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Published monthly by Linda Silbert, PhD and Strong Learning, Inc.

Dr. Linda’s School Success Newsletter | May 2009

Published monthly by Linda Silbert, Ph.D.

Listen to the Note from Dr. Linda and find out what’s in your newsletter.

In This Issue

1. Happening Now: ACT, SAT, Finals prep; May TeleWebcasts; and lots more
2. Note from Dr. Linda: Honoring Mom
3. School Success: Teach Your Child Respect
4. Just for Mom: Mom’s Best Gift to Herself
5. Funny but True: Just What Do Moms (and Dads) Do Anyway?
6. Success Story: A Mom Who Found Herself
7. Fun Learning Activities: May Facts and Follow-up Activities
8. Now It’s Your Turn

Happening Now

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

Happening now at DrLindaSilbert.com

Happening now at DrLinda’sBlog.com

Note from Dr. Linda

Hi Parents and Friends:

Welcome to my newsletter. This month we’re honoring Mom.

Because Mother’s Day is coming up on May 10, I’ve made this a special issue just for all you Moms. Of course, there’s something to help your kids with learning too. Remember Moms, taking care of yourself does help your kids succeed.

I’m looking forward to Mother’s Day because I’ll be with my twin grandsons who are in kindergarten. As a proud Grandma, I just have to share a Grandma story with you.

Danny told me that there’s this thing that they do at their school and it’s sooooo cool! It’s awesome! This thing is called “recess,” Then Robby asked, “Grandma did you ever hear of that?” I chuckled, as if recess was something new.Danny and Robby

Danny and Robby are right. Recess is still one of the most important activities, physically and mentally, for children. And that goes for you moms too. Be sure you take some time out of each day for you, your recess. It’s healthy for your body and soul too.

Do you or your kids have thoughts or stories about Mother’s Day and moms? Please send me an email so I can share them with my readers in my mid-May update.

Best wishes for a Happy Mother’s Day,

Dr. Linda

School Success

How to Teach Your Child Respect

Moms need respect (so do dads). Teacher’s need respect too–whether they’re moms or not. So how do you teach your kids to respect teachers? It starts with teaching respect for all the moms your kids know. Maybe they don’t like their teacher. Perhaps Grandma seems “out of it.” Could be their friend’s Mom is gruff.

It’s a basic principle of a civilized society that everyone deserves respect whether we like them or not. And in terms of school success, kids who are disrespectful to teachers often end up with lower grades than kids who act respectfully at school. Children who are disrespectful to teachers usually disrespect others in general.

Here’s an ancient tale that explains respect well.

The King and His Sonsumbrella2

One rainy day, the king took a walk with his two children. He held an umbrella in each hand to cover and protect each child. A bystander approached and said, “Why are you protecting your children from the rain? You are the king! They should be protecting you.”

His highness sagely replied, “If I do not show them respect, how will they learn to respect me? How will they learn to respect others? How will they learn to respect themselves?”

Just as the king pointed out to the bystander, when children are treated with respect, they learn to respect themselves and others. So treat your child as you expect to be treated. Respect that is genuine, and not simply permissive, promotes self-esteem.

Three Ways to Show Your Child Respect

  1. Model positive behavior and language. If you call your children stupid, you’re letting them know that it’s okay to call other children stupid, to call a teacher stupid. Instead, praise your children. When their homework isn’t up to par, find something positive to start the conversation. Then discuss ways they can improve. Using constructive criticism, as opposed to destructive criticism, models respect.
  2. Ask your child to do age-appropriate grown-up tasks. When you ask a child to do something that grown ups do, you’re showing him that you believe he’s capable. Showing you trust her. It’s giving your children the gift of respect.
  3. Expect respect at school. As your child’s number-one advocate, be sure he is treated respectfully at school by teachers and other children. If you think a teacher is being disrespectful or that children are allowed to bully other children, talk to your child’s teacher. Talk to the principal.

Children who learn at home to be respectful of other children, parents and grandparents, neighbors, even their pets, will be respectful at school. They’ll respect their teachers.

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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 FR*EE gift to you and your children http://www.askdrlindasilbert.com/tips.html Check out the bonuses that come with your tips.

Just for Mom

Mom’s Best Gift to Herself

On Mmoms-roseother’s Day you get flowers, candy, and dinner out at your special restaurant. But what do you give yourself? It’s a time to sit back, take a deep breath and think about you. You spend all year taking care of everybody else. You’re so busy, it’s easy to forget about you.

So, here’s my Mother’s Day gift to you. It’s a gift to give yourself.

Begin by attending to your personal needs: eat well, get plenty of sleep, exercise, and be sure to leave some time for fun: go to the gym, take up biking or join the book club. You could even take a course at the local college.

