Preschool

Create a learning environment at home for your preschooler

As a parent, you are your child's first and most influential teacher. The activities you and your child do together set the stage for her academic success.

To create a learning environment at home:

• Look for concrete ways to help your child learn concepts. For example, your child comes home and says, "We counted to four at school!" Reply, "That's great! We need four plates on the table for dinner. You can put the plates on and we'll count them together."
  
• Review and expand upon concepts. If your child is learning shapes, say, "I see circles and squares in this room. Can you bring me something that is a circle and something that is a square?" Once that is done, say, "Did you know that a triangle has three sides? Let's look for one of those, too!"
  
• Engage your child's senses. Each day, talk with her about what she sees, hears, feels, smells and tastes. Help her learn the words that describe these, such as loud, rough, salty and sour.
  
• Give your child plenty of opportunities to practice social skills. Social skills are a big part of the curriculum in preschool and kindergarten. But some experiences, such as learning to be a good host and a polite guest, are best accomplished outside of school.
  

Reprinted with permission from the November 2009 issue of Parents make the difference!® (Early Childhood Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2009 The Parent Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc. Source: Jennifer R. Bradford-Vernon, How to Be Your Child's First Teacher: Insights for Parent Involvement, ISBN: 1-56822-998-4 (Instructional Fair, a division of School Specialty Publishing, www.schoolspecialtypublishing.com).

Elementary School

Teach your child to solve math word problems in four steps

Sometimes, the reason kids can't find the answer to a math word problem is that they can't figure out the question. Have your child follow these steps:

1. Read the question. Suppose the word problem says "John has nine marbles. Joe has 11. If Joe gives John three marbles, how many marbles will John have?" Write down exactly what question the problem asks: "How many marbles will John have?"
   
2. Look for key information. Every word problem will include facts--John has nine marbles and Joe has 11. Joe gives John three marbles. Write these facts down.
   
3. Rewrite the question as a math problem. In this case, nine marbles plus three marbles equals how many marbles?
   
4. Solve the problem. Once the word problem is rewritten as a math problem, your child should be able to find the answer. "John has 12 marbles."
   

Reprinted with permission from the November 2009 issue of Parents make the difference!® (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2009 The Parent Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc. Source: Ronald J. Dietel, Get Smart! Nine Sure Ways to Help Your Child Succeed in School, ISBN: 0-787-98334-9 (Jossey-Bass, a Wiley Imprint, www.wiley.com).

Middle School

Understanding preteen brains helps you respond to your child

Parenting a middle schooler in today's times can be a challenge. Your preteen acts like he knows everything, and at times he seems so grown up. The important word is "seems." It doesn't matter how "cool" your child acts--it will be years before he thinks like an adult. Keep in mind that:

• Emotional thinking usually wins out over rational thinking at this age. That's why middle schoolers may lash out if they think they've been "dissed." Your child is not ready to stop and think: "I'd better cool it, because I might get in trouble." He responds with emotion only. Have your child practice instant responses, such as shaking his head and walking away. Counting to 10 before blowing his top can work, too. And don't take angry comments your child may make to you personally.
  
• Your child lives in the moment. He doesn't grasp that his semester grade may drop if he doesn't study tonight for his test. To him, the end of the semester is light-years away. What he does tonight can't possibly affect the end of the semester. Don't force your middle schooler to make a connection he is not ready to make. Instead, set firm rules about studying and stick to them.
  

Reprinted with permission from the November 2009 issue of Parents Still make the difference!® (Middle School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2009 The Parent Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc. Source: Kenneth R. Ginsburg with Martha M. Jablow, "But I'm Almost 13!" An Action Plan for Raising a Responsible Adolescent, ISBN: 0-8092-9717-5 (Contemporary Books, www.mcgraw-hill.com).

High School

Does your high schooler know how to take good class notes?

Many high school teachers present information in a class lecture. But if students don't know how to take good notes, they maynot remember the important facts until they are expected to provide them on a test.

Basically, listening to a lecture is like "reading with your ears." Some of the same techniques that help your teen remember what he reads can be adapted to help him take good notes during a lecture.

Teens who learn best by seeing need to make the lecture visible on the page. They may draw pictures (not doodles of the girl in the next row). Or use different colored markers to highlight important topics.

Some teens learn best by hearing. For them, it's important to focus on what the teacher is saying. They jot down key words or points. After the lecture, they write down as much information as possible.

Many teens draw a line down their page, leaving a blank column on the left. They take notes in the right column. Then later, they go back and write key points in the left column.

Reprinted with permission from the November 2009 issue of Parents Still make the difference!® (High School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2009 The Parent Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc. Source: Gail Wood, How to Study, ISBN: 157-68530-8-X (Learning Express, www.LearnATest.com).