| The time is almost here for your child to go back | | | | goal would be using the scientific method to either |
| to school. How can we make this year this best | | | | prove or disprove a theory. Post your goals on |
| that it can be? In the next few paragraphs I will | | | | the bulletin board or refrigerator in your |
| give you some ideas that will improve the | | | | house.ReadingI can not over emphasise the |
| educational experience for your child.If this year is | | | | importance of encouraging your child to read. You |
| going to be more successful than last year, | | | | can not start too early. Every one preaches |
| something has to change. I am going to advise | | | | about reading to your infant and that is important. |
| you to focus on just three areas to improve your | | | | But, we must get our children to transition from |
| childs' attitude and aptitude in school. These are | | | | being read to, to reading for either knowledge or |
| the three areas I advise you to concentrate on: | | | | entertainment. I include entertainment because of |
| Goal setting, reading, and incentives.Goal | | | | the importance of having good early experiences |
| SettingBefore the new school year starts, you as | | | | in reading. Not only will this help your children |
| a parent, should sit down with your child and | | | | comprehend more but it will also help them write |
| discuss the previous years progress in school. At | | | | better!IncentiveI can hear you now. "How do I get |
| this time you need to positively encourage and | | | | my child to actually do anything? I can't even get |
| praise the accomplishments of the previous year. | | | | him to make up his bed or empty the trash." It is |
| I know that you are creative enough to find | | | | at this point that I inform you that if they are |
| positive feedback. Then it is important that you | | | | young it is easy. All you have to do is work on |
| discuss the importance of having a written plan | | | | their value system. Continually lead by example so |
| for the start of a new year.This is where you | | | | that your young child will know that you value |
| introduce the idea of goal setting. Talk about the | | | | education. It is amazing how much they want to |
| importance of knowledge and how much power it | | | | be like us when they are little. Do you remember |
| gives us over those who are not educated. Let | | | | when your child had that play lawn mower and |
| your child know that you think education is | | | | wanted to mow just like dad. Well, let me tell you. |
| important. Be real and sensitive with your child as | | | | If your child does not see you reading and leading |
| you share your own educational experiences with | | | | by example then it will be very difficult to |
| them.Then the two of you need to write down at | | | | convince them that they should value |
| least three realistic short term and two long term | | | | education.On the other hand, if they are already in |
| goals for the up coming year. If you are like most | | | | middle school, you may have to work even |
| of us you are thinking... like what. That depends on | | | | harder. Because now your child will not think it is |
| the child. If you have a child that is in the second | | | | important just because you say it is. It will take a |
| grade and they read on the fifth grade level, then | | | | very creative parent to make fun and games into |
| you may want to challenge your child to read | | | | learning experiences that will enhance a childs' |
| books of his or her choice that are at the sixth | | | | education. Now you have to be creative enough |
| grade reading level. However if they are already a | | | | to make it fun. I can not over emphasise the |
| strong reader, you may want to challenge them | | | | importance of making sure that your child has a |
| to spend more time reading science or social | | | | value in education. Very few people do anything if |
| studies material. Make the goal specific. (Read | | | | they do not believe in it.Let's review our keys to |
| magazine articles about science in the first week | | | | success, If we want this school year to be a |
| of school for thirty minutes every other | | | | great learning experience for our child we must |
| day)Short term goals should address the | | | | put a plan in place by setting short and long term |
| weaknesses, that you are aware of, from the | | | | goals. If we do this we will send a great message |
| previous year. If spelling was a problem then set | | | | to our child. They will know that we our willing to |
| a realistic goal to be able to spell a specific | | | | invest our time in helping them have a productive |
| number of new words each week.Long term | | | | year. We must also make reading available and |
| goals on the other hand should deal with | | | | fun for them. And in order for this plan to work |
| outcomes. They should also deal with the ability to | | | | we must make sure they have incentives to |
| do something rather than just having knowledge. | | | | actually do the work.Here is to you! A toast, "May |
| A basketball player learns to pass, dribble and | | | | you and your children have a productive, |
| shoot. A long term goal would be the ability to | | | | educational, and fulfilling year."Bob Roach Father of |
| actually play the game. A sixth grader needs to | | | | one and middle school teacher of literally |
| know about the scientific method. The long term | | | | thousands over the past thirty years. |