FROM THE
SIDELINES
‘Helping You To Help Them Through’
‘From the Sidelines’ aims to educate parents and families on the science behind how our children learn, together with how to create the perfect environment at home in which to support them. We break this down into distinct areas of focus where we give parents all the knowledge they need via our expert input, but designed in a fresh and modern way to reach and engage the parents of today.
Each distinct focus has a short and succinct ‘Study Hack’ video that lasts approx 1 minute, giving parents a quick and practical overview of what it is and how to do it. Then for parents who are intrigued and want to know more, they can go on to watch or listen to the 15 minute ‘Podcast Episode’ linked to the same topic, which gets under the surface of why this works, why it’s important and also what to avoid - the perfect way to bridge the gap between teaching and parenting.
We believe this can provide parents with their ‘parenting superpower’ which can be the gateway to bridging the disadvantaged gap - unlocking every family’s opportunity to level up by supporting their child to achieve in line with their potential, not just their postcode.
Designated Study Space
How you can create the perfect study space for your child at home.
Podcast Episode
Silent Focus
Our brain is not as efficient at multitasking as we think it is!
Podcast Episode
Distractions
Mobile phones and notifications are now part of our everyday life, but they have become the killer of focus and attention, especially when trying to concentrate or study.
Podcast Episode
Rest and Sleep
Making sure that your child gets adequate rest and sleep every night is essential for not only a healthy lifestyle but it also plays a major part in the learning process.
Podcast Episode
Equipment Ready
One of the things that can cause interruption to your child’s study flow, is not having everything they need when they begin their period of study.
Podcast Episode
The Pomodoro Technique
The brain can only focus deeply and concentrate for a short period of time before it becomes fatigued. Therefore, the longer a child studies for without a break, the more inefficient they become.
Podcast Episode
Retrieval Practice
Retrieval Practice is a powerful study tool that is important in the act of revision. It helps strengthen memory by pulling information out of your head rather than cramming information in.
Podcast Episode
Flashcards
Flashcards are the easiest and most effective way to recall information so that it sticks in your long-term memory. Let’s look at how to create them, use them & organise them in the best way possible…
Podcast Episode
Brain Dump / Blurting
A ‘brain dump’ or ‘blurting’ is when you give your child a blank piece of paper and a pen and then ask them to ‘dump’ or ‘blurt’ everything they can remember about a specific topic.
Podcast Episode
Look, Cover, Write, Check
This is a technique that works in a similar way to a ‘brain dump’ or ‘blurting’, but this time, it doesn’t have to be something your child learned in the past.
Podcast Episode
Habit Stacking
Getting into good study habits at home can be difficult to establish and even harder to maintain; the secret is in our everyday habits. The trick is to attach a new routine that they want to become a habit to an existing habit. This is what we call ‘Habit Stacking’.
Podcast Episode
Productivity
Productivity is a loaded word, and sometimes, it might feel like we’re never productive enough. But all we really need is good time management, uninterrupted focus and motivation!
Podcast Episode
False Sense of Familiarity
When we recognise something as familiar, our brain makes us think that we know more about the topic than we really do. Familiarity can be the enemy of real learning… but it doesn't have to be this way!
Podcast Episode
Desirable Difficulties
By getting your child to make learning harder for themselves, they are creating exactly the right conditions in which to remember something. We call this a ‘desirable difficulty’.
Podcast Episode
Distributed Practice
One of the most interesting, but least well known facts about how our brains remember information, is that as human beings we forget 90% of what we have been taught within the first 7 days, unless we go back and do something with that information to enable us to remember it.
Podcast Episode
Study Planner
Let us introduce you to the humble study planner, a great tool to help learners feel more responsible for their studies and prioritise appropriately!
Podcast Episode
Motivation & Rewards
It's hard to stay motivated when there's nothing to look forward to. Have you tried scheduling little rewards and treats throughout your child's study sessions? It's time to step up to your new role: study buddy!
Podcast Episode
Night Before An Exam
We'd never expect an athlete to train right before their game or match and neither should a student before an exam!
Podcast Episode
Breakfast, Hunger & Set Meal Times
Ever wonder about the impact of nutrition on academic performance? Dive into the crucial role that food plays during exam periods and revision!
Podcast Episode
You Can’t Fool Your Body
Think about a time when you’ve needed to get to sleep but you can’t. Lying there actively thinking about needing to get to sleep is actually one of the worst things you can probably do. Unfortunately if we’re not tired and our body is not used to going to sleep at that time of night, then there’s very little you can do.
Podcast Episode
Breakfast, Hunger & Set Meal Times
Ever wonder about the impact of nutrition on academic performance? Dive into the crucial role that food plays during exam periods and revision!
Podcast Episode
Stress Can Be Good
At various points throughout the year, you may often see your child grappling with stress and anxiety. While it's natural for us as parents to want our children to be calm and relaxed during their learning, it's important to understand that some signs of stress can actually be beneficial.
Podcast Episode
Hydration and Concentration
A recent study into the link between keeping hydrated and children’s performance in school and college, found that drinking just 300ml of water can boost your child’s attention by up to 25%.
Podcast Episode
Energy Drinks
Although energy drinks might sound like a good idea to children as a huge influx of energy right before an exam or an important study session, all they do is cause your child to have what we call an ‘energy crash’ when the effects of the drink wear off and their body begins to normalise again. If this is in the middle of, or towards the end of their exam, then this is absolutely not what your child needs.
Podcast Episode
Movement and Exercise
Integrating exercise into your child's study routine doesn't have to be complicated. Encourage them to engage in physical activities they enjoy, such as sports or even a simple daily walk. It's important to strike a balance, ensuring they have enough time for both focused studying and physical activity.