Think beyond your everyday personal needs. Recognize that you have the capacity to help determine your destiny and not let others determine it for you. For example, if you feel that you’re in a rut or even just want to explore your options for a more fulfilling day at this stage in your life, talk to someone qualified, a friend, physician, counselor, …..

Once you explore your options, establish a realistic image for yourself and work towards becoming competent in one or more areas in which you aspire. Then set realistic short-term goals. What do you want to accomplish today, tomorrow, this week, this month? Set realistic long-term goals. What do you hope to accomplish this year? In five years? In ten years? What kind of person would you like to be?

Take action. Show your kids that you’re a doer… good for you and good for your kids.

Funny but True

Just What Do Moms (and Dads) Do Anyway?

One day a mom and dad brought their third grader to see me. Mom was concerned that her daughter was not accepting responsibility. I asked their little eight year old what she thought her responsibilities were. She said that she had to go to school, brush her teeth, do her homework and play with her little sister.

I then asked her what she thought Mommy’s responsibilities were. “Well,” she said, ” Mom does the laundry, Mom goes to the grocery store, Mom buys me and my sister clothes and toys, Mom takes me to my play dates, Mom makes my lunch if I don’t like what they have in school, Mom goes to work, Mom goes to the doctor with me, Mom makes supper, Mom helps me with my homework, and I guess that’s it.” “Wow,” I said, “and what about Daddy?” “Well,” she said, “that’s the thing. I don’t know what dads are for.”

With that Dad sat back in shock and Mom jumped in and said, “but Daddy also does the laundry and makes supper and goes shopping and helps you with your homework and goes to the doctor with you.” “Yeah,” she said, “but you tell him what to do.”

Success Story

A Mom Who Found Herself

A few years ago a mom came to my office to talk about herself. I only knew her as Steven’s mom. But now, Steven and his sister Amy were in college. This mom, suffering from empty nest syndrome, was lost because she didn’t have to cook for her two kids, do loads of laundry, and drive them to and from sports and dance.

Even though she was a college graduate, she had never worked or established a career for herself. She’d become a nonentity, known only as Steven and Amy’s mom whom you could always depend on . . . the class mom, the head of the food drive, the volunteer queen.

Now without her kids around, she didn’t know what to do. She hadn’t planned ahead, …hadn’t thought about herself.

After listing what she liked to do and taking some career tests, we discovered that she loved gardening.

She found a program, “Horticultural Therapist,” at a local college. This mom enrolled and in two years received her certificate. Now she works in facilities for the elderly helping them grow flowers and vegetables and maintain their facility’s garden. She’s given purpose and happiness to countless senior citizens and in return, her feeling of self-esteem is sky high.

Fun Learning Activities

May Facts and Follow-up Activities

Fact: Born on May 4, 1796: Horace Mann, an American educator, devised the idea of placing children in classes according to age. He copied the factory system, which began during the Industrial Revolution.

Activity: Talk about how children were educated before Horace Mann devised this new idea. How would your children change school now? It’s over 250 years later!

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Fact: Born on May 6, 1856: Robert E. Peary, an American, discovered the North Pole along with his co-explorer, American Matt Henson.

Activity: Write a funny story together. Call your story “When Mr. Peary met Santa at the North Pole in May.” What did Mr. Peary say to Santa? What does Santa do in May? Draw illustrations of Mr. Peary and Santa for your story.

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Fact: Born on May 14, 1686: Gabriel Fahrenheit, a German scientist, developed the Fahrenheit temperature scale.

Activity: Do a science project: Count all the Fahrenheit thermometers in your house, on the porch, and outside the kitchen window. Do they all show the same temperature? Why or why not?

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Fact: Born on May 15, 1856: Frank L. Baum, an American author, wrote the “Wizard of Oz.”

Activity: Read the “Wizard of Oz” together. Watch the movie if your kids haven’t already seen it. Discuss the ways the book differs from the movie.

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Fact: Born on May 25, 1844: Mary Cassatt, an American artist, painted pictures of mothers and their children.

Activity: Look at her paintings together. Click here to see some of Cassatt’s paintings. Choose the one you like best. Why? Draw a picture like her paintings. Put mothers and children in your picture.

Now It’s Your Turn

Go over to DrLinda’sBlog now and subscribe by email or RSS feed so you won’t miss anything.

I love to hear from you. Send me an email. Linda@stronglearning.com Let me know what you’d like to see in the next newsletter.

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.

If we choose your child’s or your success story, or a funny but true story, you’ll be notified as to which newsletter it will appear in with your name (optional) and you’ll receive an electronic copy of my award winning book, “Why Bad Grades Happen to Good Kids” which I wrote with my husband, Dr. Al Silbert. The co-host of NBC’s “Today Show,” Al Roker, wrote the forward to our book.

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Happy Mother’s Day to all you loving, caring, hardworking and beautiful Moms. Thank you for all you do.

See you next month when we honor Dads and Grads