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The Bright Side of Aging
Vol. XX, Issue XI
Are your grandchildren living up to their academic potential? You want to answer “yes,” but studies show that 30 percent of grade school children are reading below standard. Therefore, we must recognize that our grandchildren may be at risk. We need to help them. But how?
• Make sure your grandchildren have healthy self-esteem
and a “Can Do Attitude.” We all have more than enough negatives coming at us. Classmates will tell your grandchildren about hard subjects and difficult teachers. You need to tell youngsters that they are smart and they can successfully tackle any subject.
• Some subjects require hard work, but the payoff will be a lifelong understanding of a discipline that baffles many others. This can translate into self-satisfaction and a better, more rewarding job. So remember that we are all great learners.
• Young children need to work with phonics. Point out objects, say the sounds, and show the children the symbol for those sounds. “C” can be hard, as in “Cat,” or soft, as
in “Cecilia.” Easy for us, but the four-year old
may not have mastered this yet.
• Keep books, magazines, and newspapers in
the household. If children see that reading materials are important, they will show an interest.
• Don’t criticize the child’s choice of materials. When I was a high school freshman, I was reading “Man from U.N.C.L.E.” books. This is not what any educator would recommend, but today I am a college English instructor. The important thing is to get the habit of reading. Classics and nourishing nonfiction will come in time.
• Invest in audio books. Nightingale Conant has an excellent selection of self-help books. Authors like Wayne Dyer, Dennis Waitley, and Brian Tracy have a wealth of information to share. Great novels, new and timeless, are also available. Your local library has a nice collection. Why not browse and take a few home with you? I listen to
Help Your Grandchildren Get Better
Grades!
By: Mary Ann De Neve Slavcheff
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