Now that school has started again, I thought I’d revisit my blog series about things parents can do to help their child be successful in school. I’m sure most of you are familiar with the advice to limit “screen time.” It is not just TV watching anymore, but we also have video games, smart phones, …Read More
Helping Your Child Succeed In School VI: A Growth Mindset
Apr 17, 2011
So, what does it take for a child to be successful at something like math or learning a language? Does it take talent? Research shows that there are certainly individual differences in predisposition for learning certain skills, but that this talent doesn’t get us very far. What really matters is putting in hours of hard …Read More
Later School Start Times Leads to Better Academic Achievement
Jul 12, 2010
A recent article in the Scientific American reviewed research about effects of school start time on academic achievement. It probably comes as no surprise to parents of teens, that starting in adolescence, children have “delayed sleep phase” where they start sleep later and sleep later in the morning. In addition, for optimal functioning, teenagers should …Read More
Gender Differences in Math Achievement
Jul 8, 2010
A recent article in the Monitor on Psychology entitled Math Plus Culture Equal Gender Gap? reviewed the research on gender and math achievement. Gender differences in mathematics has been one of the most debated and lively topics in education psychology. Given the popularity of this topic, a large body of research has been conducted that …Read More
Should Kids Be Paid For Good Grades?
May 7, 2010
I distinctly remember sitting in my first undergraduate educational psychology class and the professor putting forth the question, “should parents provide financial incentives for earning good grades” to spark interest. For the remaining 45 minutes of the lecture, the professor described how paying children for grades was a bad idea because it resulted in children …Read More
Are All Forms of Praise Created Equal?
Mar 1, 2010
Most parenting advice resources highlight the importance of praising your child. Upon further investigation, however, it appears as if not all praise is created equal. Below I briefly summarize and evaluate different types of praise. 1. Evaluative Praise vs. Acknowledgement Praise • Evaluative praise provides a comment on the child’s desired/appropriate behavior that includes a …Read More
Reading, Writing, Arithmetic and Compassion?
Dec 17, 2009
A recent article titled “More Compassion, Less Competition” by Richard Davidson presents the benefits of having a broader definition of education that focuses not only on academic growth but also overall emotional well being. Specifically, he argues that focusing heavily on competition and passing tests has resulted in teachers and students discriminating against those who …Read More