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Educational Advice to Parents Personal Advice from Mr. Price 1. Read to them. The key to school is reading, and it starts early. Make reading a pleasure and a trip to the library a must. Let them see you read. Better reading skills actually help increase their math comprehension because they can take in new information and process it in their head. It also keeps them still and focused, and after a while not much can break them away from a good book! 2. Cut out, reduce, or eliminate (my preference) video games. They are addictive, highly entertaining, but of little value. Our family does not own, and probably never will, a video game (Nintendo, GameCube, XBox, etc.). Students who are constantly bombarded by video sensations and corresponding noises have a hard time focusing on a "dull" teacher who is just working on the "boring" overhead or marker board. Quite a few students believe that a computer is only as good as the games that are on it. 3. Take them to libraries, museums, zoos, etc. Anything to stimulate their mind or their world around them. The Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha is a must as it is one of the best zoos in the country. 4. Have them draw pictures at an early age. It promotes art, sitting still, and creativity. 5. Get them into music. I believe everyone should have piano lessons early (I wasn't forced to and I'm sure I would have whined like everyone else). Once again, music requires sitting still, practicing, and exploring your world. Later on, once they reach a certain level, they can certainly become creative with that instrument. If you start early enough, it will be easier (schedules get tougher later on). 6. Limit the sports. Let's face it, America's focus is on sports, not education. Look at the number of sports, number of teams, types of clothing, salaries of superstars, etc. We have it backward when we think that schools are for sports and academics are only important when a failing grade keeps them off the team. 7. Building things. Use puzzles at an early age. The kids have to use hand-eye coordination and looking for minute details to solve the problem. 8. Don't think that your child won't do well in school because you didn't. Get the help, use the teacher, find the resources. Your child can learn and can get C's or above. Strive for the best! Work hard and ask questions. |