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Educators often say a child's first teacher is her parent. That certainly doesn't end after the first day of school. Parents play an important part in their child's educational success. Research consistently shows that when families are involved, their children get better grades and test scores, graduate from high school at higher rates and are more likely to go to college. Richard W. Riley, U.S. secretary of education, says it simply: "The American family is the rock on which a solid education can be built. I have seen examples all over this nation where 2-parent families, single parents, stepparents, grandparents, aunts and uncles are providing strong families support for their children to learn. If families teach the love of learning, it can make all the difference in the world to their children." Whether it's checking homework, reading a bedtime story or volunteering in your child's classroom, there are myriad opportunities to help your child be a better student. And as summertime approaches, this effort should increase. Here are some tips to get you started; some you can use right away to make the most of the summer months while others you can tuck away and try out during back-to-school time. Read, read, read Experts can't say it enough - reading to your child is one of the most important things you can do. Start when they're in the bassinet and keep doing it until they head off to college. You can start by reading out loud to your child and ask questions about the story. Babies can often respond by pointing to pictures in a book before they can talk. As your child becomes a better reader, she can read to you. Or, you can both take turns reading to each other. It's also important to model reading habits for your kids by keeping books, magazines and newspapers in the house. Make a regular family trip to the library and check out new materials. Mary Barton, program director of Orange County Reads One Book, suggests parents and children try reading the same book, then discuss it together. "A really good way to do it is to find something that interests both of them," she says. Orange County Reads One Book, now in its second year, helps families do just that. "We find 1 book that can be read by parents, grandparents and younger students. A story anyone can enjoy." This year's book is "Funny in Farsi," by Firoozeh Dumas, which gives readers a lighthearted and poignant look at growing up as a member of an Iranian family in America. For more information: www.orangecountyreads.org. When you're talking about a book, ask specific questions. What was the book about? Why did a character act that way? What will he or she do next? Turn off the television and talk It sounds simple, but taking time out to talk with your child is important. Sometimes she may not feel like talking about school during the drive home or when you walk in the door after work. But it's important to hear how school is going, what's happening with her friends and any problems she may be having. Take a few minutes each night to turn off the radio, television and video games...and talk. "At dinnertime or when you pick them up from school and are on the way home, try to engage them in some conversation about how the day was," says Dr. Jeffrey Derflinger, a clinical psychologist in Orange who specializes in working with children and adolescents. If your child is still reluctant to talk, try striking up a conversation when you're engaged in an activity, such as cooking dinner. Ditto for cleanup time. "They're sometimes more willing to talk about things that scare them a little more when they're distracted," he says. And remember to not dominate the conversation so your child has an opportunity to contribute. Instead of asking a lot of direct questions, let the conversation flow naturally. Also try to be open to listening without giving a lot of advice or feedback, at least initially. Campus connection It pays to be connected, especially at your child's school. Don't wait for the school to tell you if your child is having a problem or doing a great job. Make sure you know your child's teacher, principal and counselor - and that they know you. It's also a good idea to get to know the front office staff, the school nurse and coaches if your child plays sports. Try to do more than just stop by on the first day of school or Open House nights. If you drop your child off or pick them up every day, get there a few minutes early and walk your child to (or from) his classroom. This gives you a chance to chat with the teacher on a regular basis. If your child takes the bus and you don't have time to volunteer during class time, think about taking a vacation day from work to spend the day in your child's classroom. Make it an annual ritual that you and your child will share. Seeing parents working in the classroom and interested in their life at school can have a powerful impact on children. There is a time and a place for homework Homework doesn't need to be a daily battle. Studies show that successful students have parents who create and maintain family routines. Establish a daily homework routine early on. Create a quiet, well-lighted area where your child can study with minimal distractions. You'll also find most teachers develop homework routines for their students. Talk to the teacher about their methods and follow up with your child to make sure they are completing their assignments. It's also a good idea to check your child's homework and ask them questions each night to make sure they understand the material. Think they'll get out of the homework habit during summer vacation? Keep the momentum going with summer workbooks, which you can purchase at your local teacher supply store. Assign your child a certain number of pages each day and make sure to have fun stickers