Ten Ways to get A's
Top Ten Ways to Help Your Kids Get A's
Peggy Gisler, Ed.S. and Marge Eberts, Ed.S.
Parental Involvement Is the Answer
Study after study has shown that parental involvement is the number-one
determinant of how well all children -- regardless of their background -- do
in school. Here are ten ways you can help your kids succeed in the
classroom -- and beyond.
1. Create an environment in your home that encourages learning.
This will be a major influence on how well your children do in school.
Provide them with many different opportunities to become excited about
learning. Make sure that appropriate materials from puzzles to paints to
computers are available to stimulate their curiosity.
2. Provide your children with a well-balanced life.
A stable home, filled with love, serves as a solid foundation for getting
straight A's. Establish routines so your children get enough sleep, eat
regular nourishing meals, and receive sufficient exercise. Limit excessive
TV-viewing and the playing of video and computer games.
3. Read to your children every day.
Most of the learning your children do in school involves reading. Read to
your kids to teach them about reading, expand and enrich their vocabularies,
and broaden their experiences. Reading aloud exposes them to materials that
would be difficult for them to read on their own.
4. Encourage them to read extensively.
As your children progress through school, as much as 75 percent of what they
learn will come from the printed page. The more children read, the better
their reading skills become. Make sure there is a wide variety of
interesting reading materials in your home to encourage the reading habit.
5. Show your children how to be organized.
Children who are organized find it much easier to succeed in school. One of
the best ways to teach organizational skills is through example. Show your
children how to use such organizational tools as assignment pads, calendars,
notebooks, binders, and backpacks.
6. Teach them effective study skills.
Good study skills are absolutely essential to get A's. Make sure your
children know how to read their textbooks, prepare for tests, memorize
facts, and use their time efficiently. Encourage them to have a regular time
for studying, and provide a study place that is free of distractions.
7. Urge your children to listen and participate in class.
Listening in class is the easy way for children to learn. Advise your older
children to take notes, which will help them concentrate on what is being
said. Encourage your children to participate in class -- it will greatly
increase their interest in what they're learning.
8. Help your children learn how to tackle homework.
Doing homework reinforces what your children learn in school. Show them how
to do it so that homework quickly becomes their responsibility. Help them
learn what assignments to do first and how to plan their time. Encourage
them not to rush through their homework but to consider every assignment a
learning experience.
9. Talk to your children about school.
Your children spend hours in school every day. A lot can happen during that
time. Show that you are genuinely interested in their day by asking
questions about what they did and talking with them about the papers they
bring home. When problems occur, work with your kids to find solutions.
10. Develop a good relationship with your children's teachers.
Good communication between home and school helps children do well in school
and makes it easier to address problems. Be sure to attend parent-teacher
conferences, visit your kids' classrooms, and volunteer to help their
teachers. And don't forget to express your appreciation to teachers for all
that they do for your children.
