MSI Press Blog

  Today's tip for parents (from two talented teachers) comes from  365 Teacher Secrets for Parents  by Cindy McKinley Alder and Patti Trombly (yes, those are the two talented teachers). #21 Finding Success Every Day!   The sweetest of all sounds is praise. ~Xenophon   Praise at least one success a day. Even on a bad day, your child exhibits strengths. Look for them. Say them out loud. Remind him of his strengths when he is struggling, and encourage him to press on. Look back at the goals he set and focus on when those (or even parts of those) are reached. Make sure, however, that it counts. Make a conscious effort, then, not to overpraise. Parents, teachers, coaches, and many adults these days think they will “give” children self-esteem if they praise every little thing they do. “Way to take out your crayons!” “Great job on drawing that line!” “You put that crayon back in the box so well!” Of course, these are exaggerations but sometimes not by much. Kids can’t ...

  Today's tip for parents (from two talented teachers) comes from  365 Teacher Secrets for Parents  by Cindy McKinley Alder and Patti Trombly (yes, those are the two talented teachers). #18 Creating a Study Area   If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put foundations under them. ~Henry David Thoreau   Giving your child a special, well-equipped study space is a good foundation for quality accomplishments. When your child has a designated spot in which to complete homework, it will not only help her to be better organized, but also will offer her a welcome and ready place that is just right for producing her best work. It should be an area with enough space for her to spread out the things she will need to be working on. It should be a well-lit, relatively quiet area with no distractions (such as the TV, phone, or little siblings) so that she can concentrate. Some things that would be helpful to have i...

    Today's tip for parents (from two talented teachers) comes from  365 Teacher Secrets for Parents  by Cindy McKinley Alder and Patti Trombly (yes, those are the two talented teachers). #16 Break it up!   Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it up into small jobs. ~Henry Ford   Many tasks, from homework assignments to chores, can seem overwhelming to children. No matter what the job is, if your child needs help, perhaps you could help her before she even starts. See if you and your child can work together to break the entire task into smaller, more manageable parts. For a younger child, it may be helpful to write the steps down for her to check off as she accomplishes them. For older children, a verbal discussion may be all that is necessary to get them off to a good start. Your child may be more willing and able to take the whole project on herself once she sees a clear way to get there.        Cindy McKinley Alde...

  Today's tip for parents (from two talented teachers) comes from  365 Teacher Secrets for Parents  by Cindy McKinley Alder and Patti Trombly (yes, those are the two talented teachers). #15 Just do it!   I hear and I forget, I see and I remember, I do and I understand. ~Confucius Did you ever say to someone, "Could you just write it down for me?" Have you ever been somewhere ten times and yet cannot get there again on your own because you hadn't actually driven the car there yourself? Did you tell your child the fire was hot several times, but it took his burning himself never to touch it again?   As the saying above goes, telling or showing someone something may not be enough. When children (and adults, too, for that matter) are told something, they may or may not remember it. If they can see it written down, they may retain more. When they do it, when they are part of the discovery of learning about it, chances are they'll never forget it.   You can take...