on hand so you can grade their work. It's a great way to preview material for the coming year and give your child a leg up on new concepts. Eating right + sleeping well = good students A good night's rest and a balanced diet are the keys to a successful day at school. Sleep is essential to staying focused and alert during class time. Burning the midnight oil may work in college, but it's not the key to success for younger students. Many children often skimp on sleep during the week and try to catch up on the weekend, but we all know that doesn't work, especially for growing youngsters. Children should sleep at least 8 hours every night. Every morning they should also be eating a balanced breakfast. Good nutrition gives children fuel to be their best. A tummy full of junk food doesn't make for a healthy student. A healthy breakfast is essential every day and children should have nutritious snacks for the mid-morning break and after-school hours. Keep the fast food and prepackaged snacks to a minimum because they tend to be high in fat, sugar and sodium. Fresh fruit, vegetables and whole grains will leave them feeling fit and full. And there's a reason why California schools kicked sodas off their campuses - too much sugar not only pack on the pounds, it also winds kids up, then sends them into a sluggish spell. See it, hear it, learn it Children are good about reporting upset stomachs, runny noses or bruised limbs. But when it comes to how well they can see the chalkboard or their ability to hear the teacher clearly, most don't have a point of reference. It's a good idea to make sure your child sees the eye doctor regularly and also gets a hearing test at her annual check-up. Learning materials in school can be that much harder if they can't see the problem on the chalkboard or are sitting too far back to hear the teacher's instructions. Art appreciation Get out those walking shoes and hit a museum. Whether it's Bowers' Kidseum, the Orange County Museum of Art or the Irvine Museum, your child will likely find something that tickles their aesthetic. Not into visual arts? Then try the ballet, a symphony or local children's theater. "Parents who introduce their children to art at an early age not only become involved in their children's lives, but they also foster a lifelong love of learning, higher self-esteem, and enhanced intelligence," says Michael Napoliello Jr., author of "Nine Famous Artists Your Children Will Love." Napoliello says art appreciation enhances the child's ability to concentrate - an essential skill in school - and expands a child's natural curiosity and interest in solving problems, which can help master the learning process. Add to that the ability to make history, social studies and science come alive and a chance to see their parents in a different light, and you've got lots of reasons to hit the museum halls. Uncertain where to start? Napoliello's book helps you visit a museum like a pro, and he also gives regular art talks at area museums for families to get you started. Be realistic Setting high goals is important to help your child stay focused and achieve her best. But remember that kids need to be kids. Keeping your (and their) expectations realistic is an important part of nurturing a balanced adult. We all want our children to do well in school, but don't expect straight A's on every report card. Setting overly ambitious goals can result in frustration and poor self-esteem. Also, unscheduled time also allows children - and parents - to relax and be themselves. Try creating a master schedule and blocking off "activity-free" time each week. If your child needs to focus on school, then cut back on extracurricular activities. Or, the whole family may need a pizza and movie night together. Parents also may find they want to scale back some of their extra activities, too. How to show what you know A big part of school these days is test taking. In addition to the usual classroom tests, most California students are measured when they start school, in the middle of the year to gauge their progress, and in the spring to benchmark their success and that of their teacher, school, district and the state as a whole. Children hear a lot of discussion about tests, and it's important to put those assessments into perspective. First, whether we like them or not, tests are important. Students should take them seriously and understand they're a part of going to school. However, too much focus on test scores can put pressure on a child. Remember, a test is a snapshot of your child's ability. If she's having a rough day or is getting over a cold, her performance can be impacted. Also, many children have test anxiety. You can help them move past that by getting them to study early, helping them with test-taking tips (such as reading all the instructions carefully and skipping questions they don't know so they can come back to them at the end of the test) and giving them some practice tests at home. Also, remember that a good night's rest and a balanced breakfast will get them off on the right foot. Kids learn by example Children who notice that their parents are lifelong learners will be inspired to follow suit. Consider taking a class and do your homework with your child. Learn a new craft or take up a second language. Talk with your child about what it's like to learn something new and why you enjoy it. Learning opportunities are all around. Pick educational programs on public television and talk about what you're learning from the show. Read the newspaper together and discuss what new facts you learned. Tell your children about interesting conversations you had during the day and what new information you picked up. Jennifer Leuer of Yorba Linda is an education reporter. To reach her: leuer.ramus@sbcglobal.net. |
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