The cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) is for children who perform at a high-level and exhibit leadership skills in any field to assess their critical thinking and reasoning abilities. These children can be admitted into gifted and talented (GT) programs based on their CogAT scores. GT screening and referring take place in the fall.

There are many test prep services across the country to help children prepare for CogAT via online learning. Your children can develop their test-taking skills in specific cognitive areas from the comfort of their homes through online learning.

In Short, some ways to improve the CogAT score are time management, critical thinking to solve various batteries, logical reasoning and analysis, consistently following study timetable, and practiting mock tests.

This blog will guide you on how you can improve your child’s score on the CogAT Test. Here you will find some valuable tips and guidance provided by our CogAT Experts.

5 Tips to Improve Your CogAT Scores

Improving your Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) score requires a focused and strategic approach to enhance your cognitive skills. The CogAT is designed to assess a person’s reasoning and problem-solving abilities, so boosting your performance on the test involves honing specific cognitive areas. Here are a few strategies to help you improve your CogAT score:

1. Identify your child’s strengths at an early age

Before enrolling your child in CogAT test prep services, consult your child’s teacher regarding his or her classroom performance and progress in school. Find out if your kid is performing at a higher level and exhibiting a higher maturity level compared to other children of the same age group.

Identify his or her strengths in various fields like science, language, sports, arts, etc. If your child shows remarkable skill development in any of the above-mentioned fields, start the prep process for CogAT.

2. Familiarize your child with the format and content of CogAT

CogAT papers contain verbal, non-verbal, and quantitative questions. There are 3 subtests under each cognitive area like language, problem-solving, and memory. Verbal battery includes sentence completion, verbal classification, and verbal analogies. Non-verbal battery includes paper folding, figure matrices, and figure classification. Quantitative battery includes number series, equations or puzzles, and analogies.

Kids who aren’t fluent in reading are administered the picture format of CogAT questions while kids aged 8 years and above are administered the text format of CogAT.

3. Minimize mistakes by improving your child’s test-taking skills

Even the most gifted and talented child can be poor at taking tests due to the lack of practice. Children should be given practice tests to familiarize themselves with the format and content of CogAT. Their focus and confidence will build up with each practice test. What’s more, their time management skills will improve as well. Thus, preventing common mistakes, such as spending too much time on hard questions and neglecting the rest, losing focus and being distracted during the test, not reading the questions fully, and so on.

4. Practice using CogAT test simulation

Children develop skills by habitual learning, so use a CogAT test simulation to help your kid practice for the cognitive assessment. Assign a comfortable and neutral space in your home for your child to practice for the test. Minimize disturbances during test preparation. Provide your kid the materials required to take the CogAT test.

Find out which CogAT form your kid will be administered. For example, CogAT Form 7 levels are standardized to match the specific age of the child taking the test. Accordingly, you will have to get the relevant study materials for your kid. Focus on improving your kid’s reading and listening skills.

5. Make sure your child’s physical and mental health are not neglected during the test prep 

Children require breaks between study sessions to avoid monotony and boredom. Even adults have a shorter attention span when burdened with long study hours, so schedule short breaks between practice tests. Provide positive feedback and assurance at the end of a practice test. After the completion of a practice test session, keep their minds stimulated with other hobbies and interests.

Ensure they eat healthy and nutritious foods that will boost their stamina, growth, and memory power. They have to be in good health to not only stay focused during test prep but also to retain knowledge for a longer time.

eTutorWorld Solution for Improving CogAT Scores

As all the tips or strategies given above will help you in better preparing for the CogAT Test. Our CogAT Tutors are constantly guiding the students to improve their CogAT scores. 

Moreover, take help where you can; enroll your kid in test prep services for thorough and advanced preparation for CogAT. Fortunately, online learning makes it easier for children to continue their education from the safety of their homes during a global pandemic.

