best learning environment for all students, there are lessons to be learned here. Use this time to teach your child how to be self-motivated. Encourage them to set goals for themselves and then come up with plans to reach them.

MindFinity Helps Supplement Homeschooling

If you are just plodding through interactive learning with your child, then you know that there can sometimes be a bit of a wall when it comes to planning out new, exciting lessons. You didn’t sign up for this (in many cases) and you just want what is best for your child.

MindFinity can help you by introducing different activities each weekday that will have your child learning and get your own creative gears moving. For a few minutes every day, you won’t have to plan out the lessons. Instead, they are delivered to your inbox and you can build from there.
For more information about MindFinity, please click here.

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7 Project-Based Learning Activities & Games For Your Kids

Think about the different things that you learned in school and what has really stuck with you over the years. For many people, it is what we learned through projects. Project-based learning isn’t used as frequently as it should be in school, especially because most of us work on teams and projects at work. This type of learning is what best prepares us for the workplace and the future.

Want to help your kid have fun, avoid gifted kid burnout, and still learn something? Try these project-based learning activities:

Keep Them Short, But Detailed

The first thing you need to do is keep the project short enough that they can do it in a few sessions. 

If you need ideas for fun, project-based learning activities, consider investing in MindFinity. We will have your child learning through different activities and projects. Click here to learn more.

Have Your Child Create A Menu

A great way to teach your child about math, nutrition, writing, and life is to have them plan out a balanced, healthy menu for the day. Give them guidelines that they can follow, such as they need to have a certain amount of calories. From there, have them plan out breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.  They can make healthy meals while learning and building their Inventive IQ. MindFinity’s 5 Days of Play will get you started with games that can make cooking a fun learning experience, by transferring patterns from lessons to foods you learn to accelerate knowledge transfer and create new patterns in real time. 

This will bring in an element of innovation and creativity to your cooking. 

Want to add a gym element? Have them plan to burn calories! Use patterns of 2 and 3 to do it.

Create An Art Box

One of the best “projects” you can do is just fill a box with different art supplies that you can find around your home. Then, use something they are learning in school to have them create a project. For example, if they are reading a story about a musician, have them create their own instrument. If they are learning about the ocean, have them design a submarine. Have them use basic shapes to make new combinations and talk with them about what they did.

Write A Letter To Someone In Government

Is your student learning about government? Have them write a letter to someone they are learning about! While you are far more likely to get a response from your local mayor than you are someone in the federal government, allow them to choose someone to write. They need to have a point to their letter and maybe even propose a solution.

Your child will need to think about a problem, come up with a solution, and figure out how to explain it to that government official. Then, they will need to figure out where to send the letter and fill out the envelope.

Create A Volcano

This is one of the most iconic project-based learning activities that you can do with your child – and the kits are really easy to come by at any big box store. Volcanos are really interesting and the explosion is fun for kids to watch. 

Make this a multimedia project by having them watch something on YouTube about volcanoes, build their own volcano, and cause the eruption. You can even have them help to clean it up by coming up with a plan to do so. 

Design An Obstacle Course

Do you want your child to move around a little more? Get some sturdy furniture, outdoor toys, and a few surprise elements, and encourage your child to build their own obstacle course. Give them limits: it needs to have a certain number of elements, including specific movements such as jumping or balancing and take a minimum amount of time.

Of course, be prepared to run it with your child.

MindFinity Helps Kids Learn Through Games & Projects

Our award-winning program helps your children expand their brains and learn polymath thinking skills while dancing, singing, doing martial arts, and moving around! You get a new game each day of the week, which takes a few minutes a day. And you can expand on the games and have your child put their imagination to use and expand on projects that they are already doing. You’ll get some fun ideas as well!
Interested in learning more? To learn more about MindFinity and sign up for a free trial, click here.

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How To Homeschool In Elementary School – 11 Tips

If you’re homeschooling your elementary student, you know that there are going to be some hiccups and hard times on your pathway. This was never going to be something that was extremely easy, you just knew that it would be worth it because the public school system is outdated and isn’t teaching children to think or instilling a love of learning in our kids.

We have some tips that will help you make the most of this experience with your child. These may seem basic, but they are going to make the biggest impact on your child’s education.

Start With MindFinity

Starting with MindFinity will help to get your child thinking and moving early in the morning. This will help to make the rest of the day a success as well. MindFinity takes only a few minutes, but it will teach your child how the foundations of polymath thinking, pattern recognition, pattern design, analogy and real time composition.

MindFinity delivers daily activities to your inbox. You will be able to get the rest of the day ready or enjoy another sip of coffee while your child has fun and learns at the same time. For more information about MindFinity, click here.

Create A Daily Schedule

One thing that public schools get right is that they put our kids on schedules. You need to do the same – find what works and stick with it. It doesn’t have to look like a traditional school schedule, but it should start and end at the same time every day. Don’t start at 9 AM one day and 1 PM the next unless you have no other options.

