Parents play a critical role in their child's success. These seven tips from http://www.goalsettingforstudents.com explain how to help your child set and achieve goals for the new school year.
1. Set 30, 60 and 90-day goals - with your child. What's most important for the first 30 days? Ask your child what they plan to accomplish and help them make a plan to get there. Creating a regular routine with time for homework, chores, outside activities and free time is critical. Help your child tweak their schedule for the best way to spend their time. At the end of the first 30 days, review what worked and what didn't, and then discuss the 60 and 90-day goals.
2. Write it down. Don't just talk about goals. Have your child write them down. The act of writing down goals reinforces the message. According to John Bishop, author of the workbook, Goal Setting for Students?, "There are two great benefits to writing down goals. First, it is implanting in their minds a gentle, yet important, message that they are responsible for their day. Secondly, this exercise teaches them that they cannot simply blame others for their lack of effort."
3. Watch your language. How do you talk about school with your child? Do you praise their teachers and tell your child they can do it? Or do you complain about how hard it is and that the teacher is expecting too much? Avoid "bummer words" like no, can't, won't, never, maybe, and if. Focus on motivating words like yes, can and will.
4. Avoid excuses. Teach your child the importance of taking responsibility and minimizing excuses. Help them create a plan for big projects, breaking them down into manageable pieces with deadlines for each piece. Avoid a last-minute crisis by planning ahead and having supplies on hand. Bishop says, "Don't find fault. Find a solution."
5. Set up rewards that fit your family. As a family, discuss the best ways to recognize your successes. Be sure to recognize effort not just results. Want to encourage reading? Create a reading log, and go bowling or go for ice cream once you've reached a certain amount of reading time. Mini-rewards for regular effort can often be more effective than one large reward for the entire school year.
6. Model goal-setting. What are your goals for the next month and the remainder of the year? Track them - and show your child how you do it. Discuss with them where you are and what obstacles you have overcome. This discussion can easily lead into their goals as a student.
7. Eat together. Take time to sit down together as a family, and give each member the opportunity to talk about what's working and what's not working. Strategize solutions - with the TV turned off. A common reason families don't eat dinner together is conflicting schedules so if the dinner hour doesn't work for you, consider a family breakfast. Even checking in for 15 minutes over cereal can provide a much-needed time to connect.
With a few simple steps, parents can get their children off to a good start for the school year ahead.
Accent On Success? is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping students achieve success in the classroom and in life. For more information on the Goal Setting for Students? workbook, which gives students a roadmap for success, visit http://www.goalsettingforstudents.com.
I am sure that this list can be jogged and... Read More
The brightly colored plastic mobile dangles lazily overhead in the... Read More
Seven-year old Michael was on a school trip to a... Read More
It is not the divorce but the conflict arising after... Read More
Diapers..Changing a dirty diaper is not the best part of... Read More
Parental Alienation Syndrome was probably first identified and codified by... Read More
Is your babysitter watching the kids and your k9 family... Read More
If you are like most people today, you do not... Read More
From the time the Mayflower landed at Plymouth Rock in... Read More
It's the third time this week that Sam has complained... Read More
Remember when cash was a tangible commodity in all of... Read More
In dealing with children with autism spectrum disorders, its all... Read More
Parental example, whether for good or for bad, is undoubtedly... Read More
A friend phoned her neighbor, complaining about the wafts of... Read More
The popularity of EEG Biofeedback Training continues to grow both... Read More
Have you ever had this struggle with your teens? Did... Read More
"Setting the alarm on Sunday mornings is inhuman?..God should know... Read More
It happens every year. Just when you are settled in... Read More
On one of her quarterly visits to see her grandson,... Read More
Have you heard the song; "I Hope You Dance"? It... Read More
In the news, we hear and see an increasing number... Read More
There are software programs that you can purchase to keep... Read More
People always ask my wife and I: "How did you... Read More
It's that time again! Parent-teacher conferences are coming. Are you... Read More
Children bombard parents with many challenging behaviours. We are delighted... Read More
quick home cleaning Lake Forest ..Blink. That's all we did, blink, and summer is ending... Read More
Being in a competitive world, the lowest qualification to secure... Read More
Q. We recently caught our son smoking pot, and we... Read More
Have you ever experienced one of those days when you... Read More
For many adults, reading a book or newspaper seems effortless.... Read More
"In general my children refuse to eat anything that hasn't... Read More
Although nothing anybody says can ever completely prepare a woman... Read More
Choosing to leave your child with a caregiver is one... Read More
Very often, new parents rely on a parenting tip or... Read More
I thought I was the only one in the world... Read More
Not so long ago a dad-to-be would pace up and... Read More
So your little Susie wants to join a competitive gymnastic... Read More
When you think about it, probably the one thing that... Read More
Successful families don't just happen. They take time, talent and... Read More
We're all familiar with the over-indulgent parent. But there's another... Read More
The successful preschool idea behind many successful preschool learning centers... Read More
The key to lifelong learning is reading and writing. When... Read More
Q. Our 17-year-old son wants us to let his girlfriend... Read More
For first time parents choosing a swing set or outdoor... Read More
Being a parent is a role that requires a large... Read More
What are the easiest things citizens can do to prevent... Read More
Whether children attend public or private schools, they benefit when... Read More
Most of the ADHD kids that are seen in a... Read More
There is no doubt that mothers play an all-important leading... Read More
For every season, check, check, check, There is a chart,... Read More
Parenting |