Children need gentle guidance and supervision to excel in CogAT Exam to get good scores. It’s the responsibility of their parents and teachers to provide them with proper guidance and resources to succeed. All the best for your child’s CogAT performance and aim for the top scores!

eTutorWorld is the leading online tutoring platform for K-12 Grades, Test Prep, and Homework. Our CogAT Test Prep is the best in the industry with affordable pricing, personalized tutoring, premium practice tests, and more. Choose the best platform for your CogAT Test.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The world of online learning is new to a lot of students and teachers who are still adapting to a modern learning system. Stepping into a virtual classroom for the first time to tutor students using e-learning techniques and tools can be daunting, and you are bound to make a few mistakes in the process. Here, we discuss some common online tutoring mistakes and how to fix them.

1. Ill-equipped for virtual classroom participation

First and foremost, tutors must have quality equipment to conduct online classes. Invest in a good laptop with a built-in camera, a headset with a microphone, and a stable and speedy Internet connection. Always test the equipment and whatever applications you use to conduct an online class to ensure a smooth operation.

2. Distracting background in a virtual classroom

A student’s concentration in online learning can be disrupted by distracting background settings and sounds. Therefore, choose a neutral space in your home to set up the online tutoring session. Ensure your housemates, be it humans or pets, don’t interrupt your tutoring sessions as it will distract students from the learning process.

3. Dressing inappropriately for online classes

Although online classes are conducted in the comfort of your home, you have to dress professionally for the duration of the tutoring session. It’s easy for students to forget decorum and etiquette without proper monitoring in an online class. Therefore, it’s your responsibility to set a professional tone in a virtual classroom setting by dressing appropriately.

4. Going in unprepared for online tutoring sessions

Time management is of the essence in any learning process. Make it a habit to prepare weekly and monthly lesson plans for the subjects you teach much like how you would create a traditional lesson plan for brick-and-mortar classroom learning. Online learning has wiped out the location constraint but not the time constraint. Therefore, planning and preparation for online classes are vital to effectively manage the curriculum.

5. Unlimited tutor talk-time in online learning

Communication is complete only when the listener is allowed to convey feedback about what the speaker has said. Tutors must encourage students to ask questions and give feedback on the day’s classwork. This way, the monotony of hearing the tutor talk for the majority of the class duration is cut down. Keep the tutoring sessions lively by having one-to-one interactions.

6. Students coming unprepared for the class

Tutors should give a preview of what topic will be taught in the next session so that students can come prepared for the forthcoming class. This preparation will save you time and effort in teaching a new topic. It will also help students gain confidence in the subject matter as they develop the habit of self-learning.

7. Lack of communication with parents

Tutors should establish an open communication channel with the students’ parents so that they can coordinate with each other on how to instruct the kids on virtual classroom etiquettes. Parents can help tutors by making sure their kids are well-equipped for online learning. They can unobtrusively monitor their kids to make sure classwork and homework are done on time.

8. Uncoordinated online classes with students in different time zones

Digital learning tools and technologies have broadened the horizon for students from all over the world to take up classes in any school or university regardless of their locations and time zones. Tutors must make a conscious effort to adjust class timetables to accommodate students from different time zones in their online tutoring sessions.

Now that you are aware of the common online tutoring mistakes and their solutions, it will become easier for you to master the process of online learning. Remember, students take cues from the teacher, therefore, it’s up to you to set a good example for them. Once you have learned the ins and outs of online learning, it becomes easier to make the most of the resources given to you and help your students derive the benefits of online learning.

The Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT), previously known as the Scholastic Aptitude Test, is a standardized entrance test conducted by the College Board for students who want to pursue higher education in undergraduate schools, colleges, or universities in the United States. This exam is usually attempted by high school juniors and seniors who want to enroll in undergraduate programs. SAT evaluates a student’s critical reading, writing, and mathematical knowledge and skills.

Your SAT score combined with your high school Grade Point Average (GPA) is an indicator of how well you’re prepared to pursue undergraduate studies in college. Most colleges and universities in the U.S. that offer 4-year undergraduate courses require an SAT score or its equivalent American College Testing (ACT) score as part of the application process for freshman admission.

