What can i do to help Japanese?
10 Things You Can Do To Help Your Child Succeed In Japanese Class
Resource from: Mike Jaffe (2005), “Involvement & Advocacy,” The Japan Foundation.
You as a parent are the greatest influence in your child’s life. Your attitude and approach to your child’s education can have a great impact on their success. Below is some advice on how you can positively impact your child’s performance in Japanese.
1. SHOW INTEREST
Show interest in your child’s work and schooling. Ask them what they learned that day, and have them teach it to you. It shows your child that you are genuinely interested in their school life, and that what they are learning is interesting. Doing this also engages them in thought, and forces them to reprocess the information in an active rather than passive way.
2. MORAL SUPPORT
You may not be able to experience what your child is in their Japanese program alongside them, but offering moral support when they feel challenged can help them through more difficult aspects of the language. Let them know that you are there for them, and that it is ok to make mistakes.
3. Be INVOLVED
Be involved in both their Japanese language program and peripheral/extracurricular programs. Especially at younger ages there is often a need for volunteers in the classroom, and in clubs. Sometimes it means carpooling to an event, or sometimes it means helping fundraisers. Being involved shows you care and encourages your child to take their education more seriously.
4. EXPOSED THEM TO CULTURE
One of the most positive things you can do to spur your child’s interest in Japanese is to expose them to Japanese culture. This can be taking them to a Japanese restaurant, renting a Japanese movie, taking them to the Japanese section of town or to a Japanese art exhibit (if there are any nearby), or introduce them to Japanese people. The possibilities are numerous, and you may be surprised what ends up making a lasting impression on their mind. This is also a good opportunity to bond with your child.
5. VALUE JAPANESE AS AN ASSET FOR YOUR CHILD
Knowing any foreign language opens a child’s mind and gives him/her a broader perspective on life. Japanese can open doors for your child in countless ways. Realizing that learning Japanese is a valuable asset for your child is vital. As your child’s most important rod model expressing this makes your child understand the value of their Japanese education.
6. ENCOURAGE THEM TO SPEAK
Most people are naturally shy about speaking a foreign language at first. Encouraging your child to try using their Japanese as often as possible can help them break through their shell. Getting over their shyness of speaking is crucial to the development of their linguistic abilities. Let them know that there is nothing wrong with making mistakes. Also keep in mind that Japanese speakers living in the United States are often quite happy to speak with someone who wants to practice their Japanese.
7. MAKE SURE THEY STUDY REGULARLY
Studying regularly is one of the key elements in becoming skilled in any foreign language. If your child has trouble motivating in their studies, help them structure their study habits. This can not only improve their performance in Japanese, but in other areas of study as well.
8. CHECK UP ON THEIR PROGRESS
Check your child’s test, quiz, or assignment grade. If your child is having a difficult time, make sure that he/she doesn’t lag behind. Encourage him/her to attend study sessions or study with a classmate (find study buddy). Contact your child’s teacher to find out what is happening with your child’s study.
9. LET THEM GO TO JAPAN
Consider letting your child go on a class trip to Japan, or to be an exchange student in Japan at some point. Not only will the promise of going motivate them to study, but the stimulation of being immersed in the culture can inspire and drive them to succeed in Japanese. This is perhaps the most powerful tool in driving a student’s desire and ability to speak Japanese. For many this can be prohibitively expensive. Parents can help organize various fundraisers.
10. HOST A JAPANESE STUDENT
Hosting a Japanese exchange student is something you can do to strengthen your child’s bond with Japanese culture and their interest with Japanese. Not only will they have a fantastic opportunity to practice their Japanese, but they can establish long lasting friendships.
Resource from: Mike Jaffe (2005), “Involvement & Advocacy,” The Japan Foundation.
You as a parent are the greatest influence in your child’s life. Your attitude and approach to your child’s education can have a great impact on their success. Below is some advice on how you can positively impact your child’s performance in Japanese.
1. SHOW INTEREST
Show interest in your child’s work and schooling. Ask them what they learned that day, and have them teach it to you. It shows your child that you are genuinely interested in their school life, and that what they are learning is interesting. Doing this also engages them in thought, and forces them to reprocess the information in an active rather than passive way.
2. MORAL SUPPORT
You may not be able to experience what your child is in their Japanese program alongside them, but offering moral support when they feel challenged can help them through more difficult aspects of the language. Let them know that you are there for them, and that it is ok to make mistakes.
3. Be INVOLVED
Be involved in both their Japanese language program and peripheral/extracurricular programs. Especially at younger ages there is often a need for volunteers in the classroom, and in clubs. Sometimes it means carpooling to an event, or sometimes it means helping fundraisers. Being involved shows you care and encourages your child to take their education more seriously.
