If you have ever tried to complete a task without the proper skills and tools, then you know firsthand how difficult this can be. Hopefully the resources listed in the Parent/Teacher Centered section of this manual have helped to prepare you, the parent, for your role as teacher.
How about the student? Is there anything your child can do to prepare themselves for their role as student?
Intentionally improving upon research, study, homework, goal setting, and communication skills (including typing), has proven to increase efficiency and raise student percentile points significantly higher than does acquiring the same skills naturally.
Browse through the following notions and consider: How will becoming equipped to operate in a status of being better prepared, well organized, and self-motivated impact your child/student’s achievements?
SUMMARIZING AND NOTE TAKING SKILLS
Summarizing and note taking require similar skills when processing information into a compressed format. These are skills a student can use NOW, as well as in the future, whether for college or the work place. Parents who have determined these are skills worth investing into will provide their student an academic advantage that can result in higher test scores and greater opportunities for scholarships.
Search Barnes & Noble's Web site, or Amazon.com, for a list of available resources that will help your student improve upon these skills. Use the following key words:
- Study skills, study guide, improve study skills, etc.
- Summarizing, summarization, summarization skills, etc.
- Note taking, organizing notes, etc.
Or, type the following book titles into the search bar.
- Note-Taking Made Easy by Judi Kesselman-Turkel
- The Study Skills Handbook by Judith Dodge
- Study Skills That Stick by Margaret Nuzum
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/
http://www.amazon.com/
HOMEWORK (PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE)
Traditionally speaking, homework is where the student finds the opportunity to increase their understanding and sharpen their skills in regards to the content their teacher has recently introduced to them.
In most cases, schools (public or private) have a homework policy in place that reinforces the responsibilities and expectations of the teachers, parents, and students, while the parents and students works out the details of when, where, and how the work will be accomplished, and what resources will be on hand when help is needed.
With home schooling an alternative educational program, the rules of engagement have changed considerably. More and more parents are accepting sole responsibility for the decision making process from the top down. As chief administrators, parents are establishing goals, documenting accomplishments, and communicating with various departments and organizations for additional services.
The following is a list of tips and ideas to be considered for effectively working with homework:
- Assignments: Design homework assignments where the purpose is made clear. Assignments should include an objective, time duration, student role, research criteria, reports criteria, checklist, and a materials list. You may also want to include a section for gathering feedback from the student and for documenting details concerning any assessment and/or final notes from the teacher.
- Location: Establish a consistent location where homework can be accomplished in an organized manner. Ensure all of the essential tools are available; pencils, pens, pencil sharpener, paper, calculator, etc. Discourage any unnecessary wandering around during periods of time designated for homework.
- Schedule: Determine a consistent schedule for completing homework. This is an opportunity for students to learn how to manage their time. Students need to learn the process for accomplishing their work related responsibilities and having down-time to enjoy as well.
- Parent Involvement: Look for ways to motivate and encourage your child to do their work, but don’t do it for them. Homework is where the student finds the opportunity to increase their understanding and sharpen their skills in regards to recent instructions. If they are not able to complete a problem, create a second similar problem, go over it until they gain understanding, and then have them complete the original problem for themselves.
Visit Barnes & Noble's Web site, or Amazon.com, for the following book titles.
- How to Help Your Child With Homework by Marguerite Radencich
- Hassle Free Homework by Faith Clark
- Homework without Tears by Lee Canter
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/
http://www.amazon.com/
FOSTERING STUDENT OBJECTIVES (SETTING GOALS)
Setting goals is a very important concept to the success of your home school program. There is a great deal of content to cover by the end of your student’s high school career and you do not want to find yourself having to cram everything in toward the end, which is what tends to happen when goals haven’t been set.
What better way is there to prepare a child for a life style that includes setting goals than by directly involving them with the goal setting process of mapping out the direction of their very own educational process?
As you work out the details for each course, invite your child into the process by having them create a list of their own objectives. Of course, their objectives will be more like sub-objectives when compared to the parent/teachers goals and the goals of the master plan, but none-the-less, they will be there and the student can take pride in ownership for having participated. A good book on the subject for the student to read:
- Goal Analysis by Robert F. Mager
Presenting your student with a view of the greater picture will help them to understand and strengthen their desire to support the program. Older and more mature students will be able to participate even further because of their ability to function with a greater level of in-depth understanding.
SUPPORTING STUDENT FEEDBACK (COMMUNICATION SKILLS)
There are two courses of action that, if implemented, are powerful tools for opening endless possibilities and opportunities for rising students. We have already mentioned the first, fostering a student’s objectives and offering them a view of the master plan. The second is enabling constructive feedback.
We are not referring to a casual, or more than casual, conversation between parent and child. We’re suggesting an intentional communication structure setup at strategic points of your program in order to collect meaningful feedback. For example, by providing an opportunity for a student to present feedback through their daily assignments, you might learn new information that will help you to better meet their needs.
TYPING 101
Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing: provides keyboarding instruction and assessment that adapts to individual student needs and is recommended for student’s grades 3-12. Students improve their keyboarding speed and accuracy through customizable lessons, challenging drills, and skill-building games.
Visit Barnes & Noble's Web site, or Amazon.com, and type Mavis Beacon into their search box.
http://www.barnesandnoble.com
http://www.amazon.com