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.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the phrase that is... Read More
Travel is a common theme in my life -- probably... Read More
Many working families choose a commercial or individual day care... Read More
"Walk through any toy store and you will see walls... Read More
So your little Susie wants to join a competitive gymnastic... Read More
What is hard for parentsLetting them learn from their mistakes.Trying... Read More
Parents play a critical role in their child's success. These... Read More
In June, elementary school children across North America cheered as... Read More
Handing Down Malignancy.Children may begin bright and eager to face... Read More
Finding out that a child has been born with a... Read More
Be sure to respect the intellectual changes that mark adolescence.... Read More
1. Create... Read More
Do you struggle to get your child to bed at... Read More
You are at the grocery store with your daughter and... Read More
A great many parents are concerned that the electronic games... Read More
When David was nine and Laura was twelve, the battles... Read More
Back in college, I wrote for a five-day-a-week, award-winning campus... Read More
Do you really want your child to enjoy playing with... Read More
1. Make stronger connections among individuals and, therefore, creates a... Read More
A certain educator was once asked at what point should... Read More
Spending quality time with your children doesn't need to cost... Read More
If you are a parent, then more than likely you... Read More
If you visit search engines you can find several resources... Read More
There are software programs that you can purchase to keep... Read More
1. Tell me something you like about yourself? Help your... Read More
recurring housekeeping Highland Park ..Under the "No Child Left Behind Act," public schools whose... Read More
O.K. So now you have taken the step of having... Read More
Whether we realize it or not we teach our children... Read More
Home schooling benefits children. As a parent, I feel it... Read More
Do you have a wild child? Then this article may... Read More
All too often, children with learning disabilities are seen through... Read More
Grandparents, what better way to stay close to your grown... Read More
LOS ANGELES (May 19, 2005) - With Memorial Day weekend,... Read More
All babies cry, but if yours cries a lot, isn't... Read More
Looking for an unusual and memorable gift? Why not preserve... Read More
Every parent wants their child to develop positive character traits.... Read More
There is a new stage of development for parents to... Read More
Dads, please let me encourage you to change some things... Read More
IntroductionChildren are the gifts of God to parents. That young... Read More
Young people generally want to fit in to their various... Read More
From criticizing a spouse, to claming up about one's own... Read More
What is hard for parentsLetting them learn from their mistakes.Trying... Read More
Whether children attend public or private schools, they benefit when... Read More
Oh Please, Don't Say Maybe!!!!Are you often a participant in... Read More
1 - Forgive even if you will never be able... Read More
Research published by University of Rochester neuroscientists C. Shawn Green... Read More
Encouragement comes when you focus on your child's assets and... Read More
How bad is the illegal drug problem here in the... Read More
There are only two ways to get more money:1) Increase... Read More
It was no contest. Given a choice between a ball... Read More
Parenting |