Ten Home Habits for School Success
1. Be proactive - plan a workable weekday morning schedule including time for breakfast, lunch prep, commute time and to preview the day's after-school schedule.
2. Appoint a time and place for homework - eliminate distractions, supervise for completeness and accuracy, assist with memory work, organize/plan out long range projects.
3. Partner with teachers - support the school handbook, speak positively of the school in front of children; disagree in private, ask questions when you need information.
4. Schedule sufficient sleep - 9 hours for middle school students.
5. Prepare for quizzes and tests - student may make flash cards, outline chapter material and create study guides for chapter work.
6. Be punctual and reliable - be on time for school so as not to miss needed details.
7. Redirect negativity - use disappointments, mistakes, corrections and failures as "teachable moments" that help a child to name, claim and tame personal behavior or skills.
8. Value self-control and thoughtfulness for the "common good" - sacrifice/control individual preference for what is best for all.
9. Maintain social boundaries - make a teacher appointment rather than "talk shop" at a parish activity or an impromptu encounter.
10. Foster self-esteem - security(routine, procedure, consistency, honesty), autonomy(responsibility, accountability), initiative(prudent risk-taking, self-starting) and industry(finish what you start, time management, set goals).
1. Be proactive - plan a workable weekday morning schedule including time for breakfast, lunch prep, commute time and to preview the day's after-school schedule.
2. Appoint a time and place for homework - eliminate distractions, supervise for completeness and accuracy, assist with memory work, organize/plan out long range projects.
3. Partner with teachers - support the school handbook, speak positively of the school in front of children; disagree in private, ask questions when you need information.
4. Schedule sufficient sleep - 9 hours for middle school students.
5. Prepare for quizzes and tests - student may make flash cards, outline chapter material and create study guides for chapter work.
6. Be punctual and reliable - be on time for school so as not to miss needed details.
7. Redirect negativity - use disappointments, mistakes, corrections and failures as "teachable moments" that help a child to name, claim and tame personal behavior or skills.
8. Value self-control and thoughtfulness for the "common good" - sacrifice/control individual preference for what is best for all.
9. Maintain social boundaries - make a teacher appointment rather than "talk shop" at a parish activity or an impromptu encounter.
10. Foster self-esteem - security(routine, procedure, consistency, honesty), autonomy(responsibility, accountability), initiative(prudent risk-taking, self-starting) and industry(finish what you start, time management, set goals).