CHALK TALK why it’s cool being on a middle school debate team

North Tustin Debate Team with Debate Coach Ben Hughes
at the OC Debate League Championship, May 2014 

Strong friendships, refined public speaking, exceptional problem-solving and effective research strategies are a few of the many benefits, which result from participating in competitive middle school debate teams. As members of a debate team, students can pursue excellent opportunities to sharpen a host of life skills that extend well beyond high school and college.

Fairmont has a proven track record of helping students harness these distinctive qualities and achieve significant accomplishments. Last year, Fairmont students finished among the top 32 debate teams in the nation and achieved notable success in major Orange County Debate League Competitions.

Students with polished debate-related skills are destined to stand above the crowd. Mastering disciplines such as research/analysis of data, the articulation of theories and the persuasion of complex subjects give students a firm foundation of confidence to take on the world. These skills are valuable for obtaining scholarships, entering a highly respected college, and later on, fulfilling career advancement goals.

Along with these highly respected attributes, students also enjoy making new friends, traveling to debate tournaments and building a lifetime of good memories. Participating on a Fairmont Debate Team offers many rewarding experiences. For more information, please contact Middle School Debate Coach Ben Hughes (Fairmont North Tustin Campus) at bhughes@fairmontschools.com.

Contributed by Doug Fleischli, Fairmont Private Schools 

A TO Z habits of a good student

There are many online resources that provide advice for parents to help their children develop good study habits. Besides achieving good grades, these effective practices promote a solid work ethic. Listed below are some suggestions for reinforcing these beneficial skills.

Dr. Seuss said, "The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go."

Develop a Love for Reading

Parents can help their preschool/kindergarten age children aspire to attain good study habits by reading to them on a daily basis and encouraging independent reading as they grow older. The entire family has much to gain by building its own culture of literacy. Reading together as a family presents many opportunities to create memorable quality times and interact as a family in exploring the world.

Feel Comfortable in Writing
The more students write, the more they feel comfortable and confident about writing, as well as expressing themselves and communicating. Similar to reading, polishing writing skills on a daily basis outside of school work is recommended whether it’s writing poetry, fiction or keeping a journal. Children need time to write on their own without the expectation of being graded or assessed for their work. Writing each day also develops a child’s critical thinking skills.

Preparedness, Preparedness, Preparedness!
Helping children build their own organizational system to manage tests and assignments is a vital component in the pursuit of academic excellence. Setting aside the necessary resources for them to properly study, making sure they have the right testing materials and having a backup plan when something goes wrong helps students gain the level of preparedness and organization they need to succeed. Organization comes down to goal setting, identifying tasks to accomplish it and taking action to reach the goal. As a result, the feeling of accomplishment when a child sets and reaches a goal is quite rewarding for the whole family. 

Never Stop Asking Questions

A sign of a passionate learner is constant inquisitiveness. Parents should encourage their children to always ask questions. When children ask questions, they are engaging independently in their own learning process to gain knowledge and understand the world around them. They are also exercising their critical thinking and communication skills. Effective learning starts with the natural curiosity that drives children to seek answers from parents and teachers. 

Contributed by Doug Fleischli, MA Fairmont Private Schools

Image Credit: WikHow

A TO Z...21st century learning

21st century learning--it's something you hear a lot about these days, but do you really know what it means? Doesn't it  have something to do with computers, the Internet and technology? With mastering the skills necessary to compete in our rapidly changing, global society? I have to admit I was a little fuzzy on the subject before reading Edutopia's A Parent's Guide to 21st Century Learning. Here's what I learned.

The Partnership for 21st Century Skills defines the key competencies that form the basis of 21st century learning or the "4Cs" as:

• Collaboration: Students are able to work effectively with diverse groups and exercise flexibility in making compromises to achieve common goals.
• Creativity: Students are able to generate and improve on original ideas and also work creatively with others.
• Communication: Students are able to communicate effectively across multiple media and for various purposes.
• Critical thinking: Students are able to analyze, evaluate, and understand complex systems and apply strategies to solve problems.

If you're more of a visual person, check out the video above from Thesys International to see the 4Cs in action! So that's what all the hubbub is about! 

While the 4Cs won't replace reading, writing and arithmetic, they help push parents and educators to re-think the way we teach our children. Kids today will hold dozens of jobs in the course of their lifetimes--and who knows what these jobs will be. Chances are they haven't even been "invented" yet. What we do know is that students won't succeed unless we prepare them to be highly creative, flexible thinkers with the emotional intelligence to communicate and work well with others.

Contributed by Danyelle, Fairmont Private Schools