The Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT) is a standardized private school entrance exam used by many independent schools across Canada and the United States. Administered by the , the SSAT helps admissions teams evaluate applicants using a consistent academic benchmark.

Unlike classroom tests, the SSAT is not designed to measure what your child has recently learned in school. Instead, it evaluates reasoning skills, critical thinking ability, and academic readiness—all essential for success in competitive private school environments.

What Can Students Expect from the SSAT?

Parents often ask: What does the SSAT test involve?

The SSAT assesses four core areas:

• Writing Sample
• Quantitative (Math)
• Reading Comprehension
• Verbal Reasoning

The test is intentionally challenging. Students are expected to answer aboutĚý50–60% of the questions correctly. Scoring is comparative, meaning results are evaluated against other test writers.

SSAT Test Format Options

Students in Canada and the U.S. can choose from multiple testing formats:

• Paper-Based Testing (traditional Saturday sittings)
• SSAT at Home (live remote proctoring)
• Prometric Center Testing (computer-based testing site)
• Flex Testing (individually arranged paper-based option)

All formats test the same skills and follow the same structure.

Middle Level vs. Upper Level SSAT

The version your child writes depends on the grade they are applying to.

Middle Level SSAT

• For students in Grades 5–8
• Applying to Grades 6–8

Upper Level SSAT

• For students in Grades 8–11
• Applying to Grades 9–12

Both exams are approximately 3 hours and 5 minutes long and include the same core sections: Writing, Quantitative, Verbal, and Reading.

The key differences are:

• Increased difficulty at the Upper Level
• A more advanced Writing Sample requirement

Practice and Preparation Are Key

Success on the SSAT doesn’t come from last-minute studying. It comes from structured preparation and strategic practice.

Experts typically recommend preparing for at least three months—ideally six months. This allows students to:

• Strengthen core academic skills
• Become familiar with the test format
• Build test-taking endurance
• Reduce anxiety through repeated exposure

One of the biggest mistakes students make?

• Not starting early enough
• Not practising with realistic exam-style questions

Becoming comfortable with the test’s structure and pacing can significantly improve performance and confidence.

Build strong study skills with our Complete Guide to Study Skills.

How 91°µÍř Helps Students Succeed

At 91°µÍř, SSAT prep goes beyond content review. Our program builds the thinking skills, confidence, and study strategies students need to succeed on high-stakes admissions exams.

Our SSAT preparation program includes:

• A personalized learning plan tailored to your child’s strengths and areas for improvement
• Explicit instruction in time management and strategic test-taking
• Practice with real SSAT-style questions
• Coaching to build academic stamina and confidence

Because strong study skills are integrated into every 91°µÍř program, students don’t just prepare for one test—they develop lifelong learning strategies.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Private school admissions are competitive—but with the right preparation, your child can approach the SSAT feeling confident and prepared.

Find your nearest 91°µÍř location and start your child’s personalized SSAT preparation today.

The post Private School Prep: Getting to Know the SSAT appeared first on 91°µÍř.

The good news? March Break learning doesn’t have to feel like schoolwork. 

With the right balance of fun and enrichment, students can stay sharp, build confidence, and return to class ready to succeed. For families, this week is an opportunity to combine rest with light academic engagement and even discover new interests.

Does Learning Loss Happen Over March Break?

Yes! Even short school breaks can lead to small drops in reading fluency, math accuracy, and study habits. Educators often refer to this as “learning loss” or “brain drain.”

The effect is usually temporary, but students who stay lightly engaged through reading, problem-solving, and hands-on activities tend to return to school after the break even more confident and focused.

Simple ways to prevent March Break learning loss include:

• Daily reading time
• Short math challenges
• Logic puzzles and brain games
• Writing or journaling activities
• Educational workshops or tutoring sessions

Even 15–20 minutes a day can make a difference.

Why Breaks Still Matter for Student Success

Like working out your body, your brain requires some rest. Academic progress isn’t just about constant study; recovery matters too. Students who get time to rest mentally and emotionally often show improved motivation and attention afterward.

