| With the school year in full swing, now is a great time | | | | And when you do go shopping, hand the list off to |
| to re-assess your child's progress and ensure that he | | | | your child and let him shop for himself. This will allow |
| or she is on track to a successful academic year. | | | | him to be more invested in his success - after all he |
| Academic success like, athletic success, breeds self | | | | can't say he hates the folder if he picked it out. Be |
| confidence and builds self esteem and is at critical - if | | | | sure to check the cart contents before checking out |
| not more so, for your child's future. And while not | | | | to see what has "sneaked in." |
| every child is destined for academic genius status, or | | | | 3. Create Study Central |
| even straight A's, there are a number of steps you | | | | All kids need a place to call their own for studying. But |
| can take to help smooth the waters and make school | | | | not all kids need the traditional desk in room - in fact |
| more enjoyable. With a few organization and success | | | | you may prefer to have them do homework and |
| techniques, there is no reason to why any student | | | | study in a central location so you can monitor them - |
| can't become more successful and enjoy respectable | | | | and keep up with the subject yourself. But any study |
| (if not stellar) academic progress. | | | | area should have good lighting, electrical outlets, a hard |
| 1. Envision Goals and Success | | | | flat surface to spread out books and papers, an |
| It's often said that the palest ink is stronger than the | | | | absence of distractions and a place to house supplies. |
| best memory. Setting goals for the academic years, | | | | Some kids will love the stationary desk and you can |
| writing them down and referring to them can really | | | | stock up on supplies. Other kids will move around, and |
| help your child get in the right mindset for success. | | | | to minimize the time spent searching for a pen, paper, |
| Start by asking her to envision what a successful | | | | etc, consider creating a mobile supply unit - a file box |
| school year look like. Ask her to think about which | | | | with separate folders for each item. |
| subjects she does well, which one she doesn't. What | | | | Invest in a filing milk crate and set up a hanging folder |
| does she like/dislike about school? Then follow up with | | | | for each teacher/class. Use it to file papers - consider |
| some more specific goals - Would she get straight A's | | | | one file for "done" work and one for work in progress. |
| in every subject? Does she wish to stop dreading | | | | Work with you child to ensure that papers filed in |
| math tests? | | | | school folders or scrunched in the bottom of a |
| Once all that is done, encourage her to put her | | | | backpack move into the filing system - set a |
| thoughts in a letter, a goal list, a story or a collage. | | | | two-week schedule for this and you'll find that the task |
| Have her hang her "Success Map" someplace where | | | | is manageable. |
| she can see it daily, like her study area, or on the | | | | If you use a binder - one for all classes or one for |
| family message board. | | | | each class, set up a system and schedule to move |
| At the end of each quarter, review the map with her | | | | papers into the binder and out into the file box so that |
| and see how she's doing. Look for areas to praise, | | | | the binder doesn't become mammoth and unwieldy. |
| and areas to improve on. If she's been successful in all | | | | 4. Locker Organization |
| areas, find ways to keep her going, or look for more | | | | If your child is in middle-school, he or she might have a |
| goals. | | | | locker for the first time. The locker is an important |
| 2. Shop Wisely for Supplies | | | | storage space for kids and a great way to teach |
| Having the right supplies can make all the difference. | | | | them organization skills. In most cases, the locker |
| But school supplies can really add up. So try this | | | | should be their space and off-limits to you. You can |
| method to help control costs and avoid meltdowns at | | | | provide them with a locker shelf to help them stack |
| the store. Take a piece of paper and label one side | | | | books and binders, magnets, sticky note pads, and a |
| "Supplies for School" and the other side, "Supplies for | | | | magnetic pen box. A dry-erase board might also be |
| Home". Most teachers or schools provide a list of | | | | helpful to jot down notes. |
| supplies, so you can use that, but keep in mind that | | | | Since lockers can easily become a dumping ground, |
| separate notebooks and folders for each subject help | | | | consider giving your child this list of Do's and Don'ts |
| with organization. One central planner or homework | | | | - Do Replace materials to their original location |
| pad where all assignments get listed is a help. For | | | | - Don't just throw things in |
| writing or paper intensive classes, consider a binder, | | | | - Use magnets to hold up important papers |
| ideally one that zips up. | | | | - Don't just drop papers into your locker |
| For supplies at home, consider extra paper, notebooks, | | | | - Don't expect anyone else to organize your locker for |
| pads, pens, computer paper, and things like scissors | | | | you |
| and staples. Store these things in your child's study | | | | As your child enters middle-school it's important that |
| area and take stock of supplies every month - or | | | | she starts to take personal responsibility for her |
| have your child do it and make it his responsibility to | | | | success - but as a parent you need to provide the |
| add to the shopping list. | | | | structure to make this possible. |