Bright Ideas: Talking About College and Careers

This week is College and Career Week.  When I first heard about this, I wondered if it was really very important to my second graders to devote time to this subject during our school day.  But as we talked about this last week, I could see that this really is an important conversation to have right now . . . not that the students need to have a formal plan set in stone . . . but that now is the time to start thinking about their futures.  A couple of the things that I will be emphasizing is for the students to realize that doing well in school now will help them to succeed in whatever field they choose later on and that there are many paths to "higher education".  No matter what path the students choose in their futures, life-long learning is a worthwhile goal.   I hope that you will continue the conversations we begin to have in school this week as your children come home and bring up the subject.

Bright Ideas: School Attendance is a Key to Success

One of the most important keys to a child's success in school is . . . going to school!  Much of what we do in class cannot be sent home to make-up on a homework sheet.  We are learning concepts daily which will be built upon throughout the rest of the children's school career.  So when children miss a day of school, even in the early grades, they miss a lot!  And when students are absent, the learning in the classroom can be slowed down for all the students as the teacher works to try to catch everyone up on what they missed.  Building good attendance habits starts in the first years of school.  If children learn that going to school each day is "what we do", this habit will continue on into the later years of school when missing a day can have even more serious consequences.  Here are some things parents can do:

*Let your children know that going to school is important.  Don't let them miss school unless they are truly sick.

*Whenever possible, schedule appointments outside of school hours so your children can stay in school.

*If your child is experiencing anxiety about school, discuss this with teachers, administrators, and counselors, or ask other parents for advice on how to help.

*Prepare the night before for school the next day by laying out school clothes, putting lunches together, getting backpacks ready, etc.  This may help when trying to get out the door and get to school on time.

Read more on this subject at http://dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/sspw/pdf/caearlyattend.pdf and http://www.colorincolorado.org/article/school-attendance-key-success

Bright Ideas: Overconfidence -- Too Much of a Good Thing

For the last four weeks, we have looked at ways to help build healthy self-confidence in children.  This week, we will consider how there is a fine line between raising confident children and creating overconfident kids.

If you've ever been around an egotistical person, you know that with confidence, there can be too much of a good thing.  Overconfident children can struggle to fit in socially.  They often misjudge their own capabilities and push people away by acting superior.

We can help prevent children from becoming overconfident by giving honest (not excessive) praise when they are truly good at something and sensitive critiques when they do not excel at something.  When in doubt, praise their efforts rather than their talents.

Read more on this subject at http://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/self-confidence-does-your-child-suffer-from-not-enough-or-too-much/

Bright Ideas: Building Self-Confidence with a Positive Attitude

This is the fourth post on ways that parents can help their children to build a healthy sense of self-confidence.

4. Positive Attitude -- Parents can help to instill a positive outlook in their children.  Even when problems arise, looking at things positively can help people to see more solutions.  This can help people to feel capable and confident.  Confidence builds positivity, and the cycle continues.  Adults can show children good examples of having a positive outlook and a "can do" attitude.

To learn more, go to http://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/self-confidence-does-your-child-suffer-from-not-enough-or-too-much/