Newsletter October 2010
October 14, 2010
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We strive to bring you the most helpful and up to date information every month, and this month's newsletter is no exception.
You can scroll down through the articles below, or you can click on a headline you like to go directly to that article.

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This Month's Headlines:

Sharpen Science Skills
Developing Self-Control in Children
Making Mornings More Pleasant
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Sharpen Science Skills

Science is a subject that many students can have a hard time with. Some kids feel uninterested in the materials, while others might have difficulty wrapping their heads around the more complex concepts. In today’s accelerated technological era, having a good grasp on science is about more than just getting a high grade, but also about better understanding the world and developments around us.

Here are tips courtesy of Maria Caryotakis, a high school science teacher for twenty years teaching students in Physics to Honors Chemistry.

Get Involved
For Caryotakis, the worst thing students can do is to zone out during lectures, thinking they will just read the lessons later. She has even seen some students use lecture time to do homework for other classes. But the best way to learn something is with the teacher’s guidance. Teachers can break down difficult processes, or do demonstrations and provide visuals. And, if students get stuck somewhere, they can stop the teacher before moving on. At home, this can be difficult—the textbook may only present an idea in one manner. As an added bonus, paying attention to lectures helps with student’s participation in class, and teachers will notice this come grading time.

The Gray Area
One of the aspects of science that may be tough to get used to is the notion that we may not have the full answer for everything. Students are used to tests with right or wrong responses or multiple choice, so it can be a shift to realize that in science, we don’t yet know it all. Caryotakis says science is often based on theories, and the lab results don’t always directly reflect the assumed results. Therefore, students need to remember that any information is important information and become more comfortable with unusual results. Mistakes often lead to brilliant discoveries. This is part of what makes science so fascinating—it’s always changing.

Work Well with Others
Much of the work in science class is in groups or with lab partners. This means students have to be comfortable voicing their opinion, especially if they feel something is being done wrong. It can also be difficult to work with group dynamics, so it’s important to try to work out concerns, or if necessary, ask the teacher to intervene.

Notes, Notes, Notes
Textbooks can be overwhelming in their presentation of date and information, especially when students are reviewing for big tests or exams. Using notes from class helps students zone in on the subjects the teacher felt were most important—usually a good indicator of what kinds of questions might be on the test.

Visualize
It can be extremely helpful to use models and tangible examples in science. There’s a reason so many people made gumdrop and toothpick molecules in class. Sometimes it goes a long way toward helping us understanding how elements come together. Caryotakis also recommends placing study guides like periodic tables or astronomy maps around the house.

Don’t Just Memorize
Sometimes science requires some memorization, but it’s always a better idea to grasp whole concepts and get down to the “why” of something. When you understand at this basic level, you can rely on your knowledge to figure out a host of situations, rather than just knowing what you memorized. Think of how some of these concepts play out in reality.

Remember Your Math
Science can often work like a word problem in math. Knowing when to divide or multiply figures, or how to work with decimals and fractions can be important in getting the right solution to experiments and questions. This also includes a basic understanding of the metric system, which science uses as a standard.

These tips can help get your student on his or her way to a better understanding of science. If science is a topic your student struggles with, talk with them and see what extra help they might need, whether it be more review at home, asking the teacher for some guidance, or reviewing concepts and study materials with a tutor.

Source: Donaldson, Cindy. “10 Ways to Boost Your Child’s Science Skills. education.com.
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Developing Self-Control in Children

It’s part of human nature that we all misbehave sometimes. And for children, this can be a natural part of figuring out boundaries and what’s appropriate. When parents punish children for doing something wrong, it’s important to try to convey a sense of discipline—knowing the consequences of behaviors and developing self-control—so children learn not to repeat their mistakes. Discipline can be hard for both parents and children, but it can be done in healthy, encouraging ways, and is a very important aspect of growing into adulthood.

Recognize that it’s all about flexibility with children. The punishments that worked a year ago may no longer be effective now. Parents have to be prepared to modify their responses and strategies. As your child ages, it’s important to move from simply telling your child what to do, and teaching them how to decide what’s best on their own sense of responsibility and morals.

Your Style
People may have different styles of discipline from extremely strict to indulgent. Studies and experts point to a combination of styles, a sort of moderate middle ground, as being the most effective. Here are tips for ways to teach discipline in a loving, supporting environment that helps your child blossom.

Talk It Over
Be vocal about the rules and morals or reasoning behind them. Use clear, simple words to get your point across directly. And, when children disobey these rules, communication is also important. It’s important to show both a level of understanding but also a gentle reprimand—“I know it’s not fair when your brother won’t share the computer, but hitting him is not the answer.” Encourage children to identify their feelings; once they recognize their emotions, they can think of responsible ways to deal with and express them.

