As July/ August holidays are approaching, parents often wonder and begin frantically searching for anything possible and productive for their children to do during that time. If not, you get annoyed as they stay the two months
looking at tv, Youtube and their heads stuck in devices playing an immeasurable amount of non-educational games. They also make all sorts of mess and get themselves in unnecessary trouble.

Parents, look no further! Ashley B’s Learning Academy can provide you with that ease of mind. Welcome to our Mega Camp 2022. Below is information on our amazing camp.

What is Mega Camp 2022?
Well, Mega Camp is an online/virtual educational camp. Students join sessions online (using Zoom) and engage in educational activities.

What is the age group of the camp?
The camp is for students in primary school. Campers will be split into groups of lower (Standard 1 – 3) and upper primary school (Standard 4 – 5)

When is the camp?
The camp starts on Monday 18th July, 2022 and ends on Friday 12th July, 2022. Sessions are from 10am to 3pm daily, Monday to Friday. Students have an hour lunch at 12pm to 1 pm.

What sort of activities will be done?
We provide educational activities with a fun twist. This year our theme is Mystery/Investigation. Students will explore the theme in the subject areas of Mathematics, English Language Arts, Science and Cultural Studies.

What other extracurricular activities are there?
There is also Music, Art & Craft, Dance and PE at the camp.

Will there be any motivational and career activities at the camp?
Of course, we have a wide range of activities to holistically develop your child.
We have a trained professional coming to give counselling sessions, sessions on financial literacy, a motivational speaker and our Mega Career Week with many different professionals at the end of the camp.

Are the camp tutors trained to pull off all this work?
Our camp tutors are professionals in their fields. Many of them are teachers during the school term at Ashley B’s Learning Academy. These tutors are versed in technology for teaching and learning.

What do I need to get for my child for this camp?
All your child needs is a proper working laptop or tablet, clear working space on a table and a free area to exercise and do dance activities and a exciting attitude! Materials will be provided to the students. In fact, the materials will be delivered to your door.

What is the cost of the camp?
The cost of the camp is $800. We also offer an additional service called ONLINE MEGA CAMP + SEA Classes lessons – Math, English and Creative Writing (3 days a week) for SEA Students. That will be $1000

Is there a payment plan?
Sure there is. You can make two monthly payments of $400.

Is there a discount if I sign up another child?
Certainly, you get 10% discount when you register more than 1 child.

Will my child miss out if I dont register?
Yes, they certainly will. Sign them up, this experience is not one to miss!
We look forward to seeing your child/children at MEGA CAMP 2022. See them
soon!

Today marks 25 years to the day that my Spanish teacher, Mr. Noville ushered me into the realm of the love of foreign language learning. Soon thereafter, Ms. Althea Lewis further groomed my passion and well, the rest is history!

As the proud mother of two boys- ages 18 months and the other, a boisterous 4-year-old- I chose the path of promoting bilingualism at home. How did I do this? Well, I chose the only method which comes naturally for us mommies with active, head-strong, determined/resilient toddlers – I TALK! TALK! TALK!

The best method that I adapted was the One-Parent –One-Language model (O.P.O.L) where one parent speaks to their child in their native tongue while the other speaks to them in the foreign language.

Don’t quite get how it works?

Well, think of yourself entering the classroom of the Math teacher and the Art teacher – 1 is strict and logical while the other allows you to freely express yourself and praises abstract thought and possibility. As a student, you naturally learn to adapt to each teacher/class setting and act accordingly. With this in mind, this is how the brain of the bilingual child operates – it adapts naturally to the language it associates with each parent, and trust me, I see it work all the time at home! (P.s. Google says the approach has a 75% success rating!)

Nonetheless, Google aside, if we are to truly expect any measure of real success, I’ll mention to you as I do to my students at school – you need to be consistent! You see, (and I too sometimes am guilty of this) when we fluctuate between languages (specifically for the parent who practices the OPOL approach) we tend to confuse the child (remember, he/she has already associated one particular sound system to each parent).

But, question! What if you wish to foster bilingualism at home but do not possess the gift of speaking a foreign language?

To you I give this piece of advice – Google! Google is a learning tool that is very much applicable in “light” instances such as these. Also possible is to search for a YouTube tutorial and adapt a method that best works for you. You can also give some of these a try:           

                      

Google simple phrases in Spanish and yes, you can also google how to pronounce them.

