School Success Newsletter | January 2012
In This Issue
Note from Dr. Linda: Our New Look
School Success Tip: Homework without Stress, Pt. 3
Books for Readers of All Ages: Martin Luther King, Jr.
Family Fun: “The Adventures of Berticus Barns,” Part 17
Note from Dr. Linda: Our New Look
Hi Parents, Grandparents, Teachers, and Friends:
It’s the New Year so a good time to give my “School Success Newsletter” a new look. You’ll notice right away that the newsletter is shorter . . . because now we’ll be coming out twice a month. You’ll get a newsletter on the 1st Tuesday of the month and another one on the 3rd Tuesday.
In the first one, you’ll find School Success Tips, Books for Readers of All Ages, and Berticus. In the second newsletter of the month, I’ll have “Fun with Basic Skills,” suggestions for multi-media resources or games, and of course, Berticus continued.
It’s the same great content as usual. And designed to help you help your kids succeed in school while having fun at the same time. Let me know how you like the Newsletter’s new format. Is there something you’d like me to add?
You’ll find everything that’s going on at Strong Learning listed on the right-hand sidebar. Be sure to give us a ring at 845-628-7910 to register your teen or get more information for SAT/ACT Prep classes and private tutoring.
Wishing a Happy New Year to you and your family,
Dr. Linda
P.S. Watch for the new Strong Learning Store. It’s coming soon with lots of wonderful learning resources for your kids.
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School Success Tip: Homework without Stress, Pt. 3
Kids are back in school now after the holidays. Homework is building as exams are coming up, and projects and term papers are due. (You can review the “Homework without Stress tips from last month and even from November.) For lots of kids, it’s easier to keep up with tomorrow’s homework than it is to plan ahead for the big research paper or to study for end-of-term exams.
Here are some tips to make it easier:
1. Ask your child what’s coming up and when? If they aren’t clear, suggest they find out ASAP. Do they have instructions for the paper or project. Do they know when the tests will take place? What will be covered on the test?
2. Suggest that your child get out a calendar and start figuring out how much time is left until the research paper or project is due. Have them list everything that needs to be done in order to get the paper or project finished. How much time will each task take? Walk through this with your child if you think he’s overwhelmed or underestimating the time it will take. ADHD kids, especially, often need help with planning.
3. Ask your child if there’s something they’d like help with and then plan together when to do this. Maybe you’ll need to go shopping for some of the supplies for a project? Or she’d appreciate it if you’d quiz her on the material for the history test? Asking if kids want help often produces better results than insisting that kids need help. If your kids don’t want help, that’s okay. The projects or papers or tests are, after all, their responsibility.
Watch for my new “without Stress” series, “Tests without Stress,” beginning in the next issue of your “School Success Newsletter. ”
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Books for Readers of All Ages: Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr was born on January 15, 1929. We celebrate his birthday on the 3rd Monday in January: Monday, January 16 this year. Kids from 4 years old through high school can learn more about who he was, the Civil Rights Movement, and the Legacy of Dr. King in the books I’m recommending:
Happy Birthday Martin Luther King, for 4-year-olds and above by Jean Marzolo and illustrated by J. Pinkney, tells Dr. Martin Luther King’s story simply and eloquently. Preschoolers learn what he believed and why.
Martin Luther King, Jr, by Amy Paston, is an inspiring biography and photo journey of Dr. King’s life for 5th graders and older. A family book that adults will enjoy also.
Why We Can’t Wait, by Martin Luther King, Jr., describes the struggle for civil rights in Dr. King’s own words. Illustrates his vision and courage for high school students.
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Family Fun: “The Adventures of Berticus Barns” by Brian Silbert
If you’re living with or teaching an ADHD kid who has grandiose ideas but is also a disorganized, procrastinater, mind-wandering underachiever,” you’ll love Berticus. He represents all those children who don’t fit into school. I hope you enjoy this read-aloud story for the whole family.
Part Seventeen: Berticus Discovers Just Exactly What Amy Appleton is Really Up To!
When we last left him, Berticus and Amy were getting ready to do their debate. Amy will begin.
“If elected class president, my first order of business will be to start a lot of fun after-school activities. I have many great ideas, but would really like to hear from my fellow classmates as to what you would like as well.”
Ms. Vanderbeek nodded at me. “Berticus, you’re response please.”
Just as I was about to open my mouth, Amy threw one of her little grins at me again and I said, “Uhh…I… uhhh…” My head went completely blank and my stomach felt like I swallowed a handful of butterflies as Amy continued to smile at me.
“Berticus, your response?” Ms. Vanderbeek repeated.
I paused for what felt like an eternity and finally blurted out, “No comment!”
Things went on like that for the next several minutes. Amy would speak, and my brain would go completely blank every time she flashed a smile at me. Her debate technique was totally genius. I’d never heard of presidential candidates rendering their opponents speechless just by smiling at them.
I finally decided to close my eyes during our debate so that Amy couldn’t get into my mind by looking at me. But that technique wasn’t effective either. After Amy suggested that we have more class trips and some guest speakers to help make learning more fun, with my eyes still shut tight, I rebutted, “Wow, that’s a great idea! I agree with what Amy just said.”
Praising my opponent wasn’t helping my chances of winning. I realized that my debate skills were much sharper when dealing with Thatch, whose smile didn’t affect me in any way.
After all of the speeches and debates were finished, it was finally time to vote.
Don’t miss the next “School Success Newsletter” to find out who wins and how Berticus feels about it.
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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. Leave a comment. I love to hear from you. Let me know what you’d like to see in the next newsletter and on the blog.
Thanks so much for all your emails, calls and comments.
Wishing all you terrific Moms and Dads and your families a successful school year.
Watch for my next School Success Newsletter on March 20. Fun with Basic Skills will have "Word Games for Advanced Readers." And I'll have multi-media resources for Women's History Month.