A well-planned March Break should support:

• Mental reset
• Reduced stress
• Better focus
• Renewed motivation
• Stronger learning readiness

The goal is balance, not burnout.

The Power of Hands-On March Break Learning

Students learn especially well when they can see, touch, build, test, and explore. Real-life learning improves retention and creates curiosity.

Great March Break enrichment activities include:

• Science experiments
• Technology and robotics workshops
• Creative writing challenges
• Math games and competitions
• Museum or science centre visits
• Reading challenges
• Problem-solving projects

These activities develop critical thinking skills while keeping learning enjoyable.

Social and Confidence Benefits of Learning Programs

Structured March Break learning programs also provide important social benefits. Students collaborate, communicate, and solve problems together, all skills that support classroom success.

Guided learning environments help students:

• Build confidence
• Ask more questions
• Strengthen weak subject areas
• Develop independent learning habits
• Feel more prepared for the rest of the school year

For students who have been struggling, this extra support can be especially valuable.

Check out these 10 fun activities for March Break learning. 

How Tutoring Support Helps During March Break

March Break is an ideal time for targeted academic support. Without the pressure of regular homework and tests, students can focus on strengthening core skills and closing learning gaps.

Short March Break tutoring programs can help students:

• Improve reading comprehension
• Strengthen math fundamentals
• Catch up on missed concepts
• Prepare for upcoming units or tests
• Build study strategies

Because sessions are focused and personalized, progress often happens quickly.

This March Break, Keep Learning Fun and Productive

Students don’t need a full academic schedule during March Break. What they do need is light, meaningful engagement that keeps their minds active while still allowing time to relax and play.

A mix of reading, exploration, hands-on learning, and targeted support helps students maintain momentum and return to school ready to finish the year strong.

Let’s talk about your March Break plan!

Find a Location Near You

The post Why March Break Learning Matters And How to Keep Students on Track appeared first on 91°µÍř.

The good news? Maintaining holiday learning momentum doesn’t require worksheets, tutors, or packed schedules. In fact, the most effective learning during this time is gentle, practical, and woven naturally into family life.

Here’s how parents can help their child stay engaged, confident, and ready to start the new year strong.

Why Holiday Learning Momentum Matters

During long breaks, students can lose progress in math, reading, and writing skills. Even a short pause can make January feel like a jolt, leading to frustration, decreased confidence, and slower re-entry into routines.

But maintaining momentum doesn’t mean doing “school at home.” Momentum means keeping the mind active enough that returning to school feels like a continuation, not a restart.

A bit of structure and curiosity can create:

• Smoother transitions in January
• Less resistance to homework and routines
• More confidence going into new units and expectations
• Greater independence and problem-solving skills

It’s the difference between starting the year stressed and starting it with confidence.

Make the Holidays a Learning Playground

The best learning opportunities don’t necessarily resemble traditional schooling. They look like life! Here are ways to build learning naturally into holiday moments:

1. Cooking = Math + Reading + Confidence

Holiday baking brings measurement, fractions, sequencing, and following instructions. Let your child double a recipe, read directions aloud, or choose what to make.

2. Shopping = Money Skills + Decision-Making

Give a budget and ask your child to help compare prices, evaluate options, or calculate totals. Real-world math builds fluency faster than flashcards.

3. Travel Time = Language + Curiosity

Flights, drives, and lineups are perfect for audiobooks, storytelling games, or word puzzles. This keeps reading comprehension and verbal reasoning sharp without feeling like effort.

4. Games = Strategy + Social Skills

Board games and card games are powerful learning tools that encompass turn-taking, memory, planning, problem-solving, and even basic numeracy.

5. Creative Time = Writing + Imagination

Journaling, creating cards for family, writing a holiday comic, or crafting a scrapbook all support writing, sequencing, and expressive language.

When children have freedom to explore, learning feels like play, not pressure.