Try labelling basic everyday items such as the fridge/door/hot stove with Spanish flashcards.

Maybe sing “Simple songs in Spanish” with the captions on?

Celebrate a Spanish festival or what about trying to cook that overpriced arepa at home?

In essence, make language learning time and family time! Allow your child to build his/her comfort and confidence with the language.

So go ahead, do your research and start fostering the love of foreign language learning at home.

¡Chao!

Terri Anderson (M.A., B.A. Spanish)

By: Mr. Aaron Grant- Mathematics Teacher at Ashley B’s

Are you currently working while studying?

Well this blog is for you!

Whether you are full-time or part-time, this blog will speak about balancing your job and schooling.

Many of us, especially during this pandemic, have truly rediscovered the meaning of the word “BALANCE”. Some of us have been probed with the task of balancing our many roles as employees, parents, teachers and even student.

I myself, a student of a prestigious University as well as a part time tutor, has experienced first-hand the difficulties endured in balancing both a job and online classes.

Yes, it may be difficult to do, but it is not impossible!

It requires traits and habits which need to be well grasped and managed. These unique skills include:

• Self-discipline
• time management
• organization
• Self-motivation

Self-Discipline refers to making yourself do what you should do even when you do not feel like doing it! You don’t feel like going to class today? Push through it! Too tired to get up for work? Push through it! Without discipline, the reality of balancing work and online schooling is an uphill task and somewhat impossible.

When discipline becomes part of you, the rest becomes easy. With discipline, time management would be effortless as you already know how to spend your time. This refers to not just working hard, but playing hard. We are all humans and we need time to relax as well. Always get reasonable sleep each and every night. This is important for our physical and mental health. Time management also means prioritizing. When you are fully aware of what you need to accomplish, you would be able to delegate which tasks requires more time and effort.

In order to maintain this, organizing is very important. With such a busy lifestyle, we tend to forget certain tasks. Try writing down tasks in a journal or on your phones and set reminders so that you would not forget them. Give yourself deadlines to accomplish goals. Once you have fulfilled your daily tasks, reward yourself with whatever makes you happy. Perhaps a movie or a game? The anticipation of a reward may give you that extra bit of motivation.

On that note, staying motivated is a challenge especially for working students. Daily affirmations can really get you energized to face the challenges of the day. Motivational videos, pictures and quotes on a daily basis can influence your mindset and overall behaviour.

Yes! You can surely be a good student and a good employee once you practice these good habits!

Most parents try their best to provide their children with nutritious foods, with medical care, with clothing and shelter. But are we so focused of the physical well-being of our children that we do not pay much attention to their metal well-being?

A child’s mental health is just as important as their physical health, particularly when it comes to dealing with stress, behaviour, and academics.

Here are 8 ways to Improve your child’s mental health:

1. Take Care of Your Own Mental Health First

Make sure that you yourself are mentally healthy.

Children tend to model what they see. Allow your child to witness and model healthy ways of dealing with stress or depression instead of lashing out. Create that healthy environment for your child.

If you need to seek therapy or medication, please reach out to a doctor.

2. Foster Healthy Relationships

The relationship kids have with their parents is vital, but it is not the only relationship that matters.

A mentally healthy child will have a number of relationships with other family members, such as grandparents and cousins, as well as friends and neighbours.

Give your children the opportunity to connect with other people-especially best friends. Maintaining these relationships can make all the difference in the world to your child’s mental health.

3. Be Consistent

Children crave routine and structure.

It’s common for kids to withdraw, grow anxious, or begin acting out when there is no structure and things are changing constantly. Maintaining consistent discipline and ensuring your kids know what to expect when they break rules or what privileges they have when they do good, will help them manage their feelings better.

4. Teach Stress Management

While it’s important to protect your child from trauma like abuse and bullying, you can’t prevent your child from experiencing stress. Stress is a normal part of life and learning to deal with it in a healthy way now will set your child up for success in the future.

For instance, they are bound to have disagreements with friends and failed homework assignments at one time or another. Give your kids the skills they need to deal with those circumstances in order to build their mental strength.

