I'm a bit late sharing these pictures, but I'm still thoroughly enjoying the new look!

The 2018-2019 school year ended with tired walls and a tired orangy floor.... time for an office renovation!  This is how I spent most of my summer.... painting, adding new flooring and trim (thanks to my talented other half), re-organizing, purging and throwing out!

The result, a more modern room that appears to have more floor space!  My students are loving the lighting choices and when they come in, switch whichever lights they want on :D Plus, I'm so happy I have my standing desk as now we don't have to sit all the time either!

Yes!  we are still open and busy working with a whole range of students from grade 6 to 12 at the moment.  I still have a few students who I started with back in 2011.  They're getting older, and soon will be graduating! 

Since I last posted, I also took on a volunteer position of secretary for our local community choir, the Q City Singers, and alas, all of my social media updating has been focused mainly on the choir's page :)  Just in case you also want to join a community choir ;) please check out their website and facebook page as well.

In the meantime, although I may not update my website as much as I'd like to the best way to contact me is either by email at momentumlearningcentre@gmail.com or through our Facebook Page.

Did you know school doesn't start until September 6th (Wednesday) this year?  Also, if you're in grades 8-12 and have missed your school's recent updates, look below!

In case you missed it, here it is! 

You can always sign up to the newsletters for Correlieu by emailing jasminsczesny@sd28.bc.ca,  however here is the most recent newsletter from yesterday.  It tells you how to set up the Remind app on your phone so you and your student can get all the most recent reminders without having to rely on newsletters being sent home.  It also alerts you if there is a snow day or no-bus day!
Click Here for the August 28th Newsletter

If you aren't on QJS's newsletter emailing list (you'll get that information if your son/daughter is entering grade 8 this year), you can always check out their Facebook page.  You don't need a facebook account to see these posts, but you will avoid the annoying 'please join facebook' popup. 
Their first post of the year is below:

"But I have exams, and I'm sooooooooooo done!"
This is how my students are feeling, and I'm sure that teachers are also feeling similar!  At some point in time our brains just stop, and then we're puzzled over the most simple questions, like the guy in this video.

(Although, yes, I do know that this truly is a brain-bending concept when you first learn it. )

They send you this in an email on the weekend with a little note saying "I thought of you when I saw this.. thought you might find it interesting"

This client knows that I have a hard time saying no.  In fact, it is with her family that I realized I needed to start saying no and setting boundaries.  One day after a session, I told her how much I appreciated working with her family because through working with them, I had been able to practice setting my boundaries without worrying that they would be upset.  She is always encouraging and understanding.  She reminds me that even if I say no, I don't need to feel bad, because she trusts that I always have their best interests at heart, and I do!
What great clients I have!  Not only am I helping her child learn the ropes of school, but she is helping and encouraging me to learn this vital skill.  I am blessed with the variety of clients that I get to work with; each one helps me learn something new or consider a different position that I hadn't thought about.  Thanks for being part of my Momentum Family!

Just a reminder that end of semester exams are near! 
For those attending Correlieu, the exam schedule has changed since you may have last done exams.  This is because of the gradual change towards the new curriculum without the grade 10 and 11 Provincial Exams.  Here is the Newsletter that has the new exam schedule!

For those students in grade 11, this is going to be a change!  I know the idea of an entire block all day is overwhelming, but I'm sure your teachers will come up with some good solutions!

For those at QJS, from today's newsletter, here is the exam schedule!

Good Luck to all students!!  You're halfway through the year!

Coming home from a rather stressful day working with my students, I was mulling over the prevalence of anxiety in my students.  Then, later that evening I happened to notice a post that one of my teacher friends had shared and gave it a read.  I often see different strategies for how to speak, and what to say to your anxious child.  Some I can identify with, and some I cannot.  However, I liked that this article not only gave 49 different ideas, but brief explanations as to why they may work for your own child or situation.  I think too that some of these phrases would be very helpful to use for friends or family members!
I have included a screenshot below, but please click on the picture or link below to go to the article called "49 Phrases to Calm an Anxious Child" written by Renee Jain on the Positive Parents.org blog.

I'm sure throughout your child's life, you remember a point at which they were learning about Lowest Common Multiples (LCM's), or as they're known when studying fractions, Lowest Common Denominators (LCD's).  Although they are possible to figure out in one's head, very slowly, you can also figure them out using a multiplication chart. 
So, as one of my students and I were recently printing out a new copy of a 30 x 30 multiplication chart, we discovered this gem........... yes, it really is...... a LCM/CLD CHART!!

Although I couldn't find who actually made it up, and I couldn't find the original place on the website where this lovely chart was posted, I am thoroughly thankful for it, and have linked the address where I found it (thanks to a Google Image search). 

Also, in case you're wondering, there is a great set of multiplication charts that I use and will include them below (click on the image for the link to the image, or the website where possible).

In a class where students are not allowed calculators, multiplication tables are generally allowed.  So far, students of mine from grade 6 up have been allowed to use them in the classroom, so they might be worthwhile printing out for you too!  They also look pretty snazzy in a sheet protector as well (kids enjoy using their pencils to follow the lines to the product).
Happy Printing!

Four days ago, I was in the middle of a busy day.  I usually have my phone's volume turned off when I'm working with students, but for some reason it was on that day.  Anyhow, I heard the usual trill of an email coming in, and since my student had taken a bathroom break, decided to check the email.  It was from a parent, who's daughter had been doing research on Shakespeare and found my blog post here that I had written last spring!!
I was so excited about this, that in my response to her email I asked if I could share their story here on my page.  Thankfully they said yes!

I want to share a heartfelt thank-you to Sara and Ava who reached out to me.  When I originally set up the blog portion of my website, my goal was to share what I discovered in hopes that it would at least help one person.  Being a very small business, you don't often know if or how your online presence affects others.  Now, because of their cheerful email, I know I've helped them and therefore it's all been worthwhile!

Also, Ava has decided to join her school's 6th grade play.  So, from me here at Momentum Learning Centre, I wish her the best of luck (or 'break a leg') for the play.  Perhaps, once their play is ready,  I'll even be able to share an update with you all too!