Brain-Boosting Skills at SSCM

A new study published at Northwestern University concluded that studying language is, indeed, good for the brain. Bilingual speakers were able to process information more efficiently and easily than those who were monolingual. Connect this news with the well-known fact that children are so well-suited to learning a new language and you have a brain-boosting combination. While the importance of following the guidelines of Common Core is key, administrators at Saints Cyril and Methodius in Deer Park also know the value of rounding out a child’s learning by developing them academically, socially and spiritually. One part of the formula for success includes this study of language, so key at an early age, when children’s minds are the most open to learning the new sounds and inflections of a foreign language. SSCM students gain exposure to Spanish and American Sign Language in the 2nd grade, Latin lessons starting with 4th graders excelling in their regular classwork, and by 6th grade, students are reading full-length novels in their new language.

Another piece of the puzzle at SSCM is a wise use of technology. Today’s children will be tasked with continuing the advancement of technology in every field of tomorrow and getting students prepped for life in the technological age includes a lot of fun and learning along the way. SSCM classrooms are equipped with Smartboards, Video Conferencing and more. With access to iPads and Laptops and involvement with Code.org, doing things like learning facets of programming or “coding” seems like sheer fun to SSCM students of all ages. With a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) program-like focus, students in each grade are able to interact in unique and educational ways with advanced technology such as Robotics, Smart Boards and Video Conferencing. According to research conducted in Auburn, Maine, when traditional classroom learning is combined with the use of educational apps on iPads, Kindergarten students scored much higher on literacy tests than those not using such devices. USA Today reported that 90% of U.S. schools do not offer computer programming and President Obama said in his State of the Union Address that less than 2% of students study computer programming today. With Computer Science touching every industry, the job market of the future will depend on a tech-savvy set of graduates by 2020. SSCM aims to get their students there by nurturing a love of learning, intertwined with the technology that will take them to the top of whatever profession lies in their path.

For more information on SSCM School, call the school office at 1.631.667.4044, click over to www.sscmweb.org, or come visit us at our Open House on Sunday, January 25th, from 10:30am - 1:00pm.