How to Help a Child Be a Better Student

Unless your child is a straight A, never-misses-school type kid, and possesses an innate knack for organization, chances are that he can benefit from some strategies for becoming a better student. It is never too early--or too late--for a student to hone his skills in this area. In elementary school as well as secondary school, children must understand that having knowledge isn’t enough; getting that knowledge from point A (the brain) to point B (the teacher) is the true key to success. Follow these practical steps to help your child excel in school.

Instructions

1. Be realistic. Let’s face it--not all students are capable of bringing home A's. So, if you are a parent who has drawn arbitrary lines in the sand and requires certain grades to come home or else, begin the task of helping your child become a better student by realistically assessing what level she is capable of attaining academically. Taking some of the pressure off a student who deep down knows she may not be capable of A's and B's is a sure way to help her soar. Encourage your child to do the very best she can on all assignments, large or small. While everyone would like to bat .500, only a select few will. Some will bat around .300, and a few will bat around .200 or below. Encouraging your child to always turn in the very best work she is capable of is the first step to building a firm basis for study skills. Don’t forget that doing the best one can includes turning work in on time, writing legibly and taking the time to check one’s work for careless errors. Homework for parent: Have your child make a 3 x 5 note card that states, "I will do my best today." Underneath that, jot down a few areas that are specific to your child’s goals, such as writing neatly, putting her name on her paper, answering in complete sentences, among others. Both parent and child should sign the card.

2. Get organized. Every student should have either one large binder with a section for each class or subject (recommended for elementary age children), or a separate binder for each class. Each binder should contain blank paper and a folder or other pocket insert for holding handouts. Backpacks should have plenty of pencils, pens, a manual sharpener and a pocket-size dictionary and thesaurus. Rulers, calculators and other specialty supplies should be present also, with a second set of everything at home. A student’s backpack should stay complete--in other words, have backpack, will study. Get your student the necessary supplies and spend time labeling folders and organizing the materials together. Periodically check to see that items are accounted for and in order.

3. Be quiet. If your student is going to succeed, he needs a regular place where he can focus on his homework without the distractions of younger siblings, pets and noise. It’s best if there is one designated homework location, but the bottom line is that homework must take priority in your home. If the family room is the only place with a table or other hard surface on which to do homework, other family members should not be watching TV, or entertaining guests in that room until homework is finished. Model behavior that demonstrates your belief that homework comes first. In conjunction with keeping a quiet atmosphere, rules must be in place that prohibit other recreational events from happening until after homework is completed. Under no circumstances is homework to be left until after dinner or after a trip to the mall, movies or sporting event. Unless your child is a participant in athletics, and maintaining a satisfactory grade point average, homework time comes first.

4. Introduce work ethic. One of the most important things you can do to help your child become a better student is to shift the responsibility for that success squarely onto your child’s shoulders. That means that she should not make excuses for missing work, blame the teacher, or claim ignorance when it comes to getting assignments turned in on time. Of course, life sometimes presents circumstances that can not be foreseen or prevented, but if your child ultimately views her grade as her responsibility, no matter what, you will not only help create a better student, but a young person who can solve problems, attack roadblocks and maintain a steady pace until a desired goal is achieved. Refrain from intervening on your child’s behalf for missed work or tardies; if you would like to know what is going on in your child’s classroom, be proactive and send a short note or email periodically. Don’t wait until it is too later and ask for forgiveness. This may save a grade, but it will also strand your child on Excuse Island forever.

Tips & Warnings

• Modeling a strong work ethic and demonstrating a respect for academic achievement must be in place if a student is to succeed.