Given the importance of the SAT, how do you study for the exam during COVID? Online learning has become a major coping mechanism for academic matters during a global pandemic. You can make use of online tutoring services to study for your SAT. Here’s an important tip – start preparing for the exams 6 to 7 months in advance.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About SAT

• How to register for the SAT?

Since this standardized college entrance test is owned and administered by the College Board, you have to register online at their official website or offline via mail at least 3 weeks before the exam date.

• When is SAT conducted?

SAT exams are conducted 7 times a year for students in the United States and 4 times a year for international students. For domestic students, the exam is usually conducted in August, October, November, December, March, May, and June. For international students, the exam is scheduled in October, December, March, and May.

• What is the content/syllabus of the SAT exam?

SAT has four sections; Reading, Writing and Language, Math Test with Calculator, and Math Test with No Calculator. There is also an optional Essay section.

• What is the structure of the SAT Reading section?

The Reading section consists of 52 multiple choice questions for 65 minutes. The questions are based on reading passages taken from History, Science, and Social Studies.

• What is the structure of the SAT Writing and Language section?

The Writing and Language section consists of 44 multiple choice questions for 35 minutes. The questions are based on reading passages. The questions will include making corrections or suggestions to word/sentence structures, present topic arguments, improve word choice/usage, punctuation, etc.

• What is the structure of the SAT Math section?

The Math test consists of two sections; Math Test with No Calculator and Math Test with Calculator. Math Test With No-Calculator consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 grid-in questions for 25 minutes. Math Test with Calculator consists of 30 multiple choice questions and 8 grid-in questions for 55 minutes. The questions are based on topics like statistics, algebra, geometry, and probability, and data analysis.

• What is the total duration of SAT?

The duration of the exam is 3 hours for SAT and 3 hours 50 minutes for SAT with Essay.

• How is the SAT scored?

The total SAT score ranges from 400 to 1600 points; it combines results from two 200 to 800-point sections. There is no negative scoring in SAT. Each correct answer is awarded one point. SAT scores will be available after 3 weeks from the date of taking the exam. A score of 1200 and above is considered a good SAT score for admissions in reputable schools, colleges, and universities.

• Why is it important to take SAT?

Colleges and Universities in the United States require your SAT score in addition to your high school GPA to assess your preparedness for higher education. SAT score is a part of the application process for freshman admission to 4-year undergraduate programs.

• How to prepare for SAT during COVID?

This year, with the outbreak of COVID-19, online learning has made it possible for schools and colleges to resume classes and conduct tests for students all over the world. Several online tutoring services offer SAT prep materials and guidance to students who are preparing for their 2020 college entrance exams. You can choose to study for the standardized test on your own or use an online tutoring service to prep for the exam.

• How much does it cost to take SAT?

The exam fee for domestic students is $52 for SAT alone and $68 for SAT with Essay.  International students have to pay additional processing fees. There are additional fees to be paid for circumstances like late registration, change in test centers or dates, request additional score reports, score verification, registration by phone, etc. For further information, news, or updates on SAT 2020, please check the College Board website.

We wish you all the very best for your SAT exam!

This Halloween will be a unique experience for everyone as we dutifully follow social distancing rules to ensure good health during a worldwide pandemic. For teachers and students in online learning programs, we’ve put together some fun and exciting ideas for your Halloween celebrations in a virtual classroom setting. One of the main traditions as well as attractions of this “spooktastic” holiday is the chance to play dress-up. Instead of buying ready-made costumes like always, this year, why don’t we spend some quality time making our own costumes. Check out our simple DIY costume ideas for Halloween.

