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. #31 Creating a Learning Environment at Home   What is required is sight and insight—then you may add one more: excite. ~Robert Frost   Part of helping your child succeed in school is creating a learning environment in your home. After all, you are your child's first teacher. You can create an atmosphere in which learning is valued by doing the things mentioned during the past month. Here is a checklist of the main points:   ●       Have you found a good time for D.E.A.R.? ●       Are the TV and video games turned off and your child turned on to another activity? ●       Are you making it a point to be a good role model? ●       Has your child set a goal for himself? ●       Have you begun to set ...

  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...