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May 2008
Dealing with excessive amounts of homework
May 27, 2008 12:00 PM Filed in: All Levels
In
a previous column, you explained that a student’s
failure to complete homework assignments was a sign
of disrespect for the teacher. While I agree, I think
there is another issue that should be addressed.
Teachers need to assign the proper amount of homework
without overloading students and placing a burden on
their entire families. In the same way that students
must respect their teachers, teachers must respect
the students’ time outside of the classroom. My
grandchild is in the fourth grade and often has
several hours of homework, several nights a week.
Shouldn’t the bulk of learning take place in the
classroom? Don’t we want our children to have some
time each day to spend with their families? Where
should our schools and teachers draw the line on
homework?
Read more...
Instill child with understanding of contingencies
May 20, 2008 12:00 PM Filed in: All Levels
My
son is very passionate about basketball, and I
sometimes wonder if he places too much emphasis on
the sport. I support him and believe he is learning
many good life skills such as hard work and
dedication. Unfortunately, these qualities aren’t
transferring to other areas of his life. How can I
get him to put forth the same effort in school? He
would rather end up with poor grades than to miss a
single practice.Read
more...
Use summer wisely, but don't overload it
May 12, 2008 12:00 PM Filed in: All Levels
| Skill Sets
Summer is fast
approaching, and now is the time to enroll students
in summer camps and enrichment programs. Last year, I
wanted to give my children an enjoyable summer, so I
signed them up for a smorgasbord of camps and other
activities. Halfway through the summer, my children
were burned out. I am considering cutting back this
year on some of their activities, but I don’t want to
leave anything out. Sports camps give them exercise,
while musical lessons expose them to the arts. I
would also like for them to be in a reading group at
the library, and our church has several summer
activities designed for kids. With so many great
activities, how do I know which programs are best for
my kids?Read
more...
Get child to understand, "Ownership" will follow
May 06, 2008 12:00 PM Filed in: All Levels
| Skill Sets
My
daughter is a good student, but struggles with finals
every semester. Last year several of her semester
grades fell by a full letter because of poor exam
performance. I recently read your column about the
difference between learning and studying, and it
really rang true for me. It seems as if our schools
often focus on studying, instead of truly learning
the material at hand. Unfortunately, I feel my
daughter is probably merely studying for tests and
not truly learning the subject matter. There are only
a few weeks left before final exams, but is there
anything my daughter can do to make the best use of
the remaining time?Read
more...