Discover 10 holiday learning activities to help during the winter break. 

Create a Holiday Routine

Kids thrive on structure, even when they’re on break. You don’t need rigid schedules, just small, predictable habits that keep the brain engaged.

Consider:

• A daily 10–20 minute reading window (right after breakfast works well)
• A weekly academic goal like “finish one book” or “practice multiplication twice.”
• A screen-free block for puzzles, crafts, or quiet play

These routines maintain momentum while still protecting the “holiday” feeling.

Build Executive Function Skills (Without Making It a Chore)

This time of year is perfect for strengthening the behind-the-scenes skills that support all learning:

• Planning – create a holiday countdown or activity schedule
• Organization – tidy a desk or backpack before January
• Time management – set timers for tasks or challenges

These small, low-pressure habits pay off significantly when school resumes.

Nurture Curiosity Through Conversation

One of the easiest ways to maintain momentum is to simply ask open-ended questions that prompt thinking:

• “What surprised you today?”
• “What would you change about this if you were in charge?”
• “What’s a question you wish you could answer?”

Curiosity is the engine of learning. The holidays give kids space to rediscover it.

Celebrate Progress, Not Perfection

Holiday learning momentum builds through tiny efforts. Encourage your child by highlighting moments of creativity, independence, and resilience, rather than just focusing on results.

• When children feel capable, they naturally become more motivated.
• When they feel pressured, they shut down.
• The holidays should strengthen their confidence—not drain it.

The Perfect Balance: Rest and Growth

The holidays are meant to be joyful, cozy, and restful. But with a few intentional habits, they can also be a powerful reset, helping kids return to school in January feeling steady, confident, and ready for new challenges.

Holiday learning momentum doesn’t have to be loud or structured. It just has to be consistent, gentle, and connected to real life.

Want to help your child start the new year feeling confident? 91°µÍř can support them with personalized programs that keep skills sharp and motivation high. 

Contact your local centre to learn how we can help your child thrive in January and beyond.

Find a Location Near You

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Luckily, tutoring offers a solution to help students stay engaged, catch up on missed work, and build a path to academic success.

Roughly 23 per cent of Canadian students sampled in the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment reported skipping school at least once every two weeks.

Understanding Absenteeism and Its Impact

Absenteeism is more than simply missing a few classes here and there. Chronic absenteeism—missing 10% or more school days—can lead to:

• Falling behind in coursework: missed lessons accumulate, making it harder to understand new material.
• Lower grades and test scores: academic gaps can impact performance across subjects.
• Increased dropout risk: students who fall behind may feel discouraged and disengaged.
• Social and emotional challenges: missing school can reduce peer interaction and support opportunities.

Even occasional absences can create stress and anxiety for students trying to catch up, making it essential to address the problem early on.

Stronger study skills can reduce school-related stress—

How Tutoring Helps Students Overcome Absenteeism

Tutoring is more than just extra homework help—it’s a targeted approach to ensuring students don’t fall behind. Here’s how personalized tutoring can make a difference for your family.

1. Filling Knowledge Gaps

Tutors assess which concepts a student has missed and provide individualized instruction to bridge those gaps. This process ensures students don’t fall behind, even if they’ve missed multiple lessons.

2. Building Confidence and Motivation

Struggling to keep up after missing school can be discouraging. Tutors provide encouragement and support, helping students regain confidence in their abilities and stay motivated to attend school regularly.

3. Developing Better Study Habits

Tutoring doesn’t just cover missed content. Tutoring teaches effective study skills, time management, and organization strategies, which can reduce future absenteeism and improve overall academic performance. Learn more about our cognitive learning approach here.

4. Personalized Pacing

Every student learns differently. Tutoring allows students to work at their own pace, ensuring they fully understand material before moving on. This personalized approach can prevent the frustration and stress that often lead to skipping school.

5. Reinforcing Accountability

Regular tutoring sessions create structure and accountability. Knowing they have dedicated time to focus on learning can encourage students to stay engaged in their education and attend school consistently.

