Top 10 Ways to Help Your Child Get A's N ow that the second semester is underway, many parents are wondering what they can do to help their children achieve maximum success in school. Here are ten ways you can help your children develop the good habits that lead to success: 1. Create an environment in your home that encourages learning. Provide them with many different opportunities to become excited about learning. Make sure that a variety of appropriate materials are available to stimulate their curiosity. 2. Provide your children with a well-balanced life. A stable home, filled with love, serves as a solid foundation for getting straight A’s. Establish routines so your children get enough sleep, eat regular nourishing meals, and receive sufficient exercise. Limit TV-viewing and the use of electronic games. 3. Read to your children every day. Most of the learning your children do in school involves reading. Read to your kids to teach them about reading, to expand and enrich their vocabularies, and to broaden their experiences. Reading aloud exposes them to materials that would be difficult for them to read on their own. 4. Encourage them to read extensively. As your children progress through school, as much as 75 percent of what they learn will come from the printed page. The more children read, the better their reading skills become. Make sure there are a wide variety of interesting reading materials in your home to encourage the reading habit. 5. Show your children how to be organized. Children who are organized find it much easier to succeed in school. One of the best ways to teach organizational skills is through example. Show your children how to use such organizational tools as assignment pads, calendars, notebooks, binders, and backpacks. 6. Teach them effective study skills. Good study skills are absolutely essential to get A's. Make sure your children know how to read their textbooks, prepare for tests, memorize facts, and use their time efficiently. Encourage them to have a regular time for studying, and provide a study place that is free of distractions. 7. Urge your children to listen and participate in class. Listening in class is the easy way for children to learn. Advise your older children to take notes – it will help them concentrate on what is being said. Encourage your children to participate in class – it will greatly increase their interest in what they're learning. 8. Help your children learn how to tackle homework. Doing homework reinforces what your children learn in school. Show them how to do it so that homework quickly becomes their responsibility. Help them learn what assignments to do first and how to plan their time. Encourage them not to rush through their homework, but to consider every assignment a learning experience. 9. Talk to your children about school. A lot can happen in a school day. Show that you are genuinely interested in their day by asking questions about what they did and discussing with them about the papers they bring home. When problems occur, work with your kids to find solutions. 10. Develop a good relationship with your children's teachers. Good communication between home and school helps children do well in school and makes it easier to address problems. Be sure to attend parent-teacher conferences, visit your kids’ classrooms, and volunteer to help their teachers. And don't forget to express your appreciation to teachers for all they do for your children. If you find that your child is still not reaching his or her potential in school, then it is time for additional help. For more information, call The Tutoring Center at 216.292.4357 for a free diagnostic assessment and test consultation. Beachwood Students Show Their Buckeye Pride! O n January 12, the day the Buckeyes won the National Championship, the halls of the Beachwood schools were a sea of red, black and gray as students showed their team spirit! Teacher Colleen Schachtel with first graders Cameron Feuerman, Matthew Leizman, Ethan Malek and Adeline Wohl. Fourth graders Luke Bennett and Aiden Diaz. Teacher Kate Testen with preschoolers Arya Arora, Ashley Cedano, Zak Workman, and teacher Veronica Downey. Third grader Jack Felder proudly wears his CHAMPS t-shirt following the Buckeye’s victory! February 2015 n Beachwood Buzz 33