| I don't know where your family lives, but here in | | | | Try these one-on-one strategies: |
| Denver where I live the schools have had their | | | | 1. Learn Brain Gym and do it with your child. Teachers |
| budgets cut. I'm guessing your kids' school had its | | | | across the country use it in their classrooms. But no |
| budget cut too. Maybe your children's teacher was let | | | | reason you can't do Brain Gym at home, one-on-one. |
| go. It's happening all over the country. | | | | It's quick, easy and effective. Brain Gym works for you |
| In most cases, fewer teachers means more kids in a | | | | too. |
| classroom. More kids means less attention for your | | | | 2. Have conversations with your child about books |
| child from the teacher. And less likely this teacher will | | | | they have to read for their book reports. Read the |
| have an aide. What does this mean for your child? Will | | | | books yourself. Helps with the conversation. |
| she fall behind? Will it affect his test scores? | | | | 3. Play math and reading games with your kids. Even a |
| All too often, the more children in a class, the less | | | | game like Monopoly helps with both these skills. |
| children learn. Research has proven that kids increase | | | | 4. Talk with your child about what you're reading, |
| test scores and get better grades when teaching is | | | | thinking about, getting at the grocery store, planning for |
| one on one. Not 40 on one. It's the ancient Socratic | | | | the weekend. Conversation builds communication skills |
| method where the teacher asks questions and the | | | | in children. It's essential for your little ones. |
| student answers. The same model they use at | | | | 5. Watch TV with your kids-just not too much TV. |
| Oxford and Cambridge. | | | | Talk about the shows. |
| It's a conversational model. A listening model. Not just | | | | 6. Take a daily interest in your child's homework. This is |
| one question after another. One-on-one is why home | | | | the opposite of nagging or policing homework-neither |
| schooling and tutoring are so effective. But our schools | | | | of which help nurture smart kids. |
| can't afford to teach your kids one-on-one... even | | | | 7. Have your child help at the grocery store with |
| without budget cuts. | | | | comparison shopping, reading labels, estimating how |
| However, smart parents can help kids one-on-one at | | | | much the groceries will cost. Shopping offers lots of |
| home. And I'm not suggesting home schooling unless | | | | fun smart learning activities. |
| that's something that works for you and your family. | | | | Using these one-on-one strategies will boost your kids' |
| Your child has smart potential. With support from you, | | | | brain power, help them move from smart potential to |
| average kids, even kids doing poorly in school, can | | | | smart kids, and improve their grades. It's just good |
| become smart kids. | | | | parenting. |