Helping your child to be successful is pretty much at the top of most parents’ to do list. As I was pondering my topic for this month, I decided to jump right into what we as parents and grandparents need to know to be effective when assisting and preparing our children for academic success. There are so many new programs for our students to choose from, but most of all we must take a moment and consider all options before signing our kids up and deciding to ask questions later. Research now, and ask all your questions so that your child makes an informed decision about their future.
The classroom curriculum has changed, and the how in solving problems and answering questions is very different from when we were in school. This has made it tough to help with homework and provide advice on strategies to ace the exam. It sounds like we as parents need a crash course in academic success mentoring “remixed” to impact success.
Here are a few tips to get this school year off to a great start for your students:
1. Parents, don’t do their homework for them. Guide, review, and allow them to think on their own.
2. Teach them organizational skills. Purchase a planner and have them to write down important dates such as projects, tests, trips, and extra-curricular activities. Review it at least weekly with them so as to stay on top of what’s going on.
3. Parents and students should attend any scheduled school meetings. Stay in the know!
4. Both you and your child should visit their school’s website and to see what’s going on.
5. Most teachers provide students with a syllabus for the year. Make copies. Post and review them frequently. Add a copy to your child’s planner. There should not be any surprises when it comes to what they will be graded on and how.
6. Communicate via email with teachers. Let them know you are interested in making sure your child is progressing so if issues arise, they can be dealt with quickly.
7. When students get home from school, allow them time to slow down with a snack and beverage before jumping right into the homework. Allow for about 15 – 20 minutes for them tell you about their day and eat their snack, but then it’s time to jump back in and get it done. Waiting until after 5 or 6pm is too late. Provide structure and consistency.
8. Remember, reading is fundamental and makes a huge difference when taking achievement assessment. Set a rule for your child to check out a minimum of at least 1 – 2 books per month to read from the school or local community library.
9. Free study tools are available for the taking. Get off Facebook and Instagram and look at sites like quizlet! Have your child to research study tools for each subject/book they have this year. Visit these sites.
10. Set high standards for your children to meet. If a “C” is not the best your child can do, then don’t accept it. Accountability is the key to their future. Set the bar high, and don’t waver!
