When Your Child Doesn’t Want to Go to School

Parents know that children go through many phases in their lifetimes. Some children go through a picky phase where they eat very little for awhile. Some children go through a phase where they must dress themselves every day in the clothes of their choosing. The possibilities are endless. Sometimes though, the phases are a less benign. When your child does not want to go to school, no ampount of bartering or persuading can get them there in a peaceful manner. This is especially true with young children.

While most teachers would not agree, parents who know that this is a rare occurance in their child may want to let the child stay home for a day or two. This is not a major issue in preschool or kindergarden as school is still not considered compulsary at that age in most states. Older students may have trouble without proper school clearance. If you choose to give in for a day, you must make it clear that you feel they need an emotion health day, so they do not believe they can skip school at will in the future.

If your child resists school, start by trying to find out why. Any number of reasons could be the cause. Bullies, problems in a certain subject, boredom, or a fight with a friend are some examples of what could be the problem. If this is the case, work together to come up with a solution so that your child wants to go back.

Sometimes however, the phase is just a test of wills for the child who has no good reason except to see what they can get away with. If a parent is sure that this is the case, then there are some things that can be done. First, explaining to a young child that school is not a choice and that they will be going even if you have to carry them into the school into their pajamas usually does the trick. Older children will usually decide to go back to school after a quick chat with a truancy officer.

Filed Under: Education, Elementary Tagged With: ,

Property Management and the School System

If you have a child that’s school aged – or that’s about to be school aged – make sure that you find that child a good school district to attend. It’s very important that the city you’re in take care to create a good, working school system that does what it should in educating children. A lot of cities, unfortunately, didn’t plan very well and now the people who live there are being forced to deal with that.

The property management that should have taken place really didn’t, so urban sprawl and schools that are largely segregated and sometimes poorly laid out are becoming the norm in a lot of cities. With good property management, schools are laid out in the right areas of town to be accessible to all students, and there are plenty of activities for students and others to get involved in.

The more people head out to the suburbs, the more complicated finding a good school becomes. The districts are much larger and more spread out, and the schools might be far different in what they have to offer, even though they should all offer basically the same experience. Long Beach property management companies have worked to make sure that the kids in the schools there get what they need in order to be safe and learn lessons they’ll need for life. That’s the way that schools should do things, even if all of them don’t.

How well a school does is often related to the geographic location that it is in, and that’s why it’s so very important to manage the property well. That way, more people are close to the school and can send their children there. The school gets funding from taxes that are paid on the property near it, and that can help the school provide a lot of great things for the students.

Filed Under: Education, High School Tagged With: ,

Sending Transcripts to Prospective Colleges

As students approach their Junior and Senior years in high school, many of them begin considering which college they would like to attend and filling out applications. Most college applications ask that a transcript be sent as well. What can a student with a less-than-average grade point average do to convince a college that they are worth accepting?

First, look for places within the application to mention ways they have improved since they earned the scores that pulled down their grade point average. An essay question or a question about extenuating circumstances might be a good place to explain three “F” grades in one semester due to an extended illness or emotional distress from a home situation.

Most colleges also require an essay. If appropriate, the student should mention how he or she has grown and how they intend to do better in college. This works better if the student’s grades have improved and are still good at the time of the application. Promising to work harder in college because it will be easier than trying to work hard in high school will not get your student what they need.

If there is no other place within the application to do so, writing a separate letter explaining that they have taken full responsibility for the bad grades and have been working to improve upon them may help. A letter of recommendation from a teacher who can back up the student’s story can help as well.

If it does not help, it is not the end of the world. Students end up at their second and third and fifteenth choice for a college every year. If nothing else, try spending a year at your near-by community college. Colleges only look at the most recent school when checking GPAs. A student’s high school GPA will most likely not be factored in to the final decision if he or she works hard. The next step after this is to apply again with a whole new grade point average.

Filed Under: High School, Higher Education Tagged With: ,

The Choice of Living Off Campus or On Campus

For most students college is a time of new-found freedom and intellectual exploration. It’s the first time students have to make decision and rely on their own judgment to help them get the most out of their college experience. One of the first big decisions college students must make, is whether to live in on-campus or off-campus housing.

