I have a 12 year old child that I want to encourage to do well in her schooling. She knows how to do the work but sometimes she just trys to get by with doing as least work as possible in school that is needed in order to pass. Her grades are an B and C average. She has the capability of receiving A marks if she wanted to. So now I want to encourage her in school with a fun twist to education. She's very smart and likes computers and fixing electronics. In the past she has done very well in the beginning and then she let her grades slip. (has received a D and actually passsed) I don't want her to just get by on passing.
I even let her stay with my sister and attend school for six months to show her how serious I am about her schooling. That I won't tolerate bad grades...she did well in the beginning and then started slacking. So I know it's not my parenting that she needs to be encouraged and to take an interest in her work. So how can I encourage her?
What are some effective fun ways to encourage a child with school?
Try getting her a tutor, or just try sitting down beside her after school with some good snacks at the table and do it with her. I try to have the table set up and no TVs on, that way they can sit down and eat while they do their homework. Then it's not being left till the evening when their so tired, remember going to school is just/maybe more tiring then going to a full day of work!
She may have other problems that are stressing her out at school that are preventing her from focusing in class, or the material just might be getting harder for her. I wouldn't send my daughter away to live with my sister, I think your an important part of her life and she needs you now, especially for the next couple of years.
Is she into any sports? Sometimes that helps because they feel part of something and want to keep up good grade's, maybe with a long term goal of a scholarship. She might also feel because this is not high school this doesn't count? Good Luck, being a parent is soooo hard~!
Reply:Let your child know you believe in him or her
Tell your child often that you believe in him or her. Let your child hear, starting at a very young age, that you believe in his or her ability to do well.
Talk, sing, and read with your child
Talk, sing, and read together, as often as you can! See the next page for some suggestions on ways to read with your child.
Involve your extended family
Ask all the people who care about your child - aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, godparents, babysitters, neighbors, and friends - to encourage your child to do well in school. Give each of them a copy of the reading tips and activities pages.
Limit your child's TV watching
Try to control how much TV your child watches, whether he or she is with you, with a babysitter, or home alone. Children need to hear and talk to adults in order to build their language skills.
Have a positive attitude toward school and learning
Take an interest in how your child is doing at school so he or she will believe that learning is important. If you can, find ways to get involved at your child's school.
Make sure your child does homework
Look over your child's homework each night. Ask your child to explain what he or she is learning. Make sure that assignments are completed. If possible, find a quiet place for your child to study and set aside time each evening for homework.
Experts believe that reading to your child every day is one of the most important things parents can do.
Here are ideas for using this reading time to build your child's literacy skills while keeping it fun for both of you. Click below for ideas if your child is:
0-3 years old
in preschool, Head Start, or day care
in elementary school
If you are more comfortable with Spanish, then please read to your child in Spanish. This will not delay his or her learning of English.
For a list of great books to read with your child, see the Books, stories, and more section. It also has information on how to borrow books from the public library for free.
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Reading to 0-3 year olds
Make reading a part of every day
Try to read to your child for at least 15 minutes each day. Bedtime is an especially good time to read together. You can read in Spanish or English.
Hold your child while you read
Sit with your child on your lap as you read. Let him or her hold the book and help turn the pages.
Read with fun in your voice
Use your face, body, and voice to make reading fun. Use different voices for different characters.
Know when to stop
If your child loses interest or has trouble paying attention, just put the book away for a while. A few minutes of reading is ok. Don't continue reading if your child is not enjoying it. With practice, your child will be able to sit and listen for a longer time.
Talk about the pictures
Point to the pages and talk about the pictures in the book. Ask your child to look at the pictures for clues to what the story is about.
Show your child the words
As you read the book, run your finger along the bottom of the words. Soon your child will realize it is the words that are read and not the pictures. If you're reading a book in Spanish, feel free to let your child know the English version of a word. Say something like "Perro is called dog in English."
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Reading with preschoolers
Say how much you enjoy reading together
Tell your child how much you enjoy reading with him or her. Talk about "story time" as the favorite part of your day.
Surround your child with books
Try to have books in your home for your child to read. Books from a bookstore can be expensive, but there are places where you can get inexpensive books, such as second hand bookstores, garage sales, thrift shops, and library book sales. And of course, borrowing books from the library is free!
Let your child choose
Let your child pick out his or her own books. Letting your child read what interests him or her is one way that reading becomes fun.
Make reading special
Do things that will make books and reading seem special. Help your child get his or her own library card, buy books and books-on-tape as gifts, and use books as rewards.
Show your child the parts of a book
Look at the cover of the book. Talk about what the book might be about. Look at the page numbers. Tell your child who the author is and who the illustrator is.
Show how we read words on a page
Point out how we read words on a page from left to right and from top to bottom. Explain that words are separated by spaces.
Ask your child questions
Discuss what's happening in the story and point out things on the page. Ask your child questions such as: "What do you think will happen next?" or "What is this?"
Let your child ask you questions
If your child asks a question, stop and answer even if it interrupts the story. Find ways to talk about how the story relates to your child's life.
Read it again and again
Your child may want to hear a favorite story over and over. Go ahead and read the same book for the 100th time! This is beneficial for your child.
Let your child tell you the story
Many children memorize stories they've heard many times. Let your child take a turn "reading" the book to you.
Talk about punctuation
Explain that punctuation is a way to show how we talk. You can say, for example, "When we talk, we usually pause a little bit at the end of a sentence. The way we show this in writing is to use a period."
