Archive for March, 2007
Students who get involved in school activities have a sense of belonging–feel a connection. It doesn’t really matter what the activity is, being a part of something that they enjoy and are good at increases their self esteem which is then evident in their academic performance. It makes the whole school experience more positive and [...]
I remember a student I worked with when I was in gifted education with a local school board. I saw him once a week and found him to be quiet and low key, then animated and enthusiatic when something really interested him. He confided in me one day that his History and Science teachers didn’t [...]
Albert Einstein said, “Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.” In order to try new things, you have to have the self confidence to make a mistake, feel that its ok to do so, learn from it and move on. Parents, show your children through example and support that mistakes [...]
* Don’t compare your child to anyone–not siblings, not peers, not anyone!
* Don’t jeopardize the school’s credibility, by criticizing the teacher, the school, a homework assignment etc. in front of your child
* Don’t have unrealistic expectations. Know your child’s strengths and areas of need.
* Don’t allow your child to miss school unless it is [...]
Right around this time of the year, secondary school students are choosing their courses for next year. It is so important to choose the right courses—right for your child’s ability, interest and post secondary school aspirations. Choosing a course that is too difficult is setting them up for failure—too easy and it is setting them [...]
Some special phrases that make kids feel good about themselves and motivate them:
“Good thinking!” - this shows them that the process is as important as the final outcome. It also comments on their thinking ability which makes them feel smarter.
”What do you think?” - shows your child that their opinions are important and valued, [...]
Travelling with children isn’t easy, is it? This last week was the March Break for students in Ontario, Canada. My husband and I were on vacation, along with many families. With so many people on the move, the airport was congested and backed up. You can always pick out the bored kids, can’t you—and their [...]
Recently, parents of a client of mine came to our session absolutely irate. Their son is an auditory learner and when processing challenging concepts, especially in math. he has to sequentially verbalize what he is doing in order to understand. This is a strategy I had developed and it worked very well for him. Well, [...]
“They can because they think they can” by Virgil goes with a quote I recently heard at a lecture: “Assisting your child in developing self esteem is one of the most important gifts a parent can give his/her child”
Your child will think they can when they believe in themselves. Self esteem is that belief.
That is the question? Or should we even use that word? Doesn’t it sound better when we call it a “reward”, “incentive”, “inducement”, “reinforcement”, “encouragement”? Or is a rose by any other name—still a rose?
There just isn’t a simple consensus here. As a mother of two, I wanted my children to become self motivated, not [...]
