Have you ever heard your child's teacher say, "They just need to read more. They need to read every night." 

For a struggling reader, it is not as easy as that.  Struggling readers have a difficult time decoding words, so when they start reading books that have many words they cannot decode, they just become frustrated. They start guessing words, leading to poor reading skills.  

Struggling readers need to start reading decodable readers and not levelled readers that are filled with so many words that children cannot sound out.  With decodable readers, phonics rules are reinforced; children learn decoding skills; fluency improves; the learning gaps begin to fill in; and, most importantly, a child's confidence increases. Confidence is the magic ingredient when it comes to improving reading fluency and comprehension skills.

I am not suggesting that levelled readers do not have their place. They offer more vocabulary and are, most of the time, more interesting to read. However, to expect a struggling reader to benefit from a levelled reader by just reading more of them every night, is actually setting your child up to struggle more and to start to hate reading.

You can find many decodable readers online, and you can find many decodable chapter books too.  Beware though. Often times decodable readers are marketed as being solely for dyslexic children, so parents will stay away from these readers. This could not be further from the truth. While these type of readers are great for children diagnosed with dyslexia, they are also the best readers for early and struggling readers. The phonics way of learning to read is simply the best way.

This is the system we use at Tutor Tots, and if I could share the smile on every child's face after they successfully decode and read a short story for the first time, you would understand why decodable readers are the right choice for your struggling reader. 

It's not as simple as reading more.  It's about choosing the correct type of reader for your child.

  Most of you know me as Ms. Angela who tutors your children in our family owned tutoring business. What you might not know is that I am also a Nutritherapy Practitioner.  

​  As predominantly a behavioural nutritionist, I have helped many people understand their relationship with food, putting them on the path to better nutritional choices and better health. Today, I am going to share with you my thoughts about whether or not your child (or even adults) should eat breakfast.  

Studies overwhelmingly show that when children eat breakfast their concentration improves; they get better test scores; they have increased energy; they are more likely to enjoy a healthier body weight; and they are more likely to participate in physical activities.  

Did you know that half of a young student's energy is used by the brain?

Children have a high metabolic turnover and a rapid growth rate.  In addition, children tend to sleep longer hours than adults, so they are in a fasting state for a longer period of time.  Consequently, they need breakfast to do exactly what "breakfast" means and that is "break the fast."  

Numerous studies have shown that skipping breakfast can lead to an increased risk of obesity with that obesity extending into adulthood.  Obesity in adulthood, as we know, can lead to many problems such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cancer, et cetera.  

Are all breakfasts equal?  No, they are not.  Always include a healthy source of protein.  Protein helps build and repair cells.  It is important for growth and development.  It also helps you feel full longer (satiating).  If you don't get enough protein you might feel more fatigued and have poor concentration.  

Also, choose foods higher in fibre.  Not only does fibre aid with digestion, but it also helps keep blood sugar and insulin levels steady.  Too many simple carbohydrates like white bread, white pasta, plain sugar, sugary foods (pastries, muffins, sugary cereals) cause the body to think that it has too much energy (increases blood sugar and insulin levels) because these foods are rapidly digested.  The body uses the energy it needs but converts the rest to fat.  Because higher fibre foods are not easy to digest, blood sugar and insulin surges do not happen.  

Want to keep your child enthusiastic about  breakfast?  Don't serve the same breakfast everyday. Get your child involved in the preparation process.  Make sure your child wakes up with enough time to sit and eat. Get your child's input on what he/she would like to eat. Find some make-ahead recipes that you can make with your child, freeze, and then reheat when needed.

I say yes to breakfast.

Wishing everyone a wonderful school year.