Use books on tape
If you don't know English and would like for your child to hear stories in English, you can borrow books from the library that have audiocassettes. Your child can listen to a story being read on tape as he or she follows along in the book. Or use computer programs such as Just Grandma and Me that highlight words on the screen as a voice speaks. Children can choose to hear the story and play the games in English, French, German, or Spanish.
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Reading with elementary school kids
Encourage your child to read another one
Find ways to encourage your child to keep reading. If he or she likes one book, find another book with a similar subject or by the same author. Ask a librarian or teacher for book suggestions.
Take turns reading
Once your child can read, have him or her read aloud to you every day. You can take turns - you read one page and your child the next.
Make connections to your child's life
Help your child make connections between what he or she reads in books and what happens in life. If you're reading a book about a family, for example, talk about how what happens in the story is the same or different from what happens in your family.
Give your child an incentive to read
At bedtime, encourage your child to read. Offer a choice between reading or sleeping. Most kids will choose to read, as long as you don't offer something more tempting (like TV).
Try different types of books and magazines
Encourage your child to read different types of books, articles, or stories. Some kids, especially boys, prefer nonfiction books. Others like children's magazines.
Turn on the closed captioning on your television
When watching a television show with your child, try turning on the closed captioning channel. This shows the words the characters are speaking on the television screen. Some people find it's a good way to learn English!
Children learn differently and at different rates. Some kids need extra time, especially if they're also learning a second language.
It's important, though, that a child not get too far behind, especially in learning how to read. Most children should know how to read by the end of third grade.
Be aware of how your child is doing, especially compared to other children his or her age. A preschool child should be checked, for example, if he or she has a much more difficult time than other children in pronouncing or rhyming words or in learning numbers, the alphabet, the days of the week, colors, or shapes. You might also notice that your child has a much more difficult time than other children in following directions, learning routines, controlling a pencil or crayon, or sitting still.
Please note that it's normal for many young children to show one or two of these signs. But if your child shows consistent problems with several of these, then you may want to have your child evaluated for possible learning or reading disabilities. Just remember that when your child is being evaluated, it is very important that he or she is assessed in his or her primary language.
What should you do if you think your child is having a reading problem? Sometimes, children just need more time. But sometimes they need extra help from an expert.
Trust your instincts! You know your child best. If you think there's a problem, there probably is.
If you're not comfortable with English, please ask someone to interpret for you or bring a friend or relative to do so.
Find out if your child needs extra help
If your child is a preschooler, call Child Find.
Call the main office of your local school district and ask for the "Child Find" program. This federal program requires school districts to give preschoolers a comprehensive assessment for free if a problem is suspected.
If your child is in school, talk to his or her teacher.
Ask questions such as – Do you think my child is having trouble with reading? What specific trouble is my child having? What can I do to help my child at home? What can be done to help my child in class? Which reading group is my child in? How is he or she doing compared to other students?
Talk to your child's doctor.
Make sure your child's doctor or other health care provider checks your child for hearing or vision problems. Sometimes reading problems are caused by problems with seeing or hearing.
Get extra help for your child
If you think your child needs extra help, don't give up. Try not to assume – or let others assume – that your child is having difficulty only because he or she is learning two languages. Unless you keep asking for it, your child may not receive the help he or she needs.
Request an evaluation.
Write a short letter to your child's school principal to request that the school's specialists review your child's progress. This request will go to a "screening committee" at the school. This group decides whether a child should be checked for speech or language delays, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, or other conditions that may be affecting how your child learns. For more information (in Spanish) visit LD OnLine.
Make sure your child is evaluated in his or her strongest language.
It is important that your child is tested in the language he or she knows best. The purpose of such testing is to find out whether a child's reading problem is due to 1) second language learning, 2) language delay, or 3) a learning disability.
If it is determined that your child needs extra help, the school may be able to provide this either in the child's regular classroom or with a specialist.
Consider an evaluation from outside the school.
If the school will not evaluate your child, or they evaluate your child and you think you need a second opinion, consider going to a specialist outside of the school. They can do an "independent education evaluation."
Contact your local Parent Training and Information Center or a Parent Resource Center. These centers can advise you on how to get a free "independent education evaluation." They will also have lists of low-cost, Spanish-speaking professionals who may be able to help. Click here to find the centers in your state.
Inform yourself of your options.
There is a law – the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) – that ensures that your child will receive special school services (for free) for your child. See LD OnLine for a summary of your rights under this law.
You can also click here for information in Spanish from the PACER center.
In addition, see the Resources section on this Web site for links to organizations that may be able to help you and your child.
i know its long im sorry i hope it works for u
Reply:spank her ***, let her know she has no other choice.
Reply:There has to be a reason for her to slack. Some parents, not all, stick to it for a while and they too slack on the strictness of the situation. I suggest a reward program. Nothing big, but increase it as she does better, let her know that if she slips again, the program starts all over again and she has to work to get back to where she was. Some take away things that they like, for instance a phone, computer, or friend time. Dont take it all away but restrict it. If she wants better privlages, she will work for them. Dont give up. I remember when i got my first D i was grounded for 9 weeks because that is when the progress report came home, but all that changes with these days. I wish your family all the best.
Reply:Reward her for good grades. Let her make a schedule on the computer showing when she will study. If your school has a homework hotline, call it daily and check over her homework. She should be keeping an agenda or school calendar listing assingments including long term projects. When she gets home, ask to see her graded papers and praise her for a job well done. When she doesn't bring home her calendar or school work, she needs a simple punishment like no t.v. or grounded for the weekend. Make sure she knows the punishment ahead of time. Best of luck!
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