In my last blog, I discussed what teachers wished parents knew regarding homework.  In this blog, I thought it was worthwhile to restate the best study tips WSJ compiled from a growing body of researchers.

• Review the toughest material right before going to bed. Researchers and educators as well, have noted that sleep plays an important role in test performance. By reviewing the toughest material right before going to sleep this consolidates the information in your memory.  This approach makes it easier to recall the material later.  A common study habit the all nighter- is a bad idea.  According to the latest research, 60% of college students stay up all night at some point in school.  With this type of practice studies have proven that it lowers grades, impairs reasoning and memory for as long as four days.
• Turn off the music, text messages, TV and email. Distractions make you less likely to remember material you are studying.  According to research conducted, many students feel that music or sounds make them feel more relaxed.  However, this is not the case.  It has been proven, information received amid distractions is less likely to be recalled later.
• Test yourself repeatedly.  Students remember more when they force themselves to retrieve concepts (not facts) repeatedly than when they simply re-read the textbook or their notes. By taking practice or pretests this helps students to not only learn to master the material, but helps with test-taking skills, pacing, staying focused and remaining confident.
• Eat oatmeal for breakfast. Everyone knows you should eat breakfast the day of a big test. However, a balanced, high-carb, high-fiber, slow-digesting diet provides a sustained flow of glucose to the brain. Oatmeal is a good example that is recommended to eat for breakfast. According to a clinical researcher at the University of Oxford, it has been proven that a well-balanced diet that included fruits and vegetables will sustain the student even as much as a week in advance. Reason is, the brain requires a constant supply of energy and has a limited backup battery. 

Now you have the latest research on how you can help your child study.  Just remember  like with all successful actions, they require preparation, practice, and perseverance!

What is the difference between a good assignment and a bad one?                      The difference is, if homework does not connect to a meaningful application, (Why do I need to learn this?)  it becomes useless.

How can parents tell if children have done all their homework?                        Parents need to establish a homework routine as early as possible.  A time and place is established whereby the child automatically assumes the responsibility for completing it. Prior to arriving home, every child needs to have recorded in his planner, both the daily & long-term assignments. Parents should know the expectations of the teacher in charge and check the child’s agenda each day for work being completed. When children notice that parents are involved in their learning, they will also want to be engaged in the process.

What is too much parental meddling?  When parents continually correct the child’s work for them.  Instead, allow the child to experience working independently first without any interruption.  Be there, if the child requests assistance, so that you are guiding them as opposed to supervising them.  Children need to learn to feel confident.  You can always offer suggestions and corrections as needed once the initial attempt has been made by the child.  Children need to develop an intrinsic responsibility and motivation towards all homework.  This will come, once the child experiences  success and growth will occur at all levels of his development.  The goal after all, is for the child to become an independent and life-long learner.

How closely does doing the assignment correspond to learning? If the homework is challenging for the child then learning is taking place.  If the child already has proven he understands and can successfully apply the concept to be learned, it is just repetition, and will be boring to the child. This is when parents must step in, and supplement the learning through additional resources, educational trips, and experiences.

Can a child do homework and still not be learning? Yes, if the child cannot see the practical application for doing it, or understand the process involved, learning will not take place. Parents need to look for evidence of this occurring.  Test the child by asking him to teach the skill or concept to you, or provide you with an example.

What can parents learn about their child by examining/observing
his homework process? Parents can learn if the child is confident and secure with his abilities.  Parents can also diagnose what type of learner the child might be.  This is equally important in understanding how the child best receives new information.  For ex. is the child a visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learner?  Parents can determine this with the free VAK tests available on the internet.  Parents should also keep in mind that the child learns what is expected of him, as a result of parenting. He will perform as he is taught.  So if the child is not attempting to handle his homework responsibilities, parenting skills are not being enforced correctly.

How much homework should children get? First of all, homework should not be busy work.  Homework should have a definite purpose. I believe it should be given as an opportunity to expand their knowledge and provide opportunities for creative application to real life situations.  When homework is meaningful, stimulating, and engaging, children will not have any problems completing it!

(Side note, I worked in Hawaii, at “Hanahauoli School”, which means happy working place. It was there, I learned as a teacher the benefits of engaging children in learning by doing. Children must be actively involved in the learning process for it to be both meaningful and beneficial.  By actively participating in the learning process, children can test their new-found knowledge and become fully engaged in learning through practical application and the transfer of knowledge.)

Why do some teachers never return homework?  All homework needs a response.  This can be done through sharing, discussions, or written comments to the student. The teacher who gives the homework must be ready to justify the assignment.

How do you deal with children who are reluctant to do homework?
Have the parent sign up for parenting classes, learn new parenting skills, or contact Champion Parenting, Inc. for additional resources and support.

I have no problem with sharing information across our borders, but American educators and parenting experts have always recommended a particular parenting style.  It is funny how this particular style of parenting is the one used by French parents. I can therefore, agree with the article’s title, and recommend all parents to try it.

What style is it, you ask?  First of all there are three styles of parenting; Authoritarian, Permissive and Authoritative, with consequences associated with each style.  Knowing about these distinct styles of parenting will definitely have a long-term effect on any child’s intellectual, social, and emotional development. The one recommended and also referred to in this article, is the Authoritative style of parenting.