5 DIY Halloween Costumes for Kids (and Adults) in Online Learning

Your costume has to look good on-screen when you model it for your classmates in a virtual classroom setting via a video conferencing app. Keeping that in mind, here are some wonderful DIY Halloween costume ideas for teachers and students:

1. DIY Jellyfish Costume: This costume requires only 3 items; an umbrella, construction papers, and streamers. Choose a vibrant color for your jellyfish costume, cover the umbrella with colored streamers and construction papers. Take two circular white papers with black dots in their centers to represent the eyes. Stick the eyes on one side of the umbrella. Lastly, wear a dress in the same vibrant color so that when you hold the umbrella over your head you will blend in with the ensemble. What’s more, you can make many such jellyfish costumes in different colors for a group and call it “a school of Jellyfish”, pun intended.
2. DIY Ghost Costume: Take a white cloth that will cover you completely from head to toe. Put the cloth over your head, mark the areas that cover your eyes, then cut two holes in them. Ensure you can see through the holes clearly. Next, trim the bottom of the white cloth that covers your toes in a crisscross fashion to give it a wavy form when you move. The same goes for the portion of the cloth that covers your arms. Make sure the cloth affords free movement of your limbs to wave/flow around like a spooky ghost. This is the most economical and easy DIY costume one can think of.
3. DIY Pac-man Costume: This costume is inspired by the old maze arcade game of the 1980s. Pac-man mobile game apps are available as well. For the Pac-man costume, wear a plain black T-shirt/top and pants/leggings. Take a yellow chart paper or cloth. Cut a big circle of the paper/cloth. Make half an incision from the right side to the center of the circular paper/cloth to represent Pac-man’s gaping mouth. Stick the circular yellow paper/cloth to the center of your t-shirt/top. Now, for the ghost characters in the game; Blinky, Inky, Pinky, and Clyde. You can wear plain red, blue, pink, and orange-colored T-shirts to represent each character, respectively. Cut the bottom of your t-shirt in a crisscross fashion. As for the eyes, cut two circular white cloths or chart papers with a black dot placed in the center/top/bottom of the white cloths/papers and stick it on the upper chest portion of your t-shirt. Voilà! You’ve Pac-man and ensemble for a solo or group Halloween costume idea.
4. DIY Stick Figure Costume: Wear a plain white onesie or white full-sleeved t-shirt and pants. Cut long strips of black cloth or construction paper to denote arms, legs, and body. Stick the long strips on the sleeves and pant legs. Cut a circular white chart paper to make a face mask. Draw a smiley on the circular white chart paper with a black marker pen; two black dots for eyes and an upward/downward curve for the mouth.
5. DIY Donut Costume: Take a big chart paper, cut the paper to form the shape of your favorite donut with or without a hole. Color the chart paper to represent donut toppings or fillings like sprinkles, jelly, glaze, powdered sugar, etc. Wear a plain white top and leggings. Stick the donut-shaped chart paper to your top; make sure it covers your chest, abdomen, and the upper part of your thighs. Your delicious donut costume is ready!

How to Conduct Halloween Costume Parties/Contests in Virtual Classrooms

There are many ways to make this Halloween interesting for teachers, students, and their families. The traditional classroom activities can easily be carried out in an online learning environment. All you need is a smartphone, laptop, desktop, or tablet with a stable Internet connection.

1. Download a free video-conferencing app on your smart device for setting up meetings and making video calls.
2. Choose a corner in your home to decorate for Halloween with paper bats, spiders, webs, skeletons, etc. Conduct your virtual classroom activity from the decorated corner so that your background will look festive when appearing on-screen. Or, you can choose a Halloween-themed virtual background for your video call for free from your video conferencing app. Or, you can create your own virtual background with some spooky images.
3. Choose a theme for the Halloween costume party, or keep it random, up to you.
4. Conduct a Halloween costume contest and award the best-dressed participants. You can have all the participants vote for their favorites in each award category to make the contest a fair one.
5. There are many free apps and online tools available to make Halloween party invitations. Send out the e-invites to your class with the date, time, and instructions/rules of the contest.
6. Have all the participants model their DIY costumes on camera. At the end of the costume party/contest, teachers can capture screenshots of each student’s costume and put together a photo or video collage to share with the students’ families.

Halloween-inspired online learning activities are both engaging and educational for students. It gives them a break from mundane academic learning. We wish you a safe and happy Halloween!

Guess which spooky yet popular holiday in October is synonymous with ghosts, bats, spiders, candy corns, and pumpkins? That’s right, it is HALLOWEEN! Wearing scary costumes and Trick-or-Treating are the main attractions of this particular holiday. However, this year, to ensure social distancing, we’re going to carry out our holiday festivities in virtual classrooms. Teachers, here are some creative and fun Halloween-inspired lesson plans for elementary students in your online learning program.

