REMEMBER YOU ARE A PARTNER WITH YOUR CHILD'S TEACHER IN CREATING THE OUTCOME OF THEIR FUTURE
Partnering with your child's teacher provides advantages to you, your children, and to the
teachers as well.
As a parent or carer, you will have a better idea of what’s happening in school, which will also allow
you to help support your child at home.
Students benefit when they receive encouragement at home. And teachers benefit when
learning is reinforced and supported by parents and families, so it's an important aspect for the growth and
continued learning of your child.
How can you use praise in a manner that makes a difference with your kids?
There are six key elements of effective praise.
Positive
Praise should always be positive. That may seem to be self-evident, but I’ve known parents who said they were praising their kids, but it was done in a sarcastic manner, with the corresponding body language.
That undermines any positive effects of the praise.
Real
It's important that praise is authentic. Kids are quick to recognize phony comments, and, when you make up praise, it undermines their trust in you.
Affirming
Praise is also affirmation, which should be unconditional.
Independence Is Promoted
It is critical that we use praise to empower our kids, rather than making them more dependent on us.
Specific
We must work to ensure we are specific with our praise. Too often, we say “Good job” or “That’s great.” -it’s general, and so overused, that kids become numb to it. Be sure you praise very detailed items.
Effort and Progress Are Noted
Effective praise focuses on effort and progress rather than ability.
There are two main types of motivation:
EXTRINSIC and INSTRINSIC.
1]
EXTRINSIC MOTIVATION includes all the outside ways we try to influence a student, such as rewards, prizes or grades. Intrinsic motivation comes from within your child. With extrinsic rewards we get temporary results, but for long-term impact, we need to help students activate their intrinsic motivation.
2] INTRINSIC MOTIVATION is what comes from within. It is internal opposed to external. With intrinsic motivation, kids appreciate activities for the sake of those activities. They enjoy learning and the feelings of accomplishment that accompany the activity. There are many benefits to intrinsic motivation. Students tend to earn higher grades, score higher on achievement tests, prefer challenging activities, and are more confident about their abilities.
It's similar to looking at the ocean. I love watching the waves, but I am only seeing the surface. I don't see the perilous undercurrents. Similarly, extrinsic motivation looks good, but we don't notice the dangers. Also, the true beauty of the ocean is underneath the surface. As we go deeper, there are beautiful marine creatures and coral. Instead of short-lives waves, I can see long-lasting beauty. And that is intrinsic motivation.
"Be the parent today that you want your kids to remember tomorrow" - Unknown
"Have patience. All things are difficult before they become easy." - Saadi
"They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them FEEL."
- Carol Buchner
"Don't let yourself become so concerned with raising a good kid that you forget you already have one." - Glennon Melton-Doyle
"What good mothers and fathers instinctively feel like doing for their babies is usually best after all". - Benjamin Spock
"So even when it might seem easy to throw in the towel, just hang on. Things are a thousand times brighter on the other side and your children will be better for it." - Unknown
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