The bell of the school year will soon ring, but is your child
ready for a brand-new semester of classes, essays, and exams? After a
long holiday, some kids need an extra boost to get ready about school.
Parents, getting your child excited about going back to school can
be done, and it can be fun, too! Here are 9 tips and ideas for
motivating students at the beginning of the school year.
1. Just Ask! Ask a child what will motivate them, as well as their barriers. Allow your child to verbally express what features of school make her eager and curious.
2. Hold an “Auction”. Purchase inexpensive school supplies
like colorful pens, graphic-glad pencil cases, and cartoon-themed
notebooks. Invite your child’s classmates over for a playful “silent
auction,” where they use fake money to bid on cool items to stash in
their backpacks.
3. Get Comfy on Campus. If your child is transitioning
from grade to middle or middle to high school, visit his new school
numerous times over the holiday: roam the playground, wander the halls,
and peek inside the classrooms. Becoming familiar with his new place will
help tremendously.
4. Display a Dialogue. Many fridges have surfaces on which
you can doodle with a dry-erase marker. Write a different question or
saying of encouragement each day on the first week of school. Write,
“Take the time to meet a new classmate?” , or ask, “Are you excited to
have new teachers?” Throughout the week, your child can respond with
different-colored markers and express how he feels.
5. Decorate the Bedroom. New imagery stimulates children –
why not update your child’s bedroom? His jungle safari bedspread can be
changed to a space-age comforter with stars and planets, for instance.
Or, focus on his desk space: add wall stickers, a new calendar, or
magazine cutouts of favorite musicians. Rearranging the furniture may
also help.
6. Foster Encouragement. Bring up the high points of the
previous school year: the “A” she earned on a difficult math test, or
the second-place ribbon she received at the science fair. Concentrate on
her past accomplishments to encourage her to do the same for the new
school year.
7. Inspire with Issues. Talk to your child about the
current state of her school: Is the district debating on whether to
discontinue serving hot food? Is there a shortage of computers? Urge her
to form opinions on issues that affect her, which may inspire her to
become involved at school in a non-academic way.
8. Create an "Achievement Tree." Display an achievement
tree that exhibits his accomplishments. Draw a tree with numerous brown
branches on poster board, and create a handful of “leaves” on strips of
green paper. Each time he feels he achieves something over the semester –
such as a successful day at band practice or a solution to a tricky
geometry problem – he can record it on a leaf and tape it to the tree.
By semester’s end, he will have created a full, lush tree!
9. Keep It Simple. Tell
your kids what you have been experiencing every year on the first day of
school: learn something new every day.
There are many ways to get your child excited about a new year of school. These tips are just the beginning. Let's try!
Source: www.education.com