5. Establish Healthy Habits

A healthy diet, a good night’s sleep, and plenty of exercises aren’t just good for your child’s physical health—they’re essential to your child’s mental health too. Teach your kids to develop healthy habits that will keep their bodies and their minds in good shape.

6. Develop Self-Esteem

Helping children develop their self-esteem, which can give a significant boost to their mental health, is two-fold for a parent.

Here are some ways to help your kids develop healthy self-esteem.

• Praise their efforts. Compliment or reward them for doing good.
• Give opportunities for independence. Kids feel better about themselves when they’re able to do things on their own. So whether you’re teaching your children how to attend an online class or you’re showing them that you trust them to make their own sandwich, kids feel good about themselves when they’re able to demonstrate competence.
• Help your child develop healthy self-talk. Develop a healthier inner dialogue. When your child says negative things, ask questions like, “What could you do to get better?” or “What’s the evidence that’s not true?” Help your child draw healthier conclusions.

7. Play Together

A child who is healthy—both physically and mentally—needs to play. Truthfully, adults need play, too!

Take time to put aside work, chores, and other obligations and focus solely on your child. Doing so, shows your child that they are worth your precious minutes.

Plus, laughing and playing together are great stress relievers for you and your child. It’s also a great way to forget about the pandemic for a while and just enjoy one another.

8. Watch for Red Flags

With all the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 and what it means for the 2020–2021 school year, don’t be surprised if you notice some changes in your child’s mental health. Be extra vigilant if you notice they are having difficulty sleeping, showing changes in eating habits, crying more than normal, and being more irritable.

Also, be on the lookout for issues concentrating, an inability to sit still, and struggles with focusing on the task at hand. Difficulty functioning in those areas are red flags and should warrant a call to your child’s doctor.

Before you get too worried, though, remember that the problem might not be too serious or long-lasting. Sometimes a little bit of stress can cause a child to display a few concerning signs, but it usually subsides.

All around the world, educational institutions are adapting to online learning platforms to continue with the process of educating students. The new normal is now online learning. For many educational institutes, this is an entirely new way of education that they have had to adopt. In recent months, the demand for online learning has risen significantly, and it will continue doing so in the future. Here at Ashley B’s we have realized that despite many challenges at the start of the pandemic there are numerous benefits with online schooling now that we should embrace and appreciate!

Learning in a more focused environment

The traditional brick and mortar classroom definitely cannot be tailored to every student’s preferred learning environment requirements. Though intended to be a neutral space, it poses distractions for many and their learning capabilities. These distractions can range from the physical space, to peer interactions. Online school individualizes the learning environment, as the student and parent now can design the best suited environment. Peer interaction is also better managed, as the online platform leaves little room for irrelevant socialization during teaching sessions. Furthermore, individual attention between the teacher and the student is encouraged.

Convenience of remote learning

For many students going to school meant waking up at ungodly hours in a rush to beat the morning traffic, and after a full day, having to sit in hours of traffic to get home, and exhaustedly prepare to repeat the cycle the next day. Ultimately, a lot of valuable time is wasted with this routine. Online school, however, lends for greater convenience. An internet connection grants the student access to the classroom, therefore, no time is invested in commuting. The student as a result is more rested and prepared for class, enhancing their focus and productivity. More time is also distributed to remedial work sessions, allowing the students to put more emphasis on their weak areas.

More parent involvement

As the home becomes the classroom, parents are inevitably becoming involved in their children’s learning. They now have a first- hand view of their children’s attitude towards their work, their learning capabilities, their progress, and their weaknesses. This way they are of better assistance when it comes to improving their children’s learning experience. Furthermore, they can work hand in hand with the teachers to help their children achieve their optimal potential. There is also improved student attendance as there are fewer chances of students missing out on lessons.

Affordability

Online education is far more affordable as compared to physical learning. This is because online learning eliminates the cost points of student transportation, student meals, and most importantly, real estate. Additionally, all the course or study materials are available online, thus creating a paperless learning environment which is more affordable, while also being beneficial to the environment.

Greater access to learning opportunities and creativity in learning

With Ashley B’s Learning Academy being a great example, the online platform provides the most remote student with access to quality education best suited to their learning capabilities.