Write Up A Curriculum

Write down what you want to do on a given day, in a week, or for a particular month. This will help to keep you organized and ensure that you cover everything you need to cover. You will likely get some sort of curriculum from your partner school, but you will want to expand on that.

Don’t Be Afraid To Slow Down

If you think that your child is struggling with a certain lesson, slow down. Try to use analogy, and the “coach your child” approach in MindFinity. Then go over the basics again or work in more practice. Don’t be afraid to go off track to ensure that they know the material.

Don’t Be Afraid To Speed Up

The opposite is also true: if your child understands addition and doesn’t need to keep doing drills, skip over them, and move onto the harder stuff. There will come a time when you are glad you didn’t waste time.

Make Sure Your Child Is Hydrated

A lot of kids are chronically dehydrated because they get so focused that they don’t drink. Teachers will work water breaks into their daily schedules just to ensure that kids drink water.

If you notice your child yawning or falling asleep, be sure they take a few sips of water. Model that behavior as well – make sure you drink plenty of water.

Establish A Learning Space

If you can, make a learning space. This can be in their room or in the kitchen, but ideally is a space they use solely for learning. Decorate it with themed decor, make sure they have access to all of their supplies, and allow them to personalize it a bit like traditional students would their desks or lockers.

Connect With Other Homeschoolers

Your partner school should give you a list of other homeschoolers in the area. If they don’t, you can connect on social media. Work together to develop lessons that work, go on field trips, and just socialize your children more.

Get Your Child Involved In Other Activities

If you homeschool, your child is allowed to join sports teams and activities at the partner school. It is a good idea to get them involved so that they can meet different people, get exercise, and explore their interests.

Utilize Different Forms Of Media

As a homeschool parent, you have so many different forms of media at your fingertips! Use books, magazines, YouTube, movies, television, real-time experiences, podcasts, and more to make each day feel different and exciting.

Go Outside

Recess works wonders for many kids – they have a lot of energy they need to expend!

MindFinity Helps Supplement Homeschooling

If you are trying to homeschool your child, then you know that there can sometimes be a bit of a wall when it comes to planning out new, exciting lessons. You aren’t a teacher who has 30 years of experience in making lesson plans. 

MindFinity can help you by introducing different activities that will have your child learning and get your own creative gears moving. For a few minutes every day, you won’t have to plan out the lessons. Instead, they are delivered to your inbox and you can build from there.

For more information about MindFinity, please click here.

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Educational Video Games: Key Takeaways For Parents

Is playing educational video games a good way to help your children in school? There has been a lot of debate about how to help children learn through games in ways that are effective. Too often, the games fall into one of two categories:

  • They are too boring and kids lose interest too quickly; or
  • They don’t really teach children anything and are instead simply entertainment.

It can be difficult to find games that balance these two options. We think that MindFinity is the perfect balance of education and fun, using an award-winning methodology that systematically builds Inventive IQ. MindFinity games will have your children learning while dancing, singing, cooking, and more. They only take a few minutes every day, but they will quickly become your favorite time with your kids. To learn more, click here.

The Games Need To Be Interesting

Sometimes, educational games just aren’t all that much fun for kids. They include a lot of reading or a lot of repetitive motions that just don’t mimic what kids want to do. While they can sit in front of a screen for hours watching videos or talking to their friends, games need to have them doing different things in order to keep their attention.

For example, a good educational video game will have them looking at the screen for a little bit of time and then getting up and doing something. Then they come back to the screen. When all they have to do is sit at the computer, they will get listless and start looking at the things that do hold their attention, like non-educational games and social media.

The Games Need To Be Educational

Sometimes there are games that will keep your child’s attention for hours and hours, but those games aren’t always educational. Instead, they will require activities that don’t call for a lot of thinking. Think about the games where you need to match three colored objects in a row: you can play it for hours, but you aren’t really learning anything.

While these games might be great for younger kids who are just learning shapes and colors, they probably aren’t going to help kids learn the skill of advanced pattern recognition, for example.

They Need To Keep Changing

There is only so long that kids can play a game before it gets too boring for them. Educational video games need to change it up over time. Apart from getting kids up and moving, the approach needs to change as well. The game needs to look at things from a different perspective.

Not only will this keep the game interesting, but it will show you that they are continually changing and shifting the curriculum of the game so that your child is getting the latest information and leading methodologies.

The Games Need To Be Buildable

Finally, educational video games need to teach things that can be built upon in school and out of it. Games that teach one simple subject or philosophy don’t really benefit your child. Instead, you want to have them play educational video games and games that can be used in other areas. 

This can be something like a game that teaches pattern recognition (like MindFinity does), which helps them with all subject areas and encourages them to think outside of the box or a game that teaches them how to type properly, which is a skill they will use the rest of their lives.

MindFinity Helps Kids Learn Through Gameplay

Our award-winning program helps your children expand their brains and learn polymath thinking skills while dancing, singing, doing martial arts, and moving around! You get a new game each day of the week, which takes a few minutes a day. And you can expand on the games and have your child put their imagination to use.
Interested in learning more? To learn more about MindFinity and sign up for a free trial, click here.