Summer is about to
end and the maddening rush to get your children back and ready for school is
just around the corner. For parents, it
is a good idea to start and prepare yourself and your kids this early, from buying
everything they need for school and getting them ready to plunge back into the
routine of everyday school life.
It’s also a good
time to sit down with your child and give them a pep talk about their
not-so-good grades last year (Don’t scold!
Be encouraging), or congratulate them for a job well done. Here are a few tips on how to help them
achieve better grades:
If you don’t have
one, start a routine. Begin from the
time they come home from school, but don’t rush them to do their homework or
study right away. Allow them time to
relax, have a light snack or spend time talking to them about school and what
their day was like. Once they’ve had
some quiet and rest time, then you can coax them to do their homework or do a
bit of studying.
A Place to Study
If they don’t like
studying in their room and you don’t have a study at home, doing homework in the dining room may be your
best solution. But make sure it is not
cluttered and is free from any distractions (no TV, games or loud radio on in the
background - it's important to note that while some children may get distracted with music playing, studies have shown that quietly played classical music can actually stimulate the brain - just something to think about).
Give them some space to do
their homework/study. But make sure they
know that they can ask you or interrupt whatever you’re doing if they need help
or have questions. When they’re done,
ask to see their work. If there are
mistakes, correct them gently without scolding. If all is perfect, congratulate
them for a job well done.
Early Nights
Children should go
to bed early during school nights and make sure they have everything ready for
school, whether it’s their homework or clothes to wear the next day. Bad nights may mean bad mornings: rushing up
to get ready for school and leaving things behind, which may also mean, having
a bad day at school and coming home really grumpy. Preparing the night before can help to ensure a smoother morning, and a better overall day.
Get to Know their Teachers
Build a
relationship with your childrens' teachers. But try
not to over-do it by questioning every single bad mark your child gets. Ask them about your child’s progress from
time to time and only question if their grades drop alarmingly. (When your child receives a test or homework assignment back with several answers marked wrong, go over the questions and answers to help your child better understand the concepts. Sometimes, if they have missed a single concept, in math for example, it could throw off the entire test or homework assignment.)
Be sure to attend parent teacher conferences and any "getting-to-know-you" introductory meetings or open houses at the beginning of and throughout the school year. When the teachers - and the school administration, in general - know that you are involved with your children, they will be more apt to reach out to you and let you know when problems occur. Bottom line: stay involved!
Encourage Learning
Always find an
opportunity to encourage learning and love for books. Do things with your children that will
inspire them to have other interests as well.
As a parent you’ll have an idea what your children’s likes are, whether sports, arts or music.
Do day trips to
museums, art exhibits and plays. Discuss
things with your children and ask questions like - Did they enjoy the exhibit? What
did they find interesting or why did they find so-and-so interesting? Don’t make the questions one-sided - tell them what you think, too! (But try not to launch into a lecture, make it an adventurous day of educational fun!)
Remember, parenting
is personal. What may work for other
parents may not work for you and your child.
It’s important to ALWAYS listen to what your child has to say, and watch for signs that things are not going so smoothly. Don’t be a tiger parent or a helicopter
parent that hovers too much. In other words,
don’t over-do things.
Guide your children, don’t guard them. Be their personal cheerleader for
whatever grades they earn, try hard to stick to the tips above, and before you know it, they’ll be raking in all the
A’s in the world.
Author bio: Sarah Trueman is a mother of five who is has worked out a great
back-to-school routine for her children. When she helps her children with
reports or projects at school, she helps them use www.plagtracker.com. Not
only does the site offer parents a tool to help their children avoid plagiarism,
it also provides parents the opportunity to explain plagiarism to their
children, and why plagiarism is a no-no.
