Tag Archive for ‘parents’
Easy Simple technique to keep a Marble Note Book in the Binder
For those disorganized kids who like to use a marble notebook instead of a spiral note book , here’s a good way to make sure it stays in your binder.
Take a large rubber band, and put the back note book cover, through it until it hits the middle seam and can’t move any further. The part of the rubber band that will be visible on the outside of the note book will be used [...]
Class participation and anxiety in Kids
Some kids, disorganized or not, don’t do well answering a question immediately. I know many adults who fall into this category too. I remember when my teacher, Sr. Dominic, would randomly ask students question in class. I was so focused on my anxiety about becoming a “chosen one” and getting the answer wrong that I could never understand what she was asking me. We do have to take into account that this was about 30 some odd [...]
Is that Permanent School Record really important?
Often students will mimic teachers or administrators in a flip manner, “ Watch your behavior in school, you don’t want any blemishes on your permanent record!”. Parents and students alike don’t really ask what the permanent record contains and why it’s important.
Let me shed some light in this. The permanent record holds academic information about students. This usually includes, report cards, progress notes, standardize testing, and any disciplinary actions taken against [...]
Motivating the disorganized child
I gave a lecture last night to parents of school age children in Westchester, NY. Fter I gave a brief description of the disorganized child and the three organizing styles, the audience broke out into groups according to the grade level of their children. They were instructed to write pertinent questions they may have regarding organizing their child to discuss in the groups.
As I walked around to observe the groups, I was fascinated yet [...]
Disorganized high school students
Many parents of high school students often tell me that they walk a thin line between assisting their disorganized child and enabling him/her. I empathize with these parents since that line can be very fine. However, when a disorganized child struggles to find the strategies and techniques that work for him, parents need to step in and loan their child some executive functioning.
What am I talking about? Well, if your very disorganized [...]
School Progress Reports are out
Now is the time to check out the pros and cons of your child organizing system . What does his progress report indicate about homework being handed in on time or assignments missing? Is there a note about inconsistent effort? If so, take note.
Investigate the comments and ask the teachers for details. Do not rely solely on your child’s interpretation of why “comments” were made on the progress report. Sometimes there [...]
Need a cheap tutor?
We are embarking on the full swing of school. Our kids have a few tests and quizes underneath them, we’ve started the new class projects and some of us, sadly, have received some progress reports letting us know that our child may be struggling in school.
Let’s get right to the point. Yes, money is tight for most of us. The new curriculum in most schools seems so foreign, especially the math.
Assuming [...]
Change the language, Change the interpretation for your Child
Lately my phone calls have been increasing from parents wanting to know how to get their kids moving to complete their homework and studying. It’s been my experience that kids avoid or procrastinate because of feeling overwhelmed by the school work. Many kids aren’t aware of this overwhelming feeling and often cannot label it. They’ll just say, “I don’t know why I can’t do it. I just can’t” Parents become [...]
Bringing Up the Topic of Organization with Your Child
We suspect that your child already senses that something is wrong. She already knows that her grades aren’t very good. She already knows that she is fighting with her parents over homework and incomplete assignments. She already is resentful that there isn’t enough free time. So, bringing up the topic is not likely to be earth-shattering news to your child. In fact, a calm conversation about the issue might even come as [...]
Back to school night
Just had my “back to school” night at the middle school where my two kids are attending. I’m a veteran at these events, having been a middle school and high school guidance counselor in my past life.
I’m always amazed at the number of parents who storm their child’s teachers on this night. This is the worst time to discuss an issue you have about your child. This poor teacher is focused [...]