Table of Contents - September 2011

Feature Article: Learning Tips for Every Age
Parenting Tip: Get Your Child to Talk About School
Upcoming Classes: “No More Meltdowns”
A Good Read: Annie’s Plan: Taking Charge of Schoolwork and Homework
 


Learning Tips for Every Age

Barb Braaten, Academic Director of the Behavioral Institute for Children and Adolescents has been in the education field for over 30 years and has a wealth of information for parents and educators. I had the privilege of interviewing Barb and would now like to share some of Barb’s learning strategies with you.

  1. For pre-readers, teach the child to identify one word in the book. Any time that words appears, point to it and have your child say the word out loud. This will keep your child engaged in the book longer.
     

  2. For beginning readers, have two copies of each book. The child can read along from their own copy as you read out loud to them.
     

  3. For beginning readers. If the child is reading and stumbles on a word, Barb says to tell the child the word rather than asking the child to sound it out. This will reduce the child’s frustration, and help increase fluency and comprehension, two key goals.
     

  4. For grades K-2. After reading a book with your child, pick three vocabulary words from the book and check what your child’s understanding of the word is? You could ask, “When it said ‘prey’ in the book, what does that mean?”
     

  5. For grades 3+. Parents can ask three questions of any book the child reads, even textbooks:

    a) What’s the author telling us now?
    b) Why would the author want us to know that?
    c) What are you thinking?
     

  6. For grades 3+. Barb likes to have a child read for 10 minutes per day and then write three-four sentences in a reading journal. Your child can keep track of the number of pages read, the length of time s/he read and a few sentences about the topic.

    A parent can read the journal and respond with one sentence of encouragement and a question such as “What do you think will happen next?”
     

  7. Math Kids 7+: “Tic Tac Twice” is a math game of strategies and patterns that children love, according to Barb. It’s short enough to play anytime.
     

  8. To memorize math numbers: Teach kids math tricks.

    a) The “nine rule.” When you multiply a number by nine, the answers corresponds to an addition problem that adds up to nine. For instance, 2 x 9 = 18 and 1+ 8 = 9
    b) When multiplying a number by five, the answer will always end in a 5 or a 0.
    c) When multiplying a number by 10, it will always end in a 0.
    d) Use concrete models, such as beads, to teach kids math problems.
     

  9. Use mnemonics to enhance memory. ie. Never Eat Soggy Waffles to remember directions on a compass.
     

  10. To increase boys’ interest in reading, Barb says, focus on books about concrete topics that can be seen such as cars, construction projects, weather and animals. Combine book-reading with field trips to increase interest. She recommends these books in the “We Both Read” series:

    a) Wild Animals
    b) About Dinosaurs
    c) Animals Under Our Feet
    d) About the Rain Forest
     

  11. To develop spelling skills, Barb recommends the “Words Their Way” program that groups words together by patterns. Spelling words should be learned in context of books the children are reading to increase fluency and comprehension.

Register Now!

 “No More Meltdowns (For You or Your Child!)”
Wed., Oct. 5 Noon CT

Has your child had a fit lately, stormed out of the room, thrown something, or hit a sibling? Odds are that s/he has! Children’s anger can be exasperating for parents. Come to this teleclass to learn:

  • Nine common triggers for a child’s anger and solutions for coping.

  • Three common triggers for a parent’s anger and how to yell less.

  • 14 options for calming your child.

You’ll leave this teleclass with a step-by-step plan for creating more peace and harmony at your house. Yelling doesn’t feel good for anyone. Attend this class so you’ll both be less frazzled

Wed., Oct. 5, Noon- 1 p.m. ET/11 a.m. MT/10 a.m. PT. Teleclass. Please note that if you can’t attend the teleclass live, sign up anyway. An audio recording of the class will be sent to you the very next day.

Register now at: http://www.getparentinghelpnow.com/NoMoreMeltdowns.htm
 


Parenting Tip

Get Your Child to Talk About School 

You’re excited to talk to your child after school and see how their day was. You ask, “How was school today?” and they say, “Fine” and leave the room. You feel left out.

Always ask open-ended questions, according to Barb Braaten, and you’ll gain more information.

Good questions to ask might be:

“What was the most interesting thing that happened today?”
“What was the strangest thing that happened at school today?”
“What was the funniest thing that happened today?”
“Who did you sit with at lunch today?”
“How many kids struggled with the math problems last night?”
“What book did the teacher read to the class today? Who was the first to comment on it?”
 


UPCOMING TELECLASSES

Take these classes from the comfort of your home or office! You'll join other parents, via telephone, for parenting tips and a lively discussion all while sitting in your favorite armchair! There's no need to waste time driving to classes when you participate from home or your office in a 'teleclass.'

“No More Meltdowns (For You or Your Child!)” Has your child had a fit lately, stormed out of the room, thrown something, or hit a sibling? Odds are that they have! Children’s anger can be exasperating for parents. Come to this teleclass to learn common triggers for a child’s anger (and your own!), solutions for coping, and skills to teach your child so you’ll both be less frazzled! You’ll leave with a step-by-step plan for creating more peace and harmony at your house. Wed., Oct. 5, Noon - 1 p.m. ET/11 a.m. MT/10 a.m. PT Teleclass. Please note that if you can’t attend the teleclass live, sign up anyway. An audio recording of the class will be sent to you the very next day. To register go to: http://www.getparentinghelpnow.com/NoMoreMeltdowns.htm

UPCOMING CLASSES

“Homework Success” - Tues., Oct. 4, 11:30 a.m., Medtronic.

