Motivating your Child to Care about School

Wouldn't we all love to hear an enthusiastic "Great!" when you child is asked how school is going?  Instead you might get an apathetic "It's ok" response.  Or you may even get "it sucks!"  How do you motivate you child to care about school?
The fact is your child may never love school.  For some, academics come naturally, while others struggle throughout.  You can't force the love of school, but you can encourage your child to care about his education.
I always knew growing up that I had to go to college.  It wasn't an option in my family – I had to at least show up for the first day of college.  My parents said that they had an obligation to ensure I had a good education and I had an obligation to get good grades. 
When we'd see adult fast food workers or someone busting their hiney behind a deli counter, my parents would remind me the importance of career options.  I learned that while there was nothing wrong with working in a cashier position, some people didn't have other options because they didn't have a college education. 
I knew early on that I didn't want to spend my adult life flipping burgers.  For me, that was motivation to care about school. For others, that motivation may not work.  Some people are motivated by money.
Show your child different salaries of various careers.  If she has aspirations of a six figure salary, she'll need to start laying the ground work now.   Some children may not respond to any future aspirations.  They are only concerned about the present.
You may not be able to get your child to love school, but perhaps you can help him not hate school.  You know your child better than anyone.  You know his likes and dislikes (if you don't, I strongly suggest you stop reading this article immediately and go hang out with your child!).
What is your child interested in?  Good grades?  Being able to participate in extra-curricular activities? Money? Future earnings? Find what makes your child tick and you'll have a head start.
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Club Z! wants you to increase your General Knowledge! (PART 3)

101 How many legs do butterflies have? 6 Legs & 2 Pair of Wings 102 Who invented the Nintendo Wii? Kashi Kabushiki 103 What year does the Nintendo Wii come out? Late 2006 104 Who invented the Light Bulb? Humphry Davy 105 Who invented the washing machine? James King 106 Who invented the first electric washing machine? Alva Fisher 107 Who invented the safety pin? Walter Hunt 108 Who invented the Vacuum Cleaner? Hubert Booth 109 Who won the Football World Cup in 2006? Italy 110 Which country hosted the Football World Cup in 2006? Germany 110 Who is the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom? David Cameron 111 Who won Men's Singles title in French Open 2010? Rafael Nadal (Spain) 112 Who won Women's Singles title in French Open 2010? Francesca Schiavone (Italy) 113 Who won Men's Doubles title in French Open 2010? Daniel Nestor (Canada) & Nenad Zimonjic (Serbia) 114 Who won Women's Doubles title in French Open 2010? Serena & Venus Williams (USA) 115 What is the longest word in English in which each letter is used at least two times? Unprosperousness 116 What is the most popular breed of dog? Retrievers 117 Who is the CEO of search company Google? Eric Schmidt 118 Who is Miss USA 2010? Rima Fakih 119 Which country won the Thomas Cup title for Badminton in 2010? China 120 Who was the first Indian to join the Indian Civil Services? Satyendranath Tagore 121 Who was the first woman Governor of India? Sarojini Naidu 122 Which two countries have signed the Nuclear Swap deal with Iran? Brazil and Turkey 123 Who won the Madrid Masters men's tournament in 2010? Rafael Nadal 124 Who is CEO of Yahoo? Carol Bartz 125 Who is the first man to climb Mount Everest without oxygen? Phu Dorji 126 How many words can you make from a five letter word by shuffling the places of each alphabet? 120 127 Speed of computer mouse is measured in which unit? Mickey 128 Who topped Forbes list of 'Billionaire Universities' in 2010? Harvard University 129 Barack Obama's birthday is on which date? August 4, 1961 130 Which bird is the international symbol of happiness? Bluebird 131 What is the pirate's flag with the skull and cross-bones called? Jolly Roger 132 What is the common name for ascorbic acid? Vitamin C 133 Which useful household item is made from naphthalene? Mothballs VISIT OUR WEBISTE: www.clubztutoring.com/GTA

Get To Know Your Kid's Teachers

By definition, a teacher is one who teaches.  Ya .. so?  Let's look at what it means to teach.   The dictionary defines the verb teach as:

• To impart, provide or instruct knowledge or skill
• To condition to a certain action or frame of mind
• To cause to learn by example or experience
• To advocate or preach
• To carry on instruction on a regular basis in

