Research suggests that parental involvement is a key ingredient to support success in school.   But lots of parents don’t feel qualified to tackle the responsibility of teaching and wonder what they can do to help.  Following are some things you can do and talk about to help your kids succeed–and feel good about it.

1) Make learning relevant–Make sure your child sees what he’s learning reflected in the “real” world. Ask questions. Find out what interested him/her during school lessons…then find examples related to those topics of interest and expand your conversation. Look for real world stories on the internet, at the library or in the newspaper or magazines. By supplementing their at-school learning experience at home, you’re expanding their vision and promoting the idea that more info can be fun–and that what they learn is relevant.

2) Be cautious about how you talk about “learning” and “education” with your kids and around them. Kids inherit your attitudes and ideas about everything–they listen, they watch and they accept your beliefs as truth. It is important to avoid negative statements (i.e. how you had “difficulty in school” and that “teachers are unfair”). Instead, share your positive experiences in learning (i.e. how something you learned was useful or remembering your favorite teacher or an inspiring experience in school).

3) Model goal-setting behaviors. Kids are usually pretty “immediate”. They live in the moment and can’t always see the value of long-term goals–and sometimes they lose patience.   When you talk about your own goals and how long-term planning helped you achieve your goals (and how much better off you are as a result), you’re demonstrating a pattern of behavior and thinking. If you talk without lecturing, kids will hear your stories and (without effort) assume your attitude as “the way we do things in our family”.

4) Demonstrate your commitment to your child’s success. Be sure you’ve supplied the “tools” for success: purchase a calendar or to-do list notebook to help him/her keep on schedule; dedicate a quiet, comfortable and well-lit space for home-work;  maintain (and re-supply as necessary) a handy assortment of school/study supplies (paper, pencils, etc).

5) Organize your living space to reserve a special area for your child’s school papers. Dedicate a shelf or table top for books, backpack, school communications, lunch money, etc. When school materials are blatantly kept in a prominent area (rather than stashed away), you’re providing a constant visual reminder of the value of being prepared for school–And, important items are less likely to get lost or forgotten.

6) Be a “Coach”–actively support your child with encouraging words and confidence-building praise.   It isn’t your job to teach your child when you’re helping with homework–teaching is the teacher’s role. Teachers assign homework to give students an opportunity to review what was learned in school and practice skills that were taught and exercise independent responsibility. Kids will be more willing to buckle down with their homework (and actually learn) when they feel positive support from you rather than reacting to nagging, teasing or threats of punishment. Coaches get more “work” out of their team with “you-can-do-it” type statements than they would with “do-it-or-else” threats. So, one more time:  be a “Coach” for your kids to support their school success.

When kids struggle in school, it’s hard to know how to turn the tide toward success. For more ideas about how to help your children learn useful methods of achieving school success, you’re invited to visit: http://www.HomeworkSuccessNetwork.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Judy_Armes

Further Resources

I have also found that it is important to ensure that you are as focused as you can be, given all your responsibilities as a parent, and time consuming tasks you have to get through. This is where the Success Strategies System comes in.

You can learn the tips and get the information yopu need, in small daily chunks, in as little as around five or six minutes daily.

I also highly recommend the Self Help Database, loaded with fantastic ebooks on a range of subjects for your improvement, development, and interest.

For personal development (always a plus with parenting), may I direct you here.

Getting Your Children to Listen To You

The Terrible Two’s and all Other Ages!

 

 

 

Bringing up kids need not be a difficult, or a discipline-intensive process.

 

They’re not in the military, but a few essential skills, applied the right way, can make all the diffrerence.

 

 

 

It is always a good idea to remember that all kids are human beings- little people, and people with ideas, and feelings, just like us.

 

Of course, you know this.

 

I would prefer to come over in a respectful way, but would also like to point out that there are better ways than having to shout at our kids all the time, if we wish to maintain our authority.

 

 

 

 

Seeds of Greatness   



The Value-Based Family
Enrichment Program
for 21st Century Leaders by Dr. Denis Waitley and
Dr. Maryann Rosenthal

The instruction manual that should have been delivered with each child.