There are many pros and cons to both and students must be aware of them to make an informed decision. First, on campus housing means you are close to everything and everyone in school. You can walk to most of your classes and you can make use of all the facilities students are entitled use. Some cons to on-campus housing is that usually they are quite small, cramped and you may have to share, not only your living space, but also your room. Some specific items you may wish to have if you choose to live on campus is space saving items. While it might make you laugh to be talking about Martha Stewart organization. The truth is that most dorm rooms are the size of large closets and consolidating space and not wasting it is critical to be able to live comfortably. A small fridge also comes in handy to keep your own food secure.

If you choose off-campus housing you will more than likely have the benefit of having your own room and a nicer living space. The drawbacks are that you could be farther away from school and might have to either drive or take some form of public transportation to school, which adds time to your schedule. Unless it comes furnished, you would need items typical for an apartment such as a mattress, desk and bedding. It would be wise to check into moving quotes if you wish to bring some of your personal possessions to make the transition to college life more smooth.

Filed Under: Higher Education, Students Tagged With: , ,

Reading and Writing are Intertwined

Reading and writing are two of the most important things your child will learn in school. You can not have one without the other. They are intertwined in a way that learning one can help your child improve their work in another.

One of the best ways to help a struggling reader in school is to help that student learn to write. When they are making the connections between what is on the page and what is in their head, it can make a big difference. A creative student, who likes to write down his or her stories, will eventually become more receptive to the stories that others have written down. Showing the student how to read other stories for ideas about their own is a great way to get them interested in reading as well.

If you have a student who is struggling with writing, let them read more. It is a case of giving them the chance to learn by example. The author’s work is actually modeling for the student which way is the best way to write things. The more a struggling student reads, the more confident he or she will become in their ability to write. Explaining to the child that perfection is not expected at their age, but that the more they read and write the better they will get at both may help motivate someone who is struggling and wants to quit.

Some children have significant, undiagnosed reading disorders. Pushing a child who has issues that they can not control does not help anyone. If you suspect that your child has a reading disorder or a learning disorder of some sort, it is best to have them tested so that different teaching methods can be used with them before they begin to get discouraged.

Filed Under: Education, High School Tagged With: ,

Helping Kids Learn Service

Many people think that kids just aren’t interested in philanthropy, but really when it comes down to it, it’s not about whether they’re interested— it’s about whether they have been given the opportunity to provide service. Most kids would love to help their communities, but feel limited in what they can do because they’re “only kids.” The best that you can do to help these kids is to show them how much power they really have.

There are many ways that kids can help in the community. One way is through organizations like the Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts. These organizations not only teach self reliance skills, they also teach how to serve others. Typically for the Eagle Scout award, scouts will organize things in their communities to do things such as provide a place to collect recycling, collect items for those who are in need, or organize a community cleanup of a local park or beach.

With the creation of the Internet, there are even more ways to help in the community. For example, if a group of kids see a need in their community— such as people needing help repairing their homes after a tornado came through the area— they could create an online charity to raise money for those families. There are websites that provide a way to solicit money from people all over the world. In the case of a disaster, the kids, along with the supervision of adults, can buy materials that are needed for the repairs and can then help to repair the homes themselves. Not only will the kids feel good about raising the money, but they’ll learn that service is about doing all you can to help. They’ll feel very confident in their abilities to help others, which will lead to a life built on love and service.

Filed Under: Education, Higher Education Tagged With: ,

Explaining the 504 Plan

According the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, students can not be barred from any school or activity based on their physical limitations. This means that a school can not in any way discriminate against a student for having a disability.

For example, a child with a genetic illness that causes joint pain can not be made to take regular physical education classes. In addition, children with disabilities who have issues walking must be picked up at their house by a school bus at the request of the child’s physician. Another example of this would be a partially blind student who needs to be released from classes five minutes early to help them navigate the hallways without running into other students.

It is wonderful that these laws in are in place. However, how do parents make sure that the exemptions are being made and are going to be made for their child? It is called a 504 plan. A 504 plan does not make any changes to the actual coursework that a child learns. It does make sure that the student is in an environment that is suitable for his or her optimal learning.

