S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) is quite the buzz word these days when it comes to educating our children.  But what does it really mean? And why is it so important?

This month we dug into the details with Katherine Allen, Education Research Analyst with IMPAQ International, to get some answers around all the STEM buzz!  The Quest Zone recently partnered with IMPAQ International to study the impact of arts-infused math curriculum on students in afterschool programs.  Here are Katie’s answers to a few of our parents’ questions!

Why is STEM important for my child?
STEM skills are required to understand the issues of today’s global community. In fact, most jobs in the American workplace today require some amount of skill in science, technology, engineering, and/or math. It isn’t just about math and science; it’s about preparing our children for college, careers, and life in this century.

Many afterschool programs that focus on STEM report an increase in student interest in STEM subjects and careers, with many going on to earn college degrees and build careers in the STEM field.  Students with access to high-quality STEM learning become more confident in these areas of study – areas that can take them far professionally in today’s world.

What if my child thinks he/she isn’t “the math and science type”?
STEM Identity refers to the idea that a student must see him or herself as “a STEM person” to remain engaged. Children are often their own biggest hurdle when they begin to see themselves as “not the math and science type.”  Knowing that students often carry these pre-conceived notions into their studies, STEM curriculum emphasizes curiosity, engagement, and increased interest in the subjects.  Students identify role models and potential careers within the field, helping them visualize how their STEM learning can play out long-term.  After some time in the program, your child may begin to change their point-of-view.

How can I support my child’s STEM Identity?
As a parent, you can support and nurture your child’s STEM identity simply by working it into your daily conversations.  Here are just a few examples.

  • Talk with your children about how you use math and other STEM skills in your job or in other areas of life.
  • Point out how other adults they know use math and STEM skills.
  • Avoid negative comments about math and STEM, such as “I can’t do math” or “I’m not a math person.”
  • If your child is having trouble with an assignment, let them know it’s normal to encounter challenging problems, and they can succeed through persistence.

The blended subject environment, combined with application to everyday life, is what separates STEM-based learning activities from the traditional math and science classes of years past.

STEM teaches students computational thinking and focuses on real-world applications of problem solving. These are skills your child can take far beyond grade school and into careers that will shape the future of our communities!

Ask your site director (or your child!) about the latest STEM projects underway in your Quest Zone today!

As your child’s first and most important teacher, you can play a vital role in helping your child develop effective studying habits. Those skills are often the tipping point that turns good students into great students! And, we promise, it really can be a fun bonding experience for everyone!

How do you get started? Here are 5 practical, painless ways to get involved in study time.

  1. Repetition, repetition, repetition
    Repetition is often key for retention. The human brain needs to hear something 14 times before it moves from short-term to long-term memory. The method of modeling and mocking is one way to make repetition a bit more exciting at home. What do you do? “Model” a concept you’d like your child to “mock.” For example, have your child watch you complete a math problem they may be struggling with at least once before attempting it on their own.
  2. Connect concepts to movement
    When information is connected to movement, it’s easier to remember. One way to do this while studying is to create a song with choreography, acting out the concept you’re studying while singing a catchy tune about it. Don’t be afraid to get creative and silly!
  3. Write the answers
    When students write in response to their learning, they are more likely to retain the information. Ask your child to recall information by answering your verbal questions in writing. Writing will help them remember the information, and it will also sharpen their language skills. Use note cards, sticky notes, markers, pens, colorful paper, and other items to make writing a fun and exciting exercise.
  4. Frame learning
    One of the best study techniques is to frame learning. Asking your child what he/she did or learned at school gives him/her a chance to capture or “frame” their learning in a verbal snapshot. Doing this regularly will cause the child to think deeper about what he/she learned, and it will encourage them to use relevant vocabulary daily. A great time to perform this exercise is during snack time, in the car on the way home from school, or even at the dinner table. This promotes communication between you, while allowing your child to practice “framing” on a regular basis.
  5. Set goals and celebrate
    Help your child set goals for how long he/she should study and how often. Then celebrate when your child meets their goal by doing something they enjoy. Create a chart or graph that displays their progress over time. Or have your child draw a picture that represents the goal they are working toward, having the child color a portion of the picture each time they complete a session. When the picture is complete, they will have met their goal. This also promotes commitment to goal completion.

Children tend to have a more positive outlook on school and do better overall when parents and families are involved. Many studies show that family involvement is more important to a child’s school success than many factors – including family income and the education of the parents.

Supporting your child’s learning at home is important, but it doesn’t have to be all business. With a little creativity, it can be a fun experience for all of you!