Choosing the Right Tutoring Program

When selecting a tutoring program to address absenteeism, look for:

• Experienced, patient tutors who can adapt to the student’s learning style.
• Flexible scheduling to accommodate missed classes.
• Subject-specific expertise for targeted support.
• Progress tracking to monitor improvement and motivate continued learning.

TL; DR: Absenteeism doesn’t have to define a student’s academic journey. With the right tutoring support, students can catch up on missed lessons, regain confidence, and develop inner motivation to stay focused in school. Investing in tutoring is not just a short-term solution—it’s a long-term strategy for academic success and personal growth.

If your student struggles to keep up due to missed school, our tutoring services can provide the personalized support they need.

Contact us today to help your student get back on track.

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Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck coined the term growth mindset, which has reshaped how educators and parents think about intelligence and ability. While a fixed mindset suggests that talents are innate and unchangeable (“you’re either good at math or you’re not”), a growth mindset emphasizes that skills can be developed through practise, persistence, and learning from mistakes.

And here’s the exciting part: research shows that children who adopt a growth mindset don’t just believe in improvement, they actually improve more than their peers with a fixed mindset.

So how can parents help nurture this powerful outlook at home? Keep reading to find out. 

Five Practical Growth Mindset Tips for Parents

1. Praise Effort, Not Labels

Instead of calling your child smart, gifted, or brilliant, focus your praise on qualities like effort, persistence, and resilience. For example:

• I love how hard you worked on that.
• It’s great that you didn’t give up even after making mistakes.

Real life example: Your two children recorded a song together, but it took 10 tries to get it right. Make sure to highlight their persistence, not just the final product. That reinforcement builds confidence in the process, not just the outcome.

2. Be a Growth Mindset Role Model

Kids are always listening, even when we don’t realize it. If you often say things like, “I can’t cook” or “I’m terrible at math,” you may unintentionally send the message that abilities are fixed.

Instead, reframe your language and theirs by adding the word “yet.”

• “I can’t solve this problem… yet.”
• “You’re not able to play that chord… yet.”

This small shift signals that growth is always possible.

3. Encourage Challenges, Not Shortcuts

It’s tempting to let kids stick with what they already know because it feels easy and rewarding. But real growth happens when they stretch themselves.

For example, working through a tough math problem, even if the answer isn’t perfect, helps build problem-solving skills more than breezing through worksheets full of questions they already understand.

Help your child see challenges not as threats, but as opportunities to strengthen their brain.

4. Apply Growth Mindset Beyond School

A growth mindset isn’t limited to academics; it applies to sports, music, friendships, and even everyday life.

• Missed a basketball shot? Keep practicing.
• Struggling with a guitar chord? Try again tomorrow.
• Felt nervous speaking up in class? Discuss small steps to build confidence.

When kids see mistakes as a normal part of learning in all areas, they carry that resilience with them everywhere.

5. Teach Them to Learn from Others, Not Envy Them

It’s natural for kids to compare themselves to peers, but envy can hold them back. Instead, help them reframe comparison into curiosity: “What can I learn from that person’s success?”

Often, what looks like natural talent is really hidden practice, persistence, and effort. By highlighting this, you’re teaching your child that achievement is built, not bestowed.

Growth Mindset for Parents and Kids

Fostering a growth mindset in children doesn’t mean shielding them from frustration or failure. It means reframing those experiences as stepping stones to progress. When kids learn that their abilities grow through effort and perseverance, they develop the confidence to face challenges in school, sports, friendships, and life.

And here’s a bonus: the more you model growth mindset thinking for your child, the more likely you are to embrace it in your own life, too.

Need help supporting your child’s growth mindset? 91°µÍř can help. Our programs are designed to build confidence, resilience, and lifelong learning skills.

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Many students feel that keeping quiet and listening to the class discuss concepts is safer. However, participating in class is important for developing communication skills and understanding class material.

It takes time and practice, but there are many strategies students can use to make speaking up in class easier.

