I recently stumbled upon a great parenting resource the other day while I was rereading Dr. Kevin Leman's book Have a New Kid by Friday. (Don't tell the students, but I often have to read books two or three times to process and comprehend all of their information!). If you are not familiar with Dr. Leman, he is a well-known psychologist, award-winning author, radio and television personality, and speaker. He is a Christian who is raising five children with his wife of over 30 years and understands issues facing parents today. His books focus on improving family relationships - husband and wife, parents and children, blended families, siblings, etc... He combines practical wisdom with humor and is one of my favorite parenting experts.
In his book Have a New Kid by Friday, Dr. Leman focuses on children's attitudes and their reasoning behind behavior. But...it's the index that is my favorite part of the book! In the index, Dr. Leman addresses parenting questions that he is asked most often. He provides helpful answers to issues such as allowance, curfews, discipline, picky-eating, sulking, and more. The index is organized by topic and is a treasure trove of parenting information. In it, he references a website www.iquestions.com - a website dedicated to providing answers to questions and values-based advice from experts in their respective fields.
After browsing the site, I am now sending every parent I know to it! Click on the link and check it out. I particularly recommend the parenting link at the top of the page. It is full of real parenting questions and video answers from parenting experts like Dr. Kevin Leman, Dennis Rainey (the founder of FamilyLife ministries), Bob Lepine (the co-host of the radio broadcast FamilyLife Today), and Elisa Morgan (the CEO of MOPS - Mom's of Preschoolers - International). And...the best news is that you can ask your own parenting question to one of these experts and get their professional opinion for FREE! Next time you need some encouragement or parenting help, take a look at this great resource www.iquestions.com. It is quick, easy, and full of information (and if you have a little extra time, read Dr. Kevin Leman's book Have a New Kid by Friday or you can just borrow my copy!).
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
3 Traits of a Successful Student
The school year is in full swing and if you're a parent like me your goal is for your child to have a successful year. But what exactly makes a student successful? Is it grades, interpersonal relationships, an understanding of the material, or all of the above? I came across some information recently that focused on the subject of successful students and thought I'd share some of the highlights.
A student's success is not always defined by grades, standardized test scores, and awards, but the traits that make the student successful. Those are assets that will carry a student into the future - further than any report card or trophy. So what exactly are those traits? One, is a love of reading. Exposing a child to to reading at an early age is a must! Even is it's just a parent reading to a child. And believe it or not, even the big kids love being read to as well. When I go into the upper level elementary classrooms and read a book, the students are just as interested as when I am in the primary grades.
Another important trait is a student's interpersonal skills. If a child can share, show empathy towards others, and cooperate with a group then it will guide him or her to a greater understanding of others and help him or her over hurdles that others will face in the future. Parents and teachers can emulate good interpersonal skills through modeling and "coaching".
Last but not least, self-regulation is one of the most important traits of the successful student. Self-regulation refers to the ability to control one's behavior and choices. Obviously, this is part of parent-training. Children are not born with the ability to self-regulate - they depend on their parents. But with the help of teachers and parents, students can be "coached" to become more responsible for their choices and their school work. Adults can model self-regulation by watching their own reactions or responses to stressful situations. Plainly put, if an adult reacts in a negatively or anxiously to stress or school work, a child will most likely react the same way.
A student's success is not always defined by grades, standardized test scores, and awards, but the traits that make the student successful. Those are assets that will carry a student into the future - further than any report card or trophy. So what exactly are those traits? One, is a love of reading. Exposing a child to to reading at an early age is a must! Even is it's just a parent reading to a child. And believe it or not, even the big kids love being read to as well. When I go into the upper level elementary classrooms and read a book, the students are just as interested as when I am in the primary grades.
Another important trait is a student's interpersonal skills. If a child can share, show empathy towards others, and cooperate with a group then it will guide him or her to a greater understanding of others and help him or her over hurdles that others will face in the future. Parents and teachers can emulate good interpersonal skills through modeling and "coaching".
Last but not least, self-regulation is one of the most important traits of the successful student. Self-regulation refers to the ability to control one's behavior and choices. Obviously, this is part of parent-training. Children are not born with the ability to self-regulate - they depend on their parents. But with the help of teachers and parents, students can be "coached" to become more responsible for their choices and their school work. Adults can model self-regulation by watching their own reactions or responses to stressful situations. Plainly put, if an adult reacts in a negatively or anxiously to stress or school work, a child will most likely react the same way.
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