4Tips to School Success

by Summer'sEnd

How to make the most of your summer

With homework out of the picture, summer is a great time to enjoy stress-free days and special time together as a family. We look forward to lazy days without the pressure of school work, fretting over homework, and hurrying to other activities.Ahhhh -- Summertime!

Yet often as the summer goes that'snot what we hear from parents. We hear parents saying they got themselves overbooked and hectic and we hear parents tellus that the kids are bored and they are at their wits end trying to entertain them.Then we hear parents confessingthat they are actually looking forward to summer ending and getting the kids out of the house and back to school, despite the knowledge that school brings with it studying and homework and STRESS for many families.

What can you do this summer to make it different from last summer and at the same time set you and your kids up for a wonderful upcoming school year?

Wouldn't it be wonderful to look back in August ready for the new school year yet sad to see the summer end after spending it happily and productively with your kids?

Here are some tips to help you create the summer that you're dreaming of right now while preparing your child for a successful experience in the next school year:

Tip #1: Skill Practice: Turn I-Hate-to-do's into I-Love-to-do's

Often students have certain areas in their schooling that they either hate to do orstruggle to do.This one problem area causes a lot of whining and tension throughout the school year. Wouldn't it be wonderful if this problem area turned into something easy or at least neutral? Summeris the perfect time (no homework) to have your child do some practice each day which can change her attitude towards next year's assignments.

Here's whatI suggest:

Summeris the perfect time (no homework) to have your child do some practice each day which can change her attitude towards next year's assignments.

Choose an amount of time that seems reasonable for your child's age and subject. It should be relatively short so that compared to all the summer fun it doesn't seem like too much, yet it's long enough to gives your child the opportunity to improve her proficiency.

How you go about getting this process started makes a big difference as to the success of it. Keep in mind:

a) You can expect to meet resistance. Most children, even adult for that matter, don't want to spend their summer doing something they hate to do. So, don't get mad, stay calm if he resists.

b) Include small but enjoyable rewardfor daily/weekly completion. Let your child know that you feel bad that this subject is so annoying to him and that your intention is to help him to have a more positive experience in next year with this subject.

c) Validate his feelings bysaying things like, "I can understand why you find this so frustrating." Ask if homework time would be easier and less frustrating if he was really good at that subject and he didn't mind doing it. By allowing your child to express her frustration, your child will get more comfortable with the situation. Children like to be heard and acknowledged, even if they don't get their way. By havinga brainstorming session in May, your child will have plenty of time to get use to the idea.

Tip#2:Work on a Fun Project Together to Illustrate the Project Management Process

Brainstorm with your child ideas that would be a medium size project that the two of you would have fun doing together. It could be something like creating a garden, building a birdhouse or cooking a special 5 course meal. Remember to pick something your child finds fun. Talk to your child about the steps of doing a big project and identify the steps as you do it. That way, when your child has a long-term project at school, you can use this fun project as a reminder of the steps and process involved.

a)Write a SMART Goal (Specific, Measurable; Attainable - high but achievable; Relevant - relates to you, not someone else; Track-able).

b) Create manageable Pieces - Break the big goal into smaller tasks with target dates.

c) Chart it - Chart the tasks with target dates.

d) Choose Rewards - By choosing areward structure, parents help keep kids engaged

e) Track the Progress - Track the results by having your child update his/her progress

f) Review Progress- Have your child review the results

g) Celebrate the Progress and Completion

"I don't want to go to camp today."

"I hate camp. The kids are mean and they pick on me."

"I don't want to try out forbaseball next year."

What happened?! After carefully selecting and planning out a summer full of exciting camps that you thought your child would just love, sometimes it doesn't turn out as we hoped. Parents and children end up frustrated and disappointed. What can you do? Here are some thoughts that may help as you plan the summer's activities:

1) Match the camp to your child's personality. Having fun at camp involves much more than the activity itself. Making friends and enjoying the social aspect of the camp is as important (maybe more important to some kids) than the sport or activity of the camp. Ask questions that tell you about how the learning is structured, and determine whether it is a good fit with your child's temperament. Some camps choose teams or groups each morning similar to a daily "pickup game". This could be rewarding for the strong and confident child and awful for the shy and uncertain child.Are the games and activities competitive, or is the focus on learning and mastering askill? Again, some children give their all when motivated bythe goal of winning or performing better than others, whilesome learn better when the pressure is off and they have the time to keep practicing on their ownuntil they get it. Is there a standard that all are expected to meet by week's end, or is each encouraged to strive for his personal best?

2) Consider the social atmosphere of the camp. Nothing can make a day more miserable for a kid than having to deal every day with someone who is bothering him. What steps are put in place to ensure a friendly and cooperative atmosphere at the camp? Are the children helped to get to know one another? How is that done? Some camps have specific games designed so that campers learn one another's names and a little bit about them. Others allow the children to form friendships on their own. Which style supports your child's personality best? Are the children divided into groups, and how large are those groups? For a child whoeasily fits in, large groupscan be invigorating. Other children do better in small groups where it may be easier to get to knowkids one on one.

3) Individual attention. You have probably read that it is important to check the ratio of instructors to campers. I suggest you ask a few more questions. Do the camp counselors spend individualtime with each camper to ensure that she is getting the focused attention she needs in the area that is most important to her? Do parentshave an opportunity to provide input aboutwhat they'd like their child to learn while at camp?What tools are provided to the parents to see what the children are learning and how they are progressing?

Whatever your child's personality, thereare camps that are sure to provide him with the fun, friendships, growth and experiencehis is hoping for. The key is to ask lots of questions so that you get agood feel for the camp, and choose one that your child will come home from happy and excited each afternoon!

Nancy Sheain & Kathy Norton

Building Futures, LLC

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