Tips to Create Halloween Lesson Plans for Online Learning

Boo! Here are some valuable tips to create virtual lesson plans for online learning:

1. The process of creating lesson plans for online classes is similar to creating lesson plans for traditional classes. Your virtual lesson plan should have an objective, agenda, and format with timings allocated for each activity and student participation. Don’t forget to include scheduled breaks in between activities.
2. Invite students to join the virtual lessons by sending out calendar invites.
3. Email joining instructions to students about the e-learning materials and tools required for virtual classroom participation.
4. Carry out test video calls and instruct students on virtual classroom etiquettes to minimize disruptions and distractions. Parents can help teachers by reading the instructions on video call etiquettes and preparing their children for online learning.
5. At the end of the lesson, encourage students to ask questions and give feedback. Conclude the class with a summary of what was taught. Lastly, give your students an idea or preview of their next lesson.

Fun and Creative Halloween Lessons/Activities for Elementary Students

We’ve “scared-up” a list of creative, fun, and educational lesson ideas for you to teach your elementary students this Halloween.

1. Halloween Science Lesson Ideas: Teach a class on the most famous mammal in October, the BAT. Teach them about the most popular seasonal vegetable in October, the PUMPKIN; Is pumpkin a fruit or a vegetable? Students can dress up as bats or pumpkins for the respective lessons. Conduct quizzes at the end of the class and reward your students with online scores or virtual treats.
2. Halloween Math Lesson Ideas: Pumpkin measurements, matching spider webs, drawing spiders and spider webs using straight lines, making pumpkin pie charts, adding and subtracting candy corns, etc., are some sneaky ways of including mathematical problems into kids’ activities and games.
3. Halloween English Lesson Ideas: Engage students in Halloween-themed English Crossword Puzzles, Word Searches, Fill in The Blanks, Learn New Adjectives, Match The Following, Antonyms and Synonyms, Spooky Poetry/Essay Writing, Ad Libs, Scary Story Writing/Reading, Halloween Quizzes, and so on. Teachers and students can make use of various online tools like pdf, MS Excel, MS paint, photoshop apps, audio and video recorders, etc., to create puzzles, quizzes, games, and more.
4. Halloween Arts & Crafts Lesson Ideas: Schedule fun activities like Pumpkin Carving to make Jack-o’-Lantern, making Halloween Greeting Cards and Home Decorations, putting together Halloween Costumes, learning to make Origami spiders, bats, ghosts, and pumpkins, etc. All these activities can be done live in a virtual learning environment with the help of laptop/mobile cameras, stable Internet connection, and video calling apps. At the end of each activity, teachers can put together a collage of the final results in a photo or video format and share it with each student via email. This way the activities can be archived for future enjoyment.
5. Halloween Music Lesson Ideas: Encourage students to sing and dance to Halloween-themed songs, play musical instruments, and perform Halloween-themed plays. They can put on live plays or record their performances to share it with the class.
6. Halloween Cooking Lesson Ideas: Parents and teachers can create simple recipes for Halloween party foods like pumpkin pie, caramel apples, candy corns, pumpkin bread, scary-looking yet delicious cupcakes, blood-red mocktails, etc. Get on Pinterest or Google for some tasty Halloween food recipes that children can make with some adult supervision if necessary.

With so many creative ideas, this Halloween doesn’t have to be boring due to social distancing. With easy access to online learning platforms and applications, you can develop virtual lesson plans to both teach and celebrate the “spooktacular” holiday with your elementary students and their parents.

Teachers, parents, and students were anxious about learning in the time of a pandemic until the concept of hybrid learning provided them with some respite. While some school districts have resumed regular classes, albeit tentatively, others have opted for a hybrid learning model where conventional classroom experiences and modern remote learning techniques are blended to cater to K-12 students across the country. Either way, things are not the same as they were in previous years.