Read on to learn why it’s important for students to participate in class and how you can encourage your child to join in more class discussions. 

Participating in Class Is Important!

Why is it important for students to participate in class? Firstly, participating in class discussions improves your child’s comprehension of the material. It can also help them become more invested in the class material. Comparing other students’ opinions on the material to their own will encourage your child to think about the course concepts more critically, helping improve comprehension.

Class participation also develops your child’s communication skills. Communication skills are very important in the upper years of schooling when he or she will have to discuss ideas and collaborate with others. The more your child decides to participate in class, the more these skills will develop.

Students who participate in discussions show their teachers that they’re prepared and interested in class concepts. These students tend to score higher on their report cards for in-class participation and communication skills.

Four Reasons Students Do Not Participate in Class

1. They Fear Saying The Wrong Answer

Many students will not speak up in class because they fear that other students will They worry that their answers are incorrect and that other students will question their intelligence. Though this fear is understandable, it shouldn’t get in the way of participating in class.

2. They Don’t Think They Have Anything Valuable To Contribute

Another reason some students don’t speak up in class is that they feel other students’ opinions matter more. They feel that their own perspective on the material isn’t very valuable, so there’s no point in sharing. This feeling often stems from insecurity or social anxiety. These students need to understand that adding to the conversation only makes for a more meaningful discussion.

3. They’re Unprepared

Every student’s biggest nightmare is being called on in class to discuss course material when unprepared. Students will never participate in class discussions if they don’t know what the class is talking about.

4. They Fear Public Speaking

 is very common among students of all ages. They often worry that their classmates will judge them if they appear nervous or lose their train of thought.

How to Help Address These Concerns

Wrong Answers

Help your child learn that it’s okay to get an answer wrong! The goal of speaking up and asking questions in class is to better understand the material. By normalizing it at home, you can help your child become more comfortable with not knowing everything. Speak openly about questions you don’t have answers to or times you’ve been wrong in the past. Your child will see that not knowing every answer is something that happens to everyone—and he or she doesn’t have to stress about it.

Nothing to Contribute

Help build your child’s confidence by asking for their opinion. This can mean asking your child which type of cereal the family should purchase at the grocery store or asking what to have for dinner. Be sure to communicate with your child that you know he or she is smart, and that’s why you came to him or her for advice!

Being Unprepared

If your child takes school seriously and wants to succeed, the issue might be that they are overwhelmed. Your child may have too much on their plate and be unable to keep up with the workload. If this is the case, sit down with your child and work out a study schedule. Work with your child to prioritize important tasks and offer him or her your love and support. If your child doesn’t seem to take school seriously, check in and talk about future goals. Ensure they know that doing well in school is important when taking advantage of future opportunities like scholarships and college admission.

Public Speaking

Encourage your child to increase class participation slowly, one answer or idea at a time. Try writing thoughts out and reading them out rather than worrying about losing your train of thought. Your child can also they are speaking only to the teacher rather than the whole class.

Participating in Class is Easier When You’re Confident

If students are confident in their understanding of the material, it will be much easier for them to share their thoughts with the class.

Learn more about the different programs at 91°µÍř and see the difference tutoring can make for your child’s confidence and school motivation today!

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Whether you’re a student or a parent looking for ways to keep your child entertained during the break, here are some tips to help you make the most of March Break.

10 Tips for a Fun and Educational March Break 

1. Set March Break Goals

Before the break starts, sit down with your child and discuss what they want to achieve during the week. Do they like to work on a specific subject, learn a new skill or explore a new hobby? Setting goals will help keep them motivated and focused.

2. Explore New Subjects 

March Break is a great time to explore new subjects and areas of interest. Check out local museums, galleries or science centers, or take a virtual tour of a faraway place. This can help to expand your child’s knowledge and curiosity.

3. Read for Pleasure

Reading is a great way to relax and unwind, and March Break is the perfect time to catch up on some reading for pleasure. Head to the library or download some e-books and encourage your child to read books that interest them.

