More Action

If you read through the previous post, you will notice it was written by Ken Griffith. I would like to thank Ken for guest blogging and hope that you got to read the article and pass it on to anyone you know who might have young children. I truly believe we can drastically reduce the number of students coming to school behind their peers by this simple process.

Along the same lines, I found an on-line article by educational psychologist Michele Borba that offered parents some more ways to help their kids be successful in school. I'll summarize briefly and if you want to read the whole thing, click here.

1. Make sure your kids are getting enough sleep (about 1/3 are not and missing sleep impairs thinking.)

2. Encourage your child's efforts (not his or her intelligence.)

3. Respect his or her learning style.

4. Pay attention to peers (they do have an effect on study and work habits.)

5. Make family meals a must (studies show this helps grades and good choices.)

6. De-stress the home.

7. Tailor expectations to your child's abilities.

As Borba writes in the article, "none of these tips require you to take out a second mortgage or get a second job. What they do require is your time, attention, and engagement." Practicing even one or two will certainly give your child a head start on school.