Articles and publications

Helping Your Child Succeed In School
By: Mary Alston Kerllenevich, Ph.D.
       Jacqueline B. Brown, Ph.D.

Even within the same family children can have vastly different learning styles. Many of you can probably relate to having a child who seems to lack motivation to work, who despite trying his hardest still struggles, who is too full of energy to focus on anything for more than 10 seconds, or who often gets in trouble at school but makes good grades. Each of these children presents a different learning challenge. Even more frustrating is that once you have figured out one child, another presents with a set of totally different challenges.

It is not easy to know what to do with these challenges, but knowing your child’s learning style can help. Some children learn well in the typical classroom setting, but many others struggle. While the traditional classroom is geared for auditory learners, there are actually three main learning styles: auditory learners, kinesthetic learners, and visual learners. Most teachers today recognize that children learn best through a combination of the three. A basic definition of an auditory learner is someone who can hear new information and understand it without needing any other cues. A visual learner is someone who does best when they can see the information. A kinesthetic learner does best when they can actually engage in an activity (ex. writing letters in a sand tray). To understand the three styles, think of giving directions. An auditory learner does best when given directions with street signs and names, a visual learner does well with landmarks or a map, and a kinesthetic learner may need to actually go to the place one time, but will then know how to get there with little help in the future. Knowing your child’s learning style can guide you and their teacher in helping your child succeed academically.

In some cases a child may have special learning needs that need to be assessed by a professional. However, knowing when to seek services for your child can be challenging. Some kids have learning disorders that prevent them from readily understanding information related to a specific subject – such as math or reading - despite being very intelligent. Other children may have limited attention spans or difficulty sitting still, which can make completing assignments on time nearly impossible. Still others may be intellectually gifted but lose interest in school. Another thing to watch for is when a child who has previously done well starts struggling. In any of these cases, consulting with your school’s psychologist or an outside professional is a good idea. They may recommend psycho-educational testing to further identify your child’s learning strengths and weaknesses.

Once you finally figure out how to help your child succeed, everything changes when it is time to get ready for college. Now the goal changes from YOU being the expert regarding your child’s learning to your child becoming the expert on his or her own learning styles and interests. Some adolescents and young adults struggle to identify what they want to do while others seem to have always known. Even parents who have faced very few challenges with their child’s learning up until this point may find themselves wanting to scream (a lot) when their child has been in college for four years but continuously changes her major, or when she chooses something that doesn’t seem like a good fit. To help your child through this very challenging process you may suggest that she observe various professions through internships or part-time jobs. Also, try to remember that at some point you have to let your child decide for himself what he thinks best suits him. If your child still seems lost, it may be helpful to consult with his guidance counselor or obtain a vocational assessment. Career assessment inventories can be used to help pinpoint your child’s interests and guide them toward a profession in which they are likely to be successful.

Whatever the challenges you face with your child, make sure you keep in close contact with his teachers and don’t be afraid to ask for help when needed. Parenting is hard enough without facing every challenge alone.

Avoiding Homework Hassles
By: Mary Alston Kerllenevich, Ph.D.

The excitement of back to school is dwindling in St. Johns County, and the reality of homework is setting in. Not only do children have to give up their afternoons of outdoor play, but parents also have less time for themselves or their kids due to the relentless tide of new homework assignments. What starts out as a simple chore, however, can easily become a daily battle to get your child to do their homework at all. Now is the time to set up a good homework routine to avoid a year of struggling, both with teachers and with your children at home.

There are many reasons why children avoid homework. After a long day at school, kids often want and even need a break before being able to focus well on new learning. Our children have fewer breaks during the school day, and more focus on testing and performance. It’s a lot of pressure. Some kids already have trouble with their schoolwork, and having that frustration again at home can be intolerable. Parents may also avoid homework. Many work and find it annoying to come home to a battle over homework. In some schools, children are increasingly given more work to do outside of school. This can also be a lot of pressure on parents who have to supervise special assignments. With all of the possible stressors for parents and children, it’s no wonder that homework becomes a battle in so many homes.

In order to set up your homework routine, you first want to get to know your child’s teacher and the expectations for your child’s homework this year. Frequent communication with the teacher, through notes, email, or homework planners, allows you to supervise your child’s homework and school performance more efficiently. Most children can complete their homework independently, but parents need to provide supervision to avoid some common homework pitfalls: failing to complete assignments, failing to turn in homework that was actually completed, completing homework in a sloppy and hasty manner, or failing to study for tests far enough in advance. If you know where your child struggles, you can supervise only those aspects of the daily homework routine.

Routines can vary in how formal they are. Some families like to go by the clock, with homework beginning at a certain time while others go by an order of events, with homework beginning after snack time or dinnertime. Once you chose a regular time, find some incentives to reward homework completion. Simple rewards not only encourage learning, but help teach children how to avoid procrastination. Everyone, no matter their age, will naturally put off tasks that are unpleasant and have no immediate rewards. If homework completion is followed by special play time with a parent, video games, television, dessert, or another favorite activity, your child will have more internal motivation and you won’t have to force them. Another motivating factor is to set up a quiet homework space that has all the necessary supplies for completing projects. During homework time, it helps if the television is off and everyone in the family is either working independently or having quiet time. It’s really hard to work when other people are having fun. Once homework is done, parents need to check it and let their children know if they did a good job. Once you have a regular routine, those daily homework battles should become more pleasant.