Let Go
Sometimes the most effective response is to ignore behaviors, since children often act out as a way to get attention and look for your reaction. Of course this is a fine line, and part of finding the middle ground between strict and permissive—knowing what to focus on and what to let go.

Rewards and Punishments
Positive reinforcement works wonders. We all want acceptance and approval, and there is nothing wrong with commending a good action. It’s up to you to find what the appropriate reward is—whether it’s verbal praise, or a more tangible reward. On the flip side, it’s important to teach your child consequences. If you bail them out every time they do something wrong, they don’t learn the natural course of cause and effect, which is crucial to good decision-making.

New Responses
Don’t just respond with “no” all the time. When children hear it constantly without any explanation, it can start to lose its meaning and leave it unclear to children why something is unacceptable. It’s far better to give reasoning and explanations where you can; again, this helps children understand that actions have consequences. Sometimes negotiation can be effective. This doesn’t mean giving in or giving up, but letting your child have some control and autonomy in situations. If they feel they have some choice in a matter, they are more likely to agree to your terms without a fight. This only works with some issues—no child wants to go to the dentist, but there’s no negotiating on that one.

Recognize Triggers
If every time you go to the store, your child begs for candy, make sure to address the issue beforehand. Tell him that he can’t have any candy from the store, but later after dinner you will let him have ice cream for desert. When you prepare your child for the situation in advance it helps avoid her throwing a temper tantrum when you tell her in line she can’t have M&Ms. This teaches children that they have to be prepared sometimes for disappointment. Things don’t always go our way and we have to be ready to accept that with maturity.

Your Own Discipline
Children can certainly test our limits. If you can do your best to stay calm in frustrating situations, you and your child will be better off. State expectations clearly, and when problems arise, try to avoid yelling or letting your anger get the best of you. Speak reasonably, without insults, and be reasonable and fair in your punishments.

Source: Goodman, Robin. “About Discipline - Helping Children Develop Self-Control.” aboutourkids.org.

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Making Mornings More Pleasant

Now that school’s rolling along, your child may start to settle into his or her routines. A huge part of the daily school routine is the morning—it sets the tone for the rest of the day. Some children are naturally morning people and don’t have trouble getting up and getting ready for school in time. However, for many children this is very difficult. If you and your child have troubles getting going in the morning, it can be frustrating for everyone involved.

Most of us can imagine the morning struggle—asking your child numerous times to get out of bed, only to have them move at a snail’s pace, searching for homework and books, fighting over the bathroom with siblings, not leaving enough time for breakfast. The list goes on, but it’s important to work on these issues and let your whole family start their day in a positive, smooth way.

It’s All Relative
We know we’re all different when it comes to sleeping and waking up. If your child has troubles in the morning, take a honest look at their schedule and rhythms. Are they night owls, staying up too late, setting the cycle for morning madness? Sometimes it’s as easy as having your child go to bed earlier to ‘reset’ their natural alarm clock and rhythms. Look at your own schedule too—do you need to wake up earlier? Do you have flexibility in your morning routine that can help make things easier?

Being a Model
How do you deal with mornings? Are you a distant zombie until you have caffeine, or do you run around the house like a tornado, worrying about being late and creating a frenzy for you and those around you? Try to be honest with yourself about ways you can help change the morning routine with a simple change of attitude.

A Steady Pace
Sometimes when you rush children out the door they respond by moving ever slower. Yelling and threatening may help your child get in the car on time today, but it’s not going to help the long-term struggle. Instead give them more time. While it may seem counterintuitive to wake them up earlier, letting them move at their own—albeit slow—pace can go a long way, and allows them wake up on their own natural course rather than it being forced on them.

Prepare
Getting ready the night before can really free up the morning rush, making it more efficient and pleasant. Get your child into the routine of packing his or her backpack at night, making sure he or she has all the homework and other necessary paperwork for the day. Nothing’s worse than a “where did I put that?!” rush to get you flustered first thing in the morning. Figure out what works for you and your child and do your best to stick with it. A routine that unfolds without much effort makes things smoother.

Other Factors
Are there other issues at work beyond just being a lazy morning person? If your child’s facing trouble at school or in his or her social life, getting out of bed can feel even more difficult in the morning. Talk with your child and try to get to the bottom of any larger issues.

Be Firm but Loving
Try to set consequences so your child sees the cause and effect relationships. “If you’re late, we can’t stop to grab a bagel at the drive-thru”, or better yet, “if you’re late, you have to go to bed earlier.” But no matter how the morning starts, hug and kiss your child goodbye, letting them know you love them regardless and setting them off to school in a positive way. Alternatively, if they had a good morning, give them praise and positive reinforcement so they can recognize their own good behavior.

Source: Lutz, Erica. “Avoiding Moody Mornings.” familyeducation.com.