Five Ways You Can Help Your Child Succeed in School

It's unfortunate that school holds such a revered place in society. I don't say that because I feel education is unnecessary. On the contrary, I'm a teacher (15 years) and I believe in the power of education to transform lives and benefit society.

I'm referring to the fact that parents and kids look at school performance as the ultimate gauge of self worth. Get good grades, get into a good college, get a better job and have a better life.

What a chain of events!

And you see? It all starts with good grades. I won't write the chain of events when your child gets poor grades. It's enough to stop trying.

So, with this approach in mind, I'd like to add a little bit of calm and practical advice for parents to use with their kids so that school can become just another piece of the puzzle.

Tip #1 - Decide how YOU feel about the role of education in their lives. Ask yourself, "Do I believe in the chain of events?", "Do I believe poor grades determine success or failure?", "Do I believe a healthy, well-rounded, happy child can be successful?"

These questions are important because if you say them but don't believe them, your child will feel it. You'll let out your true feelings without even knowing it. So, decide now what your philosophy of education is and communicate it to your child.

Tip #2 - Find what subjects interest your child. This way you can begin to build on their strengths. It's important to pay attention to weaknesses as well but I think we get lost in this area. There's way too much focus on what's wrong rather than what's right.

Tip #3 - Talk about how someone succeeds in anything. If you're being honest with yourself, you'll know that hard work and interest are the only things needed to succeed. In your child's life, they need to learn that good things come to those who follow what they like to do. Then, they won't mind working hard.

Tip# 4 - Be positive. Be aware of the words you use when as you go through the day. Are you optimistic or pessimistic? What do you do when things get tough? How do you react? Your child will see all these things and learn from you. When you show you can be calm and look for solutions, your child will do the same.

Tip #5 - Love your child for what they are. You may be an avid reader while your child doesn't like to read. You may be an athlete while your child likes to draw. What are you going to do? If you want a healthy, well-adjusted child, you'll let it be and thank the heavens you have a wonderful child who brings joy to your life. Nothing else is needed.

Love makes the world go round. Love helps everything your child does.

As you can see, you have a lot to keep in mind if you want your child to succeed in school. Is it worth it? Absolutely. Are there more things to know? Absolutely. Will your child's educational experience be more satisfying and rewarding? Absolutely.

Do it for them...do it for yourself.

Jim Sarris is the author of Memory Skills Made Easy, a resource that helps students of any age remember more of what they study. For a free report on why your child has trouble remembering information, visit http://www.MemorySkillsMadeEasy.com.

4 Ways to Better Grades in School

Have you had one of those "Ah! I get it now!" moments recently? You know, the ones when you hear some piece of advice you've heard many times before, only this time it makes sense?

I find that many parents and kids have an "Ah! I get it now!" moment when they finally understand how other students get better grades.

It's not natural intelligence, better teachers in elementary school or a better seat in class.
Higher grades come from following simple steps each time your child enters a class, does homework and later studies for tests.

These simple steps help students get better grades, attend better schools and land better jobs when it's over. That's how powerful they are.

And once they become a habit, they will last a lifetime.

Yet, parents and kids need to be reminded from time to time so that the , "Ah! I get it!" moment comes sooner rather than later.

With competition for top schools and good jobs increasing each year, it's critical that parents and kids start making the change right now.

Here are four changes that can make a difference immediately.

Tip #1 - Learn how to organize your materials. - Sounds simple, but all great ideas are. Notebooks for each subject, clear notes that are easy to understand later and an assignment book.

Prepare like you want to be the best and you'll see an immediate improvement. The students that get the best grades are those that have what they need to study at hand. Once they finish with one subject, it's on to the next. No wasted time.

Tip #2 - Learn how to do homework - Too many kids come home and attack homework with the idea of finishing...not learning. This is a mistake. Homework should be a time to clarify what you are learning; investigate how it ties into what you've learned so far; discover what you know and don't know.