As our society and family structures have evolved, two full-time working parents in a household has become the norm.  With the typical full-time job hours being 8am-5pm, the question arises – what will the kids do after school while they wait for their parents to get off work?

Afterschool programs offer something we call extended day enrichment. That means we make the most of those few hours every weekday afternoon. Children commune together while growing academically, building character, and developing communication skills through three primary methods:  academic reinforcement, academic enrichment, and parental involvement.

  1. Reinforce skills learned at school. Academic reinforcement is vital for the growth and development required to become stronger, more confident students in the classroom.  In afterschool programs students receive tutoring and homework help. And they can work through additional activities to strengthen areas where they may be struggling. Parents can enjoy uninterrupted family time with their kids after work knowing their child has already completed their homework.
  2. Academic enrichment. Students also participate in interesting activities not offered in their regular classes. STEM, Lego-robotics, and NFL Play 60 are just a few enrichment programs offered through select Quest Zones. These activities are designed to develop a host of skills, including critical thinking, proper social/emotional development, and problem solving/reasoning skills – all vital to becoming life-long learners and strategists.
  3. Parental involvement. Parent involvement is extremely important to igniting a student’s love of learning and education. Afterschool programs offer parents the opportunity to take a more “hands-on” approach with their students’ education. The Quest Zone hosts family nights that promote literacy and math, seasonal food and clothing drives to help community members in need, and more to connect parents and communities with our students.

Saying “YES” to afterschool enrichment opens the door to new possibilities for students, families, and even communities. Children who are eager to learn become empowered to explore exciting possibilities – a life-changing catalyst that extends beyond the student’s elementary or middle school life.  And it starts with just a few hours afterschool each weekday!

There are great emotional and physical benefits to living a life of gratitude. A study at the University of California found that people who focus on positive things are less likely to get sick, less bothered by aches and pains, and sleep better. They are also more likely to describe themselves as “happy” and take greater joy in life. Socially, they are more helpful, compassionate, forgiving and less likely to describe themselves as “lonely.”  When we think about our children’s futures, aren’t these all traits we wish for them?

It’s great to have a special day to gather with loved ones and say “thank you” for blessings. However, to reap the real benefits of gratitude, it must become a lifestyle. Now is the time to cultivate a spirit of gratitude in your child. It is easier to maintain those habits formed in childhood than to learn new ways of behavior as an adult.

Try some of these simple ideas and approaches to help your child focus on and be grateful for the positive!

  1. Instead of asking the question, “What did you do at school today?” challenge your child to “Tell me 3 good things that happened today.”
  2. Be intentional about sharing your own gratitude. Tell your child things you’re grateful for, and be specific.
  3. Start a family gratitude journal. Challenge each person to add one item every day. Review the journal periodically as a family.
  4. Create a gratitude jar. Every time a family member notices something they’re grateful for, add a pebble to the jar. When the jar is full, plan a special family evening or outing.
  5. Pass it on! Find ways to say “thank you” to others. Have your child help craft a “thank you” email or card to someone they’re grateful for.
  6. Help your child be grateful for what they have by helping those with less. Support your child in collecting books, toys, clothes, or other items he or she no longer uses or wears. Box these up and go together to deliver them to a shelter or other charity.

Alphonse Karr said, “Some people grumble that roses have thorns. I am grateful that thorns have roses.”

You can choose to focus on the prickliness of the thorns in life, or you can look for and celebrate the beauty of the roses that invariably accompany the thorns. Studies tell us that those who focus on thorns will find more thorns, while those who focus on beauty are more likely to find happiness. There is lots of beauty and good in the world. Pause for a moment and help your child see and be grateful for it.

“nothing”…“stuff”…“fine”
Are these the standard answers you get when you ask your children about school? Sometimes those are even the answers on a good day which may seem better than a dismissive shrug, but getting your children talking is important.

After-school specials and commercials gave us, as parents, a false expectation of family dinners and deep conversation over milk and cookies. I mean yeah we aren’t the Brady Bunch but we also can’t expect communication to come so naturally. Communicating with your child in a way that appeals to them may be a game changer.

Part of the problem may lie in the questions we ask children. When the question is, “how was your day?”, “fine” may feel like a completely acceptable answer. However, a well-formed question that requires a bit of thought would likely result in a more complex answer.

