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New school year, new challenges
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It is that time again, the start of a brand new school year.
A new school year brings with it many things for both the parent and the child. New friends, new opportunities, new teachers, new challenges.
There always seems to be much talk about raising successful children. There are some simple secrets to raising successful kids. And these same kids will not only be successful in school, but also in life for school is only the warm-up for the real world.
• Parental involvement.
Studies show that kids with hands-on parents are more likely to do well in school. “Involved parent” does not mean you need to spend several hours a week volunteering at school, but it does mean that involved parents check in with their child’s teachers on a regular basis. In this age of e-mail, the task of contacting a teacher with questions can be a pretty simple possibility.
Some people voice displeasure at the impersonal qualities of e-mail, so what if the parent wants to have personal voice contact? Each teacher in USD 289 has a phone in the classroom with a personal voice mailbox and extension number.
It really has never been easier to contact your child’s teachers.
• Empathy.
A successful child understands how other people feel, a quality that enables your child to work well in a group. Research supports that the No. 1 quality that companies look for when hiring is the candidate’s ability to work in a group and get along with people.
A child can have straight As and be a stellar student throughout the education years, but straight As do not guarantee a job after high school or college.
• A love of achievement.
Successful children are adept in many areas: academics, sports, extracurricular activities. Successful kids look forward to challenges because they provide opportunities to shine. You can help your child taste success in one activity, so they strive for it in others.
Almost 80 percent of the students in our district who attain honor roll status on a regular basis are also the same students who are involved in one or more co-curricular activities.
• An eagerness to learn.
“The No. 1 shared characteristic of high school kids who get good grades is a love of learning,” William Sears, M.D., doctor and author, said.
Your job as a parent is to help foster this eagerness and enthusiasm.
“YOUR attitude is key,” Sears said. “Parents of high achievers teach their kids to view learning as a privilege, not a problem.”
• A sense of humor.
Seeing humor in something is a sign of intelligence. A sense of humor releases stress from the pressures of school. And you can teach your child about humor by your own actions. If you’re stressed out by something uncontrollable (long check-out lines or traffic), make a joke out of it.
This quality is one that can be nurtured from a young age and will reap many benefits.
How many times a day do you laugh? There is a direct correlation between laughter, happiness, optimism, and success.
Now, can I guarantee your child will be successful if these five guidelines are followed? Of course not. But I would say your child’s chances of being a success will be greatly increased if these five guidelines are followed.
Here’s to a successful 2008-09 school year for all of us.
Denise O’Dea is superintendent of Wellsville schools.
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