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Helping Your Child Succeed in SchoolTips from Research and Teaching

Ronald DietelTracy HughesCynthia Keech

Karen Mathison

National Center for Research on Evaluation,Standards, and Student Testing at UCLA

La Cañada Unified School District

National PTA ConventionAnaheim, CAJune 27, 2004

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Factors Pushing Higher Achievement

MajorEvents

EducationCrisis

State & National Policy

Corporate

University Competition

Schools

National & International Test Performance

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What Influences Achievement

Parents Education

StudentAchievement

TeacherQuality

High Expectations

Parent Income

Parent Involvement

QualityCurriculum

Monitoring &Feedback School

Climate

Leadership/Professionalism

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Get Smart Learning Model

Home Learning

LearningSchools &Teachers

Ability

ClassroomLearning

Effort Attitudes/Beliefs

EvaluationCommunications

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Ability

Achievement influenced, not determined by ability

Factual Knowledge

Application

Tips

Ask Questions

Use Prior Knowledge or Skill

Reinforce Learning

Concentration

Praise

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Effort

Strong influence on achievement

Tips

High expectations

Exemplify motivation yourself

Establish value/use novelty

Associate with other motivated students

Apply strengths

Plan ahead/chunk work

Praise persistence and effort

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Attitudes/Beliefs

Positive attitude --> student achievement

Tips

Emphasize effort, not intelligence

Provide learning opportunities that promote positive self-belief

Encourage safe risks

Educate children about school realities/imperfections

Point out previous successes

Never shame them

Be there when they need you

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Schools

Good schools and teachers-->achievement

Shop for a school as you would shop for a home--go inside

Develop criteria that match your children’s needs

Teacher quality

School leadership

School programs

Safety/Discipline

Parent Involvement

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Teaching

High quality teachers

Certificated

Years of teaching experience

Subject matter expertise

High expectations

Student assignments & feedback

Low absentee rate

Love of teaching and students

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Classroom Learning

High parent expectations/rigorous classes

Attendance

Know standards and curriculum

Know what counts

Promote student organizational skills

Promote student listening skills

Self-monitoring/getting help

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Home Learning

Reading --> gateway skill

Early childhood

Homework

Avoiding over commitment

Effective study skills

Inertia effect

Connect learning to real world

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Evaluation

Your own sense as a parent

Teacher feedback (formal and informal)

Test scores

Report cards

Social development

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Communications

The Problem

Tips

Avoid pressure

Find time and place that works

Emphasize effort, not achievement

Listen, not lecture

Second chance

Emphasize choice

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Get Smart Learning Model

Home Learning

LearningSchools &Teachers

Ability

ClassroomLearning

Effort Attitudes/Beliefs

EvaluationCommunications