Concerned parents should do some research and make sure that your child is eligible for a 504 a plan. If he or she needs changes to be made due to a physical disability, then this may be the case. Next, make sure you communicate your request for a 504 plan to your child’s school in writing while keeping a record of it for yourself. Once the school administration agrees to meet with you, it may take many more steps to see actual changes happen. However, there is a good chance that if simple changes can be made to help your child, the teachers will make the changes. A step-stool in the art room or a special seat cushion at lunch can make all the difference to a child struggling with being different.

Filed Under: Education, Higher Education Tagged With: ,

The Importance of Reading Together

Learning to read is an important part of a child’s education. It is the foundation that a child must have underneath himself in order to learn other subjects. Getting an early start on reading is so beneficial to young children. In fact, the best way to make that happen is also one of the easiest. Start reading with your child early. Babies as young as six weeks old have been shown to become more calm when being held and read a story. At that age, it doesn’t matter what a parent reads as long as they use a happy, soothing voice for the child.

As your child grows, reading brightly colored and interesting books will gain their attention. Your interest in books will add to their interest in books, causing them to want to learn to read sooner. Children as young as two can open a book that they have heard often and tell the story from the pictures. After that they make the connection that the story comes from the words on the page as well. When the children learn their alphabet, they begin picking letters out of the same stories and matching the letters to sounds.

It may seem like a long process, but kids grow up so quickly. If you start young you will be surprised at how quickly they pick up on what you are trying to tell them. Reading is fun! Give them a little push now and in no time at all they will be reading to you.

The benefits do not stop at kindergarten. Studies show that students who were read to on a regular basis as babies are more likely to have a higher grade point average in high school and more likely to go to college after high school graduation. Good readers often do much better in school that those who struggle with reading.

Who would have ever imagined that you could give your child a better education and a chance at a better life just by reading with him or her every day?

Filed Under: Education, Students Tagged With: ,

Building Good Habits is Key to Responsibility

Elementary school is the time when children learn the very foundations of everything they will learn for the rest of their lives. They learn to read, they learn to count, they learn about the country they live in, and how to get along with their friends and neighbors. They also learn about responsibility.

Remembering to bring back books, supplies, and homework on a daily basis is one of hardest lessons that children in elementary school have to learn. The best way to help your child be a successful student is to help them learn to take responsibility for these things on their own.

If a child begins to have trouble finishing their homework or returning their items to school each day, you may need to step in an keep a closer eye on their habits. Building a daily routine is one great way to help your child develop the responsibility he or she needs to become a great student.

While different days of the week may have slightly differing schedules for a family, a student can have a rule that he or she sits down the moment they enter the house after school. “The house” could also be the baby-sitter’s, the daycare center’s, or even Grandma’s. If they complete their homework immediately and put everything back in their backpack before they get up from the table, there will be no lost items the next morning at school.

Another way to help older students form better habits, is to ask their homeroom teacher to help. Some teachers will be willing to email the student a list of assignments every day and send a carbon copy to the student’s parents. Amazingly enough, even the most forgetful student always remembers their email password.

Filed Under: Elementary, Students Tagged With: ,

Getting Involved in Your Children’s Learning

Helping your children learn is very important for their development. Working with your children’s schools and creating a positive attitude can make a big difference in your child’s life. Talking helps children lean a lot. It helps them connect with people and become more social. Not only can they learn from you, but you can also learn from them. Listen to your child and make an effort to understand them and get to know them.

Try to make learning at home fun and exciting. Try reading together or going to public places such as the zoo to learn about different things. Get your child into hobbies such as art, music, or sports. There are so many different ways to learn. Limit the amount of TV your children watch. Keep them active and healthy.

It is helpful if you get involved with your children’s school activities and attend parent teacher conferences. Know what areas your child is having trouble in at school and help them in those areas where they are struggling. When you work with the school, you are teaching your child to work with other people and getting involved with the community.

Make sure your child has a comfortable place at home where he or she can study. Encourage your child to have an opinion and explore their own ideas. Know their personal interests. Their interests may differ from yours, but you always want to encourage them and have a positive attitude towards their thoughts and opinions.

Talk to your children about your own experiences and how the trials in your life have helped you grow. A parent is someone children look up to and the more they understand about you, the more they will respect you. Try not to be too strict, but protect your children in every way possible.

Filed Under: Education, Parents Tagged With: , ,
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