How to make the most of hybrid learning

Here are a few tips to get ahead in the new school year with hybrid learning:

1. Undertake a formal reflection of the previous year

It is advised that parents and children partake in self-reflection at the end of each school year to better prepare for the upcoming one. It is crucial to know what worked last year, and what didn’t. Discussing this with your child can go a long way towards helping them mentally prepare for the new school year. Since things are different this year, reflect on the changes between conventional education and online learning to ensure your child is mentally prepared for the months ahead.

2. Find opportunities for social learning

Among the many things the pandemic has brought to light, is that tending to all aspects of a child’s growth is a daunting prospect. Parents were used to their kids developing their social and academic skills at school, but with kids at home these days, parents are left with a lot on their plates. There is no doubt that kids learn better in the presence of their peers, so using every opportunity you get to enable them to learn socially can help achieve better results. Online learning in virtual classrooms or pandemic pods will not only ensure that your child continues learning without a break, but will also offer room for social interactions, albeit online. Zoom, FaceTime and other conferencing apps can be used to encourage your child to do their assignments and schoolwork with friends and classmates.

3. Don’t forget about physical activity

Research shows that the academic performances of K-12 students can improve with an increase in physical fitness. Students who are more active during the summer tend to be more ready for the new school year. Since kids have been stuck at home during the pandemic, simple routines such as yoga or daily walks can help kids perform better at their studies. Along with your child’s hybrid learning curriculum, dedicate time for physical activities on a daily basis to maintain a healthy balance between their minds and bodies.

4. Dedicate time to practice math and reading

Enrolling your child into a virtual classroom for reading can help them develop comprehension and critical thinking skills. Virtual reading groups also enable kids to build their own opinions and share them with other members of the group, thereby helping them have meaningful interactions regarding interesting topics. Similarly, virtual classrooms for math can help them reinforce basic math concepts while improving their executive functioning skills and financial literacy.

5. Remember the importance of communication

While some kids have adapted to hybrid learning with relative ease, others are finding it hard to do the same. Open communication with your child can help you find out how they are transitioning to hybrid learning and what excites them and what concerns them. Allow your child to express their concerns and fears openly. A little assurance goes a long way, so remind them that no matter how difficult times may seem, you will be there to make things easier for them.

Hybrid learning has been considered the most effective academic solution during the pandemic. However, in addition to online learning and virtual classrooms, there are plenty of other things you can do to ensure that your child continues to learn without a break. By keeping these simple tips in mind and enabling your child to better express themselves, hybrid learning can have a positive impact that lasts beyond the pandemic.

With over a billion students learning from home due to the lockdown restrictions imposed as a result of COVID-19, online education has never been more important. However, not all kids are in favor of learning from home. Not only are there too many distractions to avoid, but the attention spans, especially of the younger ones, aren’t designed for online learning. That said, kids have no choice when it comes to their education this year, so it’s up to parents to establish ways through which their kids continue to learn without a break.

7 strategies for better results in online learning

1. Instill the habit of reading

Many say that reading goes a long way towards helping kids form their own thoughts and opinions. It also helps in developing comprehension skills. Most kids who find it hard to read on a regular basis, also have a hard time learning new topics and concepts. Instilling the habit of reading in your K-12 student can make it easier for your kids to process information as they grow older. Give your kids their freedom to choose their own reading material and suggest books that can help them further develop their reasoning. Developing the habit of reading at a young age can make online learning less stressful your child. You can also enroll them into an online reading group for better results.

2. Give them control over their learning process

When kids feel like they are controlled by their parents and compelled to learn things, they tend to withdraw from learning. As a parent, you must guide them as they learn, and, at the same time, allow them to control their own learning process. Provide them with multiple choices to make them feel more involved. For instance, if they have a writing assignment, allow them to pick their own topic. You can also allow them to pick their own extracurricular activities as it will give them more control over their learning.

3. Don’t underestimate the importance of communication

Encouraging open communication allows children to express their thoughts and opinions about their education. The more comfortable kids feel with their parents/teachers, the more they will express their likes and dislikes, thereby allowing you to focus on ways to improve their learning process.