There are 3 keys to crafting an effective conversation starter:
1. Ask open-ended questions: Close-ended questions are those that can be answered with a one or two-word answer, and they tend to limit conversation. Open-ended questions require more than one word, and usually some thought to answer.
2. Ask for specific information: The question, “what did you do at school today?” is open-ended, but is also very general and a quick one-word answer like “I played” answers the question without getting into specifics that might continue the conversation. Instead, the statement, “tell me two things you learned today?” inspires both thought and requires a child to provide a more complex response.
Specific questions also help narrow children’s focus to certain aspects of their day, which makes a more in-depth answer more likely.
3. Start with your own story: Children are not born naturally understanding the give-and-take of conversation. As with almost everything else in life, it is up to adults to teach them. You can model these rules by starting with your own story with a statement like, “Start thinking of your favorite part of the day, but first, let me tell you something that I enjoyed today.”
When looking to have in-depth conversations with your child, get creative with how you start. Use some of the following ideas to inspire your own questions:

  • What happened that was interesting today?
  • Tell me 3 things you noticed today.
  • Tell me something you did well today.
  • If you had to pick one word to describe today, what would it be?
  • What was the most fun thing that happened today?
  • Did your day go like you thought it would when you woke up this morning?
  • If you have to give today a rating from 1 – 10, what would it be?

The most important aspect of encouraging conversation is to make your child feel like they are listened to and respected when they are speaking. That means putting down the device, muting the volume, and making eye contact (if you are not driving) so your child knows they have your attention while speaking. This feeling of being the center of your world will make it more likely they will engage in conversation in the future.

Kids grow up fast. Before you know it, your 8-year-old will be a 16-year-old driving off in their first car.

Ok, it might not be that fast, but with the growth of media and technology today, kids seem to be doing more “adult” things earlier than ever.

There are several lessons you’ll want to teach your child before they mentally check out and become headstrong young adults. With kids growing up so fast, teaching your child to be self-sufficient should start early.

What’s important for your kids to know? We’ve compiled a list of the 10 life skills your child should learn by age 10!

1. How to Clean
This is more than just picking up a few toys—it means dishes, laundry, vacuuming, and more. Teaching your child these skills early will make them habitual by the time they leave the house. They will also adopt organizational habits which can benefit them in more than just rearranging their stuffed animals.

2. How to Find Their Way Home
While GPS has become readily available on our smartphones, children should learn basic navigation skills in case technology is unavailable. Teach them the importance of identifying landmarks and how to read a map. By the time they’re driving, navigation should be a breeze.

3. How to Make Healthy Choices
Healthy lifestyle choices start at home. It’s hard to stick to a diet and regular exercise routine, but you can make it easy for your kids by regularly stocking the fridge with fresh fruits and veggies and taking regular family walks.

4. How to Use Basic Tools
When you’re fixing things around the house, encourage your kids to partake! Use it as a teaching experience to help your child understand how things work around the house. By 10, your children should know how to safely use basic tools like a screwdriver or hammer.

5. How to Prepare a Simple Meal
Do your kids ever complain about how long it takes to get a meal on the table? Perhaps include them while making dinner so they see the responsibilities involved. Slowly show your children how to use different appliances, while emphasizing safety. Before you know it they’ll be baking soufflé (with supervision, of course!).

6. How to Manage Money
Don’t wait until your child is heading to college to teach them about budgeting! As soon as your kids start earning money, either with an allowance or job, teach them about management and saving. Giving your children a strong start will help them be fiscally responsible adults.

7. How to Have Good Manners
Children are extremely impressionable starting at a young age. Emphasize the use of “please” and “thank you” from the moment your child is old enough to speak. The more you demonstrate good manners, the easier it will be for your child to make it a habit.

8. How to Show Gratitude
Believe it or not, gratuity is another lesson that can be taught. Explaining to your child why they may not receive everything they want can help them grasp a better understanding of what they have and can be thankful for. This will help them in their adult lives when they approach larger subjects such as jobs and relationships.

9. How to Advocate for Themselves
You won’t always be there to speak up for your children. Once your kids start going to school, they’ll encounter hurdles they’ll have to fix on their own. Teaching your kids to confidently use their voice will serve them far beyond the classroom.

10. How to Write a Letter
While the written word has been taken over by the Internet, letter writing is still a necessary skill. Letter writing translates well to email correspondence and will come in handy when they apply for professional jobs (especially with those pesky cover letters!). Encourage your kids to send letters to family members or friends. The correspondence will teach them a lot about writing and patience.

With these 10 skills, your kids will be equipped to tackle most hurdles that life throws at them. Plus they’ll know they can turn to you for help in the process!