4. Keep a Journal

Encourage your child to keep a journal during the break, writing about their experiences and observations. This can help to develop their writing skills and foster creativity.

5. Play Games as a Family

Games are a fun way to learn and can help develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Consider playing board games, card games, or video games that challenge your child’s mind.

6. Get Outside 

Spending time in nature can be a great way to learn about the world around us. Take a hike, go for a nature walk or visit a local park to learn about the plants and animals in your area.

7. Cook and Bake Together

Cooking and baking can help develop math, reading, and even science skills. Encourage your child to help prepare meals or bake treats during the break. Check out these 6 Focus-Boosting Brain Foods that you can use in your cooking or baking! 

8. Learn a New Skill 

March Break is a great time to learn a new skill or hobby. Whether it’s playing an instrument, learning a new language or trying a new sport, encourage your child to step out of their comfort zone and explore new interests.

9. Volunteer

Volunteering is a great way to learn about the world and make a positive impact. During the break, consider volunteering at a local shelter, food bank, or community center. Check out this to find where you can volunteer near you. 

10. Create a Project 

Encourage your child to create a project during the break, whether it’s a science experiment, a piece of art or a written story. This can help to foster creativity and develop problem-solving skills.

March Break shouldn’t be a week of mindless entertainment. With some planning and creativity, it can be an excellent opportunity for students to continue learning and exploring in fun and engaging ways.

Need Help With March Break Learning?  

Our tutors at 91°µÍř can help your family create great school-year habits to ensure students achieve academic success.

Contact a location near you to get started today!

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The ungrading trend involves removing the focus on grades in order to place a greater emphasis on teachers’ comments and students’ overall progress.

According to ungrading theory, grades are intrinsically ineffective since they can reduce understanding of complex topics to a single-letter grade. The main reason for using ungrading is that grades can distract students, taking their focus away from learning for the joy of learning. When students know they have to struggle to get a grade, it can demotivate them and make them resent the entire educational process. Conversely, when students know they may be getting a high grade, they may stop putting forth effort.

Grade inflation, bell curve, and ambiguous grade interpretations are the results of a system created to divide, categorize, and compare people. Is a B in one class the same as a B in another? Grades are subjective, based on the teacher and the subject itself. 

Let’s get into what ungrading really is.

How to Use Ungrading

Ungrading emphasizes teachers giving feedback that students can use to enhance their work, evaluate it independently, and incorporate it into future assignments. Feedback without a grade turns into an objective platform for learning without the bias of assigned points or grades. 

Without grades, learning for the sake of learning becomes the main objective.

The is picking up steam on TikTok, with many teachers giving their advice on how they use ungrading.

This doesn’t mean that education should do away with grading; it is just offering students a different way of receiving necessary feedback.

Alternative Methods of Grading

Grade-Free Zones

Not all school learning needs to be tied to grades. Many soft skills that support learning, such as organization, time management, sleep and nutrition, all play a role in supporting student learning. Shifting the focus away from grades and onto the learning process and developing stronger learning habits and routines helps students understand that grades are not the only measure of learning.

Check out this article on how routines can help support learning.

Self-Assessment

Giving students opportunities to demonstrate what they’ve learned in writing, speaking, or through other processes plays a role in helping students develop their meta-cognitive awareness (becoming aware of their own learning.) Self-assessments are a helpful tool in this process.

When you give students guidelines and information about what to expect from an assignment, encourage them to frame their self-evaluation around those elements. 

Expect self-evaluations from students on all tasks, encouraging them to think back on what they did well, what they would do differently in the future, and what essential ideas and lessons they learned.

Peer-Assessment

Peers can also be valuable feedback providers for their fellow students with training and practice. 

With proper modelling and ample examples from teachers, students can learn more about what is good and helpful feedback versus what is not useful for the learning process. 

Once students understand what is valuable feedback and what isn’t, teachers can set up regular peer feedback sessions around activities and assignments. This helps students to get feedback from someone other than the teacher or parents. 