This way, you're organizing the material in your mind. You're taking the first step to absorbing what you'll need later for the test. And when that time comes, you'll be better prepared.

Tip #3 - Learn to study - There are ways to study that every student should understand. Start with the most important material, classify and organize, summarize, learn to pick out important points.

And most importantly, think about the material as you go over it. Make connections with other topics you've covered. You'll begin to understand with less effort.

Tip #4 - Learn how to memorize efficiently. - In reality, if you follow the first three tips, the memorizing part is basically done. You see, true memorizing strategies don't occur the night before a test. They are part of the process of learning which, if done correctly, allow you to understand, retain and recall the information without a lot of hard work.

You'll need memorizing techniques at times but solid preparation is always the first step to understanding.

By combining all four of these suggestions, your child will start to see better grades almost overnight. And the moment will come when you both sit back with smiles on your faces and say, "Ah! I get it!."

Jim Sarris is the author of Memorizing Made Easy, a resource that helps kids learn to organize, study and process information so that memorizing occurs naturally. For more information and a free chapter, visit http://www.memorizing-made-easy.com.

You're Killing Your Child's Chances For Success In School

I know for a fact that students in my classes don't have to improve their memory. They tell me the details of their video games or their favorite sports teams without even stopping to think.

Yet, they can't seem to remember information for tests and quizzes. A coincidence? Do they have to improve their memory? I don't think so.

To get to the root of the problem, it's necessary to see what happens when a student struggles. Normally, the parents are called and a parent teacher conference is scheduled.

In those conferences, parents say that a lot of interesting things. In terms of memory ability, it seems parents struggled (and continue to struggle) with memory issues. They point out that they themselves had the same trouble their child is having so they're not surprised at the results. Disappointed, concerned, but not surprised.

When I hear that, I immediately think of the conversation that has probably gone on at home since elementary school.

Child: "Mom, Dad, I didn't do so well on this test. I keep forgetting stuff."

Mom: "I had a terrible memory, also. I guess it's in the family. Your father could never remember, either."

So what does your child begin to think after a while? It's probably something like this: "Why try to study? It's a done deal. It's in the genes."

The trap is set and your child falls into it. An occassional test comes back with a good grade but the overall picture is bleak. You see, the good grade was lucky. The bad grades are the norm. And your child never realizes that it's possible to learn memory skills.

But wait! Your child doesn't have to worry about improving their memory. They remember sports, movies, TV shows and video games. What's the deal?

I know what you're going to say. "He's interested in those things. Of course, he can remember!"

Well, that's a great first step. His memory is working fine. It's just school work that he doesn't remember.

Let's look at four things you can do today to turn that around.

Here they are:

1 - Start from the premise that your child's ability to remember information is fine. Once you do that, you can change the way you talk about poor grades and memorizing. As we've just seen, it's more a question of interest than it is ability.

2 - Learn about memory strategies. Your job is to help your child find ways to make learning. storing and retrieving information more interesting. You can discover dozens of ways to look at information, put it into a form that's easily filed and then easily recalled. And the style you choose can fit your child's preferred learning style.

3 - Encourage your child. Tell them they can do well. Help them to understand the process of learning. Everyone does it the same way: You find ways to look at material that work for you, not your friend or your neighbor. Maybe you learn with pictures, maybe you like to listen or maybe you like to get up and move. Success depends on finding your style and using it.

4 - Don't expect miracles overnight. Like all new habits, there is a period of adjustment where you won't see much change. Don't stop! You can help your child learn more easily if you just take it slow and easy. Think of it like watering a plant. You give enough water each day and then you let it be. Over time, the plant grows. You can't explain why but it does. Your child will develop better habits the same way.

So, there you go. Change your habits and you can change your child's path to success. Memory skills are just one area you need to look at. Just remember. It begins with you.

Jim Sarris is the author of Memory Skills Made Easy, a resource that helps students of any age remember more of what they study. For a free report on why your child has trouble remembering information, visit http://www.MemorySkillsMadeEasy.com.