That last one, to carry on instruction on a regular basis, is a biggie…on a regular basis. On average teachers will spend 30 hours a week with your elementary age child. In contrast, let's look at the amount of time you will spend, with your child during an average school week.   Between getting up, dressed, fed and teeth brushed, on average, a parent will spend 10 minutes actually with the child.
Then there's after school - it's probably at least 5:00 pm before you really spend time with your child; either due to your schedule or your child's. (Note:  Seeing your child and spending time with – are not synonymous).   Then maybe you spend some time together preparing and eating dinner.   After school and after work you may have taken junior to practice or the store, or there was more homework.
If your child is like most, a bath or shower is probably needed. After that, perhaps a bedtime snack, a little TV and then it's time to start the bedtime routine.  It's safe to say, on average, parents will spend less than eight (8) hours a week interacting with their elementary age child.  Now do you see why it is vital to get to know your kid's teachers?
Most schools have an Open House prior to the first day of school.  This gives the parent and child a chance to meet the teacher and vice versa.  Make every effort to attend this Open House.  If you have a schedule conflict you cannot rearrange, make an appointment before or after school to meet your child's teacher.  It may only take a quick 10 minute visit initially, but don't you want to know who will be imparting, providing and instructing knowledge and skills to your child?
Teachers will almost always provide phone numbers and emails where they can be reached.  Nearly all of them will give you their home number.  Use this contact information!  Many parents think, "Oh I don't want to bother the teacher by calling him/her."  Bother?  Staying informed about what is happening with your child thirty hours each week should by no means be considered, "bothering the teacher."  Parents have a duty to know what is going on!
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Food Allergies: What to Do when Your Child is the One Who Could Get Sick?

Eight hours later, she woke from her coma.  She was in Emergency Room with her parents sitting by her side.  She was dazed and confused.  Earlier that day she was having an asthma attack, so one of her cabin-mates at camp shared some of her own medication to help her breathe.  What no one knew was that the capsule was coated with egg whites.  That is common in some medications to help make them more slippery and easy to swallow.  The camper was highly allergic to eggs; and consequently went into anaphylactic shock. Camp counselors couldn't revive her, so they called an ambulance.  That is a true story.
Unless you or a loved one has food allergies, it's impossible to convey how consuming avoidance can be.  It is a little more in depth than "don't eat the peanuts".  Severe allergic reactions can occur merely by smelling or touching the forbidden food.
Now that it's back to school time, what can you do so that you child isn't the one who gets sick?
The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology issued a statement on Anaphylaxis in Schools and Other Childcare Settings.  The statement outline requirements that school staff, childcare providers, and food service personnel must take.  But please don't rely solely on staff adherence to these requirements.  Take matters into your own hands.
Here are some proactive steps you can take to preclude allergic reactions in your child:

1. Inform the staff specifically what is needed to ensure no problems at school.  Let them know that you want to work with them to keep your child healthy and not cause classroom disruptions. Get familiar with the school building, lunch facilities and policies regarding snacks.
2. Don't make assumptions about the staff's knowledge.  Give them information and resources.  Help them understand how to administer medications or to use an epi-pen.  Remind them that since they are required by federal law to assist your child and to include her in normal school activities, you'd like to help make that happen smoothly.
3. Empower your child.  Reinforce the importance of knowing potential food allergy triggers and identifying them to her teacher. Med-Alert bracelets are helpful, too.

Sure it may take some adjusting on everyone's part, but by working with the school and with your child, you should be able to have a safe, happy and healthy school year! 

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Bedtime Routine to Give your Kids a Chance to Tell you About their School Day

"Ok, it's time to start getting ready for bed.  After your bath, brush your teeth and get your pajamas on.  It's getting late."

If you have a bedtime routine, pat yourself on the back.  Bedtime routines are so vital, especially for young children.  Consider adding one more step to your bedtime routine.  Give your kids a chance to tell you about their school day.

Remember that if your child is in school all day, your teacher is with your son or daughter for an average of 30 hours a week.  That's almost the equivalent of a full work week.  You've missed quite a bit of time with your child. 

Make an effort to keep the communication free flowing.  If you set good habits while your child is young, it'll be easier to talk about just anything as the years pass. For starters, don't ask yes or no answers.  You don't want to establish a nightly Q & A, but rather two-way communication.

Sometimes "tell me about your day" doesn't generate much conversation.  You could begin with, "tell me five things that happened today; recess and lunch don't count."  That is usually a great ice breaker.   Kids learn real quickly that if you don't ask, they're not telling.

In addition to asking what was for lunch, ask who your child sat next to.  Who did they play with at recess?  What did that play during recess?  Was anyone sick today?  Did anything funny or embarrassing happen to anyone in school today?

Sometime it is difficult to keep track of the specials.  By specials I mean: gym, music, art, computer lab, etc.; the extra classes that usually take place with a different teacher outside of the main classroom.  Keep a cheat sheet if you need to; ask what activity they did in gym. 

If you can get your child to tell you about someone who may have had a hard time (in gym, with math, with reading aloud, etc.) it is a great segue for a life lesson in difficulties and hurt feelings.

It really doesn't matter what you talk about; it's more important that you talk.  Make talking about your kid's day a regular part of the bedtime routine, you'll be surprised what you learn!

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