Read more about making group work successful here.

Ungrading and 91°µÍř

Does 91°µÍř use upgrading?

While 91°µÍř does not follow the ungrading method, it also does not provide grades to students. Similar to ungrading, student learning is measured in observable factors such as learning engagement and motivation, and self-confidence and esteem. While grades are often the focus of learning, the reality is better grades are simply a by-product of improved learning skills and habits. How students feel about their learning and how happy they are with their effort, regardless of the outcome, is the most important part of learning.

For school support and for help building stronger learning skills, contact an 91°µÍř near you.

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Unlike the traditional teaching and learning model, personalized learning puts students in the driver’s seat of their own learning. Traditional teaching and learning centre around a one-to-many model with one teacher for many students.

Most parents will have already experienced the struggles connected with the traditional model. In a large group of students, is it possible for every student to be able to learn at the same pace as the rest of their classmates? The answer is no.Ěý

Every student learns differently and at their own pace: a group learning environment where students learn an idea or grasp a concept at the same time as their classmates can cause struggles for students who are not learning at the same pace. In the traditional classroom, an otherwise bright student can miss a concept and fall behind. This can create a cycle of poor grades and low confidence that can be challenging to overcome.

Personalized learning helps all students

By eliminating the one-size-fits-all approach, personalized learning programs focus on Rather than leading a group of students through the same exercise, the personal approach allows students to take control of their learning, with their needs, skills, and interests guiding the pace and intensity of their education.

There are three main factors guiding a student’s personalized or customized programs:

1. Customization: whether it is reading a Shakespearean novel or completing a unit on fractions, customized learning programs help students reach a specific goal using their unique learning needs. A student could be a visual, auditory, or kinaesthetic (or another type) or learner; customization allows both student and teacher to work according to the student’s needs.
   
2. Pacing: a major struggle for many students is that the class will move on to a new subject before they have had a chance to fully grasp the current topic. Pacing allows students to spend as little or as much time as they need on a concept before moving on. Pacing also helps students from feeling frustrated or bored with their learning.
   
3. Goal-Setting: with personalized learning, students are able to set their own learning goals for themselves. Whether the goal is to not fail the next test or to get the highest mark in the class, students work toward their own unique goals. Incorporating their interests and preferences into the learning help keeps students motivated to achieve their goals.

Start with an Assessment

Identifying students’ unique learning needs is the starting point for all personal learning. All customized programs at 91°µÍř begin with an in-depth assessment to determine each student’s individual learning needs. The assessment provides the details behind how a particular student learns, which allows educational professionals to design a program to match those needs.

Personalized programs are critical to 91°µÍř’s success with students of all ages. Once students realize they have the skills necessary to complete a task, their effort increases, they try much harder, and they start to see success. Pulling that out is the objective at 91°µÍř: to help students of all ages have those “a-ha!” moments necessary to spark a lifelong love of learning.

Contact your local centre today to learn more about how 91°µÍř can help your child learn with a personalized program best suited for their needs.

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Children need mental toughness, resilience, social competence, self-awareness, and moral integrity. You can make all the difference in whether your kids become successful adults by teaching them these skills 7 essential skills to your children. 

1. Self-confidence

People often believe that self-esteem is the same thing as self-confidence. These two concepts differ from one another. Self-esteem is how we sense ourselves and how we interact with the world. Whereas, self-confidence measures our belief in our abilities. 

There is little evidence that high self-esteem leads to academic success or happiness. However, studies have shown that children with high self-confidence tend to do better academically. Children with high self-confidence equate their grades with their efforts and strengths. 

You can boost self-confidence in children by:
Ěý

• Modelling self-confidence yourself
• Not getting upset about mistakesĚý
• Getting them to try new thingsĚý
• Allowing them to failĚý
• Embracing their effortsĚý

2. Empathy

Empathy isn’t only a critical factor in life, but it’s also a factor in creating and maintaining healthy friendships and relationships. This helps to reduce conflicts and misunderstandings. Being empathic helps lead to a helping attitude, kindness, and success in life. 

