Coding for Kids
Want to set your child up for success this school year? Here are ten tips to help them thrive in the classroom and beyond. The research shows that students tend to earn higher grades, have better attendance, are more motivated, and are less likely to drop out when their families are involved in their education. So, set the tone early by communicating your expectations for their academic success. Discuss what school success means to your child and set goals together. Support a daily routine with regular study time, homework completion, and relaxation time.
Establish a Homework Routine
Seeking a little insight? Here are 10 ways how kids can be successful in class. Hint: It’s not about being an expert in any subject matter. After all, the skills intelligent kids need to achieve go beyond the books. Please regularly talk with your child about class loads and ensure they’re balanced. Setting a specific start time for homework each night is also a good idea. Helping your child put a homework schedule and consistent routine sends a message that academics are a priority.
Reach Out to Teachers
Successful students take the initiative to meet with the instructor and the teaching assistant and engage in meaningful conversation outside class. Please encourage your child to ask for help when it’s needed. Most teachers are available for extra help before or after school and might be able to recommend other resources. Building a positive relationship with their teachers can make a big difference in their classroom experience and how kids can be successful in class.
Foster Healthy Sleep Habits
It should come as no surprise that success — or failure — at school starts at home. Studies have linked poor academic performance to poor sleep, nutrition, obesity, and parental support. To help your child have the best chance at doing well in school, make sure they follow healthy habits at home. Choose a bedtime that will give your child plenty of sleep and provide a nutritious breakfast each morning.
Help vs. Hinder
Here are four tips for what parents can do outside the classroom to help their child succeed:
- Encourage reading
- Prioritize attendance
- Set a good example
- Provide resources and support
Remember, it’s about supporting their learning, not doing the work for them. Provide guidance and encouragement, but let them take ownership of their education. Remember, these techniques take time and patience to show results – don’t expect miracles overnight. Add these 10 top tips to your own “homework” to guide your kids. Trust that you’ve given them the tools they need to succeed. Please step back and let them navigate their academic lives with increasing independence. Be there to support them, but also give them space to grow.
Let Them Make Mistakes
Successful students take responsibility for themselves and their actions. They learn from their mistakes and use that knowledge to make better decisions in the future. Don’t shield your child from every challenge or setback as challenges is a way how kids can be successful in class. Let them experience the natural consequences of their actions. It’s how they’ll develop resilience and problem-solving skills. One essential characteristic of a successful student is taking the initiative to seek out support when needed and to incorporate different academic strategies to enhance the learning process. Teach your child to speak up for themselves and ask what they need to succeed. Self-advocacy is a critical skill, whether it’s extra help from a teacher or accommodations for a learning difference.
Focus on Solutions
Successful students are attentive in class, ask questions, and participate in class discussions. When faced with a challenge, they focus on finding a solution rather than placing blame. Please help your child develop a growth mindset by praising their effort and problem-solving skills rather than their innate abilities. Please encourage them to view challenges as opportunities to learn and grow.
Enforce Healthy Habits
You can’t perform well when you don’t feel good. To help your child have the best chance at doing well in school, make sure they follow healthy habits at home. Choose a bedtime that will give your child plenty of sleep and provide a nutritious breakfast each morning. Encourage exercise and limit their time watching TV, playing video games, listening to music, or using the computer. Kids do better in school when parents are involved in their academic lives. Attending back-to-school night at the start of the school year is a great way to get to know your child’s teachers and their expectations. School administrators may discuss school-wide programs and policies too. Going to parent-teacher conferences is another way to stay informed. These are usually held once or twice a year to discuss a student’s progress. They’re a chance to discuss strategies to help kids do their best in class. Meeting with the teacher also lets kids know that what goes on in school will be shared at home.
Visit the School and Its Website
Knowing the physical layout of the school building and grounds can help you connect with your child when you talk about the school day. It’s good to see the location of the main office, school nurse, cafeteria, gym, athletic fields, playgrounds, auditorium, and special classes. On the school website, you can find information about:
- The school calendar
- Staff contact information
- Upcoming events like class trips
- Testing dates
Many teachers maintain websites detailing homework assignments, test dates, classroom events, and trips. Other resources for parents and students are usually available on the district, school, or teacher websites. Homework in grade school reinforces and extends classroom learning and helps kids practice critical study skills. It also helps them develop a sense of responsibility and a work ethic that will benefit them beyond the classroom. Besides ensuring your child knows that you see homework as necessary, you can help by creating a good study environment. Any well-lit, comfortable, quiet workspace with the needed supplies will do. Avoiding distractions (like a TV in the background) and setting up start and end times can also help. Typically, expect 10 minutes of homework or studying per elementary grade level each night. Fourth graders, for example, should have about 40 minutes of homework or studying each school night. If you find that it’s often taking a lot longer than this guideline, talk with your child’s teacher.
Send Your Child to School Ready to Learn
A nutritious breakfast fuels up kids, gets them ready for the day, and helps them be successful in class. Generally, kids who eat breakfast have more energy and do better in school. They’re also less likely to miss school and make fewer trips to the school nurse with stomach complaints related to hunger. Help boost your child’s attention span, concentration, and memory with breakfast foods rich in whole grains, fiber, and protein and low in added sugar. Bring fresh fruit, nuts, yogurt, or half a peanut butter and banana sandwich if your child is running late. Many schools provide nutritious breakfast options before the first bell.
