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For too long parents and teachers have been unintentionally allowing students to fail. Many in education have even accepted “failure as a right” and “a part of learning.” This philosophy and line of thinking is obviously flawed. Failure should not be an option and students should not be allowed an “easy out” of completing an assignment.

Home and School Study Hall Program

The following teaching strategy can be used at home and at school. When a student has not finished or completed an assignment that was due that day the following study plan should be implemented.

Home Study Plan (HSP)

1. Parent receives an email from the teacher sharing that an assignment failed to be turned in… Continue Reading

Being a parent of an intelligent child is great. Being comforted by the fact that having a smart child often leads to a more optimistic chance of the child succeeding in school, securing a better job and becoming more capable of problem-solving everyday challenges is often a wishful thought for many parents. But, we all know that high intelligence does not necessarily guarantee success in school, future jobs and social experiences; we all have met or know individuals who are smart yet unsuccessful. So is high intelligence or possessing a high IQ that important? Yes and no. Simply put, having a high IQ without some emotional intelligence may be of little or no value in life. So, what is emotional intelligence, or E… Continue Reading

Parenting children to learn to enjoy reading may seem like a difficult task for some parents to accomplish, when in reality it should be a privilege.  Parents who enjoy and model reading on well onto their way to assisting their own child to do the same.    The following article written by parenting coach, Dr. Caron Goode provides six helpful hints for parents to consider while encouraging young readers to enjoy reading.

Ready-Set-Read

As we all know, reading is fundamental. Reading makes it possible for children to learn, grow, and discover the world around them.

There are four steps children take to becoming readers. In the first step, they are known as pre-readers. Pre-readers like to look at books and behave like… Continue Reading

Summer is coming and your child is anxious to quit school on a sour note. You keep telling your child to “finish strong, or else!” Parents searching for some parenting tips to keep your child in the “learning mode” will find this advice article helpful.

Parenting Tips To Ending The School Year On A Positive Note

Be Encouraging

It hard to be positive when your child is not doing as well as he or she should be doing in school. Be encouraging means to:

Remain calm
Avoid lecturing
Provide positive options
Listen to your child
Remind the child that he or she can do better
Be patient

Communicate With Teachers

Give your child’s teacher a phone call or an email… Continue Reading

On April 16, 2007, the shooting events at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA, brought about intense debate about the responsibility of colleges and universities to provide safe environments and to increase their abilities to prevent and manage serious crisis events. In some states, mandatory school lock down drills practices several times a year are now the norm. So, what can parents do at home to teach or enforce what schools are teaching children regarding school safety? Numerous tips and parenting advice is provided that may stimulate discussions at home.

Teaching prevention skills

Students are being taught mediation skills (problem solving and communication) and ways to handle their emotions–especially anger–without hurting others. These skills will help them avoid… Continue Reading

All parents want their children to attend a great school. But, do we know the characteristics or factors that make one school better than another; one greater vs. one not-so-great? The National Education Association, the largest teachers organization in the United States, shares some information in this article that parents may use while making a determination whether a school is, or is not “great.”

Is your child’s school a “great” school?

The following is a listing of the 35 factors that are the “KEYS to Excellence for Schools”

from the National Education Association

A shared understanding about achievable education outcomes
1. Commitment to long-range, continuous improvement–parents and school
employees
2. Commitment to long-range, continuous improvement–central and building
administration
3. Clear, explicit goals

Involvement of all school-community… Continue Reading

Learning can be fun, creative and fascinating! Parents and teachers will benefit from author and friend Vanessa Van Petten’s article. Parents are included in this article because you are and will become your child’s best teacher. You will not only have the opportunity to team with professional experts that directly work with your child in schools, but you will have the opportunity to become educated on teaching techniques and strategies shared in this article. Keep an open mind. As always, when your child is using a computer in your home, keep a watchful eye to ensure your child’s safety and appropriate use of the Internet. Have fun while you learn!

7 Ways Teachers & Parents Can Use Online Tools To Keep Students… Continue Reading