Also, the online platform has forced educators to become more creative in their teaching methods. A number of tools such as videos, PDFs, podcasts games and interactive tools can be used as part of their lesson plans. By extending the lesson plan beyond traditional textbooks teachers are able to become more efficient educators which certainly enhances the student’s overall learning experience.

Suits A Variety of Learning Styles

Every student has a different learning journey and a different learning style. Some students are visual learners, while some students prefer to learn through audio. Similarly, some students thrive in the classroom, and other students are solo learners who get distracted by large groups.

The online learning system, with its range of options and resources, can be personalized in many ways. It is the best way to create a perfect learning environment suited to the needs of each student.

When we think of health, many of us first do checks of the physical aspect. However, our overall health includes: our mental, emotional and physical well-being. If one goes down, all others go down. They are directly proportional. Proper nutrition, sleep, your happiness, your stress levels are all vital when it comes to your health. They can even affect your immune system.

I’ll share a little insight as to how important it is to take care of you.  Taking care of yourself is vital! Just as Crix is considered the vital supply, so too is the way you treat yourself.

You can lead a very active life, however, if you don’t manage stress levels or get enough sleep you can see that your body will slowly shut down on you. Again, when one goes down all go down. Sickness can knock and your body’s defense will be down. This takes a while to happen and takes even longer to get back to the way you were.

So eat healthy, rest and manage your stress levels so that you can be in control of whatever may enter your body. As they always say, “Your health is your wealth!”

In a few months, we have seen our students move from a classroom setting to doing their schoolwork online. For most parents, this means balancing work, meal planning, handling household duties – and now teaching.

Though this may seem overwhelming at first, we know you’re up for the challenge. You’ve got this!

Yes, you can succeed at homeschooling! Whether your kids are finishing their first year of preschool or their last year of high school, we’ve compiled some tips to help you succeed and help them stay on track!

Though this may seem overwhelming at first, we know you’re up for the challenge. You’ve got this!

Yes, you can succeed at homeschooling! Whether your kids are finishing their first year of preschool or their last year of high school, we’ve compiled some tips to help you succeed and help them stay on track!

Accept our new world

We’re all adapting! It is okay for your child not to have optimal productivity at this time. It’s more important to help them get accustomed to a new way of learning. You can support their transition by:

• Effective planning. – Setting a timetable for how their day should run, including regular breaks and online schooling.
• Using this quarantine homeschooling opportunity to encourage your child to discover new passions.
• Looking for ways to turn lessons into exciting, engaging, hands-on experiences.

Use online resources to enhance learning

There are lots of free online resources, available to support the learning journey. These learning platforms are equipped with age-appropriate lessons, games, videos and much more.

These sites have already invented the educational wheel, so let them help lessen your frustrations and provide an online community of support.

Create a balance

At school, there are scheduled breaks and extra-curricular activities. It is not all ‘book-work’. Therefore, at home do not expect your child to be submerged in a book all day.

• Ensure adequate time is allotted for relaxation and play when planning daily goals. This helps to avoid your child feeling overworked or developing resentment towards their new ‘classroom’.
• Monitor and ensure they complete the goals that were set. Home poses certain distractions. Your child may very much prefer to sit in front the television all day.
• Make learning fun for your child. Try incorporating audio visual content such as educational shows, videos or games. 
• Source books on topics that would pique their interest.

Consider virtual classrooms

A work environment at home should not only take into consideration physical space, but mental space as well.

• Human interaction is a major incorporation in the school environment that a home environment may lack.
• This plays an important role in your child’s learning, furthermore, it’s the social environment that they’re accustomed to.
• This most definitely aids in keeping students focused and mentally motivated, as well as accountable.
• Arrange for your child to engage in a virtual classroom either full time or part time.

Feel your feelings

It’s an emotional roller coaster and we’re all on it, so it’s okay to acknowledge your own feelings during this time. It’s natural! Use this experience as an opportunity to become closer. You can do this by:

• Enrolling in an online activity: dancing, exercising, learning an instrument or even vocal training together.
• Taking part in an online yoga class or any activity that can clear your minds from stress or worry.
• Doing something you both like such as baking or even cooking.

Together you can both overcome the anxiety. The goal post may have shifted a bit but mentally you both can shift as well. It’s time to score success!