Dr. Linda’s School Success Newsletter | January 2010

Published monthly by Linda Silbert, PhD

In This Issue

Happening Now: SAT and ACT Prep classes start in January and lots more at Strong Learning

Note from Dr. Linda: Thoughts for the New Year

School Success Tips: Helping Kids Set Goals for the New Year

Kids Still Say the Funniest Things

Now It’s Your Turn

Happening Now

Happening Now at StrongLearning.com Call 845-628-7910 today.

One-to-one tutoring – all subjects, levels and grades. K-12. No contracts. All areas.
Homework help and test prep.
One-to-one tutoring for upcoming SAT and/or ACT and midterms in all subjects
Enroll in SAT and/or ACT small group prep for upcoming tests-only in Westchester and Putnam Counties, NY – three options to save money.
Call for info about our panel discussion, “The Insider’s Guide to College Admissions,” with college admissions counselors and area high school counselors. Mahopac Library, Jan. 7, 2010. 7:00 PM. Parents and high school students invited. Click to see the flyer and RSVP.

Happening Now at DrLindasBlog.com Call 845-628-7910 today.

Find news and updates about our events, online & offline
Read articles – You’re welcome to reprint any article in full. Include my contact information. Great for a school or community newsletter, a blog or ezine.
Email your comments, thoughts and observations about kids, school and learning. I love to hear from you!

Note from Dr. Linda

Hi Parents, Teachers and Friends:

Here we are again making our New Year’s resolutions – eat better, exercise more and get organized. The annual January diet and exercise routines are in full bloom and the piles of papers that grew over the past few months are hopefully behind us.

What about resolutions and goals for kids? Do your kids make resolutions at New Years like the rest of us–huge goals that are usually unrealistic? For example, a struggling ninth grader told me the other day that her New Year’s resolution was to make straight A’s all year long. Of course, I’d love to see her do that, but it’s unrealistic given where she is now.

To help you help your kids make sensible goals that they can accomplish, you’ll want to read my feature article below, “How to Help Your Kids Set Goals.”

Keep reading for “Kids Still Say the Funniest Things.

Wishing you and your family a happy New Year and a very successful rest of the school year.

From ADHD to homework, from test-taking to phonics, twice a week, you’ll get short, effective tips to help your child learn. Sign up now and invite other parents to sign up.

It’s my FREE gift to you and your children. Check out the bonuses you’ll get when you subscribe to the tips http://www.askdrlindasilbert.com/tips.html.

School Success Tip for Mom and Dad

How to Help Your Kids Set Goals

Help your child set a New Year’s resolution or goal. If you’ve used SMART goals at work, you’ll remember that SMART stands for specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely. These are big words for little kids but the general principle still works.

First, it’s important to remember that you can’t set goals for your child. The goal must be something your child really wants to accomplish. Goal setting doesn’t work if it’s something you want him to do that he doesn’t care about.

Let’s use getting homework done as an example, assuming your child is as frustrated as you are about homework hassles. Using the SMART goal as a model, your child’s goal will need to be specific, measurable, and timely. ‘I do my homework” is a bit vague. “I finish my homework after dinner every school night during this grading period” is specific. (Setting goals for an entire year is too much for most children.)

You can measure it—either homework is done or it isn’t. It’s certainly timely. Your child will probably have homework today.

What about attainable and realistic? If it doesn’t seem realistic to you or your child, you’ll need to figure out why. Does your child have too many outside activities? Is she getting enough sleep? Are there too many distractions like TV?

Another challenge might be whether or not doing the homework is attainable. If the homework is too difficult or if there’s too much for her to finish, you’ll need to talk to her teachers.

Now help your child find something they would like to accomplish over the next few weeks. Guide them in figuring out their goal by using the SMART goal model.

P.S. Be sure to check out my blog post for homework tips and a link for a free Homework Tips booklet.

Kids Still Say the Funniest Things

Some time ago I was cleaning out a bookbag–the size of a small car–with a 7th grader. As I went to open it, he said, “This could be hazardous to both our health!”

If you’ve got something funny a child has said, please share it with my readers. Just email me and we’ll get some more funny things kids have said into the February newsletter.

Now It’s Your Turn

Go over to Dr Linda’s Blog now and subscribe by email or RSS feed so you won’t miss anything. I love to hear from you. Let me know what you’d like to see in the next newsletter.

Thanks so much for all your emails, calls and comments. If one of my tips or articles has helped, send your child’s success story or a funny but true story to share with my readers.

Wishing your children and all you loving and hard-working Moms and Dads, a happy and successful school year.