March 24, 2020

We hope that students are taking advantage of all the non-tech options available while you are home. There are lots of board games, puzzles, and activities you can do along with academic work, book reading, and household chores. Below are some images that will give you ideas for home activities that require no technology and help you learn valuable skills while having a lot of fun!

March 19, 2020

As everyone in America (and beyond) works through this strange time, we understand that it can be difficult to navigate home learning, especially when there are multiple ages in one home. It’s tempting to put your littles on screens and, granted, there is a lot of learning opportunities on the internet. It is a great place to do research, but it is NOT a place to stay. My advice to you; use it sparingly.

Almost every educational research study proves that face-to-face, hands-on instruction is the best. That means that we need to be actively engaged in what our kiddos are doing and learning. We want the best for our kids, so they should get the best of us, right?

Getting your kids to Collaborate, Cooperate, and Coordinate will serve them far past this homebound learning environment. Collaborate: as much as they are able, have your kids work together. Allow them to teach each other; segment times of the day when the olders help the youngers. This can be making the bed, learning a math concept, or preparing a fun play to perform. Cooperate: Don’t just assume that kids know how to do this. Take the time to teach the micro-steps of cooperation. What words promote a helpful environment? Please. Thank you. You’re welcome. How can each child help using the skills they already have? Don’t expect something from a 2 year old that he/she can’t do, BUT there are a lot of things they can do! Coordinate: Allow your children to control parts of their day. The more ownership they have in the day, the more engaged and focused they will be. Let them pick the Topic Of The Day one day out of the week. Have them write out the calendar or daily schedule. Let them be the teacher and see what you can learn from them. It’s amazing what our kiddos have to offer! Let them show you how responsible they can be. You’ll be amazed and they will be better for it!

March 16, 2020

At New Branches Charter Academy, we have an outstanding staff who has the privilege of working with students in small group settings. As part of the Intervention Team, we want our students to get the best that we have to offer and we want to bring out the best in each of them. Our room, officially named The Brain Cave, offers lots of ways for students to engage in their own learning and improve in various reading, writing, and language arts skills. This site is here to assist our students and any of the NBCA community by offering learning tips that engage all the senses and touch all the various learning styles.

Mrs. Bennett & Mrs. Eady

Your Brain Cave Crew