Blog
Updates and Discussion Topics from Oak LearnersNews & Announcements
Catch up on news, events and trending topics at Oak Learners.
Language Learning: Expanding Vocabulary With Games
Continuing on the Language Learning series, here are four games that can help your older children expand their vocabulary in their target language!
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Mindfulness Made Simple
You may be asking what cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is? Well put simply, cognitive behavioural therapy is a short-term therapy that focuses on one particular problem with set goals in place. You will learn techniques and strategies in order to reach your goals. With mental health on a decline due to Covid19 you may not be able to seek treatment from a professional so here are some tools that you can do with the children at school or in the home. These tools are beneficial for everyone to work on strengthening their mental health and mindfulness.
Arts & Crafts: Tape Resist Art
The beauty of art is that there are no limits. It unleashes our imagination and creativity!
Art is used in many ways, such as for therapy, to express ourselves or our thoughts.
Tape Resist art challenges children to use different colours and create their designs with the tape. The best part is seeing what it looks like once they remove the tape!
The Importance of Local Libraries in Building Literacy
Etobicoke Lake Shore Press - March 2021 Learning to love reading can be one of the most important gifts we give to our children. Yet, all too often,...
Language Learning: Engaging Older Children With Games
Here are some common games that require minimal materials and can be played while learning any language. These games are typically for older children but can be modified based on a child’s understanding and level of competency. They can also be easily adapted for children to play online.
“Butterfly Hug” Technique
Life events and our daily stressors can have the potential to create a situation in which our emotions become a destructive form of anxiety. These destructive emotions include but are not limited to a racing heart, obsessive thinking and, inability to breathe.
The “Butterfly Hug” method was introduced to help lighten these emotions. This method is a therapeutic intervention to help relax and calm these rapidly destructive emotions.
Arts & Crafts: Origami Jumping Frogs
Origami, the art of folding a piece of paper and giving it life by turning it into anything; a bear, a plane, or a jumping frog! Folding origami requires diligence and accuracy while following the instructions. This activity will challenge children to think and find solutions to fold the paper accordingly and into its form. Origami may sharpen the children’s imagination and memory by creating the desired shape and channeling their creativity. Today, we will make origami jumping frogs!
🍀 St. Patricks Day Leprechaun Trap STEM Activity! 🍀
HAPPY ST. PATRICKS DAY! 🍀
St Patrick’s Day is here! What better way to celebrate than to make your very own Leprechaun TRAP?!
Student Experience at Oak Learners
Oak Learners provides a learning environment for children that allows them to feel welcomed by the caring and loving teachers that are a part of the...
Oak Online: Unique virtual programming to support at-home learning
The goal of Oak Online is to foster learning by utilizing an “authentic skill-based curriculum”. Oak Online teachers always ensure they are supportive of the curiosities that children display while exploring the world they live in and this is done by conducting experiences virtually that are student-centered.
Summer Camps at Oak Learners
While engaged in outdoor play, Oak Learners provides children with risky play opportunities. Children need to engage in risky play as it enhances children’s development by developing independence and confidence within themselves. STEAM is delivered through the summer camp at Oak Learners to help children enhance their social skills along with confidence and their cognitive abilities.
How to Teach Your Child a Language You Don’t Speak
As we all know, one of the best ways for a child to learn a language is if they are surrounded by people who speak the desired language. However, as we are meeting people less often and aren’t currently travelling, being in an environment where your child can be exposed to various languages isn’t easy. It would be great if the child’s home could be the centre for language learning. But what do you do if you’re monolingual and want your child to be bilingual?
Resources & Activities
Learn at home with ideas, activities and helpful content from Oak Learners.
Tie-Dye Effect Painting with Markers
While tie-dye effect painting can be hard using dyes and elastics, especially if you want a specific design, this method gives you more control and...
A Parent’s Guide to Google Classroom
Firstly, I want to COMMEND all parents and guardians for being amazing and stepping into this new digital world of emergency distance learning. This...
Interactive Yoga for Preschoolers
Interactive yoga for preschoolers is a fantastic way to start your day. Jumping and stretching are energizing and you can never go wrong! In this...
Learning About our Five Senses for preschoolers
Children love to explore! They love to touch everything, see everything, smell everything, hear everything and even taste everything! What better...
Let’s Get Crafty with Toilet Paper Rolls
Crafty ways to use those extra toilet paper rolls with activities appropriate for children of all ages.
Make an “Idea Bag” with Lauren!
Finished product: IDEA BAG! You can either put reminders of fun things or things you are thankful for or things you find that remind you of special times. You could even draw pictures or write yourself notes of things you want to make.
Childhood Anxiety: 5 Key Strategies to Help Children Cope
Willow OT recaps the Childhood Anxiety: 5 Key Strategies to help children and teens cope – a webinar offered by the
Institute of Child Psychology.
7 Strategies every parent can use to support their child’s at-home learning
At-home learning can be a huge change from the daily grind of regular school but it's not impossible to adjust and make the most of the experience....
Learning About Germs on Little Hands
It's a great time to teach kids about germs and how proper handwashing can ensure all of those little microbes get washed down the drain. Talking...
Teaching Young Children about Community Activism and Awareness
Special days of recognition are celebrated in our communities throughout the year and these present unique opportunities to have profound and...
Students at Oak Learners talk to CBC The National about Coronavirus in the News
This week, Oak Learners hosted Andrew Chang and his team from CBC News: The National to film a segment about what children are hearing and thinking...
Demystifying Headlines: How to talk to kids about the news
It’s important to pay close attention to what children see in the news because studies have shown that kids are more afraid of violence in news...