 

 


  • 10 Core Roots and Wings

  • Tips for Younger Kids,

  • Teens,

  • Blended Families
  • Achievement Lifeguide
  • Perpetual Coaching Calendar

  • Free Shipping*
  •  

     

     

     

    For all the details and to order
    http://www.deniswaitley.com

     

     
     

     

     

    It is better explained below here:

     

     

    “It is far better to give your children your time and nurturing in the form of Roots and Wings instead of trying  to buy their affection with Loot and Things. What do we mean by Roots and Wings? We must have roots in order to grow strong and weather the buffeting winds of unforeseen storms and the challenges of weeds and droughts. These are character traits fundamental to long-term success, regardless of future environmental conditions. By wings, we mean the motivation, goal orientation and optimism to soar and fly, becoming independent, high achieving adults who make a positive difference in life.” 
     

    With solid roots, children are prepared to leave their parents’ gardens. The planting of the seeds of greatness in kids takes patience and persistence. Character growth is not always immediate or obvious. If, for example, you were to plant the seed of a Chinese bamboo tree, and water and nurture the seed consistently, you could become frustrated and even discouraged, unless you knew the growth cycle of the tree. There is no visible growth the first, second, third, or fourth year. But during the fifth year, the tree will grow about ninety feet in six weeks! Did the tree really wait five years to begin growing? Of course not. The nurturing of the first four years allowed the tree to develop a strong root system which could accommodate the tremendous, visible growth that fifth year.

    It is often the same in raising children. Values and character traits are not instilled overnight or by preaching. They are formed over time through modeling and repetition. Values are more often caught, than taught. Although we don’t often see the immediate consequences or rewards of the thoughts planted in our children’s minds, in due time, they will reap what has been sown. We have identified what we feel are the five most important, underlying roots of healthy family growth, including Positive Self-Awareness, knowing yourself and your children’s potential; Positive Self-Esteem, the core values inherent in all enduring winners; and, perhaps, most important, Positive Self-Discipline, which is the development of healthy habits through training and taking positive action to correct behavior, rather than use coercive punishment to stop behavior. Positive Self-Determination, the ability to be responsible for outcomes and to make effective choices in life; and Positive Self-Honesty, the moral compass and integrity that is the cornerstone of authentic leadership, which most often is learned in the home environment. By learning these critical roots, our kids not only believe they are as good as the best, not necessarily better than the rest, they respect every individual as having the equal right to feel worthy of success regardless of status, ethnicity, background, profession or beliefs. Instead of the labels of material success, they will have core values that endure. With these roots, they also can go full circle and overcome any adversity that life or society throws at them. Going full circle is like Lance Armstrong, overcoming cancer, falling off his bike during the Tour de France, and getting back on the bike, and gutting it out up the mountain, to claim the yellow jersey and win over and over again.

    In addition to giving our children roots, we parents have the additional responsibility of providing the wind beneath our children’s wings so they can fly from our nests as confident, optimistic adults. The majestic eagle is the symbol of freedom and determination in America. We can learn much from the lifestyle of the eagle family. The eagle parents know the day is coming when their children must make their own way. They know the real challenge for the eaglet is learning how to fly! Like the eagles, we parents have as our primary role to provide the love and early roots, and then the skills to create the wind beneath our children’s wings. We must take care that our homes are not so all-providing and over-indulging that there is no motivation or challenge for self-determination. By keeping our children as dependents, too long, or not providing the leadership skills to help them navigate the currents and storms in life, we are clipping their wings and removing the wind. The five modules that comprise the Wings’ character traits include Positive Self-Motivation, or the inner fire of desire; Positive Self-Expectancy, so kids can handle setbacks and problems with resiliency and optimism; Positive Self-Imagination so they tap into their creative imaginations and design their futures; Positive Self-Direction, the focus and stair-step ability of turning dreams into reachable goals, and Positive Self-Dimension, which is living with spiritual depth, joy and harmony.

    Seeds of Greatness  



    The Value-Based Family
    Enrichment Program
    for 21st Century Leaders by Dr. Denis Waitley and
    Dr. Maryann Rosenthal

    The instruction manual that should have been delivered with each child.
     

     


  • 10 Core Roots and Wings

  • Tips for Younger Kids,

  • Teens,

  • Blended Families
  • Achievement Lifeguide
  • Perpetual Coaching Calendar

  • Free Shipping*
  •  

     

     

     

    For all the details and to order
    http://www.deniswaitley.com
     

     

     


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