4. EXPOSED THEM TO CULTURE
One of the most positive things you can do to spur your child’s interest in Japanese is to expose them to Japanese culture. This can be taking them to a Japanese restaurant, renting a Japanese movie, taking them to the Japanese section of town or to a Japanese art exhibit (if there are any nearby), or introduce them to Japanese people. The possibilities are numerous, and you may be surprised what ends up making a lasting impression on their mind. This is also a good opportunity to bond with your child.
5. VALUE JAPANESE AS AN ASSET FOR YOUR CHILD
Knowing any foreign language opens a child’s mind and gives him/her a broader perspective on life. Japanese can open doors for your child in countless ways. Realizing that learning Japanese is a valuable asset for your child is vital. As your child’s most important rod model expressing this makes your child understand the value of their Japanese education.
6. ENCOURAGE THEM TO SPEAK
Most people are naturally shy about speaking a foreign language at first. Encouraging your child to try using their Japanese as often as possible can help them break through their shell. Getting over their shyness of speaking is crucial to the development of their linguistic abilities. Let them know that there is nothing wrong with making mistakes. Also keep in mind that Japanese speakers living in the United States are often quite happy to speak with someone who wants to practice their Japanese.
7. MAKE SURE THEY STUDY REGULARLY
Studying regularly is one of the key elements in becoming skilled in any foreign language. If your child has trouble motivating in their studies, help them structure their study habits. This can not only improve their performance in Japanese, but in other areas of study as well.
8. CHECK UP ON THEIR PROGRESS
Check your child’s test, quiz, or assignment grade. If your child is having a difficult time, make sure that he/she doesn’t lag behind. Encourage him/her to attend study sessions or study with a classmate (find study buddy). Contact your child’s teacher to find out what is happening with your child’s study.
9. LET THEM GO TO JAPAN
Consider letting your child go on a class trip to Japan, or to be an exchange student in Japan at some point. Not only will the promise of going motivate them to study, but the stimulation of being immersed in the culture can inspire and drive them to succeed in Japanese. This is perhaps the most powerful tool in driving a student’s desire and ability to speak Japanese. For many this can be prohibitively expensive. Parents can help organize various fundraisers.
10. HOST A JAPANESE STUDENT
Hosting a Japanese exchange student is something you can do to strengthen your child’s bond with Japanese culture and their interest with Japanese. Not only will they have a fantastic opportunity to practice their Japanese, but they can establish long lasting friendships.
What can i do to help mathematics?
Supporting Your Child in Grade Five Mathematics
Resource from: "Parent Roadmap- Supporting Your Child in Grade Five, Mathematics" (2012), Council of the Great City Schools
In grade five, students will build their understanding of the place value system by working with decimals up to the hundredths place. Students will also add, subtract, and multiply fractions, including fractions with unlike denominators. They will continue to expand their geometry and measurement skills, learning the concept of volume and measuring the volume of a solid figure.
Activities in these areas will include:
Help your child learn outside of school
Resource from: "Parent Roadmap- Supporting Your Child in Grade Five, Mathematics" (2012), Council of the Great City Schools
In grade five, students will build their understanding of the place value system by working with decimals up to the hundredths place. Students will also add, subtract, and multiply fractions, including fractions with unlike denominators. They will continue to expand their geometry and measurement skills, learning the concept of volume and measuring the volume of a solid figure.
Activities in these areas will include:
- Quickly and accurately multiplying multi-digit whole numbers
- Dividing numbers with up to four digits by two digit numbers • Using exponents to express powers of 10 (in 102 , 2 is the exponent)
- Reading, writing, and comparing decimals to the thousandths place • Adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing decimals to the hundredths place
- Writing and interpreting mathematical expressions using symbols such as parentheses. For example, “add 8 and 7, then multiply by 2” can be written as 2×(8+7).
- Adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators (bottom numbers) by converting them to fractions with matching denominators • Multiplying fractions by whole numbers and other fractions • Dividing fractions by whole numbers and whole numbers by fractions
- Analyzing and determining relationships between numerical patterns
- Measuring volume using multiplication and addition
Help your child learn outside of school
- Use everyday objects to allow your child to explore the concept of fractions. For example, have your child divide a candy bar (or a healthy snack) between three people. Ask, “How much does each person receive?” (Each person would receive 1 ⁄3). Suppose there are three candy bars that you plan to share with two friends. Have your child describe the amount that each person will receive.
- Have your child explain how to write fractions in different ways. For example, what are some different ways to write 4 ⁄3 ? He or she could answer 4÷3, 1 1 ⁄3, 2 ⁄3 + 2 ⁄3, 2 x 2 ⁄3, 8 ⁄6, 4 x 1 ⁄3 , etc.
- Ask your child to give you a fraction equal to a decimal. For example, what are two fractions that can be used to represent 0.6? Answers could include 6 ⁄10, 60⁄100, 12⁄20 , or 3 ⁄5.
- Encourage your child to stick with it whenever a problem seems difficult. This will help your child see that everyone can learn math.
- Praise your child when he or she makes an effort and share in the excitement when he or she solves a problem or understands something for the first time.