Movement is such an important thing and we all know that children are at their happiest when able to move.

However, the logistics of teaching in school means they if they were moving around all the time it would be total chaos and there would be little or no improvement in their numeracy. 

But what about in the home?

The expectation is again that children will sit quietly and get on with learning and homework.

It is really important to realise that this expectation leads to a lack of motivation.

However, the parent at home has a great advantage over the formal setting of the school and that is that children can be encouraged take part in learning strategies that involve moving about. The resultant increased motivation to learn, and to do it for longer periods, greatly increases children’s numeracy.

We have developed a number of systems that use movement as one of the keys to learning and tapping into the increased motivation that this brings.Please feel free to download any of our articles and reports particularly those focused on speaking and movement as the key to improving numeracy.

Children can be walking up and down the room, play acting, anything that gets them using movement. So, the whole process becomes more like play and fun and their motivation is raised and their numeracy significantly improved.

You can create a superb learning environment in the home and outside and by using a combination of movement, learning, and memory techniques, you will be able to see a marked difference in your child’s behaviour, their ability to retain knowledge, and a greatly improved numeracy performance in the classroom.

The Learning Well Method is captured by the mnemonic

‘Learning Steps Know It Works’

The Method is set out below in four steps:

4) And, do what WORKS

Remember the mnemonic:

‘Learning Steps Know It Works’

Explanation of the 4 steps:

1) Learning

Here you will be learning the Times Tables.

We have made it as simple and enjoyable as possible. Your child will really want to learn the Times Tables.

2) Action Steps

We provide a simple, step-by-step approach, guiding you to on how to help your child use the gift of amazing memory.

3) Do you know it?

The essence of the ‘do you know it’ step is:

No failure, only results.

The testing process is about gaining feedback and learning fast (instead of criticising).

4) Do what works

This step is a practical approach, it looks at what works. Then you put it into practice, making it a habit.

And always remember to ‘make it fun, then you’ve won!’

Listen to Tony Lazar’s view on how this affects a child’s progress through school:

Key Points

1. Seventeen out of the twenty five players were born in January, February, March and April.
2. The same pattern occurred throughout the National Hockey League and the Ontario Junior Hockey League.
3. He found that in any elite group of hockey players that around 70% were born between January and June. But why?
4. Because there is a January 1st cut off date for selection. This means that a boy born in January is directly competing against a boy born in December. The boy born in January therefore has the advantage of a years diference in growth over the boy born in December.The point is that Boys born earlier in the year  have an advantage over those born in the latter part of the year because of the arbitary cut off date for selection of the 1st January and they are therefore more likely to be selected because they are on average stronger and faster.
5. This same pattern is seen in our education systems only with a different cut off date. In the UK and in many countries the cut of date is the September 1st which means that the nearer a child is born to this date the more of an age advantage they have and therefore the more of a developmental advantage they have over children born later in the academic year.   

What benefits do those born in the earlier in the academic year have? Children born earlier have the advantage of age, maturity and size?

They are more likely to be:

6. Selected for plays
7. Volunteering for to speak more often
8. Chosen for responsibility
9. Chosen as leaders
10. Achieving higher grades
11. Excelling in school teams
12. Streamed in higher groups
13. Achieve higher self-esteem.

What advantages are the those born later in the academic year missing out on?

The education system has certainly dealt the younger children a big disadvantage and this begs the question;

What can you as a parent do?

Complaining about the system is of no use. However, you can do something about this and give your child the edge through giving them time, communicating to them the best learning techniques, and building their confidence.

This Blog is all about helping you give your children the best learning techniques, whenever in the year they were born, and this includes help with their Maths. So now you know the connection between Ice Hockey and Maths.

For further help and information please do read our articles and download our free reports .