Link: http://www.creativetutors.com/b2evo/blog1.php

75% of students ages 10 to 13 tell us that they would like to talk more to their parents about schoolwork. Parents and children that talk about school and school events perform better academically.... Do you ask your child how their day was at school? Do you really listen to them when they begin to talk? Or does your child remain silent about their school day?

Tips to help you know how to communicate with your child.

Ask open ended questions about school every day~
Did anyone get in trouble with the teacher today? Is a great way to get kids talking!
Do not be satisfied with one word answers. Keep asking questions. Get them talking.

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Achievement is Not Motivation. Help your child learn the ten steps to motivation! See results!

1. Nurture Interests
2. Exposure to New Ideas and Areas of Interest
3. Develop Short-Term Goals and Rewards
4. Teach Time Management
5. Praise True Efforts
6. Teach Your Child To Take Control
7. Stay Positive About School
8. Make Connections Between Schoolwork and Interests
9. Turn Homework Into Creative Games
10. Motivation and School Achievement are NOT one in the same

Getting good grades is top of mind for child and parent. Some parents entertain the idea of paying kids for good grades. Have you thought about it? Do you fear that if you give money to your kids for getting good grades that it will undermine your child's self esteem, motivation to achieve and that they will become to dependent on performance?

Positive reinforcement is one of the most effective strategies for raising positive and motivated boys or girls. But, is paying for grades positive reinforcement or are you bribing your children and teaching them a mixed message?

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Link: http://www.creativetutors.com

The true feelings about homework by one student.... battle of words and frustration...listen to his message.....He writes:

I hate homework, my mom hates homework, and my dad hates homework. Homework overshadows everything in my family’s life. Homework is a constant burden hanging over our heads like a dark heavy cloud. It affects our weekends, meals, vacations, my parents work time…everything! The level of stress and disharmony that “homework” brings to my life is overwhelming and for that matter, pointless. Even when I try, it still isn’t good enough. All my life I have been told how smart I was, which is odd because dealing with the demands of homework makes me feel so stupid. The increasing burden of homework has harmful consequences on today’s students and their families. Something has got to give. My desire to want to go to school is being crushed by the weight of my homework.

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20 Reasons Kids Hate Homework
Do your kids hate homework?
Tell us what they want....

1. Stresses out me
2. Not everyone has a computer
3. Takes too much time to complete
4. Takes away from my free time
5. Staying up late makes me tired
6. I get cranky when I am tired
7. Pressure and guilt if I don't do it
8. No teacher to help me understand it
9. It is boring
10. Takes away from after school sports
11. Takes away from doing chores
12. Takes away playtime with my pets
13. I know all the answers so it is a waste of my time
14. I could get a job and earn cash and get job experience
15. Different groups get different amount of work
16. It makes me feel sick to my stomach if I don't know the answers
17. I feel guilty if I don't do it
18. If I don't have it my teacher could have less work to do
19. My friends hate it too
20. I won't have to feel bad if I leave it in my locker

It is always fun to learn math tricks to help kids remember the math facts. Below are some tricks to help them get started.... tricks never replace actually knowing the math facts but sometimes it is the trick that helps the memorization process get started!

The 9 Times Tables

1. Hold your hands in front of you with your fingers spread out.
2. For 9 X 3 bend your third finger down. (9 X 4 would be the fourth finger etc.)
3. You have 2 fingers in front of the bent finger and 7 after the bent finger
4. Thus the answer must be 27
5. This technique works for the 9 times tables up to 10.

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Teach your kids clue's to learn when reading story problems!

Addition Story Problems: Math Clues for Addition
Increased by
More than
Combined, together
Total of
Sum
Added to

Subtraction Story Problems: Math Clues For Subtraction
Decreased by
Minus, less
Difference between/of
Less than, fewer than

Multiplication: Math Clues For Multiplication
Of
Times, multiplied by
Product of
Increased/decreased by a
factor of (this type can
involve both addition or
subtraction and
multiplication!)

Division: Math Clues for Division
Per, a
Out of
Ratio of, quotient of
Percent (divide by 100)

Equals: Math Clues for Equals
Is, are, was, were, will be
Gives, yields
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