Friday, April 9, 2021
Practice positive ways to manage stress
The stresses of life today are real. But family stress can negatively affect your teen's health and schoolwork. Together, adopt some positive ways to deal with stress. Exercise, such as walking, biking or stretching, can help work out the tension. So can laughter. Share funny memes and cartoons with one another. And when your family has problems, helping others in need can provide some perspective.
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Saturday, April 10, 2021
Recognize and celebrate your child's progress
This unusual school year may not have gone the way you expected so far for your child. But chances are, he has still come a long way since September. Take some time now to recognize his accomplishments. "You have worked really hard to learn subtraction this year. You have proved that you can do hard things when you keep trying." Then discuss what he would like to accomplish in the rest of the year.
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Friday, April 2, 2021
Teens still need parent involvement
Your teen may not need you to sit beside her as she does schoolwork. But staying engaged in other ways contributes greatly to her learning. Here are just a few: Encourage thinking and writing by suggesting that she keep a journal. Read together, and let her see you read for pleasure. Ask your teen about what she's learning, not just about her grades. And whenever you can, help her connect what she's learning to daily life.
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Friday, April 2, 2021
Model attentive listening, now and later
You want your child to listen attentively in class. When you listen attentively to him, it helps him learn by example. But it can be difficult to give your undivided attention when you're trying to get dinner on the table, the dog is barking and a delivery truck has just arrived. If your child is trying to talk to you in a setting that makes it hard to listen, set a time to talk later, when things are calmer. Then follow through.
Quality counts in teen friendships
In a time of social distancing, your teen may have relied on social media for interaction with peers. While she may feel that having lots of online "friends" or followers is important, research shows that teens who have just a few genuinely close friends (in real life or online) have a stronger sense of self-worth and are less likely to be depressed. Discuss the qualities of a good friend with your teen.
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Simple actions encourage student self-discipline
To help your student develop self-discipline, start by establishing a clear set of basic rules and sticking to them. Talk together about ways she and others benefit from self-discipline, particularly academically. It is also important to make your high expectations clear to your teen and to praise her when she lives up to them. Reward her self-disciplined approach to responsibilities by allowing her more freedom.
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Monday, March 15, 2021
Discuss plagiarism's perils with your teen
Plagiarism is copying information or original ideas directly from another source without giving credit. Explain to your student that copying word for word is cheating. So is passing someone else's ideas off as his own. Both can result in a failing grade. Tell him to read the information in his sources and put it into his own words. If he wants to discuss an idea or quote a sentence word for word, he should give credit to the author.
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Wednesday, March 17, 2021
Be a safety valve for your teen
Students have had to cope with a lot in the past year. To help your teen deal with pressures without adding to them, show her you care. Be available. Respect her feelings, and avoid making unrealistic demands. Your teen should feel she is meeting her goals, not yours. Support her by helping her develop effective study habits. When studying is routine, it's easier to deal with increasing workloads.
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Monday, March 15, 2021
Get help if schoolwork is a constant challenge
If your child is struggling day after day with schoolwork, contact her teacher. Explain what is happening and ask for suggestions. Your child might need extra help from a tutor or a schedule to make up missed assignments. She may need more challenging work or help with English or technological issues. Work with the teacher on a plan to address the issue, then follow up.
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Tuesday, March 16, 2021
Encourage persistence, step by step
It takes persistence to achieve long-term goals. Learning to break those goals down into shorter-term pieces can help your child keep going. To develop his persistence, help him think of each step as an experience that adds to his knowledge. When a task he must complete isn't fun, help him plan a small reward for finishing it. Then mark his progress with visual reminders, such as stickers on a chart.
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The first week of March is always National Reading Week. Here are a few photos from Manse Elementary.
The first week of March is always National Reading Week. Here are a few photos from Manse Elementary.
The first week of March is always National Reading Week. Here are a few photos from Manse Elementary.
The first week of March is always National Reading Week. Here are a few photos from Beatty Elementary getting into the spirit
The first week of March is always National Reading Week. Here are a few photos of schools getting into the spirit.