Angela

1. Lack of Confidence:  Some smart children turn into perfectionists.  Consequently, they put a lot of pressure on themselves and with this added pressure comes stress and a lowering of their self-confidence.  In addition, most children struggle in one area or another in school.  If the child is struggling, he/she may start to participate less in class, start articulating that he/she really doesn't care about that subject (defence mechanism), and might not do assignments due to a lack of confidence.  This will lead to increased stress and poor grades.  
2. Poor Study Habits: Does your child wait until the last minute? Does your child fail to understand the material but does not ask for help? Poor study habits will lead to poor performance.
3. Poor Communication: Does your child have difficulty putting his/her thoughts into words or down on paper? Some children who have no difficulties comprehending the material simply cannot articulate their thoughts either verbally or on paper.  Therefore, they may have problems with oral tests or written tests and assignments.  
4. Poor Organization: Lack of organization can lead to increased frustration.  This, in turn, will increase stress and lower grades.  
5. Poor Time Management: The truth is that, for most, getting good grades will take a lot of time and effort.  Poor time management skills will result in lower grades.  Children with poor time management leave assignments until the last minute or pay too much attention to smaller assignments (worth less marks), rather than allocating that time to larger projects/assignments.
6. Distractions: For some children, they simply cannot filter out the noise in the classroom or at home. This will result in important information being missed.
7. School is Not Challenging: If a child does not feel challenged enough in school, he/she may find their classes boring.  This will result in attention issues, leading to poor performance and failing grades.  
8. Test Anxiety:  Yes.  This is a real thing.  For some children, anxiety prevents them from performing well on tests.  They know the material inside-out, but the overwhelming stress during a test makes it difficult for them to do well on tests.
9. Learning Difficulties: Many smart children struggle with some type of learning disability. This will usually reveal itself primarily in either reading, writing or math (although it could include other subject areas). It is important to note that poor grades do not equal a learning disability.  However, if your child is continually struggling and there is no improvement, despite extra academic help, then a learning disability should be considered.
10. External Factors:  These include the school environment and your child's social environment.  If your child is struggling to build a relationship with his/her teacher, this will result in poorer grades.  If you child is struggling to make friends, is being bullied or surrounds him- or herself with the "wrong" children, his/her grades will suffer.  Grades begin to suffer because their confidence and individuality  become compromised.  
11. You Are Setting a Bad Example: Yes.  We as parents do not get off without having to accept responsibility for our children's poor grades in school.  Are you interested in what your child is doing at school? Do you know what he/she is doing in all their subjects? Do you place sports or extracurricular activities before academics?  Studies have shown that a parent's poor attitude toward school can significantly affect their child's performance in school.
12. Technology: Is your child using electronic devices excessively? Too much time on the computer or using electronic devices will continue to occupy more and more of your child's time.  Eventually, it will completely overshadow their interest in school.
13. Poor Nutrition:  A nutrient deficient diet can cause poor academic performance (in addition to affecting a child's growth and development). A lack of nutrients means a lack of energy required to focus and pay attention.  A diet low in vegetables, fruit, protein, and healthy fats can create nutritional deficiencies that can lead to low grades.  Lack of vitamins A, B6, B12, C, calcium, iron, folate, and zinc are linked to higher rates of absenteeism, tardiness, and low grades (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention). 
14. Eating Breakfast: The importance of breakfast consumption has been studied for years.  Breakfast consumption has been shown to enhance academic performance by improving cognitive function. Skipping breakfast leads to concentration difficulties along with a shorter attention span and memory problems.  But what type of breakfast is best?  The answer is a breakfast that is lower glycemic.  A lower glycemic breakfast (not high in carbs such as sugary cereals, pastries, muffins, et cetera) means there are less fluctuations in your child's blood sugar response which will improve concentration and leads to better academic performance.  A research group studied three breakfasts: a) ready-to-eat cereal b) oatmeal and c) no breakfast. There was enhanced cognitive function in the ready-to-eat group and oatmeal group over the no breakfast group, but the oatmeal group also had improved short-term and spatial memory.  A  breakfast might look like: a) vegetable omelette with a piece of whole-grain bread; b) whole-grain, low-sugar cereal with milk or yogurt; c) oatmeal, sliced apple (skin on because that's where the fibre is), cinnamon, and nuts; d) string cheese, piece of fruit (apple, blueberries),  pumpkin seeds.   While breakfast is important, your child's other meals are also important, so they should not be skipped either.  

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As well as being a tutor/teacher/mentor, I am also a registered nutritionist.  So, I put together this list of brain foods that may help, if your child is having problems concentrating or if his/her energy is low.

Eggs: The protein in eggs helps children concentrate. Scramble some up into a whole-wheat tortilla.

Whole Grains: Our bodies need a steady supply of glucose (sugar) for energy, and our little ones are no different. In addition, the fibre in whole grains will help prevent the blood sugar spikes experienced with non-whole grain foods like white bread.

Berries: Berries contain high levels of antioxidants, especially vitamin C. Remember, the darker the berry the more nutrition in the berry (i.e. blueberries).

Greek Yogurt: Packed with protein, but don't choose the fat-free kind.  You want the fat, as it is important for brain health. In addition, fat-free usually means more sugar. Top off the yogurt with high fibre cereals, dark chocolate chips or blueberries.

Greens: Full of folate and vitamins. Kale has actually been shown to help new brain cells grow. Remember, if you're giving your child a salad for lunch, don't forget to add some protein.  Protein is satiating,  so a salad all on its own won't keep your child feeling full.  

Fish: Salmon is rich in omega 3 and vitamin D. Omega 3 is great for brain growth and function. While tuna does contain omega 3 and vitamin D, salmon is the better choice. 

Nuts & Seeds: Packed with protein, vitamins, and minerals. Studies have shown that they may actually help boost your mood.  Peanut butter contains thiamin to help the brain and nervous system. 

Colourful Veggies: Packed with antioxidants. Try some baked sweet potato wedges or some carrots with dip.

Oatmeal: Oatmeal provides excellent fuel for the brain.  It is protein and fibre-rich. A study showed that children who ate sweetened oatmeal in the morning actually performed better on memory-related school tasks that those who ate sugary cereals.

Apples:  We all crave sweets when we are feeling sluggish, even our kids. Munching on an apple will provide the sweetness and boost energy. But leave the skin on because that's where all the good stuff is. The fibre in the skin will help prevent blood sugar spikes.  

Say yes to brain power!

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