Modeling, Management and Memories

Modeling:

Abraham Lincoln said, “There is but one way to train a child in the way he should go, and that is to travel it yourself.”  As your child is learning to read, it is important that they see the adults in their life enjoying a good book.  If you want to hear your child using polite language, then they should see the adults in their life saying please and thank you.  In fact, the latest research is interesting in regards to gratitude.  When people give and hear positive thankfulness; it actually has shown to improve health and well-being. 

Management:

This refers to the ability to adapt to your child’s style of training.  The temperament of a child determines their style of learning.  If your child is full of fun, then learning in the form of a game may work best.  If you child is more serious, than reading to them or having them work out problems on their own may be best.  If your child has a short attention span, then making short bursts of learning will help them retain the information.  Each child is unique in their own way so learning needs to be a good fit for academic growth.

Memories:

Parents should create positive memories with their children.  Memories are more important than things.  There is a quote that says, “Your presence is your present”.  The memories made when children are young will come back to embrace them when they are older.  Family outings, learning together, eating around a table with family conversations, and even cleaning around the house will help to create those family bonds that will last into adulthood.

Learning The Hard Way

Debra J. Kennedy, Superintendent QPA                                     

When most of us hear the word discipline, we think of being punished, but guess what; the word discipline has its roots in a word that means "to learn". And it's true that some of us learn only when we have to pay a consequence for a bad choice. That is called "learning the hard way".

The attitude of the parent is also crucial to student behavior and achievement.  If a parent has a positive attitude toward the school, and towards learning in general, the child will tend to have the same positive outlook.  If any parent has concerns about the school or a specific staff member, it is recommended that the parent be very careful how those concerns are voiced in the child's presence.  If a child picks up a negative attitude and adopts that attitude as his or her own, it can have consequences for all those involved.  Negative attitudes or apathetic attitudes are at the root of a large portion of discipline problems at home and school.

Research also tells of the importance of parents giving education a high priority.  It is easy for children to become involved in too many outside activities that detract from the educational mission of the school.  Even positive experiences such as those provided by sports, scouting, or music lessons can sometimes harm academics if the child's time is spread too thin.  It is up to the parent to be consistent and firm when establishing education as a priority, and to guard against a child having so many irons in the fire that it harms academic performance.

I want to challenge your family to talk to your children about choices.  We can help our children be self-disciplined by talking about good and bad choices in life.  Children can learn by simply listening to the good advice of those who care about them and want them to be their best.  

Together we can build a better tomorrow by helping your children be balanced citizens that others want to have around.