Monday, March 8, 2021
Be clear that missing school is not an option
Attendance matters, even in a pandemic. Participating in class, whether it is in-person or virtual, promotes learning (if your teen can't access her classes, let the school know). Show your teen that attendance is a priority: Expect her to attend every class unless she is sick. Avoid making appointments for her during school hours. And if she skips classes without permission, make it clear that she has broken an important rule at school and at home.
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Friday, March 12, 2021
Strengthen connections with a shared journal
When teens have time to think about what they want to say, they sometimes share their deepest thoughts. Try sharing a journal with your teen. Glue a picture of the two of you on a notebook, then write something positive about her—how hard she's trying in school, how she makes you laugh—and leave it for her to read. The next day, it is her turn to write to you. Keep it up the rest of the month.
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Monday, March 8, 2021
Help your child learn to work as part of a team
__Leadership is a positive trait, but students also need to know how to work with others without taking over. To encourage compromise, take turns making some family decisions, such as what toppings to put on a pizza. Discuss the need to consider everyone's tastes. Promote fairness by setting rules such as "If one person chooses the game, the other gets the first turn." Praise your child when he shows teamwork.
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Thursday, March 11, 2021
Talk about ways your child can handle anger
Feeling angry is normal. But children need to learn appropriate ways to express their anger. Teach your child coping strategies she can use when she feels angry, such as taking deep breaths. Encourage her to think for a minute before saying anything, or to get away from the situation until her feelings are under control. Give your child options for different situations: If she's being teased, for example, she can walk away or tell an adult.
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Use a log to see where all your time goes
Time is a precious resource. Is your family making the most of your time? To find out, set aside one week to have family members keep a time log. Every half hour, everyone should record how they spent their time. The time log will give you a clear picture of where each person's time is going. When you know that, you can make choices that are best for you, your teen and your family.
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Thursday, March 4, 2021
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Provide positive alternatives to screen time
Everyone is spending more time with screens these days, for understandable reasons. But screens aren't the only way to learn. Here are some screen-free things to do with your teen that will help him think and learn: Design a new board game. Make a family meal. Have a family Karaoke Night. Take a walk in a new place. Take turns bringing a news article to dinner and discuss what each person thinks about it.
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Tuesday, February 23, 2021
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Thinking like a teacher can improve test success
There are many things your teen can do to prepare for a test. One useful way is to think like the teacher. After your student studies her notes, have her write down questions she thinks might be on the test. Then she should plan how to answer them. Chances are, some of her questions will show up on the test, and your teen will feel confident if she's thought through the answers ahead of time.
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Five things teachers really want from parents
Teamwork between home and school can make a big difference to your child's learning. Here are five things teachers wish all families would do: 1. Build your child's confidence with praise and love. 2. Discuss the school day and the things your child is learning with her. 3. Support your child's effort with schoolwork. 4. Schedule some relaxed reading time each evening. 5. Partner with the teachers to support your child.
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onday, February 15, 2021
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College could make a million-dollar difference
Does your teen want to make millions of dollars? Earning a college degree makes that much more likely. Share these statistics with your teen: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, people with college degrees earn nearly $30,000 more on average per year than people who have only high school diplomas. Over a working lifetime, that difference adds up to more than a million dollars.
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Thursday, February 4, 2021
Move forward from a poor report card
How should you react to a poor report card? First, don't panic or get upset. Just ask your child calmly about each grade. Does she understand why she received it? Next, ask the teacher about things your child needs to do to improve and ways you can help. Find out what help may be available from the school, such as peer tutoring. Then help your child develop specific, achievable goals for improvement.
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Saturday, February 6, 2021
Ask your teen to publish a family newsletter
Has it been a long time since your family has seen relatives? Your teen can keep everyone updated on family activities and improve his writing skills at the same time by putting together a family newsletter. Have him write to relatives asking for news, stories and photos. Then he can compile them and send his newsletter out. He'll gain writing, editing and layout skills, and the joy of keeping the family connected.
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