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Susan Kruger's articles
As Mother's Day approaches and "spring fever" is settling in, I thought it would be appropriate to reflect on the significant roles that mothers (and fathers) play in homework. As a young student, I had my share of homework arguments with my mom. As an adult, I have become more and more appreciative of the tenacity my mother had to put up with me and my frustration towards homework. I have also discovered a few things I wish she could have understood when I was crying over...
Posted: 2008-03-25
Category: Parenting
I recently had an experience (in fact, I’m still floundering my way through it) that made me feel exactly the way I did when I was in fourth grade, learning long division. Many students are now learning “new math” and are hopefully finding long division a bit more logical than I did as a 9 year-old. Back then, however, we just learned a series of “random” steps that seemed meaningless to me. I was horribly confused and totally overwhelmed. I felt stupid and felt like the e...
Posted: 2008-03-09
Category: Reference & Education
I recently received an email from a parent who is desperately frustrated over the struggles her middle-school son is facing. He has been diagnosed with ADHD and bi-polar disorder. School and everyday life, she says, is a real struggle; he looses everything and forgets everything. Like every other student I have met with these same characteristics, he also happens to be brilliant. But, his mother says, “All I hear is, “I’m stupid! Over and over again…” Maybe he is. Th...
Posted: 2007-11-20
Category: Self Improvement
As a classroom teacher, I used to hear excuses from a few students every morning about why they did not have their homework. Most of them had to do with extra-curricular commitments: “I couldn’t do my homework last night because I had a baseball game.” Or, “I had to go to my brother’s basketball game.” Some of the excuses were due to family obligations: “We had to take my grandma out for her birthday last night.” The best excuse I ever heard… “I couldn’t do my homework last n...
Posted: 2007-11-01
Category: Parenting
It is 6:00 AM...you have already hit the snooze button twice and are dreading the morning marathon that lies in front of you. Making sure everyone is dressed and ready for school is enough of a process, especially when everyone is bleary-eyed (and oh-so cheery) at the very beginning of the day. Soon the chaos begins... "Mom, where are my shoes?" "I can't find my homework!" "Did you sign my field trip form?" Everyone is scurrying around trying to get ready while you are sweati...
Posted: 2007-09-14
Category: Reference & Education
Being prepared for a test is absolutely essential, but there are some things you can do while taking a test to reduce anxiety and improve your score. The following action plan will give you a greater sense of control during tests, which will allow you to be more relaxed and think more clearly. These tips are also good for most standardized tests. ** Action Plan ** - Be good to yourself. You have heard it dozens of times, but good rest, a balanced breakfast, and drink...
Posted: 2007-04-25
Category: Reference & Education
At a recent presentation for parents, I mentioned the importance of providing positive consequences to motivate students with homework. Afterwards, one mother approached and explained that her daughter has been having problems all school year. “Her teacher has been insisting that I provide a lot of punishment at home,” she explained. “I think that might be the problem…that my daughter is turned off by her negative attitude.” Wouldn’t we all? Don’t get me wrong…punishment h...
Posted: 2007-02-11
Category: Parenting
As students begin a new semester, this is the perfect time to establish some new routines to improve the process of doing homework. The first question to ask yourself is, “If there is one thing I could improve about homework, what would it be?” The first answer that probably came to mind was, “Get rid of it!” Honestly, that would be my first response, too. However, homework is a fact-of-life and serves a very good purpose (whether we like it or not), so let’s try that agai...
Posted: 2007-01-18
Category: Reference & Education
Have you ever arrived at school and discovered that you left your homework at home…or your lunch money, gym shoes, library books, permission slip for next week’s field trip…? If you think it is annoying forgetting these things, your parents and teachers find it even more frustrating! The good news is that it is fairly easy to become better prepared for school. You just need to develop a few simple routines. **Action Plan** Step 1: Put your homework away as soon as you f...
Posted: 2006-12-09
Category: Parenting
Recently, a Homework Rx® subscriber asked for tips to help her daughter stay on-task with her homework. Just last night, a student in my Homework Action Group complained of the same problem. “I have a hard time staying focused on homework. It takes me forever to do it!” I also remember, as a young student, sitting at my desk, wriggling and squirming until I decided that I needed a drink, or snack, or pencil... After getting lost in the kitchen and sucked into a TV show, it...
Posted: 2006-11-09
Category: Parenting
I am frequently asked, “How do I study for tests?” This question actually puts the “cart before the horse” because the efficient way to study for tests is to do your homework on time, ask questions in class, and learn information as it is taught, not just memorize the night before. There are easy ways to do these tasks, but this article will assume that you have a test tomorrow and you need some help…now! How the Brain Works To maximize your study time, it is helpful to...
Posted: 2006-10-11
Category: Reference & Education
Have you ever heard the phrase, “It’s all about who you know”? Every adult could probably tell you about some opportunity that arose because they knew the right person at the right time. As human beings, relationships influence everything we do! Why do you think golf is such an integrated part of the business world? Because golf gives business-people the opportunity to build trust and develop relationships that are vital for successful business deals. This same principle a...
Posted: 2006-09-26
Category: Reference & Education
What do you have to gain by developing a positive relationship with your child’s teachers? A lot more than you might have thought! One year, when I was a classroom teacher, I had been transferred to a new school. The day before school started, I was setting up my classroom when a woman and her son peeked in…Debbie and Logan. Logan would be in my class that year and they stopped by to warmly welcome me to their school; Somehow I knew then that Debbie was going to be a fun p...
Posted: 2006-09-11
Category: Reference & Education
Gearing up for back-to-school can be a bit overwhelming; there is a lot to do, a lot of transitions to navigate, and often a sense of blues as the realization that summer has, once again, gone by too fast. However, you can easily turn back-to-school anxieties into positive anticipation for a great school year with the following action plan. Plug these steps into your calendar right now and see what a different they can make! One Week before School: Week of Preparation D...
Posted: 2006-09-03
Category: Home & Family
Do you know why you have ADD/ADHD? Because you are extremely intelligent! No, I am not being sarcastic. In fact, I could not be more sincere. Most people with ADD/ADHD (herein called ADHD) have such a strong interest in a great variety of things, they have a hard time maintaining focus on one thing at a time. Of course, there are additional reasons too, but I am here to tell you that every person I know with ADHD (friends, relatives, and students) have an extraordinary number...
Posted: 2006-09-03
Category: ADHD
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