Authoritative parents:

*Are confident and secure (teaching and practicing respect)

*Set reasonable, challenging goals

*Set limits (you are in charge)

*Enforce rules (not feeling bad saying NO)

*Are responsive (working together as a team)

*Teach manners (manners matter)

Educators have always recommended the Authoritative style of parenting as it yields children with:

•  Security
•  Confidence
•  Social maturity
•  High Achievement

“When children clearly understand who they are, and what is expected of them, they will perform accordingly.”-Champion Parenting, Inc.

Need additional resources?   “Champion Parenting: Giving Your Child a Competitive Edge”, now as E-book, provides answers to your most challenging questions, K-12.

A young lady confidently walked around the room while leading and explaining stress management to an audience; with a raised glass of water, and everyone knew she was going to ask the ultimate question, ‘half empty or half full?’….. she fooled them all… “How heavy is this glass of water?” she inquired with a smile.  Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.

She replied, “The absolute weight doesn’t matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that’s not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I’ll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you’ll have to call an ambulance. In each case it’s the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.”

She continued, “and that’s the way it is with stress. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won’t be able to carry on. As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we’re refreshed, we can carry on with the burden – holding stress longer and better each time practiced.”

So, as early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don’t carry them through the evening and into the night… pick them up tomorrow.

Whatever burdens you’re carrying now, let them down for a moment. Relax; pick them up later after you’ve rested. Life is short. Enjoy it and the now ‘supposed’ stress that you’ve conquered!

* Accept the fact that some days you’re the pigeon, and some days you’re the statue!

* Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.

* Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.

* Drive carefully… It’s not only cars that can be recalled by their Maker.

* If you can’t be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.

* If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.

* It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.

* Never buy a car you can’t push.

* Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won’t
have a leg to stand on.

* Nobody cares if you can’t dance well. Just get up and dance.

* Since it’s the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.

* The second mouse gets the cheese.

* When everything’s coming your way, you’re in the wrong lane.

* Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.

* You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.

* Some mistakes are too much fun to make only once.

* We could learn a lot from crayons. Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box.

* A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

*Have an awesome day and know that someone thought about you today.

* It was me, your friend!

Parents generally assume that children will learn many of these concepts in school. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.  So how can parents begin to teach these major concepts at home?

There are a number of interactive websites that have been developed that target different ages, skill levels, as well as address many topics concerning money. These sites help provide parents with the tools to help children understand basic financial concepts.

Here are a few sites I have found recently in the WSJ, that not only provide a quick start to financial learning for children of all ages but are fun to play.  Let me know what you think!

http://www.practicalmoneyskills.com/games

http://piggybank.disney.go.com

http://www.themint.org

https://www.hellowallet.com

http://www.kidworth.com

Even though Moses did not ask for help, his father-in-law, Jethro, offered his son-in-law advice.  His advice was for Moses to delegate some of his responsibilities to able men so as to not wear himself out.  He accepted this counsel and was helped.

Does this sound familiar?  We also lead very busy and demanding lives. It is often hard, especially for adults, to recognize when we let ourselves become over-extended.  It seems like there is not enough time in the day to attend to everyone and everything.

Today, you can still benefit from this sound advice by:

• Surrounding yourself with godly counselors who will offer their experience and wisdom even when we are too busy to ask for it.
• Not allowing yourself to be overwhelmed.
• Following  through on what you are told.
• Maintaining an eagerness to listen and a willingness to accept help.

Champion Parenting, Inc. is a nonprofit,                                                                                      501(c) 3, organization that provides                                                                         Executive/Leadership training, mentoring,                                                                                  and coaching to students ages 13-20.

Visit, www.championparenting.com for more program details.

Start with successes already achieved. List those goals, big or small, you were successful with in 2011. This provides the “winning attitude” that leads to permanent change.

I agree with Stephen Covey when he states, “Begin with the end in mind” when setting goals. Using the law of expectation, visualize or create a successful image of you already succeeding. That is, picture what will it look like? How will it feel when you finally reach your goal?

Implement a daily plan of action that requires setting short-term goals. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Remember 80% of your best results come from 20% of what you do.  Use a step by step approach that breaks the challenge into specific, measurable, attainable, and achievable results with a set target date.  This will support you staying on track and focused on your goal.

During the next 21 days write down one or two most important actions you know you can accomplish.  Then commit to getting them done, and schedule exactly when you will reach your goal.  Do not let too much choice lead to inaction.

Being successful depends upon continuing to take small, defined steps that “will be successful” as you move towards bigger goals! This makes it easier to experience both progress and determination as you keep the momentum going towards your future goals. Recognize when fear or comfort is holding you back, and move past it.  And finally, be sure to establish a reward system for each goal that is met.

Need additional coaching or encouragement?  That is what I do.  Contact me at ali@championparenting.com.

Happy New Year!

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So how do families stay involved and engaged? Again, it starts with you!  The importance of family involvement cannot be overstated.  It is the glue that holds families together.

Here are a few suggestions I have personally used for family
involvement that “engages children” with activities requiring writing, math,
art, and computer skills: (Please feel free to share or add to this list!)

1. Create and send Thanksgiving dinner invitations or cards.
2. Make creative place settings for the dinner table.
3. Help select or make menu items.
4. Use math to determine the size & prices of  turkeys.
5. Itemize the total cost for items needed for the Thanksgiving dinner.
6. Research stores for best prices and coupons.
7. Research restaurants if planning to eat out.
8. Write or select a reading or poem to present on that day.
9. Present or send thank you notes to the host if invited out for dinner.
10. Start each day with a list of all the things you can be thankful for!

 Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action. ~W.J. Cameron