The new school year is about to start, and I hope that it can be a brand-new start for our family. My children do all right, but I'm tired of nagging them about grades and homework. What role should I be playing that will result in hard work and good grades? - Trying to Do My Best
Answer: Your role as a parent really changes from year to year. You need to be directly involved in helping your children get the hang of school in the first few grades. By sixth grade, children should largely be working independently. Expect them to handle the nitty-gritty of getting their schoolwork done by middle school.
What you need to do for children at all levels is make it easy for them to succeed in school. Here are some ideas about ways to do that:
1. You want to do all you can to help your children develop a can-do attitude. You want kids who are in the habit of saying, "I think I can; I think I can." Then they will be just like the little engine that could and will be able to handle most school tasks by putting out sufficient effort.
2. School is only a breeze for a few children. Success for most comes from a willingness to work hard. Expect your children to work as hard as you do in your daily life.
3. Besides attitude, the bottom line for succeeding in school for most children is having solid organizational skills. They need to use assignment pads, notebooks and calendars. Children also need to follow a definite pattern in bringing paraphernalia back and forth from school. All school stuff should be packed up and at the door before they go to bed.
4. Routines make it easy for children to be organized. Set definite times now with your children for getting up, going to bed and other activities to avoid dissension when school begins.
5. Homework is the fly in the ointment for most families. Work closely with your young children until they have established the homework habit. They will need help in learning how to prioritize assignments, read directions and develop adequate study skills. Before school begins this year, establish with your children the time they will do homework every day. They should spend 10 minutes per grade level on school-related work each school day, whether or not they have assignments and without any reminders from you.
6. One big thing that too many parents forget to do is build enthusiasm for learning. Get in the habit of expanding on the curriculum. If your child is learning about state government, take him or her on a visit to the capitol.