4. Understand their interests

The key to cementing K-12 education in children is understanding their interests. When your child is learning at home, engaging them in their areas of interests can make learning more fun. Encourage your child to explore subjects and topics they find interesting as it will help them learn in a more effective and fulfilling manner.

5. Implement different kinds of learning

Each child is different and learns differently from others. Considering there are various styles of learning, such as visual, verbal, solitary, social, physical, auditory and logical, using two or more styles will help you figure out which style best suits your child. This, in turn, can not only make online learning more rewarding, but can also lay the foundation for their education in the future.

6. Consider game-based learning

There are many advantages to using game-based learning to enhance your kids’ learning threshold at home. It helps in developing your child’s non-cognitive skills and motivates them to learn. Game-based learning allows your child to experience learning through entertainment. Since kids are usually more attentive when playing games than in a classroom, you can use game-based learning to your advantage.

7. Encourage organization

To improve your kids’ learning threshold at home, it is crucial to teach them the importance of being organized. Whether it is their stationery, papers, or assignments, developing the habit of organizing their materials can help them become more focused, and subsequently improve their learning process.

It’s only normal for parents to find it hard to cater to their kids’ academic needs while attending to their own responsibilities. If your child needs help with online learning, there are plenty of online tutoring services to help your child stay on top of their academics during these testing times. Don’t hesitate to find an expert online tutor to improve your child’s learning threshold at home.

Whether it’s communal or solitary, reading has a significant impact on children and the way they view the world. Regardless of our age, or the size of the group, discussions about books usually transition into conversations regarding the subject. With schools having moved their curriculums online, many extra-curricular activities including book clubs have suffered. If you have students who have been affected by a learning loss due to the pandemic, you must consider setting up a virtual book club.

How to Guide K-12 Students in a Virtual Book Club 

1. Send your students an introductory video message

Before starting with your virtual book club, it is crucial to introduce yourself to the students and make them feel comfortable with your presence. Send them a short introductory video message to let them know who will be guiding them in the days to come. Tell them a little about yourself, and give them a glimpse into your style of leading a book club so they know what to expect when they start.

2. Breaking the ice

Students are relative strangers in an online reading group. Not many have the confidence to participate freely without being faced with peer pressure. Knowing each other by name will help children develop the confidence needed to share their opinions and ideas with the group. In your very first session, make sure you dedicate some time for introductions. You could ask the kids to reveal their names and other information that is not very personal, such as their favourite books or movies. Doing so will help you create an online community and help the students develop a sense of familiarity, thereby making it more interesting and engaging for the whole group.

3. Promote student-to-student discussions

When students discuss their ideas with teachers, there is always some hesitation on the students’ part. Conversations between students, however, are more personal and engaging. Promote student-to-student discussions by creating smaller groups within your virtual book club. They can start by sharing their findings in groups before you ask them to share their ideas individually. You could also ask students to write down their answers to questions before reading them out, as this will make them more confident when sharing their ideas.

4. Ask questions to promote self-reflection

During your online reading group session, you can help your students better understand the story by connecting it to their own experiences. When you ask them questions regarding the story, do it in such a way that it leads to self-reflection among the students. For instance, you can ask them questions about which character they think they may befriend, or which character they can associate with, or what they learnt from the story. Simple questions like these enable students to reflect on themselves, thereby helping them get the most out of your online reading group.

5. Acknowledge participation

Some students are more shy and reserved than others. While you encourage them to share their thoughts and opinions, make sure you acknowledge their participation by offering positive comments on their answers. You could prolong the conversation with the shier kids, but do in a manner such that they don’t feel uncomfortable. The stakes are low in virtual book clubs, but kids may feel pressurized regardless. Their experiences in an online reading group will help them learn and understand better, so encourage them to practice self-reflection and take healthy risks.

An online reading group can help students get better at reading and comprehension, which in turn will help them develop proficiency in English and find career options they love. There are plenty of other benefits of virtual book clubs , and following these simple tips can go a long way towards making your virtual book club a success.