“The New Self-Esteem: Create a Mindset for Success in Your Child” - Thurs., Oct. 6, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. - $15 per person/ $20 per couple. Learning Rx. Open to the public. Call 763.746.5850 to register. LearningRx, 7270 Forestview Lane N, Suite 100, Maple Grove, MN.

“Homework Success” - Tuesday, October 11, 7-8:30 p.m., Anoka-Hennepin Community Education, 763-506-1260. Reference class # AL077-1C18.

"Reduce Power Struggles with Your Child Now” - Wednesday, October 12, 7-8 p.m., Farmington Lutheran Church, Farmington, MN.

“Create a Discipline Plan that Works” - Part 1, Fri., Oct. 14, Noon. Part 2, Tues., Oct. 18, Noon, General Mills Parenting Club.

“Get Your Child to Listen the FIRST Time!” - Mon., Oct. 17, 7-8:30, Woodbury Community Education, $10, 651-458-6605.

“EQ: Improve Your Child’s Emotional Intelligence” - Thurs., Oct. 20, 2:30 p.m., CIGNA.

“Children’s Anger: Triggers and Solutions for Coping” - Tues., Oct. 25, 6:30 p.m., Roseville Community Education, 651-604-3578.

“The 7 Worst Mistakes that Parents Make (And How to Avoid Them!)” - Wed., Oct. 26, 6 p.m., Augustana Lutheran Church.

 


A Good Read

Each month a parent provides a review of a parenting book they've enjoyed. Please e-mail toni@familiesfirstcoaching.com to share a good read with other parents.


“Annie’s Plan: Taking Charge of Schoolwork and Homework"
By Jeanne Kraus


I love this book! Although the book is geared to elementary school-aged children, I had my middle-school daughter and high-school daughter read it to review good practices for homework.

The book is concise at 47 pages. It outlines 10 key tips for successful completion of homework and illustrates them in an appealing way. You don’t have to preach, you just have to help your kids set up the systems suggested in the book. I highly recommend it! Toni

 

This book is available by calling the Behavioral Institute for Children and Adolescents at 651-484-5510. www.behavioralinstitute.org
 


INSTANT PARENTING SOLUTIONS
FOR COMMON PARENTING PROBLEMS
AVAILABLE 24/7

Go to www.getparentinghelpnow.com any time of the day or night and find practical solutions to common parenting problems when you need them most. You’ll find audio recordings, along with study guides, with solutions to 16 of the most common parenting problems, available 24/7.

Get Your Child to Listen the FIRST Time! http://www.getparentinghelpnow.com/ListenAudio.htm;
Stop Back Talk and Whining Now! http://www.getparentinghelpnow.com/StopBackTalkaudiopurchase.htm; Proven Strategies for Reducing Sibling Hassles http://www.getparentinghelpnow.com/ReducingSiblingHassles.htm;
Relief for Homework Headaches http://www.getparentinghelpnow.com/HomeworkAudio.htm;
Find More Joy http://www.getparentinghelpnow.com/JoyAudio.htm;
Children’s Anger: Triggers and Solutions for Coping http://www.getparentinghelpnow.com/CalmAngerAudio.htm;
Bullying Hurts Kids: Help Your Child Cope and Conquer http://www.getparentinghelpnow.com/StopBullyingAudio.htm;
Money Matters! Teach Your Child the Value of a Buck
http://www.getparentinghelpnow.com/MoneyMattersAudio.htm;
EQ: Raise an Emotionally Intelligent Child http://www.getparentinghelpnow.com/EQAudio.htm;
Are You Listening? 5 Great Ways to Connect with Your Child http://www.getparentinghelpnow.com/AreYouListeningAudio.htm;
Helping Your Child with Transitions http://www.getparentinghelpnow.com/TransitionsAudio.htm;
How to Win the Chore Wars http://www.getparentinghelpnow.com/ChoresAudio.htm;
The Birds and The Bees http://www.getparentinghelpnow.com/BirdsandBees.htm;
How to Maneuver the Turbulent Waters of Peri-Adolescence http://www.getparentinghelpnow.com/Periadolescence.htm:
Parents: Reclaim Your Couple Time http://www.getparentinghelpnow.com/CoupleTime.htm;
"Create a Discipline Plan that Works" two-part series http://www.getparentinghelpnow.com/DisciplineAudio.htm;
The “Yell Less. Hug More. 7 Essential Parenting Skills” 10-part audio class is also available at http://www.getparentinghelpnow.com/7EssentialParentingSkills.html
 

Toni Schutta, Publisher, Families First Coaching Newsletter

Toni Schutta is a Parent Coach with a Master's Degree in Psychology and 17 years experience working with children and families. She's also the mother of two wonderful children, a Licensed Psychologist, a certified graduate of the Mentor Coach Foundations Program, a member of The Parent Coaches Association, an author, speaker and past radio host.

Families First Coaching is an organization devoted to building strong families by empowering parents with practical information, easy-to-use tools and helpful resources that will help you be the best parent possible. Individual parent coaching sessions are available along with parent-to-parent support groups and parent education classes. Check out the websites at http://www.familiesfirstcoaching.com  and http://www.getparentinghelpnow.com for a complete list of services.

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