by Patricia on July 14, 2010
Some children find learning easier than others. However with the help of parents, children who struggle and are different types of learners can accomplish their full learning potential. When parents are taught to understand their child’s learning style and then given the tools to support them, they can become their child’s best advocate.
Leading to Learning was created by Dr. Patricia Porter to provide parents with information and strategies so they can make good, educated choices about ways to help their children learn. In essence, support their children to become all that they can be.
How Can You As a Parent of a Struggling Student Help?
Leading to Learning is a parent directed * kit* that assesses your child’s learning style and pinpoints the source of their learning difficulties. Once you complete the questionnaire and return it to Dr. Porter, she evaluates your answers. She then arms you, with the best-suited strategies to support your child’s learning style. These strategies are directed at your child’s specific learning skill strengths.
Dr Porter’s recommendations are structured in four ways:
* Homework – strategies parents can use
* Schooling – how to work with your child’s school
* Tutoring- how to get the best tutor for your child (if needed)
* Resources- what type of resources work best for your child
When your child learns from their strengths, rather than weaknesses, the improvement in self-esteem skyrockets. The result is a positive outlook for both your child and you the parent.
“Children are capable of becoming happy, eager students once they receive the right type of support”
by Patricia on July 3, 2010
I hate rules, but sometimes they are necessary. Here are ten tips that will help you set useful, manageable rules for your child’s behavior – and keep to them!
1 Discuss the need for rules with your child.
Even young children can accept that rules are necessary if they have them explained to them in language they can understand. Make sure that your child knows that the rule is there for a purpose, a purpose that makes sense to him, not just to you.
2. Start with ONE rule.
Decide on the one rule that you are going to start with, and keep to it. What bugs you most? Start by making a rule around that.
3. Always discuss rule setting with your child.
Ask your child’s opinion on whether the new rule is fair or not. And be prepared to discuss the replies and to adapt the rule as necessary.
The only fixed rule I had in my class was that no child was allowed to stop another child working. If that happened there was never any discussion, the child had to leave the classroom. I made sure that every child knew this rule and that I would enforce it without fear or favour. You will need to set up a few rules – mainly for safety – for which there is no discussion.
4. Discuss the consequences of rule breaking.
What would you expect to happen? What would your child expect to happen? You might find that your child is harder on himself than you would be, this happens when children are involved in rule making and start to understand how rules work. Come to a suitable compromise.
5. Be consistent.
If you do not consistently enforce a rule what is the point of having it? that brings us to…
6. Have as few rules as possible.
Start with one and gradually work up to no more than ten! You can’t keep that many in place consistently, neither can your child.
7. Rules can change – if you all agree.
Be prepared to change rules as situations change. Get rid of out -of -date rules that have lost their purpose and add new ones, but add them carefully and as a substitute for an old rule rather than just an addition to the list.
8. Put them up where everyone can see them.
Write down the rules, with consequences, and put them somewhere everyone can see them. After all, everyone has to abide by them, you too! Better still, get your child to write them up and pin them on the wall.
9. Be prepared to live by the rules.
I let children set rules for me. We discuss them first and I am allowed to complain about rules that would be impossible for me to keep (cell phones in class). These get written up with the other rules and consequences discussed. I am expected to live by them. Lapses are discussed, apologies given, suitable action taken, just as they would be if your child had broken a rule.
This gives you an insight into how hard it can be to keep to some rules.
10. DON’T GIVE UP.
It can take some time for this system to start working, especially if your child is used to you being inconsistent. Using these tips may come as a shock to you both. It will take time. effort and probably tears ( your as well as your child’s). But your child is worth it, your relationship with your child is worth it.
You have a child with special problems such as ADD or ADHD?
Then consistency is even more important. A few rules ( a very few) around safety may not be open for discussion and that is fine. But your child will only learn to trust those rules if he or she knows that they are there for a reason. This will happen when he has had the experience of setting rules and trying to live by them.
Take care, let me know how you get on.