Teach Organizational and Study Skills
When kids are organized, they can stay focused instead of spending time looking for things and getting sidetracked. Kids should have an assignment book and homework folder (many schools supply these) to keep track of homework and projects. Check your child’s assignment book and homework folder every school night so you’re familiar with assignments and your child doesn’t fall behind. Set up a bin for papers that you need to check or sign. Also, keep a special box or bin for completed and graded projects and toss papers you don’t need to keep. Talk to your child about keeping their school desk in order so papers that must come home aren’t lost. Teach them how to use a calendar or personal planner to help them stay organized. You also can teach your child how to make a to-do list to help prioritize and get things done. It can be as simple as:
- Homework
- Soccer
- Put clothes away
No one is born with excellent organizational skills — they need to be learned and practiced. Introducing kids to study skills now will pay off with good learning habits throughout life.
Know the Disciplinary Policies
Schools usually list their disciplinary policies (sometimes called the student code of conduct) in student handbooks. The rules cover expectations and consequences for things like student behavior, dress codes, use of electronic devices, and acceptable language.
The policies may include details about attendance, vandalism, cheating, fighting, and weapons. Many schools also have policies about bullying, such as the school’s definition of bullying, consequences for bullies, support for victims, and how to report bullying.
Your child should know what’s expected at school and know you’ll support the consequences if expectations aren’t met. It’s easiest for students when school expectations match the ones at home.
That way, kids see both settings as safe, caring places that work together as a team. Grade school is also a time when schools begin to implement standardized testing, so be sure you and your child know when these tests will be given and how they’ll be used to evaluate your child’s progress.
Get Involved in School Activities
No matter what grade your kids are in, consider volunteering at school. It’s a great way to show them your interest in their education.
Many grade-schoolers like to see their parents at school or at school events. But follow your child’s cues to determine how much interaction works for you. If your child seems uncomfortable with your presence at the school or with your involvement in an extracurricular activity, consider taking a more behind-the-scenes approach. Make it clear that you aren’t there to spy — you’re just trying to help the school community.
Parents can get involved by:
- Chaperoning field trips
- Organizing and/or working at fundraising activities and other special events, like bake sales, car washes, and book fairs
- Planning class trips or testing dates
- Attending school-wide programs to discuss school-wide issues
- Joining the school’s parent-teacher group
- Working as a library assistant or cafeteria/playground monitor
- Reading a story to the class or giving a talk for career day
- Attending school concerts or plays
You can check the school or teacher’s website for volunteer opportunities that fit your schedule. Even giving a few hours during the school year can make a strong impression on your child.
Take Attendance Seriously
Kids need to get to school on time every day because catching up can be stressful and interfere with learning. But sick kids should stay home from school if they have a fever, are nauseated, vomiting, or have diarrhea.
Kids who lose their appetite, are clingy or lethargic, complain of pain, or don’t seem to be acting “themselves” might also benefit from a sick day. If your child misses a lot of school due to illness, check with the teacher about any work that needs to be completed.
Sometimes, students want to stay home from school because of problems with classmates, assignments, grades, or even teachers. This can result in real symptoms, like headaches or stomachaches. If you think there’s a problem at school, talk with your child—and then perhaps with the teacher—to find out more about what’s causing the anxiety.
A school counselor or school psychologist might also be able to help. Also, please don’t forget to avoid late bedtimes, which can result in tardiness and tiredness for students. A consistent sleep schedule can help.
Talk About School Regularly
Usually, it’s easy to talk with elementary students about what’s going on in class and the latest news at school. You probably know what books your child is reading and are familiar with the math being worked on. But parents can get busy and forget to ask simple questions, which can affect children’s success at school.
Please make time to talk with your child every day so they know that what goes on at school is essential to you. When preteens and teens know their parents are interested in their academic lives, they’ll also take school seriously.
Because communication is a two-way street, how you talk and listen to your child can influence how well they listen and respond. Listening carefully, making eye contact, and avoiding multitasking while you chat is essential. Ask questions beyond “yes” or “no” answers.
Besides, during family meals, good times to talk include car trips (though eye contact isn’t needed here), walking the dog, preparing meals, or standing in line at a store.
These early years of schooling are an essential time for parents to be informed and supportive of their child’s education and to set the stage for children to develop and grow as young learners.
Consider Special Learning Needs
Some kids may be eligible for individualized or gifted education plans (IEPs). If your child shows learning difficulties, could you discuss this with their teacher? They may be able to offer special classes or resources to help your child succeed.
On the flip side, if your child is gifted, they may be eligible for gifted education plans or accelerated learning programs. Talk to the teacher about your child’s options and what you can do to support their special learning needs.
Remember, every student is different and has unique learning needs. As a parent, you are your child’s best advocate. If something doesn’t seem right, don’t hesitate to contact their teacher or the school administration.
The goal is to create an educational environment where your child can thrive. With the proper support, your child can develop a love of learning that will last a lifetime.
Learn Valuable Skills Through Coding
In today’s digital age, coding has become an essential skill. How kids can be successful in class — CODING! sLearning to code can help kids develop problem-solving skills, creativity, and critical thinking.
Coding can also boost math and writing skills. Schools are increasingly recognizing the importance of coding and are beginning to integrate it into their curriculum.
Many online resources are available if your child’s school doesn’t offer coding classes. Check out Tynker or Scratch to get them started coding with easy-to-learn block coding. Then, I can advance with Tynker through Python and learn to code while having fun. Encourage your child to try coding – they may discover a hidden talent or passion.
They may even create the next big app or video game. The possibilities are endless.
Supporting your child’s academic success is a team effort and can be important for how kids can be successful in class. By attending school events, creating a positive homework routine, and fostering essential skills like organization and self-advocacy, you’re setting them up for a bright future.
Remember, every child is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. Remember to keep calm, hold onto a positive vibe, and don’t stop chatting with your child and the people teaching them. A dash of dedication mixed with heaps of affection is all it takes to ensure your little one excels academically and personally.
