Momentum - Business to Business Online Magazine MOMENTUM September 2019 | Page 30
EDUCATION
DALANA SOWELLS
832.895.1233
[email protected]
www.facebook.com/KumonOfLeagueCitySouth • www.kumon.com/league-city-south
Setting Up for SUCCESS IN
THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR
I
n what feels like the blink of an eye, summer is over,
and a new school year has commenced. Making
the transition from summer vacation mode to a
classroom-ready mindset isn’t always easy. Along
with the excitement of new clothes, new classes/
school and even new friends, children and parents alike
can make a sometimes-difficult transition much smoother
by adopting some new or honing some existing habits.
Habits that will set up you and your family for success this
school year.
Here are a few tips that are essential for parents and
students of all ages and grade levels:
Establish a study area at home. Find the perfect place
to designate as the homework station. Stock the space
with school supplies including pencils, sharpeners,
erasers, highlighters, and index cards. Remove all
electronic distractions.
Communicate with the teacher (s) and/or counselor.
It’s important to understand the assignments and the
expectations for class. Students should ask the teacher
questions for clarity when needed. Parents should
request a Parent Conference and know the best way
to stay up-to-date with assignments and events
to help foster a partnership for your child’s
success.
Keep assignments organized. Students should
keep the details of their assignments organized
in a planner or notebook and write down
the dates for tasks, tests, and projects. Some
work requires multiple steps to finish, making
planning essential.
Support homework independence. Once
your children are able to read directions
on their own, encourage them to complete
their homework assignments by themselves
at their own pace. They may continue to
ask for help primarily because they enjoy
the parental attention, not because they
truly need assistance. When your children
do their homework accurately without a reminder,
acknowledge their independence to reinforce the
positive habit.
Develop a growth mindset. Show interest in your
children’s studies by asking questions, which can help
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foster motivation and a positive learning attitude.
Remember to reinforce a positive, growth mindset.
Children who understand that hard-work is more
important than natural intelligence are more likely to
succeed.
Avoid procrastination. Many students wait until the
last minute to do their work, so check-in early and
often regarding assignments to avoid procrastination.
Completing assignments at a speed that the student is
comfortable with, rather than rushing to get it done last
minute, will show when it comes to their grades and
class advancement.
Take notes in class. Listening and note-taking are
important study habits for school and careers. Students
identify the most relevant information they need to
retain and write it down in order to review it later.
Highlight key concepts in materials. Students can use
different color highlighters or sticky flags to highlight
material in specific classes. Creating a color-coding
system is not only great for organization, it is also fun!
Combined with taking it slow, a coding system can
make all the difference in an effective study approach!
Prepare your backpack before going to bed.
Forgetting to bring back completed homework leads
to poor grades. Students should ensure their backpack
is prepared with homework, books, and school
supplies before going to bed.