School INFO
Expect The Best: Make The School Year Different!
Could your child(ren) be doing better in school? Could his or her grades be higher? Are they sometimes disorganized, forgetful, or unmotivated? When students do not perform to their potential, it is frustrating for you as well as the teacher.
Of course, it is unreasonable to expect anyone—including students—to always work at top form. Even when a project does not work out or a test comes back with a disappointing grade, it does not mean the student did not learn anything from the experience.
Still, some students flounder too much because of lack of some basic study skills and attitudes. If an underachiever has been checked for physical problems, learning disabilities and emotional crises, and none of these issues apply, concentrating on some techniques for improved achievement can make a big difference.
Doing well in school is like any other skill; it can be learned. Let’s look at some specific ways your son or daughter can boost his/her performance level at school. They all take a measure of commitment and self-discipline, but they are worth the effort...
- Stay in school shape. Children need to "train" for school just as they would for a team sport. Eat the right foods, get plenty of sleep, and get regular physical exercise.
- Set the right priorities. Put schoolwork first. This is your child’s primary responsibility right now. They need to give it their best effort, highest energy and closest attention.
- Set a schedule and stick to it. Students need to set aside a block of time every day for homework. Once written assignments are completed, they need to go over class notes, study or organize materials.
- Learn the difference between "I Can’t" and "I Won’t". Does your child keep putting off certain assignments or studying for a test in certain subjects? Students need to recognize the signs of procrastination and not give in.
- Ask for help. Poor test or homework grades signal a need for extra help. Students need to never be afraid to ask for it. They need to ask questions and talk to their teachers if they feel lost. They need to remember that the only dumb question is the one they do not ask.
- Practice efficient study skills. Students need to be sure where to start when a quiz or test is coming up. They don’t have to go it alone. There are specific, proven methods for studying that students can learn from. An excellent book to help parents understand different methods is Ending the Homework Hassle by John Rosemond.
Organization skills are among the most important skills a student needs to master. The web of assignments can seem overwhelming at times. Each student should have a homework planner in which assignments, due dates, and test dates are kept. An updated timetable for getting everything done is a good way to stay organized. Students would thereby avoid starting large projects and long-term assignments the day before they are due.
Watch the details. Careless mistakes and lack of attention to detail can cost a full grade or more on a project or homework assignment. Students need to make sure they know all the requirements of the assignment. They need to give themselves plenty of time to work on it, writing neatly, checking all calculations or facts twice, having someone else look it over for comments and/or suggestions before the final draft.
And lastly, keep your eye on the prize. Students who do well stand the best chance of achieving what they want after graduation. Making teachers and/or parents happy and getting good grades is not the ultimate goal. Enriching the mind, widening horizons, increasing options in life are real points of school and ones that make all the effort worth the trouble.