And like any skill, empathy can be taught and developed in children, and children need an emotional vocabulary to develop empathy. 

Here are some excellent ways that you can teach empathy at home:

1. Model empathy. It’s important to model any new skill that you want to teach your child. This is important because it helps your child understand what empathy looks like, sounds like, and feels like. It’s easier to teach a child a new skill when you’ve already mastered it yourself.Ěý
2. Discuss emotions. Talking openly about emotions is essential. Do not dismiss or bury their emotions, letting your child know that all feelings are welcome. They need to learn how to manage them in a healthy way through discussion and reflection.
3. Help out at home or in the community. Helping others helps to develop kindness and caring in children. It can also enable children to interact with people of diverse backgrounds, ages, and circumstances. Being around a group of people different from themselves helps make it easier to show empathy for all people.
4. Praise empathetic behaviour. When your child shows empathy for others, praise that behaviour on the spot. Make a point of focusing on and encouraging empathetic behaviour. This will help to promote more of that behaviour in the future.

3. Self-control

Self-control is staying on task and interrupting any undesired impulsive reactions by not acting on them. Students’ ability to control their cognition, emotions, and impulses may play a part in performing well academically.

These skills also reduce stress and increase well-being. Here are a few tips on how to teach self control at home. 

• Help kids avoid temptation: out of sight, out of mind
• Create an environment where self-control is rewarded
• Encourage children to practice planning
• Play games that help practice self-control
• Remember that kids need autonomy

4. Integrity

Integrity means making ethical decisions, asking questions, and following instructions—even when faced with difficult situations. It’s a set of learned beliefs, capacities, attitudes and skills that create a moral compass that children can use to help them know what’s right.

Helping your child learn to be integral can be as simple as calling out it when you see it and recognizing it. This allows students to see and understand ethical behaviour. 

Teaching children the five fundamental values of integrity will help them to achieve academic success. Here are the five values of integrity:

• Honesty
• Trust
• Fairness
• Respect
• Responsibility

5. Curiosity

What is curiosity? Curiosity is having a strong desire to learn or know something. 

Children who are curious often don’t need the information they seek. They seek answers to their questions for the sake of gaining knowledge. Students who are curious may also actively seek out challenges and new experiences to broaden their horizons. 

How curiosity helps students: 

• Because it is a key ingredient in learning
• Helps to keep students always learningĚý
• Helps students in their decision-makingĚý
• Can be useful in navigating arguments or confrontations

You can help students develop curiosity by encouraging questions. Also, you can also find media that stimulates curiosity and helps them find credible sources to build their knowledge.

6. Perseverance

Perseverance is the ability to keep going when things are tough. Some call it grit; others call it a growth mindset, but perseverance is the ability to keep on trucking. 

For many students, perseverance can be challenging. Mistakes and failures can be something that frustrates students and keep them from succeeding. 

It’s all about doing things that may not come easy right away, which is hard for many students. Here are four tips on how to teach students to preserve.

• Encourage a positive inner voice and mindfulness
• Praise their effort and process, not their intelligence
• Put their failures and mistakes into a new perspective
• Give them the chance to struggle

7. Optimism

Knowing the difference between pessimism and optimism can help students improve how they respond to challenges. Optimism is a healthy mindset for students; it’s the mindset of looking at the glass as half full rather than half empty. 

There are various techniques to teach students to stay optimistic rather than switching to a pessimist mindset. 

Here are some things to try:

• Have students notice good things as they happenĚý
• Try to train student’s minds to believe they can make good things happen in their life
• Don’t have students blame themselves when things go wrong
• When something good happens, give them credit
• Remind students that setbacks are only temporary
• Be optimistic yourself; students will notice it in you

91°µÍř Can Help Teach These Skills

Contact your local centre today to learn more about how 91°µÍř can help your child learn these important skills to get the most out of their education. 

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